Journalist

Eun-mi. Won
  • Special Counsel Seeks 4 Years for Rep. Kwon Seong-dong in Appeal Over Unification Church Funds
    Special Counsel Seeks 4 Years for Rep. Kwon Seong-dong in Appeal Over Unification Church Funds Special prosecutors again sought a four-year prison term for People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in his appeal over allegations he took 100 million won (about $100,000) in political funds from the Unification Church. The case has focused on whether money and requests exchanged ahead of a presidential election reflected improper ties between politics and a religious group. At a closing hearing Monday at the Seoul High Court, the special counsel team investigating Kim Keon Hee, led by Special Counsel Min Jung-ki, asked the court to sentence Kwon to four years in prison and order forfeiture of 100 million won. The request matches what prosecutors sought at the first trial. The special counsel argued Kwon accepted illegal political funds through his relationship with the church. “The defendant colluded with a specific religious group and received a large sum of 100 million won in political funds,” the team said, adding that it undermined election fairness and violated a lawmaker’s duty of integrity. Prosecutors said the Unification Church made requests to Kwon, described as a so-called “Yoon core” figure, while supporting Yoon Suk Yeol during the 20th presidential election. They also cited Kwon’s conduct after the alleged offense, claiming he showed no remorse and tried to destroy evidence by contacting related figures and checking on the investigation’s status. “Given the circumstances and method of the crime and the amount received, the offense is extremely serious,” the special counsel said, urging the court to dismiss Kwon’s appeal and impose a heavier sentence. Kwon was indicted on allegations that in January 2022 he met Yoon Young-ho, a former Unification Church world headquarters chief, at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, and received 100 million won along with requests for support for the church. Prosecutors say the church sought to have its pending issues advanced as government policy in exchange for organizational support and votes from members during the election. In January, the first trial court found Kwon guilty on all counts and sentenced him to two years in prison and forfeiture of 100 million won. The court said taking illegal political funds betrayed constitutional responsibilities and undermined the purpose of the Political Funds Act. If the ruling is finalized, Kwon would lose his parliamentary seat and face restrictions on running for office for the next 10 years. Both the special counsel and Kwon appealed the first ruling. Kwon’s lawyers again disputed the allegations, saying it was “hard to accept” that 100 million won in cash could have been exchanged in broad daylight. They said the Unification Church offered election funding but Kwon rejected it, and denied he accepted money or granted any favors. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:01:16
  • Qoo10 Founder Gu Young-bae Denies Fraud Charges in Tmon-Wemakeprice Settlement Case
    Qoo10 Founder Gu Young-bae Denies Fraud Charges in Tmon-Wemakeprice Settlement Case Executives at Qoo10 Group, including founder Gu Young-bae, denied fraud allegations in court after prosecutors filed additional charges tied to the Tmon-Wemakeprice unpaid settlement crisis. The criminal trial over responsibility for the large-scale nonpayment is now moving into a fuller phase. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 24, led by Judge Lee Young-seon, held a hearing on 21 for Gu and seven others, including Ryu Gwang-jin of Tmon and Ryu Hwa-hyeon of Wemakeprice, on charges including fraud and breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Prosecutors said Gu, Qoo10 Technology head Kim Hyo-jong and Qoo10 finance chief Lee Si-jun conspired to deceive marketplace sellers into believing payments would be made even after Qoo10 had lost the ability to pay settlement funds, and allegedly took about 844 million won. Gu’s attorney said the defense denies the indictment, and the other defendants took the same position. Whether the company was already unable to make settlements, and whether executives intentionally misled sellers, is expected to be central to the case. The court decided to merge the newly indicted case with the ongoing trial over the broader Tmon-Wemakeprice settlement crisis, meaning allegations of fraud, breach of trust and embezzlement will be heard together. Prosecutors previously indicted Gu and others in December, alleging they misappropriated about 1.85 trillion won in seller settlement funds from Tmon and Wemakeprice and embezzled about 100 billion won by siphoning affiliate money under the guise of loans and consulting fees. Authorities have put total damages at 1.8563 trillion won. The crisis surfaced in July 2024, when it became known that about 500 merchants on Wemakeprice did not receive payments on their scheduled settlement date. The nonpayment later spread to Tmon, widening the fallout. Qoo10, a Korea-linked e-commerce company founded in Singapore, acquired Tmon in 2022 and Wemakeprice in 2023. After the settlement crisis deepened its management troubles, Tmon was sold to Oasis, and Wemakeprice entered bankruptcy proceedings. Separately, Gu and others are also on trial over allegations of unpaid wages and severance. Prosecutors said they failed to pay about 5.6 billion won in wages to 613 workers and about 20.7 billion won in severance to 733 workers. Future hearings are expected to focus on when the company lost the ability to make settlements, what executives knew at the time, and whether fund management violated the law. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:00:52
  • Police Seek Arrest Warrant for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk Over Alleged IPO Fraud
