Journalist

Jun Sung-min
  • President Lee Jae-myung vows to build a society where every day feels like Children’s Day
    President Lee Jae-myung vows to build a society where every day feels like Children’s Day President Lee Jae-myung marked the 104th Children’s Day on May 5 by pledging to do more to build a society where “every day, 365 days a year, can feel like Children’s Day,” not just a single holiday. Lee made the remarks in a Facebook post titled “Marking the 104th Children’s Day.” “Though we now live in our own places as adults, we were all once children learning about the world under someone’s care,” he wrote, recalling how children can be excited by small things and cry and laugh over everyday moments. He said childhood is a time when everything feels unfamiliar yet new, and when people believe they can become anything and focus on possibilities before limits. Looking back, Lee wrote, children are not lacking or immature, but people who simply need more time than adults. “They learn and grow at their own pace and come to understand the world in their own way,” he said. Lee said much depends on how adults view and treat children, adding that if adults watch with warmth and wait long enough, children will grow into adults with broader hearts and deeper consideration for others. “I, too, pledge not to see children only as those to be protected or as simply cute, but to respect them as individuals with dignity and character,” he wrote. “I will keep working to be a dignified adult who protects children’s dignity.” He closed by saying he sincerely hopes South Korea’s children, “the future of the Republic of Korea,” will always be healthy. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 14:34:26
  • South Korea Defense Ministry Dismisses 3 Officers, Removes 1 Over Troop Deployment to Parliament
    South Korea Defense Ministry Dismisses 3 Officers, Removes 1 Over Troop Deployment to Parliament The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday it has imposed severe disciplinary measures on four senior and field-grade officers indicted for alleged involvement in the “12·3 emergency martial law,” citing violations of the duty to comply with laws and the duty of faithful service. Three officers were dismissed from service, according to reports: Kim Jeong-geun, then commander of the Army Special Warfare Command’s 3rd Airborne Brigade (brigadier general); Ahn Mu-seong, then commander of the 9th Airborne Brigade (a brigadier general select); and Kim Se-un, then commander of the Special Operations Aviation Group (colonel), who allegedly transported troops to the National Assembly. Kim Sang-yong, then deputy head of the Defense Ministry Investigation Headquarters (colonel), was removed from service, reports said, for alleged involvement in forming arrest teams targeting key figures including politicians. Kim Jeong-geun is accused of dispatching troops to the National Election Commission during the emergency martial law, acting on orders from then Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun. The ministry said it convened a disciplinary committee for the four on April 15. Dismissal is the most severe punishment in the military, stripping a service member of status and cutting pension benefits in half. Removal is one level lower. Earlier, the Defense Ministry’s special investigation unit indicted eight people, including the four, on charges including performing key duties in an insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights. In earlier disciplinary proceedings, Koo Sam-hoe, then commander of the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade; Jeong Seong-woo, then head of the 1st Directorate at the Defense Security Command; and Kim Chang-hak, then head of the military police unit at the Capital Defense Command, were dismissed. Bang Jeong-hwan, then director general for defense innovation planning, was removed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 10:51:15
  • South Korea Says Fire on HMM Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz Is Out
    South Korea Says Fire on HMM Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz Is Out South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that a fire on a South Korean-flagged vessel after an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished, and that the exact cause is expected to be determined after the ship is towed. In a notice to reporters, the ministry said all 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, were confirmed unharmed. It added that the fire had been put out and no additional damage was reported. The explosion and fire broke out at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korea time) on a cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping company HMM, the HMM NAMU, in waters near the United Arab Emirates within the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said. The ministry said it remains unclear whether the ship can resume normal operations. It said the vessel is to be towed to a nearby port to assess damage and carry out repairs. A tugboat is being arranged, but a specific towing schedule has not been set, it said. The United States on Monday launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom” to escort civilian ships out of the Gulf region (Persian Gulf) through the Strait of Hormuz using military aircraft and warships. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social that Iran had fired several times at unrelated countries, including a South Korean cargo ship, over ship movements linked to the operation, adding that it seemed time for South Korea to join. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that the cause of the incident is expected to be identified during the post-towing inspection. Earlier Tuesday at midnight, the ministry convened a meeting of its overseas nationals protection task force, chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina. Seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attended, it said. South Korea’s embassy in the UAE and its consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and relevant agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the safety of the South Korean crew and request needed assistance. The participating missions said they have maintained regular communication with host-country authorities and taken steps to protect and support South Korean ships and sailors. They said they will further strengthen coordination with local authorities to ensure rapid rescue and other safety measures if needed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 10:33:15
  • South Korea Holds Emergency Meeting After Blast, Fire on Ship in Strait of Hormuz
