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  • Ex-Girlfriend of Actor Hong Min-ki Releases Evidence of Abuse and Pregnancy
    Ex-Girlfriend of Actor Hong Min-ki Releases Evidence of Abuse and Pregnancy Actor Hong Min-ki's ex-girlfriend, identified as A, has released additional evidence of alleged abuse, including videos and photos of injuries, as well as medical records related to her abortion.On August 20, A shared her claims of violence experienced during her relationship with Hong Min-ki on her social media accounts. The posts included descriptions of the incidents along with related videos and images.A released a video showing Hong Min-ki allegedly mocking her while she was intoxicated and unable to think clearly. The footage reportedly depicts Hong Min-ki slapping A's face while she lay on the ground, shocking viewers.She also alleged that violence occurred during sexual encounters without her consent. A claimed that Hong Min-ki choked her, covered her mouth, and pulled her hair on multiple occasions, while also using derogatory language about her ex-boyfriend.A provided specific dates and photos of her injuries. She claimed that on July 28, Hong Min-ki forcefully pushed her shoulder and knocked her down from the bed, resulting in injuries.On the early morning of July 5-6, she alleged that he made her kneel on the floor and demanded an apology, causing further injuries when he pushed her toward the door while holding her arms and shoulders.A also mentioned incidents of abuse that occurred after her abortion. She stated that on July 23, after taking abortion medication, she experienced severe pain and emotional distress, prompting her to seek out Hong Min-ki. During this encounter, she claimed he hit her shin with a taxi door and forcefully pushed her to the ground.In addition, A shared ultrasound images with her name and birth date obscured, along with records of the abortion medication and medical treatment, intensifying the impact of her revelations.Previously, A had accused Hong Min-ki of being a perpetrator of dating violence, claiming she suffered from assault, threats, and invasion of privacy. Following Hong Min-ki's agency's announcement of potential legal action against her for alleged stalking and repeated contact, A countered by disclosing further details about her experiences during her pregnancy and abortion.Fable Company, Hong Min-ki's agency, has previously stated that A's allegations contain numerous claims that differ from the facts they have gathered, indicating their intention to pursue legal action. 2026-08-20 13:52:00
  • Chief justice faces mounting pressure for impeachment amid political rift
    Chief justice faces mounting pressure for impeachment amid political rift SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The nomination of two Supreme Court justices by chief justice Cho Hee-dae earlier this week has escalated into a broader political confrontation, with ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers calling for his resignation and some raising the possibility of impeachment. The controversy is intensifying on Thursday after newly-elected DP leader Kim Min-seok said the previous day that he had ordered the party to put up banners nationwide calling for Cho's resignation. One of the banners says Cho, whom the DP accuses of undermining the rule of law, should step down. The move followed Kim's demand a day earlier that the chief justice resign over what he called an abuse of judicial authority. The confrontation stems from Cho's decision last Tuesday to recommend Son Bong-gi, a senior judge at the Daegu District Court, and Kim Seong-su, a senior judge at the Seoul High Court, to President Lee Jae Myung as Supreme Court justice nominees. They were recommended to fill vacancies left by former justices Noh Tae-ak and Lee Heung-gu. Unlike previous practice, Cho submitted the recommendations in writing without holding an in-person meeting with Lee, after Cheong Wa Dae and the Supreme Court held discussions over the nominees for months but failed to reach an agreement. The DP has accused Cho of bypassing the president and breaking a longstanding practice under which the chief justice and president coordinate before Supreme Court nominees are formally recommended. The Supreme Court has rejected claims that Cho acted without consultation. Noh Kyung-pil, head of the National Court Administration, told the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the court had sought a meeting with the president but was not given an opportunity to do so. He also said the method of submitting the nominations in writing had been discussed with the presidential senior secretary for civil affairs. Noh stressed that the Constitution gives the chief justice authority to recommend Supreme Court justices, while the National Assembly has the power to consent to their appointment and the president holds the authority to appoint them. The dispute has now moved beyond the nomination process to Cho's political and potentially constitutional accountability. DP lawmaker Choi Min-hee has called on the National Assembly to begin discussing Cho's future including possible impeachment. The Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee also approved a motion demanding that Cho appear before the committee to explain the nomination process and the months-long delay in filling the vacancies. The legal question, however, centers on whether breaking a political or institutional convention can itself constitute grounds for impeachment. Article 104 of the Constitution states that Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly. It does not explicitly require the chief justice to reach an agreement with the president before making a