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Kim yoon seop
  • Korean pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon arrested over alleged role in court rampage
    Korean pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon arrested over alleged role in court rampage SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -South Korean ultra-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church was arrested at court on suspicion of orchestrating a violent rampage at the Seoul Western District Court following the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol last year on Wednesday, the same day prosecutors asked for a death penalty for Yoon for his ill-served marital-law attempt. The Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for Jeon after a pre-arrest hearing, citing concerns that he could destroy evidence or flee. Senior Judge Kim Hyung-seok, who presided over the warrant review, said the risk factors justified taking Jeon into custody. Jeon is accused of instigating aggravated trespass of a public building by encouraging supporters to storm the court in the early hours of Jan. 19, 2025, shortly after Yoon’s arrest. Prosecutors allege that demonstrators smashed court fixtures and assaulted police officers during the incident. Investigators say Jeon exerted psychological control over followers under the guise of religious devotion and provided financial support to close aides and conservative YouTubers to incite violence. Police believe such actions played a central role in mobilizing the crowd. A total of 141 people have been sent to trial in connection with the rampage, including two individuals described as Sarang Jeil Church “special mission evangelists.” During the warrant hearing, police argued that Jeon posed a flight risk, citing his regional network known as “Freedom Village” and the possibility he could leave the country. Authorities also raised concerns about evidence destruction, noting that a church office computer was replaced in July last year shortly before a search and seizure. Before attending the hearing at around 9:50 a.m., Jeon held a news conference and denied the allegations, saying, “Now that it’s a left-wing president, they’re having a fit trying to arrest me.” He has consistently rejected claims that he instigated the violence, maintaining that he urged supporters not to clash with police. The arrest follows a procedural delay. Prosecutors initially rejected a police request in December to seek warrants for Jeon and Shin Hye-sik, head of the YouTube channel Shinui Hansu. After supplementary investigations, prosecutors requested a warrant for Jeon alone on Jan. 7. Police said they plan to soon refer Jeon’s case to prosecutors along with other suspects, including Shin. Jeon’s arrest marks the fourth time he has been taken into custody. In 2018, he was sentenced in a first trial to 10 months in prison for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 19th presidential election. An appeals court later reduced the sentence to six months, suspended for two years. He was arrested again in February 2020 ahead of the 21st general election on another election-law violation and released on medical bail. In September that year, he was re-imprisoned for violating bail conditions but later released after being acquitted. Jeon also faced a possible arrest in January 2020 during the Moon Jae-in administration over allegations that he led a violent protest near the presidential office, though a warrant was denied at the time. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:27:14
  • Special counsel seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over failed martial law bid
    Special counsel seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over failed martial law bid SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk on Wednesday sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Cho’s team asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon, to impose the maximum sentence during the final sentencing hearing, describing Yoon as the “ringleader” of an anti-constitutional attempt to seize control of the state. The prosecution’s sentencing request had originally been expected on Jan. 9 but was postponed after the review of documentary evidence and final arguments by Yoon and other defendants ran past midnight. The court scheduled an additional hearing, which concluded on Wednesday. Special counsel Park Eok-su said the martial law episode “betrayed the constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ freedoms” and “essentially infringed upon national security and the survival of the people,” adding that its purpose, methods and execution bore “the character of anti-state activity.” Park said it had become clear whom Yoon had labeled “anti-state forces” to justify the declaration, criticizing what he called an unprecedented “serious destruction of the Constitution.” He cited the storming of the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, as well as attempts to cut off electricity and water supplies to media outlets. According to the prosecution, Yoon declared martial law to seize control of the judiciary and legislature and to remain in power for an extended period, mobilizing state resources meant to serve the national community. Park added that Yoon had shown no reflection on the harm caused to constitutional order and democracy, arguing that “the biggest victims were the people who protected democracy through sacrifice against dictatorship and authoritarianism.” Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to declare unconstitutional and illegal martial law despite the absence of war, armed conflict or a comparable national emergency. Prosecutors allege he incited a riot aimed at undermining the constitutional order. He is also accused of deploying martial law troops and police to block access to the National Assembly in an effort to prevent lawmakers from voting to lift the decree, and of attempting to arrest and detain key political figures. Those allegedly targeted include National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, President Lee Jae Myung, who was then leader of the Democratic Party, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and senior officials at the National Election Commission. The trial involves eight defendants regarded as ringleaders of the martial law attempt, including Yoon and Kim. Yoon triggered a major political crisis when he announced the suspension of civilian rule in December 2024 and dispatched troops to parliament. The attempt collapsed within hours after lawmakers scaled fences and broke through a security cordon to convene and vote down the decree. He was detained in January 2025, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody. If convicted, Yoon would become the third South Korean president found guilty of insurrection, following former military leaders Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were convicted for their roles in a 1979 coup. In 1997, the Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment for Chun and a 17½-year sentence for Roh, though both were later pardoned. Even if Yoon is sentenced to death, an execution is considered highly unlikely. South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment since December 1997, following President Kim Dae-jung’s inauguration in 1998. The court is expected to deliver its verdict in February, bringing to a close more than a year of political upheaval following Yoon’s failed martial law declaration. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:16:29
  • HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects
    HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korea's HanmiGlobal said Monday it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Korea Electric Power Engineering & Construction and U.K.-based project management firm Turner & Townsend to jointly pursue nuclear power projects overseas. The agreement follows a nuclear cooperation MOU signed last year between HanmiGlobal and KEPCO E&C. The three companies will build an integrated advisory package covering nuclear plant design, engineering, project management, and cost and schedule control to target the global nuclear market, HanmiGlobal said in a press release. HanmiGlobal has carried out about 3,200 project management assignments in 66 countries. It recently entered the nuclear sector after winning a project management contract for the life-extension project for Unit 1 at Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear power plant. KEPCO E&C has designed multiple nuclear plants in South Korea and overseas, including the Hanbit nuclear power plant and the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates. Turner & Townsend, headquartered in the U.K., operates 247 offices in 62 countries and works in project management and quantity surveying. It is handling integrated project management for the U.K.’s new Hinkley Point C nuclear plant and the Sellafield nuclear site, and provides consulting for the U.K. government’s small modular reactor program. HanmiGlobal said it plans to identify joint opportunities in key markets including Europe, the Middle East and Asia, in partnership with KEPCO E&C and Turner & Townsend. They also plan to cooperate on data-driven upgrades to nuclear project management using digital twin, BIM and AI technologies, and to expand cooperation across the nuclear life cycle, including large-scale plants, SMRs, decommissioning and radioactive waste disposal facilities. “By combining the core capabilities of the three companies, we will further strengthen competitiveness in global nuclear projects,” a HanmiGlobal official said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-12 13:54:54
  • Lunar New Year train tickets to go on sale next week
    Lunar New Year train tickets to go on sale next week SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Advance train tickets for the Lunar New Year break will go on sale next week, railway operator KORAIL said Wednesday. Tickets will be available online for a week starting next Thursday, about a month in advance, for trains running during the weeklong holiday from Feb. 13 to 18. The first two days of pre-booking will be reserved for senior citizens aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and recipients of national merit honors. Ordinary citizens can book tickets for the remaining days until Jan. 21. However, booking dates may vary by destination. KORAIL said it has extended the booking period from two to three days to prevent overcrowding and server congestion. 2026-01-07 15:44:55
  • China travel surge lifts Incheon airport to record passenger traffic
    China travel surge lifts Incheon airport to record passenger traffic SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Incheon International Airport handled a record 239,530 passengers on Jan. 4, the highest daily total since the airport opened in 2001, its operator said on Monday. The figure surpassed the previous record of 234,171 passengers set on Aug. 4, 2019, by nearly 5,000, and was up 13.7 percent from the same day a year earlier, when 210,891 passengers used the airport. By destination, travel to and from China accounted for 49.2 percent of total passenger traffic and recorded the largest year-on-year increase, which the airport operator attributed to visa-free entry policies and a recovery in outbound and inbound tourism. Passenger traffic involving Hong Kong and Taiwan rose 24 percent. Travel demand to Southeast Asia, however, showed relatively modest growth of 1.7 percent despite the winter peak season, partly due to recent developments in Cambodia, the operator said. Despite the surge in traffic, airport congestion remained close to normal levels. As of Jan. 4, the average wait time at departure security checkpoints in Terminal 1 was 7.9 minutes, with a peak of 42 minutes at around 6 a.m. Incheon International Airport Corp. said it is expanding the use of automated systems such as Smart Pass, enhancing training for security screening staff, hiring additional personnel and widening operations at Gate 1 in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. 2026-01-05 16:00:44
  • Incheon Airport sets daily passenger record with nearly 240,000 travelers
    Incheon Airport sets daily passenger record with nearly 240,000 travelers SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - A record 239,530 passengers passed through Incheon International Airport last Sunday, the most in a single day since it opened in 2001, operators said on Monday. The figure was nearly 5,000 higher than the previous record of 234,171 set on Aug. 4, 2019, and was also up about 13.7 percent from a year earlier, when 210,891 passengers used the airport. Chinese passengers accounted for the most at 49.2 percent of all travelers, seeing the biggest increase, likely due to a temporary year-long visa-free entry program between South Korea and China that runs until the end of this year. Passenger traffic from Chinese-speaking countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan also rose by 24 percent. However, the number of travelers to and from Southeast Asia remained relatively low, rising by just 1.7 percent despite the winter peak season, which was attributed to recent revelations of online phishing scams and other crimes, mostly in Cambodia. Despite the record passenger numbers, the airport appears to be handling the surge smoothly, with an average processing time of just 7.9 minutes and a peak wait of 42 minutes at around 6 a.m. The airport said it is expanding automated immigration clearance systems and adding additional security and screening staff. Lee Hak-jae, the airport's president, said, "We will continue to improve convenience for foreign travelers and other visitors by revamping multilingual signage and increasing more personnel." 2026-01-05 14:55:34
