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  Ruling party bloc slams court after Kim Keon Hee gets 1 year, 8 months in stock case Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, was sentenced in a first trial to 1 year and 8 months in prison on charges including alleged stock manipulation, drawing sharp criticism from politicians aligned with the ruling camp who said the punishment was far lighter than prosecutors had sought. On Tuesday, Park Soo Hyun, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said Kim — whom he called a “comprehensive case of power-related corruption” — received a 1-year, 8-month term, add January 28, 2026
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  Samcheok City Council Reviews 2026 Work Plans, Seeks Solutions on Local Issues Samcheok’s City Council on Tuesday held the fifth plenary session of its 269th extraordinary meeting, receiving 2026 major work-plan briefings from six departments, including the economy division, and debating local issues and development priorities. Council members offered proposals on boosting the local economy, youth policy, tourism infrastructure, traditional-market revitalization and improvements to the education environment. Council member Kim Hee Chang called for measu January 28, 2026
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  Prosecutor criticizes acquittal in Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case Kim Tae Hoon, chief prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors Office who led the investigation into the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case under the Moon Jae-in government, criticized a trial court ruling that acquitted first lady Kim Keon Hee of violating capital markets law, calling it an “unfair decision.” Kim posted his statement Tuesday on the prosecution’s internal network, e-Pros, under the title, “As a member of the first Deutsche Motors investigation team, I share my view o January 28, 2026
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  South Korea says Trump tariff remarks tied to delay in U.S.-investment bill Cheong Wa Dae said it views President Donald Trump’s remarks about raising tariffs as stemming from U.S. dissatisfaction over delays in passing a “special act for strategic investment management” with the United States, and said it will explain to Washington that parliamentary procedures are required. Kim Yong Bum, Cheong Wa Dae’s senior presidential secretary for policy, told a briefing at Chunchugwan on Monday that Trump’s comments could be interpreted as frustration that implementatio January 28, 2026
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  Trump admin pressures Seoul over "unfulfilled" trade commitments SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer told Fox Business on Tuesday that South Korea had yet to honor commitments made under last summer’s “framework agreement,” including a planned 350-billion-dollar investment in the U.S. over three years and steps to open its market to more American automobiles and agricultural products. “We showed good faith by lowering our tariff rate on Korea from 25 percent to 15 percent,” Greer said. January 28, 2026
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  Kim Keon Hee Says She Accepts Court’s Criticism After 1st Trial Sentence Kim Keon Hee said she would “humbly accept” the court’s stern criticism after she was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison in a first trial on Tuesday. Her legal team said in a notice to reporters that attorneys met with Kim at Nambu Detention Center after the ruling and relayed her statement. “Today, I humbly accept the court’s stern criticism, and I will not take its weight lightly,” Kim said during the meeting. “Once again, I am sorry to everyone for causing concern because of m January 28, 2026
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  PPP leader Jang Dong Hyuk says expulsion case against Han Dong Hoon will follow procedure Jang Dong Hyuk, leader of South Korea’s People Power Party, said Tuesday that disciplinary proceedings seeking to expel Han Dong Hoon, the party’s former leader, would move forward “according to procedure,” signaling expulsion remains possible. Speaking to reporters after an on-site meeting on price trends at the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) center in Seoul’s Seocho district, Jang avoided a direct answer on Han’s case, saying, “What matters now is people’s lives and l January 28, 2026
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  Cold Wave to Grip Central South Korea; Snow or Rain Expected on Jeju Cold weather will persist Thursday, with the harshest conditions centered on South Korea’s central regions. Morning lows are forecast at minus 15 to 3 degrees Celsius (5 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit), with daytime highs of minus 3 to 7 C (27 to 45 F). That is colder than seasonal averages of minus 12 to 0 C (10 to 32 F) in the morning and 1 to 8 C (34 to 46 F) in the afternoon. Cold wave warnings remain in effect for Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, inland Chungcheo January 28, 2026
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  South Korea Justice Ministry Holds Public Meeting on 2026 Immigration Policy South Korea’s Justice Ministry said it held a public communication meeting on Jan. 27 to share key directions for its 2026 immigration policy, including managing illegal stays and protecting the rights of foreign nationals. The ministry said the meeting was organized amid calls to better reflect what most citizens want from immigration policy while ensuring the enforcement process does not neglect the human rights of foreign nationals. It shared its 2026 policy direction with civic groups January 28, 2026
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  Fire at Scrap Yard in Cheonan Extinguished; No Injuries Reported A fire broke out at a scrap yard in Cheonan, South Korea, officials said. Fire authorities said the blaze was reported at about 5:17 p.m. on the 28th at a scrap yard in Seonghwan-eup, in Cheonan’s Seobuk-gu district. Officials responded after residents reported seeing black smoke and fully extinguished the fire 22 minutes later. No injuries were reported. Earlier, Cheonan sent an emergency text alert at about 5:28 p.m., warning residents to avoid inhaling smoke and asking drivers to tak January 28, 2026