Journalist

Ko Yu-hwan
  • Special Prosecutor Completes First Interrogation of Yoon Suk Yeol in 6.5 Hours
    Special Prosecutor Completes First Interrogation of Yoon Suk Yeol in 6.5 Hours Yoon Suk Yeol, the former president, has completed his first face-to-face interrogation by the Special Prosecutor's team, lasting 6 hours and 30 minutes. He is under suspicion of instructing officials to justify the legitimacy of martial law to allied nations, including the United States, shortly after its declaration on December 3, 2024. According to Yonhap News on June 6, Yoon was questioned starting at 10 a.m. as a suspect in a case involving abuse of power. He left the Special Prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, around 4:32 p.m. in a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle. Initially, the Special Prosecutor's office planned to publicly show Yoon's arrival, but his legal team objected to him being seen by the media while wearing a restraint device, leading to a closed-door appearance. Yoon is accused of directing messages through the National Security Office and diplomatic channels to explain the martial law's legitimacy to allied countries. The Special Prosecutor's office is investigating whether he compelled Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to perform duties that were not required. Yoon is scheduled to appear again before the Special Prosecutor's office on the 13th for a second interrogation related to charges of being the leader of a rebellion under military law.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 17:33:00
  • Iran Voices Support for Hezbollah Amid Escalating Tensions in Lebanon
    Iran Voices Support for Hezbollah Amid Escalating Tensions in Lebanon Iran has publicly expressed support for Hezbollah, which rejected a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, further destabilizing the Middle East. The cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon has been viewed as a crucial prerequisite for peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, raising concerns that the failure of the ceasefire could weaken diplomatic efforts.According to Yonhap News on June 6, Reuters reported that Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated in an interview with Lebanese media the previous day, "This war can only truly end when it also concludes in Lebanon." He emphasized that the end of the conflict in Lebanon must coincide with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories.Araghchi's comments followed Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem's rejection of a ceasefire proposal mediated by the United States between the Israeli and Lebanese governments.Hezbollah maintains that it cannot accept the ceasefire because it does not include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied areas. Following this, Israel continued its military operations, bombing southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah retaliated with rockets and drones, effectively rendering the ceasefire proposal meaningless.In response to the deteriorating ceasefire situation, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized the use of Lebanon as a bargaining chip. However, Iran has remained steadfast in its position.On June 6, Araghchi also remarked on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "Listening to President Aoun, it seems as if Iran occupies one-fifth of Lebanese territory and has turned one-quarter of the Lebanese population into refugees while bombing Lebanon daily."He urged President Aoun to "save Lebanon from its real enemy," implying that Israel, which is currently bombing Hezbollah, is the true adversary Lebanon must confront.According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to the Supreme Leader, referred to Hezbollah as "our ally that has made significant sacrifices in the recent war" and stated, "We support Hezbollah and will firmly fulfill our obligations to them." He warned Israel to leave Lebanon, asserting that Lebanon is an inseparable part of any agreement.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 17:21:00
  • People Power Party to Elect New Floor Leader on June 9 Amid Controversy
    People Power Party to Elect New Floor Leader on June 9 Amid Controversy The People Power Party will elect its next floor leader on June 9, just four days after the abrupt resignation of Song Eon-seok on June 5. Some members have expressed strong opposition, suggesting that the expedited election schedule is designed to favor a specific candidate.According to Yonhap News on June 6, the party announced that candidate registration will be open until June 7, with voting scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 9.So far, three candidates have declared their intentions to run: four-term lawmaker Kim Do-eup, and three-term lawmakers Jeong Jeom-sik and Seong Il-jong. Among them, Kim and Seong have argued for delaying the election schedule.Seong stated on social media on June 5, "Most lawmakers, who are the voters in this election, heard about this schedule for the first time this afternoon. They do not know who set this tight schedule or why. I hope the election can be postponed to next Thursday or Friday."The reform-oriented group 'Alternatives and Future,' primarily composed of first- and second-term lawmakers, also issued a statement the day before, criticizing the process by saying, "Electing a floor leader in this manner raises suspicions that specific factions colluded in secret to select a particular candidate."Kim Jong-hyuk, a former Supreme Council member aligned