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Muan Police Chief Choi Young-soo Emphasizes Responsibility Over Authority “The police must prioritize responsibility over the authority they hold.” Choi Young-soo, the chief of the Muan Police Station, highlighted the importance of 'fairness' and 'responsibility' as the foundation for earning the trust of residents. He believes that while investigations must be swift, it is equally crucial to ensure that no one is left feeling wronged. In a recent tea time with reporters, Choi identified 'Ho-yeon-ji-gi' (浩然之氣) as his motto. Originating from Mencius, Ho-yeon-ji-gi refers to a vast and upright spirit that fills the space between heaven and earth. For Choi, it signifies a stance of being able to face anyone with integrity rather than a grand slogan. “Even if I stand before a thousand people, I live with the belief that I have nothing to be ashamed of,” he said, adding that he always encourages his staff to work in a manner that allows them to be proud in front of the community. This principle is also clear in his approach to investigations. Choi stressed the need for prompt responses to various incidents in the Muan area, while also emphasizing that no one should be unfairly treated or left feeling wronged during the investigative process. He stated that the goal is not merely to close cases quickly but to ensure that all parties involved can understand the facts thoroughly. “Investigations should be conducted swiftly, but no one should be left feeling wronged,” he said. “It is important to handle matters fairly and without leaving any doubts.” Looking ahead to changes in the investigative environment after October, Choi placed emphasis on 'responsibility' over 'authority.' He noted that changes in investigative powers should not be seen as a means to strengthen the police organization but rather as an increase in the responsibility owed to the public. “The police should be seen as having responsibilities rather than just authority,” he said. “We must be a police force that is responsible for the lives and safety of residents, not one that views residents merely as a source of authority.” Choi's philosophy on policing was evident during a recent fire at Gyeongnam Honorsville in Namak. During the incident, the police did not limit their role to maintaining order. They assisted residents by providing access to restrooms and deploying vehicles for announcements, actively seeking ways to support those affected. The police viewed their role at the fire scene as extending beyond mere order maintenance, recognizing the need to alleviate the anxiety and discomfort of residents who suddenly found themselves displaced. Choi Young-soo emphasized that “the reason for the police's existence ultimately lies with the residents,” underscoring the importance of community-centered policing. With 'Ho-yeon-ji-gi' in mind, the police aim to act without prioritizing authority, ensuring investigations are swift while leaving no one feeling wronged. The 'upright police' that Choi advocates for signifies a force that can explain not only the outcomes but also the processes to the community. It remains to be seen how the Muan Police Station will implement these principles in actual investigations and community safety efforts.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 19:52:00 -
Four Candidates Selected for First Chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency Moon Hong-joo, a lawyer at Ilseon Law Firm and former special prosecutor, along with Lee Yoon-je, a professor at Myongji University and former special prosecutor, Kim Kwan-jeong, a lawyer at Kim Kwan-jeong Law Office, and Kim Ji-yong, a lawyer at Apex Law Firm, have been selected as candidates for the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency.One of these candidates will be nominated by Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung. The chief will lead the agency, which investigates seven major crimes, including corruption, economic offenses, defense business crimes, drug-related crimes, national security crimes, cybercrimes, and legal distortion.The candidate recommendation committee convened on September 4 at the Government Seoul Building to select nominees for the minister's recommendation. The committee received nominations from the public, corporations, and organizations for 23 candidates between August 19 and 26. They evaluated 11 candidates based on their expertise in serious crime investigations, fairness, human rights awareness, and leadership, ultimately selecting candidates with a two-thirds majority vote.Kim Kwan-jeong, a representative lawyer, has a background as a chief prosecutor, having served as the head of the