Journalist

Kang So Young
  • Trump Hints at Finalization of Iran Peace Agreement Soon
    Trump Hints at Finalization of Iran Peace Agreement Soon President Donald Trump has indicated that the final terms and details of a peace agreement with Iran are currently under discussion, suggesting an announcement could come soon. On May 23, Trump stated on social media that an agreement involving the United States, Iran, and several other countries has largely been negotiated, with only final confirmations remaining. He added that, among other elements, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. While he did not specify a timeline for the announcement, his comments imply that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is nearing completion. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was visiting India, told reporters that there is a possibility of an announcement either later that day, the next day, or in the following days regarding the peace negotiations. Trump also mentioned to local media that negotiations with Iran are progressing significantly, stating he would decide by Sunday, May 24, whether to resume airstrikes against Iran. He noted that he had a very productive call from the Oval Office with leaders and senior officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan, and Bahrain, discussing all matters related to Iran and the peace memorandum of understanding. Trump also highlighted that he had a positive conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating that there are no significant disagreements regarding the terms of the ceasefire negotiations with Iran. 2026-05-24 06:54:47
  • Why Solo 25 Participant Youngja Did Not Join Nasol Four Seasons Live Broadcast
    Why 'Solo 25' Participant Youngja Did Not Join 'Nasol Four Seasons' Live Broadcast Youngja, a participant from the 25th season of 'I Am Solo,' addressed questions regarding her absence from the 'Nasol Four Seasons' live broadcast. On May 22, she stated on her social media, "Although I was unable to participate in the solo reaction and live broadcast, it seems that this experience has provided me with invaluable lessons and insights." Previously, Youngja became a final couple with Youngsik from Season 20 during the broadcast of 'Nasol Four Seasons' on May 21. However, her absence from the subsequent live broadcast on 'Chonjang Entertainment TV' raised eyebrows. In response, the production team clarified in a pinned comment that "Youngja's participation in the live broadcast was restricted due to a contract violation and breach of participant obligations," which many interpreted as related to her contract with a creator agency. Youngja then provided her perspective on her absence, explaining, "If I had participated in the live broadcast, I would have wanted to share my thoughts, especially regarding my creator agency. I was contacted by the agency in February and, after much consideration, signed a contract on March 1." She continued, "I viewed this as an extension of my personal activities to continue my artwork and content creation. I intended to gradually showcase the content related to my work after the show ended, but the information became public sooner than expected. I take seriously that this could lead viewers to question the authenticity of the show." Youngja also addressed her involvement in managing three guesthouses, stating, "I had no ownership stake, and my public title was that of a manager. It was not a solo operation. There were aspects of my explanation that may have been unclear for the sake of simplicity on the show." She emphasized, "This is not a 'party guesthouse' aimed at facilitating romantic encounters, and I do not reside or participate in the space. I have never engaged in hunting, nor do I smoke, and the stories about my father are also untrue." Meanwhile, Youngsik, who was Youngja's final partner, shared during the live broadcast that they had seriously gotten to know each other after filming but could not remain a couple. He requested that viewers refrain from negative comments, saying, "Thank you for your interest. I am currently single."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 15:55:32
  • Teacher Who Reported School Misconduct Found Dead After Fall
    Teacher Who Reported School Misconduct Found Dead After Fall A teacher in his 50s was found dead after falling from an apartment in Gi-echeon City. According to police, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. on May 21. The teacher, identified only as Mr. A, had reported misconduct related to embezzlement and drunk driving by school officials in 2023. Following his whistleblowing, he was reportedly sued for defamation by individuals associated with the school. No suicide note was found at the scene, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fall using CCTV footage and other evidence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 10:46:22
