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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.

Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for shaman in bribery probe against ex-first lady

A special counsel team on Tuesday filed for a court warrant to arrest a shaman at the center of a snowballing bribery and influence-peddling scandal involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, officials said. Special Counsel Min Joong-ki's team filed the request for the writ against Jeon Seong-bae on charges of bribery and violation of laws related to political funds, Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Sang-jin said in a media briefing. Park said Jeon poses a high risk of fleeing or destroying evidence, based on the inconsistency in the statements he gave during the questioning. Jeon stands accused of giving Kim a diamond necklace and Chanel bags on behalf of the Unification Church between April and August 2022. Jeon allegedly delivered requests for business favors from the church along with the luxury gifts. While admitting to having received such requests from the church, Jeon denied the bribery allegation, claiming he lost the necklace and luxury bags before he could deliver them to the former first lady. Jeon is also suspected of having received money from prospective candidates ahead of

Aug 19, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for shaman in bribery probe against ex-first lady

Man sentenced to life for deadly stabbing rampage in Seoul

A 32-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for killing a complete stranger in a stabbing rampage in Seoul earlier this year. The Seoul Northern District Court handed down the sentence to Kim Seong-jin indicted for murdering the victim in her 60s and attempting to kill another woman in her 40s during the rampage at a supermarket in Mia-dong, northern Seoul, on April 22. The court also ordered Kim to wear an ankle monitor for 30 years. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Kim, arguing that it would be difficult to expect him to be reformed or have his humanity restored.

Aug 19, 2025By Yonhap
Man sentenced to life for deadly stabbing rampage in Seoul

Ex-PM Han appears for special counsel questioning in martial law probe

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday appeared before a special counsel team for questioning over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched attempt to impose martial law. Han did not respond to reporters' questions as he arrived at special counsel Cho Eun-suk's office in southern Seoul for the session expected to focus on allegations that he aided Yoon's efforts to declare martial law on Dec. 3. Cho's team is expected to decide whether to seek an arrest warrant against Han after questioning him. Special prosecutors suspect Han played a key role in Yoon's declaration, considering the procedures to declare martial law require involvement from the prime minister. Han was among the six Cabinet members Yoon first 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. Cho's team also believes Han was involved in Yoon's alleged efforts to draft and destroy a revised version of the decree after the martial law was lifted. Han testified at the National Assembly i

Aug 19, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-PM Han appears for special counsel questioning in martial law probe

Enhanced CCTV surveillance bolsters crime prevention across Seoul

Late at night in southern Seoul, surveillance camera footage showed a man wearing latex gloves repeatedly approaching residential building entrances. Noticing the signature “throwing” method, in which dealers leave drug packets for buyers to collect, a vigilant monitoring officer alerted police. The suspect was soon apprehended with 39 packets of methamphetamine. In a separate incident, a group of young men was spotted acting suspiciously outside a dance club elsewhere in Seoul. Prompt reporting led to the arrest of five suspects on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. These incidents underscore the growing role of Seoul’s extensive CCTV surveillance network in safeguarding residents, particularly against drug-related crimes. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that its 113,273 surveillance cameras helped identify 358 suspected drug offenses and contributed to the arrest of 36 suspects over the past two years. According to the Seoul Research Data Service, the incidence of five major crimes — murder, robbery, theft, assault and sexual violence — fell to abo

Aug 19, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Enhanced CCTV surveillance bolsters crime prevention across Seoul

12,000 citizens seek compensation from ex-presidential couple over martial law

More than 12,000 citizens filed a lawsuit Monday against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, seeking compensation for damages from his imposition of martial law last year. Kim Kyeong-ho, a lawyer from the law firm Hoin, filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 12,225 claimants, seeking 100,000 won ($72) in compensation per person from Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The number of plaintiffs could increase, as the suit allows more people to join until it concludes. The plaintiffs argued Yoon's imposition of martial law in December constituted willful criminal acts against people's basic rights and inflicted irreparable damage to their dignity as members of a democratic society, holding Yoon responsible for compensation. They also held Yoon's wife as an accomplice who helped trigger Yoon's martial law declaration, arguing she is also responsible for compensation. "The claimants have effectively requested (the court) deliver a symbolic ruling demonstrating that if public officials commit criminal acts for financial gain, the profits can be confiscated accor

Aug 18, 2025By Yonhap
12,000 citizens seek compensation from ex-presidential couple over martial law

