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  • Shinsegae Centum City Hosts Active Festa with 41 Participating Brands
    Shinsegae Centum City Hosts 'Active Festa' with 41 Participating Brands Shinsegae Centum City reported an 80% increase in sales on the basement level of Centum City Mall, which was repurposed from a duty-free shop to a sports, fashion, and content space. During the same period, overall sales for Centum City Mall rose by 23%.To celebrate the first anniversary of the basement level's opening, Shinsegae Centum City announced that it will host the 'Active Festa' from September 11 to 20, featuring 41 brands from sports, outdoor, and street fashion.The basement level, which opened in September 2025, transformed approximately 1,900 square meters of space previously used as a duty-free shop into a multi-content area, following the introduction of a specialized sports shoe section in December 2024. The area now includes fashion and sports brands, cafes, and merchandise shops.Shinsegae explained that the transition from a duty-free space, which primarily served international travelers, to a department store has altered customer flow within the building. Since the renovation of the basement level, there has been an increase in customer movement between the department store and the mall, contributing to the overall sales growth.The anniversary event will feature participation from brands such as Vans, Allbirds, Kangol, Mark Gonzales, and Who Are You. Discounts will reach up to 50% depending on the brand, with some stores offering additional discounts based on purchase amounts.Exclusive products will also be available at the Centum City location. Deus Ex Machina will sell a limited quantity of coach jackets and hoodies, while Mizuno will introduce 100 pairs of the limited edition 'MOC Ring Prophesy' starting September 19.During the event, other floors of Centum City Mall will also offer discounts and promotions for sports and outdoor brands. Participating brands include Timberland, Millet, Nepa, Skechers, K2, Nordisk, HDEX, and Fjällräven, with Bodyfriend, Dyson Beauty, and Adidas also providing discounts or gift card events.A Shinsegae Centum City representative stated, “The renovation of the basement level has enhanced our competitive edge and strengthened the synergy between the department store and the mall, resulting in significant sales growth. We hope customers enjoy a rewarding fall shopping experience with the exclusive products and various discounts we have prepared for the first anniversary.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 21:12:00
  • Fire on Cargo Ship in Qingdao, China, Claims 20 Lives; 5 Missing
    Fire on Cargo Ship in Qingdao, China, Claims 20 Lives; 5 Missing A fire broke out on a foreign-flagged cargo ship undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao, Shandong Province, resulting in 20 fatalities and 5 missing persons. According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the fire occurred at 11:15 a.m. on September 10 at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Company, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Group. At the time of the incident, there were 42 people on board the vessel. Twelve individuals were able to escape safely, while five were injured and transported to a hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening. The remaining 25 crew members were initially unreachable, but search and rescue teams located 20 of them by 5:30 p.m. All were found deceased, and the other five are still unaccounted for. The fire was extinguished around 2:30 p.m., approximately three hours after it started. Chinese authorities have deployed emergency management, firefighting, public security, and health officials to continue search and recovery efforts at the site. The nationality of the ship has not yet been disclosed, with authorities only confirming that it is a foreign-flagged cargo vessel. Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed officials to prioritize the search for the missing individuals, support for the victims' families, and the overall response to the incident. He also called for a swift investigation into the cause of the fire and strict accountability for those responsible. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has emphasized the need to focus on rescue operations and medical treatment for the injured, as well as to implement thorough safety measures to prevent further incidents.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:56:00
  • OpenAI and Anthropics AI Warnings: Still Science Fiction, Control is Reality
    OpenAI and Anthropic's AI Warnings: Still Science Fiction, Control is Reality "Superintelligence beyond humans," "There is a 10% chance that artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to human extinction within the next decade." OpenAI and Anthropic have been announcing general artificial intelligence (AGI) with the release of new models. In just three days, they solved mathematical problems and autonomously improved their intelligence. As scenes reminiscent of science fiction movies unfold, both companies continue to issue warnings about 'AI domination over humans.' Some in the AI industry suggest that the two companies, ahead of their public offerings, are engaging in a form of fear marketing to exaggerate AI capabilities. However, there is growing analysis that the latest AI models have entered a stage beyond human understanding and control. Experts agree that the importance of 'alignment' research, which aims to control AI