Journalist

Kwon Kyu-hyung
  • Woman in Her 40s Killed by Forklift While Biking Across Crosswalk in Seoul
    Woman in Her 40s Killed by Forklift While Biking Across Crosswalk in Seoul A woman in her 40s died after a collision with a forklift while riding a bicycle across a crosswalk, according to a media report. The report said the crash happened on the 24th near Sinmokdong Station in Seoul’s Yangcheon District, when a forklift driven by a man in his 60s, identified only as A, struck the woman as she crossed. Police responded to a witness report and arrested A at the scene on suspicion of violating South Korea’s traffic accident handling law. He was not believed to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest, the report said. Seoul’s Yangcheon Police Station is investigating the circumstances of the crash, including whether the driver ran a signal. The victim’s family said the driver has not offered a proper apology. In a phone interview with Aju Economy on the 30th, the family cited a witness who said the forklift continued for about 7 meters after hitting the bicycle. The family said it reviewed nearby closed-circuit television footage and confirmed the witness account. The family also claimed the forklift entered a child protection zone without slowing and appeared to be moving quickly, adding that the driver seemed unaware he had hit the cyclist. They said that after realizing what happened, the driver got out and shouted profanity at the woman, including, “Why did you jump out, you XX,” and did not attend her funeral.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:15:45
  • Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Seeks Discipline of Acting Prosecutor General for Alleged Probe Obstruction
    Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Seeks Discipline of Acting Prosecutor General for Alleged Probe Obstruction Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special prosecutor team has asked the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary proceedings against Ku Ja-hyeon, the acting prosecutor general, over alleged obstruction of its investigation. According to legal sources on the 30th, the team requested that the ministry open discipline procedures against Ku and others in connection with what it described as interference with the comprehensive special prosecutor’s probe. In a notice to the media, the team said it sought investigative cooperation from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, including submission of related materials, while investigating the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. It said the office refused, stating without legal grounds that “all materials requested by the comprehensive special prosecutor cannot be provided under relevant regulations,” despite an obligation to comply under Article 6(6) of the comprehensive special prosecutor law. The team said the refusal violated the law and “seriously obstructs” its investigation. It said it asked Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, under the law, to initiate disciplinary procedures against Ku and Kim Seong-dong, head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office inspection division, as those responsible for the alleged obstruction. The team said it would respond strictly, without exception, if similar cases occur in the future, and would continue working to ensure a transparent and fair investigative environment. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 16:12:15
  • South Korea Supreme Court backs workers in Dong-A Transport wage suit, orders overtime pay
    South Korea Supreme Court backs workers in Dong-A Transport wage suit, orders overtime pay The Supreme Court has largely sided with workers in a wage lawsuit involving Seoul city bus operator Dong-A Transport, a case that helped spark labor unrest in the sector. According to the legal community on Wednesday, the court’s Third Division, with Justice Lee Sook-yeon as the presiding justice, partially overturned an appellate ruling and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court. The top court left most of the lower court’s decision intact, overturning only part of the portion in which workers had lost. As a result, Dong-A Transport must pay overtime and night-work allowances based on “deemed working hours” — guaranteed hours set by labor and management — even when they exceed actual hours worked. Deemed working hours refer to a system that treats a set number of hours as overtime or night work regardless of actual overtime or holiday work, reflecting the nature of the work schedule and conditions. In its decision, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s finding that regular bonuses should be included in ordinary wages. It also found no problem with the conclusion that allowances must be recalculated using ordinary wages that reflect those bonuses, and that the company must pay the difference if it previously paid less. However, the court said the lower court misunderstood the law when it ordered overtime and night-work allowances to be paid only for actual hours worked rather than deemed working hours, and it reversed and remanded that part. The lawsuit was filed by bus driver A and other Dong-A Transport employees in 2015. They argued that a regular bonus paid every other month, calculated at 100% of base pay, should be treated as ordinary wages, and that the company should pay unpaid allowances that were underpaid after excluding the bonus. They also said the company undervalued their actual working time by relying on driving hours entered into the Seoul Bus Management System, excluding time for pre- and post-trip tasks, refueling, waiting, and training. They sought retroactive payment of unpaid overtime, night-work and holiday-work allowances. A trial court ruled for the company, citing earlier Supreme Court precedent that required “fixedness” for pay to qualify as ordinary wages. The decision was overturned on appeal. While the appeal was pending in 2024, the Supreme Court issued a new precedent abolishing the fixedness requirement. Applying that precedent, the appellate court ruled in October last year for the workers by recognizing the regular bonus as ordinary wages. But it ordered allowances to be paid only for actual hours worked, which were shorter than deemed working hours. The workers appealed. The ruling is significant as the first case in which the shift in ordinary-wage doctrine has been applied in practice to the city bus industry. If regular bonuses are included in ordinary wages, overtime, night-work and holiday-work allowances calculated on that basis rise accordingly. If the judgment becomes final after the remand proceedings, cost burdens are expected to increase sharply for Dong-A Transport and other city bus operators. In areas such as Seoul that use a quasi-public system, local governments cover bus companies’ deficits with tax revenue, raising the prospect of substantial public spending. