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Lee calls for building next-generation power grid with focus on renewable energy
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for establishing a next-generation power grid as he underscored the importance of shifting the country's power supply infrastructure to one that centers on renewable energy. "Energy transition has become an essential task," Lee said as he presided over a meeting of senior presidential aides. "On top of an artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, the supply of renewable energy through power grid improvement has become very urgent." Lee instructed the gov
July 31, 2025 -
Woman kills brother with disabilities, after violence from the victim
A 54-year-old woman who killed her brother with disabilities was convicted of murder on Wednesday, although the court addressed the fact that the defendant acted out of fear of being subject to another outburst of violence from the victim. The Cheonan branch of the Daejeon District Court sentenced the defendant to 12 years in prison for the Jan. 16 murder of her younger brother, who was paralyzed from the waist down. The defendant had been living with her brother since he became paralyzed due to
July 31, 2025 -
What will be discussed in the first Lee-Trump summit?
US President Donald Trump on Thursday mentioned that his first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung would take place “within the next two weeks” in Washington. The remark, via Truth Social, was included in Trump's announcement that Washington and Seoul reached a trade deal in which the US will impose 15 percent tariffs on South Korea. If the summit between Trump and Lee takes place in the timeframe the US president mentioned, the two leaders would likely discuss the follow-up of the
July 31, 2025 -
Seoul downplays US claim it will take 90% of Korean investment fund profits
South Korea’s presidential office on Thursday sought to downplay remarks by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick that “90 percent of the profits” from Korea’s investment into the US will go to the American people, saying it understood the figure as part of a “reinvestment concept.” Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that the US and Korea have established a “full and complete” trade deal, saying that Korea pledges to invest $350 billion into sectors “owned and controlled by the Unite
July 31, 2025 -
Inside the frantic final hours of South Korea-US tariff talks
While South Korea and the US was able to reach a trade deal Thursday that set tariffs on exports to the US at 15 percent, the hours leading up were announcement of the agreement, were a whirlwind of uncertainty and frenzy. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his aides remained on high alert throughout the night, continuing to receive reports from Seoul’s trade delegation led by Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol in Washington. The delegation made last-minute efforts reach a deal, under the pres
July 31, 2025 -
Court grants forcible summons as detained Yoon refuses to cooperate in wife's probe
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, already in custody over the martial law fiasco, is now facing another arrest warrant, this time to force him to appear for questioning in an investigation into his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday approved the warrant after Yoon failed to appear for questioning on both Tuesday and Wednesday without providing a valid reason. He is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Center. In response to the former president's refusal to coo
July 31, 2025 -
Woman convicted for threatening 11-year-old who bullied her son
A woman was sentenced to a fine of 3 million won ($2,154), suspended for a year, for threatening an 11-year-old boy in retaliation for bullying her son. According to the Incheon District Court on Thursday, the 44-year-old mother was found guilty of child abuse for causing emotional harm to the victim at an elementary school. At around 2:57 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2023, the defendant called out to the victim in the street, cursing and telling him, "You better not run into me again." She also demanded th
July 31, 2025 -
Yoon faces wave of lawsuits seeking compensation for martial law distress
Civil lawsuits seeking compensation for distress caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law are being files across the nation, following a court ruling that recognized Yoon’s liability. The Democratic Party’s South Gyeongsang chapter held a press conference Thursday announcing plans to gather 10,000 participants to seek 100,000 won ($71) per person in compensation from both Yoon and his wife, citing psychological harm stemming from the Dec. 3 martial law. “The greatest
July 31, 2025 -
DP embraces new tariff deal, PPP expresses reservation
The Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday welcomed the country’s trade deal to set a 15 percent tariff with the United States in exchange for $450 billion of South Korean investment in the US and the purchase of American liquefied natural gas and other energy products. Rep. Kim Byung-kee, the floor leader of the ruling party, thanked President Lee Jae Myung and the government for “meaningful results” that meet people's expectations, adding that he would like to extend his gratitude to those in t
July 31, 2025 -
Bone fragment found belongs to Jirisan park ranger who went missing during floods
A bone fragment discovered in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, has been confirmed to belong to a park ranger who went missing in Jirisan National Park earlier this month during heavy rains, local police said Thursday. According to Hadong Police, the remains were found on July 25 near Uisin Valley in Hwagae-myeon, where a climber reported what appeared to be a piece of human bone. The National Forensic Service later confirmed that the fragment belonged to a staff member of the Jirisan office of
July 31, 2025 -
S. Korea, US defense chiefs vow deeper shipbuilding ties
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held his first phone call with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday, during which the two agreed to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korean threats and enhance cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry. Ahn, who took office on July 25, said he feels a strong sense of responsibility as the first defense minister under the new administration. He emphasized the importance of advancing the achiev
July 31, 2025 -
Multicultural families in Korea show signs of deeper integration, but disparities remain
Families with multicultural backgrounds in South Korea are experiencing greater integration into Korean society, with notable progress in children's education, household income and social inclusion, according to the latest government survey. On Thursday, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the 2024 National Survey on Multicultural Families, conducted on a sample of 16,014 households nationwide. Under Korean law, a multicultural family refers to a family comprising an immigrant by
July 31, 2025 -
Construction supervisor linked to deadly underpass flooding dies after suicide attempt
CHEONGJU -- A construction supervisor linked to a deadly underpass flooding in 2023 died Thursday after attempting to take his own life at prison, officials said. The man was serving a four-year prison term in Cheongju, about 110 kilometers southeast of Seoul, for poorly managing the construction of a river embankment in the city, contributing to the deaths of 14 people in an underpass flooding during heavy rains in July 2023. The man attempted to take his own life inside the prison and was take
July 31, 2025 -
Self-proclaimed power broker appears before special counsel probing ex-first lady
Self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun on Thursday appeared before a special counsel team over an investigation into corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee as a suspect over alleged meddling in election nominations. Myung arrived at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul for the two-day session set to take place through Friday that will likely focus on his ties with Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol. "I would also like to find wha
July 31, 2025 -
Seoul hit with longest nighttime heat wave ever for July
Temperatures in Seoul never dipped below 29.3 degrees Celsius between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, which meant the city had set a new record: the highest number of tropical nights in July since modern weather observations began over a century ago. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the nation's most populated city has now experienced 22 tropical nights this month, breaking the previous record of 21 set in July 1994. A tropical night is a meteorological term referring
July 31, 2025