The Korea Times

Court holds defendant liable for online defamation of virtual K-pop idols

A court has ruled that online insults directed at virtual idols constitute defamation, ordering an internet user to pay 500,000 won ($360) in damages to members of the virtual K-pop group PLAVE. The Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court in Gyeonggi Province partly upheld a damages suit brought by the five performers behind the group’s avatars, ordering the defendant to pay 100,000 won to each member. According to the ruling, the defendant posted a series of derogatory comments on social media in July 2024, saying the people behind the avatars “could be ugly in real life,” claiming they gave off a “typical Korean man vibe” and using profanity. The performers said the remarks caused them emotional distress and sought 6.5 million won each, totaling 32.5 million won. The defendant claimed that, as the group is made up of fictional characters with no revealed personal identities, defamation could not be established. However, the court dismissed that claim. Avatars, the court said, are a form of self-expression and social interaction, not just digital images. If an avatar is

Sep 18, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Court holds defendant liable for online defamation of virtual K-pop idols

Politics

Navy commissions Aegis destroyer Dasan Jeong Yakyong to lead missile defense

ULSAN — The Navy launched its newest Aegis-equipped destroyer, the Dasan Jeong Yakyong (DDG-996), at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan on Wednesday, marking another step in Korea’s drive to strengthen its maritime defenses. The vessel, the second in the KDX-III Batch-II program after the ROKS Jeongjo the Great, is expected to play a key role in the Navy’s three-axis system, aimed at deterring missile threats. Named after Joseon Dynasty scholar Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836), who is better known by his pen name Dasan, the destroyer continues the Navy’s tradition of honoring individuals who are remembered for their service to the nation. Officials said the name also reflects the values of innovation and public duty associated with Dasan’s legacy. Measuring 170 meters in length and 21 meters in width, with a displacement of 8,200 tons, the vessel is larger than the earlier Sejong the Great-class destroyers. Its stealth design has been refined to minimize radar visibility. Outfitted with the latest Aegis combat system, it can track ballistic missiles more accurately. Future upgrad

Sep 17, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Navy commissions Aegis destroyer Dasan Jeong Yakyong to lead missile defense

Foreign Affairs

Korea, US to form task force on visa issues after Georgia factory raid

Korea and the United States are moving to establish a bilateral working group to address structural issues in the U.S. visa system to potentially allow more flexible authorization for Korean workers. The move to establish the working group was prompted by a recent raid at the construction site of a joint Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant in the U.S. state of Georgia, where more than 300 Korean workers were detained. The timeline for the group’s launch has been set ahead of a planned meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, in a bid to demonstrate the allies’ commitment and stem a growing erosion of trust. According to officials, the two governments are discussing the working group’s structure and initial agenda, based on a draft proposal shared between Seoul and Washington. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul are serving as the main channels of communication. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the body will be led by director-level officials, emphasizing that its p

Sep 16, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea, US to form task force on visa issues after Georgia factory raid

Defense

Military under scrutiny after spate of soldier deaths

Four recent firearm-related deaths in the military have raised the alarm over lax safety procedures and insufficient mental health protections for soldiers. While the Ministry of National Defense has ordered a rare, comprehensive inspection of all units, pressure is mounting for more substantive reforms. On Saturday, a Marine Corps corporal from the 6th Brigade was found dead of a gunshot wound inside a vehicle on Daecheong Island, about 160 kilometers west of Seoul. He had just returned from a coastal patrol. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead less than two hours later. Investigators from the military, police, and the National Human Rights Commission conducted a joint inquiry at the scene and reported finding no signs of foul play. Attention quickly focused on whether safety protocols had been overlooked and why the rifle was loaded with live rounds. The Marine Corps confirmed that the soldier’s funeral was held at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital with the family’s consent. The incident came on the heels of three other recent deaths. On Aug. 23, a sergeant at a front

Sep 16, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Military under scrutiny after spate of soldier deaths

Foreign Affairs

Charter flight carrying released Korean workers arrives in Seoul

Hundreds of Korean workers taken into custody in Georgia during a U.S. immigration raid arrived in Seoul Friday afternoon, bringing to a close a weeklong ordeal that has triggered fresh debate over visa rules and labor protections for Korean companies in America. A Korean Air charter flight carrying more than 300 passengers landed at Incheon International Airport at 3:24 p.m., according to government and company officials. The group includes 316 Koreans and 14 foreign nationals, including people from China, Japan and Indonesia, who were released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Folkston, Georgia. Most of the workers had been employed at a construction site for a Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery plant, where U.S. authorities carried out an unexpected immigration sweep on Sept. 4 (local time). They were held for seven days before negotiations led to their release and repatriation. Deputy Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, who was dispatched earlier this week to oversee the process, accompanied the workers on the flight and returned with them

Sep 12, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Charter flight carrying released Korean workers arrives in Seoul

Politics

Lee defends special tribunal on insurrection, rejects claims of unconstitutionality

