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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.

Court again rules in favor of Korean American singer in visa dispute

A court on Thursday ruled again in favor of Steve Yoo, a Korean American singer, in a lawsuit he filed to reverse the Korean government's decision to deny him an entry visa for renouncing his Korean citizenship to evade mandatory military service. The Seoul Administrative Court ordered the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles to cancel its earlier decision to deny Yoo an entry visa, saying the visa denial was illegal and should be revoked due to an abuse of discretion. The court ruling came in Yoo's third lawsuit filed last year against the LA consulate general. Yoo, also known by his Korean name Yoo Seung-jun, has been barred from entering Korea after he became a U.S. citizen and renounced his Korean citizenship in 2002, with the alleged goal of dodging his military duty. Yoo first filed a lawsuit in 2015 after the LA consulate general refused to issue him a visa. In 2020, Yoo won a Supreme Court ruling that the visa refusal was procedurally flawed. After the top court's ruling, Yoo applied again for a visa to enter Korea, but the LA consulate general again turned it down, prompting

Aug 28, 2025By Yonhap
Court again rules in favor of Korean American singer in visa dispute

Ex-President Yoon absent from his insurrection trial for 6th consecutive time

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from his insurrection trial for the sixth consecutive time Thursday, leading the court to proceed without him. Yoon has refused to appear for his trial at the Seoul Central District Court since his second arrest on July 10, citing health issues. The bench opened Thursday's hearing by noting the defendant was absent again and that the detention center where Yoon is jailed had sent a note explaining the difficulty of bringing him by force. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, a trial can proceed in the absence of the defendant in the event he refuses to attend without legitimate grounds and it is deemed impossible or significantly difficult for a prison officer to bring him in by force. The former president has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his short-lived imposition of martial law in December. Insurrection carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death. During Thursday's hearing, the court is scheduled to hear witness testimony from two military officials involved in the martial law plan

Aug 28, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon absent from his insurrection trial for 6th consecutive time

Gov't unveils comprehensive measures to fight voice phishing

The government on Thursday unveiled a set of comprehensive measures to fight voice phishing scams, including tougher punishment for mobile carriers. The measures were decided at an interagency task force meeting led by Government Policy Coordination Minister Yoon Chang-ryeol and divided according to stage — from when scammers approach victims to their deception and theft followed by law enforcement's investigation. "Subtle new methods, such as impersonating organizations, have continued to appear recently in voice phishing crimes, sharply increasing the scope of damage and continually threatening the people's wealth and safety," the Office for Government Policy Coordination said in a press release. Under the new measures, the government will launch a "comprehensive response team" next month led by the police to receive reports of potential scams, analyze them, block access, and launch investigations in a coordinated and real-time manner. The team will operate around the clock with 137 permanent staff members, up from 43 at an equivalent center currently under operation. Also, the govern

Aug 28, 2025By Yonhap
Gov't unveils comprehensive measures to fight voice phishing

Woman in cat mask caught wielding knives at Geoje supermarket

Police in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, have apprehended a woman in her 20s who wore a cat mascot mask and brandished knives inside a large supermarket, alarming shoppers. Geoje Police said on Wednesday that the unidentified woman was booked on suspicion of illegally possessing dangerous weapons in a public place. She is accused of entering the toy section of a supermarket in Okpo-dong at 7:23 p.m. on Aug. 2, wearing a cat mask and gloves, and suddenly pulling out two knives and waving them in the air. According to footage released on the National Police Agency’s YouTube channel, the woman first roamed the aisles quietly, observing people. She then picked up knives and walked through the store holding them aloft. Children who saw her fled in fear as she raised the weapons and moved toward them. Supermarket employees tried to calm her down but backed away when she advanced while still holding the knives. At one point, the woman ran toward staff carrying umbrellas as improvised protection, ignoring repeated demands to put the weapons down. Police officers who rushed to the scene order

Aug 28, 2025By Hankookilbo
Woman in cat mask caught wielding knives at Geoje supermarket

Court denies arrest warrant for ex-PM Han over martial law allegations

A Seoul court on Wednesday rejected a warrant to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court denied the warrant sought by the team of special counsel Cho Eun-suk, saying there is room for legal dispute regarding key facts and the legal assessment of the suspect's actions. Han is facing charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, falsifying and destroying official documents, perjury and other offenses. Earlier in the day, Han arrived at the court shortly before the hearing and entered the building without answering reporters' questions. Han is accused of abetting Yoon's imposition of martial law by proposing a Cabinet meeting before the decree's declaration. He is also suspected of drafting and later destroying a revised proclamation intended to enhance the legitimacy of the decree. Moreover, he is accused of lying under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was not aware Yoon had given him a copy of the martial law declaration u