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 15:48:17
  • Top court upholds guilty verdicts for all protesters in violent court intrusion case
    Top court upholds guilty verdicts for all protesters in violent court intrusion case SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Some 18 die-hard supporters of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol including far-right YouTubers, were handed prison terms or suspended sentences on Thursday, as the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's rulings on charges of trespassing, causing a disturbance, and other offences. Some 59 people were convicted after breaking into the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo in January last year in a protest against Yoon's arrest over his botched martial law debacle a month earlier. They received prison terms, suspended sentences, or fines in the first trial. Of these, 35 appealed and received similar or slightly reduced penalties, and 18 cases were taken to the top court. The court also found filmmaker Jung Yoon-suk guilty, upholding his 2 million won fine. He had claimed he stormed the courthouse with a camera to document the incident. 2026-04-30 14:29:02
  • South Korea Supreme Court Upholds Convictions of 18 in Seoul Western District Court Riot
    South Korea Supreme Court Upholds Convictions of 18 in Seoul Western District Court Riot Supporters who stormed the Seoul Western District Court in protest of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol have had their convictions finalized. According to the legal community on Wednesday, the Supreme Court’s third division, with Justice Oh Seok-jun presiding, upheld lower-court rulings that sentenced 18 defendants, including a man identified by his surname Kim, to prison terms or suspended sentences on charges including aggravated trespass. Prosecutors said the group forced its way into the court on Jan. 19 last year after the warrant was issued for Yoon. They assaulted police officers guarding the building and court employees, and searched for the judge who issued the warrant. They were indicted for breaking court windows, damaging facilities and furnishings, and causing a disturbance inside the building. Some also faced additional charges, including aggravated unlawful confinement, after surrounding and damaging a vehicle belonging to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials as it returned to the Gwacheon Government Complex after completing its schedule. Prosecutors indicted 63 people over the incident on Feb. 10 last year. In earlier trials, a first-instance court convicted 59 defendants, handing down sentences ranging from up to five years in prison to suspended terms. Of 49 people charged with aggravated trespass, 40 received prison terms, eight received suspended sentences and one was fined. Thirty-six of the 59 appealed. In an appeals ruling issued in December last year, the court kept the original sentences for 16 and reduced sentences for 20, imposing shorter prison terms or suspended sentences. Eighteen then appealed to the Supreme Court, which upheld the rulings. The Supreme Court on Wednesday also finalized a guilty verdict for documentary director Jeong Yun-seok, who said he entered the court with a camera to document the scene. He was fined 2 million won. The appeals court said Jeong could not be deemed to have shown “the power of a crowd” because he separated from rally participants and only filmed after entering the grounds. But it added that court staff could not distinguish between Jeong’s entry and that of other defendants who entered the building.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 12:36:21
  • Yulchon Holds Seminar on Shifting Fair Trade Rules and Corporate Response
    Yulchon Holds Seminar on Shifting Fair Trade Rules and Corporate Response Law firm Yulchon said it held a seminar titled “Changes in the Fair Trade Regulatory Environment and Corporate Response Measures” on April 29 at its lecture hall on the 39th floor of Parnas Tower in Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu. Yulchon said South Korea’s fair-trade regulatory environment is changing rapidly under a tougher enforcement posture, including a major staffing increase at the Korea Fair Trade Commission, expanded on-site inspections into alleged collusion in sectors closely tied to daily life, and efforts to raise penalty levels through revisions to the fine guidelines. The firm said it organized the event to share integrated risk-management strategies that address issues from the KFTC’s enforcement stages through related litigation, aiming to reduce uncertainty for corporate management. Speakers with experience across the KFTC, the courts and private practice offered analysis in three sessions. In the first session, Ahn Byung-hoon, a former director general for investigation management at the KFTC, spoke on “2026 KFTC policy and enforcement trends,” reviewing legal and institutional changes being pursued and points companies should watch. In the second session, Yulchon attorney Hwang Eui-dong, who previously served as presiding judge of the Seoul High Court’s fair-trade division, discussed “recent trends and issues in fair-trade litigation,” examining