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  South Korea’s Blue House Says U.S. Frustrated by Delay in Korea-U.S. Special Law Breaking: The Blue House said the United States appears frustrated that investment projects have been delayed due to a holdup in a special law related to the United States.* This article has been translated by AI. January 28, 2026
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  South Korea’s Blue House Says U.S. Complaints Stem From Legislative Delays Breaking: The Blue House said U.S. dissatisfaction is “100%” due to delays in legislation and said it will explain its efforts to move the bills forward.* This article has been translated by AI. January 28, 2026
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  South Korean Lawmakers Clash Over Trump’s Proposed Tariff Hike and Ratification Claims Lawmakers traded blame Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s sudden plan to raise tariffs on South Korea, with the People Power Party arguing the government failed to secure National Assembly approval for follow-up steps in U.S. tariff negotiations after Prime Minister Kim Min Seok’s trip to Washington. The Democratic Party countered that Trump’s approach to diplomacy and trade is unconventional and said a unified political response is needed to strengthen South Korea’s negotiating pos January 28, 2026
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  Court Convicts Kim Keon Hee of Influence-Peddling, Acquits Her in Stock Manipulation Case A South Korean court on Tuesday said it recognized Kim Keon Hee’s political influence but ruled that her status alone could not expand criminal liability. The court found her partly guilty over receiving money and valuables linked to the Unification Church, but acquitted her of conspiracy allegations tied to the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and an opinion-poll controversy involving Myung Tae-kyun, citing insufficient evidence. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Divisio January 28, 2026
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  South Korean lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong sentenced to 2 years for illegal political funds People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church, was sentenced in a first trial to two years in prison. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, led by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, held a sentencing hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for Kwon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The court also ordered forfeiture of 100 million won. Kwon was accused of taking 100 mi January 28, 2026
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  Kim Keon Hee Gets 1 Year, 8 Months in Trial; Key Issues for Appeal A special prosecutor who sought a 15-year prison term for Kim Keon Hee ended up with a first-trial sentence of 1 year, 8 months. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27 found Kim not guilty of violating the Capital Markets Act (alleged conspiracy in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case) and the Political Funds Act, and convicted her only in part on charges of receiving money or valuables in return for influence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Cr January 28, 2026
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  Ruling, opposition parties agree to pass 90 noncontroversial bills; filibuster dropped The ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass 90 noncontroversial livelihood-related bills at Wednesday’s plenary session. The People Power Party said it will withdraw its filibusters on those bills. Cheon Jun-ho, floor operations deputy chief of the Democratic Party, and Yoo Sang-bum, floor operations deputy chief of the People Power Party, said they reached the deal Tuesday during talks at the National Assembly on the plenary agenda. Cheon said that of 175 bills slated for the plena January 28, 2026
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  Former first lady sentenced to 20 months in prison for bribery charges SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced on Wednesday to one year and eight months in prison for accepting bribes, one of multiple allegations against her. In a televised verdict, the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul found her guilty of accepting luxury handbags and jewelry in return for favors from secretive religious sect Unification Church, better known as the Moonies. However, it dismissed charges that she was allegedly involved i January 28, 2026
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  Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 1 Year, 8 Months; First Case of Ex-President Couple Jailed Together Kim Keon Hee, who was indicted in custody on charges including receiving valuables tied to the Unification Church, was sentenced to prison in a first-trial ruling. The decision came after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of obstructing an arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, marking the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history that a former president and spouse have both received prison terms at t January 28, 2026
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  South Korea Probes Firm Sanctioned by U.S. Over Nonproliferation Law Allegations South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that relevant authorities are investigating a South Korean company after the United States added it to a sanctions list over alleged violations of laws aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and missile technology. The ministry said South Korea and the United States have been in ongoing communication and that Seoul was aware of the move in advance. It added that the government has joined international efforts to prevent January 28, 2026