with the pro-Yoon faction, claimed, "The reason for Song Eon-seok's resignation is obvious. With Han Dong-hoon emerging, the People Power Party lawmakers are anxious, so they want to quickly hold the floor leader election to maintain the pro-Yoon leadership."In relation to this, Song Eon-seok reportedly wrote in a group chat that there are urgent issues such as a shortage of ballots and the allocation of standing committee positions in the upcoming negotiations for the second half of the year, emphasizing the need for a new floor leader to be elected as soon as possible, according to chief spokesperson Park Seong-hoon.Song is expected to meet with lawmakers Kim, Jeong, and Seong on June 7, the candidate registration deadline, to explain his reasoning. The party leadership has stated that since the election schedule has already been confirmed by the party's election management committee, it will proceed as planned.Park told reporters on the same day, "Since the announcement from the election management committee was made today, any changes or postponements would require a new decision from the committee, and the possibility of postponement has not been discussed."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 16:57:00
  • Election Commission Reports Data Breach of Voter Registration Records
    Election Commission Reports Data Breach of Voter Registration Records The Personal Information Protection Commission has received a report from the Central Election Management Commission regarding a data breach involving voter registration records found at the Jamsil polling station in Songpa District, Seoul. According to Yonhap News on June 6, the Central Election Management Commission reported the incident to the Personal Information Protection Commission around 8:30 p.m. on June 5. The Jamsil polling station was previously the site of a ballot shortage during the 9th nationwide local elections, where protesters and some citizens delayed the transport of ballot boxes for two days. Police intervened on June 5, allowing the ballot boxes to be moved to the counting center. Afterward, protesters entered an empty polling station, where they discovered voter registration records and marking tools left behind by the election commission. The records, which included names and genders of voters, were intended as waiting tickets for voters who could not cast their ballots immediately due to the shortage. The protesters filmed the documents and broadcast the information live online, exposing personal data. The Personal Information Protection Commission is currently investigating how the voter registration records were exposed and whether the election commission failed to secure the documents properly. A commission official stated in a phone interview with Yonhap News, "We plan to verify the overall facts with the election commission, including whether the materials distributed to voters were exposed externally or if information that should have been secured by the election commission was leaked." Based on the findings, the commission will assess potential violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and consider necessary follow-up actions. 2026-06-06 16:36:00
  • NVIDIAs Jensen Huang Meets South Korean Business Leaders Amid AI Boom
    NVIDIA's Jensen Huang Meets South Korean Business Leaders Amid AI Boom NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's visit to South Korea has prompted major business leaders in the country to gather for discussions. Just a decade ago, NVIDIA was primarily known as a manufacturer of graphics cards for gaming. However, with the advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the company has transformed into a key provider of infrastructure for the global AI industry, closely linking with South Korean semiconductor and IT firms. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are now major partners for NVIDIA, supplying high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI semiconductors. Domestic companies like Naver and LG are also expanding their collaboration with NVIDIA as they work on building AI data centers and implementing sovereign AI strategies. Industry experts view Huang's visit as more than just a friendly meeting; it is seen as a step toward strengthening AI supply chain collaboration. NVIDIA requires a stable HBM supply chain, while South Korean firms are eager to leverage NVIDIA's AI infrastructure and technology to remain competitive in the global AI landscape. Huang's long-term strategy has positioned NVIDIA at the center of the AI industry. Founded in 1993, NVIDIA initially focused on designing graphics processing units (GPUs) for PCs, which were then seen primarily as auxiliary chips for smooth gaming visuals. Huang recognized the potential of GPUs for large-scale parallel computing and identified them as a key asset for future computing. This vision culminated in the launch of CUDA in 2006, a programming platform that allowed GPUs to be used beyond graphics processing for scientific calculations and machine learning. Initially met with skepticism, the landscape shifted dramatically in 2012 when the University of Toronto's deep learning model, AlexNet, won the ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge using NVIDIA GPUs. This success confirmed GPUs as essential tools for AI advancement. Subsequently, global AI companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI adopted GPU-based learning systems, establishing CUDA as the de facto standard for AI development. Today, millions of researchers and developers worldwide build AI