  • Fire breaks out at motorcycle repair shop in Namyangju
    Fire breaks out at motorcycle repair shop in Namyangju SEOUL, December 27 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a motorcycle repair shop in Namyangju, south of Seoul, authorities said Saturday. Fire officials said the blaze started about 2:55 p.m. at the shop in Byeollae-myeon, Namyangju, in Gyeonggi province. Black smoke rose from the building, prompting a series of calls from nearby residents. No casualties had been confirmed as of Saturday afternoon. Firefighters deployed 31 pieces of equipment and 78 personnel to contain the flames. Police and fire officials said they will investigate the cause and assess damage once the fire is fully under control. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-27 17:18:45
  • Coupang shares jump 6% in New York after company releases probe findings on data leak
    Coupang shares jump 6% in New York after company releases probe findings on data leak SEOUL, December 27 (AJP) - Coupang shares rose on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday (local time), the first trading day after the company released its own findings on a major personal data leak. Coupang Inc., the parent company of the e-commerce firm, closed up 6.45 percent at $24.27 on the NYSE. U.S. markets were closed the previous day for Christmas, making Friday the first session after the announcement. Coupang said in a news release on Thursday that it had identified a former employee who leaked customer information using forensic evidence. The company said it recovered and secured all devices and hard disk drives used to access and steal the data, and its review found no external transmission. Coupang also said the leaker deleted all stored information and that no customer data were sent to third parties, according to its findings. The rebound was seen as reflecting investor expectations that the situation could stabilize after the company's announcement. The government, however, dismissed Coupang's statement, saying that what Coupang claims has not been confirmed by the joint public-private investigation team and is a one-sided claim. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-27 09:32:23
  • Samsung C&T advances Australian energy push with HVDC transmission deal
    Samsung C&T advances Australian energy push with HVDC transmission deal SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Samsung C&T Corp.’s construction unit said on Thursday it has won a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project in Australia. The company said it signed a contract with Marinus Link, a government-backed company established by Australia’s federal government and the state governments of Victoria and Tasmania, for the Marinus Link HVDC project. The project involves the engineering, procurement and construction of a 750-megawatt HVDC transmission system connecting the Hazelwood area in Victoria with the Heybridge area in Tasmania. The system will comprise about 90 kilometers of underground cable and 255 kilometers of subsea cable, for a total length of 350 kilometers. Samsung C&T said it formed a joint venture with local infrastructure contractor DTI to carry out civil works related to underground cable installation and the construction of converter stations. Of the total project value of about 940 billion won ($680 million), Samsung C&T’s 50 percent share amounts to roughly 470 billion won. The company said it received strong evaluations from the client during the early contractor involvement process after presenting an optimized design and highlighting experience gained from its HVDC project in the United Arab Emirates. “The Marinus Link HVDC project demonstrates recognition of Samsung C&T’s technology and project execution capabilities in the Australian market,” said Kim Sung-jun, vice president and head of the company’s energy solutions sales division. “We will continue to expand our business in Australia and the global energy market.” Samsung C&T said it has secured around 1 trillion won in orders in Australia’s energy sector this year, including a battery energy storage system project in Victoria worth about 200 billion won won in July. Since entering the Australian market with the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub project in 2023, the company has been carrying out energy storage system projects totaling about 2.9 gigawatt-hours, it added. 2025-12-18 09:38:22
  • Shinsegae chairs Hannam-dong home remains South Koreas most expensive for 11th year
    Shinsegae chair's Hannam-dong home remains South Korea's most expensive for 11th year SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Lee Myung-hee, chairwoman of South Korea’s Shinsegae Group, owns the country’s most expensive home for the 11th consecutive year, according to government property data released on Wednesday. Lee’s residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, was valued at 31.35 billion won ($21 million), up 5.48 percent from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport showed. The valuation rose by 1.63 billion won from last year’s 29.72 billion won, marking the first time in four years that the property’s assessed value has exceeded 30 billion won. The 2,862-square-meter home has held the top position since 2016. The second most expensive residence is owned by Lee Hae-wook, chairman of construction and energy conglomerate DL Group. His home in Samsung-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam district, was valued at 20.3 billion won, up 5.67 percent from last year. The rankings of the top 10 most expensive homes were unchanged from last year. Seven are located in Yongsan-gu, two in Gangnam-gu’s Samsung-dong and one in Seocho-gu’s Bangbae-dong. In land valuations, the site occupied by cosmetics retailer Nature Republic in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, retained its position as South Korea’s most expensive plot for the 23rd consecutive year. It was valued at 18.84 million won per square meter, up 4.38 percent. The second most expensive site was the Woori Bank property in Myeong-dong, valued at 18.76 million won per square meter, a 4.58 percent increase. 2025-12-17 13:48:58