Korea House Opens in Central Milan for 2026 Winter Olympics Cultural, Sports Exchange Korea House, a venue for sports diplomacy and promoting K-culture during the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics, has opened in central Milan. An opening ceremony was held Feb. 5 (local time) at Villa Necchi Campiglio in downtown Milan. The villa is a modern architectural landmark designed in the 1930s and now operates as a museum. During the Games, Korea House is set to serve as a base for cheering on South Korea’s athletes and a key site for showcasing Korean culture. Attendees included Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi Young; Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung Min; Kim Jae Yeol, president of the International Skating Union, who was elected the previous day as an International Olympic Committee executive board member; Ban Ki Moon, former chair of the IOC Ethics Commission; and officials from the South Korean delegation. In remarks, Choi said it was meaningful to welcome guests to a Korea House that brings together South Korea’s tradition and modernity in a venue “alive with aesthetics and elegance.” He urged visitors to experience the country’s stories through K-culture, including music, food and clothing. Yoo said Korea House is “not just a space,” calling it a place where visitors can enjoy the diversity of Korean culture. He asked guests to spend time at Korea House and cheer for South Korean athletes. Kim, who received congratulations from Choi and Yoo on his IOC executive board election, offered congratulations on the opening on behalf of IOC President Kirsty Coventry. He expressed gratitude for South Korea’s contributions to the Olympic movement and said he hoped for continued cooperation. The opening ceremony featured a hanbok fashion show hosted by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation and a K-pop cover dance performance. Upbit, a sponsor of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, also delivered a donation to support the development of winter sports. The ministry and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee have operated Korea House since the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. Initially used for team support, medalist interviews and sports diplomacy, it was expanded after the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics into a multipurpose cultural venue with broad participation from private and public institutions. This Korea House can be visited through advance reservations on its website or on-site registration, and it will operate through the Olympic closing day on the 22nd. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 03:06:00

Finland-Canada Women’s Hockey Game at Milan Olympics Postponed After Norovirus Cases A women’s ice hockey game at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics has been postponed after a norovirus outbreak.  The Milan-Cortina organizing committee said Wednesday that Finland’s Group A preliminary-round game against Canada, scheduled for that day at the Milan Rho Ice Hockey Arena, was moved back one week to Feb. 12.  The committee said it decided to delay the game after norovirus cases were reported within the Finland team. “This decision was made with the health and safety of all participants, including athletes, teams and staff, in mind,” the committee said.  Under international rules, a team needs at least 17 players, including two goalies, to play. Finland had 13 people in isolation and only 10 available, including both goalies, prompting the postponement. Finland said it was prepared to accept a forfeit if the game had not been delayed.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 00:18:00

Coupang's interim CEO appears for questioning over massive data breach SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Harold Rogers, e-commerce giant Coupang's interim chief in South Korea, appeared for questioning in Seoul on Friday over allegations related to a massive data breach detected late last year. Rogers arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno, central Seoul, at around 2 p.m. and said, "Coupang has fully cooperated and will continue to fully cooperate with all investigations." But he declined to comment further, despite a barrage of questions by reporters. Rogers is accused of obstructing official duties by allegedly destroying evidence during an internal investigation into the data leak, which is estimated to have affected over 3,000 users and exposed their sensitive personal information. He has also faced allegations of covering up several industrial accidents. His appearance comes after he failed to appear for two previous summonses, as he had left the country early this month and only returned last week. Police are expected to question him about why the company conducted an internal probe instead of involving official authorities, and how it contacted a former employee who is suspected as a suspect. They are also expected to investigate whether there were any attempts to destroy evidence. Ahead of Rogers' appearance, union members and other workers gathered to protest, calling on Coupang to "sincerely apologize" to South Koreans and to the families of workers who died while working. 2026-01-30 15:09:08

South Korea Justice Ministry Holds Public Meeting on 2026 Immigration Policy South Korea’s Justice Ministry said it held a public communication meeting on Jan. 27 to share key directions for its 2026 immigration policy, including managing illegal stays and protecting the rights of foreign nationals. The ministry said the meeting was organized amid calls to better reflect what most citizens want from immigration policy while ensuring the enforcement process does not neglect the human rights of foreign nationals. It shared its 2026 policy direction with civic groups including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, academics and immigration policy experts, and heard feedback from the field. The ministry said its efforts to reduce illegal stays cut the number of undocumented residents to 350,000 from 430,000 in 2023. It said it is using multiple approaches beyond on-site crackdowns, including support for voluntary departures and partial legalization. It also said enforcement needs strengthening, citing a recent death of a Vietnamese woman. The ministry said it will deploy additional safety personnel during inspections at workplaces considered high-risk for accidents and will bolster its response to crimes by foreign nationals that threaten public safety, including drug offenses and voice phishing scams. Participants said enforcement methods need to change, and the ministry outlined additional steps aimed at protecting foreign nationals’ rights. To strengthen protections, the ministry said it will more specifically define review agenda items handled by its Foreign Nationals Human Rights Protection and Rights Promotion Council and tighten guidance procedures through its Comprehensive Immigration Information Center. Academic participants also conveyed views from education and industry on expanding employment opportunities and settlement measures for foreign nationals staying on student (D-2, D-4) or job-seeker (D-10) visas. The ministry said it will incorporate the opinions raised at the meeting and prepare detailed implementation procedures in February, including follow-up steps such as revising related operating guidelines. Cha Yong Ho, head of the ministry’s Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters, who chaired the meeting, said, “Because the issue of illegal stays is directly tied to public safety, we will respond strictly, but we will make procedural transparency and safety our top priorities so that no human-rights blind spots arise during enforcement.” He added, “We will continue to communicate with civil society and pursue a balanced immigration policy that the public can support.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 18:06:00