Criminal Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the chief prosecutor of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, and the chief prosecutor of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office. During his tenure as head of the Criminal Division, he had conflicts with then-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl regarding the so-called 'prosecutor-media collusion' case.Kim Ji-yong is also a former prosecutor, having served as the chief prosecutor of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office and the deputy chief prosecutor of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office. He led the Major Disaster Investigation Support Team's Major Civil Disaster Team in 2022 and resigned from his position as deputy chief prosecutor of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office in 2023.Among the candidates, Moon Hong-joo has judicial experience and served as a special prosecutor in the 'Kim Geon-hee National Affairs Scandal' investigation, which included inquiries into the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway allegations.Lee Yoon-je has worked as a prosecutor in the Suwon, Jeonju, and Cheongju District Prosecutors' Offices and has been a professor at Ajou University School of Law. In 2025, he served as a special prosecutor to investigate acts of insurrection and foreign exchange by former President Yoon Seok-youl and led investigations into former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae.Chairman Lee Joo-won stated, "We approached the evaluation with a heavy sense of responsibility to find the right person to implement the purpose of prosecutorial reform, which is the separation of investigation and prosecution." He added, "We considered various opinions received from public nominations and the qualities and capabilities needed for the first chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to recommend the optimal candidates."Minister Yoon plans to nominate one of the recommended candidates as chief. The nominated candidate will undergo a National Assembly confirmation hearing before being appointed by President Lee Jae-myung. The term for the chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is two years, with no possibility of reappointment. The agency is set to launch on October 2.Minister Yoon stated, "I will do my best to promptly nominate the final candidate so that the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency can successfully launch on the 2nd of next month."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 19:00:00
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LG Inheritance Dispute Appeals Hearing Begins as Three Daughters Seek Reassessment The appeals hearing for a 2 trillion won inheritance dispute surrounding the estate of the late Koo Bon-moo, former chairman of LG, has commenced.The Seoul High Court's Civil Division 8-3, presided over by judges Lim Jong-hyo, Choi Eun-jung, and Oh Yang-sang, held the first preparatory hearing on September 4 at 4 p.m. This hearing was conducted privately and involved Koo Bon-moo's widow, Kim Young-sik, and his two daughters, Koo Yeon-kyung, head of the LG Welfare Foundation, and Koo Yeon-soo, who are suing Koo Kwang-mo, the current chairman of LG Group, for an inheritance recovery claim.The session lasted approximately 40 minutes, during which the court heard the positions of both parties. The next preparatory hearing is scheduled for November 27 at 4 p.m.The appeals process began after the three daughters filed an appeal against the first trial's ruling in February, which had favored Koo Kwang-mo. The daughters expressed their belief that the first trial's decision was unjust from the outset of the appeals hearing. Their legal representative stated after the session, "We thoroughly explained the essence of our claims to the court and strongly argued that the decision should differ from the first trial."In response, Koo Kwang-mo's legal representative remarked, "There was nothing particularly new to discuss." He explained that the first trial was also held privately, and they preferred the appeals hearing to follow the same format, which the court accepted.Previously, after losing his biological son in an accident, Koo Bon-moo adopted Koo Kwang-mo in 2004, in accordance with LG Group's longstanding principle of primogeniture. There were no significant conflicts between Koo Kwang-mo and the three daughters during Koo Bon-moo's lifetime, nor did any issues arise after his passing.However, in February 2023, the three daughters unexpectedly filed a lawsuit against Koo Kwang-mo, seeking a redivision of the inheritance, marking the beginning of the inheritance dispute.The core of the dispute centers on the legality of the