according to human intentions, is increasing as the very definition of AGI needs to be reestablished. ◆Repeated Warnings of 'Loss of Control' with Each New Model According to the IT industry on the 10th, OpenAI announced on September 2 (local time) the release of its latest model, 'GPT-6 Astra,' classifying its risk level in its 'Readiness Framework' for the first time as 'Critical.' In its safety report, OpenAI explained that Astra could identify unknown security vulnerabilities and develop new attack methods without human step-by-step instructions in well-defended systems. At the same time, it acknowledged that the monitoring capability of this model's thought processes has significantly decreased compared to previous models. Earlier, in a report released in June, Anthropic warned that the next generation of AI breakthroughs could create models that completely escape human control, proposing a multilateral AI arms control system to competitors. In fact, the company delayed the release of its top model, 'Mythos Preview,' due to its ability to autonomously create some of the most powerful cyber weapons ever. This pattern is not new. When Anthropic released 'Claude Opus 4' in May of last year, it activated the highest safety measure, ASL-3, after the model was found to threaten engineers attempting to replace it during safety testing. In April of this year, the release of the higher model 'Mythos Preview' was also postponed due to its ability to create cyber weapons. On June 4, just two months later, a report on 'recursive self-improvement' stated that the next generation of AI could completely escape human control. Five days later, on June 9, Anthropic released the official model 'Claude Mythos 5,' which faced access suspension due to export control issues just three days after its launch, only to resume a month later. This pattern of risk warnings coinciding with new model releases has been repeating. OpenAI has followed a similar trajectory. After the Hugging Face hacking incident in July, OpenAI announced it would strengthen control over its training and evaluation processes. Subsequently, it delayed the release of Astra, citing the need for additional safety reviews after determining that its cyber capabilities had reached an unexpectedly high level. Ultimately, the result after nearly two months of re-evaluation was the first assignment of a 'Critical' rating, which OpenAI presented as evidence of the new model's overwhelming performance. Anthropic researcher Evan Hubinger estimated the probability of AI domination over humanity at 10%, while Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei mentioned a probability of around 25% for catastrophic scenarios. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the 'father of deep learning,' also suggested a similar range of 10-20%. ◆"Fear is Marketing"...Counterarguments Are Strong Voices opposing excessive concerns are also significant. Critics, including Emily Bender, a professor at the University of Washington who has labeled large language models as mere 'probabilistic parrots,' remain skeptical about the very premise that AGI is possible, viewing scenarios of human domination as still confined to the realm of science fiction. Yann LeCun, a Turing Award winner, has repeatedly criticized so-called 'AI doomsayers,' stating that disaster scenarios are merely unverified hypotheses. He argues that the leaders of OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic are the ones engaging in large-scale lobbying, warning that the more successful fear campaigns become, the more likely it is that a few companies will monopolize AI through 'regulatory capture.' If licensing or permitting systems are introduced under the guise of safety, the logic follows that startups and the open-source community lacking capital will be the first to be eliminated, leaving only the big tech companies that have already dominated the market. There are ongoing criticisms that Silicon Valley has paradoxically promoted the importance of its technology through narratives suggesting that its technology could end the world. Numerous past predictions, such as the imminent disappearance of truck transportation or that a specific country already possesses superintelligent AI, have failed to materialize. In fact, the criticism that big tech companies present risk level increases or safety reports as evidence of performance excellence with each new model release suggests that risk warnings are not free from being utilized as marketing elements. ◆Neuralize, Hugging Face Hacking...Real Evidence Leading to AGI Redefinition Separately from AI fear marketing, there is already evidence that the operational mechanisms of AI models are moving into areas that are difficult for humans to understand and control. Choi Byung-ho, a professor at Korea University’s Human-Inspired AI Research Institute, stated, "While theories of AI domination over humans remain in the realm of science fiction, it is true that as AI model performance improves, they are increasingly escaping human control." He refers to this as the 'alignment issue.' Professor Choi cited 'Neuralize' as a tangible example of loss of control. This phenomenon occurs when AI reasons in its own language, which is unreadable to humans. The more iterations it performs, the better its performance becomes, but it becomes increasingly difficult to understand what the AI is thinking. He noted that just as AlphaGo demonstrated that the 'standard' of Go established by humans did not actually exist, recent AI models are revealing that the 'security