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  • Senior bureaucrat named new trade minister
    Senior bureaucrat named new trade minister SEOUL, August 21 (AJP) - Senior trade official Park Jung-sung was appointed South Korea's new trade minister, Cheong Wa Dae said on Friday. In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Park is "the right person to maximize the national interest while maintaining continuity in negotiations amid urgent trade issues with the U.S." Park's appointment comes about a week after his predecessor was sacked for unknown reasons, as Seoul faces mounting pressure from Washington to accelerate its US$350 billion investment commitment in the U.S., the threat of additional U.S. tariffs and a growing dispute over the treatment of U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang. Park, who had been serving as deputy minister for trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, replaces Yeo Han-koo, who was abruptly dismissed last Saturday. Park is a longtime bureaucrat who most recently handled trade policy, supply chains and economic security as deputy minister for trade. He previously headed the ministry's trade and investment office and has been directly involved in recent negotiations with major trading partners, including the U.S. and the European Union. One of Park's most immediate tasks will be negotiations over Seoul's investment commitments under last year's broader trade deal with Washington. South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the U.S. as part of an agreement that lowered U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods to 15 percent, but the two sides have yet to settle the details of the first projects under a $200 billion strategic investment program. U.S. officials have pressed Seoul to move more quickly. Park will also have to navigate growing friction over Coupang. U.S. investors have filed a petition with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative seeking action under Section 301 of the Trade Act, alleging that South Korean authorities have discriminated against the U.S.-listed company. The issue has increasingly become a key bilateral trade concern, alongside U.S. investigations into alleged overcapacity in South Korean manufacturing. Meanwhile, the reason for the dismissal of Yeo, Park's predecessor, who had overseen key negotiations with the U.S. including the tariff agreement and follow-up talks, still remains unknown, but officials have said it was unrelated to the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations but rather personal matters. 2026-08-21 16:36:36
  • Samsung Electronics Union Holds Rally Demanding Improved Treatment
    Samsung Electronics Union Holds Rally Demanding Improved Treatment The Samsung Electronics Device Experience (DX) union began a rally on August 21 near the company's Seocho office in Gangnam, Seoul. The union claims that compensation disparities between the DX and Device Solutions (DS) divisions need to be addressed and that working conditions must improve.The rally commenced at 3 PM with a cultural event, followed by the main gathering starting at 5:30 PM. The union anticipates around 3,000 participants.The DX union has argued that its division was relatively overlooked in wage negotiations agreed upon by management and labor in May. They contend that the rewards based on performance are insufficient compared to those in the DS division, which oversees semiconductor operations. Consequently, they are demanding a compensation plan that includes 1,000 shares of company stock per DX employee and a complete overhaul of the 2026 wage negotiations to allow for substantive discussions.During the rally, voices calling for improved treatment of DX employees are also expected to be heard. As Samsung Electronics recovers its performance with a focus on semiconductors, tensions may arise between management and labor regarding how to evaluate the performance and compensation of the DX division, which handles finished products.The union describes the rally as a voluntary event. Given that it is taking place during regular working hours without a strike mandate, there may be discussions about its legality. The union has stated that participants will utilize the company's 'D-Day' leave system to ensure that their work is not disrupted. 2026-08-21 16:36:00
  • KOSPI Recovers Above 6900 Mark on Strength of Samsung and SK Hynix
    KOSPI Recovers Above 6900 Mark on Strength of Samsung and SK Hynix The KOSPI index rebounded from early losses to recover above the 6900 mark, buoyed by strong performances from semiconductor stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Despite profit-taking following a sharp rise the previous day, these stocks, along with financial shares, helped lift the index. In contrast, the KOSDAQ fell over 4%, dragged down by selling from foreign and institutional investors.On August 21, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI closed at 6912.95, up 60.37 points (0.88%) from the previous trading day.The index opened at 6759.95, down 92.63 points (1.35%), but gradually reduced its losses. The KOSPI turned positive during the session, regaining the 6900 level and maintaining its upward momentum.In the securities market, institutions were net buyers, purchasing 328.3 billion