inheritance of an 11.28% stake in LG Corp. left by Koo Bon-moo, who passed away in May 2018. At that time, Koo Bon-moo transferred 8.76% (15,122,169 shares) of the stake to Koo Kwang-mo, while Koo Yeon-kyung received 2.01% and Koo Yeon-soo received 0.51%. Additionally, the three daughters inherited assets worth 500 billion won, including real estate and financial investment products. However, they argue that the LG shares should be redistributed according to the legal inheritance ratio, which allocates 1.5 shares to the spouse and 1 share to each child.The first trial court found that the three daughters had received multiple reports from Koo Bon-moo's financial management team regarding the details and division of the inheritance. Based on this, the court determined that the discussions regarding the division of the inheritance with Koo Kwang-mo were conducted legally. The court also concluded that there was no evidence of fraudulent conduct during the drafting of the agreement and that the timing of the lawsuit exceeded the statute of limitations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 18:48:00
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President Lee Declares Entire Tongyeong a Special Disaster Area Due to Heavy Rain Damage 이재명 대통령이 지난달 집중호우로 큰 피해가 발생한 경남 통영시 전역을 특별재난지역으로 추가 선포했다. 기존 산양읍과 봉평동에 한정됐던 특별재난지역을 시 전체로 확대한 것이다. 강유정 청와대 수석대변인은 4일 서면 브리핑을 통해 “이 대통령은 지난 8월 15일부터 18일까지 남부지방에 내린 집중호우로 큰 피해가 발생한 통영시 전체를 중앙합동조사를 거쳐 이날 오후 6시께 특별재난지역으로 추가 선포했다”고 밝혔다. 청와대는 피해 규모가 컸던 점을 고려해 주민들의 피해가 빠짐없이 집계될 수 있도록 신고 기간을 대폭 연장해 접수했다고 설명했다. 정부는 신속하게 복구계획을 수립하고 피해 주민의 일상 복귀를 지원할 방침이다. 앞서 이 대통령은 지난달 21일 거제시 전역과 통영시 산양읍·봉평동을 특별재난지역으로 우선 선포했다. 당시 사전 피해조사에서 해당 지역이 선포 기준을 충족한 것으로 확인됨에 따라 중앙합동조사에 앞서 선제적으로 이뤄진 조치다. 국가재난관리정보시스템(NDMS) 집계에 따르면 이날 오전 기준 거제와 통영의 피해는 총 1만7723건, 1530억원 규모로 잠정 집계됐다. 거제는 1만4089건에 1199억원, 통영은 3634건에 331억원의 재산 피해가 발생했다. 피해 입력이 진행 중이어서 피해 규모는 더 늘어날 수 있다. 특별재난지역으로 선포되면 지방정부가 부담해야 하는 복구비 가운데 일부가 국비로 추가 지원된다. 피해 주민에게는 국세·지방세 납부 유예와 건강보험료·전기·통신·도시가스요금 감면 등 추가 지원도 제공된다. 정부는 피해 발생 직후부터 거제·통영에 대한 특별재난지역 선포를 검토해 왔다. 구윤철 경제부총리 겸 재정경제부 장관은 지난달 20일 관계장관회의에서 “특별재난지역 선포 검토 등 가용 가능한 수단을 총동원해 피해지역 주민들의 조속한 일상 회복을 지원하겠다”고 밝힌 바 있다. 2026-09-04 18:28:00
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IntelliVix Receives Preliminary Approval for KOSDAQ Listing IntelliVix, a safe artificial intelligence (AI) company, announced on September 4 that it received preliminary approval for its listing on the KOSDAQ market on September 3. Mirae Asset Securities will serve as the lead underwriter, with the listing targeted for November.Founded in 2000, IntelliVix specializes in safe AI solutions. The company has developed and supplied the GenAMS AI solution, which detects and responds to risks in industrial and social settings.IntelliVix's competitive edge lies in its ability to commercialize its proprietary AI technology, generating actual revenue. According to the company, it recorded revenues of 18.3 billion won in 2023, projected to reach 34 billion won in 2024 and 46.6 billion won in 2025. The company has reported operating profits for 13 consecutive years, with 4.9 billion won in profit last year.The company has a diverse customer base, supplying AI safety solutions to major corporations such as Samsung, POSCO, Hyundai Motor, and LG Group, as well as government and local authorities.IntelliVix is also expanding its product portfolio. It has introduced the next-generation safety monitoring platform GenAMS, the all-weather AI camera VIXallcam, and the four-legged AI patrol robot ARGOS. Notably, VIXallcam received an innovation award at this year's CES.Internationally, IntelliVix is ramping up its overseas operations, having established distribution and business partnerships in eight countries. The company is focusing on expanding its global presence in Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia.An IntelliVix representative stated, "We aim to use this KOSDAQ listing as a stepping stone to expand our verified safe AI technology and business model into the defense and global markets."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 18:16:00
