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Court rejects bid to block wider distribution of box office hit 'The King's Warden' SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A Seoul court has rejected a bid to block further distribution of The King's Warden, clearing a legal obstacle to the historical drama's release on streaming services, home video and other platforms. The Seoul Western District Court dismissed an injunction sought by the family of a screenwriter who alleged that the film had copied the script of the 2000s television drama Eom Heung-do. The application was filed against co-producers Onda Works and BA Entertainment, as well as distributor Showbox. Thursday's decision allows the companies to offer the film through over-the-top streaming platforms and DVDs, arrange screenings aboard aircraft and ships, and pursue further overseas distribution. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, The King's Warden has drawn about 16.88 million admissions since opening in February, making it the second-most-watched film in South Korean box office history. It trails only the 2014 historical epic Roaring Currents, which recorded about 17.61 million admissions. The court's 21st Civil Division, led by Presiding Judge Shin Myung-hee, found that the two works were not sufficiently similar despite drawing on the same historical figures and events. According to the ruling, the television screenplay is built around Confucian loyalty, depicting Eom Heung-do as unwaveringly devoted to the deposed King Danjong. The film instead focuses on how Danjong, Eom and the villagers change through their encounters, giving the two works different themes, narrative structures and characterizations. The court said similarities arising from their shared historical setting were insufficient to establish copying because the relationship between Danjong and Eom, the overall plots and the central themes differed. It also found no evidence that Jang, who revised the film's screenplay, had access to the plaintiffs' work. The allegations surfaced after the film's theatrical release, with the screenwriter's family claiming that the film had copied elements of the earlier drama. 2026-07-24 17:19:10 -
Internal Conflicts Emerge in People Power Party's Ethics Committee Amid Disciplinary Procedure Concerns 국민의힘 중앙윤리위원회가 회의 운영 방식과 징계 기준 등을 두고 내홍을 겪고 있다. 당초 윤리위는 당내 독립기구로 윤리위원의 신원조차 밝혀지지 않았지만 최근 내부 갈등이 표출되면서 공개 공방으로 번지고 있다. 24일 정치권에 따르면 우종환 중앙윤리위 부위원장은 윤민우 위원장의 일방적 운영에 대한 공개사과와 당 미디어대변인인 정경욱 윤리위원의 당직 또는 윤리위원 중 한 가지 사퇴를 요구했다. 우 부위원장은 "정 위원은 매일신문 유튜브에 출연해 22일 윤리위가 무산된 후 배포된 보도자료 문구를 두고 내부 위원들이 문제를 제기하고 언론에 보도가 된 일에 대해 설명하며 반대파 윤리위원들이 친한(친한동훈)계거나 징계 대상자들과 연루되어 있다는 뉘앙스의 발언을 했다"고 주장했다. 이어 "한동훈, 배현진, 김종혁을 징계한 우리가 친한계라는 주장을 하는 분이 이 당의 대변인 겸 윤리위원이라는 것이 놀랍다"며 "유튜브에 출연해 가짜 프레임 씌우기 주장을 하며 매우 부적절한 비하성 발언을 하는 것이 독립기구인 윤리위원의 품격에 맞는 언행이냐"고 지적했다. 그러면서 윤 위원장이 지난 22일 징계 기준을 담은 보도자료를 배포한 것에 대해 "반복적·조직적·지속적으로 당 대표를 비난하면 징계한다는 기준은 표현이 매우 주관적이어서 징계 대상자의 수용성이 떨어진다"며 "국민의힘이 독재 정당이라고 공표한 것과 다름없다"고 비판했다. 앞서 윤리위는 지난 6일과 22일 회의를 열었지만 일부 위원이 참석하지 않으면서 의결 정족수가 미달된 것으로 알려졌다. 또한 윤리위원 중 1명은 신원 공개 등이 부담된다는 이유로 사퇴하기도 했다. 현재 윤리위에 접수된 징계요구서는 60여건에 달하지만 내홍이 지속되면서 징계 절차도 미뤄질 것으로 보인다. 우 부위원장은 아주경제에 "윤 위원장이 모든 결정문과 보도자료를 위원들 전체가 공람하고 동의받은 후에 배포한다는 약속을 하지 않으면 향후 회의에 참석이 어려울 수 있다"고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-24 17:16:00 -
Pacific Law Firm Strengthens Expertise in Major Disaster Response with New Hires Pacific Law Firm announced on July 24 that it has recently strengthened its Major Disaster Response Headquarters by hiring attorney Lee Hee-dong, along with labor consultants Son Jun-hae and Ma Dong-jun. The firm stated, "Since the implementation of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, it has become increasingly important to establish a comprehensive response system that covers all processes from accident prevention to on-site response, investigations by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, police and prosecution inquiries, and civil and criminal disputes." It added that it has been actively recruiting experts in industrial safety from the government and investigative agencies. Attorney Lee is a notable addition. He has served as the head of public investigation at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and has held leadership positions in public investigation divisions at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, and Incheon District Prosecutors' Office. Pacific Law Firm described Lee as possessing exceptional investigative capabilities in the field of industrial safety and major disasters, having led national industrial safety cases at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and directly handled industrial safety and major disaster cases