AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Eun-mi. Won
  • Special counsel team docks investigator one month’s pay for posting case records on SNS
    Special counsel team docks investigator one month’s pay for posting case records on SNS The second comprehensive special counsel team, led by special counsel Kwon Chang-young, has disciplined a special investigator with a one-month pay cut for posting investigation-related materials on social media. Assistant special counsel Kim Ji-mi said at a regular briefing on May 4 that the investigator was found to have posted materials filmed during the investigation along with personal reflections on SNS. She said the team decided on discipline after convening a rewards and discipline committee, conducting a fact-finding review and hearing the investigator’s statement. The investigator was reported to have uploaded parts of a suspect’s interrogation record and a photo of an appointment letter, along with a post suggesting the investigation experience could help build professional expertise. The posts have since been deleted. Kim said the special counsel team had already asked staff to refrain from using SNS as part of internal security management, and had previously notified personnel to avoid posting work-related content whenever possible. She said the team plans to use the incident to again stress the need to follow security rules. The team, however, ruled out a separate plan to broadly inspect investigators’ personal SNS accounts. It said it is not considering measures such as checking individual accounts across the board.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 15:27:25
  • Special Counsel Says Military Counterintelligence Showed Signs of Martial Law Planning in Early 2024
    Special Counsel Says Military Counterintelligence Showed Signs of Martial Law Planning in Early 2024 The second special counsel team said it has confirmed indications that the Republic of Korea Army Counterintelligence Command began preparing for martial law in the first half of 2024. The disclosure adds to an earlier insurrection special counsel probe that viewed a martial law declaration as planned in advance, and it suggests preparations may have moved beyond planning toward implementation. Assistant Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi said at a regular briefing Monday afternoon at the special counsel office in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, that the team "confirmed indications of preparations for martial law" during interviews with Counterintelligence Command officials. The earlier insurrection special counsel team has investigated on the premise that a martial law declaration was not an improvised step but was planned beforehand. It cited, among other points, that military personnel-related notes in a notebook kept by Noh Sang-won, a former commander of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command, were reflected in actual personnel decisions, concluding the idea of martial law had been discussed over a considerable period. The second special counsel team’s latest findings are being read as signs that concrete preparations may have followed that planning stage. Investigators are now focusing on how the military’s internal chain of command operated during the alleged preparations. The team is continuing to question related figures to verify the facts surrounding the overall preparation process, officials said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 15:22:23
  • Kim Keon Hee case heads to South Korea’s top court as both sides appeal
    Kim Keon Hee case heads to South Korea’s top court as both sides appeal The special counsel team led by Min Jung-gi has taken to the Supreme Court the case of Kim Keon Hee, who was sentenced on appeal to four years in prison over allegations including Deutsche Motors stock manipulation and receiving valuables tied to the Unification Church. Kim’s side had already filed an appeal, setting up a final round of arguments over guilt and sentencing. According to the legal community on Monday, the special counsel filed its notice of appeal with the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 15-2, which heard the second trial. Kim’s attorneys filed their appeal on April 30. On April 28, the appeals court sentenced Kim to four years in prison and fined her 50 million won on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, violating the Political Funds Act and bribery for influence-peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The court also ordered forfeiture of one seized Graff diamond necklace and imposed an additional 20.94 million won in collection. The prison term was increased by two years and four months from the first trial’s sentence of one year and eight months. A central issue on appeal was the Deutsche Motors stock-manipulation allegation, which the first court had found not guilty in full. The appeals court found Kim guilty in part, ruling that in October and November 2010 she provided Black Pearl Invest with a securities account holding 2 billion won and sold 180,000 shares of Deutsche Motors stock, acts the court said amounted to participation in price manipulation. The court said Kim had at least been aware that the account could be used for manipulation. The appeals court also broadened the scope of guilt on the Unification Church-related influence-peddling charge. It found Kim guilty of receiving, from April to July 2022, two Chanel bags, a Graff necklace and Cheonsusam concentrated tea along with requests to support church-related issues. Parts of that allegation had been found not guilty at the first trial. However, as in the first trial, the appeals court acquitted Kim of violating the Political Funds Act over allegations