recommendation. Article 65, meanwhile, allows the National Assembly to impeach judges when they have violated the Constitution or other laws in the performance of their official duties. An impeachment motion against a judge requires the support of at least one-third of all lawmakers to be introduced and a majority of all lawmakers to pass. "Once the Democratic Party leadership election is over, I do not think the ruling party will be able to easily push ahead with impeachment without compelling grounds, as doing so could trigger public backlash," said Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), a former chief prosecutor. "The four-month delay in recommending the Supreme Court justice nominees was merely the result of the presidential office's failure to coordinate the process," Yoo said. "I believe the impeachment call was made as a tactical move during the Democratic Party leadership race to win votes from hard-line supporters, who harbor strong antipathy toward Chief Justice Cho," he added. Ruling party lawmakers, meanwhile, expressed a strong determination to pursue Cho’s impeachment. "If Cho does not resign, we will impeach him," said Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the DP, also a former chief prosecutor. "Cho is not a judge but a politician," Yang said. "Regardless of whether his actions meet the legal requirements for impeachment, it would be appropriate for him to step down." "Lawmakers including myself, have begun discussing impeachment," said another DP lawmaker Kim Yong-min, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. "Cho exercised his authority to recommend Supreme Court justices through a written submission without even explaining why the process had been delayed," Kim said. "This amounts to disregarding South Korea's constitutional order, as well as the president's authority to appoint justices and the National Assembly's power to consent to their appointments." "I do not think it would be appropriate to discuss how we would respond in advance when impeachment has yet to take concrete shape," Rep. Kim Tae Kyu of the PPP, a former judge, told AJP when asked how the party would respond if an impeachment push against Cho moves forward. 2026-08-20 13:51:15
  • SK Securities Shares Surge Following SK Hynixs $40 Billion Stock Buyback Announcement
    SK Securities Shares Surge Following SK Hynix's $40 Billion Stock Buyback Announcement SK Securities saw its shares hit the upper limit following news that it will act as the broker for SK Hynix's 40 trillion won stock buyback.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 1:44 PM on August 20, SK Securities shares were trading at 2,810 won, up 645 won (29.79%) from the previous trading day. The stock price has surged to the daily price limit, continuing its strong performance.The sharp rise in SK Securities' stock price is attributed to expectations of increased brokerage fee revenue from SK Hynix's large-scale stock buyback.Earlier, SK Hynix held a board meeting and decided to buy back 24.07 million common shares in the market and subsequently retire them to enhance shareholder value.The planned acquisition amount is approximately 40.43 trillion won, which corresponds to about 3.3% of SK Hynix's total issued shares. The stock buyback is set to take place over approximately three months, from today until November 19.SK Securities has been selected as the brokerage firm for this stock buyback. SK Hynix's daily purchase order limit is set at 2.407 million shares.Market analysts expect that, given the scale of the 40 trillion won stock buyback, SK Securities could generate significant brokerage fee revenue over the long term. With the decision to retire all repurchased shares, there is also growing interest in SK Hynix's commitment to returning value to shareholders and securing new revenue sources for SK Securities.However, the specific scale of the fees from this stock buyback brokerage and its impact on SK Securities' performance have not yet been disclosed.Meanwhile, SK Securities' preferred shares are also experiencing a simultaneous surge.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:48:00
  • Gmarket Donates 300 Million Won for Flood Recovery in Gyeongnam
    Gmarket Donates 300 Million Won for Flood Recovery in Gyeongnam Gmarket announced on August 20 that it will donate 300 million won to support flood recovery and aid for victims in the Gyeongnam region affected by recent heavy rainfall.The donation will be delivered to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association and will be used for facility restoration and the daily recovery of victims in areas such as Tongyeong and Geoje.Gmarket will also work to expand sales channels for affected farmers. Starting August 31, the company will offer discounted sales of agricultural products, including blemished fruits and vegetables, during its Chuseok promotion, 'Big Sale for Chuseok.'Additionally, Gmarket will hold a 'Small Business Coexistence Special Exhibition' targeting small businesses in the Gyeongnam region, providing marketing support by increasing product exposure on Gmarket and Auction.A Gmarket representative stated, "We will not stop at just delivering donations; we will continue to provide practical support to help affected farmers and small sellers recover their daily lives as quickly as possible by leveraging the strengths of our distribution platform."Meanwhile, Gmarket will host a collection of innovative agricultural products in collaboration with the Korea Small Business and Startups Agency and the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency at its 'Coexistence Market' until December 31.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:40:20