Ex-PM Han summoned for questioning in martial law probe

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team summoned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for questioning this week over his alleged involvement in the Dec. 3 martial law imposition by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said Monday. The special counsel requested Han appear for questioning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials said. Cho's team has been investigating allegations that Han aided Yoon's efforts to impose the martial law decree on Dec. 3 last year, rather than trying to stop him from proceeding with it. They suspect that Han sought to give it procedural legitimacy and took part in drafting and destroying a revised version of the martial law decree, potentially making him an accomplice. Han testified at the National Assembly in February that he was not aware of the martial law decree until a Cabinet meeting lifted martial law on Dec. 4. Han later claimed that he realized a copy of the decree was in his back pocket. But the special counsel has reportedly secured surveillance footage from the presidential office that shows Han looking through martial law documents. Late last month, Cho's tea

Aug 18, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-PM Han summoned for questioning in martial law probe

Court proceeds with martial law hearing without ex-President Yoon over his refusal to attend

A Seoul court on Monday proceeded with a hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law case in his absence, as he has refused to attend any of his court sessions since being detained last month. The Seoul Central District Court's bench handling Yoon's case said Monday's hearing on insurrection and abuse of power charges against him would proceed without him, citing his "refusal to attend." Since being rearrested and detained nearly a month ago, Yoon has refused to attend all five court hearings on the insurrection case, citing health issues. As Yoon refused to attend the fourth session last Monday, the court warned that any disadvantages resulting from the absence would fall on him. Speaking to reporters ahead of the latest session, Yoon's side said he plans to attend court hearings "when his health improves," but declined to answer questions about his current health condition or whether he has a doctor's appointment.

Aug 18, 2025By Yonhap
Court proceeds with martial law hearing without ex-President Yoon over his refusal to attend

Ex-first lady Kim again exercises right to remain silent in special counsel questioning

Jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared at a special counsel's office Monday to undergo questioning for the second time but again exercised her right to remain silent on various corruption charges against her, sources close to the matter said. Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was brought to special counsel Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul earlier in the day in a prison van to attend the questioning. 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 in exchange for business favors. She was mainly questioned on charges of interference in the candidate nominations from 10 a.m. to 11:42 a.m. and is being questioned about the stock manipulation case during the afternoon session, assistant special counsel Oh Jeong-hee said during a press briefing. Oh said Kim ex

Aug 18, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-first lady Kim again exercises right to remain silent in special counsel questioning

11,000 citizens to file compensation suit against ex-presidential couple over martial law

Around 11,000 citizens plan to file a lawsuit against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, seeking compensation for damages from his imposition of martial law last year, legal sources said Sunday. Kim Kyeong-ho, a lawyer from the law firm Hoin, will file the suit with the Seoul Central District Court on Monday on behalf of 11,000 claimants, seeking 100,000 won ($72) in compensation per person, the sources said. The plaintiffs argued Yoon's imposition of martial law in December constituted willful criminal acts against people's basic rights and inflicted irreparable damage to their dignity as members of a democratic society, holding Yoon responsible for compensation. They also held his wife, Kim Keon Hee, as an accomplice who helped trigger Yoon's martial law declaration, arguing she is also responsible for compensation. It marks the first reported lawsuit seeking compensation from Kim over the martial law debacle. In the first ruling on similar suits late last month, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon to pay 100,000 won in compensation to 104 plaintiffs for his martial

Aug 17, 2025By Yonhap
11,000 citizens to file compensation suit against ex-presidential couple over martial law

Ex-president, wife no longer permitted to use private visiting room

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee will no longer be allowed to use private attorney-client meeting rooms at their respective detention centers as the Ministry of Justice moves to eliminate preferential treatment surrounding their custody. On Friday, the ministry announced a major personnel reshuffle, appointing Kim Do-hyung, the current warden of Suwon Detention Center, as the new head of Seoul Detention Center — where Yoon is being held. Kim Hyun-woo, the outgoing Seoul warden, will assume leadership of Anyang Prison. The changes will take effect on Monday. The ministry cited “various issues raised regarding Yoon’s detention and treatment” as the reason for the overhaul. “The Ministry of Justice will continue to make every effort to ensure strict law enforcement and fair detention management, free from any suspicion of preferential treatment,” it said. The same day, the ministry stopped allowing Yoon and his wife to meet their lawyers inside private rooms; instead, they must meet their legal counsel in standard visitation rooms, like all other inmates.

Aug 15, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Ex-president, wife no longer permitted to use private visiting room
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