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  • Society

    Murder suspect's father evades charges, fueling debate over Korea's family evidence-tampering exemption

    The father of Jang Yoon-gi, a suspect in the murder of a high school girl, allegedly destroyed evidence in the case, renewing debate over Korea's criminal code exemption shielding family members from evidence-tampering charges. Last month, prosecutors indicted Jang, 23, on charges of stabbing and killing the girl in Gwangju in May after following her with intent to rape. He was also indicted on charges of attacking another student with a knife when they tried to intervene. Investigators later found that Jang's father, an active-duty police officer, had disposed of items from his son's residence, including several mobile phones and a sex doll whose chest and neck areas showed concentrated damage. The father was not indicted, however. Under current law, destroying evidence in another person's criminal case carries penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 7 million won ($4,530), but relatives or family members living with the offender are exempt. Lee Yung-hyeock, a professor of police science at Konkuk University, said the exemption exists in Korea because of questions whe

    2 MIN READBy Park Ung
    Murder suspect's father evades charges, fueling debate over Korea's family evidence-tampering exemption
  • Law & Crime

    3rd appeals trial begins for former K-pop star Steve Yoo over visa denial

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    3rd appeals trial begins for former K-pop star Steve Yoo over visa denial
  • Law & Crime

    Appeals court to begin ex-President Yoon's drone infiltration trial on July 15

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Appeals court to begin ex-President Yoon's drone infiltration trial on July 15
  • Politics

    Lee pledges to establish 'aerospace industry belt' along southern coast

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee pledges to establish 'aerospace industry belt' along southern coast
  • Society

    Seoul expands accessible bus travel options for wheelchair users

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Seoul expands accessible bus travel options for wheelchair users
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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.

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Defense

InterviewAt Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle

CAMP CASEY, Gyeonggi Province — Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo did not start the interview sitting behind a desk. Instead, he stood up and said he wanted to show the space himself. In the newly opened dining and recreation area on the base, Lombardo pointed to a wooden bar built from salvaged materials taken from a former commanding general’s mess at now-closed Camp Red Cloud. The space, he explained, was designed as a place where soldiers could gather, eat and socialize. “This is where soldiers come to eat and be together,” he told The Korea Times, moving through the room before leading the way down a hallway lined with artifacts and photographs. The tour continued past displays honoring previous commanders and units as well as images from the 1950-53 Korean War, a reminder of the division’s long history on the peninsula. Lombardo paused to explain that the 2nd Infantry Division remains the only permanently forward-stationed U.S. Army division and operates as part of a combined structure with South Korean forces. “It’s the only combined division in the U.S. Army,” he said.

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
At Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle
  • 'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance
Defense

Interview'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance

CAMP CASEY, Gyeonggi Province — Within the 2nd Infantry Division, service as a Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) is widely seen as more than just a supporting role. It provides a daily link between American and Korean soldiers and continues to shape relationships long after service ends. Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, commanding general of the division, described KATUSA as an essential part of the unit. “They are our secret sauce. They’re our superpower,” he told The Korea Times in an interview at Camp Casey, March 20. He noted that KATUSAs are embedded across the formation, working alongside U.S. soldiers at nearly every level. “Think about the relationships that are strengthened beyond service. There’s a KATUSA with every squad," he said. For Lombardo, their role extends beyond communication and administrative support. They are a defining element of how the combined division operates, helping build trust and cohesion between the two forces. That impact often continues well beyond military service. Kim Jong-wook, headquarters director of the Korea Defense Veterans Ass

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance
  • At Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle
Politics

Lee says energy crisis sparked by Middle East war keeps him awake at night

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war is so serious that it keeps him awake at night, stressing the need to transition to renewable energy. Lee made the remark during a town hall meeting on southern Jeju Island, warning that the situation is "worse than you think" and could deteriorate further. "The whole world is in chaos because of the energy issue, and it's so serious that I can't fall asleep either," he said, stressing the need to quickly transition to renewable energy sources. Lee also asked for residents' opinions on local issues, such as the potential construction of an undersea tunnel connecting Jeju to the mainland, and the construction of a second airport on the island. He effectively expressed his opposition to the tunnel project by saying that he thinks the island characteristics of Jeju are "what make Jeju, Jeju." The island was the final stop in a series of town hall meetings that Lee led in 12 cities and provinces across the nation beginning shortly after his inauguration in June last year. Cheong Wa Dae said it is consid

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Lee says energy crisis sparked by Middle East war keeps him awake at night
Politics

60 Korean workers evacuate from Iraq amid war in Middle East

A total of 60 Korean corporate workers based in Iraq had been evacuated to safety amid the continuing war in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Monday. The workers left Iraq for neighboring countries, including Kuwait, Turkey and Jordan, between March 18 and Sunday on the advice of the Korean Embassy in Iraq, with assistance from embassy staff, according to the ministry. In addition, three more Koreans left Lebanon for Turkey last Friday, as Korea evacuates its nationals from the conflict-hit Middle East. An estimated 1,500 Koreans have evacuated the region with assistance from the ministry since the conflict erupted.

