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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.

Ex-first lady not to attend Saturday questioning due to 'poor health'

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who is currently under arrest, will not appear for questioning by a special counsel team this weekend due to health problems, her lawyer said Friday. Kim, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently in custody, had been summoned to appear at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office Saturday morning to be questioned over corruption and bribery allegations. Kim's side recently informed the special counsel team of her intent to skip Saturday's session, citing health problems, the investigation team said in a press release. It has summoned Kim again for questioning on Monday. The former first lady's lawyer said that she is in "very poor" health condition due to low blood pressure and anxiety disorders. Last week, Kim was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, 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. The former first lady had since been questioned by the s

Aug 22, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-first lady not to attend Saturday questioning due to 'poor health'

Mastermind of $29 million hacking ring extradited from Thailand, BTS' Jungkook among victims

A Chinese national accused of leading a hacking organization that stole more than 38 billion won ($29 million) from Korean victims, including BTS member Jungkook, has been extradited from Thailand after an international investigation. The Ministry of Justice said the 34-year-old suspect was flown into Incheon International Airport from Bangkok at 5:05 a.m. on Friday. According to authorities, the suspect formed a hacking ring overseas and between August 2023 and January 2024 infiltrated the websites of domestic telecom companies to illegally obtain personal data. Using the stolen information, the group opened mobile phone accounts under victims’ names and gained access to their financial and cryptocurrency accounts, siphoning off assets worth more than 38 billion won. Victims reportedly included high-profile figures such as BTS member Jungkook, a major conglomerate chairman and several business leaders. The Justice Ministry tracked the suspect's movements with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Interpol, confirming that he had entered Thailand in April. Working through the Southea

Aug 22, 2025By Hankookilbo
Mastermind of $29 million hacking ring extradited from Thailand, BTS' Jungkook among victims

Man caught littering cigarette revealed as fugitive in $13 million crypto fraud

A man who had been on the run for nearly five years after orchestrating a massive cryptocurrency fraud worth 17.7 billion won ($13.2 million) was arrested in Seoul after police noticed him littering. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Friday that its mobile patrol unit apprehended a man in his 60s, near Sillim Station in Gwanak District. According to police, at around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers saw the man hastily fleeing after discarding a cigarette butt. When stopped, he pleaded, “Please let me go just this once,” and attempted to hail a taxi. Suspicious of his behavior, officers demanded identification. He refused to show his ID and repeatedly told police, “Please let me go, I will give you money.” He also pretended to make a phone call before trying to run away from the scene. Upon further questioning, police discovered he was a wanted fugitive with arrest warrants issued on 10 charges, including fraud and assault. Investigators said the man had defrauded about 1,300 people of 17.7 billion won through a cryptocurrency scam between 2018 and 2019, before going into

Aug 22, 2025By Hankookilbo
Man caught littering cigarette revealed as fugitive in $13 million crypto fraud

Gang nabbed for facilitating illegal exchange of over $71.5 mil. in gambling funds

Korea's customs agency said Thursday it busted 10 individuals who illegally transferred over 100 billion won ($71.5 million) of exchanged gambling money to the Philippines. The Korea Customs Agency said it apprehended the individuals and transferred them to the Seoul Central Prosecutors Office on charges of illegal transmission of foreign exchange. The suspects are accused of illegally facilitating the exchange of a combined 137 billion won for individuals seeking Philippine pesos for gambling in the southeast Asian nation. The individuals received the money either via cash or through their bank accounts in South Korea, exchanged them into U.S. dollars, which were then carried out in luggage and golf bags to the Philippines, the customs agency said. The couriers carried an average of $200,000 on each of a total of 519 trips to the island country, the agency added. Customs authorities are conducting an investigation into the customers who requested the illegal transmission of funds, and have notified relevant agencies to investigate the source of the funds.

Aug 21, 2025By Yonhap
Gang nabbed for facilitating illegal exchange of over $71.5 mil. in gambling funds

Special counsel team to extend probe into Marine's death until Sept. 29

A special counsel team said Thursday it has decided to extend its investigation into alleged government interference in a 2023 probe of a Marine's death for 30 days until Sept. 29. Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's investigation of the allegations surrounding the military probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun in July 2023 had been initially set to end next Saturday after launching July 2. With the planned extension, the investigation will now conclude Sept. 29. Under a special counsel bill passed in June, the investigation can run for up to 120 days. Assistant special counsel Choung Min-young said the team needs more time for questioning and analyzing evidence. The team plans to formally notify President Lee Jae Myung and the National Assembly of the extension next week. The investigation has focused on allegations that the initial suspects of the probe were cleared after alleged interference by high-ranking officials of the then Yoon Suk Yeol administration, including the former president himself. Chae died during a search mission for torrential rain victims after being swept away b