solutions within the NVIDIA ecosystem. As a result, NVIDIA is now regarded as the dominant player in the AI accelerator market for data centers. While major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are developing their own AI chips, analysts suggest that replacing NVIDIA's comprehensive hardware, software, and developer ecosystem will be a significant challenge. For South Korean firms, NVIDIA represents more than just a business partner; it is a critical player in the AI infrastructure landscape. Collaborations across semiconductors, cloud services, data centers, and AI services are directly linked to competitive advantage. Recently, Huang emphasized the importance of national AI capabilities, stating, "No country can import intelligence 100%." This underscores the significance of strengthening AI supply chain partnerships with South Korean companies during his visit.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 16:33:00
  • CU Convenience Store Delivery Service Suffers Data Breach from Hacker Attack
    CU Convenience Store Delivery Service Suffers Data Breach from Hacker Attack CU Convenience Store's delivery service has experienced a data breach, revealing the personal information of online customers due to a hacker attack.According to Yonhap News on June 6, BGF Networks, which operates the CU delivery service, confirmed in a notice on its website that an unidentified hacker gained unauthorized access to its system at approximately 3:30 PM on June 4, leading to the leak of customer data.The leaked information includes usernames, passwords, names, birth dates, genders, addresses, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers.BGF Networks stated that it immediately blocked the attack's IP address and completed security measures. The company has also activated its incident response team and is reviewing its security policies. They have reported the incident to relevant authorities, including the Personal Information Protection Commission and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).BGF Networks assured that while passwords are encrypted and secure, customers who use the same password across multiple sites should change their passwords for safety. The company expressed its deep apologies for the incident.However, they clarified that information about third parties, such as recipients entered during shipping, was not included in the breach. In a message sent to customers, BGF Networks stated, "The leaked personal information pertains only to online member customers and does not include information about third parties such as recipients entered during shipping."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 15:39:00
  • Seouls triathlon festival lets participants go at their own pace
    Seoul's triathlon festival lets participants go at their own pace SEOUL, June 06 (AJP) - Seoul’s “My Pace Hangang Triathlon Festival” kicked off its third edition on June 5 at Ttukseom and Jamsil Han River Parks, running through June 7. The sports festival challenges participants to complete swimming, cycling and running courses at their own pace, with no rankings or time pressure. This year's edition expanded its offerings with the addition of a new intermediate course alongside the existing beginner and advanced options. A 1km swimming course for foreign participants was also newly introduced. The beginner course consists of a 200–300m swim, 10km cycle, and 5km run, while the advanced course covers a 1km open-water swim across the Han River, a 20km cycle, and a 10km run. Registration costs 30,000 won, with morning (9–11 a.m.) and afternoon (1–5 p.m.) slots available. A highlight of this year's festival was "Hachi Island," a large floating structure shaped like Hachi, Seoul's official mascot, anchored on the Han River. Visitors could enjoy the aquatic playground built around it. On opening day, additional events included a drone light show, a non-alcoholic beer and chicken party, and a riverside concert by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. The festival is also the flagship event of Seoul's year-round festival brand "Fun Seoul." Last year's edition drew 30,000 race participants and 660,000 total visitors. 2026-06-06 15:16:15
  • Korea Maritime and Ocean University opens guesthouse for BTS concertgoers in Busan
    Korea Maritime and Ocean University opens guesthouse for BTS concertgoers in Busan SEOUL, June 06 (AJP) - Korea Maritime and Ocean University will open part of its campus guesthouse to visitors traveling to Busan for BTS’ upcoming concerts, joining the city’s campaign to provide fair and affordable accommodation during major events. The university said Saturday it will participate in Busan Metropolitan City’s “Fair Accommodation Challenge” ahead of BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Busan, scheduled for June 12 and 13 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The concerts are expected to draw a large number of fans from across South Korea and overseas, prompting local authorities to step up efforts to curb unlicensed lodging and excessive price hikes during the event period. Under the plan, the university will temporarily operate 14 rooms at its Ara Hall guesthouse in Yeongdo District as accommodation for concertgoers. The rooms include one single room and 13 double rooms, allowing up to 27 domestic visitors to stay for 50,000 won ($32) per night. The Fair Accommodation Challenge is a public-private campaign led by Busan City to provide visitors with transparent and reasonably priced lodging during large-scale international and cultural events. Local universities, religious groups and public institutions have joined the initiative by opening unused lodging facilities or offering rooms at free or discounted rates. The campaign comes as Busan prepares citywide programs for the BTS concerts, including welcome events, tourism programs and fan-oriented activities across major transport hubs, tourist sites and public venues. The university said it decided to share its campus infrastructure, including guesthouse facilities overlooking the sea, to support Busan’s efforts to strengthen its appeal as a cultural and tourism city. “As a national university, we have a responsibility to support the local community,” President Ryoo Dong-keun said. “We will continue to fulfill our social responsibility beyond the boundaries of the campus.” 2026-06-06 15:06:35