President Lee Jae Myung dismissed concerns Thursday that a proposed special tribunal to handle insurrection-related cases might violate the constitution, saying that the will of the Korean people must remain at the heart of the nation’s democracy. The comments came during a press conference marking the first 100 days of the Lee administration at the presidential guesthouse in Seoul. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has been pushing to establish a special tribunal to oversee trials related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration last December. Under the proposal, designated panels of judges at the Seoul Central District Court and Seoul High Court would handle initial and appellate cases, while a special judge would review arrest warrants. “The judiciary functions within the framework established by the legislature, and judges must rule in accordance with the Constitution and their conscience,” Lee said. “The judiciary cannot unilaterally decide its own structure.” Some legal experts and critics have warned that such a tribunal could compromise judicial

Sep 11, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Lee defends special tribunal on insurrection, rejects claims of unconstitutionality

Foreign Affairs

Detained Korean workers’ departure from US delayed

The planned departure of hundreds of Korean workers detained in Georgia during an immigration raid has been delayed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday, due to “a cause from the U.S. side.” It did not explain what the cause was, raising concerns that their detention could be extended. The ministry said in a message to reporters that the plane’s departure, which was initially planned for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday (local time) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was postponed, without stating a new departure time. “The government is continuing consultation with the U.S. for as swift a departure as possible. We will provide further updates once a new schedule is confirmed,” it said. The announcement was made hours after a Korean Air charter flight departed Incheon International Airport for Hartsfield-Jackson airport to transport some 300 Koreans. They were scheduled to arrive in Korea the following evening. While the ministry is refraining from naming the cause of the delay, speculation is rising that the two sides may have different interpretations of

Sep 10, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Detained Korean workers’ departure from US delayed

Defense

Defense minister calls for global solidarity to address Pyongyang's nuclear threats

Seoul’s defense chief called for stronger international cooperation to address a growing array of security threats, including Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile programs, at a global forum Tuesday. He made the remarks at the 14th Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual security forum hosted by the Ministry of National Defense. The event has become a key barometer of geopolitical shifts in Northeast Asia, offering senior defense officials a rare venue for public and private discussions that serve as a vital backchannel for diplomacy. This year’s edition, running through Wednesday under the theme of “Overcoming Geopolitical Challenges: Building Peace through Cooperation,” has drawn representatives from 68 countries and international organizations, including five defense ministers, eight vice ministers and the chairman of NATO’s military committee. With more than 1,000 participants, it is the largest gathering since the forum’s inception in 2012. In his opening speech, Ahn said Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile programs remain “a serious challenge to peace and st

Sep 9, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Defense minister calls for global solidarity to address Pyongyang's nuclear threats

Politics

Party leaders meet for first time as tensions flare in Assembly

President Lee Jae Myung met with main opposition People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Jung Chung-rae for a luncheon at the presidential office Monday, just days before his 100th day in office. In the president’s first meeting with the leader of the main opposition party since taking office, Jang expressed concern that “uncertainty and anxiety have grown” under the new administration. He cited a number of issues, including stalled tariff negotiations, the recent detention of more than 300 South Korean workers at a factory in the United States, a worsening domestic business climate and rising security threats from North Korea, China and Russia. The luncheon was followed by a scheduled one-on-one session between Lee and Jang. The meeting was viewed as a test of the president’s ability to restart political dialogue ahead of a potentially confrontational session in the National Assembly over contentious bills, including proposals to expand special counsel investigations and detain a senior opposition lawmaker. The gatherin

Sep 8, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Party leaders meet for first time as tensions flare in Assembly

Defense

Poland highlights Korea as leading Asian investor, touting economic, cultural ties

KIELCE, Poland — The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) hailed Korea as its most important Asian investor and “a key partner,” underscoring the growing need for cooperation in electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors in the Polish economy. The agency said the partnership extends well beyond commerce, encompassing cultural and academic exchanges and producing an unusually close relationship between the two countries. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1989, Poland and Korea have strengthened their ties in areas such as trade, investment and culture. PAIH emphasized that this cooperation will now extend to emerging sectors such as semiconductors and data centers, describing the current stage as “only the beginning of a strategic partnership.” “Korea is currently the most significant Asian investor in Poland, with more than 650 companies operating here,” said Arkadiusz Tarnowski, deputy director of investment support department at PAIH. “Around half of these companies are connected to the electric vehicle battery supply chain, forming the basis of Pol

Sep 8, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Bahk Eun-ji

Read more

Court holds defendant liable for online defamation of virtual K-pop idols

Navy commissions Aegis destroyer Dasan Jeong Yakyong to lead missile defense

Korea, US to form task force on visa issues after Georgia factory raid

Military under scrutiny after spate of soldier deaths

Charter flight carrying released Korean workers arrives in Seoul

Lee defends special tribunal on insurrection, rejects claims of unconstitutionality

Detained Korean workers’ departure from US delayed

Defense minister calls for global solidarity to address Pyongyang's nuclear threats

Party leaders meet for first time as tensions flare in Assembly

Poland highlights Korea as leading Asian investor, touting economic, cultural ties

Top 5 stories