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
60 Korean workers evacuate from Iraq amid war in Middle East
Politics

Rival parties agree to pass extra budget bill by April 10

The ruling and main opposition parties said Monday they agreed to pass a 25 trillion-won ($16.5 billion) extra budget bill proposed by the government by April 10. The supplementary budget aims to ease the burden of rising oil prices and protect small businesses and vulnerable households from the economic repercussions of the war in the Middle East. The agreement to pass the bill by April 10 was announced by the floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), as part of a broader agreement on the schedule for April's extraordinary session of the National Assembly. Under the agreement, the session will begin this Friday, with a budget speech scheduled for Thursday and questioning and deliberation by the special parliamentary budget committee set for April 7 and 8. In addition, the two sides agreed to hold parliamentary interpellation sessions on April 3, 6 and 13. "Today we are agreeing on the schedule for the April extraordinary session as it relates to the extra budget," PPP floor leader Rep. Song Eon-seog said. "I expect the ruling a

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Rival parties agree to pass extra budget bill by April 10
Law & Crime

Case of YouTuber who maliciously defamed BTS, IVE reflects shift in addressing online attacks

Dubbed as a “cyber wrecker,” the YouTuber behind Sojang, a channel known in Korea as “Taldeok Camp,” has earned millions from videos defaming K-pop idols, including IVE and BTS members. Delivered in a pretentious tone as though they had been verified by agency officials or other third parties, the Youtuber has made claims ranging from IVE’s Jang Won-young allegedly kicking out a trainee because she did not want to debut with her to accusations of idols displaying bad behavior. One claim accused Red Velvet’s Irene, Joy and Yeri of being “toxic” toward airline cabin crew. Another mocked K-pop group ATEEZ for providing only 6,500 won worth of omurice to fans who participated in a performance recording. Park, 37, the YouTuber behind Sojang, drew viewers with edited videos and provocative thumbnails. Her targets included members of young K-pop girl and boy groups such as IVE, Red Velvet, ATEEZ, BTS and aespa, as well as actors and influencers. The videos she posted often mocked celebrities’ appearances or spread false rumors about plastic surgery and secret romantic relation

Mar 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
Case of YouTuber who maliciously defamed BTS, IVE reflects shift in addressing online attacks
Politics

President to hold summits with Indonesian, French leaders in Seoul

President Lee Jae Myung will meet the leaders of Indonesia and France this week to discuss bilateral topics as well as global issues ranging from defense and artificial intelligence development to supply chains and tensions in the Middle East. Cheong Wa Dae said Monday that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron from Thursday to Friday. Both will be on state visits. Lee’s bilateral summit with Subianto is expected to focus on defense cooperation, particularly on the KF-21, Korea’s first domestically developed fighter jet, which began mass production last Wednesday. Indonesia is expected to be the KF-21’s first export destination, with reports saying the country is likely to purchase 16 jets. Lee previously met Subianto at last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, where the two discussed a special strategic partnership focusing on defense, trade, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. “This week’s meeting is expec

Mar 30, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President to hold summits with Indonesian, French leaders in Seoul
Society

Gov't to allow use of regular plastic bags if approved waste bags are in short supply

The government on Monday urged the public not to worry about possible shortages of standard plastic garbage bags, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "You don't have to worry about a shortage of standard garbage bags. The government has taken all necessary measures," Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan said in a Facebook post. The minister's remarks came as a worrisome phenomenon has recently emerged in which people are trying to hoard standard plastic garbage bags, amid a sharp rise in polyethylene prices, a key material used to make plastic bags. In Korea, only garbage bags approved by public institutions can be used to dispose of general household waste under the volume-based garbage disposal system. Kim said if approved waste bags are in short supply, the government will allow the use of regular plastic bags for waste disposal. "The government has taken all necessary measures, such as allowing the use of regular bags, in case of the worst-case scenario. There will never be a situation where trash piles up at home," Kim said. He then firmly stated that

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't to allow use of regular plastic bags if approved waste bags are in short supply
Environment & Animals

Korea delays shutdown of coal-powered plants amid energy crisis

Korea will delay the shutdown of coal-powered power plants as the government scrambles to secure electricity supplies amid an escalating energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking to The Korea Times on Monday, a senior official at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said the ministry will extend the operations of three coal-fired power stations that had been scheduled to close this year. “The timetable for closing them is being rescheduled,” the official said. Asked how long the shutdown would be delayed, another senior official said the details are still under discussion and that a final decision is expected to be made in the coming days. This comes after President Lee Jae Myung instructed Minister Kim Sung-hwan to reconsider the shutdown plan, citing the need for “emergency measures” to prevent power shortages in the wake of U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran. The move marks a major disruption to Korea’s policy to rid itself of all coal-powered power plants by 2040. After changing the name of the Ministry of Environment to the curr

Mar 30, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Korea delays shutdown of coal-powered plants amid energy crisis
Campus

Sejong University career fair draws over 600 international students

Sejong University co-hosted the 7th International Student Futures (ISF) Spring 2026 career fair and startup forum on March 25, attracting more than 600 international students and 60 exhibitors to the Gwanggaeto Hall conference center on the school's Seoul campus. The event was organized in partnership with Stuvisor, a global platform for international students, and Careertus, a career and entrepreneurship platform for foreign students in Korea. Pre-registered participants came from 43 countries and 54 universities and institutions. Uzbekistan accounted for the largest share at 20 percent, followed by China at 13.4 percent, Bangladesh at 12.8 percent and Vietnam at 12.5 percent. By field of study, business and economics accounted for the largest group at 33 percent, followed by STEM at 28.3 percent and culture, media and communications at 12.5 percent. Exhibitors included hiring and HR companies such as Wonik IPS, Oakwood Premier Hotel and Jeonbuk Bank, along with startup support organizations, settlement service providers and 13 domestic and international universities offering admissions

Mar 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Sejong University career fair draws over 600 international students
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