Aug 27, 2025By Yonhap
Court denies arrest warrant for ex-PM Han over martial law allegations

Police raid National Assembly Secretariat over lawmaker's alleged illegal stock trading

Police raided the National Assembly Secretariat on Wednesday over allegations of a lawmaker's illegal stock trading under a borrowed name. The raid on the secretariat's office inside the National Assembly compound came as police are investigating allegations Rep. Lee Choon-suak, formerly of the ruling Democratic Party, traded in stocks using the name of his aide, surnamed Cha. The four-term lawmaker is accused of violating laws on real name financial transactions and conflict of interest prevention. He left the party earlier this month after a press photo captured him using a cellphone inside the main chamber of the National Assembly to check and trade stocks in Naver, LG CNS and other artificial intelligence-related companies under the aide's name. Police launched the raid to seize entry logs of Lee and his aides and surveillance camera footage from outside his office. The material will be used together with records of his stock transactions and AI policy briefings to verify allegations he abused his former position as the AI policy chief of the presidential State Affairs Planning Commit

Aug 27, 2025By Yonhap
Police raid National Assembly Secretariat over lawmaker's alleged illegal stock trading

Court holds arrest warrant hearing for ex-PM Han

A court held a hearing Wednesday on whether to issue a warrant to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court began the hearing at 1:30 p.m. after special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested the warrant on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, falsifying and destroying official documents, perjury and other offenses. Han arrived at the court shortly before the hearing and entered the building without answering reporters' questions. Should the court issue the warrant, a decision that could come as early as later the same day, Han will become the third Cabinet member of the Yoon administration to be arrested in connection with the martial law attempt in December. The others are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min. Han is accused of abetting Yoon's imposition of martial law by proposing a Cabinet meeting before the decree's declaration. He is also suspected of drafting and later destroying a revised proclamatio

Aug 27, 2025By Yonhap
Court holds arrest warrant hearing for ex-PM Han

Special counsel teams defend raids on church, air base after Trump remarks

Two special counsel teams on Tuesday defended their raids on a church and a military base, saying they did not violate any laws, after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern about their activities. On Monday, Trump told reporters before his summit with President Lee Jae Myung in Washington that he had heard about "very vicious raids on churches" in South Korea, and "that they even went into a military base and got information." The remarks appeared to be in part referring to a raid conducted by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team against Yoido Full Gospel Church last month as part of its investigation into alleged government interference in a military probe into a Marine's death in 2023. Assistant special counsel Choung Min-young defended the raid, noting his team had received a court-issued warrant. "We explained the need for a search as we filed for the warrant, and there have been no legal violations in its execution," Choung said in a briefing. The team suspects that Rev. Lee Young-hoon, a senior pastor at the church, had close ties to an initial suspect of the 2023 militar

Aug 26, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel teams defend raids on church, air base after Trump remarks

Special counsel to indict ex-first lady in corruption probe on Friday

A special counsel team investigating corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee said it plans to indict her with physical detention on Friday. Assistant special counsel Oh Jeong-hee announced the date during a press briefing Tuesday, confirming earlier reports that the indictment could come as early as Friday, before Kim's pretrial arrest expires Sunday. It will mark the first time that the spouse of a former president is made to stand trial while in custody. It will also be the first time that a former presidential couple stands trial simultaneously, as Kim's husband and former President Yoon Suk Yeol is also jailed and being tried on insurrection charges over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Kim faces allegations of being involved in stock manipulation schemes, meddling in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and 2024 general elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team obtained a warrant for her arrest on Aug. 1

Aug 26, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel to indict ex-first lady in corruption probe on Friday

Special counsel summons ex-PPP floor leader in bribery probe

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team investigating suspicions surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee said Tuesday it has summoned Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) as a suspect for questioning this week about bribery allegations. Responding to the team's announcement, Kweon said on Facebook that he will appear at the special counsel office at 10 a.m. Wednesday. "I'm innocent of all charges raised by the special counsel side. That's why I'm confident," he said, accusing the special counsel team of colluding with some media outlets and continuing political maneuvering. Kweon is suspected of receiving 100 million won ($72,000) in illegal political funds from a former official of the Unification Church, surnamed Yun, between 2021 and 2024 while being asked to support church events. The special counsel team is also investigating an allegation that Kweon received a shopping bag containing cash from Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja. In addition, the team is looking into suspicions that Yun and a shaman close to Kim recruited a large number of Unificat

Aug 26, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel summons ex-PPP floor leader in bribery probe
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