won. Meanwhile, individuals and foreigners were net sellers, offloading 977.7 billion won and 425.9 billion won, respectively.Initially, the market showed weakness due to profit-taking after a more than 5% surge the previous day and concerns over rising U.S. long-term interest rates. However, buying interest in major semiconductor stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reversed the trend.Notably, expectations for increased shareholder returns from Samsung Electronics improved investor sentiment toward large-cap stocks. Bloomberg reported that Samsung is expected to announce a new shareholder return package worth between 90 trillion and 110 trillion won, which has created positive momentum across the semiconductor sector.SK Hynix also continued its strong performance following its announcement of a 40 trillion won share buyback and cancellation plan. The company plans to buy back 40 trillion won worth of its shares over the next three months and cancel all of them. It also increased its shareholder return target to over 50% of its free cash flow for 2025-2027, up from the previous 50% cap.Among the top market cap stocks, Samsung Electronics (3.87%), SK Hynix (2.31%), Samsung Life (10.61%), Samsung C&T (5.75%), and KB Financial (2.69%) closed higher, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-5.73%), Hyundai Motor (-0.60%), LG Energy Solution (-4.05%), and Samsung Biologics (-1.46%) ended lower.The KOSDAQ index closed at 801.94, down 38.95 points (4.63%) from the previous trading day.In the KOSDAQ market, individuals were net buyers, purchasing 729.7 billion won, while foreigners and institutions were net sellers, offloading 372 billion won and 363.7 billion won, respectively.Among the top market cap stocks, most, including Alteogen (-5.74%), EcoPro (-7.26%), EcoPro BM (-7.45%), Rainbow Robotics (-3.71%), JUSUNG Engineering (-4.91%), Wonik IPS (-5.27%), HLB (-3.13%), Rino Technology (-5.47%), and IOTech (-2.53%), saw declines.The KOSDAQ, which has a high proportion of growth stocks, exhibited a contrasting trend to the KOSPI, affected by weakened investor sentiment due to rising U.S. long-term interest rates and selling pressure from foreign and institutional investors.Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "The domestic market showed a strong performance after foreign and institutional selling created a supply gap, leading to increased net buying from other corporations. SK Hynix's decision to buy back 40 trillion won worth of shares attracted significant net buying from other corporations, while Samsung Electronics also rose on the momentum of shareholder returns."He added, "The expansion of shareholder return momentum for Samsung Electronics and its affiliates has driven the index higher. However, the recent rise in Treasury yields following the U.S. Treasury's announcement of expanded buybacks and the potential for renewed economic sanctions against Iran continue to pose external uncertainties."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 16:32:00
  • Samsung SDI to Sell 4.4 Trillion Won Stake in Samsung Display to Secure Investment Funds
    Samsung SDI to Sell 4.4 Trillion Won Stake in Samsung Display to Secure Investment Funds Samsung SDI announced on August 21 that it will transfer part of its stake in Samsung Display.The amount being sold is approximately 13.1 million shares, which represents about 33% of its total holdings of 39.9 million shares, valued at 4.45 trillion won. Following this transaction, Samsung SDI's ownership in Samsung Display will decrease from 15.2% to 10.2%.The transaction will occur as Samsung Display conducts a share buyback, in which Samsung SDI will participate.Samsung Display plans to purchase the shares at 340,000 won each. If the transaction proceeds as scheduled, Samsung SDI's holdings will reduce from 39.9 million shares to 26.7 million shares.The ownership percentage will drop from 15.22% to 10.22%, a decrease of 5 percentage points. The transaction will be settled in cash, with the transfer date set for August 27.Samsung SDI stated that the purpose of the transfer is to secure investment resources for future growth. 2026-08-21 16:32:00
  • People Power Party Advocates for Automatic Reappointment of Local Committee Chairs
    People Power Party Advocates for Automatic Reappointment of Local Committee Chairs The People Power Party reached a consensus on August 21 that the local committee chairs should be elected by the committee operating committee as per usual practice, ahead of the expiration of their terms at the end of the month. This stance contrasts with Jang Dong-hyuk's proposal to have the committee chairs resign en masse and be re-elected through a member vote. Jung Jeom-sik, the party's floor leader, plans to convey the opinions of the lawmakers to the party's leadership.The People Power Party held a general meeting of lawmakers on this day, following a similar meeting the previous day, where this conclusion was drawn. After the meeting, Chief Spokesperson Choi Soo-jin told reporters, "The floor leader will communicate the preference for re-election by the operating committee to the leadership."He added, "While the intention to elect committee chairs through member choice is commendable, the party is currently in a state of confusion, and such a vote could further divide