  • Sampyo Cement to Plant 20,000 Native Trees at Samcheok Quarry Site
    Sampyo Cement to Plant 20,000 Native Trees at Samcheok Quarry Site Sampyo Resources Development, a subsidiary of Sampyo Cement, announced on August 20 that it is undertaking terrain and vegetation restoration activities at its limestone quarry in Samcheok, Gangwon Province.This initiative is not only aimed at stabilizing the terrain of the mined area but also focuses on restoring vegetation using native plants to create a habitat for wildlife as part of an ecological restoration project.The company plans to continue quarry development while sequentially restoring areas that have completed mining, emphasizing a dual approach to minimize environmental impact.In October 2023, Sampyo Resources Development received approval from Samcheok City for its quarry restoration plan, establishing a 2.5-hectare (25,454 square meters) ecological restoration pilot area in the Gyogok-ri district of Geundeok-myeon.From 2024 to 2025, the company completed infrastructure development and eco-friendly drainage construction, with plans to finish planting this year.During the planting phase, particular attention was given to selecting tree species. Sampyo Resources Development evaluated the feasibility of transplanting, planting, and seeding native plants around the restoration site to ensure stable vegetation establishment in the poor soil conditions of the quarry. Based on this assessment, they selected 10 suitable tree species and 20,000 saplings for planting.After planting, the company will conduct regular monitoring to check the establishment and growth of vegetation and the stability of the restored area, ensuring the ecosystem is securely established.In addition to vegetation restoration, the company is also working to preserve the habitat of the endangered flying squirrel, a legally protected species, and to enhance biodiversity. Since 2021, Sampyo Resources Development has been engaged in habitat restoration activities for the flying squirrel as part of its 'One Company, One Endangered Species Habitat Restoration Project.'Through field surveys and ongoing monitoring, the company has analyzed the potential habitat and movement routes of the flying squirrel, using scientific predictive models to identify areas where habitat expansion is expected and key movement paths. Based on this data, they are implementing systematic restoration activities, including the installation of artificial nests to improve habitat conditions.In a habitat survey conducted last year, traces of flying squirrels were confirmed at 75 locations. The results validated habitat models in areas with high occurrence frequency, and in April, 50 artificial nests were installed in predicted habitats to strengthen the habitat base.Sampyo Resources Development plans to enhance its ecological restoration model and expand biodiversity conservation activities through scientific monitoring and restoration efforts.A company representative stated, "To reduce the environmental impact that may arise during the quarry development process, we have been sequentially restoring areas where mining has ended while managing wildlife habitats. We will ensure the planting work is completed without delay this year and continue monitoring to stabilize the ecological environment post-restoration."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:40:00
  • Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Welcomes New President Lee Jae-yul
    Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Welcomes New President Lee Jae-yul The Seongnam Urban Development Corporation is drawing attention as it embarks on a new management direction under its newly appointed president, Lee Jae-yul.On August 20, the corporation announced that Lee Jae-yul has officially taken office as its seventh president, with a term set to last until August 2029.Lee, a graduate of Yonsei University’s law program, has held significant positions in the Gyeonggi provincial government and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.His experience includes roles as the head of the Safety Management Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior, the disaster safety secretary at the Presidential Office, and the first vice governor of Gyeonggi Province, where he built a career in administration and safety.In his inaugural address, Lee emphasized a management approach centered on citizen trust. He outlined his vision for the corporation as "a public urban enterprise building the future of Seongnam on the foundation of citizen trust." To achieve this, he plans to strengthen ethical management and transparency while balancing public service and profitability.One of the key areas of focus for citizens is the improvement of public services that directly impact their daily lives. The corporation operates facilities such as public parking lots, sports centers, and libraries that residents frequently use.The corporation's website also indicates a commitment to incorporating citizen feedback into its management and enhancing customer-centered services.As a result, under the new leadership, the convenience and safety of facility usage, as well as the prompt resolution of citizen complaints, are expected to become major evaluation criteria.Particularly noteworthy is Lee's emphasis on achieving a "zero major accident" goal and enhancing safety management, which has garnered significant attention.For citizens using sports and public facilities, safety is directly linked to service quality, raising expectations for a strengthened on-site safety management system.Changes in organizational operations are also a major point of interest. Lee has expressed intentions to establish a fair personnel system and foster a communicative