    Police Seek Arrest Warrant for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk Over Alleged IPO Fraud Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, is facing possible detention after police sought an arrest warrant over allegations he deceived investors during the company’s initial public offering process and gained about 190 billion won in illicit profits. Police moved to secure his custody about 18 months after opening the probe. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Financial Crimes Investigation Unit said Monday it applied for a warrant for Bang on suspicion of fraudulent unfair trading under the Capital Markets Act. The request came about five months after his last questioning in November. Police suspect that in 2019, ahead of HYBE’s listing, Bang told existing investors the IPO was not planned or would be delayed, then steered them to sell their stakes to a specific private equity fund. After the company later went public and the value of those shares rose, investigators say Bang received a portion of the sale profits under a prior undisclosed agreement. Police said they believe Bang gained about 190 billion won. Some findings indicate a structure in which roughly 30% of the profit was to be shared with the private equity fund. An SPC set up by the fund was reportedly used in the stake transfers. The Capital Markets Act bans gaining profits in financial investment transactions through false information or deceptive schemes. If illegal gains exceed 5 billion won, the law allows a sentence of life imprisonment or at least five years in prison. The investigation began after police obtained a tip in late 2024. In June and July last year, police raided the Korea Exchange and HYBE headquarters to secure IPO-related materials and imposed a travel ban on Bang. From September to November, they questioned him five times and continued reviewing the legal issues. The case also involved legal disputes, with prosecutors reportedly rejecting initial search warrant requests twice. As the probe dragged on without additional questioning, police faced criticism for moving too slowly. The warrant request has drawn attention amid a recent diplomatic controversy. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul recently sent police a letter asking that Bang be allowed to travel to the United States. The letter reportedly cited his attendance at events marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day in July and the need to support a BTS world tour. Police said they would review the request “in accordance with law and principle,” but the warrant application has effectively limited his ability to leave the country. Bang’s side has denied all allegations, saying he did not mislead investors, the share sales were made at investors’ request, and the IPO process complied with relevant laws and rules. Police said they plan to accelerate the investigation if the court grants the warrant and they take Bang into custody. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 13:39:53
  • American YouTuber gets 6 months in prison over multiple bizarre offenses
    American YouTuber gets 6 months in prison over multiple bizarre offenses SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - American YouTuber Johnny Somali, who stirred controversy with a series of bizarre behaviors including insulting a statue in central Seoul symbolizing victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced to a prison term on Tuesday. The Seoul Western District Court handed down a six-month prison term along with 20 days of detention to Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, on charges including obstruction of business and the distribution of false information through graphic photos and provocative images. The court also banned him from being hired by institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities for five years. Wednesday's ruling came after prosecutors in February sought a three-year prison sentence for his offenses including kissing the statue, causing disturbances on public buses and subways, and streaming obscene videos online in 2024, among others. "He was found guilty of all charges," the court said, adding that he repeatedly committed crimes for personal profit through online platforms, calling them as a "serious disregard for South Korean law and order." The court, however, exercised some leniency in its sentencing, taking into consideration that he had been unable to return to his home country for an extended period under a travel ban. Somali told the court that he regretted his actions and wanted to apologize to the South Korean public. 2026-04-15 14:28:32
  • Disgraced former first couple reunite in rare court appearance together
    Disgraced former first couple reunite in rare court appearance together SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday appeared as a witness in Yoon's trial over election-related violations. Tuesday's hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul drew particular attention as it was the couple's first court appearance together, also marking their first encounter in several months since being held in separate remand prisons. After taking an oath, Kim answered only a few questions related to her identity and otherwise repeatedly said she would refuse to testify on most issues, claiming she had no knowledge of or involvement in the allegations. Prosecutors suspect that Yoon, along with Kim, was involved in interfering with candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections through dubious political broker Myung Tae-kyun, who allegedly influenced state affairs by offering advice on various matters. Yoon and Kim were indicted on charges of receiving opinion polls worth 270 million Korean won (US$183,000) free of charge from Myung in exchange for securing the nomination of Kim Young-sun, the former lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), while Kim was found not guilty on that charge among a slew of other charges at the first-instance trial in January. During their 50-minute court appearance, Yoon gazed at Kim as she took to the witness stand, whispering to his lawyers. He also kept his eyes on her as she left the courtroom. Meanwhile, the court plans to hold the case's final hearing in mid-May, with a verdict expected sometime in June. 2026-04-14 17:13:59
  • Seoul hires legal advisers as U.S. Coupang investors move toward arbitration
