AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kang So Young
  • Jeong Yu-ra Appeals for Help Amid Mothers Health Crisis
    Jeong Yu-ra Appeals for Help Amid Mother's Health Crisis Jeong Yu-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, who is currently imprisoned on fraud charges amounting to tens of millions of won, has spoken out about her mother's serious health condition. On May 28, Jeong posted on her Facebook, stating, "(My mother) has weakened during her ten years of imprisonment and is suffering from Cushing's syndrome and sepsis. The doctor said it would not be surprising if she were to experience 'lower limb paralysis' tomorrow." She added, "I applied for a stay of execution, but the designated hospital told me to go to the hospital where the surgery was performed, and that hospital said they wouldn't accept her unless I pay. Is this really a death sentence?" Jeong expressed her frustration, saying, "All the co-defendants in my mother's case have been pardoned, and Samsung has been acquitted, yet my mother is the only one still serving time. I worry if she will survive until the retrial." Furthermore, Jeong stated, "I will manage on my own. I just want help for my mother. In return, I will compensate for her with my own body. I feel so sad that the only thing I can do for my mother is to lower my pride." Jeong also directed her comments toward Ahn Min-seok, a candidate for the Gyeonggi Provincial Education Superintendent, saying, "I have yet to receive compensation from Ahn Min-seok for spreading false information," and she shared a donation account to seek assistance. Earlier, on May 10, Jeong hinted at legal action, stating, "Ahn, the Supreme Court ruling has been finalized, so please give me the compensation. Are you forcing me to take legal action while you campaign for the education superintendent?" Ahn had previously appeared on a broadcast in 2016, amid controversy over Choi being a shadowy figure in the Park Geun-hye administration, claiming, "The money deposited in a Swiss secret account is linked to Choi, and the German prosecution is estimating Choi's assets in Germany, with the money laundering scale reaching trillions of won." Choi subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Ahn for spreading false information. As a result, the Supreme Court confirmed on April 14 that Ahn must pay Choi 20 million won in damages for defamation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 14:26:00
  • Park Ji-hyun Reveals Fathers Battle with Stomach Cancer
    Park Ji-hyun Reveals Father's Battle with Stomach Cancer Actor Park Ji-hyun has revealed that her father, a doctor, is battling stomach cancer. On May 27, Park appeared as a guest on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block." During the episode, she discussed her role in the Netflix series "Eun-jung and Sang-yeon," stating, "Since my father is a doctor, I sought a lot of medical advice during the preparation for the project," and added, "He was diagnosed with cancer around the time 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' was released." She explained the situation, saying, "At the time when the ratings for 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' were rising, I received a call from my brother. They found pus in his stomach due to food poisoning, and while he was hospitalized at a university hospital, they conducted further tests and discovered cancer." Park continued, "From that point on, his condition worsened, and I felt like something was being taken away from me while I was given something in return." She expressed that her father's illness weighed heavily on her heart. She also mentioned that she asked her father many questions during filming. "While shooting 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon,' I thought of my father a lot. When I received the script, he was in a much better condition, so I asked him many questions. I asked him what kind of pain he was experiencing, and he said, 'If it weren't for my family, I would have wanted to die.' Hearing that made me understand Sang-yeon's feelings," she said. Despite his battle with cancer, Park's father expressed joy over his daughter's achievements. Park reflected, "I think my father felt proud that I was able to show some success in my acting while he was sick. I saw him liking all the posts fans shared, and I thought that showing a good image through my active work was the best I could do for him."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:09:00
  • 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