that she received free public-opinion polling worth 270 million won from Myeong Tae-gyun and used influence in the nomination of former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun. The court said it was difficult to conclude Kim and her husband gained a financial benefit equivalent to the polling costs because Myeong provided polls to multiple people, not only the couple. That acquittal is expected to be a key point in the special counsel’s appeal, with prosecutors likely to argue the appeals court misread facts and misapplied the law. Kim’s side is expected to challenge the guilty findings on the Deutsche Motors and Unification Church allegations. The appropriateness of the sentence is also likely to be contested. While the appeals court more than doubled the first-trial prison term, it fell short of the 15-year sentence the special counsel sought in closing arguments at both trials. The special counsel has also appealed other related rulings. It filed an appeal on April 30 in the case of Yoon Young-ho, a former Unification Church international headquarters chief, who was indicted over allegations including providing valuables while seeking favors tied to church issues involving Kim and People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong. Yoon received a 1 1/2-year prison term on appeal on April 27, increased from one year and two months at the first trial. The special counsel also appealed on Monday in the case of Kim Ye-seong, described as a key figure in the so-called “butler gate” case, who was indicted on embezzlement charges. The appeals court found Kim not guilty and dismissed part of the prosecution, and the special counsel asked the Supreme Court to review that decision.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 11:30:18
  • Special Counsel Investigator’s ‘Career-Building’ Post Sparks Fairness Concerns
    Special Counsel Investigator’s ‘Career-Building’ Post Sparks Fairness Concerns A lawyer-turned special investigator who joined the second comprehensive special counsel team led by Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young has drawn criticism after posting online that work at the office would help build investigative experience and sharpen expertise in criminal cases. On May 3, social media users circulated a post by the investigator, identified only as A, showing photos including an office nameplate bearing the investigator’s name, a stamped suspect statement record and a picture of A holding an appointment letter alongside Kwon. In the post, A wrote, “I’ve always stood on the suspect’s side, but for the first time in my life I’ve entered an investigative agency,” adding that gaining experience “from an investigator’s perspective” would “maximize” expertise in criminal cases. A also wrote that questioning a suspect as an investigator was “really hard,” saying it felt “about five times” harder than attending an interview as defense counsel. The post drew backlash as the comprehensive special counsel faces criticism for failing to produce clear results even as its first investigation deadline on the 25th approaches, while also grappling with staffing shortages. After the controversy, A’s post was deleted. A special counsel official said the team plans to discuss internally as early as the 4th whether the post was appropriate. Kim Chi-heon, the assistant special counsel serving as spokesperson, said in a notice that no official position has been set on the masked statement record being posted to social media and that the matter will be reviewed internally. The team has previously faced controversy, including Assistant Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi, who serves as public affairs officer, appearing on the progressive-leaning YouTube channel “Kim Eo-jun’s Humility Is Hard, News Factory,” and questions over Assistant Special Counsel Kwon Young-bin’s past work as a lawyer for a key reference witness. Some critics say the episode reflects a growing perception that participation in special counsel investigations is being treated less as a public duty and more as a way to build personal credentials. They warn that if the office is seen as a tool for resume-building, it could undermine the special counsel’s fairness and authority. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 18:18:17
  • Special Counsel Nears First Deadline With No Arrest Warrants or Indictments
    Special Counsel Nears First Deadline With No Arrest Warrants or Indictments The second comprehensive special counsel team, led by Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young and tasked with allegations not resolved by the three earlier special counsels, is nearing the end of its initial investigation period without clear results. The probe has increasingly focused on identifying the military command chain behind the deployment of martial law troops, but observers say the structure of the case has slowed progress. According to legal officials on Saturday, the team marked its 68th day since launch. Including a 20-day preparation period, it has used most of its 90-day overall activity window and has passed the midpoint of the maximum 170-day investigation period. The team is reportedly considering seeking a first 30-day extension ahead of the basic deadline of May 25. The special counsel has broadened the scope of its investigation, including booking Yoon Suk Yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, but it has not produced visible outcomes such as arrest-warrant requests or indictments. So far, the first phase has been defined by narrowing targets while expanding fronts. Of 17 allegations left by the three earlier special counsels, the team is investigating about seven or eight, including the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, the