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feat(route): add koreaherald route #18008

Merged
merged 2 commits into from
Dec 31, 2024
Merged

feat(route): add koreaherald route #18008

merged 2 commits into from
Dec 31, 2024

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@quiniapiezoelectricity quiniapiezoelectricity commented Dec 31, 2024 •
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Example for the Proposed Route(s) / 路由地址示例

/koreaherald
/koreaherald/Opinion
/koreaherald/National/CourtsandLaw

New RSS Route Checklist / 新 RSS 路由检查表

  • New Route / 新的路由
  • Anti-bot or rate limit / 反爬/频率限制
    • If yes, do your code reflect this sign? / 如果有, 是否有对应的措施?
  • Date and time / 日期和时间
    • Parsed / 可以解析
    • Correct time zone / 时区正确
  • New package added / 添加了新的包
  • Puppeteer

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@github-actions github-actions bot added the Route label Dec 31, 2024
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github-advanced-security bot found potential problems Dec 31, 2024
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Successfully generated as following:

http://localhost:1200/koreaherald - Success ✔️ 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>The Korea Herald - National</title>
    <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/National</link>
    <atom:link href="http://localhost:1200/koreaherald" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link>
    <description>The Korea Herald - National - Powered by RSSHub</description>
    <generator>RSSHub</generator>
    <webMaster>contact@rsshub.app (RSSHub)</webMaster>
    <language>en</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 04:07:58 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <ttl>5</ttl>
    <item>
      <title>N. Korean leader visits new coastal tourist zone, emphasizes advancing tourism - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241231.PYH2024123100570004200_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center), alongside his daughter (right), inspects the interior of a hotel room in the Kalma coastal tourist area in the country&#39;s east coastal city of Wonsan, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center), alongside his daughter (right), inspects the interior of a hotel room in the Kalma coastal tourist area in the country&#39;s east coastal city of Wonsan, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a new tourist zone along the country&#39;s east coast, stressing that the project is the &quot;first big step&quot; in advancing the country&#39;s tourism, state media reported Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim looked around newly completed hotels and other service facilities in the Kalma coastal tourist area on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency said, adding that the zone will open for service in June next year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The tourist area has been under development since 2014 as part of a project to harness the sandy beach of Myongsasimni on Wonsan&#39;s Kalma peninsula for tourism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Calling the place &quot;very spectacular, beautiful and magnificent,&quot; Kim expressed &quot;great satisfaction&quot; and said that the service facilities, built &quot;at a high level,&quot; could be utilized for important external, political and cultural state events.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The development of the tourist industry &quot;will open up a new realm of socialist cultural construction and bring about another motive force for promoting regional rejuvenation and national economic growth,&quot; he noted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Kalma coastal tourist area&#39;s development is &quot;the first big step&quot; in advancing the country&#39;s tourist industry, Kim stated, ordering &quot;proactively exploiting the tourist resources in other regions.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korea has turned to tourism as a means of earning foreign currency, as its tourism industry is not subject to international sanctions. The country is widely expected to try to attract Russian tourists once the Kalma tourist zone opens in June.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Photos of Kim&#39;s latest inspection, released by the KCNA, showed his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, accompanying him on the trip. This is her first public appearance since Oct. 31, when she was present at the site of an intercontinental ballistic missile test.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Images showed her walking down a beach with her arm linked with Kim&#39;s and touring hotel facilities alongside her father.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The visit to the tourist zone marks Kim&#39;s second reported inspection of an economy-related facility since the conclusion of the annual year-end plenary party meeting on Friday, a move seen as highlighting the country&#39;s economic achievements in 2024. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333159</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333159</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:51:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Safety inspection of military aircraft under way after Jeju Air crash - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241231.d33640fd5ca4430185d5330a8f10d0c9_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;This June 19 file photo shows a Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft entering the operational area of South Korea. (South Korea Navy)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;This June 19 file photo shows a Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft entering the operational area of South Korea. (South Korea Navy)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;A special inspection to ensure the safety of military aircraft is under way as the defense ministry has ordered the military to examine all aircraft following the fatal Jeju Air crash, officials said Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Navy has kicked off a safety inspection that will run through Saturday to examine its aircraft, including the P-8A maritime patrol plane based on the Boeing 737-800 commercial jet.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Navy completed its acquisition of six P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in July to bolster its anti-submarine capabilities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Air Force has also launched an inspection of its aircraft, including the Peace Eye airborne control aircraft modeled after the Boeing 737-700 commercial plane.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Monday, the government said it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following the Jeju Air plane crash Sunday in the southwestern county of Muan that claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333151</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333151</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>US investigators, Boeing officials join on-site probe of Jeju Air crash in Muan - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241230.PYH2024123005210001302_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Firefighters carry out search operations at Muan International Airport in the southwestern county of Muan on Monday after a Jeju Air passenger plane with 181 people aboard crashed the previous day. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Firefighters carry out search operations at Muan International Airport in the southwestern county of Muan on Monday after a Jeju Air passenger plane with 181 people aboard crashed the previous day. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;A team of investigators from the US government and aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. have arrived at the site of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport to participate in the investigation into the incident, Seoul officials said Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;According to Seoul&#39;s transport ministry, one member from the US Federal Aviation Administration, three experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board and four representatives from Boeing have joined officials of South Korea&#39;s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board for the investigation at the site of the accident.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The US team arrived in South Korea on Monday via Incheon International Airport and traveled directly to Muan, some 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, to prepare for the investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;South Korean and US investigators discussed the schedule procedures and specific areas of focus for the investigation,&quot; Joo Jong-wan, head of aviation policy at the transport ministry, said at a press briefing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Under the International Civil Aviation Organization convention, the country where the accident occurred is responsible for initiating the investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Countries with stakeholders in the incident, such as the aircraft&#39;s operator and manufacturer, and nations with victims have the right to participate. Thailand, which had two nationals die in the accident, has reportedly chosen not to take part in this investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The US and Boeing representatives, together with 11 members of South Korea&#39;s ARAIB, are currently assessing the wreckage and debris at the crash site, searching for components that could offer clues about the cause of the accident, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following the on-site probe, the investigation will proceed to the analysis phase, which will involve examining the recovered evidence and data extracted from the aircraft&#39;s two black boxes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The aircraft&#39;s flight data recorder, one of the black boxes, was found to have suffered exterior damage. The recorder was also found to be missing a connector that links its data storage unit to the power supply.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Authorities are examining technical methods to extract the data despite the absence of the connector,&quot; Joo said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, is reportedly in a relatively better condition.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The investigation team will soon decide whether to attempt repairs and analysis of the damaged black box domestically or to send the device to the NTSB in the US for further examination.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joo added there were two air traffic controllers on duty at the airport at the time of the crash. Investigators have spoken with both to hear their account of the incident but decided not to release the information as of now.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government said it will suspend operations of Muan International Airport until Jan. 7 and decide on its reopening at a later date. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333121</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333121</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:15:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>N. Korea&#39;s Kim sends letter to Putin, vowing to further solidify military cooperation - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241229.PAP20241229106301009_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19. (AP-Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19. (AP-Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a New Year&#39;s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowing to further solidify bilateral military cooperation, the North&#39;s state media reported Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The New Year 2025 will be recorded as the first year of war victory in the 21st century when the Russian army and people defeat neo-Nazism and achieve a great victory,&quot; Kim said in the letter sent to Putin the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The KCNA said the letter, on behalf of Kim, the Korean people and the country&#39;s entire armed forces, conveyed &quot;warm greetings of best wishes to the fraternal Russian people and all the service personnel of the brave Russian army.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim expressed a willingness to further strengthen his country&#39;s &quot;comprehensive strategic partnership&quot; with Russia by devising new projects and implementing them strongly to build strong nations and achieve peace and prosperity for their peoples, the KCNA reported.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim &quot;wished Vladimir Putin greater success in his responsible and heavy state leadership activities and the Russian people prosperity, wellbeing and happiness,&quot; the report said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The letter came amid deepening military, economic and other ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, following the signing of a mutual defense treaty by Kim and Putin during the Russian president&#39;s visit to the North Korean capital in June.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, with South Korean officials warning that the North is preparing to send more troops and supply more military equipment to Moscow. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333106</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333106</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:05:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Court issues arrest warrant to detain Yoon - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241231.191ab6000dd744b0b9b7ed3c51fc95d8_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Seoul court approved a request from investigative authorities to detain South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, making him the first sitting president to face arrest in Korea&#39;s constitutional history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday issued the warrant against Yoon on charges of leading and organizing the martial law declaration in early December as well as abuse of power, according to legal sources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court’s decision comes a day after the joint investigation team probing the martial law case filed for a warrant for Yoon after he ignored three successive summonses requesting his attendance for questioning.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following the court’s decision, authorities are given 48 hours to take Yoon into custody for questioning and to file the arrest warrant.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333090</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333090</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:49:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Jung-joo</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Acting President Choi orders efforts to make necessary improvements to airline system - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241231.PYH2024123101250001300_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Acting President Choi Sang-mok speaks during a disaster control meeting at the government complex building in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Acting President Choi Sang-mok speaks during a disaster control meeting at the government complex building in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday directed the government to address necessary improvements to the airline operation system, as the country mourns a tragic plane crash that claimed 179 lives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Choi&#39;s order comes after the Jeju Air plane, carrying 181 people, belly-landed and exploded at an airport in the country&#39;s southwestern county of Muan on Sunday, leaving only two survivors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government has since launched an emergency safety inspection of six local airlines operating the same aircraft model involved in the crash, the Boeing 737-800.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The transport ministry must thoroughly reexamine the overall aircraft operation system, starting with this inspection, and immediately implement any necessary improvements,&quot; Choi said in a disaster control meeting held in Seoul.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Monday, Choi visited a memorial altar set up in Muan to pay his respects to the victims. The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period, which will last until midnight Saturday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Memorials have been established at the crash site and in 17 cities and provinces across the country, including Seoul. Flags are being flown at half-mast. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333068</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333068</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:28:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Car ferry capsizes off southwestern coast; 2 rescued, 5 missing - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.59d1e3209e8841c387e5039a58702620_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Coast Guard officials conduct a nighttime search in waters off Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024, after a car ferry capsized, leaving two rescued and five missing, in this photo provided by a reader. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Coast Guard officials conduct a nighttime search in waters off Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024, after a car ferry capsized, leaving two rescued and five missing, in this photo provided by a reader. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;An 83-ton car ferry capsized off the southwestern coast Monday, leaving two rescued and five others missing, the Coast Guard said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The vessel, presumed to be carrying seven people, capsized at 6:35 p.m. in waters west of Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the Coast Guard and fire authorities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Coast Guard officials rescued two passengers and are currently searching for five others.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rescue crews were conducting a search near the accident site, but strong currents from the high tide are complicating the operation, authorities said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Coast Guard is investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10230959</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10230959</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:34:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vice FM asks new Chinese ambassador for his part in building better ties - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/rcv.YNA.20241230.PYH2024123010970001300_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun asked Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing on Monday to make efforts to help improve bilateral relations, Seoul&#39;s foreign ministry said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim made the call during his first in-person meeting with Dai, days after Dai arrived in Seoul to assume his new post that had been left vacant since his predecessor, Xing Haiming, departed in July.