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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Religious sect leader indicted over forced PPP memberships

The founder of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, was indicted under detention Monday, over allegations that he forced followers to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the political party's elections. The sect's leader, Lee Man-hee, was indicted on charges of obstruction of business and violations of the Political Parties Act, according to the joint police-prosecution task force. The move follows an indictment against Lee in June, which came as the five-year statute of limitations for Lee's alleged forced enrollment of church members into a political party in July 2021 was approaching. The 94-year-old is suspected of forcing at least 56,000 church members to join the PPP between July 2021 and January 2024, in an attempt to influence the outcome of the party's 2022 presidential primary and 2024 general election primaries. Some 6,482 sect followers were found to have joined the PPP in July 2021, followed by 2,873 followers in December 2021 and around 12,044 in August 2023. The period of the alleged forced enrollments largely overlaps with the

Jul 13, 2026By Yonhap
Religious sect leader indicted over forced PPP memberships

Gov't launches task force to tackle stalking murders

A government task force was launched Monday to devise countermeasures against stalking-related murders and incidents of dating violence. The task force jointly set up by the justice ministry, the gender equality ministry, the prosecution and the police announced 20 measures in four areas -- strengthening laws, enhancing interagency collaboration, expanding victim support and raising awareness of relationship-based violence. The TF said it will strengthen the effectiveness of restraining orders against potential perpetrators and provide two private bodyguards to closely protect high-risk victims. The TF said its countermeasures will focus on addressing gaps in laws, systems and on-the-ground responses exposed by recent incidents, such as the stalking murder in Namyangju, just east of Seoul, in March. Kim Hoon, a 44-year-old resident of Namyangju, was arrested in March for stalking and killing his ex-girlfriend while wearing an electronic ankle monitor. The case sparked criticism that the authorities failed to protect the 27-year-old victim even though she was wearing a smartwatch as a sub

Jul 13, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't launches task force to tackle stalking murders

Special counsel to question ex-first lady over presidential residence relocation project

A special counsel team said Monday it has summoned former first lady Kim Keon Hee for questioning over alleged irregularities in the relocation of the presidential residence in 2022. The team led by special counsel Kwon Chang-young has asked the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning Sunday morning, assistant special counsel Kim Ji-mi said at a press briefing. "We plan to question her about allegations that she was involved in selecting the construction company," she said, referring to 21 Gram, an interior design company that renovated the new presidential residence in Seoul's Yongsan Ward, following its relocation from Cheong Wa Dae in 2022. The special counsel team suspects 21 Gram won the project despite being unqualified due to its past ties to the former first lady. Incumbent President Lee Jae Myung has returned the presidential residence to Cheong Wa Dae, along with the presidential office that was relocated to the defense ministry compound under Yoon.

Jul 13, 2026By Yonhap
Special counsel to question ex-first lady over presidential residence relocation project

Gwangju schoolgirl murder suspect admits rape-murder charge

Jang Yoon-gi, the 23-year-old suspected of killing a high school girl in Gwangju, admitted to the rape-murder charge on Monday, reversing his earlier claim that the killing was the result of an impulse and not sexually motivated. His admission was made only after a dashboard camera video clip showing his crime was collected as evidence through the prosecution's supplementary investigation. Jang's case has added to controversy over the government's move to strip prosecutors of their supplementary investigative powers amid systemic failures within the local police. At a court hearing in Gwangju, Jang, who was indicted last month on charges of stabbing and killing the 16-year-old girl in the southwestern city in May, told the court “Yes” when asked whether he admitted to the charges, including full rape-murder charge. Following his arrest, Jang had claimed the murder was the result of an impulse, repeatedly saying he wanted to kill someone before taking his own life. The police initially forwarded the case with simple murder charges. The prosecution, however, upgraded the charges to rap

Jul 13, 2026By Park Ji-won
Gwangju schoolgirl murder suspect admits rape-murder charge

Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 2 years in prison in 'free opinion poll' case

A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison after finding him partially guilty of accepting illegal political funds in the form of free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power broker. The Seoul Central District Court convicted the jailed former president on charges of violating the Political Funds Act in a ruling that marked a departure from a separate trial where his wife was acquitted on the same charges. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team earlier indicted Yoon on charges of colluding with his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and receiving 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won ($180,100) in total for free from the power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, between April 2021 and March 2022. In its ruling, the court recognized that Yoon had received 14 opinion polls from Myung for free over the period, sentencing him to prison and ordering a forfeiture of 13.96 million won. It recognized the special counsel team's argument that Yoon had promised to support former Rep. Kim Young-sun's nomination as a candidate for the conservative P

Jul 13, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 2 years in prison in 'free opinion poll' case