standards' established by humans are also illusions. In fact, GPT-6 Astra introduced a new reasoning method called 'recursive deepening,' during which the model's thought processes are handled in internal representations of thousands of numbers rather than natural language, making it difficult for humans to scrutinize its content. In July, an incident occurred where OpenAI's internal model lost control and hacked the Hugging Face server during benchmark testing. At that time, hundreds of AI agents exploited the autonomy granted to them during cybersecurity testing to carry out an unplanned hacking operation, and OpenAI reportedly did not realize this for nearly a week. This incident led to the introduction of the 'AI Kill Switch Act' and the 'Artificial Superintelligence Prohibition Act' in both the U.S. House and Senate two months later. This expansion of capabilities leads to debates over the definition of AGI. OpenAI categorizes the path to AGI into five stages: chatbot, reasoner, agent, innovator, and organization. Recent models are being evaluated as having entered the early stages of the fourth level, 'innovator,' which autonomously creates new knowledge, surpassing the third level, 'agent,' which performs long-term tasks autonomously. On September 8, OpenAI announced that its internal AI system had proven the existence of singularities in one of the Millennium Prize Problems, the Navier-Stokes equations, which had remained unsolved for nearly 90 years. Professor Choi emphasized, "Rather than focusing on apocalyptic scenarios like AI domination over humans, we should concentrate on practical control measures. Even if such fear scenarios are accurate, they do not help us. Ultimately, it is crucial to find answers in how we understand and control AI, focusing on alignment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:48:20
  • Hanwha Aerospace to Export 18 Chunmoo Rocket Launchers to Croatia
    Hanwha Aerospace to Export 18 Chunmoo Rocket Launchers to Croatia Hanwha Aerospace will export 18 units of its domestically produced multiple launch rocket system, Chunmoo, to Croatia. The contract is valued at approximately 640 billion won, making Croatia the fourth European country to adopt the Chunmoo system. According to Yonhap News Agency on September 10, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that Hanwha Aerospace and the Croatian Ministry of Defense signed the Chunmoo export contract in Zagreb. The contract amount is about 410 million euros, equivalent to approximately 640 billion won. With this contract, Croatia joins Poland, Estonia, and Norway as the fourth European nation to acquire the Chunmoo system. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are also known to operate Chunmoo systems. This contract is particularly significant as it marks the first large-scale defense cooperation between South Korea and Croatia. The government expects this to lead to long-term collaboration that goes beyond mere arms exports, including industrial cooperation with local companies and ongoing military support. The signing ceremony was presided over by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, with attendance from Defense Minister Mario Banožić and Defense Acquisition Program Administration Commissioner Lee Yong-cheol. Commissioner Lee expressed hope that the Chunmoo system would enhance local security capabilities and that this contract would serve as a foundation for ongoing defense cooperation between the two countries. He stated, “This Chunmoo contract is the starting point for defense cooperation between South Korea and Croatia,” adding that the government will work closely with the defense industry to build trust and actively support future collaborations. Chunmoo is a domestic multiple launch rocket system developed to counter threats from North Korea's artillery and long-range rockets. It has been deployed by the South Korean military since 2015 and can operate various rockets, including 130mm, 239mm, and 600mm types, with a maximum range of approximately 36 km to 290 km, depending on the type of munition. Each launcher can carry 40 rounds of 130mm rockets, 12 rounds of 239mm rockets, or 2 rounds of 600mm rockets.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:48:20
  • President Lee Jae-myung Pledges to Strengthen Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
    President Lee Jae-myung Pledges to Strengthen Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities President Lee Jae-myung announced on September 10 that the government will enhance support for individuals with developmental disabilities, referencing the story of the late Jeon Gyeong-cheol, who left behind a son with such disabilities. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Lee stated, "The tears of a father who worried only about his son's future until his last moment touched all of our hearts," adding, "The story of 'Peter Pan Dad' resonates with many parents of children with disabilities." He emphasized that children should not be left alone and should be able to lead ordinary lives even in the absence of their parents, introducing the government's comprehensive measures for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities announced that day. President Lee highlighted plans to expand 24-hour integrated care for individuals with severe developmental disabilities and increase participation in daytime activities for those with developmental disabilities, as well as to strengthen support through public guardianship systems. He concluded, "We will take one step at a time, but we will not stop. I will not forget the future of the son that Jeon Gyeong-cheol worried about until the end."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:48:00