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim expressed hope that the two countries would continue exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits, which will be consecutively hosted by the two neighboring countries in the next two years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea is next year&#39;s APEC host and China will host the 2026 summit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim thanked China for its condolence message from Chinese President Xi Jinping over Sunday&#39;s deadly plane crash in Muan that killed 179 people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dai, in turn, expressed thanks to the Seoul government for the warm welcome, vowing to closely work with Seoul to help further develop the bilateral relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dai arrived in Seoul last Friday to take on his new role. He previously served as the deputy Chinese ambassador to the United Nations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Dai stressed that bilateral relations should continue to move forward despite it being a &quot;difficult time&quot; in Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I know that it&#39;s a difficult time right now, but China will not intervene in (Korea&#39;s) state affairs,&quot; Dai said, as he entered the ministry building. &quot;Although it&#39;s a difficult time, our relations cannot stop.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the same day, Dai presented a copy of his credentials to a senior Seoul foreign ministry official, a diplomatic procedure required by a foreign envoy before formally presenting the credence to the host country&#39;s leader.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Once the letter of credence is received, the envoy is considered to have officially assumed office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The credentials submitted by Dai reportedly show Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the recipient. Han has also been impeached and suspended from duties and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as the acting president.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In light of Han&#39;s impeachment, China&#39;s foreign ministry on Monday expressed a willingness to actively engage with South Korea to deepen the bilateral relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We are willing to make active efforts to deepen the bilateral friendly cooperation and strategic cooperative partnership with South Korea, an important neighbor and a partner for cooperation,&quot; the ministry said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;China upholds the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and believes that the Korean people have the wisdom and ability to adequately resolve their domestic issues,&quot; it added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Also on Monday, working-level talks took place between Kang Young-shin, director general for Northeast and Central Asian affairs of the South Korean foreign ministry, and Liu Jinsong, director general for Asian affairs at China&#39;s foreign ministry, the Seoul ministry said in a separate release.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Discussions centered on bilateral relations and issues related to the Korean Peninsula, and ways to advance bilateral cooperation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kang and Liu agreed to work together on the APEC hosting and continue strategic communication on peninsula issues, the ministry said. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10197000</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10197000</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:33:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A look back at 2024 - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.1f50b328a6df4aeda8ecbe8cf968c4ec_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;The scene of the collision and explosion accident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;The scene of the collision and explosion accident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tragic Plane Crash&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Sunday morning claimed 179 lives, becoming South Korea&#39;s worst domestic aviation disaster to date.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers and crew, veered off the runway five minutes after the pilot signaled mayday. The plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While the exact cause of the deadly crash was being investigated, a bird strike and a landing gear malfunction were suggested as possible causes. The budget airline was returning from Bangkok, Thailand, with most of its passengers having been on vacation for Christmas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.acdd7e9ca69f4bceb3b044fbd6e47284_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;President Yoon Suk Yeol announces the declaration of martial law during an emergency address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Dec. 3. (Presidential Office)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol announces the declaration of martial law during an emergency address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Dec. 3. (Presidential Office)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Yoon declares martial law, impeached&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol has been suspended since Dec. 14, following his impeachment by the National Assembly for declaring martial law on Dec. 3. This makes him the third Korean President to have an impeachment vote passed against him.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The opposition-led motion accuses Yoon of grave constitutional and legal violations during its implementation and repeal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Constitutional Court began pre-trial proceedings on Dec. 27, with a ruling deadline set for June 12 next year, though a faster decision is anticipated. The court is functioning with only six of nine justices due to vacancies that have been unfilled for months. After acting President Han Duck-soo rejected to approve the nomination of the three justices, he was impeached as well, turning his baton to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yoon also faces separate investigations by a joint investigative body, which comprises the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, police and Defense Ministry, over allegations of insurrection and abuse of power.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.cf2713eaa25e4df3b4e5e48312b36e8c_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Nobel laureate in literature Han Kang receives her award at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Konserthuset in Stockholm, on Dec. 10. (Reuters-Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Nobel laureate in literature Han Kang receives her award at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Konserthuset in Stockholm, on Dec. 10. (Reuters-Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in literature&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Author Han Kang made history as the first Korean and the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature. This marks Korea’s second Nobel Prize, following former President Kim Dae-jung’s Peace Prize in 2000.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Swedish Academy described her oeuvre as “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Han gained international acclaim in 2016 when &quot;The Vegetarian&quot; won the Man Booker International Prize. She has continued to address themes of collective trauma and violence in &quot;Human Acts,&quot; which draws from the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, and &quot;We Do Not Part,&quot; which revisits the Jeju April 3 Uprising.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In her acceptance speech, Han said, “The work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.c578f42c30dc499988c9dee13a3f3456_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A medical school in Seoul (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A medical school in Seoul (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Medical School Crisis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A governmental proposal to increase medical school admissions by 1,000 students annually starting in 2025 sparked strong resistance from the medical community throughout the year, with junior doctors leaving their hospitals in apparent protest.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government said the plan was aimed to address the shortage of doctors, particularly in underserved fields like emergency medicine and pediatrics. But doctors have contended that increasing numbers alone will not solve systemic issues in the medical industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis highlights growing tensions between the government and health care professionals, as rural areas and critical specialties struggle with staffing shortages. Young doctors are increasingly avoiding high-demand fields with heavy workloads and limited incentives, opting instead for specialties like dermatology and plastic surgery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.1c41182ce1ad4d9e87a4c91d41ec46a4_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;This Nov. 6 photo shows the government&#39;s posters for an awareness campaign against deepfake sex crimes. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;This Nov. 6 photo shows the government&#39;s posters for an awareness campaign against deepfake sex crimes. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Deepfake sex crime scare sweeps schools&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence took an unwelcome turn this year, as a myriad of underage sex crimes using deepfake technology were uncovered in schools across the country.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A growing number of students were caught using AI to create and distribute doctored photographic images and videos, of their classmates, teachers and others around them. National Police Agency data showed that of the 573 suspects accused of deepfake sex crimes from January to November, 80.8 percent were teenagers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean government in August formed a pan-government task force to deal with deepfake sex crimes, while the NPA launched a special crackdown against such crimes in the same month. The National Assembly passed a law revision that specified punishment for crimes related to deepfake pornography.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.4a78034f6cf544bea3a12872347f170b_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Lee Jae-myung (center), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is surrounded by reporters upon arriving at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Sept. 20, to attend the final hearing on his alleged election law violations for making false statements during his presidential campaign in 2021. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Lee Jae-myung (center), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is surrounded by reporters upon arriving at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Sept. 20, to attend the final hearing on his alleged election law violations for making false statements during his presidential campaign in 2021. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lee Jae-myung’s legal troubles&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung is the opposition’s likely presidential candidate should President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment be upheld by the Constitutional Court.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, whether Lee can run in the election or not depends on how quickly the Constitutional Court makes its call on Yoon.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The opposition chief faces five trials, one of which sentenced him to a jail term that could bar him from running for office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Though Lee has filed an appeal against the sentence, if the jail term stands he will be unable to run even if the Constitutional Court finalizes Yoon’s impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether or not to remove Yoon, meaning the decision could come as late as May and coincide with Lee’s final ruling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.90a78fc726b24928a43a193a0698f52b_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, speaks to the press at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 8. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, speaks to the press at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 8. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conservative bloc hit by political scandal with power broker&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In October, a political scandal further plunged the conservative bloc into turmoil, following allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee meddled in the ruling party’s candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. At the center of this political scandal was Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker previously unknown to many South Koreans.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The scandal escalated as Myung claimed to have advised President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife during the presidential campaign and alleged he was offered a public position post-election. The controversy deepened when the main opposition Democratic Party released an audio recording suggesting Yoon discussed a by-election nomination with Myung. President Yoon publicly denied the allegations while Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and lawmaker Lee Jun-seok also denied Myung&#39;s claims of his involvement in their elections.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.b655d96d4b8b4f0bb22eeb4de214dcdd_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A person walks by Tmon headquarters in southern Seoul on July 24. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A person walks by Tmon headquarters in southern Seoul on July 24. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tmon, WeMakePrice liquidity crisis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea&#39;s two major e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice faced a severe liquidity crisis in July, resulting in massive payment delays to vendors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis stemmed from financial mismanagement by their parent company, Singapore-based Qoo10, which allegedly misappropriated funds for global expansion. As a result, the platforms failed to settle payments totaling some 1.3 trillion won ($978 million) to over 48,000 vendors. The situation escalated when both companies filed for court receivership in late July, leading to asset freezes and investigations by prosecutors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis had far-reaching consequences, affecting not only small merchants but also large retailers and travel agencies, many of whom withdrew from the platforms. The government and financial regulators faced criticism for inadequate oversight, as the platforms had been operating in a regulatory blind spot.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.3cb906e31a054b979a7f7934ae72eac6_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Snow blanketed the Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Snow blanketed the Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Heaviest November snow in 117 years&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This November, Seoul, and the surrounding metropolitan region saw its heaviest snowfall for the month since weather tracking began in 1907.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For two days starting Nov. 27, a massive snowstorm blanketed the capital and neighboring areas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea Meteorological Administration also reported that the daily maximum snowfall in Seoul hit 16.5 centimeters, smashing the previous record of 12.4 centimeters set on Nov. 28, 1972. The historic snowfall triggered a citywide heavy snow warning in Seoul and snow advisories across most of the surrounding area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meteorologists explained that the cold air from the northwest moved over the relatively warm waters of the West Sea, creating a sharp temperature difference that fed snow clouds, which drifted into Seoul.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.0250079095714960a54774a11f1a1949_P1.png&quot; alt=&quot;A blaze at lithium battery maker Aricell&#39;s plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A blaze at lithium battery maker Aricell&#39;s plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Summer scarred by tragic accidents&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A series of large-scale accidents claimed many lives this summer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A fire broke out at Aricell’s lithium battery manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24, leaving 23 workers dead and eight injured. The majority of the deceased victims were foreign workers, including 17 Chinese nationals and one Laotian as well as five Koreans.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Another fire erupted at a hotel in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 22, resulting in seven deaths and 12 injuries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Both fires were reportedly caused by the negligence of facility managers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A deadly car crash on July 1 near Exit No. 7 of Seoul City Hall Station also shocked the nation. A sedan, traveling at 107 kilometers per hour in the wrong direction, collided with pedestrians waiting for a green light.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crash resulted in nine deaths and seven injuries. The 68-year-old driver, surnamed Cha, was indicted for negligent driving in August, but he has consistently claimed that the car experienced sudden unintended acceleration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.48171680580a4cb789149ea15bc3a9ac_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh Soh-yeong appear for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on April 16. (Newsis)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh Soh-yeong appear for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on April 16. (Newsis)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;SK chief’s pricey divorce suit&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The nation’s most expensive divorce suit between SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won and his estranged wife, Roh So-young, is feared to affect the energy-to-chip conglomerate’s governance structure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In May, a Seoul court ordered the SK chief to pay 1.38 trillion won ($937 million) in property division to Roh, the only daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo. The couple married in 1988 and have three children.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The divorce settlement is based on Roh’s contribution to SK’s growth into the nation’s second-largest conglomerate. But Chey appealed the ruling immediately, saying it overestimated his role in inflating the group’s asset values considering he inherited the parent company Korea Telecom, now renamed SK Inc., from his father.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Supreme Court is still to review the case, which is expected to take another two to three years.