the members. This conclusion was reached because now is the time to unite against the Democratic Party and focus on internal cohesion."The re-election of committee chairs through the operating committee is permissible under the party's constitution and regulations, and a majority of lawmakers agreed that it should be done according to established practices. According to Article 27 of the People Power Party's local organization operation regulations, committee chairs can be elected either by all party members or responsible party members, or the operating committee can re-elect the current chair. Other methods determined by the leadership are also allowed.However, the opinions gathered during the meeting do not have binding authority. The final decision on the matter rests with the leadership. The leadership had presented related agenda items at the previous meeting but decided to postpone action to deliberate on the opinions of its members. The leadership is expected to hold a meeting on August 24 to reach a conclusion.Meanwhile, about 60 of the 109 lawmakers attended the general meeting, with approximately 50 remaining by the end. Jang was absent due to a scheduled health check.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 16:24:00
  • SK Hynix Denies Confirmed Plans for Semiconductor Factory in Japan
    SK Hynix Denies Confirmed Plans for Semiconductor Factory in Japan SK Hynix has stated that there are currently no confirmed plans to build a semiconductor factory in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. However, the company explained that it is reviewing various options, including the establishment of additional production bases, to enhance its memory business competitiveness.On August 21, SK Hynix responded to a request for clarification from the Korea Exchange, indicating that it will provide further details once they are finalized or within a month. The company had previously announced on August 7 that it would invest 35.2246 trillion won in the construction of the second fab at its semiconductor cluster in Yongin, accelerating its domestic production capacity expansion.Earlier that day, reports emerged that SK Hynix was planning to invest tens of trillions of won to build a memory semiconductor factory in Miyagi Prefecture. This is not the first time rumors about a factory in Japan have surfaced; in February, Japanese media reported on the possibility of constructing a semiconductor factory in the country.Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, also mentioned Japan as a potential hub for semiconductor production in an interview with Japanese media in June. He acknowledged Japan's semiconductor ecosystem while noting that what is needed in Japan are AI data centers, indicating ongoing collaboration in that area. Japan is considered a candidate for memory production bases due to its concentration of material and equipment companies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 16:20:00
  • Kakao Announces Major Restructuring with AI and Investment Divisions
    Kakao Announces Major Restructuring with AI and Investment Divisions Kakao is restructuring its growth framework to align with the artificial intelligence (AI) era. On August 21, the company held a board meeting and resolved to split into a new entity, KakaoAI, and a continuing entity, KakaoX.KakaoAI will serve as an 'AI core company' connecting KakaoTalk with AI, advertising, and commerce, while KakaoX will focus on the growth of key subsidiaries in tech finance, content, and mobility, acting as a 'future value investment company.'The split involves distributing shares of the new entity to existing shareholders based on a predetermined ratio, differing from a physical split where the continuing entity retains 100% ownership of the new entity. The split ratio was set at 0.36 for KakaoAI and 0.64 for KakaoX, based on net asset book value. Existing Kakao shareholders will receive shares in both companies according to this ratio.Kakao plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting on December 7 to approve the split, with the division expected to be completed by January 1, 2027. Following this, KakaoAI will be relisted on January 27, and KakaoX will undergo a change in listing.As Kakao separates its AI and investment businesses, attention is turning to the future relationship and governance structure of the two entities. There is speculation about the possibility of one entity becoming the largest shareholder of the other, similar to the structure seen with SK Telecom and SK Square, as well as whether KakaoX will transition into a holding company.Below are key questions and answers from the explanation session held on August 21 regarding the split.Q. Is there a possibility that KakaoX will transition into a holding company in the future?Kim Do-young, designated CEO of KakaoX: There are no definitive plans to convert KakaoX into a holding company. I am aware that the media has discussed this possibility several times, but currently, there are no such plans. After the split, the business purposes of the two companies will differ, and they will continue to operate independently.Q. Isn’t KakaoX effectively acting as Kakao’s holding company? Is there a possibility that the CA Council will take on a holding company role?Kim Do-young: After the