AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Jung Yeon-woo
  • Japan Holds First Expert Panel Meeting to Revise Three Key Security Documents
    Japan Holds First Expert Panel Meeting to Revise Three Key Security Documents Japan on the 27th held the first meeting of an expert panel formed to revise its three major security documents, Kyodo News and other outlets reported. Yonhap said the 15-member group, titled the “Expert Meeting to Consider Security Through Comprehensive National Power,” met in the evening at the prime minister’s office. Members include Kenichiro Sasae, a former ambassador to the United States; Tetsuro Kuroe, a former vice defense administrative vice minister; Kazuto Suzuki, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy; and Noriko Endo, a professor at Waseda University. The panel follows Takaichi’s statement in October last year that Japan would revise this year the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program. At the meeting, Takaichi said the relatively stable international order since the Cold War “has become a thing of the past,” and called for Japan to “proactively pursue a fundamental strengthening of defense capabilities.” Citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, she also said Japan needs to examine new ways of warfare and prepare for a prolonged conflict.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:33:20
  • Labor panel says Cargo Truckers Solidarity union must be included in talks with CJ Logistics, Hanjin
    Labor panel says Cargo Truckers Solidarity union must be included in talks with CJ Logistics, Hanjin The labor relations commission has ruled that Cargo Truckers Solidarity, which received bargaining authority from the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union, must be included as a bargaining party in cases challenging whether CJ Logistics and Hanjin qualify as employers. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission on the 27th accepted a request to correct a public notice related to objections over the confirmation of the union entitled to demand bargaining, after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ public transport union sought talks with CJ Logistics and Hanjin. CJ Logistics and Hanjin had posted a notice on March 17 announcing the bargaining demand but excluded Cargo Truckers Solidarity. The truckers’ union sought a correction and filed the case after obtaining a bargaining delegation letter from its umbrella union. The decision is seen as potentially affecting the separate BGF dispute, where tensions have continued amid a union member’s death. Unionized truck drivers handling logistics for CU convenience stores have repeatedly demanded bargaining with BGF Retail, but the company has refused, saying it is not the principal employer. Cargo Truckers Solidarity began an indefinite strike earlier this month, and a fatal accident involving a union member occurred during efforts to block replacement vehicles brought in by BGF. A Labor Ministry official said the two situations should be viewed separately. “Broadly speaking, it is a bargaining demand by Cargo Truckers Solidarity, but the circumstances are different,” the official said. “This case came in through the proper procedures, while the BGF case involves a demand for collective bargaining outside the labor commission’s procedures, so they should be separated.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:18:15
  • Police Stop Man in His 50s From Attempted Self-Immolation Outside Democratic Party HQ
    Police Stop Man in His 50s From Attempted Self-Immolation Outside Democratic Party HQ A man who tried to set himself on fire outside the Democratic Party’s headquarters in Seoul was stopped by police and taken to a hospital. Yonhap reported that at about 4:22 p.m. on the 27th, the man, identified only as A and in his 50s, poured oil on himself in front of the Democratic Party’s central headquarters in Yeouido and attempted self-immolation. Police intervened, and authorities confirmed his body did not catch fire. A told police he went to the party office to appeal for help resolving a grudge with an acquaintance, and officials said he appeared to have no particular political motive. He was transported to a hospital under procedures for reports involving suicide attempts. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 21:00:06
  • Nikkei: Samsung Electronics to Exit China Home Appliance and TV Sales This Year
    Nikkei: Samsung Electronics to Exit China Home Appliance and TV Sales This Year Samsung Electronics plans to withdraw from its home appliance and TV sales business in China within this year, Japan’s Nikkei reported Sunday. Citing Yonhap News Agency, the report said Samsung could make a final decision as early as this month, then brief business partners and local employees and gradually sell off inventory, with the aim of ending sales completely by year’s end. The company plans to keep its local production system for appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, and use it as a supply hub for nearby countries, the report said. Samsung was quoted by the newspaper as saying, “Nothing has been decided.” On April 15, Yong Seok-woo, head of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display business, addressed reports in Chinese media that the company was considering scaling back its appliance and TV business there. He said it was true the China business was difficult and that the company was reviewing options and the process was ongoing. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:42:16