while serving as the head of public security at local prosecutors' offices. The firm also noted his extensive experience in corporate criminal and financial investigations, having concurrently served as the first and second deputy chief at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, which focuses on financial crimes. Recently, the firm has also enhanced its expertise in labor issues by hiring Son, who worked in the Major Disaster Investigation Division at the Gwangju Employment and Labor Office, and Ma, who served as the head of the Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division at the Ulsan and Busan offices. These two experts are supporting companies in building compliance and responding to accidents based on their practical experience in industrial safety supervision and major disaster investigations. Last year, the firm recruited Park Hwa-jin, a former vice minister of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, who is recognized as an expert in labor administration, having overseen industrial safety policies and the establishment of major disaster response systems while serving as the head of the Labor Policy Office and vice minister. Additionally, the firm welcomed advisors Song Guk-il, a former head of the Central Accident Investigation Team at the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and Oh Byeong-kwon, a former director of the Natural Disaster Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. They also launched a 'Disaster Safety Strategy Research Institute' by bringing in Yoon Myung-ho, an honorary professor at the University of Seoul, who is an authority on firefighting and disaster prevention. Through the recruitment of experts from various fields, Pacific Law Firm is enhancing its competitiveness in responding to major disasters. The Major Disaster Response Headquarters operates a '24-hour comprehensive situation room' where experts in criminal law, labor, industrial safety, administration, and regulation collaborate for rapid response in the event of an accident. The firm provides tailored legal services covering all processes that companies face, from accident prevention to on-site response, investigations by supervisory agencies, criminal procedures, and civil disputes. Lee Hyung-seok, the head attorney of the Major Disaster Response Headquarters, stated, "Responding to major disasters requires not only investigative and prosecutorial responses but also expertise in industrial safety, labor, and administration. We plan to integrate the experiences of our recently hired experts to enhance our comprehensive response system that covers all processes." Meanwhile, Pacific Law Firm has formed specialized teams across various fields to provide one-stop services. The firm has achieved success in corporate legal affairs, mergers and acquisitions, securities and finance, fair trade, and international arbitration, and is composed of approximately 900 professionals, including 600 attorneys.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-24 17:16:00
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SM Entertainment to host running event for K-pop fans this fall SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A running event bringing together K-pop singers and their fans will be held this autumn, talent mill SM Entertainment said on Friday. Dubbed "SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26," the event is scheduled to be held at Wangsan Marina in the western port city of Incheon on Oct. 3, featuring a 10-kilometer course followed by live performances by SM artists and singers. The event was inspired by the "SM London Run," a fan-coined name for an impromptu run last summer in which SHINee member Minho and fellow SM stars ran through central London while taking part in the annual SMTOWN LIVE tour in the city. Photos and videos from the outing went viral on social media, prompting the company to turn the idea into an official event. Those interested can sign up through sneaker resale platform KREAM from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13, with more information available on the event's official website and Instagram account. 2026-07-24 17:15:05 -