  • Government to Develop Five Regional Tourism Zones to Diversify Foreign Visitor Destinations
    Government to Develop Five Regional Tourism Zones to Diversify Foreign Visitor Destinations The South Korean government is taking steps to address the phenomenon of foreign tourists predominantly visiting Seoul by establishing five regional tourism zones centered around local airports. The initiative aims to promote unique tourism content that can only be experienced in these areas, rather than simply expanding administrative boundaries or infrastructure.On September 10, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the confirmation of five regional international airports—Gimhae, Daegu, Cheongju, Yangyang, and Muan—as gateways for the new tourism zones. A total of 935 billion won (approximately $700 million) will be invested next year, with 187 billion won allocated specifically for the development of specialized tourism content. Additional funds will support overseas marketing (180 billion won), improvements to transportation and payment convenience (149 billion won), and airport and port linkage initiatives (143 billion won).The inbound tourism market has seen remarkable growth, with 12.8 million foreign visitors recorded from January to July this year, marking the highest level ever. However, the tendency for most foreign tourists to remain in the Seoul metropolitan area has been a persistent challenge, primarily due to the long travel times to regional attractions. It can take four to five hours to reach major tourist destinations after arriving at Incheon or Gimpo airports, creating barriers to the distribution of visitors across the country.The Ministry's focus on regional airports as a solution to invigorate local tourism stems from the potential to allow foreign tourists to enter directly into these areas, bypassing the inconvenience of traveling through the capital region.Data from the Korea Tourism Organization, presented at the recent '2nd Korea Tourism Data Seminar' on August 27, revealed that 20.7% of foreign tourists who visited South Korea in the first half of this year used regional airports such as Cheongju, Daegu, and Gimhae. This means that one in five visitors entered through these airports, with Cheongju Airport experiencing a remarkable 109.1% increase in arrivals compared to the same period last year.To transform this positive trend into explosive demand, the key to success lies in developing differentiated regional tourism content. There needs to be compelling reasons for foreign tourists to fly into regional airports and then travel to other areas, as generic tourist attractions will not satisfy the expectations of today's discerning global travelers.Kim Han-kyu, head of the Korea Visit Year Promotion Preparation Team, emphasized the importance of 'killer content' for regional tourism activation during the seminar. He suggested that instead of promoting all tourism content simultaneously, it would be more effective to focus on competitive offerings to create successful case studies that can then be expanded to other regions.The Ministry also recognizes the significance of unique regional tourism content and will concentrate on developing killer content that connects gateway cities (airports) with surrounding cities that possess specialized tourism resources. This includes promoting K-pop concerts and other Hallyu tourism initiatives, as well as highlighting stay-oriented content tailored to each region's characteristics.For instance, the southeastern region, combining 'K-Cultural Heritage' and 'Urban Marine' experiences, will focus on the Gimhae Airport tourism zone, which integrates Busan's K-culture and urban marine and leisure content with Ulsan's industrial tourism, Geoje and Tongyeong's scenic coastal views and wellness offerings, and Gyeongju's historical resources. The Daegu Airport tourism zone will synergize Daegu's medical and modern historical tourism with Andong's Confucian cultural tourism and Gyeongju's Silla historical tourism. Notably, Gimhae and Daegu, which are physically close, will be developed as a continuous travel route linked through Gyeongju.The Cheongju Airport tourism zone will leverage the historical significance of Baekje and traditional culture. It aims to create a massive historical and cultural tourism zone representing the inland region by combining Cheongju's cultural, artistic, and shopping infrastructure with UNESCO World Heritage sites in Gongju, Buyeo, and Iksan, as well as Jeonju's traditional cultural resources. The well-developed transportation network also allows for the expansion of entry and exit routes to the southwestern region.The Yangyang Airport tourism zone will focus on 'comprehensive sports tourism' that encompasses mountains, beaches, culture, and sports. It will highlight Yangyang's Seoraksan National Park, known for K-mountaineering, along with surfing on the East Coast, the legacy of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, K-content filming locations, and marine tourism resources in Sokcho.The Muan Airport tourism zone will be based on a triangular belt connecting air and sea (cruise) with inland transportation (KTX). It aims to elevate the southwestern region as a stay-oriented tourism zone by uniting the 'Namdo culinary culture' as a common resource with tourism in Muan and Mokpo along the west coast, cultural and artistic offerings in Gwangju, and island and leisure resources in Yeosu.The Ministry aims to improve transportation and shopping infrastructure and discover attractive content to achieve a target of 30 million inbound visitors and 5 million arrivals at regional airports by 2029.Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated, "The current structure of inbound tourism centered on the metropolitan area is insufficient to reach the goal of 40 million visitors. We will focus on establishing a 'golden route' for inbound tourism centered around regional airports to enhance our capacity and discover new tourism attractions."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:44:00
