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  • Politics

    Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation

    Han Seong-sook, Korea’s soon-to-be prime minister, arrives at the post with high expectations that she will leverage her technological expertise to help accelerate the country's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation. The parliamentary confirmation hearing committee approved a report, Tuesday, clearing Han as qualified for the post, with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leading the approval after she was nominated on June 7. Han is now just one step away from officially taking office, with her appointment to be finalized once the National Assembly approves the confirmation motion at a plenary session. The process leading to Han’s likely appointment comes as President Lee Jae Myung pushes to position Korea among the world's top three AI powers, alongside the United States and China. The blueprint has become increasingly concrete since Lee outlined the vision last year, with initiatives such as the government's allocation of a record 9.9 trillion won ($6.3 billion) for AI this year and public-private plans to build four new semiconductor plants in southwestern Korea to m

    2 MIN READBy Yi Whan-woo
    Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation
  • Defense

    Defense minister backs push for unified military academy as fundamental reform for future

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Defense minister backs push for unified military academy as fundamental reform for future
  • Law & Crime

    Outgoing North Chungcheong governor raided over bribery allegations

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Outgoing North Chungcheong governor raided over bribery allegations
  • Education

    Kookmin University student wins 2nd place at IBM Bob Hackathon

    2 MIN READBy Park Yoon-bae
    Kookmin University student wins 2nd place at IBM Bob Hackathon
  • Defense

    Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy

    3 MIN READBy Bahk Eun-ji
    Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy
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Law & Crime

Appeals court raises Yoon’s term to 7 years over obstruction of duty charges

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday after an appellate court found him guilty of abusing his presidential authority, obstructing official duties and fabricating documents over his handling of the 2024 martial law declaration and the subsequent investigation into his actions. The Seoul High Court increased his prison term to seven years, up from the five years handed down in the first trial. This case focused on the allegations that Yoon blocked his own arrest, overstepped his authority and tampered with documents. It is separate from the insurrection case that led to a life sentence on Feb. 19. “As sitting president at the time of the crimes, Yoon bore a heavy responsibility to uphold the Constitution and to protect and advance the people’s freedoms and rights, but instead he betrayed that duty and deepened social unrest through this case,” Judge Yoon Seong-sik said. The appeals court found that he infringed on the deliberation rights of nine Cabinet members who were left out of the Cabinet meeting that preceded the martial law decree

Apr 29, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Appeals court raises Yoon’s term to 7 years over obstruction of duty charges
Law & Crime

Ex-President Yoon denies all charges in 1st trial hearing over interference in Marine death probe

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyers on Wednesday denied all charges during the first hearing of his trial over allegations of interfering in a probe into the 2023 death of a Marine. The ousted former president has been indicted on abuse of power and other charges for allegedly exerting undue influence on the probe to cover up its results that found a senior Marine commander responsible for the Marine's death in July 2023. "We deny everything in the indictment," Yoon's lawyer said at the Seoul Central District Court, claiming the former president does not know the now former Marine commander. "There is no motive to intervene in the investigation." Yoon, who appeared for the hearing, also argued against the case, dismissing allegations that he erupted in anger upon hearing the probe's results. Other defendants in the case, including former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, also denied charges raised against them. The special counsel team believes Yoon made unlawful orders to the defense ministry and the presidential office at the time, com

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon denies all charges in 1st trial hearing over interference in Marine death probe
South Korea

Seoul swaps shushing for socializing in Friday night talks with writers

Seoul is betting that quiet libraries can transform into lively cultural spots, launching weekly Friday night events where readers meet writers face to face. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will expand its “Author Hip Talk” program across public libraries citywide, including the Seoul Metropolitan Library, from May through December. The initiative is designed to turn libraries into cultural hubs to attract office workers and young adults seeking evening events. Held every Friday, the program brings together authors from across literature, the humanities and the arts for lectures, conversations and question-and-answer sessions. The city said the format emphasizes direct interaction, allowing participants to engage beyond traditional readings. In May, events will take place at Seoul Library, Mapo Central Library, Gwangjin Information Library and Seonyudo Library, with each hosting programs tailored to local tastes. At the Seoul Metropolitan Library, a May 8 session will center on the theme of nature and feature Lee Won-young, a senior researcher at the Korea Polar Research In

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul swaps shushing for socializing in Friday night talks with writers
Law & Crime

Ex-Seoul councilor admits giving money to lawmaker in 1st trial

Former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung admitted in her first trial Wednesday to giving 100 million won ($67,700) to former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Kang Sun-woo for a party nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections. At the Seoul Central District Court trial, Kim's lawyers admitted the charges but said they may contest the prosecution's breach-of-trust and bribery claims. Kang's former aide, surnamed Nam, who arranged her meeting with Kim, also admitted to the charges. Kang's lawyers said they will state their position at the next hearing after reviewing all records. All three defendants appeared in court on the day. The next hearing is set for May 29. Kang and Kim were arrested and indicted last month on charges of accepting and giving bribes during their meeting at a hotel in Seoul's Yongsan district in January 2022. Kim was subsequently elected to the Seoul Metropolitan Council after being nominated by the DPK. In January this year, Kang left the DPK to become an independent and Kim resigned from the council.