Gwanghwamun's Hangul signboard to be discussed SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - The government will bring 200 citizens together this weekend to debate whether a Hangeul signboard should hang at Gwanghwamun Gate alongside the existing Chinese character one. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold the first "Forum for Everyone" on the question from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 26 at Yonsei University's Baekyang-nuri hall in Seoul, the ministries said Thursday. Forum for Everyone is a new cross-ministerial format designed to feed citizens' views directly into policymaking. The 200 participants, selected through advance recruitment, will weigh the signboard question from historical, cultural, and other angles and work toward practical policy directions. The day will move through expert presentations, small-group discussions, and a plenary session where participants exchange views and draw up a collective final position. The forum will be livestreamed on KTV's YouTube channel, with on-site participants voting in real time by mobile phone. 2026-07-24 17:14:08 -
Revised Property Tax Law Increases Tax Burden on Multiple Homeowners A recent study has found that the government's revision of the comprehensive real estate tax has led to a concentration of wealth among multiple homeowners in high-value properties in the metropolitan area.According to a report by the National Institute of Public Finance titled 'Analysis of Effective Tax Rate Disparities by Number of Homes and Changes in Housing Ownership Structure,' the effective tax rate gap between multiple homeowners and single homeowners has widened to 0.71 percentage points, a 2.4-fold increase over the past year since the 2020 tax reform.The tax reform implemented around 2020 aimed to increase the tax burden on multiple homeowners while expanding basic deductions for single homeowners and tax credits for seniors and long-term property holders.As a result, the effective tax rate for multiple homeowners rose to 1.21% in the following year, more than doubling from 0.59% the previous year. In contrast, the effective tax rate for single homeowners increased only from 0.30% to 0.50%. The gap in effective tax rates between the two groups reached its highest level of 0.71 percentage points between 2015 and 2024.During this period, statistics on housing ownership revealed that the number of single homeowners nationwide increased by 438,936 in 2021, while the number of multiple homeowners decreased by 46,393. The trend of increasing multiple homeownership, which had been rising until 2019, shifted to a slowdown and eventual decline following the tax reform.This trend was particularly pronounced in Seoul. Since 2020, the number of multiple homeowners in Seoul decreased by 1.77%, and in 2021, the decline was nearly double the national average at -3.83%.Kim Jin-wook, the lead researcher, explained, "Seoul has been designated as a regulated area since 2017, which likely means that multiple homeowners in regulated areas felt the impact of increased tax rates earlier than those in other regions."Analysis of individual housing ownership changes by the National Data Agency showed that between 2020 and 2021, 328,000 individuals transitioned from being multiple homeowners to single homeowners, while 283,000 made the opposite transition. This reversal has only occurred during this specific period in the last five years.This indicates that taxpayers adjusted the number of homes they owned in response to changes in the tax system. The phenomenon of concentrating assets into a single property, referred to as 'one good house,' can be seen as a result of the tax system differentiating tax burdens based on the number of properties owned.Experts warn that if this imbalance is not addressed, the incentive to concentrate assets into high-value single properties to evade regulations on multiple homeownership will continue, potentially exacerbating price pressures on high-value homes in the metropolitan area.Kim suggested, "The ongoing discussions in government and academia regarding a shift in the comprehensive real estate tax assessment criteria towards asset value should be considered in light of these concerns. Additionally, measures to reduce deductions and exemptions for high-value single homeowners should be prioritized."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-24 17:12:00
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Seoul to offer free month of bike-sharing after data breach SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - The Seoul Facilities Corporation, which suffered a data breach affecting 4.62 million citizens after its Ddareungi bike-sharing system was hacked by two middle school students, announced it will provide affected users with a one-month Ddareungi pass worth 5,000 won. The operator of bike-sharing service Ddareungi, sent text messages to users on July 21 informing them of the details of the hacking incident and the categories of personal information exposed. According to the company, leaked data included user IDs and birth dates, as well as phone numbers, gender, email addresses, home addresses, and weight. It added no evidence has been found so far indicating that the leaked personal information was distributed to third parties. The hacking occurred in June 2024. The hackers exploited a security vulnerability in the Ddareungi system to steal the personal information of 4.62 million citizens. The operator was ignorant of the breach until Seoul city discovered it during an internal investigation in January. Seoul city subsequently requested the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency investigate the system management team at the corporation's Public Bicycle Operations Department, and the hacking was confirmed during a cybercrime investigation by the Seoul police in February. 2026-07-24 17:07:56 -