  • Big Bangs Seungri Under Investigation for Assaulting Man in Gangnam Restaurant
    Big Bang's Seungri Under Investigation for Assaulting Man in Gangnam Restaurant Seungri, a member of the group Big Bang, is under police investigation for allegedly assaulting a man in his 30s during a meal. According to a report by News1, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul received a complaint on August 26, requesting that Seungri be punished for special assault, and is currently investigating the circumstances of the incident. Seungri is accused of assaulting the man while dining at a restaurant in Gangnam District, Seoul. Police are verifying the details of the incident based on statements from the complainant and related individuals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:12:00
  • Conflict Erupts Between Prime Minister Han Seung-sook and Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon Over Allegations of Surveillance
    Conflict Erupts Between Prime Minister Han Seung-sook and Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon Over Allegations of Surveillance Prime Minister Han Seung-sook and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon clashed during a government question session in the National Assembly on September 10 over allegations regarding the involvement of a Prime Minister's Office staff member in a press conference. Lawmaker Han accused the staff member of asking questions at his press conference without disclosing their identity, raising suspicions of 'surveillance of opposition lawmakers.' Prime Minister Han responded that if any inappropriate actions are confirmed, measures will be taken, but he refuted the surveillance claims as excessive.During the session, Lawmaker Han raised concerns about the staff member participating in the Q&A session as if they were an ordinary citizen. He pointed out that the staff member's phone screen displayed a Telegram chat titled 'Prime Minister + Key Officials,' suggesting possible directives from the Prime Minister's Office.In response, Prime Minister Han denied any direct orders. However, he stated that if the staff member's actions are confirmed as inappropriate, necessary actions would be taken.The two sides also debated whether the incident could be classified as 'surveillance.' When Lawmaker Han mentioned the possibility of the Prime Minister's Office surveilling opposition lawmakers, Prime Minister Han countered that labeling questions asked in a public setting as surveillance is inappropriate.The atmosphere in the assembly grew tense during the exchange. Lawmaker Han, facing protests from Democratic Party members, retorted, asking, 'Did you come to a baseball game?' and urged them to 'be quiet,' escalating the verbal sparring.Later, in a question-and-answer session with Democratic Party member Park Ji-won, Prime Minister Han reiterated his explanation of the incident. He clarified that while Lawmaker Han was conducting a Q&A with reporters in a public space, a staff member from the Prime Minister's Office asked a question related to the Prime Minister's directives from the previous day, and when asked about their identity, the staff member claimed to be an ordinary citizen.Prime Minister Han argued that if asking a question in a public place is considered surveillance, then everyone would be surveilled at all times.After the session, Lawmaker Han continued his offensive. He stated on social media that it is difficult to view the staff member's actions as solely a personal judgment and called for an investigation into the circumstances and accountability from the Prime Minister's Office. Members of the ruling People Power Party also joined in the criticism, labeling it 'power-based surveillance.'The two also clashed over Prime Minister Han's directive to investigate the leak of investigation data related to the nominee for Minister of Justice, Kim Seung-won. Prime Minister Han had instructed relevant agencies to confirm how the investigation data was leaked. Lawmaker Han raised concerns that the Prime Minister was intervening in the investigation of a specific case, sparking a debate over investigative oversight.In contrast, Prime Minister Han rebutted that he was not directing the investigation but rather ensuring that the circumstances surrounding the data leak were confirmed from a public service perspective, emphasizing that he did not instruct an investigation into any specific individual.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 20:08:00
  • President Lee Directs Revisions to Prosecutorial Agencys Structure