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10182159</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10182159</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:39:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Muan filled with desperation, grief - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.241085676e4c4d3d893020ee1191d053_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Mourners weep at a memorial altar for the Jeju Air plane crash victims held in the Sports Complex in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Joint Press Corps via Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Mourners weep at a memorial altar for the Jeju Air plane crash victims held in the Sports Complex in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Joint Press Corps via Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Grieving family members form unspoken bond overnight, agree to hold funerals together once identification is completed&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;MUAN, South Jeolla Province -- The night stretched endlessly for hundreds of grieving family members as they waited for authorities to confirm the identities of their loved ones lost in the tragic plane crash.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As the names of the victims were announced through microphones one by one, screams of desperation filled the air.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At Muan International Airport, where a plane crashed on landing Sunday morning, claiming 179 lives, a woman burst into tears after hearing the name of a family member whose body had been identified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We deeply regret your loss, please proceed to the next building,” a government official told her, referring to the location where family assistance services were being provided.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As of Monday afternoon, despite the DNA tests underway, 33 bodies remained unidentified as they were so badly damaged. The plane was destroyed after it collided with the perimeter wall and burst into flames.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The victims&#39; bodies can only be transferred to their families for funerals and final goodbyes once their identities are confirmed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bodies not yet transferred to funeral homes will be preserved in cold storage facilities set up in hangars and other designated areas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The family members at the airport, once strangers, bonded overnight in shared grief, agreeing to delay funerals until all identifications have been finalized.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We can make our voices heard when we stay together,” Park Han-sin, the representative of the bereaved families, said at the lounge of Muan International Airport on Monday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The bereaved shared the latest updates, and exchanged their thoughts on funeral-related procedures and a possible change to the location of the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park, five kilometers from the airport.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But some revealed their pent-up, suffocating emotions as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“How many planes take off from Muan Airport every day? If the plane wasn’t fit to land, they shouldn’t have allowed it,” a man at the airport said through a microphone, accusing the airport of poorly handling the crisis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Who cares about Muan Sports Park?” the man asked. “I still haven’t seen the bodies of my wife and son — what’s the meaning of all this?”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The man’s frustration soon spilled out in loud sobbing that silenced everyone in the lounge once again.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The long list of victims included a nine-member family who returned home from a trip in celebration of an 80th birthday as well as municipal government officials on a trip to mark a colleague&#39;s retirement. The nine-member family had a 3-year-old baby accompanied by his parents in their 30s.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although government officials tried to update the families with the latest information, the families demanded to know more.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We told you to speak louder! We can’t hear you!” a person shouted to a Land Ministry official when an announcement was made at 6 p.m. Sunday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“What we wanted to know was which of the victims have been identified, or the procedures the families need to take to confirm their identities -- not how many died!” another person screamed during the announcement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As the sun rose, more cars and visitors gathered at the airport, even though it had closed and all passengers had been confirmed dead.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Friends of the bereaved offered consolation. And the bereaved families, who tried to hide their emotions, burst into tears meeting friends who arrived at the scene.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the airport&#39;s second floor, temporary shelters organized by the Korean Red Cross and the Korea Housing Builders Association offered refuge to grieving families, whose cries of anguish pierced through the fragile walls.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.e4e6c7e2f5d147ce86351d93f0c0e613_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik lays a flower at the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik lays a flower at the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10148838</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10148838</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:31:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Si-jin, No Kyung-min</author>
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      <title>Search for cause underway the day after air disaster - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Search for remains continues on day after crash; Seoul to inspect all Boeing 737-800 planes&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241230.75d9ede2dcc44c9d94f4da0eb2d6fcff_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Family members of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash weep at the site of accidents at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Family members of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash weep at the site of accidents at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;MUAN, South Jeolla Province/ SEOUL -- The Transport Ministry said Monday it would carry out all-out safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 model airplanes operated by six South Korean air carriers, in response to the fatal plane crash that killed 179 people at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province, on Sunday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 model accounts for nearly 25 percent of South Korea&#39;s fleet of over 400 passenger aircraft used in international flights, according to the Transport Ministry&#39;s Aviation Technical Information System. There are 101 Boeing 737-800 planes registered with the government, including the one that crashed Sunday in the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joo Jong-wan, head of the aviation policy bureau at the South Korean Transport Ministry, said in a briefing Monday afternoon that a weeklong special safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft will take place until Friday. Authorities will examine the maintenance history of engines, landing gear and other flight operating systems, Joo added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Boeing 737-800 model, which first flew in July 1997, is currently used by South Korean low-cost air carriers, such as Jeju Air, the operator of the Boeing 737-800 flight in Sunday&#39;s deadly crash. T&#39;way, Eastar Jet, Air Incheon and the nation&#39;s flag carrier Korea Air Lines also use the model.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We have overseen (the air carriers&#39;) the timeliness of their maintenance efforts,&quot; Yoo Kyung-soo, head of aviation safety policy at the Transport Ministry, said in a briefing Monday morning. &quot;We will look into any deficiencies or violation of regulations.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Transport Ministry also revealed that it had launched a &quot;high-intensity inspection&quot; into Jeju Air. It dispatched safety inspectors after another Boeing 737-800 aircraft en route to Jeju Island on Monday declared an emergency due to suspected landing gear malfunctioning and diverted to Incheon International Airport, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;According to Joo, the government would conduct a joint investigation into the cause of the plane crash with two US National Transportation Safety Board officials and two Boeing representatives. Engine maker CFM International may also participate in the investigation, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Earlier on Monday, acting president Choi Sang-mok ordered the administration to overhaul aircraft operations in South Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Choi instructed the Transport Ministry to &quot;carry out an emergency safety inspection of South Korea&#39;s entire flight system&quot; to ensure the tragic incident would not be repeated. The inspection will begin after the immediate aftermath of the crash has been dealt with.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The remarks came as Choi presided over the fourth disaster control meeting in Seoul on Monday. Choi has taken over the roles of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as both have been impeached by the parliament. He also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Later on Monday, Choi held a closed-door meeting with National Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik. A representative of Woo said the two discussed ways to handle the aftermath of the deadly incident and measures to support the bereaved families.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Amid ongoing debates over the causes of the Jeju Air flight crash at Muan International Airport, authorities have identified 146 of the 179 deceased passengers and crew according to the latest government estimate as of press time Monday. Experts largely agree that a landing gear malfunction triggered the disaster, but differing opinions persist on what caused the failure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some point to a bird strike as the likely culprit, while others question why additional braking systems failed to engage or the existence of a concrete wall past the end of the runway. The cause of the post-crash fire also remains a subject of contention among experts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the cause of the disaster still under investigation the Transport Ministry stated that all 179 victims had been transferred to temporary morgues in the airport&#39;s hangars. Recovery teams have been working overnight to identify the victims and collect their remains, with authorities assuring grieving families that the remains would be handed over once identification and forensic procedures were completed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, the bereaved families of the victims of the Jeju Air crash expressed a collective desire to establish a joint memorial site on the first floor of Muan International Airport, closer to the site of the tragedy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241230.4880ed5612c24aeca5150d72d3d824f1_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A person cries while paying respects to the victims of Sunday’s deadly Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crash, at a joint memorial in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province on Monday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A person cries while paying respects to the victims of Sunday’s deadly Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crash, at a joint memorial in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province on Monday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Though the joint memorial altar was set up at Muan Sports Park, which is about five kilometers away from the airport, some family members suggested the memorial be made at the airport.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The family delegation also discussed funeral arrangements, emphasizing that no funerals should take place until all the bodies have been recovered and identified. However, they acknowledged that some families might need to proceed earlier due to personal circumstances.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Park Han-sin, the representative of the bereaved families, said that they wish to put a pause on funeral-related procedures until all the identities of all the bodies are confirmed, adding that almost 20 bodies are yet to be identified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We carefully ask the families to stop holding individual meetings regarding funeral matters,” Park told the families in Muan International Airport’s lounge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some individuals present claimed some people wish to bring their family members home as soon as they are identified. However, others agreed to the representative’s suggestion for joint action.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“It’d be better to hold the funeral together as well,” said another man.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The bereaved families continued to exchange their thoughts, shared the latest updates with as many family members as possible and tried to find the best way to help the deceased to rest in peace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, the South Jeolla provincial government announced Monday that it would set up separate memorial altars across the 22 cities and counties of the province to enable the public to share their condolences and mourn the loss of their loved ones.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To assist in the aftermath of the disaster, the Transport Ministry announced the launch of an integrated support center for the victims. Located on the third floor of the administration building at Muan International Airport, the center is being led by the central government.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The legal community has also stepped up to support victims and their families. Legal experts anticipate a series of civil and criminal actions once the Transport Ministry concludes its investigation into the incident, and the Gwangju Bar Association announced the formation of a legal support task force to assist those affected by the disaster.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The association is actively recruiting lawyers to join the task force, with the first phase of recruitment set to conclude by Monday. The task force is expected to begin operations Tuesday, working in collaboration with Gwangju City and South Jeolla Province to provide legal assistance tailored to the needs of victims and their families.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10130665</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:20:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Son Ji-hyoung, Choi Jeong-yoon, Lee Si-jin</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seoul expresses deepest condolences, honoring Carter’s legacy - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.065aa07f93f34f828b70bb5d5cde0409_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Former US President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10, 2007, in Toronto. (AP)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Former US President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10, 2007, in Toronto. (AP)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean government on Monday expressed its &quot;deepest condolences&quot; over the passing of former US President Jimmy Carter on Sunday, stating it did so &quot;together with the Korean people.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a statement of condolences issued by the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, the Korean government underscored Carter&#39;s lifelong dedication to advancing universal values of humanity, such as international peace, democracy and human rights, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;He actively engaged in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula with great interest,&quot; the statement read.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The government and people of Korea highly commend and will forever remember the spirit and achievements of former President Carter,&quot; it added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korean government sent its message of condolences over Carter&#39;s passing under the name of acting President Choi Sang-mok, a Foreign Ministry official confirmed Monday afternoon.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10128144</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10128144</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:10:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Ji Da-gyum</author>
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      <title>Between despair and hope: A December that tested our limits - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-mtitle type02&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;As tumultuous December and 2024 draw to an end, fractures, quiet solidarity, hard-earned hope endure&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.b0b4709140d141deaf2aa578cc1e797f_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Family members of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash cry near the crash site at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Monday, a day after the deadly incident claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Family members of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash cry near the crash site at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Monday, a day after the deadly incident claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;December in South Korea felt like an endless night: no festive lights, no holiday cheer, only a suffocating string of crises that kept piling on. The final punch to the gut came on Dec. 29, when Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, claiming 179 lives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“It felt like one heavy blow after another,” says 27-year-old social activist Lee Yeon-joo. “There’s no time or mental space to think about the new year -- my heart’s still stuck in that tragedy.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-mtitle type03&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crash that ended the year&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Before the plane disaster, political chaos had already consumed December. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law in early December sowed fear and anger. Mass protests erupted, followed by his impeachment on Dec. 14. Acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached less than two weeks later. Just when people thought it would not get any worse, national tragedy struck.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.f63ac27e98044fb498eb9be2bed62072_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Police forensic investigators work at the scene of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Monday afternoon. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Police forensic investigators work at the scene of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Monday afternoon. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaptio

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      <title>[Meredith Sumpter] Alaska’s successful election system - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/29/news-p.v1.20241229.135c74944f734d289e2c1607dd798815_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the end of a bitter and closely divided election season, there’s a genuine bright spot for democracy from our 49th state: Alaskans decided to keep the state’s system of open primaries and ranked choice voting because it is working.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is good news not only for Alaska, but for all of us ready for a government that works together to get things done for voters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Alaska’s new system has only been in place for two years. Yet, voters protected it from a repeal effort driven from the extremes because it has already delivered results that Americans in other cities and states would be wise to look to.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I was born and raised in Alaska, so I can attest that ranked choice voting and open primaries have returned a spirit of problem-solving and collegiality to a state where voters want practical results instead of partisan plays. The reality of the state’s terrain and climate require Alaskans to rely on our neighbors no matter their politics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Before voters enacted this reform, however, Alaska’s Legislature had stopped working this way. Like so many legislatures across the country, lawmaking was stifled by elected leaders beholden to a small partisan primary electorate rather than the needs of the majority. Many Alaskan voters felt alienated by how toxic and partisan elections had become, contributing to lower turnout and engagement, particularly among rural and Alaska Native communities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As a result, Alaska’s Legislature was one of the least productive in the country. Lawmakers failed to agree on a budget and couldn’t pass key bills on topics like education, pensions and health care.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now, that problem-solving spirit is back. With ranked choice voting and open primaries, Alaskans running for office need to talk -- and listen -- to all of their voters. In Alaska’s system, the top four finishers in an open primary advance to the general election. There, voters have the option of ranking candidates according to their preferences. The winner is the candidate supported by the majority of Alaska’s voters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In other words, candidates campaign not just to a partisan base, but to all voters in their state.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Voters -- including the nearly 60 percent of Alaska voters unaffiliated with either party -- have seen firsthand how effective this new system is. In 2022, nearly 20 percent of Alaskans ranked candidates of multiple parties, simply voting for the candidates they thought would do the best job. Alaskans have found ranked choice voting easy to use and like the results it generated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yet, the most important improvement hasn’t been the election itself, but what comes after. Those who win know that they have a mandate to solve problems, having won support from a real majority of voters. As a result, lawmakers from across Alaska’s political landscape -- Republicans, Democrats and independents -- have come together to create governing coalitions that have made real nonpartisan progress on addressing energy issues, growing the state’s economy and workforce, and improving public education.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And so a broad coalition of Alaskans came forth to protect the reform, even as extreme partisans encouraged them to repeal it and put them back in charge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The final results were close. But Alaskans of all backgrounds were heard loud and clear. The new system worked, and it is here to stay.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a proven and viable system that rescued Alaskan politics from the ditch of dysfunction and potholes of polarization. Just think what ranked choice voting and open primaries could do in your state.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It’s true that voters in three other states (Idaho, Colorado, Nevada) turned similar systems down this year -- in part because they were drowned out by millions of dollars and old-fashioned partisan misinformation from those seeking to preserve their hold on power. But Alaska is proof that the people who use this system like it and will work to retain it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, ranked choice voting’s momentum continued unabated at the city level in November. Washington voted overwhelmingly to adopt it, as did Oak Park, Illinois. That makes 31 wins in its last 32 votes at the city level, for what has become one of the nation’s most potent and popular election reforms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That march forward will continue, and the governing results from Alaska are the reason why. Ranked choice voting will keep growing because it works for voters and elected leaders who want to get things done -- and voters know it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Meredith Sumpter&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meredith Sumpter is president and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections. She wrote this column for the Fulcrum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news platform covering efforts to fix the US governing systems. The views expressed here are the writer&#39;s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;(Tribune Content Agency)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10033072</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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    <item>
      <title>[Lee Kyong-hee] Warmongers, shamans and plastic surgery - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/29/news-p.v1.20241229.12f2e4d5dcaf491ca1bc305ebd5a0cec_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Koreans obviously will remember December 2024 for the rapid quashing of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree and his impeachment. But if allegations surrounding his self-coup prove true, the back story will not take a backseat when judging how sinisterly Yoon behaved. The allegations paint a picture of a leader who not only put his nation’s democracy at risk but also its security to gain traction on his stalled policy goals.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The imminent question before the Constitutional Court is whether Yoon is guilty of attempting an insurrection to silence opposition parties and assuming carte blanche authority. However, if there is even a thread of truth in the allegations, the real question is whether a person with despicable morals and ethics should be retained in office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Revelations by opposition lawmakers and investigators claim Yoon and his accomplices tried to bait North Korea into an attack on several occasions to create a pretext for martial law. Their plot is suspected to have included military provocations in hopes of inducing a dramatic response by the North, which would raise public fears in the South and induce acceptance of martial law.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One supposed attempt involved an order by then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to strike the spot from where the North sends its garbage-filled balloons. But Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, squelched the order, fearing “a limited war and consequent damage on civilians,” according to investigators.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim Yong-hyun also is suspected of ordering drones into North Korea. In mid-October, North Korea claimed to have discovered the remnants of uncrewed aerial vehicles carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets in its capital. It accused Seoul of sending the drones and destroyed North-South road and rail links, escalating tensions further. Kim was arrested on Dec. 8, on charges of recommending the martial law order and sending troops to block lawmakers from parliament. The same day, a military warehouse for drones and launchers burned down. The origin of the fire so far is a mystery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Noh Sang-won, a retired defense intelligence commander, also is a suspect. He and officers of the Defense Intelligence Command are known to have met at a hamburger restaurant. Investigators say Noh’s notebook contains notes for a false flag operation aimed at inducing an attack by the North across the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean sea border and a major flash point.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The “Baengnyeongdo Operation” allegedly called for the assassination of 16 political figures on board a ship headed toward the island, close to the NLL. The plan involved an assault by an unidentified vessel and pointing the finger at North Korea. That would justify cross-border retaliation and risk tit-for-tat armed exchanges along the Demilitarized Zone, arousing a crisis needed as the pretext for martial law.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Investigators say they have yet to ascertain any connection between Noh’s memos and Yoon’s martial law order. But they dovetail with opposition lawmaker Kim Byung-joo’s assertion that 20 members of the Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment unit were “on standby at a location in Seoul” on the night of Dec. 3, when Yoon declared martial law. The HID unit is normally deployed to the DMZ for operations in North Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim, an Army four-star general-turned-politician, citing anonymous military sources, says that the HID unit was tasked with causing disturbances at the National Election Commission the following day. Yoon asserted that his martial law order was primarily to verify rumors that the April parliamentary elections were rigged to hand the opposition camp a landslide victory.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The notes also segue into another alleged conspiracy. Testifying at a National Assembly hearing on Dec. 13, YouTube journalist Kim Ou-joon said he received a tip about an “assassination squad.” Its tasks, according to Kim, included the killing of Han Dong-hoon, then the leader of the ruling People Power Party, and US soldiers, burying North Korean military uniforms at a specific location and “discovering” the uniforms so all the slayings could be attributed to North Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim testified that his information had not been “fully verified.” Pressured about his source, he only said the tips came from “an ally with an embassy in Seoul.” Although the US Embassy in Seoul denied it was the source, coincidentally or not, US Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California) said during an interview with MBC, “If the South Korean military struck a location within South Korea in a false flag operation, the US would have known the truth and I would hope the public know it, too.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One would expect Pyongyang to pounce on the allegations and portray the South as a warmonger. But it remains silent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Intriguingly, Noh was found to be running a fortunetelling shop under the pseudonym “Baby Bodhisattva.” That instantly arouses suspicions that this “old boy” is part of an unofficial network of first lady Kim Keon Hee, who boasts of her own fortunetelling skills.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Curiously, Kim reportedly visited her favorite plastic surgery clinic for three hours on the evening of Dec. 3. The purpose of her visit remains unknown. Rumors run rampant that she “wanted to look prettier before her gods” at the critical hour. All said and done, the sooner she and her husband awake from the delusion of continuing to wield power, the better for the nation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Lee Kyong-hee&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lee Kyong-hee is a former editor-in-chief of The Korea Herald. The views expressed here are the writer&#39;s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10033070</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Room Tone] Live TV in an on-demand world - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/27/news-p.v1.20241227.9b82ce363f0d4b229685be7313029666_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korean television broadcasting officially began in the aftermath of the Korean War, as the nation sought to rebuild and modernize. The first television station, HLKZ-TV Channel 9, was established in 1956, marking a significant milestone in Korean media history. Broadcasting in black and white, HLKZ-TV primarily aired educational programs, cultural content and news, reflecting the developmental aspirations of the time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In July of that same year, HLKZ-TV made history by airing “Heaven’s Gate,” Korea’s first scripted television drama. This 15-minute program told the story of two thieves who meet at the gates of Heaven and reflect upon their lives. Due to the technological limitations of the era, the drama was performed live and broadcast in real-time, captivating audiences with its storytelling and immediacy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the launch of government-run KBS-TV in 1961 and the emergence of private broadcasters like MBC and TBC, live programming dominated the airwaves, spanning news, educational content, dramas and variety shows. This era of live television fostered a sense of real-time connection and adaptability, as broadcasters navigated the challenges of creating content in a growing industry without the benefit of prerecorded production techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today, the world has embraced an on-demand model, transforming how people consume media. Streaming platforms and video apps let audiences access content anytime, anywhere, eliminating the need for traditional scheduled programming. Viewers can binge-watch shows, listen to playlists, or catch up on the news at their convenience, prioritizing flexibility and control over fixed broadcast times. In this on-demand era, scheduled programming has largely faded, replaced by the expectation that entertainment and information are always available.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Despite the shift in consumption, I believe live television remains relevant and compelling because it offers a unique sense of immediacy and communal experience that on-demand content cannot replicate. Events like live sports, breaking news and reality competitions thrive on the anticipation and unpredictability that only live broadcasts can provide. Audiences tune in not just for the content but to be part of a shared moment, engaging in real-time reactions that foster connection in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. These shared experiences serve as cultural touchstones, creating memories that become part of a collective narrative. For example, the excitement of an international sporting event or the urgency of a breaking political announcement highlights the unmatched drama of witnessing history as it happens.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Live television also provides creatives with opportunities to experiment with formats that leverage audience interaction and participation. Features like live polls and interactive segments allow viewers to influence outcomes, blurring the line between passive consumption and active engagement. Programs such as live musicals, talent competitions, and live-scripted episodes add an element of spontaneity and risk that heightens their entertainment value. For advertisers, live broadcasts ensure immediate visibility, as audiences are less likely to skip ads during real-time programming. In a media landscape dominated by on-demand options, live television offers a fresh and unfiltered alternative, serving as a complement to streaming platforms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In today’s media landscape, a balanced mix of live and on-demand programming offers the best of both worlds, meeting the audience’s rapidly evolving preferences. By embracing both formats, the industry can cultivate a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem that merges the spontaneity and immediacy of live broadcasts with the convenience and depth of on-demand offerings. This harmony between live and on-demand programming ensures that media remains both relevant and engaging, embodying the evolution of the Korean broadcasting industry over the past 70 years; a seamless blend of the pioneering spirit of its live television origins with the innovation and adaptability that has propelled it to the forefront of global media&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Thomas Suh is the founder and managing director of Systeme D Entertainment, a filmed media and entertainment company that specializes in content acquisition, management and production for film and television. &quot;Room Tone,&quot; the title of Suh&#39;s column series, refers to the ambient sound of a space in which filming takes place. Thomas Suh can be reached at tommysuh@me.com -- Ed.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10032202</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2024 04:53:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] ‘Superaged’ Korea - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea needs to explore a redesign of&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;policies for the growing elderly population&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea has formally become a “superaged” society at a faster pace than previously expected, with policymakers and the public unprepared to tackle a host of tricky social and economic issues caused by a growing elderly population.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As of Monday, the number of South Koreans aged 65 or older stood at 10.24 million, accounting for 20 percent of the country&#39;s total population of 51.22 million, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The United Nations classifies countries where more than 7 percent of the population is 65 or older as an aging society, those with over 14 percent as an aged society and those with more than 20 percent as a super-aged society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The superaged society label for Korea means more challenges ahead as the country has already been trying to grapple with a democratic crisis related to a persistently low birth rate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea’s total fertility rate, which shows how many children the average woman will have over her lifetime, stood at 0.76 in the third quarter, up 10.1 percent from a year earlier, but it is still far from sufficient to bolster the shrinking working-age pool.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea became an aged society in August 2017, and it took just 7 years and four months for Korea to gain a new demographic status where individuals aged 65 and older make up one-fifth of its population. If the current pace continues, the proportion of the elderly is forecast to hit 37.3 percent in 2045.