potential disputes in civil and administrative cases. “Recent regulatory trends are moving not only toward stronger after-the-fact regulation centered on administrative sanctions, but also toward faster, more proactive relief through civil judicial procedures, and legislation is supporting that direction,” Hwang said. “If a class-action system is later enacted, it could become a risk that threatens a company’s survival. Companies need to understand these changes and respond proactively, including by rechecking comprehensive risk-management systems.” In the third session, Yulchon attorney Jung Ji-young presented on “the latest trends in the KFTC’s cartel regulation and practical corporate response strategies,” outlining key developments and sharing approaches based on practical experience. After the presentations, a panel discussion moderated by Yulchon attorney Kim Gyu-hyun featured all speakers and a question-and-answer session on major fair-trade issues. Yulchon said registration closed soon after invitations were sent, and about 200 corporate representatives attended. Yoon Jung-geun, head of Yulchon’s fair-trade group, said companies are under greater pressure than ever due to the KFTC’s broad investigations and tougher sanctions. He said he hopes the seminar will serve as a practical guide for companies facing day-to-day compliance challenges.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 11:35:59
  • Court Extends Suspension of Detention for Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Citing Health
    Court Extends Suspension of Detention for Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Citing Health A court has extended by one month the suspension of detention for Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, who was temporarily released citing worsening health. According to the legal community on the 30th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, chaired by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, decided the previous day to extend Han’s suspension of detention. A suspension of detention allows a defendant to be temporarily released when the court finds an urgent reason such as serious illness, childbirth or attending a family funeral. The decision takes effect immediately and, unlike bail, does not require posting a bond. Han’s suspension had been set to expire at 2 p.m. today. Her lawyers filed a request on the 28th, citing a deterioration in her health and the need for hospital treatment. The court granted the request, extending the suspension until 2 p.m. on May 30. The court also restricted her residence during that period to a hospital. This is not the first time the court has granted Han a suspension of detention. Her side sought it three times — in November last year and in February and March this year — and the court approved each request, citing her advanced age and health issues. The decisions have drawn criticism from some civic groups. Han was jailed at the Seoul Detention Center in September last year but met with her lawyers 441 times as of March 31, sparking controversy. It was also reported that other detainees and attorneys faced inconvenience in arranging visits, though the Justice Ministry’s corrections headquarters said it was not preferential treatment. Some have also questioned whether Han’s recent stay in a hospital, rather than a detention facility, reflects sensitivity to the earlier controversy. Han, along with Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s World Headquarters, and others, was indicted and detained in October last year on allegations including that they learned gambling-related police investigation information from People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in October 2022 and destroyed related evidence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 11:27:51
  • Korea Bar, Patent Attorneys Split After Court Ruling on Mandatory Association Membership
    Korea Bar, Patent Attorneys Split After Court Ruling on Mandatory Association Membership The Korean Bar Association welcomed a Constitutional Court decision finding unconstitutional a provision of the Patent Attorney Act that requires all patent attorneys to join a single association. The Korea Patent Attorneys Association expressed regret and said it would move to revise the law. In a statement issued April 30, the bar association said it “strongly welcomes” the court’s decision for recognizing the patent profession’s “unique dual qualification system” and the structural conflict it has produced. It called the ruling an important starting point for reforms aimed at providing better intellectual property legal services to the public. The bar association said the Patent Attorney Act has long recognized two paths to qualification: passing the patent attorney exam and holding a lawyer’s license. It argued that despite this dual structure, Article 11 forced all patent attorneys to join a single association without regard to those differences. Noting that seven of the court’s nine justices found the provision unconstitutional, the bar association said the decision effectively confirms unconstitutionality and urged the National Assembly to meet the court’s legislative deadline of Oct. 31, 2027. It said the ruling sets a constitutional standard that the independent will and professional interests of lawyer-patent attorneys should no longer be sacrificed within a single-organization system. The bar association said it would take part in legislative discussions to ensure the ruling leads to practical reforms that protect the rights of lawyer-patent attorneys and the public. The Korea Patent Attorneys Association said the decision “ignores the essence of the problem” and leaves structural conflict unresolved. It argued that the conflict of interest between patent attorneys and lawyers stems from the current system that automatically grants patent attorney qualifications to lawyers, and said the only fundamental solution is to abolish that automatic qualification system entirely. Association President Jeon Jong-hak said the ruling was meaningful in that it reaffirmed