    Seoul hires legal advisers as U.S. Coupang investors move toward arbitration SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) -South Korea has recruited legal advisers to respond to a notice of intent to arbitrate filed by U.S. investors in e-commerce giant Coupang, the Ministry of Justice said Thursday, marking the first formal step in a potential investor–state dispute under the Korea–U.S. Free Trade Agreement. The ministry said it selected South Korean law firm Peter & Kim and U.S.-based Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP to represent the government during the initial phase of the dispute. Officials said the firms were chosen for their experience in international investment arbitration, including their previous representation of South Korea in the high-profile dispute with U.S. private equity firm Lone Star over the sale of Korea Exchange Bank. The legal teams will assist the ministry during the 90-day “cooling-off period” that follows a notice of intent under the Korea–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), during which the parties may attempt consultations before formal arbitration can be filed. The dispute was triggered after Greenoaks Capital Partners LLC and Altimeter Capital Management LP, U.S. investment firms holding shares in Coupang, submitted a notice of intent to arbitrate on Jan. 22. The investors argue that South Korea’s regulatory and political response to a major personal data leak at Coupang violated protections for foreign investors under the bilateral trade agreement. In the notice, the investors claim Seoul’s actions amounted to “discriminatory, disproportionate, and pretextual” measures against the company and damaged U.S. investments worth billions of dollars. The filing states that the investors collectively hold more than $1.5 billion worth of Coupang shares, and alleges that government actions — including investigations and regulatory measures following the data breach — threaten further losses. The dispute centers on a cybersecurity incident disclosed by Coupang in November 2025 involving the leak of over 30 million customer accounts. The breach sparked a wave of regulatory probes, parliamentary hearings and public criticism from Korean officials. Coupang, founded in 2010 and dubbed as the “Amazon of Korea,” operates primarily in South Korea but is incorporated in Delaware and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Its shareholder base is dominated by U.S. investors, placing the case within the scope of the investment protections contained in the KORUS FTA. Under the treaty’s investor–state dispute settlement provisions, foreign investors can seek damages through international arbitration if they believe government actions violated treaty obligations such as fair and equitable treatment or protection from expropriation. Additional notices of intent were filed in February by other investors, including Foxhaven Capital GP LLC, Durable Capital Associates LLC and Abrams Capital LLC, expanding the group of claimants considering arbitration. The Justice Ministry said its international investment dispute response team will work with the appointed advisers to review the claims and prepare the government’s response during the consultation period. If arbitration proceeds, the case could become one of South Korea’s most closely watched investment disputes since the long-running Lone Star case, which tested the country’s defenses under international investment treaties. 2026-03-05 13:03:03
  • Impeached ex-president apologizes but still defends botched martial law bid
    Impeached ex-president apologizes but still defends botched martial law bid SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday apologized for the pain caused by his botched declaration of martial law in 2024, while defending it as a "measure solely intended to save the country and its citizens." His remarks came just a day after the Seoul Central District Court handed down a life sentence on charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. Despite the apology, Yoon insisted that deploying troops to the National Assembly did not amount to insurrection. "It is hard to accept the argument that simply sending military personnel to the National Assembly constitutes insurrection," Yoon said, denouncing the investigation and trial as a "politically motivated attempt to remove opponents and rival factions." He expressed skepticism about appealing, casting doubt on the judiciary's independence. Nonetheless, he hoped the ruling would be reassessed, saying he could be cleared "on the day liberal democracy and the rule of law stand upright." Yoon also criticized additional probes by prosecutors, urging politicians not to undermine democracy and to focus on people's lives. In a final message to his supporters, he said, "Our fight is not over. We must unite and rise." Yoon did not appear to forgo an appeal, however, as his lawyers clarified that Friday's statement merely reflected his personal feelings and was not intended to drop the case. 2026-02-20 17:15:06
  • Prosecutor criticizes acquittal in Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case
    Prosecutor criticizes acquittal in Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case Kim Tae Hoon, chief prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors Office who led the investigation into the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case under the Moon Jae-in government, criticized a trial court ruling that acquitted first lady Kim Keon Hee of violating capital markets law, calling it an “unfair decision.” Kim posted his statement Tuesday on the prosecution’s internal network, e-Pros, under the title, “As a member of the first Deutsche Motors investigation team, I share my view on this ruling.” He said the court acknowledged Kim Keon Hee’s awareness of the stock manipulation but still found her not guilty as a joint principal offender. He argued that conclusion is hard to accept in light of earlier rulings that found former Deutsche Motors chairman Kwon Oh Soo and former Black Pearl Invest CEO Lee Jong Ho guilty, as well as legal principles on joint offenders and