US-Saudi nuclear deal exposes limits of Seoul's enrichment push SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A proposed U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement allowing Riyadh to eventually enrich uranium on its own soil may strengthen South Korea's case for greater control over its civilian nuclear fuel cycle, but it does little to resolve the far more difficult question confronting Seoul's nuclear submarine ambitions: who supplies the fuel. The issue has taken on greater urgency as South Korea and the United States resumed follow-up talks last month on security commitments made by Presidents Donald Trump and Lee Jae Myung. The agenda includes Seoul's plans to build nuclear-powered submarines, expand cooperation in shipbuilding and seek greater autonomy over uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, who led the American delegation, described the discussions as "a brief but very productive visit" that laid the groundwork for "continued technical conversations." At the center of the debate is South Korea's decades-old nuclear cooperation agreement with Washington. Under the bilateral "123 Agreement," Seoul cannot enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel without prior U.S. approval, even for civilian purposes. Those restrictions have remained despite South Korea's compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its long-standing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Saudi proposal appears to signal greater U.S. flexibility. According to The New York Times, the agreement envisions a two-year joint U.S.-Saudi study on whether domestic uranium enrichment is economically justified. Depending on the outcome, Washington could eventually permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium on its own territory. For advocates in Seoul, that could strengthen the argument that South Korea—which already operates one of the world's largest civilian reactor fleets—has an even stronger economic case for domestic fuel production. But experts caution that the Saudi negotiations and South Korea's submarine ambitions involve fundamentally different legal questions. "When people hear enrichment, they immediately think of highly enriched uranium," said Suh Kune-yull, professor of nuclear engineering at Seoul National University. "Nuclear-powered submarines do not necessarily require that level of fuel. It is technically possible to operate with low-enriched uranium of around 5 percent, similar to commercial nuclear fuel. France and China are known to operate submarines using low-enriched uranium." South Korea has already indicated that any future indigenous nuclear submarines would use low-enriched uranium rather than weapons-grade fuel in an effort to ease proliferation concerns. Yet even that approach does not remove the legal obstacles. "The 123 Agreement governs the peaceful use of nuclear energy, not military purposes," said Chung Bum-jin, professor of nuclear engineering at Kyung Hee University. "Building an enrichment plant for commercial nuclear fuel may be possible, but it has nothing to do with submarines." In other words, even if Washington eventually grants Seoul greater civilian enrichment rights, the allies would still need a separate arrangement covering fuel for military reactors. That leaves unresolved the most sensitive issue surrounding South Korea's submarine program—whether the United States would provide reactor fuel, allow South Korea to produce it domestically, or devise an entirely new legal framework. For Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, the debate centers on economics. Unlike South Korea, Saudi Arabia has no operating commercial nuclear reactors and remains in the early stages of developing a civilian nuclear industry. "The key question is whether Saudi Arabia can demonstrate economic feasibility," Chung said. "If a country has only a handful of nuclear power plants, it may simply be told to purchase fuel instead. If a country with virtually no nuclear industry insists on enrichment, that naturally raises questions about its intentions." He