Journalist

Kang So Young
  • Ju Haknyeon Seen at The Boyz Concert After Leaving Group Amid Private-Life Controversy
    Ju Haknyeon Seen at The Boyz Concert After Leaving Group Amid Private-Life Controversy Ju Haknyeon, who left the group The Boyz after controversy over a meeting with an adult video actress, has been spotted at a The Boyz concert venue. On the 26th, Ju posted photos on his social media account without comment. The images appeared to be taken from the audience and showed the stage from The Boyz concert “Interjection,” held over three days from the 24th to the 26th at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Songpa district. Posts on social media and online communities also described sightings of Ju attending the concert with his face covered by a hat and other items. Ju was removed from the team after it became known that he had been drinking with adult video actress Asuka Kirara in May last year. At the time, Japan’s weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun published photos showing him hugging and otherwise engaging in physical contact with Asuka Kirara. The outlet sought confirmation from The Boyz’s agency, One Hundred, which said it was checking the facts. After discussions with the group’s members, the agency finalized Ju’s departure from the team and the termination of his exclusive contract. Ju, however, has flatly denied allegations raised by some that he solicited prostitution involving Asuka Kirara. 2026-04-27 10:33:15
  • Ok Taecyeon Wedding Photos Leak Sparks Privacy Concerns
    Ok Taecyeon Wedding Photos Leak Sparks Privacy Concerns 2PM member and actor Ok Taecyeon has come under scrutiny after photos from his private wedding to a non-celebrity woman were leaked online. On the 27th, images from the wedding held on the 24th spread across Chinese social media and online communities. Ok’s side had kept the ceremony closed to protect the bride’s privacy, but the leaked photos show the couple linking arms and include clear shots of the bride’s face. The images were reportedly taken by a tourist staying at the Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, where the wedding was held, and posted after being shot through a guest-room window. The poster wrote, “After checking into the hotel, I looked out the window and saw a wedding, and it turned out to be Ok Taecyeon’s.” Some users reacted with comments such as, “Tourists are faster than reporters,” “They didn’t expect a tourist to take photos,” and “The wedding photos look nice.” Others said the bride’s face being exposed amounted to an invasion of privacy, noting that Ok had previously asked for understanding so details of the ceremony would not be shared publicly. Ok debuted in 2PM in 2008 and began acting in the 2010 KBS2 drama “Cinderella’s Sister,” later appearing in a range of dramas. He married after dating his bride-to-be for 10 years. He is the second married member of 2PM, following Hwang Chan-sung, who married in 2022.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 09:34:07
  • South Korea Begins Paying High Fuel Price Relief Grants of Up to 600,000 Won
    South Korea Begins Paying High Fuel Price Relief Grants of Up to 600,000 Won High fuel price relief grants began being paid at 9 a.m. April 27 to basic livelihood recipients, the near-poor and single-parent families. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on April 27, basic livelihood recipients will receive 550,000 won per person. The near-poor and single-parent families will receive 450,000 won per person. Residents outside the Seoul metropolitan area and in depopulation areas will receive an additional 50,000 won per person, for a maximum of 600,000 won. To ease crowding during the first week of applications, both online and in-person applications will follow a day-of-week system based on the last digit of an applicant’s birth year. On April 27, applicants whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 may apply; April 28, 2 or 7; April 29, 3 or 8; and April 30, 4 or 9 and 5 or 0. With May 1, Labor Day, designated a public holiday, applicants with last digits 4 or 9 and 5 or 0 may both apply on April 30. The application deadline is 6 p.m. May 8, with applications accepted for two weeks through online and offline channels. Depending on the region, the day-of-week system may be extended for in-person applications. The grants will be provided as credit or debit card top-ups, prepaid cards, or local gift certificates. Card top-ups will be loaded the day after applying and will be used before other payment methods when making purchases. Mobile or card-type local gift certificates can be requested through the app or website of the local government with jurisdiction over the applicant’s address. Those seeking paper certificates or prepaid cards must apply in person at an 읍면동 administrative welfare center or resident service center. Eligible vulnerable recipients who miss the first application period may apply again during the second round, from May 18 to July 3. The general public may also apply during the second round. Payments are 100,000 won in the Seoul metropolitan area, 150,000 won outside the metropolitan area, 200,000 won in preferred depopulation areas, and up to 250,000 won in special depopulation