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The earlier-than-expected advent of a superaged society also points to the Korean government’s failure to capture the shifting demographic trends. Statistics Korea said in its outlook released in February that Korea’s elderly population, which was 17.4 percent in 2022, would rise to 19.2 percent this year and reach 20.3 percent next year. The forecast turned out to be overly complacent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More worrisome is the near absence of specific government and corporate policies to deal with the worsening demographic change that can translate into a smaller workforce and higher welfare costs. This is a potentially toxic mix that could weaken the fundamental base of Korean society and its economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some of the tasks of the government are to set up new standards for the age that qualifies as elderly and tweak social and economic policies. Policy discussions are needed for the country’s retirement age, which is currently set at 60.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The revision to the retirement age, which involves additional costs for the government and companies, is a hot-button issue. The second baby boom generation -- born between 1965 and 1974 -- is set to retire at age 60 but have to live without any reliable income source until becoming eligible to receive the national pension at age 65.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Companies, meanwhile, fret that an extension of the retirement age is too costly. One estimate puts the additional cost for the new retirement age at 15.9 trillion won ($10.8 billion) per year. The increase in the retirement age also results in fewer jobs for the younger generations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea unveiled plans to launch a new ministry of population strategy to address its demographic crisis, but policy discussions have stopped altogether due to the political unrest following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yoon earlier pledged to reform the pension system, which is also thrown into uncertainty. On top of the pension reform, other critical demographic issues, such as the trouble-laden health insurance budget and the lack of nursing facilities, have yet to be discussed by policymakers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A superaged society does not mean a simple increase in the elderly population; it comes with a substantial shift in social and economic structures. The government must start exploring a comprehensive redesign of policies on retirement, health services, welfare and lifelong education.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031554</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Robert J. Fouser] 2025, a challenging year ahead - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/26/news-p.v1.20241226.f2cf5d73afb84485ad85bf422e5f12ab_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The end of 2024 also marks the beginning of the second half of the 2020s. Decades often develop a distinct image that reflects historical events and cultural trends. After two decades that are hard to classify, the 2020s have so far been the decade of rotating crises. The decade opened with the worst pandemic in a hundred years. That was followed in 2022 by the first major war in Europe since World War II as Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2023, the Middle East exploded after Hamas’ attack on Israel. In 2024, Donald Trump won reelection as US president, sending shivers around the world. In South Korea, Yoon Yuk Yeol’s declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment has sent one of Asia’s leading democracies into its most serious political crisis in decades. The effects of climate change, meanwhile, continue to worsen at an accelerating pace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Things could change in 2025 as crisis fatigue forces talk of a way out. Take the Middle East. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in late November, and it appears to be holding. The collapse of the pro-Iranian regime of Bashar Assad has greatly weakened Iran’s position, which may help bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Once the fighting stops, the process of rebuilding can begin, though that will be fraught with danger until more stable structures of peace are agreed to.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The war in Ukraine also appears to be heading toward some sort of resolution. Both sides are weary of war and neither side is close to achieving victory on its terms. Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans have threatened to end US aid to Ukraine, but do not want to see Ukraine collapse on their watch. Political turmoil in France and Germany, Europe’s leading nations, makes it difficult to summon the political will to replace any lost US support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The political crisis in South Korea will consume the nation for the first half of the year while President Yoon’s fate is decided. Removal from office is the most likely outcome, which would prompt a new election within 60 days. By the middle of the year, South Korea will most likely have a new leader who can focus on serious challenges facing the nation. Hopefully, the new leader will try to ameliorate the politically polarized environment by reaching out to supporters of the election loser.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The next year holds the potential for new, unseen crises. Aside from the conflict in the Middle East, few pundits could have predicted the big crises of the first half of the 2020s. Worsening tension between the US and China, however, makes for a predictable crisis that could explode later in the decade. The two countries will spend most of 2025 getting used to Trump 2.0, which is certain to include higher tariffs on Chinese goods flowing into the US. They will have a negative effect on both countries, causing inflation in the US and dampening economic growth in China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A major source of tension is the status of Taiwan. China wants to subjugate Taiwan, but it also wants to avoid starting a catastrophic war with the US and its allies. To date, China has assumed that US influence will weaken, but China’s post-pandemic slowdown and recent strength in the US economy may have changed those calculations, at least for now.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And then there is Donald Trump. Many voters in the recent US election remember him for a strong pre-pandemic economy, but the political establishment then successfully constrained his worst impulses. Those guardrails have now largely disappeared, and he feels emboldened to push hard. Higher tariffs and bigger budget deficits risk renewed inflation and higher interest rates. Tax cuts and cutting regulation may spur some growth, but it most likely will not make up for weakening business and consumer sentiment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For South Korea, all of this means that the global economic environment could turn negative just as the nation is exiting the political crisis. The new administration will find itself facing an economic and geopolitical puzzle full of risky choices. The US is South Korea’s closest political and military ally, but China is its largest trading partner. It needs good relations with both nations to prosper, but that may become increasingly difficult as tensions keep rising. To make informed choices, the new administration will need to draw on the tradition of pragmatic and dispassionate decision making that has helped the country through previous crises.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Robert J. Fouser&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Robert J. Fouser, a former associate professor of Korean language education at Seoul National University, writes on Korea from Providence, Rhode Island. He can be reached at robertjfouser@gmail.com. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031543</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Career Compass] Expectation-setting meeting to jump-start work relationship - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/26/news-p.v1.20241226.75358741431c4bdd89b39d5e24f90ba0_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;How do you jump-start working with your new team members and become an effective manager? One of my mentees working in Singapore is getting promoted in January, leading a team of five people. She was determined to become “the best boss on earth,” but, as this was her first time managing others, she sought my advice on crafting a thoughtful and effective approach.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A suggestion I offered was to hold an “expectation-setting meeting” within the first month with each of her direct reports. It is straightforward yet impactful. For me, it has been a proven method for quickly establishing mutual understanding, fostering a strong working relationship and providing tailored support to my team members. You can use it any time when you have a new direct report.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here are the topics to discuss at the “expectation-setting meeting.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. Personal background&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learning about family, interests and personal goals is an excellent way to begin. Ask about professional profiles such as past assignment history, best roles or best work achievements.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Expectations of the current role and work&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What does your direct report want to achieve in the role? How does the individual feel about the work? Encourage your direct report to be open, as this is a new relationship and a fresh beginning. During one such meeting, my new Chinese direct report confided, “I am really struggling. My family is in Vietnam, and I really miss them.” This candid conversation prompted me to find him a position in the Vietnam office, rather than having him leave the company.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. Expectations of boss&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What help and support does your direct report want? What area of coaching and development does the individual need? This is also an ideal opportunity to ask your direct reports for help in areas where you need support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. Career interest&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ask about short-term and long-term career aspirations. Discuss what skills or experiences are required to achieve career goals. This conversation enables the manager to create a coaching plan and map out the projects, experiences and exposure opportunities for the direct reports. Share your expectation that the individual needs to own and lead his or her career planning but you will give your full support as the manager.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. Strengths, weaknesses and hot buttons&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of my direct reports disclosed that his weakness was meeting deadlines due to his perfectionism, while I admitted that my hot button was when someone missed a deadline without any warning. Our amicable solution was for him to give me a heads-up if he anticipated a potential delay. It worked perfectly each time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;6. Reward and recognition&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What does meaningful reward and recognition look like to the direct report? When I was a vice president working in Singapore, one of my directors told me, “Jooyoun, I have a large family with three children and parents to support. While recognition is nice, what I truly appreciate is a salary increase. What can I do to get promoted?” It was clear and understandable. This resulted in a productive follow-up discussion about his qualifications for promotion, skill gaps and development plan. He later expressed his gratitude, saying it was a turning point for him. He felt empowered, supported and truly valued the conversation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;7. Preferred operating style&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Examples include delegation scope, one-on-one meetings, how to give and receive feedback, communication methods and frequency, and specific scheduling needs. Don’t underestimate how these seemingly small details can make life easier for both parties. They also allow your direct reports to understand your preferences rather than having to guess them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Below are tips on how to conduct an expectation-setting meeting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Clearly communicate that your goal is to get to know each other and establish a strong working relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Send out the topics and give ample time to prepare for the meeting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Reassure and maintain confidentiality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Have the direct report go first and then you share yours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Listen and seek to understand.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Show your vulnerability. It builds trust fast.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That&#39;s it! It&#39;s a simple way to establish a positive and effective working relationship. Give it a try and let me know how it went!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kim Jooyoun, an independent board member at SK Innovation and a former CEO at P&amp;amp;G, answers questions on careers and multinational companies. She can be reached at kimjy2025@outlook.com. -- Ed.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031331</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 07:12:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Wang Son-taek] Misconception of People Power Party - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/25/news-p.v1.20241225.0e34ac7b7dd74ea18c4d28d8002c7758_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Three weeks have passed since the insurrection by President Yoon Suk Yeol in the name of martial law declaration. Many things have happened and are happening. President Yoon was impeached at the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court began deliberation on Yoon’s impeachment. Law enforcement is investigating the insurrection charge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, people do not feel comfortable watching the impeachment trial or investigations. The international community is also paying close attention to Korea from the perspective of an unstable country. As the resilience of Korean democracy has been highlighted by this incident, there was a positive factor for the image of Korea. However, there is also a possibility that the negative image might prevail in the future, given that the vulnerability of democracy has been exposed to the extent that the president committed an insurrection and that there are uncertainties and anxiety about the country&#39;s future. A significant reason for the uncertainties originated from the tenacious resistance by President Yoon. In addition, the ruling People Power Party opposed his impeachment and sympathized with him. The attitude has intensified the level of uncertainty and anxiety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Why is the People Power Party, which put the people&#39;s power in the name of the party, against the president&#39;s impeachment demanded by 75 percent of the people and is passive in punishing him? Putting together what is reported in the media, it seems they are afraid of the collapse and loss of political power. Lawmakers who openly oppose impeachment say that they cannot support impeachment to prevent the election of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, as he is likely to be elected president if the presidential election is held after the confirmation of impeachment. Recalling the passing of the impeachment motion of former President Park Geun-hye in December 2016, they argue that if the party agrees to impeachment, conservatives will be demolished. Even if the People Power Party is against impeachment, voters will forget about it after one or two years, according to a member of the parliament. At a glance, the People Power Party’s approach seems reasonable. The problem is that all perceptions of the situation presented above are delusions. A strategy based on illusion can never succeed and causes self-destruction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the presidential election is held after the impeachment, the prediction that opposition leader Lee Jae-myung will win is reasonable. However, it is a preposterous illusion to calculate that if the People Power Party opposes the impeachment, the presidential election could be delayed and prevent the election of Lee. Nobody can stop impeaching him as he committed a serious crime against people, threatening people with military force. That should be the bottom line. If the National Assembly had not passed the impeachment motion, large-scale protests and bloodshed would have occurred. As a number of lawmakers are breaking away from the People Power Party, the party itself is reduced to half. In the history of Korea, there have been times when Koreans have failed to punish a small number of elites for colluding for small gains. However, there has never been an acceptable case when the elites ignore the people&#39;s demands for unfair gains. This case is the one that the public does not condone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some lawmakers say that allowing the impeachment vote in 2016 was a mistake and should never be repeated. This is a case of understanding the lessons of history entirely backward. Conservative parties have faced a devastating situation since 2016 because the leading conservative party at the time, the Saenuri Party, disagreed with impeachment. The results of the presidential election on May 9, 2017, would show immediately. At the election, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party earned 41 percent of the vote, Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party 24 percent, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People&#39;s Party 21 percent, Yoo Seung-min of the Bareun Party 6.7 percent and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party 6 percent. Even though the presidential election was held right after the conservative leader&#39;s impeachment, the progressive camp gained only 47 percent of the total votes. Considering the impeachment, the number of votes of the candidates for impeachment was 75 percent, and 24 percent against impeachment. The party fell into big trouble not by the passage of the impeachment but by rejecting it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is also not true that voters would forget about the past in a year or two. In the May 2017 election, people had already given more votes to the conservative or neutral camps. The revival of the conservative camp after one or two years is by no means the result of the people&#39;s oblivion of the conservative camp&#39;s wrongdoing. The public was angry at the excessive partisan attitude of the Moon Jae-in government, which took power after impeachment, such as conducting an excessively long and unprincipled liquidation of deep-rooted evils, leading to a situation in which the conservative camp was re-established.