    South Korea Holds Emergency Meeting After Blast, Fire on Ship in Strait of Hormuz South Korea convened an emergency meeting after an explosion and fire broke out on a Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The government said it will strengthen coordination with host-country authorities so Korean sailors can be rescued and protected immediately if needed. The Foreign Ministry said the Overseas Nationals Protection Countermeasures Headquarters met at midnight on May 5 under Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a, with seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attending. The incident occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on May 4 (Korea time) in waters near the United Arab Emirates, when an explosion and fire broke out on the HMM NAMU, a cargo ship operated by Korean shipping company HMM, the ministry said. Kim expressed deep concern that it was the first reported damage to a Korean vessel inside the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war in the Middle East. “Fortunately, there were no casualties this time, but it is important to identify the cause and prevent a recurrence,” Kim said. She added that it is essential to be fully prepared to take swift steps to protect the lives and safety of Korean sailors at any time. Participants included the South Korean Embassy in the UAE, the Consulate General in Dubai, and the embassies in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and Oman. The embassy in the UAE and the consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and related agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the sailors’ safety and request necessary assistance. The missions said they have maintained regular communication with local authorities to protect and support Korean ships and crews, and pledged to further strengthen coordination so safety measures, including immediate rescue, can be carried out in an emergency. The Foreign Ministry said it will continue to closely monitor local conditions and maintain tight communication between headquarters and overseas missions while pursuing all necessary steps to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals. The United States on May 4 launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom,” escorting civilian vessels with military aircraft and warships to help them pass through the Strait of Hormuz and leave the Gulf (Persian Gulf), the report said. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had fired several times in connection with ship movements related to “Project Freedom,” targeting “irrelevant countries” including a Korean cargo ship, and said it seemed time for South Korea to join the operation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 08:21:15
  • South Korea Says Blast, Fire Hit Korean-Operated Ship in Strait of Hormuz; No Casualties
    South Korea Says Blast, Fire Hit Korean-Operated Ship in Strait of Hormuz; No Casualties A blast and fire broke out on a Korean-operated ship that had been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control, South Korea’s government said. Officials were checking whether the vessel was attacked and said no casualties had been reported so far. The Foreign Ministry said the explosion and fire occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on the 4th (Korea time) on a vessel anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was the NAMU, operated by South Korean shipping company HMM and registered in Panama, the ministry said. Six South Korean crew members and 18 foreign crew members were aboard, and no injuries had been confirmed as of the latest reports, the ministry said. A ministry official said, “The cause of the explosion and fire and the specific extent of the damage are being confirmed.” The damaged area was the port side of the engine room. The vessel remains at sea awaiting further action. The official added, “The government will stay in close communication with relevant countries and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of our ships and seafarers inside the Strait of Hormuz.” Cheong Wa Dae said it was assessing the cause of the fire and had confirmed there were no injuries among the South Korean crew members. U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media platform Truth Social that he would begin “Project Freedom” to pull out ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz starting the morning of the 4th, Middle East time. 2026-05-04 23:42:19
  • South Korea checks report of Korean ship hit near Strait of Hormuz; no casualties
    South Korea checks report of Korean ship hit near Strait of Hormuz; no casualties South Korea said it was checking a report that one of its ships anchored inside the Strait of Hormuz was attacked, adding that no South Korean crew members were hurt. A Foreign Ministry official said on the 4th that the consular bureau was confirming whether the vessel was hit. “We have initially confirmed there were no casualties among our nationals,” the official said. Cheong Wa Dae said it was also determining the cause of a fire on the ship and confirmed there were no injuries among the South Korean crew. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it believed the general cargo ship HMM Namu, anchored in waters outside the harbor limits of Umm Al Quwain port in the Hormuz area, was struck at about 8:40 p.m. The ministry said 24 people were aboard: six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals. Damage was reported on the port side of the engine room, and the ship was waiting at sea. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media Truth Social that he would begin “Project Freedom” on the morning of the 4th, Middle East time, to pull out ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. Cheong Wa Dae said the government hoped global maritime logistics would quickly stabilize and return to normal. It said South Korea and the United States were maintaining close communication on the stable use of major sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 22:39:18
  • South Korea says Hormuz transit for its ships depends on safety, operators’ decisions
    South Korea says Hormuz transit for its ships depends on safety, operators’ decisions South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said April 30 that the passage of Korean-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Iran war must take into account multiple factors, including safety conditions and decisions by shipping companies. Spokesman Park Il told a regular briefing that “there are various matters to consider, including the safety situation in the strait,” and that judgments and decisions on transit ultimately rest with ship operators. Park said the government’s basic position is that free passage for all vessels, including Korean ships, should be restored quickly. Under that stance, he said, Seoul is asking Iran for special cooperation so that 26 Korean vessels can pass through the strait as soon as possible, while staying in close contact with Gulf countries and the United States. The ministry recently dispatched Special Envoy Chung Byung-ha, the foreign minister’s special envoy, to Iran. Asked about a Japanese oil tanker that transited the strait on April 28, Park said each ship and operator faces different circumstances and the case cannot be treated as identical to the situation involving Korean vessels. He said the government will continue diplomatic efforts until the issue is resolved. Park added that Seoul is consulting with Iran and other relevant countries while taking into account operators’ views, but said it was difficult to provide details. “Our government is looking after our ships more actively than anyone,” he said. Some shipping companies are reported to be taking the position that, with prospects for U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks still unclear, they would rather watch negotiations than push for transit and take on added risk. The government has also reportedly conveyed to Iran its basic position that it will not pay transit fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:03:16