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Micron and China Join HBM Market Competition as SK Hynix and Samsung Narrow Gap The competition for dominance in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, a key component for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, is intensifying. SK Hynix maintains its lead with a 50% market share, while Samsung Electronics is rapidly increasing its share, narrowing the gap between the two companies. As the transition from HBM3E to HBM4 begins in the second half of the year, forecasts suggest that Samsung could take the top spot in the HBM4 market next year.Additionally, U.S. company Micron is expanding its HBM4 production capacity, and China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has started small-scale production of HBM3E, further intensifying the competitive landscape in the HBM market.According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, SK Hynix held a 50% share of the global HBM market by revenue in the second quarter of this year, although this is down from 58% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Samsung's share increased from 21% to 33%, reducing the gap between the two companies from 37 percentage points to 17. Micron ranked third with an 18% share.As HBM4 shipments ramp up in the second half of the year, competition between Samsung and SK Hynix is expected to intensify. Currently, most HBM market revenue comes from the fifth-generation HBM3E, but the market focus is shifting to the sixth-generation HBM4, which will be used in NVIDIA's next-generation AI accelerator, the 'Hopper'.Samsung plans to triple its HBM4 revenue in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. SK Hynix is also ramping up production after stabilizing yields for HBM4. Both companies are accelerating the development of the next-generation HBM4E.There are predictions that SK Hynix's current market advantage in HBM3E may not carry over to HBM4. Global investment bank UBS forecasts that Samsung will capture a 41% share of the HBM4 market next year, surpassing SK Hynix's projected 39%. Samsung's total HBM shipments are expected to increase by 124% this year and by 137% next year.KB Securities also predicts that Samsung will achieve a 44% market share in the HBM4 sector next year, with the average selling price (ASP) of Samsung's HBM products expected to more than double compared to the previous year.Micron is also pursuing Samsung and SK Hynix by expanding its HBM4 production capacity. Industry sources indicate that Micron plans to add up to 60,000 wafers per month by the end of this year, bringing its total capacity to around 100,000 wafers, doubling its previous capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 wafers per month.The production share of HBM4 12-layer chips is expected to rise from 20-30% at the beginning of the year to as much as 50% by year-end. Micron began mass production of HBM4 12-layer chips in the second quarter, with cumulative shipment revenue exceeding $1 billion.China's competition is also heating up. CXMT, China's largest DRAM manufacturer, has recently started small-scale production of HBM3E. It plans to begin full-scale production in 2027, with plans to supply Chinese fabless semiconductor companies as early as that year. Alibaba's semiconductor subsidiary T-head and Chinese AI semiconductor firm Cambrian are reportedly evaluating CXMT's HBM3E for their processors.CXMT was initially expected to start mass production of HBM3 this year, but it is accelerating development of the higher-level HBM3E. Considering that Samsung and SK Hynix plan to begin mass production of HBM3E in 2024, there is an estimated three-year technology gap at the time of mass production.However, CXMT's HBM products are assessed to have lower reliability and speed compared to those from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Additionally, as Samsung and SK Hynix are already expanding HBM4 supply and developing HBM4E, a gap in product generations remains.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 18:04:00
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Weather Forecast: Clear Skies Expected Nationwide on Saturday, Rain in Some Areas On Saturday, September 5, clear and pleasant weather is expected across the country. However, rain is forecasted in some areas, including the Gangwon East Coast, mountainous regions, and Jeju Island.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on September 4, while most of the country will be generally clear, the Gangwon East Coast, mountainous areas, and Jeju Island will experience mostly cloudy conditions.Rain is expected in the Gangwon East Coast, mountainous regions, and the mountains of Jeju Island, with some areas experiencing brief breaks in precipitation. From late afternoon into the night, rain may also fall in the northern coastal areas of North Gyeongsang Province and northeastern mountainous regions.The anticipated rainfall amounts are as follows: 5 to 10 mm in the Gangwon mountainous areas, less than 5 mm in the Gangwon East Coast, 5 to 10 mm in the northern coastal areas and northeastern mountainous regions of North Gyeongsang Province, and 5 to 20 mm in the mountainous and midland areas of Jeju Island.Strong winds are expected to continue along the southern coast and Jeju Island, with most other regions of the country also experiencing strong winds.Waves will be high in the southern and eastern seas, and strong swells will affect the coasts of Jeju Island, the southern coast, and the eastern coast.Wave heights are expected to reach 1.0 to 3.5 meters in the eastern sea, 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the western sea, and 0.5 to 3.5 meters in the southern sea.In the offshore areas (approximately 200 km from the coastline), wave heights are forecasted to be 1.0 to 4.0 meters in the eastern sea, 0.5 to 4.0 meters in the western sea, and 1.5 to 5.0 meters in the southern sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 18:04:00
