Journalist

·JEONG SE HEE
  • Koo Jun-yup Wore Coat Gifted by Late Wife Barbie Hsu 27 Years Ago, Singer Says
    Koo Jun-yup Wore Coat Gifted by Late Wife Barbie Hsu 27 Years Ago, Singer Says Koo Jun-yup, a member of the group Clon, attended the first anniversary of the death of actor Barbie Hsu (Seo Hee-won), and the coat he wore drew attention. On Sunday, Taiwanese singer Tao Ching-ying wrote on social media, “Early in the morning, we left Taipei for Jinshan,” adding that wind and rain battered the route and the sea was rough. She said it was hard to imagine “how Hsu’s husband, Koo Jun-yup, traveled this lonely and difficult road every day.” She said family and friends gathered to see a statue, describing it as “a pure young girl” looking toward Taipei. Tao also said the coat Koo wore for Hsu’s first anniversary was one Hsu gave him 27 years ago, and that Hsu’s mother showed off shoes her daughter had given her. Koo previously mentioned the coat on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” in 2022, saying it was hanging at home and that Hsu had given it to him for an awards ceremony. “I couldn’t throw away anything she gave me,” he said. Koo and Hsu dated in the late 1990s, broke up, then reunited more than 20 years later and married in 2022.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 14:36:00
  • Fire at Recycling Company in Incheon Extinguished; No Injuries Reported
    Fire at Recycling Company in Incheon Extinguished; No Injuries Reported A fire at a recycling company in Gajwa-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, was extinguished in about an hour after breaking out at about 5:56 a.m. on the 9th. No injuries were reported. Fire authorities deployed about 30 pieces of equipment and about 80 personnel and finished putting out the blaze at about 7 a.m. Authorities are investigating the cause and the extent of the damage.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 07:39:00
  • Fire Reported in Incheon’s Seo District; Heavy Smoke Reported Near Gajwa-dong
    Fire Reported in Incheon’s Seo District; Heavy Smoke Reported Near Gajwa-dong A fire broke out in Incheon’s Seo District, officials said. In a disaster alert text message sent on the 29th, the district office said a fire near 173-222 in Gajwa-dong was producing heavy smoke as of 6 a.m. It urged nearby residents to move farther from the site and drivers to detour. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 06:39:00
  • Fed Holds Key Rate at 3.50%-3.75%, Keeping U.S.-South Korea Gap at 1.25 Points
    Fed Holds Key Rate at 3.50%-3.75%, Keeping U.S.-South Korea Gap at 1.25 Points On Jan. 28 local time, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate at 3.50% to 3.75%. The Fed said after its first regular Federal Open Market Committee meeting of the year that it decided to keep the rate unchanged. The decision keeps the interest-rate gap between South Korea (2.50%) and the United States at 1.25 percentage points, based on the upper end of the U.S. range.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 06:12:00
  • Factory Fire in Siheung’s Geumi-dong Sends Up Thick Black Smoke
    Factory Fire in Siheung’s Geumi-dong Sends Up Thick Black Smoke A fire broke out in Geumi-dong in Siheung, Gyeonggi province. On Tuesday, the Siheung city government said in a disaster safety text alert, "A factory fire has occurred at 554-4, Geumi-dong, and a large amount of black smoke is being generated." It urged nearby drivers to detour and asked residents in the area to close their windows and take other safety precautions. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:13:28
  • Former PM sentenced to 23 years in prison over martial law involvement
    Former PM sentenced to 23 years in prison over martial law involvement SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle in December 2024. In a nationwide televised trial, the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul handed down the sentence, ruling that the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law constituted an insurrection. The court said, ", as prime minister, had a duty to comply with the Constitution, uphold laws and democratic values, and take every effort to protect them." The court added, "Despite this, he neglected his duties and chose to take part in the debacle, thinking it could succeed." It also warned that Han's actions could have risked returning the country to its "darkest past," when democracy and civil rights were suppressed under authoritarian and military rule. The court further criticized Han for hiding and fabricating documents to make the martial law declaration appear lawful, despite his responsibility to uncover the truth and take accountability for the short-lived, late-night fiasco. The punishment was heavier than the 15 years prosecutors sought at Han's final hearing in November last year, who had accused him of aiding Yoon's martial law bid rather than preventing it, despite his duty to check abuses of presidential power. Han denied all allegations, claiming he had no prior knowledge of the debacle and never agreed with or aided it, even after becoming aware of it. Wednesday's ruling is expected to have implications for Yoon's own trial on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, with a verdict likely to be handed down next month. 2026-01-21 15:20:24
  • Seoul bus workers to resume wage talks as strike enters second day
    Seoul bus workers to resume wage talks as strike enters second day SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Unionized bus workers in Seoul are set to resume wage negotiations with management on Wednesday, after going into an indefinite strike the previous day that suspended all services. With a second day of major traffic disruptions, the two sides are scheduled to sit down for talks again at 3 p.m., following a series of previous negotiations that collapsed as they failed to narrow their differences. The main point of dispute is whether bonuses should be included in their wages. Bus drivers have been demanding that bonuses be calculated as part of their wages, arguing that it is not subject to collective bargaining but is a legally-binding requirement stemming from a Supreme Court ruling in December 2024. As around 7,000 buses stopped operating, the Seoul Metropolitan Government increased subway services, adding more trains during the morning and evening rush hours, as well as nearly 700 free shuttle buses to and from subway stations. 2026-01-14 09:04:39
  • Icy rush-hour disruption inevitable as Seoul city bus strike begins
