Journalist
Lee Hugh
=
-
South Korea to Assess Impact of Trump Plan to Raise U.S. Tariffs on EU Cars The presidential office said Friday it is tracking developments after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on passenger cars and trucks from the European Union, and that it will analyze any impact on South Korea and respond accordingly. An official said the government has been continuously monitoring follow-up steps to the U.S.-EU tariff agreement. The official said Seoul is also in frequent, close communication with Washington on follow-up measures tied to the South Korea-U.S. tariff agreement, and will work to keep bilateral trade relations stable. Asked about possible effects on the market competitiveness of South Korean products, the official said it would be inappropriate for the government to assess tariff agreements between other countries. The official said Seoul will respond based on the principles of maintaining a balance of benefits under the existing South Korea-U.S. agreement and ensuring treatment that is not disadvantageous compared with other countries. Earlier Friday, Trump said the EU was not properly implementing trade negotiations and announced he would raise tariffs on passenger cars and trucks to 25% starting next week. Some observers have interpreted the move as retaliation after European countries, including Germany, declined U.S. requests to dispatch warships and otherwise cooperate with U.S. operations in the Iran war. Separately, the presidential office said it is paying close attention to a Pentagon announcement that about 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany would be withdrawn, citing a global review and possible changes in U.S. force posture. It said it is working closely with the United States so U.S. Forces Korea can remain stationed stably and contribute to a strong combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 21:24:16 -
Korean Court Sentences Teen to Prison for Newborn’s Death After Toilet Birth A teenager who gave birth in a toilet at her home and then left the newborn unattended, leading to the baby’s death, has been sentenced to prison. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 11, presided over by Chief Judge Song Byeong-hun, sentenced the girl, identified only as A, to an indeterminate term of 2 years to 2 years and 6 months for child abuse resulting in death. The court also ordered her to complete 40 hours of a child-abuse treatment program. A was indicted without detention over an incident in 2024, when she was 17. Prosecutors said she gave birth in the master bedroom bathroom at her residence in Gyeonggi Province, and the baby fell into the toilet and died. The court said A did not tell her family she was pregnant and was unable to prepare properly, and that she gave birth suddenly without help from her boyfriend. It said she appeared to have failed to respond appropriately due to shock immediately afterward. “Human life is a precious value that cannot be exchanged for anything, and a newborn’s life is no exception,” the court said. It added that although A was still a minor, she had a mother’s duty to raise and protect the child, but took no minimum steps and abandoned the baby, resulting in death.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 20:54:15 -
Online Reactions Follow Reported Prison Update on Jeon Cheong-jo, Jailed for Fraud An update on Jeon Cheong-jo, who is imprisoned on fraud charges involving about 3 billion won, has drawn a wave of online reaction. A video titled “Reading updates on notorious criminals in prison” was posted April 30 on the YouTube channel “Ilkda.” The video includes accounts from inmates who said they lived with Jeon. One source, identified as A, claimed Jeon introduced themself as bisexual and said they had previously been pregnant and had lived with a man. The source also alleged Jeon would remove their shirt for about an hour after hot showers, which are allowed twice a week, and appeared to do so to show their chest after a mastectomy. The source said Jeon received testosterone injections and grew facial hair, keeping an electric razor in the room and shaving frequently. The source claimed Jeon believed they were male and repeatedly approached women, and that Jeon was later moved to a cellblock where foreign inmates stay. The report also said Jeon, early in detention, showed strong possessiveness and resentment when another inmate drew more attention, and at times clashed with others after being unable to tolerate gossip. Online commenters responded with remarks such as, “Put them in the men’s unit and they’ll cover up,” and “They show that dating and marriage are about confidence, regardless of gender or looks.” Others posted stock-related jokes, including, “If I had bought Nvidia back then, I could have graduated from stocks,” “So did Jeon buy Nvidia?” and “What should we buy next?” Jeon was sentenced to 13 years in prison for fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and is serving the term at Cheongju Women’s Prison.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 20:48:17 -