split, the business purposes of the two companies will be different. We believe that a CA Council in its previous form is unnecessary. Each company will operate under independent governance with responsible management.Q. Kakao has been simplifying its governance; why is it splitting into two companies now?Kim Do-young: There was a pressing need to accelerate our competitiveness in the AI era. The existing structure required significant decision-making capacity for subsidiary support and management, which led to opportunity costs in focusing on core business capabilities and capital allocation. We believe that missing this moment could result in losing critical timing in the AI competition.Q. What specific improvements in corporate value do you expect from the split?Kim Do-young: Kakao has been undervalued as a diversified conglomerate. Recently, Kakao's average market capitalization has been around 16.8 trillion won, while we believe the market has undervalued it by about 17.4 trillion won. By separating the AI business into a distinct entity, we aim to receive a valuation appropriate for an AI company, while ensuring that KakaoX's assets and investment performance are accurately reflected in its corporate value.Q. How will the role of founder Kim Beom-soo change after the split?Kim Do-young: The role of the founder and major shareholder will remain unchanged after the split. The share distribution will maintain the same ratio before and after the split, so there will be no change in ownership percentage. However, each entity will maintain independent governance and responsible management systems.Q. Will the separation of KakaoAI and KakaoX weaken group-level synergies?Kim Do-young: Given that the business purposes of the two companies are different, the shareholder composition may change over time, excluding major shareholders, and independent management will be implemented. However, the fact that each business is organically connected through the Kakao platform will not change. Group-level business connections and synergies will be maintained even after the split.Q. What other businesses will KakaoAI oversee besides KakaoTalk?Jeong Sin-a, designated CEO: Most employees currently at Kakao headquarters will move to KakaoAI. This includes major business organizations such as KakaoTalk, maps, business, and AI. The core focus will be to connect AI with advertising and commerce centered around KakaoTalk, and to integrate AI into existing core businesses to create new growth opportunities. Employee working conditions will be fully transferred, and stock options will also be divided according to the split ratio.Q. KakaoAI's goal of achieving 20 million daily active users and 6 trillion won in revenue by 2030 is quite ambitious. What is the strategy to achieve this?Jeong Sin-a: KakaoTalk already has about 30 million users who engage daily. We believe that as AI becomes more integrated into KakaoTalk, the number of users actively using AI will significantly increase. We will create a structure that allows more users to use AI more frequently based on on-device AI and low-cost, high-efficiency inference technology. Through this, we aim to achieve 20 million AI daily active users by 2030 and increase the time spent on KakaoTalk by over 50%.Q. What is KakaoAI's specific revenue model?Jeong Sin-a: We plan to establish new revenue models centered around agentic advertising, agentic commerce, and subscriptions. When users convey their intentions in natural language, AI will suggest products and facilitate purchases. Transaction fees generated through connections between external ecosystems and agents could also become a new revenue source. We aim for an average annual revenue growth of over 20% and to exceed 6 trillion won in revenue by 2030.Q. How will the shareholder return policy change after the split?Kim Do-young: KakaoAI has established a separate shareholder return policy. KakaoX plans to distribute 30% of its subsidiary dividend income to shareholders and will also consider special dividends if significant investment returns occur. The remaining 70% will be reinvested to enhance asset value.Q. How will KakaoX evaluate its investment performance?Kim Do-young: The key metric will be how quickly we can grow the net asset value (NAV) of the assets under KakaoX. We will leverage Kakao's past experiences in discovering and growing new businesses such as Kakao Bank, Kakao Pay, and Kakao Mobility, as well as our investments in Dunamu, Carrot, and Korea Credit Data, to continuously identify new growth drivers. 2026-08-21 16:20:00
  • Kookmin engineering students exhibit 10 years of car drawings
