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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-President Yoon snubs questioning by special counsel in probe into ex-first lady

Arrested former President Yoon Suk Yeol did not appear for questioning by a special counsel team Tuesday over an investigation into various allegations surrounding his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yoon, who is currently in custody at Seoul Detention Center, south of Seoul, did not show up at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office for his scheduled appearance over allegations of him and his wife meddling in election nominations. The special counsel's team warned it could consider filing for a detention warrant if Yoon refuses to appear for questioning again. "We've summoned Yoon for appearing for questioning at 10 a.m. Wednesday through the head of the detention center," assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju said in a briefing, noting that Yoon did not offer any explanation about his non-appearance. Yoon's side told reporters that the former president's health condition has deteriorated, making it difficult for him to appear. Yoon has refused questioning by another special counsel team investigating his martial law decree, citing health reasons. If Yoon appears for questioning, Mi

Jul 29, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon snubs questioning by special counsel in probe into ex-first lady

Ex-spy chief appears for questioning by special counsel in Marine death probe

Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong appeared before a special counsel team Tuesday for questioning over allegations of government interference in an initial probe into the 2023 death of a Marine. Cho arrived at special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's office in southern Seoul as a suspect in the case over power abuse allegations in connection to the Marine Corps' investigation in 2023. As he entered the building, the former NIS director said he would "diligently" take part in the session but did not respond to reporters' questions. Cho was one of the senior officials in attendance at a meeting in July 2023 where then President Yoon Suk Yeol allegedly flew into a rage upon hearing the preliminary probe results that found a senior Marine commander responsible for the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun. Chae died earlier that month while on a mission to search for torrential rain victims. The former NIS director, who served as the national security adviser at the time, is believed to have been one of two people Yoon kept behind at the meeting before placing a call to then Defe

Jul 29, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-spy chief appears for questioning by special counsel in Marine death probe

Police not to disclose identity of man who fatally shot son

Police said Monday they have decided not to disclose the identity of a man accused of shooting his son to death in Incheon last week. The 62-year-old man was arrested on charges of killing his 33-year-old son with a homemade gun during his own birthday party at the son's home in Incheon, west of Seoul, on July 20. Police also found multiple explosive devices at the suspect's home in northern Seoul the following day. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency investigating the case said that its decision not to disclose the suspect's identity and photo was made because of strong opposition from the bereaved family. Earlier the bereaved family said in a statement that the disclosure of the suspect's personal information is feared to cause secondary damage to the victim's family and young children.

Jul 28, 2025By Yonhap
Police not to disclose identity of man who fatally shot son

Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for ex-interior minister in martial law probe

A special counsel team on Monday filed for an arrest warrant for former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on charges of playing a key role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law. Lee is accused of neglecting his constitutional duty by not actively stopping Yoon's "illegal" declaration of martial law in December, ordering the National Fire Agency to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration, and lying under oath that he did not give such instructions. "We requested an arrest warrant for former Minister Lee on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection, abusing his power and giving false testimony," assistant special counsel Park Ji-young said during a press briefing. "We considered the gravity of the crimes, concerns he will destroy evidence and the risk of a repeat offense," she added. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team questioned Lee over the allegations Friday after earlier raiding his home and the office buildings of the interior ministry and the fire agency to secure relevant evidence.

Jul 28, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for ex-interior minister in martial law probe

Police response to Incheon shooting under investigation for alleged mishandling

Authorities have launched an internal investigation into the police response to the recent homemade firearm homicide in Songdo, Incheon, after it was revealed that officers waited more than 70 minutes to enter the scene despite receiving urgent calls for help. The National Police Agency’s audit office said it has begun a fact-finding probe to determine whether officers at the scene failed to take appropriate action in the critical early moments of the incident. According to Rep. Youn Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, police received the first emergency call at 9:31 p.m. on July 20 from the wife of the victim, who said her husband had been shot. “Please help us, my husband was shot. Come quickly,” she pleaded. The transcript also captured the woman urging her children to hurry into a room, as her father-in-law remained outside holding a gun. In a second six-minute call, she explained that her husband was bleeding heavily and that the gunman was her father-in-law. She informed the dispatcher that the front door had been opened and that officers could also enter throu

Jul 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
Police response to Incheon shooting under investigation for alleged mishandling

PPP lawmaker appears for questioning over alleged election-meddling involving ex-President Yoon, his wife

