Police mull over online search of criminal suspects' mobile phones

Police are pushing for the introduction of an online search of criminal suspects' mobile phones and other digital devices, officials said Friday. The National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency has recently announced a public bid for research services to review the legality of online search activities and its implementation plan, they said. If the online search is allowed, police will be able to hack criminal suspects' smartphones and computers, install a surveillance p

Social AffairsApril 29, 2022

Continued restoration work spotted at N. Korea's nuclear test site: report

North Korea appears to be continuing its work to restore the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which it ostensibly demolished in 2018 ahead of a historic summit with the United States, according to a North Korea information provider that cited satellite photos. Commercial satellite imagery taken on April 26 of the site in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, indicates ongoing work to restore access to the site's Tunnel No. 3 complex, with the construction of a new portal, or entrance, and support structu

North KoreaApril 29, 2022

Opposition floor leader requests meeting with Moon over prosecution bills

The floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party asked Friday for a meeting with President Moon Jae-in so he could ask the president to veto a set of bills aimed at reducing and ultimately removing the prosecution's investigative powers. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong made the request as the ruling Democratic Party pushes to pass the two bills through the National Assembly and get them signed into law next week before the new administration takes office May 10. "I will personally meet with

PoliticsApril 29, 2022

[Graphic News] Vehicle registrations in S. Korea surpass 25 million

　The number of registered vehicles in South Korea surpassed 25 million as of end-March, meaning roughly 1 out of every 2 South Koreans owns a vehicle, data showed.  　Car registrations had come to 25.07 million in the country of 52 million people as of end-March, up 2.12 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. 　The number of environmentally friendly cars registered here had advanced 7.7 percent from the previous year to r

NationalApril 29, 2022

S. Korea deploys homegrown radar system to Air Force

South Korea has deployed a new homegrown radar guidance system to the Air Force to replace those that have been in use at military airports for more than three decades, the state arms procurement agency said Friday. The armed service has recently received the precision approach radar (PAR) systems used by air traffic controllers to give navigational guidance to pilots for landing, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). In 2012, DAPA and the South Korean defense firm

DefenseApril 29, 2022

U.S. Forces Korea reveals underground training

　U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has revealed its recent training at an underground facility in an apparent show of its stepped-up efforts to ensure defense readiness following North Korea‘s recent missile launches. 　In a recent Twitter post, the USFK’s 2nd Infantry Division disclosed a series of photos showing troops wearing gas masks and protective suits during a specialized training program. It did not reveal where and when the training occurred. 　“Ready First Soldiers conducted

DefenseApril 28, 2022

Cryptocurrency exchange head indicted for leaking military secrets to presumed N.K. spy

The head of a cryptocurrency exchange has been indicted for allegedly colluding with a military officer and leaking military secrets, including login information for the military‘s command and control system, to a presumed North Korean agent in exchange for money, officials said Thursday. 　The head of the exchange, surnamed Lee, was charged with allegedly violating the National Security Act after he was found to have made contact with the purported spy in July of last year and later hel

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022

Woori Bank employee nabbed for W50b embezzlement

Woori Bank came under scrutiny for an internal control failure Thursday, after an employee confessed to embezzlement of 50 billion won ($39.4 million). The employee is currently in police custody and investigators are looking to probe the lender’s headquarters to verify the suspect’s statement and seize evidence. The Financial Supervisory Service, the nation’s financial watchdog, said it will launch an investigation into the case as well, having received reports about it a

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022

Supreme Court confirms jail terms for adoptive parents in death of 16-month-old

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions of adoptive parents who appealed charges of child abuse and neglect that resulted in the death of their 16-month-old daughter, known by the name Jeong-in. The court approved the convictions against the parents from a lower court and confirmed their jail terms. The mother, whose charges include fatally injuring the victim, was sentenced to 35 years. The father was given five years for neglect. Jeong-in died Oct. 13, 2020 from multiple injur

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022

Yoon to hold summit with Biden on May 21

South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden will hold their first summit in Seoul on May 21, 11 days after Yoon officially takes office, authorities confirmed on Thursday. Yoon’s office welcomed the US president’s trip to South Korea, as the US White House confirmed he will travel to South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24. “President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol welcomes US President Biden who will visit South Korea on May 20-22. President-elect Yoon Suk-