relocation of the presidential residence and alleged favoritism tied to the Yangpyeong expressway project. It has also added lines of inquiry not covered in earlier probes, including allegations of presidential office involvement in the Ssangbangwool remittances-to-North-Korea case. A central track is tracing the chain of orders for the martial law troop deployment, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo. Investigators view the command-chain issue as a structural case rather than a single, discrete offense. They must establish who ordered troop movements and through what channels, as well as whether reports and approvals were made, the purpose of the operation and its legal basis. Because it requires confirming the broader command system, the probe is considered time-consuming and difficult. The investigation has also been complicated by friction with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The special counsel demanded internal audit materials related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law, but the Supreme Prosecutors' Office effectively refused, saying the team should obtain them through a search-and-seizure warrant. The special counsel viewed the refusal as obstruction and asked the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary proceedings against acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon and former Inspection Bureau chief Kim Seong-dong. The requested materials are described as the full set of internal audit and inquiry records produced as the prosecutors' inspection unit reviewed allegations tied to the emergency martial law, including statements from those questioned, review reports and the basis for any "no suspicion" conclusions. The special counsel says it needs the records to recheck the validity of prosecutorial judgments, while the Supreme Prosecutors' Office argues confidential audit materials are not subject to voluntary submission. The Kim Keon-hee special counsel team, led by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki, previously sought similar records, was refused and later obtained them through a search warrant, according to the report. With the two sides in open conflict, critics say a lack of interagency cooperation has emerged as a variable from the early stage of the probe. The special counsel expanded its scope again on April 27, naming a case transferred from the Seoul High Prosecutors Office human rights violation review task force as the "presidential office intervention in the Suwon District Prosecutors Office investigation" case. In addition, the team booked Kim Yong-hyun on charges of rebellion under the Military Criminal Act in connection with the Dec. 3 emergency martial law and began questioning. It is also reviewing whether to apply the same charge to Yoon. Even so, questioning of key suspects has not moved quickly. Yoon did not appear for a first summons on April 30, citing trial schedules, and the special counsel is coordinating another date. Kim also failed to appear, citing a scheduling conflict, and was told to report again. The team is also conducting follow-up investigations into unresolved allegations. In connection with the "Noh Sang-won notebook," it applied a charge of organizing a criminal group and has summoned related figures in succession. The special counsel faces internal controversy and staffing constraints. Concerns about a conflict of interest involving Special Counsel Assistant Kwon Young-bin, who handled the Ssangbangwool case, led to a change in assignment, raising worries about delays. Special Counsel Assistant Kim Ji-mi also drew criticism over political neutrality after appearing on YouTube. Staffing remains tight. Although the comprehensive special counsel has the broadest mandate, its quota for seconded prosecutors is 15, and only 13 have joined so far. If indictments are filed, some prosecutors would have to be assigned to maintain prosecutions in court, further reducing investigative capacity. Analysts say that reality may make the team cautious about coercive steps such as seeking arrest warrants. Meanwhile, North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who was accused in a complaint of aiding an insurrection, denied the allegations after being questioned by the special counsel, saying, "There was no closure of the government complex, and I never aided an insurrection."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 16:48:29
  • Funeral Begins for Cargo Truckers Union Member Killed at Jinju Logistics Center Rally
    Funeral Begins for Cargo Truckers Union Member Killed at Jinju Logistics Center Rally Funeral rites began May 1, Labor Day, for a Cargo Truckers Union member who died at a rally outside the BGF Logistics CU distribution center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. Yonhap News Agency reported that the South Jeolla headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions set up a memorial altar that afternoon at a funeral home in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. The start of the funeral came 11 days after the union member was killed April 20 when struck while trying to block a transport vehicle at the rally. It also coincided with the first Labor Day designated as a legal public holiday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The funeral is being held as a joint labor and civic society service, with the memorial altar to remain open through May 3. To honor the deceased, the union will hold a memorial cultural event at 7 p.m. May 2 on a road near the funeral home. About 500 union members and residents who knew the person are expected to attend, with eulogies and performances by labor singers planned. The funeral procession is scheduled for the morning of May 3. After cremation in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, the remains are to be buried at the Mangwol-dong National Cemetery for Democratic Martyrs in Buk District, Gwangju.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 14:42:16