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The People Power Party seems to follow the Saenuri Party&#39;s path. It opposed the impeachment and eventually failed to block it. If the People Power Party does not abandon its attitude of ignoring the people&#39;s demands, chances are high that the future path will unfold similarly. The party will be divided over whether to go with President Yoon, and we might witness the collapse of conservatives while watching Rep. Lee Jae-myung win the presidential election in April at the earliest.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Even now, if the People Power Party favors impeachment and agrees with the people&#39;s demand for punishment against Yoon, the People Power Party will have an opportunity to return. Though it is difficult to win the presidential election, the party can seize a chance to win the 2026 local elections. If they fail to wake up from the illusion and flock to the forces opposing impeachment, they will not be able to avoid their own destruction, and the nation and the people will also be forced to suffer massive losses due to the delay of uncertainty and anxiety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Wang Son-taek&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wang Son-taek is an adjunct professor at Sogang University. He is a former diplomatic correspondent at YTN and a former research associate at Yeosijae. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022938</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Park In-jo] Discover, develop science talent early - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/25/news-p.v1.20241225.db6fa01ed8734b2483cd5dabcbed0e76_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, South Korea ranked eighth in the world. The outstanding achievements of Korean athletes can be attributed in some part to the athletic specialist system established in the 1960s and to corporate support for athletes since the 1980s. Why not apply the early discovery and training system for athletic talent and corporate support for athletes to develop scientific talent?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Individuals make career decisions based on their interests and on expectations of wealth and social reputation. While providing career counseling to university students, I found that students mainly want to choose a career based on their interests. For those who decide to become doctors, the criteria may include expectations of wealth and social reputation, as well as a desire to contribute to society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of the issues facing our society -- a focus on one occupational group, such as doctors -- is an obstacle at a time when we need to prepare for the future through the development of scientific talent. We need to open a new phase in fostering scientific talent for the era of the fourth industrial revolution, represented by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace, biotechnology, the internet of things, robotics, blockchain and other developments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The medical profession, compared to scientific research and development jobs, has the advantages of a late retirement age, high income, social recognition and high preference in attracting a spouse. In developing scientific talent, addressing these limitations is no simple task. In-depth efforts are needed to solve such problems from the macro perspectives of institutions, society and education. It is difficult for us to address the challenges all at once, but we believe that solutions can be presented in one field.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The advantages of developing athletic talent can be applied to training competitive scientific talent. First, as with students enrolled in special tracks for physical education, students talented in science are selected early (i.e., in elementary school) and receive separate education. It is possible to create a curriculum for teaching students who have been discovered early and provide them with a mentoring system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For example, we could establish a system in which students in domestic master&#39;s and doctoral courses become mentors of selected science specialists, and at the government level, we pay scholarships to graduate students who become mentors. Through mentoring, we can train young people to think scientifically by asking questions that can develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Mentees can listen to their mentors&#39; opinions on various science topics and express their opinions logically. Mentors can teach mentees through advanced experiments and research activities as well as theory on in-depth topics or the latest scientific research (e.g., AI, gene scissors, blockchain technology). Since the mentors would be graduate students from a variety of schools, the program would require systems for selecting quality mentors, as well as standardization for mentoring, and training in mentoring techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Second, like physical education at middle schools, science at middle schools should be established nationwide as part of the education system. For example, we can consider establishing a semiconductor middle school in Suwon, where Samsung produces semiconductors; a middle school in Jeonju, home to the Rural Development Administration and Korea Agricultural and Marine University; an aerospace middle school in Sacheon, where the Korea AeroSpace Administration is located; and an AI middle school in Daejeon, where the National Science and Technology Human Resource Development Center is located.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the case of the United States and Japan, some middle schools operate STEM programs to strengthen science education. In the United States, STEM programs for middle school students specializing in science take a project-based learning and problem-solving approach. Students talented in science gain more interest in their future careers when they receive intensive education through specialized curriculum, experiments and research, field learning, and convergence education (e.g., art, psychology, sociology). Early education through science middle schools can help us develop competitive science talent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Third, companies can assist in training science talent. Companies can lay the financial foundations necessary for developing science talent by supporting those who are selected early in life. Donations can be used to award generous scholarships, purchase equipment necessary for individual science projects and provide overseas science training during school breaks. Of course, companies that support young athletes benefit from advertising through the athletes&#39; media exposure. Since fostering scientific talent has no advertising benefit, it is necessary to provide incentives in other ways. For example, companies that sponsor science students could receive tax incentives at the national or local levels.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Personal interest in a career, which is the basis for making decisions about one&#39;s future, becomes stronger and more important as knowledge increases and competencies develop. By applying the above strategies, we can look forward to young people growing their interest in science and becoming competitive R&amp;amp;D talents in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Park In-jo&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Park In-jo is an associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology at Jeonbuk National University. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022936</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] Boost domestic demand - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consumer sentiment fall largest in Dec.; retail sales decrease 10 straight quarters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consumer sentiment is plunging amid the fallout from the presidential impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To make matters worse, weak domestic demand has overlapped with sluggish exports and prolonged Korean currency depreciation. If this continues, no one can rule out the possibility of the national economy entering long-term stagnation and falling far short of its potential growth rate next year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The consumer sentiment index fell to 88.4 in December, down 12.3 points from a month earlier, according to a Bank of Korea survey Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This marks the largest fall since March 2020, when the nation was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Credit card payments decreased 26.3 percent nationwide in the first week of December from the previous week. It is the first time since 2020 that card use diminished this fast in early December.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a poll by the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise, 88.4 percent of respondents said sales had decreased after the martial law declaration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The retail sales index, an important barometer of year-over-year change in consumption, fell in the third quarter for a tenth quarter in a row, beginning from the second quarter of 2022, also a record for the longest decrease, according to Statistics Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea Development Institute, a state think tank on development policies, evaluated domestic demand as sluggish for 13 straight months from December last year, which is the longest ever.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The loan default rate of the low-income self-employed with low credit scores hit an 11-year high of 11.5 percent at the end of the third quarter.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Economic conditions felt by small businesses are worsening to an unbearable level. In a recent meeting between heads of business lobbies and acting President Han Duck-soo, Kim Ki-mun, chair of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, told Han that presently &quot;politics might be hard while economic conditions are absolutely tortuous.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Of particular concern is the possibility of the current struggling economy not reviving in a short period of time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok said on Monday that the nation&#39;s economic growth rate is expected to fall short of its potential level of 2 percent next year. The Bank of Korea recently forecast Korea&#39;s potential growth rate to drop continuously to the 1 percent range by 2030. Choi&#39;s prediction is a warning that it may fall faster than the central bank has forecast.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Considering the weakened fundamentals of the Korean economy, it is hard to expect the rapid resilience of the past.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ahead of the launch of the Donald Trump administration that is expected to strengthen protectionism, South Korea&#39;s export prospects look dim. If the government misses the timing for undertaking proper measures, the stagnant economy will likely be prolonged.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Measures to revive consumption are urgent. The government has to figure out ways to help the self-employed substantially. Banks on Tuesday announced 2 trillion won ($1.37 billion) for three-year programs to reschedule debt for the self-employed in financial straits and extend low-interest loans to them. The programs must operate transparently.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government is said to consider front-loading 75 percent of its 2025 budget in the first half to kick-start an economic recovery. Boosting the effort requires a supplementary budget. Both the ruling and opposition parties should cooperate over the extra budget issue. If this matter is delayed, the effect of government efforts to revive domestic demand cannot but be limited.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A trilateral consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties and the government will set sail Thursday after many twists and turns. Rival parties on Monday agreed to operate the organization in a bid to lessen turmoil in the aftermath of the presidential impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of the first things to do is to discuss drawing up a supplementary budget. It is also necessary to operate the body on two separate tracks: one to deal with political issues and the other economic matters.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022920</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Kim Seong-kon] I am dreaming of a colorful Christmas - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/24/news-p.v1.20241224.605b9fa741f44eefbadff75ad9aec902_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Every Christmas Day, I like to reminisce about the fabulous, colorful Christmas trees I saw on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1978. The sparkling electric light bulbs and multicolored ornaments on the trees in the streets and inside shop windows were dazzling and fabulous.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you have ever had the experience of looking down upon Los Angeles from a descending airplane at night, you must have felt the same awe and adoration that I felt when I saw those Christmas trees. LA’s colorful night scenery is stunningly beautiful when you look down from the sky. If LA’s night view were black and white, it would not be enchanting or awesome at all. Likewise, if the Christmas tree decoration lights I saw in Chicago were monochromatic, they would not be captivating or enthralling, either.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In an American children’s book, “White Cat, Black Cat,” White Cat lives in a black house and Black Cat lives in a white house. When Black Cat visits the White Cat’s house, he cannot be seen because all the backgrounds are black. Likewise, when White Cat visits Black Cat’s house, he, too, cannot be seen because everything is white. Thus, they decide to meet in a colorful place. There, they can finally see each other clearly and thus are overjoyed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Colorfulness is therefore much better and far superior to simple black and white. The above tale reminds us that if everything were black and white, we would lose half of our vision and thus not see half of our surroundings. Likewise, if our minds are stuck in black and white, our thoughts and perspectives will also be reduced by half.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A foreign national residing in Seoul recently told me that in South Korea, he could see mostly black cars and white cars. There are some silver or beige cars, but cars with other colors are rarely seen. In other countries, colorful cars constantly roll down the streets. The foreign national thinks that this phenomenon may reflect the Korean people’s mindset that tends to divide things by black and white.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some time ago, when the political correctness movement was at its pinnacle, the leaders of the movement criticized “Merry Christmas!” as a religiously biased greeting that ignores non-Christians. They recommended “Happy holidays!” on Christmas Day, instead. However, Christmas has become everybody’s holiday, including non-Christians.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since the extreme PC movement tried to ignore colorfulness and diversity in American society, Time magazine once called it, the “Thought Police.” Indeed, pushed to the extreme, the PC movement ends up monitoring and manipulating people’s minds to the point that it degenerates into a dogmatic ideology.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whenever Christmas comes, the notion of the Christmas spirit, including such important moral lessons as what it means to “forgive and forget,” or to “help needy neighbors,” prevails in many societies. Listening to Christmas carols, people’s minds become full of the Christmas spirit: hatred melts and compassion overflows.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I hope the 2024 Christmas is a colorful one, glittering with generosity and empathy, just like beautifully decorated Christmas trees that gather family members and relatives for the joyous occasion. The song, “White Christmas,” begins with “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know.” I would like to sing, “I’m dreaming of a colorful Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We were not always like this. A long time ago, we lived in a colorful place where we embraced diversity and differences. At that time, we cared for others whom we treated as our neighbors and friends. Sadly, those good old days are gone and now we suspect and detest one another as if we were archenemies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Looking back upon this year, we realize that we have ruthlessly antagonized those with different opinions, thoughts and ideologies. Especially in our political arena, such a phenomenon has been egregious and ubiquitous. It is a cancerous ailment that has plagued our society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We hope that in this Christmas season, we can forget our rancor, acrimony and animosity, and care about others including our political foes. We also hope that the Christmas spirit is prevalent in our society and that we can reconcile in harmony and cooperate with each other in order to make a better society. That is what we humans should do.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the 2004 Hollywood movie “Hellboy,” the protagonist Hellboy is born as an ugly monster, but becomes a hero and the savior of human beings. Eventually, he is even better than humans. At the end of the movie, FBI agent John Myers narrates: “What makes a man a man? Is it his origins? The way he comes to life? I don’t think so. It’s the choices he makes, not how he starts things, but how he decides to end them.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although we may have started wrongfully, we can end things beautifully. Surely, that would be the true Christmas spirit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Kim Seong-kon&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022681</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] Clouds on the horizon - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea’s export drive projected to face trouble in 2025 due to shift in chip sector&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean economy has been chugging along thanks to solid shipments of semiconductors this year. But the outlook for exports in 2025 is far from optimistic, and the reason also involves chips, the country’s key export item.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Business organizations project that exports could stagnate next year largely due to worsening market conditions for semiconductors and automobiles. Demand for Korean chips may weaken amid intensifying competition with China. A global economic slowdown cannot be ruled out in connection with the uncertainties in major economies around the world, which in turn could hurt the export-driven Korean economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Federation of Korean Industries, a major business lobby group, forecast a meager 1.4 percent increase in exports next year, citing its survey of 150 companies across 12 key export industries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea International Trade Association similarly predicted that the growth rate of exports could slow to 1.8 percent. Other major economic institutes including the Bank of Korea and the state-run Korea Development Institute came up with an export growth projection of less than 2 percent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Only the Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade said exports would increase by 2.2 percent next year. But its survey of 133 industry professionals showed the manufacturing sector’s export sentiment index for January 2025 would slide to 76, a negative outlook based on a neutral figure is 100.