Journalist

Kang So Young
  • Rapper Noel Shares Childhood Photo With Late Father Jang Je-won on Children’s Day
    Rapper Noel Shares Childhood Photo With Late Father Jang Je-won on Children’s Day Rapper Noel (26), whose real name is Jang Yong-jun, marked Children’s Day by recalling his childhood with his father, the late Jang Je-won, a lawmaker. On May 5, Noel posted a photo to his social media account without a caption. In the image, Jang is seen holding a young Noel in his arms, smiling broadly. Noel is also smiling playfully, creating a warm scene. Born in 2000, Noel became known through Mnet audition programs “High School Rapper” and “Show Me the Money 6.” In 2019, he received a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for two years, over a drunk-driving crash. He also drew controversy after indications emerged that he called an acquaintance after the crash and tried to switch drivers. In 2021, Noel was sentenced to one year in prison on charges including unlicensed drunk driving and assaulting a police officer. He served the term and was released in October the following year. Jang, who was serving as a vice president at a university in Busan, was accused in November 2015 of sexually assaulting his secretary (quasi-rape causing injury). While under police investigation, he was found dead on March 31 last year at an officetel in Seoul’s Gangdong district.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 08:33:57
  • South Korea to Recruit 25,000 for Youth Savings Accounts Aimed at Low-Income Workers
    South Korea to Recruit 25,000 for Youth Savings Accounts Aimed at Low-Income Workers The South Korean government is rolling out a program to help low-income young workers build assets. On May 4, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will recruit 25,000 new participants for this year’s Youth Tomorrow Savings Account program from May 4 to 20. The program supports working young people on low incomes in saving a lump sum over a three-year term. Eligible applicants are working youths ages 15 to 39 in households earning 50% or less of the median income. Participants who save 100,000 to 500,000 won a month will receive a government match of 300,000 won per month. At maturity after three years, participants can receive a total of 14.4 million won, including their own savings, plus interest of up to 5% annually. Since its introduction in 2022, eligibility had been expanded to those at 100% or less of median income. Starting this year, however, the government said it will focus support on youths at 50% or less of median income — including basic livelihood recipients and the near-poor — with the launch of a new “Youth Future Savings” product. To receive the full payout at maturity, participants must keep working and make monthly deposits, complete 10 hours of self-reliance training through the asset-building portal and submit a plan for how the funds will be used. The ministry also said it improved program rules. Previously, deposits could be paused for up to six months for unavoidable reasons such as job loss, illness or an accident. The pause period has been extended to up to 12 months so accounts can be maintained even during temporary interruptions in income-generating activity. Applicants can apply online through the Bokjiro welfare portal or in person at an administrative welfare center in their local eup, myeon or dong within their city, county or district from May 4 to 20. Selection results will be announced individually by text message in August after reviews of income and assets. Those selected can open an account at a nearby Hana Bank branch or through the Hana Bank OneQ app, and begin saving from August. More information is available through the Korea Self-Sufficiency and Welfare Development Institute’s asset-building portal chatbot service, the asset-building support call center, or local administrative welfare centers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 14:09:18
  • Resident Says Family Lost Home of 20 Years in Uiwang Apartment Fire
    Resident Says Family Lost Home of 20 Years in Uiwang Apartment Fire A resident who lived for more than 20 years in an apartment in Uiwang, south of Seoul, said the family lost everything after a fire that started in the unit below. A post circulating on social media on May 4 identified the writer, surnamed A, as a member of the family living directly above the unit where the fire began. A said the apartment was the first home the parents ever bought. “They lived there for more than 20 years, and overnight they lost everything,” A wrote. “We can’t even cry.” A said the family had been told some belongings might be salvageable, but found nothing could be recovered. “I’m so angry, and it hurts even more that I can’t help them,” A wrote. Because the fire started directly below, A said the damage was worse than in other units. A also said the family did not have fire insurance and that compensation for household items was small. A wrote that the parents did not want to ask even their children for help, despite needing basics such as clothing. Photos posted with the message showed furniture, including a bed, burned beyond recognition and reduced to blackened debris. In a later post, A said an insurance company would provide some compensation for the building and household items. A added that the family was recognized as displaced and would receive support for temporary housing. A said other affected families were still not receiving temporary housing support. A wrote that city assistance is provided per household, making it difficult for families of three or more to use nearby lodging, and that many residents were struggling because immediate housing support was limited. The fire began around 10:30 a.m. on April 30 on the 14th floor of the apartment building. A man in his 60s, identified as B, fell to his death, and his wife, a woman in her 50s, was found dead in the bathroom. Six other residents suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. A note was found in B’s clothing expressing despair over personal circumstances, including financial hardship, authorities said. The couple’s apartment had recently been sold after going to auction, according to reports. A joint team from Uiwang police, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency’s forensic unit, the National Forensic Service and the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters conducted an on-site inspection on May 1 and confirmed a gas valve inside the unit had been left open. Investigators tentatively concluded that leaking gas led to an explosion.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 09:42:22