  • Starbucks Faces Backlash Over Tank Day Event on May 18
    Starbucks Faces Backlash Over 'Tank Day' Event on May 18 Starbucks is facing backlash for its 'Tank Day' event held on the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising on May 18.According to industry sources, Starbucks promoted the event with the slogan 'Tank Day' as part of its 'Dante Tank Nasu Day' initiative. The promotional page also featured the phrase 'Bang! on the desk!'This sparked criticism on online communities and social media, with many arguing that the expressions trivialized the Gwangju Uprising. Critics noted that the slogan evoked memories of the military's tank deployment during the uprising and the torture and death of activist Park Jong-cheol.In 1987, during the Park Jong-cheol incident, the police announced, "He died after hitting the desk," which further fueled public outrage. Observers pointed out the similarity between this statement and the event's promotional language.Netizens reacted with comments such as, "This sounds like something from Ilbe (a controversial online community)," and questioned why the 'Tank Day' event was scheduled for May 18, suggesting it was a deliberate provocation.In response to the controversy, Starbucks changed the phrase 'Bang! on the desk!' to 'Bang~ during work' and rebranded 'Tank Day' to 'Tank Tumbler Day.' The company acknowledged the use of inappropriate language in the promotion and issued an apology, stating, "We sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and concern to our customers. We discovered that inappropriate phrases were used during the promotion of the Dante Tank Nasu tumbler as part of our Buddy Week event running until the 26th."Starbucks emphasized that it would review and improve its internal processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.Currently, the company has suspended the event, and access to the event page on its official website and app has been disabled.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:01:05
  • MC Mong Promises to Expose Celebrities Involved in Illegal Gambling
    MC Mong Promises to Expose Celebrities Involved in Illegal Gambling Singer MC Mong, 46, whose real name is Shin Dong-hyun, is stirring controversy by denying allegations against him and promising to expose celebrities linked to illegal gambling. On May 18, MC Mong stated on his social media that he would hold a live broadcast at 8 p.m. to discuss past events and everything related to him. He added, "I will reveal who MBC's 'PD Notebook' is colluding with in their investigations, including Chairman Cha and members of the illegal gambling group, as well as the celebrities involved with them." Previously, MC Mong co-founded One Hundred with Chairman Cha Gawon in 2023 and served as the executive producer for the rookie girl group Bad Villain under the subsidiary Big Planet Made Entertainment the following year. He left the company in July of last year. In December, MC Mong became embroiled in rumors of an affair and conflict with Chairman Cha, who was reported to have received a court order for the repayment of a loan amounting to 12 billion won from MC Mong. In relation to this, MC Mong revealed that Cha Jun-young, a relative of Chairman Cha, attempted to seize the company, stating, "Cha Jun-young told me he would help me maintain my status as the second-largest shareholder if I joined him in taking over the company," and that they drafted a stock transfer agreement. MC Mong claimed, "Cha Jun-young came to my house, threw things, slapped me, and threatened me like a thug to get me to sign the contract," adding, "I left One Hundred wanting to protect the company and Chairman Cha Gawon." Currently, MC Mong is under investigation by the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul following a complaint filed in January by former Korean Medical Association President Lim Hyun-taek for violations of drug management and medical laws. He is also facing allegations of violating foreign exchange laws for attempting to illegally export $70,000 in cash in 2022. One Hundred is also facing disputes with its artists. Singers Lee Seung-gi, Lee Mu-jin, BIBI, and EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin have all notified the company of contract terminations, while members of the group The Boyz have filed a lawsuit against Chairman Cha for embezzlement. The legal representatives for One Hundred have claimed these lawsuits are false accusations aimed at seizing the company.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 15:39:24
  • Missing Woman Found Dead After Hiking in Bukhansan National Park