organizational culture.Improving the internal culture of the public enterprise is seen as crucial, as it could enhance work efficiency and positively impact administrative services for citizens.Balancing financial soundness with public service is another challenge the new management team must address. The corporation manages various public facilities, including urban development, parking lots, sports centers, and libraries.Past reports from the corporation have identified service quality, customer satisfaction, and citizen participation as key management tasks. The ability to effect change in areas directly connected to citizens' lives, such as the convenience of parking facilities, service quality at sports centers, safety and management levels of public facilities, and the speed of complaint handling, will be critical.Meanwhile, immediately after taking office, Lee began assessing the corporation's major projects and current issues, with plans to visit each site directly to promote on-site-centered operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:32:00
  • Trade Commission Proposes Up to 38.89% Preliminary Anti-Dumping Duties on Sodium Hydroxide from China and Taiwan
    Trade Commission Proposes Up to 38.89% Preliminary Anti-Dumping Duties on Sodium Hydroxide from China and Taiwan The trade authorities have proposed imposing preliminary anti-dumping duties of up to 38.89% on sodium hydroxide imports from China and Taiwan, citing damage to the domestic industry from low-priced imports.On August 20, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Trade Commission held its 476th meeting and announced its preliminary findings in the anti-dumping investigation into sodium hydroxide from China and Taiwan.Sodium hydroxide, a white solid, is used in the production of soaps and detergents, pH control in processes, and the processing and refining of textiles, pulp, and paper. Currently, sodium hydroxide from China is imported duty-free under the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), while a 5.5% tariff applies to imports from Taiwan under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.In March, Youngjin requested the anti-dumping investigation, and the Trade Commission has been investigating four companies, including three from China and Formosa from Taiwan.The preliminary investigation concluded that products from China and Taiwan were being imported at prices below normal, causing substantial harm to the domestic industry. To prevent further damage during the ongoing investigation, the commission recommended imposing preliminary anti-dumping duties ranging from 3.66% to 22.21% on three Chinese companies and 38.89% on Formosa from Taiwan to the Minister of Economy and Finance.The Trade Commission plans to conduct further investigations, including on-site inspections and gathering opinions from stakeholders, to determine the existence of dumping, the extent of harm to the domestic industry, and the final anti-dumping duty rates.Additionally, the Trade Commission held a public hearing on the investigation of domestic industry harm related to printing plates from China, gathering opinions from key stakeholders, including domestic producers, importers, and consumers. The commission is expected to make a final determination in October after reviewing the feedback and conducting further data collection.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:32:00
  • Defense Minister An Gyu-baek: North Koreas Nuclear Arsenal Estimated at 80 to 120 Weapons
    Defense Minister An Gyu-baek: North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal Estimated at 80 to 120 Weapons Defense Minister An Gyu-baek stated on August 20 that North Korea's nuclear arsenal is typically estimated to be between 80 and 120 weapons, but providing an exact figure is quite limited.During a session of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, An responded to a question from Representative Seong Il-jong of the ruling People Power Party regarding the government's assessment of North Korea's nuclear development.In response to President Donald Trump's mention of North Korea possessing '57' nuclear weapons during a press encounter at the White House on August 19, An remarked, 'It seems that the numbers differ slightly.'Trump had stated that he is 'getting along well' with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and noted that North Korea has '57 very powerful nuclear weapons.'Experts have noted that it is unusual for a U.S. president to specifically mention figures related to North Korea's nuclear capabilities, especially given that both South Korea and the U.S. keep such information classified.The South Korean government has maintained a stance of not recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state and has refrained from discussing the specifics of its nuclear arsenal.However, when asked if he acknowledges that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, An stated, 'That cannot be officially acknowledged.'Regarding whether Trump's specific mention of '57 weapons' implies recognition of North Korea's nuclear capabilities, An said, 'I think it is inappropriate for the South Korean Defense Minister to comment on that.'An emphasized, 'We cannot develop nuclear weapons. We should not accept the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons. Our policy is to consistently receive a solid nuclear umbrella from the United States.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:24:00
  • KOSPI Surges Over 6% Amid Foreign and Institutional Buying, Reclaims 6800 Level