suggested Washington may have left itself considerable room to maneuver. "For years Saudi Arabia insisted it would not purchase reactors unless it received enrichment rights," Chung said. "The United States may be opening the door now, but it can still close it later by concluding there is no economic justification." He said the proposed agreement may primarily serve as a vehicle for U.S. reactor suppliers such as Westinghouse to gain access to Saudi Arabia's emerging nuclear market. South Korea presents a markedly different case. "South Korea operates about 30 commercial reactors, and if exported reactors are included, it effectively supports around 40 units," Chung said. "Those reactors all require fuel. That economic rationale is much easier to demonstrate." Even so, Washington has another reason for caution. "From the U.S. perspective, South Korea is a competitor in the nuclear fuel market," Chung said. "Saudi Arabia is not." For Seoul, the Saudi negotiations may therefore strengthen the political argument for expanding civilian enrichment rights, but they offer little guidance on the separate challenge of fueling a future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The next round of Korea-U.S. nuclear talks will test whether Washington is prepared to distinguish between those two issues—granting greater flexibility over the civilian fuel cycle while maintaining tighter restrictions on military nuclear propulsion. 2026-07-24 17:05:52 -
Jennie takes creative control of new single 'Less than a Lover' SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - BLACKPINK's Jennie released a new single, Less than a Lover, on Friday after taking part in both the songwriting and visual production of the project. The track arrived at 1 p.m. (0400 GMT), according to OA Entertainment. Jennie contributed to its lyrics and composition, drawing on the atmosphere of summer while developing the song. Less than a Lover centers on the anticipation and lingering uncertainty of a relationship suspended somewhere between friendship and romance, the agency said. Jennie also participated in directing the song's music video, extending her involvement beyond the recording process. She is set to headline Lollapalooza Chicago, which runs from July 30 to Aug. 2 at Grant Park, before performing at Summer Sonic 2026 in Tokyo on Aug. 14 and Osaka on Aug. 16. 2026-07-24 17:05:45 -
Government to Issue 6.7 Trillion Won in Public Bonds in Q3 The issuance of major public bonds in the third quarter is expected to reach 6.7 trillion won, an increase of 4 trillion won from previous plans.On July 24, the Ministry of Finance held its third meeting of the 'Bond Issuance Agency Council' chaired by Hwang Soon-kwan, head of the National Treasury. Representatives from the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, and key government-backed bond issuing agencies attended the meeting to review second-quarter performance and discuss plans for the third quarter.Earlier, the government and issuing agencies had agreed in April to normalize the issuance volume for the second quarter. However, a review revealed that the issuance conditions in May and June were worse than expected, leading to a reduction in the issuance volume. In the first half of the year, 124.1 trillion won in government bonds were issued, while public bonds excluding government bonds totaled 70 trillion won in the second quarter. Overall, the first half's issuance was 1 trillion won lower than the initial plan.For the third quarter, the issuance of major public bonds, excluding government bonds, is projected to be around 67 trillion won, reflecting an increase of 4 trillion won due to rising policy demand. However, this represents a decrease of 3 trillion won compared to the previous quarter.Attendees noted that while interest rates remain high, bond demand has shown some signs of recovery this month.The government and issuing agencies plan to proceed with the scheduled issuance of government bonds and major public bonds in the third quarter as planned.Participating agencies will flexibly adjust bond issuance. They will diversify issuance schedules and maturities, and if necessary, issue foreign currency bonds or conduct direct borrowing. Additionally, if a significant increase in issuance is anticipated, they plan to consult with the Bond Issuance Agency Council to adjust the volume and timing of issuance.Hwang emphasized, "Given the ongoing domestic and international uncertainties surrounding the bond market in the second half of the year, cooperation among institutions is crucial for market stability. We will hold meetings as needed to discuss issuance volumes and timing."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-24 17:04:00