Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Ha Jung-woo to resign as presidential AI aide, expected to run in Busan Buk-gu A by-election
    Ha Jung-woo to resign as presidential AI aide, expected to run in Busan Buk-gu A by-election Lee Jae-myung’s key aide Ha Jung-woo, the presidential senior secretary for artificial intelligence and future planning, offered to resign on Sunday, according to political sources. Ha is expected to step up preparations to run in the June 3 parliamentary by-election, with the May 4 deadline for public officials to resign one week away, the sources said. He is expected to submit his resignation later Sunday and formally announce his candidacy Monday in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election. The seat became vacant after Rep. Jeon Jae-soo entered the Busan mayoral race. Former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon have already declared their bids. The Democratic Party plans to hold a talent recruitment event around Tuesday and make strategic nominations through that process, the sources said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:45:18
  • Japan Holds First Expert Panel Meeting to Revise Three Key Security Documents
    Japan Holds First Expert Panel Meeting to Revise Three Key Security Documents Japan on the 27th held the first meeting of an expert panel formed to revise its three major security documents, Kyodo News and other outlets reported. Yonhap said the 15-member group, titled the “Expert Meeting to Consider Security Through Comprehensive National Power,” met in the evening at the prime minister’s office. Members include Kenichiro Sasae, a former ambassador to the United States; Tetsuro Kuroe, a former vice defense administrative vice minister; Kazuto Suzuki, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy; and Noriko Endo, a professor at Waseda University. The panel follows Takaichi’s statement in October last year that Japan would revise this year the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program. At the meeting, Takaichi said the relatively stable international order since the Cold War “has become a thing of the past,” and called for Japan to “proactively pursue a fundamental strengthening of defense capabilities.” Citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, she also said Japan needs to examine new ways of warfare and prepare for a prolonged conflict.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:33:20
  • Labor panel says Cargo Truckers Solidarity union must be included in talks with CJ Logistics, Hanjin
    Labor panel says Cargo Truckers Solidarity union must be included in talks with CJ Logistics, Hanjin The labor relations commission has ruled that Cargo Truckers Solidarity, which received bargaining authority from the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union, must be included as a bargaining party in cases challenging whether CJ Logistics and Hanjin qualify as employers. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission on the 27th accepted a request to correct a public notice related to objections over the confirmation of the union entitled to demand bargaining, after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ public transport union sought talks with CJ Logistics and Hanjin. CJ Logistics and Hanjin had posted a notice on March 17 announcing the bargaining demand but excluded Cargo Truckers Solidarity. The truckers’ union sought a correction and filed the case after obtaining a bargaining delegation letter from its umbrella union. The decision is seen as potentially affecting the separate BGF dispute, where tensions have continued amid a union member’s death. Unionized truck drivers handling logistics for CU convenience stores have repeatedly demanded bargaining with BGF Retail, but the company has refused, saying it is not the principal employer. Cargo Truckers Solidarity began an indefinite strike earlier this month, and a fatal accident involving a union member occurred during efforts to block replacement vehicles brought in by BGF. A Labor Ministry official said the two situations should be viewed separately. “Broadly speaking, it is a bargaining demand by Cargo Truckers Solidarity, but the circumstances are different,” the official said. “This case came in through the proper procedures, while the BGF case involves a demand for collective bargaining outside the labor commission’s procedures, so they should be separated.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:18:15
  • Police Stop Man in His 50s From Attempted Self-Immolation Outside Democratic Party HQ
    Police Stop Man in His 50s From Attempted Self-Immolation Outside Democratic Party HQ A man who tried to set himself on fire outside the Democratic Party’s headquarters in Seoul was stopped by police and taken to a hospital. Yonhap reported that at about 4:22 p.m. on the 27th, the man, identified only as A and in his 50s, poured oil on himself in front of the Democratic Party’s central headquarters in Yeouido and attempted self-immolation. Police intervened, and authorities confirmed his body did not catch fire. A told police he went to the party office to appeal for help resolving a grudge with an acquaintance, and officials said he appeared to have no particular political motive. He was transported to a hospital under procedures for reports involving suicide attempts. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:00:06
  • Nikkei: Samsung Electronics to Exit China Home Appliance and TV Sales This Year
    Nikkei: Samsung Electronics to Exit China Home Appliance and TV Sales This Year Samsung Electronics plans to withdraw from its home appliance and TV sales business in China within this year, Japan’s Nikkei reported Sunday. Citing Yonhap News Agency, the report said Samsung could make a final decision as early as this month, then brief business partners and local employees and gradually sell off inventory, with the aim of ending sales completely by year’s end. The company plans to keep its local production system for appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, and use it as a supply hub for nearby countries, the report said. Samsung was quoted by the newspaper as saying, “Nothing has been decided.” On April 15, Yong Seok-woo, head of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display business, addressed reports in Chinese media that the company was considering scaling back its appliance and TV business there. He said it was true the China business was difficult and that the company was reviewing options and the process was ongoing. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:42:16