the constitutionality of mandatory membership in the association itself. But he said the automatic qualification system for lawyers was shown to be the root cause and that the group would immediately begin work on revising the Patent Attorney Act to abolish it. Jeon said that as intellectual property becomes directly tied to national competitiveness, the patent attorney system should be designed from the perspective of industry and the country, not professional turf. He said the association would strengthen its role in boosting industrial competitiveness and protecting technology through institutional improvements. The Constitutional Court ruled April 29 that the provision requiring all patent attorneys to join the Korea Patent Attorneys Association violates the Constitution. The National Assembly must revise the provision by October next year. Of the nine justices, four — Kim Sang-hwan, Kim Hyeong-du, Jeong Hyeong-sik and Oh Young-jun — issued a constitutional nonconformity opinion, while three — Kim Bok-hyeong, Cho Han-chang and Ma Eun-hyeok — found it unconstitutional. Justices Jeong Jeong-mi and Jeong Gye-seon dissented, finding it constitutional. 2026-04-30 10:14:32
  • Jipyeong Wins Constitutional Ruling Against Mandatory Patent Attorney Association Membership
    Jipyeong Wins Constitutional Ruling Against Mandatory Patent Attorney Association Membership Law firm Jipyeong said on April 30 it helped secure a Constitutional Court ruling of constitutional nonconformity against a provision of the Patent Attorney Act that requires mandatory membership in the Korea Patent Attorneys Association. The petitioners were registered as patent attorneys based on their attorney licenses but did not join the association. In November 2018, the association disciplined them for violating the membership requirement. The petitioners then filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the disciplinary action and also filed a constitutional complaint challenging Article 11 of the Patent Attorney Act, which mandates membership for registered patent attorneys. Jipyeong, retained by the Korean Bar Association, submitted multiple opinions arguing the mandatory membership system was unconstitutional and sought to persuade the court. The constitutional complaint was filed in January 2020, and after more than six years of dispute with the association, the court issued the constitutional nonconformity decision, the firm said. The Constitutional Court found that the current association engages in activities representing the interests of patent attorneys who are not lawyers, and that forcing lawyer-patent attorneys to join infringes their freedom of association and freedom of occupation. The court also accepted the argument that a less restrictive alternative exists: allowing lawyer-patent attorneys to form a separate patent attorney group and requiring membership there. Jipyeong said it has previously won a series of constitutional rulings in high-impact cases, including challenges involving multiple provisions of the Public Official Election Act, the Court Organization Act, and Civil Act provisions on statutes of limitations and lease terms. Park Seong-cheol, an attorney who heads Jipyeong’s Constitutional Petition Center and led the case, said, “Although there were two prior rulings upholding the same provision, it was effective that we did not give up and persuaded the Constitutional Court with reasoning that went beyond the limits of the earlier decisions.” He said the team aimed to present specific grounds showing the provision excessively restricts lawyer-patent attorneys’ freedom of association and freedom of occupation. Park said changes in legislation could bring major shifts in how lawyers conduct patent attorney work, calling the decision one that will help companies and the public receive diverse and sufficient legal services. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:57:16
  • Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho Orders Panel to Review Prosecutors’ Human Rights Concerns
    Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho Orders Panel to Review Prosecutors’ Human Rights Concerns Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho has instructed the Justice Ministry to set up a tentatively named “Prosecutors’ Human Rights Respect and Future Committee” to review cases that have sparked public suspicion of human rights violations or abuse of authority during prosecutorial investigations and indictments. The ministry said April 29 that Jung ordered the committee’s creation and explained the rationale. It said prosecutors established a human rights violation review task force at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office in September last year and investigated allegations of rights abuses and overreach, but the effort was deemed insufficient to resolve public doubts. The ministry added that additional suspicions have persisted after new facts emerged during a subsequent parliamentary investigation, leaving many people questioning the legality and appropriateness of the investigative process at the time. Taking those circumstances into account, Jung directed the ministry to establish an independent committee made up of outside members, it said. According to the ministry, Jung instructed the committee to select cases for review where public doubts have been raised about investigations and indictments; devise a plan to form an investigative body to independently examine related allegations arising from prosecutors’ work; and report findings and recommend follow-up steps to prevent recurrence if rights violations or abuse of authority are confirmed. A ministry official said it “takes seriously the criticisms and reprimands” raised during the parliamentary investigation’s agency briefings, on-site inspections and hearings, and pledged to “systematically review and correct” past prosecutorial practices and errors so the prosecution can fulfill its responsibilities as a core criminal justice institution and regain public trust.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 18:03:07