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2022

S. Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases go under 60,000

South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases dropped under 60,000 for the 24 hours of Wednesday, government data showed Thursday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s report, the country added 57,464 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total caseload to 17,144,065. The number of deaths from COVID-19 on the day came to 122, down 19 from the previous day’s 141. The death toll reached 22,588, with the fatality rate standing at 0.13 percent. Severe cases, ho

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022

Prosecution reform bill to pass final vote by Tuesday at the latest

The controversial prosecution reform bill is expected to pass the final vote in the coming days, after the Democratic Party of Korea forcefully shut down its conservative rival People Power Party’s filibuster at the end of Wednesday. Proposed revisions to the Prosecutors’ Office Act is on track to be presented for a final vote this Saturday, as the People Power Party’s filibuster ended with the Democratic Party voting for an early end to April’s provisional assembly, whi

PoliticsApril 28, 2022

[Newsmaker] Gender Equality Ministry hid internal sexual harassment case, lawmaker claims

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family deliberately hid an internal sexual harassment case and went against the guidelines the ministry made for state-run agencies in preventing sexual crimes from being hidden or left unpunished, a lawmaker claimed Thursday. The revelation adds fuel to the voice demanding abolition of the Gender Equality Ministry amid growing gender divide as promised by President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol during the presidential race. According to reports obtained by Rep. Ha Ta

PoliticsApril 28, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] What can South Korea and China work on together?

The inauguration of South Korea’s new government in May will be an opportunity to assess the current state of South Korea-China relations and seek further development in the future. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol presented his plans to turn South Korea into a global pivotal state during his election campaign. He has also declared that strengthening the US-South Korea alliance and South Korea-China relations are simultaneously achievable goals. Since South Korea and China established

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2022

S. Korea urges N. Korea to stop escalating tensions over Kim's pledge to bolster nuclear power

The South Korean government called Thursday on North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions in the region, responding to a threat by its leader Kim Jong-un to strengthen the regime's nuclear capabilities. "Our government and the international community have maintained the stance that North Korea should stop all acts that heighten tensions, including the advancement of its nuclear capabilities, and to return to the negotiating table," a unification ministry official said. South Korea

North KoreaApril 28, 2022

Supreme Court confirms acquittal of ex-judge in alleged power abuse case

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld lower courts' acquittal of a former judge accused of meddling in several politically sensitive trials during the previous administration. The top court confirmed a not guilty verdict by a district court and an appellate court for Lim Seong-geun, a former senior justice of the Seoul High Court who was indicted in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of another person's exercise of right for allegedly meddling in several trials between 2015 and 201

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022

Opposition's filibuster ends after nearly 7 hr debate over prosecution reform legislation

The ruling Democratic Party has forcefully ended the main opposition People Power Party's filibuster designed to block a controversial prosecution reform bill, sending the bill to a plenary vote later this week. As soon as a plenary National Assembly session opened Wednesday afternoon, the PPP immediately launched the filibuster to block the passage of the legislation that would reduce and ultimately abolish the prosecution's investigative powers. But the filibuster ended at midnight as the DP,

PoliticsApril 28, 2022

Yoon to attend World Economic Forum's annual meeting next year: spokesperson

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol plans to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in January next year, his spokesperson said Thursday. Yoon expressed his intention to attend the forum in Davos after receiving an invitation from World Economic Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab during their meeting Wednesday, according to Yoon's spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin. The WEF organizes an annual forum in Davos where the world's political and economic leaders gather to discuss

PoliticsApril 28, 2022

S. Korea to divert gas supplies to Europe over Ukraine crisis

South Korea plans to send part of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to Europe to help ease an energy crisis over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, officials said Thursday. Concerns have grown over natural gas supply disruptions in Europe amid the ongoing crisis surrounding Ukraine, as Russia is the biggest provider of gas to Europe. On Wednesday, Russia's state-owned gas producer Gazprom said it had cut off natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria after the nations refused to pay for shipm

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2022

Defectors' group sends balloons carrying propaganda leaflets to N. Korea

GIMPO -- A North Korean defectors' group has sent 20 big balloons carrying propaganda leaflets, including those on the news of Yoon Suk-yeol's election as president, to North Korea across the western inter-Korean border, the group said Thursday. Some 1 million anti-Pyongyang leaflets were sent over to North Korea in the latest leaflet campaign carried out in Gimpo, west of Seoul, on Monday-Tuesday, the Fighters for Free North Korea (FFNK) said in a press release. Some of the leaflets were carr

Social AffairsApril 28, 2022