  • Prosecutors Drop Case Alleging Preferential Treatment in Korea Gas Corp. Site Development Tied to President Lee
    Prosecutors Drop Case Alleging Preferential Treatment in Korea Gas Corp. Site Development Tied to President Lee President Lee Jae-myung’s case stemming from allegations of preferential treatment in the development of a Korea Gas Corp. site in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, has been closed without indictment after three years. Yonhap News reported Monday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 dismissed the complaint on April 17. The case alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of others’ exercise of rights and dereliction of duty. The allegations surfaced during the 20th presidential election campaign alongside claims of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development projects. The Korea Gas Corp. project involved redeveloping the company’s former site at 215 Jeongja-dong in Bundang-gu into a residential complex. The site covers 16,725 square meters. After the company’s headquarters moved to Daegu in September 2014, the property went through a sales process. But it failed to sell six times because regulations for business and commercial use limited the floor area ratio to 400% or less and the building coverage ratio to 80% or less. In June 2015, Company A won the site through a competitive bid. The complaint alleged that Lee, then Seongnam mayor, allowed housing development on the site and raised the floor area ratio to 560% in exchange for conditions such as donating buildings to the city. Prosecutors concluded the complaint was speculative and lacked sufficient specific grounds or circumstances to open a formal investigation, and dismissed the case.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:21:16
  • Appeal Opens in Yoon Suk Yeol Insurrection Ringleader Case; Defense Challenges Special Court Law
    Appeal Opens in Yoon Suk Yeol Insurrection Ringleader Case; Defense Challenges Special Court Law Yoon Suk Yeol’s appeal trial on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection tied to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law began on the 27th. The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1 held the first pretrial hearing in Yoon’s case that day. Proceedings also began for seven senior military and police officials indicted with him, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho. Defendants are not required to attend pretrial hearings. Yoon did not appear in court. Among the defendants, only former National Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters planning and coordination director Yoon Seung-young and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency National Assembly Security Unit chief Mok Hyun-tae attended. Before moving forward, the panel referred to requests by Yoon and others for a constitutional review of the law applied to the proceedings. On the 21st, the defense asked the court to seek a constitutional ruling on the Special Act on Criminal Procedure for insurrection, foreign aggression and rebellion cases, arguing that the special division set up under the act is unconstitutional. The court said it will continue the pretrial process on May 7, when it plans to detail the order and method for examining evidence. In the first trial, Yoon was sentenced to life in prison. Kim was sentenced to 30 years in prison; former Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won to 18 years; Cho to 12 years; former Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik to 10 years; and Mok to three years. Former Third Field Army Command military police chief Kim Yong-gun and Yoon Seung-young were acquitted.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:12:19
  • Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Term for Park Sung-jae in Martial Law Insurrection Case
    Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Term for Park Sung-jae in Martial Law Insurrection Case Park Sung-jae, a former justice minister indicted on charges of participating in insurrection-related crimes tied to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration and acting on an alleged request involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, was asked to be sentenced to 20 years in prison. At a closing hearing Monday before the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok requested the sentence for Park on charges including playing a key role in an insurrection and abuse of authority. The team urged the court to impose a severe judgment “to sound the alarm for a ‘legal technician’ who destroys the law in the name of the law.” On the insurrection allegation, the special counsel said Park “actively went along” so that “Yoon Suk Yeol’s crime using martial law as a means could succeed,” and that he took the lead in justifying and procedurally supporting it. On the allegation involving Kim, the team said Park accepted and carried out “an improper request” from the president’s wife, adding that his actions should be seen not as communication but as “active collusion tied to power.” Park is accused of sequentially joining Yoon’s alleged insurrection after the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration by convening a Justice Ministry executives’ meeting and ordering reviews of dispatching prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters, checking correctional facilities’ capacity, and having staff responsible for travel bans report to work. He is also accused of giving improper instructions to subordinates after receiving a request from Kim in May last year to determine how a dedicated investigative team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office was formed for a case involving the receipt of a luxury bag. The court is scheduled to deliver its first-trial verdict on June 9.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 19:48:19