continuing offenses. Kim said earlier rulings found that Kim Keon Hee took part in multiple matched-order trades, citing a sell order for 100,000 shares on Oct. 28, 2010, and a large sell order on Nov. 1, 2010, known as the “7-second trade.” He also said earlier rulings recognized that 2 billion won Kim provided to Black Pearl was used as key funding for the manipulation scheme. “Even though it was confirmed that matched orders and large-scale buying using Kim Keon Hee’s funds contributed to the price increase, not recognizing her as a joint principal offender runs counter to precedent that joint liability can be established through functional control based on a division of roles,” he wrote. He also challenged the court’s statute-of-limitations analysis. Citing precedent, he said that even if an accomplice participated in only part of a continuing offense, the limitations period runs from the end of the overall crime, not from each individual act. He argued the court’s decision to separate acts from October 2010 to January 2011 and find the limitations period had expired conflicts with established legal principles. “As a member of the first investigation team that investigated the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation accomplices and indicted them in custody, I find it difficult to accept this acquittal,” he wrote, adding that he hopes it will be corrected on appeal. On Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, led by Presiding Judge Woo In Sung, sentenced Kim Keon Hee to 1 year and 8 months in prison on a separate charge of receiving improper solicitations. But it acquitted her of violating the Capital Markets Act, saying it was difficult to conclude she carried out the crime as a joint principal offender with the price-manipulation group.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 19:18:00
  • Kim Keon Hee Says She Accepts Court’s Criticism After 1st Trial Sentence
    Kim Keon Hee Says She Accepts Court’s Criticism After 1st Trial Sentence Kim Keon Hee said she would “humbly accept” the court’s stern criticism after she was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison in a first trial on Tuesday. Her legal team said in a notice to reporters that attorneys met with Kim at Nambu Detention Center after the ruling and relayed her statement. “Today, I humbly accept the court’s stern criticism, and I will not take its weight lightly,” Kim said during the meeting. “Once again, I am sorry to everyone for causing concern because of me.” Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, led by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, sentenced Kim on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, violating the Political Funds Act and receiving bribes in connection with influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The court found her guilty on part of the influence-peddling charge involving money and valuables received from the Unification Church. It acquitted her of allegations tied to the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case and claims that she received free opinion polling from political broker Myung Tae-kyun. The court ordered the confiscation of one seized Graff diamond necklace and imposed forfeiture of 12,815,000 won for a bag and concentrated Cheonsusam tea, which could not be confiscated.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 18:12:26
  • South Korea’s Law Firm Won Wins 3 Categories at ABLJ 2025 Korea Law Firm Awards
    South Korea’s Law Firm Won Wins 3 Categories at ABLJ 2025 Korea Law Firm Awards Law Firm Won said Jan. 28 it won three categories — defense industry, ESG and entertainment and sports — at the “Korea Law Firm Awards 2025,” announced by Asian Business Law Journal (ABLJ). ABLJ, a legal media outlet covering Asia, conducts annual surveys of companies and law firms in the region to select top performers. Won’s latest results extend its streak to two straight wins in ESG and three straight in entertainment and sports, while marking its first win in the defense industry category. In its assessment, ABLJ said that amid the rapid growth of South Korea’s defense industry, Won strengthened its defense legal advisory capabilities by bringing in attorneys Lee Tae Hwi and Lee Su Dong as partners. Won’s defense industry team, made up of experts with Army, Navy and Air Force backgrounds, cited its track record after a reorganization, including being appointed to represent the Ministry of National Defense in a lawsuit involving 45 billion won in alleged unjust enrichment. The firm said it has also been supporting South Korean defense companies’ overseas expansion and is carrying out a policy research project to help address the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, or CMMC, which it described as a key requirement for entering the U.S. market. Won’s ESG Center said it systematized advisory capabilities across ESG last year and expanded into compliance and risk after Lee Tae Kyung joined as co-head. The firm said its practical approach has been well received, including work on ESG disclosure risk analysis and response strategies, corporate governance advice, guidance on sustainability reports and support for responding to ESG ratings. Won’s media and entertainment team said it has built fast, high-quality advisory capabilities based on experience across film, drama and animation. As K-content has expanded globally, the firm said advisory work has grown for collaboration, co-production and overseas investment with Southeast Asian production companies. It also said it operates a structured system to verify copyrights and related rights for international co-productions and is leading overseas IP protection projects with partner law firms and Interpol as concerns rise over copyright infringement on illegal distribution sites. Lee Yoo Jung, Won’s managing partner, said the firm’s first win in defense and its continued wins in entertainment and sports and ESG reflect efforts to respond early to industry changes. “We will continue to provide precise and effective solutions to the complex risks companies face,” Lee said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 17:57:28