Aug 21, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel team to extend probe into Marine's death until Sept. 29

Court orders foreign ministry to drop lawsuit against MBC over Yoon's hot mic

A court on Wednesday ordered the foreign ministry to drop a lawsuit against broadcaster MBC over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial remarks caught on a hot mic during his visit to the United States in 2022. Under the compulsory mediation, or "decision in lieu of conciliation," the Seoul High Court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to withdraw the lawsuit and instructed MBC to consent to the decision. Under Korean law, a compulsory mediation can be ordered by a court when no settlement is reached during a mediation process in a civil lawsuit. It becomes final if neither party files an objection within two weeks. The former president's remarks, which experts say are difficult to discern due to background noise, were subtitled by MBC to make it sound like the president used vulgar language when mentioning then U.S. President Joe Biden. Yoon's office later argued there was no mention of Biden and claimed the word he used was in reference to the Korean National Assembly. "Considering the nature of the remarks, the freedom of the press and expression along with the social cost

Aug 20, 2025By Yonhap
Court orders foreign ministry to drop lawsuit against MBC over Yoon's hot mic

Ex-PM Han summoned again for questioning Friday in martial law probe

A special counsel team said Wednesday it plans to question former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo again later this week over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team investigating Yoon's martial law bid said it asked Han to appear for another round of questioning at 9:30 a.m. Friday, after concluding grilling him for around 16 hours early Wednesday. Han stands accused of not stopping Yoon's declaration on Dec. 3 as the second-in-command to the president, with Cho's team suspecting that he aided the attempt as a key accomplice. The team is expected to decide whether to request an arrest warrant for Han after Friday's session. Han reportedly cooperated with the investigators during this week's marathon session without exercising his right to remain silent. Han was among the six Cabinet members Yoon called in to share his plans to declare martial law. He also took part in a Cabinet meeting that reviewed the decree and another one that lifted it on Dec. 4. The team suspects that Han sought to give Yoon's decl

Aug 20, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-PM Han summoned again for questioning Friday in martial law probe

Ex-first lady's detention extended to Aug. 31

The detention period for former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been extended by 10 days to the end of this month, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Wednesday. The team said in a press release that a court decided Tuesday to extend Kim's detention period to Aug. 31. Her first detention period was due to end Thursday, 10 days after the court issued a warrant to arrest her on charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, 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. Under the current law, the special counsel has to indict the suspect within the extended detention period, and no further extension is permitted. The special counsel team has twice called in Kim for questioning about the corruption allegations, and a third round of questioning is slated for Thursday.

Aug 20, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-first lady's detention extended to Aug. 31

Special counsel indicts ex-interior minister over role in Dec. 3 martial law imposition

A special counsel team indicted former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Tuesday on charges of abuse of authority and his role in the short-lived imposition of martial law in early December last year. The team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk said Lee is accused of playing an active role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law in December. Lee is also accused of aiding and abetting the martial law imposition by not actively stopping Yoon from illegally declaring the decree. Lee is also suspected of instructing the police and fire agency to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration. Earlier this month, the former interior minister was arrested on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection, abuse of power and perjury. Lee's indictment marks the second former Cabinet member in connection with the December martial law imposition, following the arrest of ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Earlier in the day, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also appeared for questioning over his alleged involvement in Yoon's botched attempt to i

Aug 19, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel indicts ex-interior minister over role in Dec. 3 martial law imposition

Special counsel summons ex-first lady Kim for 3rd questioning Thursday

A special counsel team on Tuesday summoned former first lady Kim Keon Hee for another round of questioning later this week, after grilling her for the second time on various corruption allegations against her. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said it notified Kim to appear for another session at 2 p.m. Thursday, which would mark Kim's third round of questioning since she was placed under arrest last week. The special counsel team earlier had notified the former first lady to appear for questioning on Wednesday. During the latest seven-hour session, Kim exercised her right to remain silent for most of the team's questions. Kim's lawyers said it would be difficult for the former first lady to attend the next session, citing her health. Kim was placed in custody at the detention center in southwestern Seoul last week after a court issued a warrant to arrest her on charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, 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

Aug 19, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel summons ex-first lady Kim for 3rd questioning Thursday
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