U.S. Warns Shipping Firms Paying Iran for Hormuz Passage Could Face Sanctions; Trump Says 'We Are Pirates' 미국 정부가 호르무즈 해협을 통과하기 위해 이란에 통행료를 지불하는 해운사들을 향해 제재 대상이 될 수 있다고 경고했다. 2일(현지시간) 로이터통신, AP 통신 등에 따르면 미국 재무부 해외자산통제국(OFAC)은 공지를 통해 “안전 통항을 위해 이란 정권에 자금을 지불하거나 (공격하지 않겠다는) 보장을 요청하면 제재당할 위험이 있다는 경고를 하려고 주의보를 발령한다"고 전했다. 이란은 자국 해안에 가까운 우회 항로를 제안하며 선박들에 통행료 징수를 추진하고 있으며, 미국은 이란 정권의 전쟁자금 수입을 막기 위한 해상봉쇄에 나선 상태다. 재무부는 로이터에 이런 간접 지불을 한 국가나 기업에 대한 구체적인 정보를 제공하지 않았다. 다만 로이터는 적어도 한 척의 선박이 해협을 통과하기 위해 200만 달러를 지불했다는 보도가 있었다고 전했다. OFAC은 제재 대상이 될 수 있는 지급 형태로 현금뿐 아니라 디지털 자산, 상계 거래, 비공식 스와프, 현물 지급 등을 열거했다. 또 각국이 자국 내 이란 대사관을 통해 결제하거나 자선 기부금 형태로 우회 지급하는 것 역시 엄격히 금지된다고 강조했다. OFAC은 비미국 개인과 법인이 미국 개인과 법인에 예외적으로 허용된 경우가 아닌 방식으로 이란 정부나 이란혁명수비대와 거래에 참여하면 제재 위험에 노출될 수 있다고 밝혔다. 또 참여하는 외국 금융기관에 대한 2차 제재가 포함될 수 있으며, 해당 기관은 미국 금융체계 접근이 금지되거나 제한될 수 있다고 경고했다. 한편 이날 미국 플로리다주에서 열린 행사에서 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령은 미 해군의 선박 나포를 언급한 뒤 “우리는 해적과 같다. 어느 정도 해적 같지만 장난은 아니다”라고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 20:36:15 -
Lottery Interest Builds as Lotto 1222 Numbers Near; Pension Lottery Winner Shares Story "I had been going through a time when the tears never seemed to stop because several sad and difficult things happened at once, and this win has been a great comfort and a new turning point in my life." With interest building in Donghaeng Lottery’s Lotto draw No. 1222 on May 2, a personal account posted to the company’s winners’ bulletin board has drawn attention. The writer said they won Pension Lottery 720+ round 303 with one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets. The winner said they decided to buy the pension lottery after noticing cash left inside their car while parking and getting out. A few days later, the winner said they stopped by a nearby lottery retailer as usual to buy Lotto tickets and saw the shop owner hanging a banner announcing a pension lottery first-prize winner. The winner said they checked the round number and realized it matched the ticket they had bought. "I went home and checked, and the person I had dreamed of being was me," the winner said, adding that it felt unreal and they lost sleep for several nights. The winner said they bought the ticket at a lottery shop in Buk-gu, Busan, and that they sometimes buy Lotto, Pension Lottery and Speetto scratch tickets. Asked about plans for the winnings, the winner said they would first buy a car and plan to purchase a home. Donghaeng Lottery said the winning numbers for Lotto draw No. 1222 can be checked after 8:35 p.m. on May 2.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 20:27:18 -
Backlash Grows as South Korea Keeps Juvenile Criminal Responsibility Age at 14 Public backlash is spreading after a plan to keep the current age threshold for “juveniles exempt from criminal punishment” at 14 was effectively finalized. Posts about the issue have appeared in a steady stream on online communities in recent days. Under South Korean law, the term refers to minors ages 10 to under 14 who are not criminally liable under the Criminal Act. Even if they commit a crime, they are subject to protective measures rather than criminal punishment. In recent years, debate has intensified over claims that juvenile crime has become more violent, fueling calls to lower the age. The government and related agencies reviewed options to reduce the age of criminal responsibility but have moved toward keeping the current standard. Many commenters criticized the decision to maintain the age at 14. One wrote, “Before worrying about labeling effects and repeat offenses, punish them properly,” adding, “Isn’t the order of concern backwards? Shouldn’t rehabilitation and worries about repeat offenses come after proper punishment is carried out?” Others posted comments such as, “Why? Elections are getting close and they’re afraid of losing parents’ votes,” “Teen crime is getting more and more vicious. The president talked about lowering the age and the public wants it lowered, so why keep it?” “Lower it to 10 or hold a national referendum,” “Out of step with the times. Are 14-year-olds from the past the same as today’s 14-year-olds?” “Who are they to decide public opinion on their own — are they out of their minds?” “Make the parents take the punishment instead,” and “This government only scolds and nothing gets done.” Because the debate over the system requires social consensus between tougher punishment and a rehabilitation-centered approach, controversy over the policy direction is expected to continue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 19:57:16 -