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Japan to Invest $1.8 Billion in Shipbuilding Industry Revival Japan's government has decided to provide a total of ¥213.1 billion (approximately $1.8 billion) to three major shipbuilding companies in an effort to revive its shipbuilding industry, which has fallen behind South Korea and China.According to reports from Japanese media, including the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Yasushi Kaneko, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, announced at a press conference following a Cabinet meeting that the support will be distributed over the next ten years. This funding is part of a ¥350 billion 'Shipbuilding Revitalization Fund' aimed at supporting capital investments in the industry, with the funds earmarked for automation investments and research and development.The support will allocate ¥113.8 billion to Imabari Shipbuilding and its group company, Tadotsu Shipbuilding, and ¥49.4 billion to Japan Marine United, the second-largest shipbuilder. Additionally, ¥49.9 billion will be provided to Namura Shipbuilding and its subsidiary, Hakodate Dock. Consequently, the total investment, including public and private contributions to these companies, is expected to reach approximately ¥600 billion.Imabari Shipbuilding plans to use the funds to establish block and painting factories at its Marugame headquarters and Saijo plant, as well as to expand production capacity at its steel processing plant. The company also intends to introduce robots to enhance automation.During the press conference, Kaneko emphasized, "Our efforts to revive the shipbuilding industry will finally begin."The Japanese government aims to double its shipbuilding capacity to 18 million tons by 2035 compared to 2024 levels. To achieve this goal, it plans to invest approximately ¥1 trillion in the shipbuilding sector through public and private investments during this period, which includes the establishment of the Shipbuilding Revitalization Fund.Once a 'shipbuilding kingdom' that held more than half of the global market share, Japan's prominence has diminished due to competition from latecomers like South Korea and China. According to global maritime research firm Clarkson, as of 2025, China is expected to maintain a 63% share of the global shipbuilding market, followed by South Korea at 21%, while Japan's share remains in the single digits.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 18:00:00
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1.3 Points Separate National Medical School Candidates; Mokpo Officials Call for Review The evaluation scores for Mokpo University and Suncheon University as candidates for a new national medical school were separated by just 1.3 points. However, the difference in the evaluation of site acquisition certainty was only 0.06 points, raising concerns about the review's validity. On the 4th, lawmakers Kim Won-i and Seo Mi-hwa, along with Mokpo Mayor Kang Seong-hwi, Mokpo City Council Chairman Lee Hyung-wan, local council members, special city council members from the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, and Mokpo University Vice President Lee Sang-chan and faculty held a press conference at the National Assembly, urging the Education Ministry to suspend the selection process for the new national medical school and to thoroughly review the recommendations. They argued that while Mokpo University has secured approximately 50,000 square meters for the medical school site, Suncheon University has not secured state-owned land and submitted an agreement based on the free lease of city-owned land. They called for a proper verification of eligibility and feasibility according to university establishment and operation regulations and laws regarding public property. They particularly pointed out that despite the overall score difference of only 1.3 points, Mokpo University was only 0.06 points ahead in the site acquisition certainty evaluation. In contrast, the proposed faculty plan for the medical school indicated 112 faculty members for Mokpo University and 140 for Suncheon