  • Actor Kim Soo-hyun Reportedly Seen Looking Gaunt in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong
    Actor Kim Soo-hyun Reportedly Seen Looking Gaunt in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong Actor Kim Soo-hyun, who has faced controversy over allegations tied to the late Kim Sae-ron, was recently spotted around Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, with an account saying he appeared noticeably thinner. In a video posted May 3 on the YouTube channel “Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho,” former entertainment reporter Lee Jin-ho said an acquaintance saw Kim by chance while passing through Seongsu-dong a few days earlier. “He looked visibly gaunt and worn down,” Lee said, citing the acquaintance. Lee added that the situation was understandable, saying that with various lawsuits, “even just breathing costs tens of millions of won every month,” and that the matter needs to end so things can be sorted out. Kim’s agency, Gold Medalist, has also been reported to be facing management difficulties as key actors have left the company. Kim is in a dispute with Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family over when the two dated. The group Garosero Research Institute has alleged that Kim dated Kim Sae-ron starting when she was 15 and filed a complaint accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act, among other allegations. Kim has said the two did date but only after she became an adult. At a news conference, he denied the allegation that the relationship began when she was a minor and filed complaints against Garosero and the bereaved family for defamation over the alleged spread of false information. Amid the dispute, cosmetics brand A, which Kim endorsed, has filed a damages lawsuit of about 2.8 billion won, alleging he violated a duty to maintain the dignity expected of a model. The court is expected to make a final decision in the civil case with the advertiser after reviewing the results of the ongoing criminal defamation investigation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 09:22:14
  • Man Who Helped Rescue Victims in 2022 Itaewon Crush Found Dead After 10-Day Search
    Man Who Helped Rescue Victims in 2022 Itaewon Crush Found Dead After 10-Day Search A man in his 30s who took part in rescue efforts at the Oct. 29, 2022, Itaewon crowd crush was found dead 10 days after he went missing, according to reports. According to the Incheon Ilbo and other outlets, police said they found the body of A (37) at about 11:57 a.m. on April 29 in the area of Wangbangsan in Seondan-dong, Pocheon. A friend reported him missing to police on April 25, saying they had been unable to reach him since April 20. He was believed to have lost contact with family and acquaintances after leaving home that day. Seoul’s Guro Police Station, which received the initial report, traced his last known location to near Wangbangsan. Police, riot units and firefighters conducted a joint search and found him 10 days after he disappeared. Police said rigor mortis had set in when he was found, suggesting he had been dead for some time. Reports said A ran a business near the Hamilton Hotel in Seoul’s Yongsan district, where the Itaewon disaster occurred, and helped move injured people during the rescue effort. He was said to have suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder after the disaster and to have complained of trauma and depression while also struggling financially amid a downturn in the area’s commercial activity. ※ If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of self-harm, help is available 24 hours a day through the suicide prevention hotline 109 or via social media counseling “Madeleine” (an online friend who listens). 2026-04-29 15:19:39
  • Actress Tang Wei Faces Online Speculation About Second Pregnancy After Shanghai Event
    Actress Tang Wei Faces Online Speculation About Second Pregnancy After Shanghai Event Actress Tang Wei has become the subject of online speculation that she is pregnant with a second child. According to the entertainment industry on the 29th, Tang appeared at a brand event held April 26 in Shanghai, China. She wore a loose black dress and low-heeled shoes, and images of what some described as a visible baby bump spread quickly online. Fans said she appeared to be expecting, and Chinese media outlets also reported the claims, fueling the speculation. In March, Tang was also seen on a date with her husband, director Kim Tae-yong, in Sanlitun in Beijing. At the time, she wore an oversized check shirt that appeared to cover her abdomen, prompting similar talk. Tang’s side has not issued an official statement. Tang met Kim through the film “Late Autumn.” They married in July 2014 and have a daughter. Tang was born in 1979 and is 47, while Kim was born in 1969 and is 57. Separately, Tang has announced she will appear again in a film by director Park Chan-wook. It has been described as a Western about revenge and punishment set in a frontier era. Tang previously worked with Park on “Decision to Leave,” released in 2022.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 14:13:11
  • Autopsy: 3-year-old in Yangju died from head injury caused by external force
    Autopsy: 3-year-old in Yangju died from head injury caused by external force A 3-year-old child who died in a suspected abuse case in Yangju, south of Seoul, was killed by a head injury caused by an external impact, police said. Police said April 29 that the National Forensic Service concluded the boy, identified only as A, died of head trauma and that the injury appeared to have been caused by nonaccidental external force. The agency had earlier said in an initial verbal assessment that it was difficult to definitively determine whether the head injury was caused by abuse. The autopsy findings later clarified that the death resulted from an external impact. Investigators also found signs of bleeding in the child’s abdomen that appeared to have occurred in the past. Police said they will continue investigating the possibility the child was abused over an extended period. The child suffered a severe head injury at a home in Okjeong-dong, Yangju, at about 6:44 p.m. on April 9 and was taken to a nearby hospital. He underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage but died five days later at about 11:33 p.m. on April 14. Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency said it arrested and forwarded the case on April 17, sending the child’s father, identified only as B, to prosecutors on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death. Police also searched the couple’s home and vehicle. During the investigation, police found messages exchanged by the couple over the past two years that they believe describe abuse of their son under the pretext of “discipline,” and are treating them as evidence of long-term abuse. B’s wife is being investigated without detention, with police citing that the family has multiple children. 2026-04-29 10:01:26