South Korean lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong sentenced to 2 years for illegal political funds People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church, was sentenced in a first trial to two years in prison. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, led by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, held a sentencing hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for Kwon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The court also ordered forfeiture of 100 million won. Kwon was accused of taking 100 million won on Jan. 5, 2022, ahead of the 20th presidential election, from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s World Headquarters, allegedly to facilitate lobbying. He was arrested and indicted in the case. At a closing argument hearing on Dec. 17 last year, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki (the Kim Keon Hee special counsel team) asked the court to sentence Kwon to four years in prison and order forfeiture of 100 million won. The court said it recognized that Kwon received the 100 million won, citing that he visited Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, met church leader Han Hak-ja, arranged a private meeting with then-President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, and attended Unification Church events. The court rejected Kwon’s arguments, including claims that the indictment violated the principle barring prejudicial statements and that the case fell outside the special counsel’s investigative scope. On the indictment, the court said it was “somewhat lengthy and includes inappropriate parts,” but did not prejudice the judge or hinder understanding of the alleged crime, and therefore did not violate the rule. On the scope of the special counsel law, the court said a matter may be investigated if it has a reasonable connection to cases defined under Article 2, adding that the special counsel learned of the alleged Political Funds Act violation while investigating allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee received valuables. The court also did not accept Kwon’s claim that evidence was illegally obtained. In explaining the sentence, the court said lawmakers have a constitutional duty of integrity and must act accordingly. It said Kwon took 100 million won in political funds from the Unification Church, betraying public expectations and responsibilities and damaging democracy. As aggravating factors, the court said Kwon served 15 years as a prosecutor and 16 years as a lawmaker and previously chaired the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, making him a legal expert who would have understood the legal meaning of his actions. It also said he denied the charges from the investigation stage and showed no signs of remorse. As mitigating factors, the court said Kwon did not actively demand money from Yoon and noted his roughly 30 years in public service contributing to the country and society, as well as the absence of any notable criminal record. It then imposed a two-year prison term and forfeiture of 100 million won. After the ruling, Kwon sat with his head lowered. Some people in the gallery cried, and a disturbance broke out outside the courtroom. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:54:00

Alleged ringleader behind South Korean Student's brutal death nabbed in Thailand SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - A key suspect in the brutal torture and killing of a South Korean college student in Cambodia last summer has been nabbed in Thailand, government authorities here said on Thursday. The Justice Ministry said a 42-year-old Chinese, the alleged mastermind of a Cambodia-based scam ring, was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand, the previous day, following a joint investigation with the National Police Agency and the National Intelligence Service. Between May and July last year, the crime ring allegedly lured South Koreans to Cambodia with offers of high-paying part-time work and then threatened them with guns and other weapons to force them to reveal bank account details including passwords and other sensitive personal information. Several months into the investigation of a case involving a South Korean college student, who traveled to the Southeast Asian country after being lured by an online employment scam in August and was later found to have been tortured to death, the ministry learned in November that the suspect had entered Thailand and promptly requested his arrest from Thai authorities. But the ministry said South Korea should seek a formal extradition and obtain approval from a Thai court to bring him back, as he is a Chinese national. The ministry vowed it will continue working hard to track down and arrest all suspects in collaboration with domestic and foreign authorities. 2026-01-08 14:17:25

Ex-military intelligence chief sentenced to two years in prison over martial law involvement SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Noh Sang-won, former chief of South Korea's military intelligence unit, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for privacy violations and other charges related to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court found Noh guilty of gathering personnel information as well as accepting bribes. He was also fined 24.9 million Korean won (US$17,000). It was the first verdict among cases related to the debacle investigated by independent prosecutors led by Cho Eun-suk, who had sought a three-year prison sentence for Noh. Noh was accused of illegally obtaining military personnel data between September and December last year to form a unit investigating election fraud, and of accepting cash and gift vouchers in exchange for promotions. The court ruled that Noh had prepared for Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, saying his actions and inappropriate use of data were gravely serious and could not be dismissed as mere privacy breaches. Noh avoided a harsher sentence as the court granted leniency, considering that the data was not leaked outside the military and the bribery attempt failed. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 17:41:30

Fast-track immigration at Inchon Airport now available for travelers from 18 countries SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) - Eighteen countries are now eligible for automated immigration clearance, up from four, the Ministry of Justice said on Monday. The move aims to shorten waiting times for foreign visitors entering the country. The newly eligible countries include Australia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the U.K., and others. The ministry said, "We selected countries based on reciprocal immigration agreements, the scale of bilateral human exchanges, diplomatic ties, and other criteria." The number of booths for automated immigration clearance at Inchon International Airport will also be increased to improve accessibility for foreign visitors. About 40 percent of foreign arrivals are expected to use automated immigration, with the ministry planning to expand the service to other airports across the country. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-01 17:31:00