  • Special counsel seeks 20 years for Park Sung-jae over martial law role, alleged Kim Keon-hee favor
    Special counsel seeks 20 years for Park Sung-jae over martial law role, alleged Kim Keon-hee favor Special counsel prosecutors on Sunday sought a 20-year prison term for Park Sung-jae, a former justice minister on trial for allegedly taking part in the Dec. 3 martial law episode and acting on a request tied to an investigation involving first lady Kim Keon-hee. The team led by special counsel Cho Eun-seok asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-kwan, to sentence Park to 20 years in prison on charges including playing a key role in an insurrection and abuse of power. In closing arguments, the special counsel team described Park as a “legal technician who destroys the law,” arguing that he knew the emergency martial law declared by Yoon Suk Yeol lacked constitutional requirements but still offered ideas to give it the appearance of legality and mislead the public. Prosecutors said Park’s actions immediately after the declaration — moving to the Justice Ministry complex in Gwacheon and ordering an emergency standby for the travel-ban team, reviewing the dispatch of prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters, and checking prison capacity — amounted to concrete steps to carry out the alleged insurrection. They said the measures were meant to isolate resisting opponents and process them through the justice system, adding that Park “turned the Justice Ministry overnight into an instrument for executing an insurrection.” On the allegation of collusion involving the first lady, prosecutors said Park accepted what they called a directive-like request from the president’s spouse, a private citizen, and exercised law-enforcement authority arbitrarily. “This was not communication but active collusion,” they said. They urged the court to impose a severe sentence, saying it must “send a warning to those who destroy the law in the name of the law.” Park has denied the charges, saying he carried out normal duties under relevant laws. The first-trial verdict has drawn public attention because the case involves what prosecutors described as an unprecedented justice minister accused of joining an insurrection. According to the special counsel’s investigation, Park is accused of sequentially joining Yoon’s alleged insurrection after Yoon declared emergency martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Prosecutors say Park convened a meeting of senior officials at the Justice Ministry, ordered staff responsible for travel bans to report to work, and directed reviews of sending prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters and checking prison capacity. He is also accused of having the ministry’s prosecution bureau draft an “abuse of authority document” containing arguments to justify martial law shortly after it was lifted. Park is also accused of ordering staff to confirm details after receiving a Telegram message from Kim last May asking him to determine the progress of an investigation. The allegation arose after then-Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok instructed the formation of an investigative team over suspicions that Kim received a luxury bag. Separately, the special counsel team sought a three-year prison term for Lee Wan-kyu, a former head of the Korea Legislation Research Institute, who was indicted for perjury before the National Assembly under the Act on Testimony, Appraisal, etc. at the National Assembly. Lee is accused of falsely testifying that there was no discussion of martial law at a post-lifting “safe house meeting.” Lee told the court the gathering was merely social, but prosecutors argued that, amid a grave political situation in which a presidential impeachment bill had been introduced, key aides meeting while carrying stacks of documents amounted to a countermeasure session to develop arguments to justify martial law. They also said Lee deliberately committed perjury by reducing the number of attendees in his testimony from five to four.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 19:33:20
  • South Korea Unveils Slogan for Kim Gu’s 150th Birth Anniversary UNESCO Commemoration
    South Korea Unveils Slogan for Kim Gu’s 150th Birth Anniversary UNESCO Commemoration “My Wish, Culture of Peace.” Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Monday convened the Lee Jae-myung government’s first National Patriots and Veterans Committee meeting at the Government Complex Seoul. The committee finalized a plan to carry out commemorative projects for the UNESCO commemoration year marking the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and announced the official slogan. The government chose “My Wish, Culture of Peace” to underscore what it called the universal value of Baekbeom’s ideas. The government said it will continue to refine and develop the plan through communication and cooperation with the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Museum, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, the Liberation Association, the cultural sector and young people. It set three main directions for the projects: “reexamining values,” “unity and solidarity,” and “remembrance and succession,” and said it will pursue commemorative programs under subthemes aligned with those goals. Planned flagship events include an international academic conference in July and August, a joint academic conference by the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Museum and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in October, Gwanghwamun Culture Week in August, and the Baekbeom Award ceremony in August. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 19:06:17