  • Lee Dong-gun in Talks to Join JTBC’s ‘Divorce Consideration Camp’ After Jin Tae-hyun Exit
    Lee Dong-gun in Talks to Join JTBC’s ‘Divorce Consideration Camp’ After Jin Tae-hyun Exit Actor Lee Dong-gun has been offered a role on JTBC’s “Divorce Consideration Camp” and is reviewing the proposal, according to reports. If he joins, he is expected to fill the spot left by actor Jin Tae-hyun. DongA.com reported on the 29th that Lee was initially said to have completed the show’s first recording last Saturday, but it was later confirmed he has only been approached to appear. His agency, W Plus Entertainment, said, “It is true he received an offer to appear on ‘Divorce Consideration Camp,’” adding, “He is considering it.” The program previously featured Jin and actor Park Ha-sun as “home investigators,” a supporting role in which they represented couples’ perspectives, showed empathy and offered blunt advice alongside the show’s panel. On the 27th, the show announced Jin’s departure, saying, “Jin Tae-hyun will be leaving the program,” and calling it a decision made “to bring change” after about two years on the show since 2024. Jin explained his exit the next day on social media. In a handwritten letter, he said, “There is still a lot of footage left to air, but since the article came out first, I’m saying goodbye in advance.” He added that he heard the production team’s explanation and decision through his manager and that he left the program after his final recording in early April. “My experience is limited and subjective, so I always wondered whether it was helpful,” he wrote. “Though I was lacking, I approached it with more sincerity than any other shoot.” He also thanked Seo Jang-hoon, saying he was grateful to “Jang-hoon hyung” for recommending him to join. Jin added that he would now live with his wife even more as an “encouragement-for-marriage couple,” with gratitude and love. Seo and Park will remain on the show. Lee married actor Jo Yoon-hee in 2017 and they had a daughter, but they divorced by mutual agreement in 2020. He has since pursued various activities, including running a cafe on Jeju Island. “Divorce Consideration Camp” airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. 2026-04-29 09:22:20
  • Man, 26, Indicted in Daegu for Beating Mother-in-Law to Death and Dumping Body in Suitcase
    Man, 26, Indicted in Daegu for Beating Mother-in-Law to Death and Dumping Body in Suitcase The Daegu District Prosecutors Office said it has indicted Jo Jae-bok, 26, in custody on allegations that he beat his mother-in-law to death and later dumped her body. A dedicated prosecution team said April 28 that Jo was charged with killing an ascendant relative and related offenses after allegedly placing the body in a travel suitcase and abandoning it along the Sincheon stream in Daegu. Prosecutors said they declined to indict his wife, identified only as A, and released her. According to prosecutors, Jo assaulted his mother-in-law, identified only as B, 54, for about 12 hours on March 18 at a one-room apartment in Daegu’s Jung District where they lived together, citing reasons such as that she did not keep things organized. After B died, prosecutors said Jo and A put her body in a suitcase and dumped it near the Sincheon. A told investigators she took part because her husband forced her to, and authorities found that after B’s death Jo controlled A, including confining her so she could not report the case, prosecutors said. At the time the case was sent to prosecutors, A was injured, including broken ribs, and prosecutors concluded she acted under coercion while unable to resist due to ongoing confinement and violence. Under Article 12 of the Criminal Act, an act compelled by irresistible violence, or by threats that leave no way to protect one’s own life or body or that of relatives, is exempt from punishment. A prosecution official said authorities will support A’s medical treatment as a victim of domestic violence and work with related organizations, including the Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations and local governments, to help her return to daily life after recovery. 2026-04-28 15:39:35
  • South Korean Court Acquits Security Guard After CCTV Shows Self-Defense
    South Korean Court Acquits Security Guard After CCTV Shows Self-Defense A security guard charged with assault for restraining a woman who kicked him in the groin has been acquitted after CCTV footage supported his account. According to legal officials on the 27th, the Changwon District Court’s Criminal Division 4, in a single-judge trial presided over by Judge Seok Dong-woo, found apartment security guard A, 30, not guilty of assault. Prosecutors said A assaulted B, 39, by knocking her to the ground after she kicked him in the groin at about 1:40 p.m. on Sept. 16 last year at the back gate of an apartment complex in Uichang-gu, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The court heard that A had told B to remove all flyers she had posted and tried to stop her from leaving by holding her bag. B then punched A several times and kicked him in the groin, according to the account presented in court. The judge said it was confirmed that A had been handling complaints related to the flyers and that he was assaulted by B, including being kicked in the groin, even after he held her bag to prevent her from leaving the scene. The judge added that the CCTV video showed A supporting B as he brought her down so she would not be hurt by hitting the ground, then holding her down to calm her before releasing her. “Taken together, these circumstances show A’s actions amounted to self-defense to ward off B’s assault, or a justified act that does not violate generally accepted social norms,” the court said in explaining the verdict. 2026-04-27 17:08:24