areas. As in last year, the grants can be used at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, including traditional markets, neighborhood supermarkets, restaurants and clothing stores. They cannot be used at department stores, large discount chains, corporate-run supermarkets, e-commerce sites or major-company delivery apps. However, they can be used through public delivery apps such as “Ttaenggyeoyo.” For restaurant franchises, use is limited to franchisee-run locations, not company-owned stores. The government plans to provide information on where the grants can be used through private map apps starting at the end of this month. The grants can be used through Aug. 31, and any unused balance will expire automatically. People who dispute their eligibility determination or payment amount may file objections from May 18 to July 17, either online through the National Petition Center or in person at 읍면동 administrative welfare centers and other local offices. Local governments will review submitted cases and notify applicants individually. For inquiries, tailored assistance is available through the government civil service call center, a dedicated call center, and call centers operated by each local government. 2026-04-27 08:46:03
  • South Korean Court Gives Suspended Sentence to Driver in Mokdong Market Crash That Killed 1, Hurt 11
    South Korean Court Gives Suspended Sentence to Driver in Mokdong Market Crash That Killed 1, Hurt 11 A 76-year-old driver who plowed a car into the Kkaebi Market in Mokdong, Seoul, in 2024, leaving 12 people dead or injured, has been sentenced to a suspended jail term. On the 23rd, the Seoul Southern District Court’s Criminal Division 5, Judge Seo Ji-won presiding, sentenced Kim, 76, to two years in jail, suspended for three years, for causing death and injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents. According to the indictment, Kim was driving a passenger car through the market on Dec. 31, 2024, when he struck victims at 76 kilometers per hour. A man in his 40s who ran a fruit shop was taken to a hospital but died. Eleven other pedestrians were injured. Kim initially told police he did not remember what happened. During the investigation, however, he admitted he accelerated to pass a village bus and applied the brakes only late, and he acknowledged the charges. Police said Kim had previously received treatment for dementia but stopped. He has been living in a care facility and stood trial without being detained. Prosecutors had sought a three-year jail term at a sentencing hearing held on the 14th. In his final statement, Kim said, “I am sorry for causing the accident because I could not judge properly,” and asked the court to consider that the crash was linked to cognitive impairment. The court said Kim caused “very serious harm” by speeding well above the limit to pass a bus, resulting in one death and injuries to 11 people requiring two weeks to six months of treatment. The judge also cited Kim’s pledge not to drive again, settlements reached with nine of the 12 victims, and statements from two others that they did not want punishment. The court also considered that Kim’s vehicle was covered by comprehensive auto insurance, which compensated property damage, and that he is elderly and in poor health, including dementia. The judge told Kim’s guardian, seated in the courtroom, to ensure he does not drive in the future.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 16:43:41
  • Analysts See SK Hynix Bonuses Averaging 600 Million Won per Employee Next Year
    Analysts See SK Hynix Bonuses Averaging 600 Million Won per Employee Next Year SK Hynix posted more than 37 trillion won in operating profit in the first quarter, and an analysis said the company’s average performance bonus paid early next year could exceed 600 million won per employee. Yonhap Infomax said on the 23rd that a consensus of 17 securities firms that issued reports over the past month forecast SK Hynix’s 2026 revenue at 301.1965 trillion won and operating profit at 227.8154 trillion won. Based on that outlook, the pool for the company’s profit-sharing bonus, known as PS, would total about 22.7 trillion won. A simple calculation suggests roughly 35,000 employees would receive an average of about 630 million won each before tax, though payouts vary by seniority. SK Hynix runs a bonus system that sets aside 10% of operating profit and pays a portion of annual salary once a year. Early this year, it paid a record 2,964% PS bonus based on 2025 results. Expectations are rising that next year’s payout could be more than four times larger. Separately, the company’s productivity incentive, or PI, paid when targets are met in the first and second halves, is also expected to reach a maximum level this year at 150% of base pay. Industry officials said top-tier compensation could help SK Hynix secure semiconductor talent and may also ease the concentration of students seeking medical school. SK Hynix said it recorded first-quarter revenue of 52.5763 trillion won. Revenue rose 198.1% from a year earlier and operating profit increased 405.5%. Operating margin was 72%, net profit was 40.3459 trillion won and net margin was 77%. That marked a sharp improvement from the previous quarter’s revenue of 32.8267 trillion won and operating profit of 19.1696 trillion won. The company said it plans to draw up an execution plan within the year to consider additional shareholder returns, including share buybacks and cancellations, based on an expanding net cash position, in addition to its existing dividend. 2026-04-23 15:26:01