A prominent opposition lawmaker appeared for questioning by a special counsel Sunday over his alleged involvement in the party's candidate nominations for key elections in 2022 and 2024, reportedly at the behest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) arrived at the special counsel's office in central Seoul at around 9:30 a.m. "I will seriously, sincerely and faithfully cooperate with the investigation," Yoon told a swarm of reporters before entering. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team is investigating allegations that the former president and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, exerted influence to have former lawmaker Kim Young-sun win the then ruling party's nomination in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. In a previously disclosed phone call, allegedly recorded in May 2022, Yoon suggested to self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun that he would instruct Rep. Yoon to make sure Kim wins the party nomination. Rep. Yoon was the head of the PPP nomination committee at the time. The special counsel raided Rep. Yoon's offi

Jul 27, 2025By Yonhap
PPP lawmaker appears for questioning over alleged election-meddling involving ex-President Yoon, his wife

Man who shot son to death faces additional charges of attempted murder

A man accused of shooting his son to death faces additional charges of attempting to murder his daughter-in-law and his two grandchildren, police said Friday. The 62-year-old man was arrested this week on charges of killing his son with a homemade gun during his own birthday party at the son's home in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Sunday. Police said they suspect he also tried to kill his daughter-in-law, his two grandchildren and a foreign private tutor acquainted with the daughter-in-law. The shooter has reportedly denied that he planned to kill anyone other than his son. "The suspect chased after the daughter-in-law's foreign acquaintance (after she fled the home), and we believe he planned to kill the family," a police official said. The additional charges will likely be added after police question the suspect for a third time later in the day. Police earlier said multiple explosive devices were found at the suspect's home in northern Seoul. They had been set to go off at noon Monday.

Jul 25, 2025By Yonhap
Man who shot son to death faces additional charges of attempted murder

Incheon shooting suspect says financial support ended before crime

The 62-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his son with a homemade firearm during a birthday celebration told police he committed the crime because financial support from his ex-wife's company had stopped last year, a claim that contradicts what the victim’s family has said. According to the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station, which is leading the investigation, the suspect, identified only as A, made the statement during questioning by three criminal profilers on Tuesday. He said he had been receiving 3 million won ($2,100]) monthly by being registered as an employee at his ex-wife’s company but that the payments ceased in the second half of last year. He also reportedly told police, “I’ve always lived an honest and upright life.” The police, however, emphasized that this account has yet to be verified. “The suspect’s claims conflict with the statements of the victim’s family, who say the ex-wife and son consistently supported A financially and never stopped,” a police official said, adding that they have requested a warrant to search A’s financial accounts. Investig

Jul 25, 2025By Hankookilbo
Incheon shooting suspect says financial support ended before crime

Man booked for posing as Harvard-educated Bloomberg reporter covering Rep. Lee Jun-seok

A man who allegedly impersonated a Bloomberg reporter during South Korea’s 2022 presidential election has been booked on fraud charges, police said Thursday. The Seoul Jungnang Police Station said on Friday that it has launched an investigation into the suspect, identified as Kim. He allegedly posed as a reporter from Bloomberg’s Seoul bureau and borrowed money from fellow journalists while falsely offering them job opportunities at the international news agency. Kim, who was nicknamed the “markman” or dedicated beat reporter for then-presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party, introduced himself during the election as a Harvard University history graduate and a journalist with Bloomberg Korea. He reportedly carried a fake business card and a fabricated resume while accompanying reporters from legitimate Korean media outlets on the campaign trail. He also told fellow reporters that Bloomberg was planning to launch a new corporate entity in Korea and offered to help them transfer to the company. Some journalists even received forged job offer letters from him and

Jul 25, 2025By Hankookilbo
Man booked for posing as Harvard-educated Bloomberg reporter covering Rep. Lee Jun-seok

Decades later, South Korea exonerates victims of wrongful convictions

In 1964, Choi Mal-ja, then 18, was walking her friends home when a stranger abruptly sexually assaulted her. The man knocked her to the ground and attempted to kiss her. As Choi fought back, she bit off about 1.5 centimeters of his tongue. A year later, a court sentenced her to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, rejecting her plea of self-defense. But 61 years later, the tide of justice has shifted. At her first retrial hearing Wednesday at Busan District Court, prosecutors recommended acquittal and issued a formal apology. “The prosecution should have judged the case fairly, free from bias,” a prosecutor said in court. “Rather than protecting Ms. Choi from prejudice and secondary harm, it caused her suffering. We apologize for failing to recognize her as a victim of sexual violence.” Choi’s case reflects a broader reckoning within South Korea’s judiciary, which is reexamining past rulings in an effort to acknowledge and address the harm caused by wrongful judgments. The move also signals a growing willingness to confront historical injustices and could pave the wa

Jul 25, 2025By Park Ung
Decades later, South Korea exonerates victims of wrongful convictions
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