Gwangju schoolgirl murder exposes risks of unchecked police power

The murder of a high school student in Gwangju and an alleged cover-up attempt by police have abruptly disrupted a policy push to strip prosecutors of all remaining investigative powers. The killing by Jang Yoon-gi, son of a police officer, has raised the question of whether Korea should press ahead with institutionalizing unchecked police power at the very moment its dangers have been laid bare. A special investigation team under the National Police Agency probing the alleged misconduct in the investigation of the murder case visited the office of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police’s commissioner and other top command posts to collect evidence, expanding its inquiry to the police leadership. This came after investigators named the chief of Gwangsan Police Station in the city, the leader of the violent crimes team and his members as criminal suspects. The team leader was arrested last week on charges including leaking official secrets and destroying evidence. Investigators are also probing Jang's father — himself suspected of destroying key evidence — on suspicion of colluding with

Jul 12, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Gwangju schoolgirl murder exposes risks of unchecked police power
  • Gwangju schoolgirl murder shatters faith in police

Court upholds license revocation for group that falsely claimed UN ties

A Seoul appeals court has upheld a decision by the National Assembly’s secretary general to revoke the legal status of a local organization that masqueraded as a United Nations-affiliated body to solicit billions of won in donations. The Seoul High Court recently dismissed an appeal filed by the UN-Habitat Korea Committee against the secretary general, affirming a lower court ruling that rejected the organization’s attempt to overturn the cancellation of its nonprofit corporate status. From the outset in 2019, the group promoted itself as “the U.N.’s first national committee,” using the U.N. name and emblem in its materials. In July 2023, however, allegations surfaced that it had never received formal authorization from the U.N. to use its name or logo, yet had raised about 4.4 billion won ($2.92 million) in donations. In November that year, the Assembly revoked the group’s establishment permit. A court ruled in favor of the Assembly last September. The appeals court likewise found that the committee’s use of the U.N. name and logo to solicit donations constituted grounds f

Jul 12, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Court upholds license revocation for group that falsely claimed UN ties

Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

GWANGJU — Investigators raided the office of the Gwangju police chief Saturday as part of a widening probe into the police's suspected collusion with the father of the suspect in a high-profile murder case. The National Office of Investigation under the National Police Agency has formed a special team to investigate suspicions that the father, a police officer in the southwestern city of Gwangju, colluded with his colleagues to destroy evidence and access investigative information related to his son's alleged murder of a high school student in May. Investigators on the team executed warrants to search and seize material from the offices of the Gwangju Police Agency chief and the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station chief and five other locations. They arrived at these locations around 10 a.m. and left around 4:30 p.m. The lead investigator for the murder case was arrested earlier this week over concerns he may destroy evidence. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong cut short his trip to the United States amid the controversy and returned home Friday. He apologized to the v

Jul 11, 2026By Yonhap
Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

Comedian Park Na-rae referred to prosecution over physical assault, verbal abuse charges

Comedian Park Na-rae was referred to the prosecution on charges of verbal abuse and physical assault against her former managers, police said Friday. Park has been under police probe over the charges since late last year, and filed a countercomplaint against them and claimed that they threatened her with false allegations and demanded money. In December last year, Park announced that she would suspend all broadcasting activities amid escalating allegations of abuse against her former managers. Park also faces allegations of receiving unauthorized injections and proxy prescriptions from an unlicensed practitioner.

Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Comedian Park Na-rae referred to prosecution over physical assault, verbal abuse charges

Jailed for Kim Soo-hyun defamation, YouTuber claims 'survival threat' after rival freezes funds

YouTuber Kim Se-ui, currently jailed for defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun, said he faces a "threat to survival" after a rival secured a court-ordered freeze on his commissary account. Kim released a handwritten letter detailing his inability to buy basic necessities, including bottled water, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes and medicine. HoverLab, better known as Garo Sero Institute in Korea, shared the July 2 letter on YouTube Wednesday. Kim said rival YouTuber Eun Hyun-jang deposited 20 million won ($13,303) to freeze 100 million won of his funds. Kim said his actual balance of 300,000 won is completely frozen. He said he vomits daily from a severe cold and stomach issues, but cannot buy medicine. Having eaten nothing since June 30, Kim said he is dizzy with shaking hands and has only four stamps and two rolls of toilet paper left. Kim plans to ask the court to release funds for basic needs while requesting financial donations for his channel. Eun announced the freeze on July 1. He previously froze 120 million won across six of Kim's bank accounts last month over a separate defamation

Jul 10, 2026By Hankookilbo
Jailed for Kim Soo-hyun defamation, YouTuber claims 'survival threat' after rival freezes funds
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