  • Prosecutors Drop Case Alleging Preferential Treatment in Korea Gas Corp. Site Development Tied to President Lee
    Prosecutors Drop Case Alleging Preferential Treatment in Korea Gas Corp. Site Development Tied to President Lee President Lee Jae-myung’s case stemming from allegations of preferential treatment in the development of a Korea Gas Corp. site in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, has been closed without indictment after three years. Yonhap News reported Monday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 dismissed the complaint on April 17. The case alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of others’ exercise of rights and dereliction of duty. The allegations surfaced during the 20th presidential election campaign alongside claims of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development projects. The Korea Gas Corp. project involved redeveloping the company’s former site at 215 Jeongja-dong in Bundang-gu into a residential complex. The site covers 16,725 square meters. After the company’s headquarters moved to Daegu in September 2014, the property went through a sales process. But it failed to sell six times because regulations for business and commercial use limited the floor area ratio to 400% or less and the building coverage ratio to 80% or less. In June 2015, Company A won the site through a competitive bid. The complaint alleged that Lee, then Seongnam mayor, allowed housing development on the site and raised the floor area ratio to 560% in exchange for conditions such as donating buildings to the city. Prosecutors concluded the complaint was speculative and lacked sufficient specific grounds or circumstances to open a formal investigation, and dismissed the case.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:21:16
  • Appeal Opens in Yoon Suk Yeol Insurrection Ringleader Case; Defense Challenges Special Court Law
    Appeal Opens in Yoon Suk Yeol Insurrection Ringleader Case; Defense Challenges Special Court Law Yoon Suk Yeol’s appeal trial on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection tied to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law began on the 27th. The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1 held the first pretrial hearing in Yoon’s case that day. Proceedings also began for seven senior military and police officials indicted with him, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho. Defendants are not required to attend pretrial hearings. Yoon did not appear in court. Among the defendants, only former National Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters planning and coordination director Yoon Seung-young and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency National Assembly Security Unit chief Mok Hyun-tae attended. Before moving forward, the panel referred to requests by Yoon and others for a constitutional review of the law applied to the proceedings. On the 21st, the defense asked the court to seek a constitutional ruling on the Special Act on Criminal Procedure for insurrection, foreign aggression and rebellion cases, arguing that the special division set up under the act is unconstitutional. The court said it will continue the pretrial process on May 7, when it plans to detail the order and method for examining evidence. In the first trial, Yoon was sentenced to life in prison. Kim was sentenced to 30 years in prison; former Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won to 18 years; Cho to 12 years; former Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik to 10 years; and Mok to three years. Former Third Field Army Command military police chief Kim Yong-gun and Yoon Seung-young were acquitted.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 20:12:19
  • Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Term for Park Sung-jae in Martial Law Insurrection Case
    Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Term for Park Sung-jae in Martial Law Insurrection Case Park Sung-jae, a former justice minister indicted on charges of participating in insurrection-related crimes tied to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration and acting on an alleged request involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, was asked to be sentenced to 20 years in prison. At a closing hearing Monday before the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok requested the sentence for Park on charges including playing a key role in an insurrection and abuse of authority. The team urged the court to impose a severe judgment “to sound the alarm for a ‘legal technician’ who destroys the law in the name of the law.” On the insurrection allegation, the special counsel said Park “actively went along” so that “Yoon Suk Yeol’s crime using martial law as a means could succeed,” and that he took the lead in justifying and procedurally supporting it. On the allegation involving Kim, the team said Park accepted and carried out “an improper request” from the president’s wife, adding that his actions should be seen not as communication but as “active collusion tied to power.” Park is accused of sequentially joining Yoon’s alleged insurrection after the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration by convening a Justice Ministry executives’ meeting and ordering reviews of dispatching prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters, checking correctional facilities’ capacity, and having staff responsible for travel bans report to work. He is also accused of giving improper instructions to subordinates after receiving a request from Kim in May last year to determine how a dedicated investigative team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office was formed for a case involving the receipt of a luxury bag. The court is scheduled to deliver its first-trial verdict on June 9.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 19:48:19