Uiwang Apartment Fire Leaves Family Homeless After Gas Blast Kills 2 A resident who lost a home in a recent apartment fire in Uiwang, south of Seoul, has shared the family’s story online, drawing sympathy as authorities investigate a blast that killed two people and injured six. In a post on an online community, the writer, identified only as A, said the fire spread quickly from a lower floor and heavily damaged the parents’ unit. “My parents’ home, where they lived for more than 20 years, burned down overnight and we lost everything,” A wrote. Clothing, bedding, furniture and other essentials were destroyed, leaving little to salvage, the post said. “People said we might be able to save something, but when we actually went there, nothing was left,” A wrote, adding the family felt numb and devastated, especially watching the parents try not to ask their children for help. A said the family did not have fire insurance and compensation would not be enough to replace household goods. The writer said they were checking what help might be available from local government and public agencies, but support for appliances and furniture appeared limited. A asked readers to share information on assistance for fire victims or corporate donations, noting other affected residents, including those upstairs, likely faced similar losses. The post spread online, prompting calls for more practical support for households hit by the fire. Some commenters also stressed the need for fire insurance in multiunit buildings. Police said the fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. on April 30 at an apartment building in Naesu-dong, Uiwang, accompanied by an explosion-like sound. A man in his 60s, identified as A, fell and died, and his wife, identified as B and in her 50s, was found dead in the unit’s bathroom. Police said a note was found on the man’s clothing describing personal despair, including financial difficulties. A police official said no flammable materials were found at the scene and a gas explosion was suspected. The official said an autopsy indicated the wife appeared to have died before the fire started. The building has 20 stories above ground and one basement level, with a total floor area of about 8,800 square meters and 78 households, police said. The apartment complex was completed in 2002, when sprinklers were required only on floors 16 and above, meaning they were not installed on the 14th floor where the fire occurred.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 19:22:19 -
South Korea Names 2026 ‘Year to Visit Islands,’ Offers Up to 100,000 Won in Travel Aid The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Friday it has designated 2026 as the “Year to Visit Islands” and will provide up to 100,000 won in travel support for people who visit islands. The initiative is being launched for the first time to highlight the tourism value of Korea’s islands, which the ministry said has been underestimated, and to promote tourism as part of efforts to support balanced regional development in island communities. The ministry said it will subsidize lodging costs for tourists who visit islands and stay at least one night during the summer vacation season (July-August) and during the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, scheduled for Sept. 5-Nov. 4. Detailed eligibility rules and application procedures will be posted on a dedicated website set to open May 18. South Jeolla Province will also run its own “Jeonnam Year to Visit Islands” program offering up to 100,000 won in travel support, and the Korea Tourism Organization plans to hold an island lodging discount campaign in September, known as the Lodging Sale Festa. The ministry held a proclamation ceremony for the “2026 Year to Visit Islands” at 3 p.m. Friday at Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. Attendees included Vice Interior Minister Kim Min-jae, South Jeolla Vice Gov. Hwang Gi-yeon, Yeosu Vice Mayor Jeong Hyeon-gu, and Korea Island Development Institute President Cho Seong-hwan. The ministry said it will also roll out participation programs aimed at helping people build ongoing ties with islands. It plans a “One Person, One Island” promotional campaign that issues participants a digital “island resident ID,” along with events that match people with a “companion island” or grant honorary island resident status. The ministry also plans an event encouraging visits to 88 islands selected each year as places people want to travel to. “Our country is an archipelago tourism nation with 3,390 beautiful islands, and each island has its own unique appeal and value,” Kim said. “I hope that, through the 2026 Year to Visit Islands, more people will visit islands and enjoy a special trip with family and friends.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 19:21:18 -