  • President Lee Visits Veterans at Central Veterans Hospital
    President Lee Visits Veterans at Central Veterans Hospital President Lee Jae-myung visited the Central Veterans Hospital on June 6 after attending the Memorial Day ceremony, where he met with veterans receiving treatment.Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gyu-ryeong provided details of the president's visit in a written briefing.The Central Veterans Hospital, established in 1961 under the Korea Veterans Welfare Medical Corporation, offers medical care and rehabilitation services to veterans. It operates a regional emergency medical center and provides integrated nursing and medical services.Upon arrival, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung received a warm welcome from veterans and their families. The president greeted each patient individually, inquiring about their well-being and even kneeling to shake hands with those in wheelchairs.The couple then moved to the seventh-floor ward of the Central Building, guided by Hospital Director Shin Ho-cheol, where they met with veterans to check on their treatment progress and health status, offering words of comfort.President Lee expressed deep gratitude for their sacrifices and dedication to the nation, wishing them a speedy recovery. During the visit, a light-hearted exchange occurred when Vietnam War veteran Hwang Dae-sik, who served in the White Horse Division, remarked, "The hospital is very comfortable and nice." President Lee responded, "But you should recover quickly and be discharged," prompting laughter in the room.The president reiterated his appreciation, stating, "Thanks to your sacrifices and dedication, South Korea is recognized as a country in the world today." First Lady Kim also wished the veterans good health.After concluding their visit, the president and first lady stopped by the nursing station to encourage the medical staff and express their gratitude for their hard work.President Lee emphasized that honoring veterans is a fundamental duty of the state and urged that veterans and their families be carefully looked after to ensure they have a comfortable experience during their hospital stay.Additionally, the president and first lady presented gift sets of red ginseng to approximately 8,800 veterans and their families currently hospitalized in veterans hospitals and affiliated medical institutions across the country.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 14:42:00
  • Conflicting Evaluations of Local Election Results by People Power Party Leadership
    Conflicting Evaluations of Local Election Results by People Power Party Leadership The leadership of the People Power Party has expressed conflicting evaluations of the results from the June 3 local elections, revealing internal divisions. Amid discussions about the accountability of leader Jang Dong-hyuk for the electoral defeat, differing opinions emerged among the Supreme Council members. According to Yonhap News on June 6, during an emergency Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Shin Dong-wook, a member of the ruling faction, stated, "The public has issued a stern mandate to both the ruling and opposition parties." He emphasized that compared to the local elections following the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2018, the party could be seen as having performed significantly well in this election. He further criticized factions opposing Jang Dong-hyuk, saying, "I clearly oppose linking this issue to party leadership and distorting the public's judgment with various political interpretations." In contrast, Woo Jae-jun, a member of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, acknowledged, "The June 3 local elections are over. We take the public sentiment seriously," adding, "I apologize as a member of the leadership for not being able to provide significant support to our candidates." After the meeting, he told reporters, "What more is there to say? It is correct to say we did not help." Jang did not provide a separate statement regarding the election results during the Supreme Council meeting. Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-hoon told reporters before the meeting that Jang is listening to the voices of many lawmakers amid calls for him to take responsibility for the election defeat and step down. He noted that Jang had previously stated that his political life depended on winning the mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan. When asked if the overall local election results should be viewed as a defeat following the loss in the Busan mayoral race, he simply replied, "We will humbly accept the voices of the public revealed through the election."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-06 14:15:00