    Icy rush-hour disruption inevitable as Seoul city bus strike begins SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Seoul commuters faced inevitable rush-hour disruption amid icy temperatures Tuesday as city bus drivers launched an indefinite strike after last-minute wage talks collapsed overnight. Members of the Seoul City Bus Workers Union began the walkout with the first buses of the day at 4 a.m., after negotiations with the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association broke down around 1:30 a.m., according to both sides. The talks, mediated by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo, stretched more than 10 hours from Monday afternoon but failed to bridge differences over wage structure and the definition of ordinary wages. At the heart of the dispute is how bonuses should be treated under a Supreme Court ruling that broadens the scope of ordinary wages, which directly affects overtime pay and retirement benefits. Management proposed restructuring the pay system by folding bonuses into base pay to contain additional labor costs, offering a total wage increase of 10.3 percent. The union rejected the proposal, arguing that payments tied to recognizing ordinary wages should be excluded from this round of bargaining. Instead, the union is demanding a 3 percent wage increase without altering the current pay system, raising the retirement age to 65 and eliminating what it calls wage discrimination. Employers countered that accepting a 3 percent raise now, followed by a future recalculation of bonuses as ordinary wages, would amount to an effective pay hike of about 20 percent, calling the demand excessive. No further bargaining schedule has been set, though both sides indicated that informal contacts may continue. With all 64 city bus companies participating in the strike, operations across Seoul’s 394 routes — involving 7,382 buses — were halted, raising fears of widespread commuting chaos during one of the coldest weeks of the winter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government activated emergency transportation measures from 4 a.m., deploying alternative transit options to ease congestion. Subway services were expanded during peak commuting hours, with morning and evening rush periods extended from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., while late-night subway operations were pushed back to 2 a.m. the following day. In total, subway services will run an additional 172 times per day. To improve access to subway stations, all 25 district offices in Seoul are operating free shuttle buses. “We will mobilize all available transportation resources to minimize inconvenience to citizens,” said Yeo Jang-kwon, head of Seoul’s transportation bureau. He also urged the bus union to consider public hardship and return to work as soon as possible. 2026-01-13 07:16:58
  • Lingering cold brings snow and rain across country
    Lingering cold brings snow and rain across country SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Snow or rain is expected nationwide, as cold wave warnings have been issued for most parts of the country including the capital region, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Monday. Up to 8 centimeters of snowfall is expected in the central region including Chungcheong provinces, while Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province may see less than 1 centimeter of snowflakes. Morning lows hovered between -10 and -5 degrees Celsius, with icy winds making it feel even colder, and daytime highs are expected to offer little relief. The cold is expected to gradually ease through midweek. 2026-01-12 09:38:05
  • Ex-Korean president faces closing hearing of insurrection-related trials
    Ex-Korean president faces closing hearing of insurrection-related trials SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will face a closing hearing Friday in a criminal case accusing him of obstructing an arrest and infringing Cabinet members’ constitutional rights in connection with his declaration of martial law. The hearing, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first time one of four insurrection-related cases involving Yoon has reached the final stage of arguments. Legal observers say the outcome could serve as a bellwether for how the remaining trials may unfold. Criminal Division 35 will hear final arguments in the case charging Yoon with aggravated obstruction of official duties and related offenses. If proceedings move as scheduled, the court is expected to set a date for a first-instance verdict later in the day. The timing is notable, as a ruling could come just days before Yoon’s detention is set to expire on Jan. 18. Under the special counsel law governing insurrection-related cases, courts are required to deliver a first-trial verdict within six months of indictment. At a previous hearing on Dec. 16, the court indicated that a decision would likely be issued around Jan. 16. During Friday’s session, the court will first question two witnesses: Lee Sang-min, former interior and safety minister, and Choi Sang-mok, former deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister. The special counsel team will then present its closing arguments and sentencing request, followed by the defense’s final arguments and Yoon’s own statement to the court. Yoon was indicted in July while in detention. Prosecutors allege that when he declared martial law on Dec. 3, he selectively summoned only Cabinet members considered favorable to him in order to create the appearance of a lawful Cabinet deliberation. They argue this violated the constitutional rights of nine ministers who were excluded from the decision-making process. The indictment further alleges that after martial law was lifted, Yoon ordered the creation of a false proclamation to make it appear the measure had been formally approved through a document bearing the signatures of then–Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Prosecutors say the document was later shredded, despite constituting an official presidential record. Yoon is also accused of ordering the deletion of secure communication records involving former Defense Security Command chief Yeo In-hyung, and of directing the Presidential Security Service to block the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials from executing an arrest warrant in January. Separately, the special counsel team has additionally indicted Yoon on charges of aiding the enemy, alleging that drones were sent into Pyongyang to heighten military tensions and create justification for declaring martial law. The team has requested extended detention in that case, and the court held a hearing on the request on Dec. 23. The court instructed both the prosecution and the defense to submit additional written opinions by Dec. 30, with a decision on the detention request expected after that date. In the same case, Kim Yong-hyun and Yeo In-hyung, indicted as Yoon’s accomplices, were issued additional arrest warrants on Dec. 24, extending their detention by up to six months. Kim’s previous detention was due to expire a day earlier, while Yeo’s was set to expire on Jan. 2. Yoon had asked the court to postpone sentencing in the current case until after proceedings conclude in what prosecutors describe as the “main case” — the charge of leading an insurrection — now being tried separately at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 under Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon. That request was rejected. The insurrection-leader case is expected to conclude arguments as early as next month, with a first-instance ruling likely in February, according to court officials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 07:34:08