  • Samsung Biologics union launches first full strike as labor dispute escalates
    Samsung Biologics union launches first full strike as labor dispute escalates Samsung Biologics’ labor union began its first full strike since the company’s founding, intensifying a standoff in which both sides are trading blame. The union says management is responsible and is urging talks, while the company is calling for restraint and warning of heavy losses. Yonhap reported May 1 that the Samsung Biologics branch union will hold a five-day full strike from May 1 through May 5. Rather than a traditional walkout, members are participating by using annual leave. The union said about 2,800 of its roughly 4,000 members have indicated they will take part. The Songdo plant area in Incheon appeared quieter than usual, with only some employees seen entering and leaving. Banners and flags reading “ONE TEAM ON STRIKE” were posted inside the facility. While essential staffing is being maintained due to the nature of biopharmaceutical production, overall operations appeared subdued. The union said the dispute is rooted not in wages but in what it called management failures. It cited decisions that did not reflect conditions on the ground, chronic understaffing and excessive cost-cutting as factors that hurt competitiveness. The union said it sought negotiations for more than a month after mediation broke down, but the company focused on legal action and pressure instead of substantive talks. “If the company is concerned about losses and damage to customer trust, it should not shift responsibility to employees but come to the negotiating table,” the union said, calling for an immediate resumption of bargaining. The company has said a prolonged strike could result in losses of up to 6.4 trillion won. A previous partial strike in the material aliquoting unit disrupted production of 23 products, including anticancer drugs and HIV treatments, and was expected to cause about 1.5 trillion won in losses, according to the report. Chief Executive John Rim issued an apology message to employees the previous day, saying a strike is an individual choice but could have impacts that would be difficult for both the company and its members to recover from. He urged careful judgment and said the company would continue dialogue with the union to rebuild trust. The two sides have held more than 10 rounds of talks since late last year without reaching an agreement. The company sought a court injunction to ban strike action over concerns about production disruptions, and the court limited strikes only in some core processes. Labor and management are scheduled to meet again May 4 to discuss the direction of negotiations, but with positions far apart, a quick compromise remains uncertain.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 14:06:00
  • Alleged Supplier to ‘Drug Kingpin’ Park Wang-yeol Deported From Thailand to South Korea
    Alleged Supplier to ‘Drug Kingpin’ Park Wang-yeol Deported From Thailand to South Korea A man in his 50s accused of supplying drugs to Park Wang-yeol, described by police as a “drug kingpin,” has been arrested in Thailand and sent back to South Korea, authorities said. Investigators said securing the alleged key supplier will help expand the probe into the broader distribution network. The National Police Agency said Choi, 51, arrived at Incheon International Airport on May 1. Wearing a hat and mask, he was escorted by officers and did not answer reporters’ questions before being taken to investigators. Police said Choi used the Telegram names “Cheongdam” and “Cheongdam Boss” and is suspected of bringing into South Korea, or taking part in distributing, about 22 kilograms of methamphetamine and other drugs since around 2019. The drugs were valued at 10 billion won, police said, an amount they believe could support hundreds of thousands of doses. Police said they identified Choi as a major supply line while questioning Park after Park was deported from the Philippines. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency consolidated related cases and tracked Choi after obtaining information that he was in Thailand. Authorities are also investigating how he stayed overseas without an official record of leaving South Korea. South Korean and Thai investigators narrowed the search to the Samut Prakan area near Bangkok and arrested Choi after surveillance in an upscale residential neighborhood, police said. He was detained on allegations of illegal stay, and deportation procedures moved quickly. Police said an arrest warrant was served as he returned on a Korean airline. At the time of his arrest, police said they seized a passport in another person’s name and 13 mobile phones. Investigators plan digital forensic analysis to check for additional crimes and possible accomplices, and to examine how the passport was used and the actual travel process. Police said they will focus on clarifying the supply structure and the scale of transactions centered on the alleged link between Choi and Park, including whether there were overseas production or distribution bases. Authorities said they are also tracing money flows with relevant agencies and will move to recover confirmed illegal proceeds. Police said they are considering seeking a warrant to detain Choi. “We are continuing the investigation under the principle that we will track and arrest suspects to the end even if they are overseas,” a police official said. “We will concentrate our investigative resources on identifying the entire drug distribution organization.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 12:00:12