    Kookmin engineering students exhibit 10 years of car drawings SEOUL, August 21 (AJP) - Engineering students at a Seoul university have spent a decade learning to draw the machines they study, and the results are on public view this month and next in two exhibitions outside their own campus. The show is called The Drawing, and it runs at the BODA Gallery at Incheon Academy of Science and Arts through Aug. 27 before moving to the Kyung Hee University Museum of Art, where it stays through Sept. 11. Kookmin University is presenting it as part of its 80th anniversary. The university was founded in September 1946. The exercise behind it began in 2017 as an attempt to put drawing into engineering education. Students in Kookmin's automotive and mobility program observe cars and mechanical systems directly and draw what they see, on the theory that the act of rendering something forces a closer look at it than reading a specification does. The stated aim is to sharpen observation and spatial reasoning rather than to produce artists. Ten editions later it has grown past the classroom. This year's exhibition brings in fine arts students from Kyung Hee University and a group of invited artists, so the drawings hang alongside work made from an entirely different training. The Incheon leg is tied to that school's own 10th anniversary. Incheon Academy of Science and Arts, a state-run school for gifted students that opened in 2016, teaches science and the arts together, which makes it an unusually apt room for the material. The exhibition is organized by Kookmin's program office for future mobility, part of a government-funded scheme that has universities share courses across institutions in priority fields. Shin Sung-hwan heads the office. Lee Dong-heon, the Kookmin professor who has taught the course and prepared the exhibitions, said the drawings are not judged as drawings. "The Drawing is not aimed at drawing well," Lee said. "The meaning is in the process of observing a subject closely and visually expressing the structure and the relationships you have understood." He said the tenth year had widened the show into an exchange among several educational institutions, students from different majors, and working artists. 2026-08-21 16:18:48
  • Vietnamese Citizens Alarmed by Fake Fine Text Messages
    Vietnamese Citizens Alarmed by Fake Fine Text Messages Online scams impersonating the Ministry of Public Security and VNPost are infiltrating daily life in Vietnam. These scams use urgent topics like traffic violation fines and package address corrections, employing overseas numbers and messages to mislead recipients into thinking they are receiving official notifications. In response, Vietnamese authorities, along with broadcasting and security experts, are ramping up warnings through a nationwide anti-fraud campaign.According to local reports from VnExpress and others on August 21, numerous messages impersonating the Ministry of Public Security and VNPost have been identified in Vietnam. The senders use overseas numbers while including phrases and links that resemble official communications, causing recipients to mistake them for legitimate notifications.“Pay within 48 hours”... Fake notices exploit fearMessages impersonating the Ministry of Public Security pressured citizens by demanding payment for traffic violation fines. A resident of Hanoi, identified as A, received a text on the morning of August 18 from a number associated with international calls, claiming to be from the Ministry of Public Security. The message stated that his vehicle had violated a traffic signal on August 6 and that he had not yet paid the fine.The message warned that if the fine was not paid within 48 hours, the penalty would increase by 50% and vehicle documents could be temporarily confiscated. It also included a link for further details and instructed the recipient to reply if the link did not work to receive a new address.A initially thought the message was from a legitimate agency. He said, “I was quite worried because it was related to a fine,” adding that the link had a ‘gov’ prefix, making it easy to mistake for a government site. However, he realized it was a scam after confirming that the sender's number was international and the domain was not an official government address.Messages impersonating VNPost followed a similar pattern. They claimed that a package was scheduled for delivery but lacked a specific address for the recipient, urging them to update their personal information. Notably, some cases were reported to have been sent via iMessage to iPhone users.Experts explain that these messages exploit the recipient's anxiety and urgency. By presenting situations that seem to require immediate attention, such as traffic fines, package deliveries, and account verifications, they reduce the time available for recipients to verify the sender and address. Users who click on the links may be prompted to enter personal or payment information on fake sites, risking their accounts and finances.Vietnam Faces Growing Fraud Issues, Launches Nationwide CampaignOnline fraud in Vietnam has already resulted in significant social losses. In the first nine months of last year, cumulative losses from online scams exceeded 16.6 trillion dong (approximately $883 million), with around 1,500 cases reported. The State Bank of Vietnam has detected approximately 600,000 suspicious accounts and has issued warnings and blocking measures for transactions totaling 15 trillion dong.The methods of these scams are becoming increasingly diverse. Criminal organizations impersonate bank call centers, police, and credit agencies to request password changes or information verification. On social media, they lure victims with promises of high returns on investments and illegal cryptocurrencies, while also using AI and deepfake technology to mimic voices or videos to request OTPs and passwords.Victims are not limited to the elderly or students; even tech-savvy young people are falling prey to sophisticated