  • South Korea seeks discipline for 12 officials over mishandled recovery in 12·29 Jeju Air crash
    South Korea seeks discipline for 12 officials over mishandled recovery in 12·29 Jeju Air crash The Office for Government Policy Coordination said it will seek disciplinary action against 12 public officials over what it called a poor recovery effort that left victims’ remains inadequately collected and stored for an extended period after the 12·29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster. The office’s joint government inspection team on Wednesday released results of an intensive review conducted for about a month starting March 23, covering the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and related agencies including police, fire authorities and the military. The team said early search and recovery operations were incomplete because there were no detailed guidelines for aircraft-accident recovery and because on-scene command and oversight by fire and police officials were insufficient. It also said the investigation board violated relevant rules and manuals while storing and managing debris that included unrecovered remains, leaving it piled up and unattended for a long period. The team said it will notify the relevant ministries of its findings and request disciplinary measures for 12 officials: six from the investigation board, four from the transport ministry, and one each from police and fire authorities. According to the team, the initial recovery led by fire and police authorities was carried out without a manual, and many inexperienced personnel were deployed, contributing to a flawed operation. It found the South Jeolla Fire Headquarters, which oversaw the first search, ended that initial operation on Jan. 7 last year even though remains continued to be found at the site. A second search led by the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency ended, and the team said police did not review whether additional searches were needed even after learning that remains were found the next day. The team said the investigation board failed to properly check debris mixed with remains, placed it in large sacks and left it for 14 months, and did not respond promptly to bereaved families’ requests for a renewed search. Kim Young-soo, first vice minister at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said the inspection was carried out quickly to ease, even slightly, the pain of bereaved families who have suffered additional distress due to the delayed recovery. He said he hoped the findings would help address suspicions raised about inadequate early recovery and the long-term neglect of remains.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 16:57:18
  • Army Chief Kim Gyu-ha Calls for Korea-Specific Drone Doctrine, Expanded Force
    Army Chief Kim Gyu-ha Calls for Korea-Specific Drone Doctrine, Expanded Force The Army said it will actively bring in attack drones, including loitering munitions, and sharply expand education and training so all service members can operate drones with ease. Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha said at a policy meeting with reporters at Gyeryongdae on April 29 that he wants to define drones “as the same concept as personal weapons,” adding that troops should be able to use them “freely,” like the individual weapons every combatant carries. Kim said drone operations seen in Russia and Ukraine and in Iran differ greatly from conditions on the Korean Peninsula, particularly in terrain, and stressed the need to develop drone doctrine and a force structure suited to South Korea. He said drones will evolve beyond surveillance and reconnaissance to include strike missions and sustained support operations. He added the Army is working to field drones by echelon — from company level to operational command level — based on functions that match strategic and tactical objectives. As part of its “training 500,000 drone warriors” policy, the Army plans to introduce about 11,000 commercial drones for training this year and about 50,000 by 2029, aiming to enable each squad to operate one training drone. The Army is also reported to be pursuing the introduction of “battalion-level loitering munitions.” Kim said the Army has developed its “dronebot” combat system since 2018 under the “Army Tiger” policy, but acknowledged progress has partly stalled because it has not kept pace with recent technological advances. He said the Army will accelerate efforts to field drone capabilities. 2026-04-30 14:32:42
  • South Korea Says No Talks With U.S. on Cutting American Troops in Korea
    South Korea Says No Talks With U.S. on Cutting American Troops in Korea South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday there have been no discussions with the United States about reducing U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, after President Donald Trump said Washington is considering cutting forces in Germany. Asked about the issue at a regular briefing, ministry spokesperson Jeong Bitna said, "There have been no discussions at all between South Korea and the United States regarding a reduction of U.S. Forces Korea." She said the main mission of U.S. Forces Korea is to maintain a strong combined defense posture with South Korean forces to deter and respond to North Korean invasion and provocations. Jeong said the allies will continue close consultations to ensure the stable stationing of U.S. forces in South Korea and to strengthen the combined defense posture. Trump wrote on social media Truth Social on April 29 (local time) that the United States is looking at the possibility of reducing troops in Germany and that a decision would be made soon. The remarks prompted speculation the move could be retaliation for Germany's lack of active cooperation in the Iran war. Meanwhile, the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which took effect last December, includes provisions barring the use of funds to reduce U.S. Forces Korea below 28,500 troops. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 11:06:15