  • TIPA, Ace Bed, SEMAS and Kiturami Announce Sales, Safety and Product Initiatives
    TIPA, Ace Bed, SEMAS and Kiturami Announce Sales, Safety and Product Initiatives TIPA to support TV home-shopping sales for smart-factory firms The Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs said Sunday it is recruiting participants through May 22 for its “2026 Smart Manufacturing Innovation Companies Public Home Shopping Coaching Consultation.” TIPA said the program will provide one-on-one consultations with TV home-shopping product planners to assess marketability and offer step-by-step support aimed at helping companies enter distribution channels. The coaching event will be held July 8 at the aT Center in Seoul’s Yangjae area. TIPA said it will target 60 business-to-consumer small and medium-sized companies that took part in smart-factory support programs, and will be run in cooperation with Public Home Shopping to provide practical opportunities to enter the retail market. Based on the consultations, TIPA said it will select top performers, hold a product review, and provide TV home-shopping sales practice and advanced coaching to a final 25 companies. “ We are strengthening sales-channel support so manufacturing competitiveness secured through smart factories can translate into real market results,” said Ahn Gwang-hyeon, head of TIPA’s AI Innovation Promotion Unit. “We will continue expanding step-by-step support so SMEs can enter the distribution market in a stable way.” Ace Bed CEO joins campaign to curb youth illegal gambling Ace Bed said Sunday that CEO Ahn Seong-ho is joining the “Youth Illegal Gambling Eradication Relay Campaign,” hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The public-interest campaign has been running since March last year to raise awareness of the risks of illegal online gambling among teenagers and to encourage broader prevention efforts. Participants post a photo carrying the message, “Illegal cyber gambling targeting youth is a scam crime you can never beat,” and nominate the next participant. Ahn joined after being nominated by Park Nae-won, CEO of Hi Plaza, and said he would help build public support for efforts to curb youth illegal gambling. He nominated Lee Young-gyu, chairman of the Welcron Group, as the next participant. Ahn Seong-ho said, “Youth illegal gambling is a serious social problem that goes beyond a simple lapse, destroying everyday stability and taking away opportunities to prepare for the future.” He added, “Just as the value of good sleep that Ace Bed pursues can help teenagers grow properly, we will serve as a reliable supporter so the next generation can protect a healthy life and grow up the right way.” SEMAS joins ‘Cheonmyeongjikkim Project’ to strengthen safety net for small merchants The Small Enterprise and Market Service said Sunday it took part in the “2026 Cheonmyeongjikkim Launch Ceremony” held April 24 at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul, beginning full-scale activities to promote a culture of respect for life among small business owners and prevent suicide. The “Cheonmyeongjikkim Project” is a nationwide public-private campaign led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination’s pan-government life-guardian task force. It aims to reduce suicide deaths by 1,000 in 2026 and calls on government and society to “become guardians of life,” the agency said, as part of efforts to shed the stigma of having the highest suicide death rate among OECD countries. SEMAS said it was appointed at the ceremony as a “Cheonmyeong Guardian Office” for one of seven high-risk targets: men in their 50s. It said it will plan and run tailored suicide-prevention programs reflecting the agency’s role and characteristics. As a guardian office, SEMAS said it will expand the scale of its “Hope Return Package” psychological recovery support for small merchants seeking to restart, and significantly strengthen practical support programs, including those run with local governments. This year, it will provide a total of 150 sessions for 5,000 people. Small merchants who have closed or plan to close their businesses, along with accompanying family members, will be eligible for up to three healing programs a year, including overnight and day programs, at national forest healing centers and related facilities nationwide. “Small business owners often face psychological breaking points due to the economic slowdown and worsening management conditions,” SEMAS Chairman In Tae-yeon said. “Through participation in the Cheonmyeongjikkim Project, we will do our best to serve as a strong ‘guardian