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Special counsel seeks warrant to arrest Yoon
A special counsel team investigating former first lady Kim Keon Hee applied for a warrant on Wednesday to arrest former President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he snubbed summons for questioning over his alleged illegal meddling in the 2022 by-elections. "We have repeatedly requested former President Yoon to appear for a scheduled questioning scheduled at 10 a.m. today, but Yoon did not attend (for two consecutive days) without any explanations," special prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee said during a regular pres
July 30, 2025 -
Joint probe to revisit Itaewon tragedy
South Korea’s Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday decided to launch a joint investigation team comprising the prosecution and police to probe the Itaewon crowd crush. The decision came two weeks after President Lee Jae Myung pledged to the bereaved families of victims in the Itaewon tragedy that he would form a separate task force to thoroughly look into the crowd crush that claimed 159 lives during Halloween festivities in 2022. The joint investigation team is set to revisit the overall ci
July 30, 2025 -
New Defense Minister heads to Poland to finalize 2nd K2 tank deal
South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back flies to Poland on Thursday to meet with his Polish counterpart and finalize an estimated 8.8 trillion won ($6.4 million) to export a second batch of K2 tanks to Poland. Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Ahn plans to visit the European nation from Thursday to Saturday, in his first overseas trip since taking office last week. The trip was arranged upon the request of Poland’s Ministry of National Defense, according to Seoul’s ministry. Throu
July 30, 2025 -
Man rapes girlfriend who dumped him over electronic tag
A man in his 30s has been arrested for the rape of his girlfriend, who ended their relationship after seeing that he was wearing an electronic tag on his ankle for a past crime. The suspect has been indicted by the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office for his attack against the victim at his home in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, at around 3 a.m. on June 24. The victim, who was in a romantic relationship with the suspect, told him that she wanted to end the relationship when she found ou
July 30, 2025 -
Suspect in Songdo shooting 'delusional': police
The father who shot and killed his son at a birthday family gathering appeared to be under the delusion that the victim's family had ostracized him, police investigating the case said Tuesday. Police officials said that the suspect had increasingly felt alienated and alone and had lost self-esteem, which eventually led him to begin planning the attack in August last year. He believed he was being victimized, telling officials that the other family members "set me up." According to the Incheon Me
July 30, 2025 -
Lee vows to ease excessive penalties on corporate activities
President Lee Jae Myung pledged Wednesday to launch a government task force to explore ways to ease excessive penalties on corporate activities in a bid to help reduce regulatory hurdles and boost investment. Lee outlined a series of measures for what he described as a "pragmatic, market-oriented" government, including easing outdated regulations and limiting excessive penalties, while encouraging companies to enhance shareholder value. "It is time we should address concerns that breach of trust
July 30, 2025 -
Lottery winner says he received 'blessing' from Buddhist monk
The winner of last week's Annuity Lottery 720+ said his win was forecast by a Buddhist monk, who said that the winner would run into considerable wealth in August. Dong Hang Lottery, the operator of the Annuity Lottery and Korean Lotto, revealed the story of the winner for the 273rd edition of the weekly lottery. As the name suggests, the jackpot payout for the Annuity lottery is sent to the winner in monthly payments, dividing up the winning sum over 20 years. The winner, whose identity is with
July 30, 2025 -
Korean-born permanent resident of US seized at airport, trapped in detention for 8 days
A Korean green-card holder and resident of Texas was detained by US federal agents at San Francisco International Airport and held for eight days without access to legal counsel, an advocacy group said Wednesday. According to the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, Tae-heung Kim, 40, is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University where he researches Lyme disease. He has lived in the US since the age of five, and was returning from South Korea after attending his brother’s weddin
July 30, 2025 -
Chinese nationals caught using fake IDs to take Korean language test for others
Several Chinese nationals have been caught trying to take the Test of Proficiency in Korean, or TOPIK, on behalf of others using fake foreign resident registration cards. According to police on Tuesday, a Chinese woman in her 30s was caught while taking the TOPIK exam at Soongsil University in Seoul on July 13. She showed a forged residence card to the test supervisor and was immediately arrested. Police said her smartphone contained evidence that she had arranged to take the test as a proxy thr
July 30, 2025 -
Ex-spy chief acknowledges Yoon's outburst during questioning in Marine death probe
Former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong has acknowledged former President Yoon Suk Yeol flew into a rage when he was briefed on the results of an initial probe into the death of a Marine in 2023, reversing his yearslong denial, legal sources said Wednesday. Cho made the admission during questioning by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team Tuesday as a suspect over allegations of government interference in the Marine Corps' investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun in
July 30, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon again fails to appear for special counsel questioning
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol again did not appear for questioning by a special counsel on Wednesday. Yoon, who is under arrest over his martial law attempt in December, was summoned to appear at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office by 10 a.m. to be questioned about his alleged meddling in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Yoon also snubbed the special counsel's earlier summons to appear for questioning Tuesday, citing his deteriorating health. (Yonhap)
July 30, 2025 -
Weather service says heat waves to become more severe
Heat waves gripping South Korea over the past weeks are expected to intensify in coming days, the state weather service said Wednesday, with daytime highs set to range from 32 C to 38 C nationwide. Seogwipo of the southern Jeju Island experienced a 15th consecutive tropical night Tuesday, while Seoul's tropical night entered the 10th consecutive day, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The heat waves will become more severe through this weekend and the temperatures will not cool down a
July 30, 2025 -
Seoul welcomes ceasefire between Thailand, Cambodia
South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expecting the border conflict to be peacefully resolved. Since lasy Thursday, the deadly border clashes between the two countries had killed at least 35 soldiers, injured over 140 people and displaced some 260,000. Supported by Malaysia and the United States, the two reached a truce agreement earlier in the day. "The South Korean government highly evaluates diplomatic efforts by related countries, such
July 29, 2025 -
Lee invites citizens to attend 'People's Appointment Ceremony'
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday invited citizens to attend a ceremony next month symbolizing his appointment by the people. In a Facebook post, Lee said the "People's Appointment Ceremony" will be held at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, shortly after the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. "It will be an occasion for the people as sovereigns to personally appoint the 21st president, and convey their individual expectations and wishes," he wrote. "I would
July 29, 2025 -
Lee sends letter to Japanese PM to thank for participation in diplomatic event
President Lee Jae Myung has sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to express his gratitude for his participation in an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties, a presidential official said Tuesday. Ishiba attended the ceremony hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on June 19, where he underscored the need to maintain close communication to advance the bilateral ties and address shared challenges. A few days later, Lee con
July 29, 2025