    Missing Woman Found Dead After Hiking in Bukhansan National Park A woman in her 50s who went missing after hiking in Bukhansan National Park was found dead 28 days after her family reported her disappearance. According to the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, the woman, identified as A, was reported missing by her family on April 17 at around 11:28 a.m. A's husband contacted her workplace around 9 a.m. that day after learning she had not shown up for work. He began searching for her and subsequently filed a missing person report with the police. Following the report, police analyzed CCTV footage and confirmed that A had traveled by bicycle to the vicinity of Gangbyeon Station in Gwangjin-gu, where she transferred to Line 2 of the subway heading toward Bukhansan in Gangbuk-gu. CCTV from Bukhansan National Park captured A ascending the mountain, but this was the last sighting of her. On May 15, a woman's body was discovered at the base of Nojeokbong Peak (716 meters above sea level) in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Authorities confirmed the identity of the deceased as A, who had been reported missing. The trail A took is known to be a shortcut that typically takes less than two hours to reach the summit. Police have reported no signs of foul play in A's death and are currently awaiting the results of an autopsy from the National Forensic Service to determine the exact cause of death.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 09:16:59
  • BLACKPINKs Jennie rakes in billions after establishing her own agency
    BLACKPINK's Jennie rakes in billions after establishing her own agency SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - K-pop star Jennie of BLACKPINK has earned more than 23 billion Korean won (about US$16 million) in just two years since launching her own agency. According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic corporate disclosure, OA Entertainment, founded by Jennie, paid her 9.48 billion won last year and 14.31 billion won the year before. The combined total over the two-year period amounts to approximately 23.8 billion won. OA Entertainment posted 23.8 billion won in revenue last year, up 26 percent from a year earlier. Jennie owns 100 percent of the company, while her mother serves as its CEO. Jennie's activities as a member of the quartet are handled through YG Entertainment, while her solo activities are managed through OA Entertainment. While no detailed breakdown is available, industry insiders say most of the revenue likely came from Jennie's solo activities including advertising and promotional endorsement deals. The flamboyant star set up OA Entertainment in November 2023, shortly after her exclusive contract with YG Entertainment ended, posting 18.9 billion won in revenue in its first year. But operating profit fell to 390 million won last year from 580 million won in 2024, attributed to increased investment in infrastructure and staffing. It has nine employees, with total compensation paid to staff last year standing at about 1.08 billion won. Last month, Jennie was included in TIME magazine's annual list of the "100 Most Influential People" for this year. 2026-05-12 10:31:53
  • Young Investor Turns 26 Million Won from Samsung Stock, While Another Regrets Selling
    Young Investor Turns 26 Million Won from Samsung Stock, While Another Regrets Selling As semiconductor stocks continue to rise, a 1992-born office worker has gained attention for turning her investments into assets worth over 2.6 billion won (approximately $2 million) in just six years. In a recent post on the anonymous workplace community "Blind," a woman identified as A shared her experience as a "six-year stock investor," expressing her astonishment at surpassing 2 billion won in assets. A reported her total investment assets at approximately 2.6455 billion won, with domestic stocks valued at 1.996 billion won and a return of 153.14%. Her overseas stock assets amounted to 570.9 million won, yielding a return of 70.84%. She stated, "I kept two separate ledgers to grow my seed capital. The significant boost came when I started buying Samsung Electronics' HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and foundry stocks after their prices plummeted in 2024." A added, "I never sold a single share of the semiconductor stocks I bought. Over six years, my realized gains included an initial investment of about 500 million won. Coming from a 'dirt spoon' background, I don't have wealthy friends to share my success with, so I posted in this community to find others who understand my journey." In contrast, another story emerged from a worker at an accounting firm, identified as B, who regretted selling all his Samsung Electronics shares last October to purchase a newlywed home. He sold his stocks to buy a house priced at 1.8 billion won but now feels remorseful. B explained that he liquidated his Samsung shares, worth about 500 million won, to afford the apartment in Mapo, Seoul. He stated, "To buy the house, I borrowed 900 million won, including a negative bank account and help from my parents. Although the house price has increased by about 100 million won since then, if I had held onto my Samsung shares, their current value would be around 2 billion won." B