    KOSPI Surges Over 6% Amid Foreign and Institutional Buying, Reclaims 6800 Level The KOSPI index is experiencing a surge of over 6% due to bargain hunting following a more than 5% drop the previous day and a stabilization in U.S. long-term interest rates. The semiconductor sector is seeing strong performance, particularly after SK Hynix announced a 40 trillion won stock buyback and cancellation, which has attracted both foreign and institutional investors, boosting the index further.As of 12:54 p.m. on August 20, the KOSPI is trading at 6,875.00, up 403.83 points (6.24%) from the previous trading day.The index opened at 6,680.34, up 209.17 points (3.23%), and continued to expand its gains, reaching as high as 6,902.46 during the session, quickly recovering from the previous day's losses.Earlier, at 9:57 a.m., a buying sidecar was triggered in the securities market. The KOSPI 200 futures for the most recent month rose 5.10% from a base price of 1,016.25 to 1,068.15, meeting the criteria for the sidecar activation. When a buying sidecar is triggered, the effectiveness of program trading buy orders is suspended for five minutes from the activation point before being automatically released.This marks the 24th buying sidecar activation this year. In total, there have been 49 activations in the securities market this year, including 25 for selling and 24 for buying. Since the introduction of the sidecar system, there have been a cumulative total of 109 activations.On this day, foreign and institutional investors are net buyers, purchasing 1.38 trillion won and 322.1 billion won, respectively. In contrast, individual investors are net sellers, offloading 2.36 trillion won as they realize profits. Unlike the previous day, when foreign and institutional selling led to a sharp decline, today’s buying activity from these groups is driving the index rebound.Notably, large-cap semiconductor stocks are leading the index's rise.Samsung Electronics is up 9.09%, SK Hynix is up 13.20%, and SK Square is up 11.45%. Other stocks also seeing gains include Samsung Life (8.33%), Samsung C&T (6.48%), Samsung Biologics (3.43%), Hanwha Aerospace (2.72%), and Hyundai Motor (1.45%). Samsung Electro-Mechanics (0.58%) and LG Energy Solution (0.56%) are also showing slight increases.SK Hynix continues its upward trend following its announcement after the market closed the previous day that it would buy back and cancel 40 trillion won worth of its own shares over the next three months. This buyback represents about 3.3% of the total number of issued shares. The company has also decided to increase its shareholder return target from within 50% of its free cash flow (FCF) for 2025-2027 to over 50%.At the same time, the KOSDAQ index is up 17.97 points (2.18%), reaching 842.43. The KOSDAQ opened at 843.99, up 19.53 points (2.37%), and has maintained its upward momentum above the 840 level.In the KOSDAQ market, individual and institutional investors are net buyers of 29.5 billion won and 80 billion won, respectively, while foreign investors are net sellers of 117.2 billion won.Among the top market capitalization stocks, Alteogen is up 12.03%, EcoPro is up 2.09%, EcoPro BM is up 3.64%, Rainbow Robotics is up 2.49%, JUSUNG Engineering is up 2.91%, Wonik IPS is up 2.20%, and Rino Technology is up 1.77%, with most stocks showing upward trends.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 13:16:00
  • Government and Ruling Party Discuss Creation of Future Response Fund
    Government and Ruling Party Discuss Creation of Future Response Fund On August 20, the government and the ruling party discussed plans to establish a 'Future Response Fund' utilizing additional tax revenue from the semiconductor boom, but did not finalize the specific size of the fund. While there are predictions that the fund could exceed 100 trillion won, no concrete figures were mentioned.The Democratic Party of Korea and the government held a meeting at the National Assembly to discuss the operation of the Future Response Fund and the direction of education grant reform. Attendees included Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do, Policy Committee Chair Kwon Chil-seung, National Assembly Finance and Economy Committee Chair Cho Seung-rae, and National Assembly Budget and Accounting Special Committee Chair Lee Kwang-jae, along with Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun from the government.After the meeting, Kwon stated to reporters, "We listened to the government's explanations and exchanged opinions," adding that no decisions had been made regarding the fund's size. He further noted, "There were discussions about exceeding 100 trillion won, but no specific numbers were provided."The Future Response Fund is a proposed initiative by the government aimed at utilizing increased corporate and income tax revenues from the improved semiconductor market to support youth, future growth drivers, regional development, and talent cultivation.To facilitate this, the government is reportedly considering abolishing the current local education finance grant system linked to domestic tax revenues and introducing a new grant formula that reflects the average economic growth rate over the past three years and changes in the school-age population. However, members of the Democratic Party's Education Committee are advocating for the current system to be maintained, indicating internal disagreements within the party.Representative Baek Seung-a, a member of the Education Committee, stated, "Overall, the Education Committee members support maintaining the linkage system," emphasizing the need to keep the current domestic tax linkage rate at 20.79%. Consequently, the government plans to announce the establishment of the fund and the grant reform proposal on August 21 following discussions with the Democratic Party.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-20 12:56:00