schemes. Personal data breaches are severe, with reports indicating that 14.5 million accounts have been compromised. Amid this, the state broadcaster VTV9 has launched a nationwide anti-fraud campaign in collaboration with the public security departments of Ho Chi Minh City and Lam Dong Province. This campaign aims to inform citizens about the latest scam tactics and help them identify warning signs.Public reactions are mixed, with a blend of vigilance and anxiety. One iPhone user noted, “There’s been an increase in iMessage spam,” suggesting that users should enable filtering for unknown senders. Another user questioned, “Isn’t the content verified just because it’s in iMessage rather than SMS?”Some responses pinpointed the essence of scam messages. One user advised, “The more they rush you to send money or click links, the more you should pause and verify,” adding, “The more urgent they make it, the less urgent I should feel.” Another user emphasized that if messages related to police, traffic fines, or packages request money or personal information, they should first be verified through official channels.Real-life experiences have also surfaced. One user reported receiving a VNPost message from a '+212 number,' joking, “Did VNPost’s headquarters move to Africa?” Another user recounted receiving a call about a free order, which led to being given a delivery person's Zalo number, and realized it was a scam when asked for a tracking update link.Experts advise that if messages come from unfamiliar numbers, include short deadlines, and contain suspicious links, recipients should not reply or click. If personal or payment information has already been entered, they should contact their bank and relevant authorities to protect their accounts.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 16:16:10
  • Blue House Criticizes Supreme Court Chief Justices Unilateral Nomination Process
    Blue House Criticizes Supreme Court Chief Justice's Unilateral Nomination Process On August 21, the Blue House criticized Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's written nomination of Judge Son Bong-ki as the successor to former Justice Roh Tae-ak, stating it was a "unilateral notification process that bypassed consultation and disrespected the president's appointment authority." The Blue House refuted claims from the Supreme Court that there had been prior discussions regarding the written nomination process, asserting, "There was no consultation whatsoever on the specific nomination method."Seong Gi-hong, the Blue House's Chief of Public Communication, appeared on the YouTube channel OhmyTV and described the Chief Justice's recent appointment as "a pattern that deviates from existing practices, and we view it as a very serious situation," calling it "an unprecedented constitutional crisis."He added, "Given that this situation is unprecedented, we are reviewing various precedents since 1987 and examining legal aspects to consider how to address this matter."Regarding the Blue House's consideration of a "re-nomination" for Judge Son without following the appointment procedure, he stated, "This is a significant situation where unilateral notification has bypassed the consultation process, and we are contemplating such options."In particular, he refuted recent claims made by Roh Kyung-pil, the head of the Supreme Court's Administrative Office, during a National Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting, where he stated that he had requested a meeting between the Chief Justice and the president but was unable to secure an opportunity, and that the written nomination method had been discussed with the Chief of Civil Affairs. Seong emphasized, "Neither of these claims is true."Seong noted, "While there was a discussion about general matters regarding the nomination of justices, there was no consultation at all regarding the specific method of written nomination." He further clarified, "There was an inquiry from the Supreme Court asking if a meeting could occur if there was an agreement, to which we simply responded that we could discuss it then if there was an agreement. (Roh's claims) are not accurate."Earlier, on August 18, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae submitted a written nomination to President Lee Jae-myung for Judge Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court and Judge Kim Seong-soo of the Seoul High Court as candidates for Supreme Court justices.According to sources within the ruling party, while the Supreme Court and the Blue House had completed discussions regarding Judge Kim Seong-soo, they had been at an impasse over the nomination for the successor to Justice Roh.The Blue House initially considered Judge Kim Min-ki as the top candidate, but the Supreme Court expressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest due to his spouse being Oh Young-jun, a Constitutional Court justice appointed by the current administration.In this context, on August 18, the Supreme Court indicated to the Civil Affairs Office that it would nominate both Judge Kim and Judge Son together, inquiring whether a meeting could be arranged if there was an agreement, to which the Blue House reportedly responded that they could meet then if there was an agreement.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 16:16:10