  • Hong Joon-pyo Slams Chosun Ilbo Over Call for Jang Dong-hyeok to Step Down
    Hong Joon-pyo Slams Chosun Ilbo Over Call for Jang Dong-hyeok to Step Down Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu, criticized the Chosun Ilbo after it urged People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok to resign, saying the times have changed. In a Facebook post on the 22nd, Hong said he had read a column by what he called a conservative media outlet calling for Jang to step down, adding that it contained “many correct points.” Chosun Ilbo ran a column titled “Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok, Now Is the Right Time to Step Down.” Hong responded by asking who was responsible for the collapse of South Korea’s conservative camp and who had helped elevate and create the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He also asked who, under the Yoon administration, had encouraged Han Dong-hoon by saying he needed to differentiate himself from Yoon to become the next leader, adding that the Yoon administration was not ruined by conflict with Han. Hong accused those forces of manipulating the conservative camp with the arrogance that they could both install and bring down an administration, and said they were now trying to remove Jang without offering an alternative while bringing back a “immature narcissist” they had supported, which he said would again damage the conservative camp. He also suggested they might be trying to elevate Oh Se-hoon again, as he said happened during the June 2006 local elections if Oh loses the Seoul mayoral race. Addressing conservative media, Hong said they may once have “pulled the strings” in Korean society, but the era and media environment have changed. He said he hoped they would contribute to the country’s future, adding that it was no longer “your era,” but an era for all citizens. Hong previously declared he was cutting ties with Chosun Ilbo. During his 2020 run in Daegu’s Suseong-gu-eul district, Hong criticized Chosun Ilbo coverage that was critical of him, saying he was angered by “false and fabricated” reporting. He questioned whether the paper’s editorial policy was to demand that the public accept “schemes” by a small group of opposition vested interests, and said he would stop reading Chosun Ilbo after 40 years as a subscriber. 2026-04-23 11:20:14
  • BTS’ RM Accused of Smoking and Littering in No-Smoking Areas in Tokyo
    BTS’ RM Accused of Smoking and Littering in No-Smoking Areas in Tokyo BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon, 31) has been accused of smoking in designated no-smoking areas in Japan and improperly discarding cigarette butts. Japan’s weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported on April 22 that RM was seen several times smoking in no-smoking areas while drinking with acquaintances around Tokyo’s Shibuya district. According to the report, RM visited Japan for the “BTS Arirang World Tour” and spent time in Shibuya’s nightlife area, moving between izakayas and bars. The outlet said it captured him leaving a bar and smoking on the street, and published more than 20 related photos. Japan has many areas where smoking is prohibited even outdoors, with designated smoking rooms or smoking spots provided separately. The magazine alleged RM repeatedly smoked not only on the street but also in places marked with no-smoking signs, including building corridors, and threw cigarette butts on the ground. A security guard at the scene was quoted as saying, “He threw the cigarette butt he smoked on the street,” adding that the guard personally warned him. After the report, some fans criticized RM for not following basic rules in public places, saying the issue was not smoking itself but where it occurred. As of now, neither HYBE nor RM has issued an official statement. BTS held two sold-out “Arirang” world tour shows at Tokyo Dome on April 17-18, drawing a total of 110,000 attendees over the two days. 2026-04-23 09:49:33
  • Ruling Party Reviews Seoul Candidate After Lawyer’s Past Defense of Valley Murder Suspect
    Ruling Party Reviews Seoul Candidate After Lawyer’s Past Defense of Valley Murder Suspect The People Power Party’s Seoul chapter said it will reexamine the candidacy of Hong Deok-hee, a lawyer who was given a sole nomination for Guro District mayor, after it emerged he previously represented Lee Eun-hae, the main perpetrator in the so-called “valley murder” case. Hong has issued a public explanation, but the controversy has continued. According to political circles on the 23rd, the party’s Seoul chapter said the previous day that “because this is a case that sparked public outrage, we have decided to review from scratch whether the candidate’s qualifications are appropriate.” It said Hong’s nomination followed a recommendation by the Guro district party committee chairs and that the Seoul chapter’s nomination committee decided on the nomination after an