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The key reason for the negative outlooks is the looming trouble in the semiconductor sector in Korea. This year, total shipments of semiconductors are forecast to hit a record $139 billion, or roughly 20 percent of the country’s total exports. There is no question that chip exports have bolstered Korea’s exports as a result of a higher demand worldwide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But Korean chipmakers may not enjoy a boom next year largely because Chinese rivals are rapidly encroaching on the market for legacy semiconductors. Chinese electronics makers, which long relied on imports of Korean memory chips, are increasingly shifting toward local alternatives. The continued replacement of Korean legacy memory chips by Chinese products could cut into the 2025 revenues of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aside from the threats to legacy products, the two major Korean chipmakers confront US restrictions on high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, exports to China. In addition, they are importing their own memory chips made in their Chinese production facilities for final processing since they cannot deploy the advanced chip equipment due to the US restrictions on China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As long as the trade friction between the US and China persists, Korean chipmakers cannot avoid collateral damage. The problem is that US President-elect Donald Trump could make things more burdensome for all trading partners, including Korea, with his protectionist trade policies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beyond semiconductors, other industries are also faltering. Steel exports are expected to shrink by 3-5 percent, and automobile exports may grow by a modest 0-2 percent in 2025. The mix of a global economic slowdown and protectionist policies initiated by the US is feared to bring more uncertainties to Korea’s export-driven economic policy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Even the country’s top official in charge of economic policy expressed related worries. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Monday said, “Export growth faces headwinds from base effects and the shift in the semiconductor cycle, raising concerns about a potential slowdown.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Strong exports have been a lifeline for the Korean economy this year, with domestic demand mired in a deep slump. Conversely, if export growth slows significantly and domestic demand fails to recover next year, the repercussions could be severe for the entire economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Given the gravity of the looming challenges, bipartisan efforts are urgently needed to devise a safety net for exports and prevent a hard landing. In the long term, policymakers also have to draw up plans for structural reforms such as reducing the country’s heavy reliance on semiconductor exports and rebalancing its trade dependence on the US and China. Bold and decisive action is the only way forward.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022668</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>N. Korean leader visits new coastal tourist zone, emphasizes advancing tourism - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241231.PYH2024123100570004200_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center), alongside his daughter (right), inspects the interior of a hotel room in the Kalma coastal tourist area in the country&#39;s east coastal city of Wonsan, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center), alongside his daughter (right), inspects the interior of a hotel room in the Kalma coastal tourist area in the country&#39;s east coastal city of Wonsan, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a new tourist zone along the country&#39;s east coast, stressing that the project is the &quot;first big step&quot; in advancing the country&#39;s tourism, state media reported Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim looked around newly completed hotels and other service facilities in the Kalma coastal tourist area on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency said, adding that the zone will open for service in June next year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The tourist area has been under development since 2014 as part of a project to harness the sandy beach of Myongsasimni on Wonsan&#39;s Kalma peninsula for tourism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Calling the place &quot;very spectacular, beautiful and magnificent,&quot; Kim expressed &quot;great satisfaction&quot; and said that the service facilities, built &quot;at a high level,&quot; could be utilized for important external, political and cultural state events.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The development of the tourist industry &quot;will open up a new realm of socialist cultural construction and bring about another motive force for promoting regional rejuvenation and national economic growth,&quot; he noted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Kalma coastal tourist area&#39;s development is &quot;the first big step&quot; in advancing the country&#39;s tourist industry, Kim stated, ordering &quot;proactively exploiting the tourist resources in other regions.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korea has turned to tourism as a means of earning foreign currency, as its tourism industry is not subject to international sanctions. The country is widely expected to try to attract Russian tourists once the Kalma tourist zone opens in June.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Photos of Kim&#39;s latest inspection, released by the KCNA, showed his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, accompanying him on the trip. This is her first public appearance since Oct. 31, when she was present at the site of an intercontinental ballistic missile test.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Images showed her walking down a beach with her arm linked with Kim&#39;s and touring hotel facilities alongside her father.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The visit to the tourist zone marks Kim&#39;s second reported inspection of an economy-related facility since the conclusion of the annual year-end plenary party meeting on Friday, a move seen as highlighting the country&#39;s economic achievements in 2024. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333159</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:51:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>Safety inspection of military aircraft under way after Jeju Air crash - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241231.d33640fd5ca4430185d5330a8f10d0c9_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;This June 19 file photo shows a Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft entering the operational area of South Korea. (South Korea Navy)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;This June 19 file photo shows a Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft entering the operational area of South Korea. (South Korea Navy)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;A special inspection to ensure the safety of military aircraft is under way as the defense ministry has ordered the military to examine all aircraft following the fatal Jeju Air crash, officials said Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Navy has kicked off a safety inspection that will run through Saturday to examine its aircraft, including the P-8A maritime patrol plane based on the Boeing 737-800 commercial jet.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Navy completed its acquisition of six P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in July to bolster its anti-submarine capabilities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Air Force has also launched an inspection of its aircraft, including the Peace Eye airborne control aircraft modeled after the Boeing 737-700 commercial plane.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Monday, the government said it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following the Jeju Air plane crash Sunday in the southwestern county of Muan that claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333151</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>US investigators, Boeing officials join on-site probe of Jeju Air crash in Muan - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241230.PYH2024123005210001302_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Firefighters carry out search operations at Muan International Airport in the southwestern county of Muan on Monday after a Jeju Air passenger plane with 181 people aboard crashed the previous day. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Firefighters carry out search operations at Muan International Airport in the southwestern county of Muan on Monday after a Jeju Air passenger plane with 181 people aboard crashed the previous day. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;A team of investigators from the US government and aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. have arrived at the site of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport to participate in the investigation into the incident, Seoul officials said Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;According to Seoul&#39;s transport ministry, one member from the US Federal Aviation Administration, three experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board and four representatives from Boeing have joined officials of South Korea&#39;s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board for the investigation at the site of the accident.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The US team arrived in South Korea on Monday via Incheon International Airport and traveled directly to Muan, some 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, to prepare for the investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;South Korean and US investigators discussed the schedule procedures and specific areas of focus for the investigation,&quot; Joo Jong-wan, head of aviation policy at the transport ministry, said at a press briefing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Under the International Civil Aviation Organization convention, the country where the accident occurred is responsible for initiating the investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Countries with stakeholders in the incident, such as the aircraft&#39;s operator and manufacturer, and nations with victims have the right to participate. Thailand, which had two nationals die in the accident, has reportedly chosen not to take part in this investigation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The US and Boeing representatives, together with 11 members of South Korea&#39;s ARAIB, are currently assessing the wreckage and debris at the crash site, searching for components that could offer clues about the cause of the accident, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following the on-site probe, the investigation will proceed to the analysis phase, which will involve examining the recovered evidence and data extracted from the aircraft&#39;s two black boxes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The aircraft&#39;s flight data recorder, one of the black boxes, was found to have suffered exterior damage. The recorder was also found to be missing a connector that links its data storage unit to the power supply.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Authorities are examining technical methods to extract the data despite the absence of the connector,&quot; Joo said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, is reportedly in a relatively better condition.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The investigation team will soon decide whether to attempt repairs and analysis of the damaged black box domestically or to send the device to the NTSB in the US for further examination.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joo added there were two air traffic controllers on duty at the airport at the time of the crash. Investigators have spoken with both to hear their account of the incident but decided not to release the information as of now.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government said it will suspend operations of Muan International Airport until Jan. 7 and decide on its reopening at a later date. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:15:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>N. Korea&#39;s Kim sends letter to Putin, vowing to further solidify military cooperation - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241229.PAP20241229106301009_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19. (AP-Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19. (AP-Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a New Year&#39;s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowing to further solidify bilateral military cooperation, the North&#39;s state media reported Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The New Year 2025 will be recorded as the first year of war victory in the 21st century when the Russian army and people defeat neo-Nazism and achieve a great victory,&quot; Kim said in the letter sent to Putin the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The KCNA said the letter, on behalf of Kim, the Korean people and the country&#39;s entire armed forces, conveyed &quot;warm greetings of best wishes to the fraternal Russian people and all the service personnel of the brave Russian army.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim expressed a willingness to further strengthen his country&#39;s &quot;comprehensive strategic partnership&quot; with Russia by devising new projects and implementing them strongly to build strong nations and achieve peace and prosperity for their peoples, the KCNA reported.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim &quot;wished Vladimir Putin greater success in his responsible and heavy state leadership activities and the Russian people prosperity, wellbeing and happiness,&quot; the report said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The letter came amid deepening military, economic and other ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, following the signing of a mutual defense treaty by Kim and Putin during the Russian president&#39;s visit to the North Korean capital in June.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, with South Korean officials warning that the North is preparing to send more troops and supply more military equipment to Moscow. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333106</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:05:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>Court issues arrest warrant to detain Yoon - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241231.191ab6000dd744b0b9b7ed3c51fc95d8_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Seoul court approved a request from investigative authorities to detain South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, making him the first sitting president to face arrest in Korea&#39;s constitutional history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday issued the warrant against Yoon on charges of leading and organizing the martial law declaration in early December as well as abuse of power, according to legal sources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court’s decision comes a day after the joint investigation team probing the martial law case filed for a warrant for Yoon after he ignored three successive summonses requesting his attendance for questioning.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following the court’s decision, authorities are given 48 hours to take Yoon into custody for questioning and to file the arrest warrant.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333090</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333090</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:49:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Jung-joo</author>