Restaurant Featured on Sung Si-kyung’s YouTube Accused of Abandoning Dog as It Closed A seafood restaurant that appeared on singer Sung Si-kyung’s YouTube channel has come under criticism after online posts alleged it shut down and left a dog behind. On the 2nd, multiple online communities shared a post titled, “A Yongsan sashimi restaurant believed to have abandoned a 14-year-old dog when it closed.” The author, identified only as A, wrote, “Seeing it in person makes my heart race,” and added, “Fortunately, it seems a resident takes the dog at night and cares for it,” posting photos. One photo showed a notice taped to the restaurant’s glass door. The notice referred to a “dog left in an empty shop that has stopped operating,” and said the district office and related centers had been notified. It warned that the interior becomes dangerously hot during the day and said Yongsan District Office planned to visit on 5/4, urging the owner to take the dog. A wrote, “Fourteen years. Are you human, or have you given up being human?” The author also claimed the food “wasn’t good” and the staff were rude, adding that the incident made them distrust restaurants promoted on YouTube. Another photo showed the dog confined inside the closed shop alongside a message asking why the animal was being left there. Commenters expressed anger and concern, with some writing that if the district office takes the dog it could be euthanized, and others noting the restaurant had appeared on Sung’s “Meogeultende” series. Another user, identified as B, alleged the dog was left behind by a Huam-dong sekkosi restaurant that had presented itself as “pet-friendly.” B said the business closed in early April and abandoned the dog, describing it as 14 years old and appearing to have problems with its ears and legs. B wrote that the dog’s eyes also looked unwell and criticized leaving an elderly animal behind because veterinary care is expensive. B said nearby residents have at least been giving the dog water, and that the animal was trembling, prompting B to place an apron and clothing on the floor. B also described unsanitary conditions, including feces attracting flies, mosquitoes and other insects, poor ventilation and a bad odor. B said the indoor temperature has been high during the day and that power had been cut off for some time, adding that the dog appeared to be weakening and that temporary shelter was difficult. “Please help,” B wrote.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 18:36:20 -
Seoul mayoral candidates trade blame over housing and rents Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party’s candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party traded barbs May 2 over the city’s housing market. With the June 3 local elections a month away, the two sides are intensifying their fight over who is responsible for Seoul’s housing and rental strains. Speaking at a party rally at Seodaemun Cultural and Sports Center, Jung criticized Oh for what he called silence when President Yoon Suk Yeol was “ruining the country,” while now attacking President Lee Jae-myung. “He should have said something, even a word, when President Yoon Suk Yeol was ruining the country,” Jung said. Jung also pushed back on Oh’s recent claims that young people are facing “rent hell” and “real estate hell” because of the current government. “Wasn’t the Seoul mayor you?” Jung said, arguing that Oh failed over five years to increase housing supply and manage measures for monthly rent and jeonse leases, and is now blaming the government for the difficulties. Oh, in turn, warned that Seoul real estate would become “hell” if Jung is elected. Oh said soaring home prices and rising rents stem from what he called a supply strategy created by “the dream team” of Moon Jae-in and Park Won-soon. Oh said that when he left office as mayor in 2011, he had designated more than 400 areas for redevelopment and reconstruction that could have supplied 420,000 homes, but that Mayor Park “canceled them all.” Oh said the resulting lack of new supply is now being pinned on him. “That’s turning the tables,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-02 18:21:16