interview on April 19. The party added that “during the interview process, no facts related to the reported content were presented.” The Seoul chapter’s nomination committee on April 19 selected Hong, head attorney at the Yesung Joint Law Office, as its sole candidate for Guro District mayor. The dispute grew after reports said he had served as Lee’s legal representative. The “valley murder” case refers to the killing of Lee’s husband, identified as Yoon, who was pushed into the water and killed in a valley in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, in June 2019, prosecutors said. Lee acted with her lover, Jo Hyeon-su, the report said. Investigators also found that before the killing, Lee tried and failed to kill Yoon by feeding him food mixed with pufferfish reproductive organs and blood at a pension in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, in 2019. In May that year, she also allegedly tried to drown him at a fishing site in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, but a bystander found and rescued him, the report said. Lee and Jo were found to have committed the crimes to obtain Yoon’s life insurance payout. Lee is serving a life sentence after being convicted of murder, attempted murder and attempted violation of the Act on the Regulation of Insurance Fraud, among other charges. Jo was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Hong addressed the issue on his social media account. “I chose responsible work over work that looks good,” he wrote. He said Lee’s father “was a person with a disability who had to rely on a wheelchair,” and that he spent two weeks in Seoul’s Seocho-dong legal district trying to find a lawyer, only to be turned away because “public opinion is a burden.” Hong said the father eventually came to his office, and that what he heard suggested there were “legal points that could be disputed.” Hong added that what he found “surprising and devastating” was that “regardless of what the truth is, no one is willing to defend that claim.” He wrote that even if “everyone in the world throws stones and condemns” a defendant, there must be “one last person” willing to listen, calling that the constitutional purpose and public duty of defense counsel. He said that if he had avoided that responsibility out of fear, he would not be qualified to ask voters to entrust him with the lives of “410,000 Guro residents.” He said he intends to stay in the race, pledging to stand by residents “to the end” as a “reliable shield.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:40:03
  • Singer Kim Ho-joong’s stake in agency valued at about 5 billion won while he serves prison term
    Singer Kim Ho-joong’s stake in agency valued at about 5 billion won while he serves prison term Singer Kim Ho-joong, who is serving a prison sentence after being convicted in a drunk hit-and-run case, still holds a sizable equity stake in his affiliated company, according to entertainment industry reports. On 22, industry sources said Kim owns 7.43% of ArtMNC. The stake is estimated to be worth about 5 billion won. Kim’s agency, formerly known as Saenggak Entertainment, changed its name to ArtMNC after the 2024 Kim case and has pursued a diversification strategy beyond its artist-management focus, the reports said. The company has expanded into areas such as health care and media content based on intellectual property. It acquired the diet health supplement brand “Deepte 3 Days” and brought in the K-culture platform company “StudioMNC,” moving toward a broader entertainment group spanning manufacturing, distribution and media. The industry has noted that the company’s value has risen compared with before Kim’s crash, suggesting it has moved beyond “artist risk,” the reports said. Kim was arrested and indicted after a May 2024 crash on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam district, in which he hit a taxi coming from the opposite direction and fled, according to the reports. He was convicted of charges including dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and is serving a 2 1/2-year prison term.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 17:00:17
  • Missing Woman Found Dead in Car at Public Parking Lot in Incheon’s Songdo
    Missing Woman Found Dead in Car at Public Parking Lot in Incheon’s Songdo A woman in her 60s was found dead in skeletal condition inside a vehicle at a public parking lot in Incheon’s Songdo International City, police said. According to the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station on the 21st, the body of the woman, identified only as A, was discovered at about 3:47 p.m. in a car parked at a public lot under the Convensia Bridge in Songdo-dong, Incheon. Police said the discovery followed a report from her younger sibling to the 112 emergency line, saying, in effect, “I think my older sister is in the car.” The vehicle had been left in the lot for an extended period, and authorities had contacted the sibling, a co-registered owner of the car, asking that it be moved, police said. A had previously been reported missing. A police official said no signs of criminal activity had been found and that officers were investigating the circumstances.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:28:00