  • South Korea Exports Top $80B for Second Straight Month on AI Chip Surge
    South Korea Exports Top $80B for Second Straight Month on AI Chip Surge South Korea’s exports stayed above $80 billion for a second straight month in April, extending the momentum after first crossing the threshold in March, led by a sharp rise in semiconductor shipments tied to the global boom in artificial intelligence. With the Middle East war sending shock waves across industries, exports are being seen as a key support for the economy. According to Yonhap, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy released April trade figures on Thursday. Exports rose 48.0% from a year earlier to $85.89 billion despite the war in the Middle East. After never having posted a $70 billion month, South Korea exceeded $80 billion in March for the first time and remained above that level in April. April’s total was the second-highest monthly export figure on record, following March’s $86.6 billion. Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, also rose 48.0% to $3.58 billion, topping $3 billion for a third consecutive month. Semiconductors drove the gains. Chip exports surged 173.5% to $31.9 billion, the second-highest monthly total on record after $32.8 billion in March. Semiconductors exceeded $30 billion for a second straight month and posted a record for the month for the 13th consecutive month. Auto exports fell 5.5% to $6.17 billion, as logistics disruptions from the Middle East war and increased local production in the United States following U.S. tariffs weighed on shipments. Exports of eco-friendly vehicles, including electric and hybrid models, increased. Petroleum product exports rose 39.9% to $5.11 billion on higher oil prices, but export volumes fell 36.0%. The ministry said exports of gasoline (down 43.0%), diesel (down 23.2%) and kerosene (down 99.9%) dropped sharply from a year earlier after export control measures were introduced for petroleum products. Petrochemical exports increased 7.8% to $4.09 billion, though export volumes fell 20.9% as domestic supply rose. Among 15 major export items, eight posted gains, including computers ($4.08 billion, up 515.8%) and wireless communications equipment ($1.62 billion, up 11.6%). Exports to China climbed 62.5% to $17.7 billion, extending gains for a sixth straight month on stronger shipments of semiconductors and other IT products such as computers and wireless communications equipment. Exports to the United States rose 54.0% to $16.33 billion, led by items such as semiconductors and computers that were described as exempt from tariffs. Shipments to ASEAN rose 64.0% to $15.41 billion, and exports to the European Union increased 8.5% to $7.19 billion, also supported by semiconductors. Exports to the Middle East, however, fell 25.1% to $1.27 billion due to factors including logistics disruptions. Imports increased 16.7% to $62.11 billion. Energy imports rose 7.5% to $10.61 billion, while non-energy imports climbed 18.8% to $51.51 billion. The trade balance posted a $23.77 billion surplus in April, extending the surplus streak to 15 months. Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan said April marked the first time the country recorded exports of more than $80 billion and a trade surplus of more than $20 billion for two consecutive months while the Middle East war continued for more than two months. He attributed the results to expanding global AI investment, higher unit prices for petroleum products amid rising oil prices, and companies securing supply chains in advance. Kim warned that export volatility could increase due to intensifying competition in key products and difficulties in securing raw materials linked to the Middle East war. He said the government would seek to reduce burdens on companies through marketing, financing and insurance support and policies to diversify export markets, while actively using trade networks to secure additional alternative supplies of crude oil and naphtha. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 10:18:18
  • Holiday Weekend Forecast: Cool Mornings, Highs Up to 26C; Dry Air and Poor Dust in Seoul Area
    Holiday Weekend Forecast: Cool Mornings, Highs Up to 26C; Dry Air and Poor Dust in Seoul Area Saturday, the second day of the holiday weekend, is expected to bring chilly mornings and evenings but warmer conditions during the day. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that morning lows are forecast at 8C to 16C, with daytime highs of 19C to 26C. Temperatures are expected to vary by about 15C between day and night, and starting on the 3rd, readings are forecast to fall below seasonal averages. With dry weather alerts in effect, the air will be very dry in Seoul, inland parts of the Chungcheong region, northeastern inland North Jeolla Province and inland North Gyeongsang Province. Authorities urged caution against wildfires and other fire risks. Skies will be mostly cloudy nationwide. Fine dust levels are expected to be "bad" in the greater Seoul area and "moderate" elsewhere, due to inflow of dust from overseas. Concentrations are forecast to ease gradually from the south. Waves are expected at 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the East Sea, 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the Yellow Sea and 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the South Sea. In offshore waters about 200 kilometers from the coast, wave heights are forecast at 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the East Sea and 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the Yellow Sea and South Sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 09:42:17