lamented, "If I had just held on, I would have had 2 billion won without any debt." He also mentioned that excluding the money borrowed from his parents, he is paying about 3.8 million won monthly for a loan of 700 million won. B expressed his frustration, saying, "Even with a monthly net salary of 6.5 million won, I am left with only 2.7 million won after loan repayments, which is a miserable and infuriating situation." Reactions from netizens to these contrasting stories included comments like, "I believe there are about 100,000 people in Korea who missed out on similar opportunities as B," and "If stocks hadn't risen, people would have been happy about rising house prices." Meanwhile, as of 9:30 a.m. on May 11, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both reached record highs in early trading. Samsung Electronics traded at 286,000 won, up 6.52%, and briefly hit a record high of 286,500 won. SK Hynix surged 9.91% to 1,853,000 won, reaching an intraday high of 1,859,000 won. According to the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics received the highest number of individual orders last month, totaling 204,025, while SK Hynix had 142,668 orders, reflecting expectations for a prolonged boom in the memory sector.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 10:30:13
  • Gwangju Police to Review Whether to Release Suspect’s Identity in Teen Killing
    Gwangju Police to Review Whether to Release Suspect’s Identity in Teen Killing Gwangju police are weighing whether to publicly release the identity of a man in his 20s accused of fatally stabbing a high school girl and attacking a high school boy with a knife on a street at night. The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency said Tuesday it plans to review whether to disclose the suspect’s personal information — a 24-year-old identified by the surname Jang — on May 7 or 8. Jang was arrested on an emergency basis on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police allege Jang stabbed a 17-year-old girl, identified only as A, killing her on a sidewalk along a major road in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, at about 12:11 a.m. Tuesday. He is also accused of swinging the weapon at a 17-year-old boy, identified as B. Under South Korea’s law on disclosing information about suspects in certain serious crimes, authorities may release a suspect’s identity if conditions are met, including severe harm, the brutality of the method, sufficient evidence, the public’s right to know and the public interest. Police said they consider Jang eligible for review and are forming a panel of up to 10 members, including internal and external participants. They plan to seek an arrest warrant later Tuesday, and a hearing to review the warrant is scheduled for May 7. Police said Jang fled after the attack and was arrested at about 11:24 a.m. Tuesday near his home in Wolgye-dong. In questioning, Jang told police, “Life wasn’t fun, so I was thinking about suicide and decided to commit the crime,” according to investigators. Police said he decided to attack after seeing A walking alone. A was taken to a hospital but died. B was injured but was reported to be in no life-threatening condition. The report said A had hoped to become an emergency medical technician and was attacked while returning home after studying late. 2026-05-06 14:01:07
  • Do Divorce Settlements Include Big Bonuses? Lawyer Weighs Factors as SK hynix Payouts Draw Attention
    Do Divorce Settlements Include Big Bonuses? Lawyer Weighs Factors as SK hynix Payouts Draw Attention 최근 SK하이닉스의 억대 성과급이 화두로 떠오르면서, 이혼 시 성과급이 재산분할 대상에 포함되는지에 대한 논의도 이어지고 있다. 다만 전문가는 “혼인 기간 중 기여도에 따라 달라질 수 있다”며 신중한 접근이 필요하다고 말했다. 지난 3일 유튜브 채널 ‘양나래 변호사’에는 결혼 7년 차에 자녀 1명을 둔 여성 A씨의 사연이 소개됐다. A씨는 신혼 1년을 제외하면 남편과 행복한 시간이 거의 없었다고 했다. 가정폭력이나 외도는 없었지만 성향과 성격 차이로 갈등이 커졌고, 아이 때문에 결혼 생활을 이어왔다고 설명했다. 두 사람은 대화 없이 지내다 협의 이혼을 하기로 했고, 위자료 없이 재산을 6대4로 나누기로 합의해 공증까지 마쳤다. A씨는 자녀를 양육하는 조건으로 40%를 받기로 했으며, 남편도 동의해 법원에 협의이혼 신청서만 제출하면 되는 상황이었다. 그러나 A씨는 지인들로부터 남편이 억대 성과급을 받을 수 있다는 이야기를 들었다. 지인들이 “성과급도 결국 네 몫 아니냐”고 말하자 A씨는 고민에 빠졌다고 했다. A씨는 인터넷 검색을 통해 “재산분할 기준은 변론 종결 시점”이라는 내용을 접한 뒤 생각을 바꿨다. 이혼 소송 중 남편이 성과급을 받으면 그 금액도 분할 대상이 될 수 있다고 보고, 협의이혼을 취소하고 소송을 하기로 결심했다. 이에 대해 Yang Narae 변호사는 “원칙적으로는 ‘변론 종결 시점’의 재산을 기준으로 하지만, 실무에서는 예금·주식처럼 변동성이 큰 자산은 ‘혼인 파탄 시점(보통 소 제기 시점)’을 기준으로 보는 경우가 많다”고 말했다. 그는 “성과급의 산정 대상이 되는 근로 기간이 혼인 기간과 겹친다면 배우자의 기여분을 일부 인정할 여지가 있다”면서도 “성과급을 받는 시기, 성과급 기준 기간, 부부 관계가 파탄 난 시기, 공동 재산에서 성과급이 차지하는 비중 등을 종합적으로 반영하게 된다”고 말했다. A씨 사례처럼 사실상 각자 독립적으로 생활해 왔다면, 남편의 근로에 대한 아내의 기여도가 낮게 평가돼 분할이 인정되지 않거나 줄어들 수 있다고 조언했다. 또 “이미 협의이혼에서 유리한 조건을 확보했다면 소송 비용과 시간까지 고려해 신중히 판단해야 한다”고 덧붙였다. 한편 SK하이닉스는 반도체 호황으로 올해 영업이익이 250조 원으로 추측된다는 관측이 나오고 있다. 영업이익의 10%를 성과급으로 지급하는 제도를 운영해 임직원 약 3만 5000명이 1인당 약 7억 원의 성과급을 받을 수 있다는 전망도 제기됐다. 앞서 지난 2월 SK하이닉스는 기본급의 2964%에 달하는 역대 최대 규모의 성과급을 지급했다. 연봉 1억 원 직원 기준 성과급은 약 1억 4820만 원(세전)으로 알려졌으며, 당시 주변 상권이 활성화되고 일부 직원들이 기부에 나서는 등 긍정적 효과도 있었다. 2026-05-06 09:27:16