University, resulting in a 1.17-point gap in that evaluation. Mokpo representatives stated, "The faculty to be appointed in four years should not just be a number; the actual feasibility and concrete plans should have been verified." They also raised concerns about the composition of the review committee. Although the detailed operational plan initially included experts in medical facility design and construction, of the eight actual reviewers, seven were medical school professors and one was a financial consultant, with no design or construction experts. They criticized the exclusion of objective indicators showing the medical vulnerability of the southwestern region from the evaluation criteria. They stated that it is difficult to accept that the regional medical disparities were not reflected in the evaluation, given the purpose of establishing a national medical school to improve the realities of medically underserved areas. Mokpo officials and the university have called for the Education Ministry to halt further reviews and verify the legality and fairness of the review process, especially since a lawsuit has been filed to cancel the selection and recommendation decisions. They emphasized, "Acceptance of the results is only possible when a legal and fair evaluation is conducted," and stated, "Thoroughly identifying and correcting the issues in the review process is the way to respond to the demands of the residents of the southwestern region who have long sought the establishment of a national medical school for 36 years."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 17:52:10
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Major Violations Uncovered at Daedong University and Hwabong Academy Serious academic and administrative misconduct has been uncovered at Hwabong Academy and Daedong University, including improper contracts worth hundreds of billions of won for hospital supplies and a professor approving grades for their own child without prior notification. The Education Ministry's audit revealed significant moral hazards in the operation of the school and its governing body. On September 4, the Education Ministry announced the results of its comprehensive audit of Hwabong Academy and Daedong University. Conducted over 11 days in November 2024 and November 2025, the audit identified a total of 16 violations. As a result, 17 individuals faced disciplinary actions (four received minor penalties, four received warnings, and nine were cautioned), along with 21 administrative measures and a financial recovery of approximately 68.57 million won. Clear misconduct was revealed regarding contracts for supplying hospital goods. Despite receiving a warning in 2023 during an accounting audit of private educational institutions for similar contracts, the institutions continued to engage in improper contracts worth 67.6 billion won with five companies, leading to corrective actions and minor penalties for those involved. Management of revenue-generating assets was also found to be haphazard. Without board approval or notification to the relevant authorities, the institution disposed of deposits worth 1.5 billion won on nine occasions. After belatedly reporting this to the Education Ministry and having it rejected, they attempted to re-deposit the funds. Additionally, 35 million won received as monthly rent was not included in the budget and was improperly diverted for hospital operating expenses. Some spaces were rented at low prices to former hospital staff, resulting in further legal action. Serious violations were also found in academic management and personnel matters. One professor allowed their child to enroll in their own class without the necessary prior notification, subsequently awarding grades ranging from A+ to B+ across five subjects, which led to minor penalties and warnings. In the process of designating an acting president, manipulations were uncovered. Although there was no discussion about the acting president at the board meeting in December 2022, false notifications were sent to the school, allowing an individual to serve in that role until a new president was appointed in January 2023, resulting in disciplinary actions for those involved. Corruption related to facility construction was also exposed. The school entered into six contracts for specialized construction work with a company that lacked the necessary licenses, totaling 252 million won. Furthermore, during the completion of 13 facility construction projects worth 1.115 billion won, essential inspection reports were not even prepared. The Education Ministry issued a warning to the institution and took action against those responsible.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-04 17:48:00