of life’ so small merchants are not isolated, and to support a healthy restart.” Kiturami launches WS stainless electric water heaters, emphasizing durability Kiturami said Sunday it is launching its WS series of storage-type stainless electric water heaters. The company said the WS lineup includes 15-liter models (wall-mounted and under-sink), 30-liter models (wall-mounted and under-sink), and 50-liter models (horizontal and vertical), allowing installation based on space and use. The 50-liter model is about 19% shorter than previous versions, making it easier to transport and install in tight spaces, it said. Kiturami said it applied a stainless hot-water tank and an Incoloy heater, a nickel alloy resistant to high-temperature corrosion, to help provide clean hot water over long periods. The outside of the tank is wrapped in high-density polyurethane foam to reduce heat loss, it said. A Kiturami Boiler official said the WS series is designed for use in a range of commercial spaces, focusing on durability, hot-water quality and ease of installation. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 18:20:40
  • South Korea Forecast: Cloudy Nationwide With Rain; Wildfire Risk Elevated
    South Korea Forecast: Cloudy Nationwide With Rain; Wildfire Risk Elevated 28일은 전국이 대체로 흐리겠다. Rain is expected in some areas: in the Chungcheong region through early morning, the Seoul metropolitan area through the afternoon, and Gangwon Province (excluding the southern East Sea coast) through the evening. Forecast rainfall: 5-10 mm in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi; about 5 mm in the five West Sea islands; 5-20 mm in Gangwon inland and mountainous areas; and less than 5 mm along the central and northern Gangwon coast and the East Sea coast, as well as in Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong. Dry air, especially across central regions and North Gyeongsang, is raising the risk of wildfires and other fires. Temperatures are forecast to range from lows of 9-14 C to highs of 14-24 C. Fine dust levels are expected to be "good" to "moderate" nationwide. Waves are forecast at 0.5-2.5 meters in the East Sea nearshore and 0.5-1.5 meters in the Yellow Sea and South Sea nearshore. In offshore waters within about 200 kilometers of the coast, wave heights are expected at 0.5-2.5 meters in the East Sea and 0.5-2.0 meters in the Yellow Sea and South Sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:54:42
  • Hanssem Showcases Remodeling Expertise on tvN’s ‘Unpredictable’
    Hanssem Showcases Remodeling Expertise on tvN’s ‘Unpredictable’ Hanssem’s remodeling design capabilities have drawn attention after they were featured on the tvN reality entertainment program “Unpredictable,” which follows cast members as they renovate an abandoned house on Jeju Island and deal with unexpected challenges. Hanssem said viewers responded to the company’s detailed consultations and professional design work. The company said the program showed its approach goes beyond arranging furniture to planning a living space around a customer’s overall lifestyle. According to Hanssem on 27일, the April 3 broadcast showed cast members visiting “Hanssem Flagship Nonhyeon,” located in Seoul’s Nonhyeon-dong furniture district, to seek help with interior design decisions. In the episode, a Hanssem remodeling specialist proposed interior references that reflected a cast member’s preference for a nature-friendly style. The Nonhyeon flagship store is positioned as a “total living solution” space that brings together Hanssem’s 56-year brand philosophy, offering services from furniture to remodeling in one place. Its remodeling section is a library-style showroom where visitors can view a range of kitchens, storage solutions, bathrooms and building materials, and combine materials and run simulations to plan customized interiors. The store also includes a dedicated “Kitchenbach” area showcasing Hanssem’s premium kitchen line. The April 17 broadcast showed cast members reviewing design proposals at a Jeju Rehouse store. Hanssem said remodeling older homes on Jeju can require advanced expertise because of variables such as the island’s humid climate and aging structures. A Hanssem remodeling specialist with extensive local project experience analyzed the environment and the home’s structure and presented a plan reflecting the cast member’s wish list. Hanssem said it is also pushing digital changes aimed at making customer communication smoother and more transparent. As part of that effort, the company said it partnered with Salesforce, described as the world’s No. 1 CRM company, to introduce a new sales management system that digitizes the process from interior consultations through construction. Hanssem said the system integrates customer consultation histories and on-site data that had previously been managed separately, allowing the full process — consultation, measurement, estimates and construction — to be visualized in real time. A Hanssem official said the company’s offline stores are designed so customers can experience its housing values “with all five senses.” The official added that, as shown in the program’s renovation transformation, Hanssem hopes more customers nationwide will be able to realize their own dream homes through its consultation and design services.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:31:08