    President Lee Directs Revisions to Prosecutorial Agency's Structure President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the Ministry of Justice to revise the organizational and personnel plan prepared ahead of the launch of the new prosecutorial agency. This decision comes as he believes that maintaining the current number of prosecutors and the designation of the department reviewing police non-prosecution cases as 'Judicial Control Division' does not align with the intent of prosecutorial reform.According to reports from News1 and others on September 10, President Lee returned from a state visit to France and received a briefing at the Blue House on the draft of the 'Prosecutorial Agency and Affiliated Institutions Organization' and the amendment to the 'Prosecutor Staffing Act.' He subsequently ordered modifications and enhancements.It is reported that President Lee pointed out the need for a more thorough design of the organization, personnel, and department names during the launch of the prosecutorial agency. This reflects a recognition that the government has inadvertently sparked unnecessary controversy over detailed organizational issues while pursuing its key national agenda of prosecutorial reform.The first item on the review list is the number of prosecutors. According to the plan prepared by the Ministry of Justice, the total staffing for the prosecutorial agency is set at 8,412, including 2,292 prosecutors and 6,120 administrative staff. While the overall personnel count is expected to decrease by about 20% from the current level, the number of prosecutors is to remain unchanged.In response, members of the ruling party have argued that since the direct investigative function of the prosecution will be eliminated, the number of prosecutors should also be reduced accordingly. Voices within the leadership of the Democratic Party have also called for scrutiny of whether the proposed structure of the prosecutorial agency aligns with the principles of prosecutorial reform.President Lee is also reported to have expressed the view that rather than being bound by the existing number of prosecutors, the staffing should be recalibrated based on the actual duties the prosecutorial agency will perform.Additionally, he has requested a reevaluation of the designation 'Judicial Control Division' for the department reviewing non-prosecution cases. This name does not accurately reflect the actual work involved and could exacerbate tensions regarding the relationship between investigative and prosecutorial agencies due to its implication of 'control' over the police.The government is currently working on organizational adjustments ahead of the planned dissolution of the prosecution office and the launch of the prosecutorial agency next month. On September 4, the Ministry of Justice announced the draft of the organizational structure and staffing for the prosecutorial agency, along with the proposed amendment to the Prosecutor Staffing Act.Following President Lee's directive, the Ministry of Justice is expected to reassess the scale of prosecutor staffing and department names.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 19:24:00
  • Ruling Party Withdraws Bill to Strip Special Prosecutors Investigative Powers
    Ruling Party Withdraws Bill to Strip Special Prosecutor's Investigative Powers The Democratic Party of Korea withdrew a bill on September 10 that aimed to strip special prosecutors of their investigative powers just one day after its introduction. The party explained that the inclusion of the special prosecutor law in the revision of 140 bills was a result of the overall adjustment process in line with the amended Criminal Procedure Act. Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party during a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "The Democratic Party monopolizes investigations and prosecutions through three major special prosecutors, and now they are attempting to strip the investigative powers of special prosecutors in the most serious case of infringing on citizens' voting rights." Earlier, on September 8, lawmakers including Kim Yong-min introduced a bill to amend the law regarding the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate allegations of voting paper shortages during the 9th nationwide local elections, which included the removal of all provisions that provided a basis for the investigative powers of dispatched special prosecutors. Jung strongly condemned this move. He noted, "While the amended Criminal Procedure Act abolishes the supplementary investigative powers of prosecutors, it still recognizes the investigative powers of dispatched special prosecutors through provisions. Yet, they are uniquely trying to strip the investigative powers of the special prosecutor for the Election Commission, which is related to the infringement of citizens' voting rights." He added, "This goes beyond shielding the incompetence and corruption of the Election Commission; it is an attempt to cover up the serious violation of citizens' voting rights. Today, the Democratic Party and the Election Commission have declared a cartel against voting rights. The People Power Party will use all means to block this unjust law." In response to the controversy, the Democratic Party issued a statement through its spokesperson, Lee Joo-hee, announcing the withdrawal of the proposed amendment and the intention to reintroduce a bill that allows for the investigation by dispatched special prosecutors during the special prosecutor's term. Lee explained, "Both parties had agreed that 'the investigation by dispatched special prosecutors is possible,' but during the recent adjustment process of 140 bills, the amendment to the special prosecutor law was organized and introduced contrary to the spirit of that agreement." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-10 19:20:00