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-Seoul councilor admits giving money to lawmaker in 1st trial
South Korea

Gyeongbok Palace to remain open after dark for spring night tours

As dusk settles over Seoul, the gates of Gyeongbok Palace will remain open to the public, offering a rare chance to wander Korea’s most iconic royal complex under the glow of evening lights. The Korea Heritage Service’s Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office said Wednesday it will operate its spring nighttime viewing program from May 13 to June 14, with tickets available starting Sunday at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors will be able to explore key areas of the palace. The site will remain open from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. This year’s program will feature traditional court music performances that add a ceremonial atmosphere to the palace grounds. To celebrate the birth of King Sejong, the Traditional Performing Arts Company of the Blind will perform on May 15 at Geunjeongjeon, the king’s former living quarters. The commemorative programming will continue with a series of 10 performances by musicians from the National Gugak Center, scheduled at Sajeongjeon Hall between May 20 and June 5. Tickets will be sold through Int

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gyeongbok Palace to remain open after dark for spring night tours
Society

Korean labor law loophole leaves microbusiness workers unprotected

Jung Woo-jin remembers Christmas Eve 2024 as the day his manager handed over the car keys. Jung, a pseudonym for a man who worked at a relocation agency for foreign executives from October 2024 to January 2026, said the manager ordered him to drive the vehicle to the supervisor's home and park it in the underground garage ahead of a night out drinking. The personal errands escalated as time went on. Over the next year, the manager made Jung plan a private vacation for his boss in Europe, book hotels and rental cars, and research local traffic laws. Jung also had to move personal belongings and settle utility bills at the supervisor's residence. Jung eventually quit and reported the abuse to the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office. Authorities, however, rejected his complaint. While Jung’s company had six employees when he joined, officials determined that high turnover brought the average during his tenure to 4.66 workers. Because Korea’s workplace harassment laws apply only to businesses with at least five regular employees, the calculation left Jung in a regulatory gap wit

Apr 29, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean labor law loophole leaves microbusiness workers unprotected
Defense

Korea begins construction of fast combat support ship

A steel-cutting ceremony was held in southern Korea on Wednesday to mark the start of the construction of a naval combat support ship, the arms procurement agency said. The event for the country's second auxiliary oil, ammunition and equipment (AOE-II) ship took place at a shipyard of Hanwha Ocean in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a release. The second AOE program, worth 531.5 billion won ($360 million), was launched in 2024 to build a follow-on vessel to the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang, which was commissioned in 2018. The new vessel is designed to support a domestically-developed engineering control system that controls the propulsion, electrical power and auxiliary equipment through a single network to boost safety. An upgraded video surveillance system will be installed to automatically detect emergencies, such as a fire or a fall, according to DAPA. The new ship is also expected to provide improved crew accommodations and safety, with noise-reduction features offering a more comfortable on-board environment,

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Korea begins construction of fast combat support ship
Politics

Lee stresses need for bipartisan support in diplomacy, national security issues

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday warned against "self-defeating" behaviors by rival political parties in matters involving diplomacy and national security, calling for their unity in overcoming crises. Lee made the remarks in a luncheon with 21 lawmakers — 19 representatives from five minor parties and two independents — marking the first time he has hosted only minor party and independent lawmakers together at Cheong Wa Dae. "If you look at other countries, it is rare to see (rival parties) engage in self-defeating behavior in areas such as diplomacy and national security, even though they clash over domestic issues," Lee said. "Disappointingly, there still seem to be some (self-defeating) tendencies within us," he added, insisting that the public would want politicians "to demonstrate unity in order to overcome crises." Lee did not provide specific details, but the remarks came as rival parties continue to wrangle over diplomatic issues, including reported U.S. complaints over a Seoul minister's reference to Kusong as a North Korean uranium enrichment site, among others. "Extern

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Lee stresses need for bipartisan support in diplomacy, national security issues
Society

Busan partners with Agoda to attract foreign remote workers with workcation benefits

Busan is teaming up with online travel platform Agoda to promote the southeastern port city as a "workcation" destination for foreign visitors, offering remote workers streamlined booking and accommodation discounts. Starting May 6, Busan will launch the program on Agoda's platform, with an initial focus on key inbound markets including Japan, China and Taiwan. A dedicated Busan workcation page and social media marketing campaigns will go live to highlight details about workcation opportunities in the city to users worldwide. The city also plans to streamline its workcation enrollment process for foreign participants, simplifying verification to lower entry barriers and make the program more accessible to international users. International remote workers and digital nomads can participate by completing verification on busaness.com, using a passport and proof of employment, after which they receive a dedicated Agoda promo code for discounts. The Agoda deal is the latest step in Busan's bid to become a global workcation hub. In 2023, the city opened a 708 square-meter workcation center on

Apr 29, 2026By Park Ung
Busan partners with Agoda to attract foreign remote workers with workcation benefits
Defense

Korea launches ROKS Jeju, 4th vessel in new Ulsan-class frigate series

The Korean Navy and the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched the ROKS Jeju, Wednesday, the fourth in a series of advanced frigates designed to bolster the country’s coastal defenses. The vessel, an Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate, was christened at a shipyard in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, marking a milestone in a program aimed at replacing the military’s aging fleet of smaller warships with high-tech, multi-mission platforms. The 3,600-ton guided-missile frigate measures 129 meters in length and 14.8 meters in beam. It is armed with a 5-inch gun, Korea Vertical Launch System (KVLS), surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, tactical ship-to-shore missiles and long-range anti-submarine torpedoes — all domestically developed systems. ROKS Jeju's most notable upgrade over previous frigates is its Integrated Sensor Mast (ISM) incorporating a domestically developed four-face fixed-array Multifunctional Phased Array Radar (MFR) capable of simultaneous detection, tracking and engagement of multiple air and surface targets across all bear

Apr 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea launches ROKS Jeju, 4th vessel in new Ulsan-class frigate series
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