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      <title>Acting President Choi orders efforts to make necessary improvements to airline system - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/rcv.YNA.20241231.PYH2024123101250001300_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Acting President Choi Sang-mok speaks during a disaster control meeting at the government complex building in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Acting President Choi Sang-mok speaks during a disaster control meeting at the government complex building in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday directed the government to address necessary improvements to the airline operation system, as the country mourns a tragic plane crash that claimed 179 lives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Choi&#39;s order comes after the Jeju Air plane, carrying 181 people, belly-landed and exploded at an airport in the country&#39;s southwestern county of Muan on Sunday, leaving only two survivors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government has since launched an emergency safety inspection of six local airlines operating the same aircraft model involved in the crash, the Boeing 737-800.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The transport ministry must thoroughly reexamine the overall aircraft operation system, starting with this inspection, and immediately implement any necessary improvements,&quot; Choi said in a disaster control meeting held in Seoul.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Monday, Choi visited a memorial altar set up in Muan to pay his respects to the victims. The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period, which will last until midnight Saturday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Memorials have been established at the crash site and in 17 cities and provinces across the country, including Seoul. Flags are being flown at half-mast. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333068</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:28:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>Car ferry capsizes off southwestern coast; 2 rescued, 5 missing - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.59d1e3209e8841c387e5039a58702620_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Coast Guard officials conduct a nighttime search in waters off Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024, after a car ferry capsized, leaving two rescued and five missing, in this photo provided by a reader. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Coast Guard officials conduct a nighttime search in waters off Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024, after a car ferry capsized, leaving two rescued and five missing, in this photo provided by a reader. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;An 83-ton car ferry capsized off the southwestern coast Monday, leaving two rescued and five others missing, the Coast Guard said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The vessel, presumed to be carrying seven people, capsized at 6:35 p.m. in waters west of Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the Coast Guard and fire authorities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Coast Guard officials rescued two passengers and are currently searching for five others.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rescue crews were conducting a search near the accident site, but strong currents from the high tide are complicating the operation, authorities said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Coast Guard is investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10230959</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:34:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>Vice FM asks new Chinese ambassador for his part in building better ties - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/rcv.YNA.20241230.PYH2024123010970001300_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun asked Chinese Ambassador-designate to South Korea Dai Bing on Monday to make efforts to help improve bilateral relations, Seoul&#39;s foreign ministry said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim made the call during his first in-person meeting with Dai, days after Dai arrived in Seoul to assume his new post that had been left vacant since his predecessor, Xing Haiming, departed in July.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim expressed hope that the two countries would continue exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits, which will be consecutively hosted by the two neighboring countries in the next two years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea is next year&#39;s APEC host and China will host the 2026 summit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim thanked China for its condolence message from Chinese President Xi Jinping over Sunday&#39;s deadly plane crash in Muan that killed 179 people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dai, in turn, expressed thanks to the Seoul government for the warm welcome, vowing to closely work with Seoul to help further develop the bilateral relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dai arrived in Seoul last Friday to take on his new role. He previously served as the deputy Chinese ambassador to the United Nations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Dai stressed that bilateral relations should continue to move forward despite it being a &quot;difficult time&quot; in Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I know that it&#39;s a difficult time right now, but China will not intervene in (Korea&#39;s) state affairs,&quot; Dai said, as he entered the ministry building. &quot;Although it&#39;s a difficult time, our relations cannot stop.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the same day, Dai presented a copy of his credentials to a senior Seoul foreign ministry official, a diplomatic procedure required by a foreign envoy before formally presenting the credence to the host country&#39;s leader.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Once the letter of credence is received, the envoy is considered to have officially assumed office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The credentials submitted by Dai reportedly show Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the recipient. Han has also been impeached and suspended from duties and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as the acting president.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In light of Han&#39;s impeachment, China&#39;s foreign ministry on Monday expressed a willingness to actively engage with South Korea to deepen the bilateral relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We are willing to make active efforts to deepen the bilateral friendly cooperation and strategic cooperative partnership with South Korea, an important neighbor and a partner for cooperation,&quot; the ministry said.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;China upholds the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and believes that the Korean people have the wisdom and ability to adequately resolve their domestic issues,&quot; it added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Also on Monday, working-level talks took place between Kang Young-shin, director general for Northeast and Central Asian affairs of the South Korean foreign ministry, and Liu Jinsong, director general for Asian affairs at China&#39;s foreign ministry, the Seoul ministry said in a separate release.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Discussions centered on bilateral relations and issues related to the Korean Peninsula, and ways to advance bilateral cooperation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kang and Liu agreed to work together on the APEC hosting and continue strategic communication on peninsula issues, the ministry said. (Yonhap)&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10197000</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10197000</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:33:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Yonhap</author>
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      <title>A look back at 2024 - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.1f50b328a6df4aeda8ecbe8cf968c4ec_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;The scene of the collision and explosion accident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;The scene of the collision and explosion accident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tragic Plane Crash&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Sunday morning claimed 179 lives, becoming South Korea&#39;s worst domestic aviation disaster to date.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers and crew, veered off the runway five minutes after the pilot signaled mayday. The plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While the exact cause of the deadly crash was being investigated, a bird strike and a landing gear malfunction were suggested as possible causes. The budget airline was returning from Bangkok, Thailand, with most of its passengers having been on vacation for Christmas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.acdd7e9ca69f4bceb3b044fbd6e47284_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;President Yoon Suk Yeol announces the declaration of martial law during an emergency address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Dec. 3. (Presidential Office)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol announces the declaration of martial law during an emergency address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Dec. 3. (Presidential Office)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Yoon declares martial law, impeached&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol has been suspended since Dec. 14, following his impeachment by the National Assembly for declaring martial law on Dec. 3. This makes him the third Korean President to have an impeachment vote passed against him.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The opposition-led motion accuses Yoon of grave constitutional and legal violations during its implementation and repeal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Constitutional Court began pre-trial proceedings on Dec. 27, with a ruling deadline set for June 12 next year, though a faster decision is anticipated. The court is functioning with only six of nine justices due to vacancies that have been unfilled for months. After acting President Han Duck-soo rejected to approve the nomination of the three justices, he was impeached as well, turning his baton to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yoon also faces separate investigations by a joint investigative body, which comprises the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, police and Defense Ministry, over allegations of insurrection and abuse of power.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.cf2713eaa25e4df3b4e5e48312b36e8c_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Nobel laureate in literature Han Kang receives her award at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Konserthuset in Stockholm, on Dec. 10. (Reuters-Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Nobel laureate in literature Han Kang receives her award at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Konserthuset in Stockholm, on Dec. 10. (Reuters-Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in literature&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Author Han Kang made history as the first Korean and the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature. This marks Korea’s second Nobel Prize, following former President Kim Dae-jung’s Peace Prize in 2000.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Swedish Academy described her oeuvre as “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Han gained international acclaim in 2016 when &quot;The Vegetarian&quot; won the Man Booker International Prize. She has continued to address themes of collective trauma and violence in &quot;Human Acts,&quot; which draws from the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, and &quot;We Do Not Part,&quot; which revisits the Jeju April 3 Uprising.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In her acceptance speech, Han said, “The work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.c578f42c30dc499988c9dee13a3f3456_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A medical school in Seoul (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A medical school in Seoul (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Medical School Crisis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A governmental proposal to increase medical school admissions by 1,000 students annually starting in 2025 sparked strong resistance from the medical community throughout the year, with junior doctors leaving their hospitals in apparent protest.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government said the plan was aimed to address the shortage of doctors, particularly in underserved fields like emergency medicine and pediatrics. But doctors have contended that increasing numbers alone will not solve systemic issues in the medical industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis highlights growing tensions between the government and health care professionals, as rural areas and critical specialties struggle with staffing shortages. Young doctors are increasingly avoiding high-demand fields with heavy workloads and limited incentives, opting instead for specialties like dermatology and plastic surgery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.1c41182ce1ad4d9e87a4c91d41ec46a4_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;This Nov. 6 photo shows the government&#39;s posters for an awareness campaign against deepfake sex crimes. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;This Nov. 6 photo shows the government&#39;s posters for an awareness campaign against deepfake sex crimes. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Deepfake sex crime scare sweeps schools&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence took an unwelcome turn this year, as a myriad of underage sex crimes using deepfake technology were uncovered in schools across the country.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A growing number of students were caught using AI to create and distribute doctored photographic images and videos, of their classmates, teachers and others around them. National Police Agency data showed that of the 573 suspects accused of deepfake sex crimes from January to November, 80.8 percent were teenagers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean government in August formed a pan-government task force to deal with deepfake sex crimes, while the NPA launched a special crackdown against such crimes in the same month. The National Assembly passed a law revision that specified punishment for crimes related to deepfake pornography.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.4a78034f6cf544bea3a12872347f170b_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Lee Jae-myung (center), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is surrounded by reporters upon arriving at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Sept. 20, to attend the final hearing on his alleged election law violations for making false statements during his presidential campaign in 2021. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Lee Jae-myung (center), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is surrounded by reporters upon arriving at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Sept. 20, to attend the final hearing on his alleged election law violations for making false statements during his presidential campaign in 2021. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lee Jae-myung’s legal troubles&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung is the opposition’s likely presidential candidate should President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment be upheld by the Constitutional Court.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, whether Lee can run in the election or not depends on how quickly the Constitutional Court makes its call on Yoon.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The opposition chief faces five trials, one of which sentenced him to a jail term that could bar him from running for office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Though Lee has filed an appeal against the sentence, if the jail term stands he will be unable to run even if the Constitutional Court finalizes Yoon’s impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether or not to remove Yoon, meaning the decision could come as late as May and coincide with Lee’s final ruling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.90a78fc726b24928a43a193a0698f52b_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, speaks to the press at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 8. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, speaks to the press at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 8. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conservative bloc hit by political scandal with power broker&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In October, a political scandal further plunged the conservative bloc into turmoil, following allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee meddled in the ruling party’s candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. At the center of this political scandal was Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker previously unknown to many South Koreans.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The scandal escalated as Myung claimed to have advised President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife during the presidential campaign and alleged he was offered a public position post-election. The controversy deepened when the main opposition Democratic Party released an audio recording suggesting Yoon discussed a by-election nomination with Myung. President Yoon publicly denied the allegations while Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and lawmaker Lee Jun-seok also denied Myung&#39;s claims of his involvement in their elections.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.b655d96d4b8b4f0bb22eeb4de214dcdd_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A person walks by Tmon headquarters in southern Seoul on July 24. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A person walks by Tmon headquarters in southern Seoul on July 24. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tmon, WeMakePrice liquidity crisis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea&#39;s two major e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice faced a severe liquidity crisis in July, resulting in massive payment delays to vendors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis stemmed from financial mismanagement by their parent company, Singapore-based Qoo10, which allegedly misappropriated funds for global expansion. As a result, the platforms failed to settle payments totaling some 1.3 trillion won ($978 million) to over 48,000 vendors. The situation escalated when both companies filed for court receivership in late July, leading to asset freezes and investigations by prosecutors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crisis had far-reaching consequences, affecting not only small merchants but also large retailers and travel agencies, many of whom withdrew from the platforms. The government and financial regulators faced criticism for inadequate oversight, as the platforms had been operating in a regulatory blind spot.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.3cb906e31a054b979a7f7934ae72eac6_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Snow blanketed the Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Snow blanketed the Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Heaviest November snow in 117 years&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This November, Seoul, and the surrounding metropolitan region saw its heaviest snowfall for the month since weather tracking began in 1907.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For two days starting Nov. 27, a massive snowstorm blanketed the capital and neighboring areas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea Meteorological Administration also reported that the daily maximum snowfall in Seoul hit 16.5 centimeters, smashing the previous record of 12.4 centimeters set on Nov. 28, 1972. The historic snowfall triggered a citywide heavy snow warning in Seoul and snow advisories across most of the surrounding area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meteorologists explained that the cold air from the northwest moved over the relatively warm waters of the West Sea, creating a sharp temperature difference that fed snow clouds, which drifted into Seoul.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.0250079095714960a54774a11f1a1949_P1.png&quot; alt=&quot;A blaze at lithium battery maker Aricell&#39;s plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A blaze at lithium battery maker Aricell&#39;s plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Summer scarred by tragic accidents&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A series of large-scale accidents claimed many lives this summer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A fire broke out at Aricell’s lithium battery manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Jun. 24, leaving 23 workers dead and eight injured. The majority of the deceased victims were foreign workers, including 17 Chinese nationals and one Laotian as well as five Koreans.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Another fire erupted at a hotel in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 22, resulting in seven deaths and 12 injuries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Both fires were reportedly caused by the negligence of facility managers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A deadly car crash on July 1 near Exit No. 7 of Seoul City Hall Station also shocked the nation. A sedan, traveling at 107 kilometers per hour in the wrong direction, collided with pedestrians waiting for a green light.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crash resulted in nine deaths and seven injuries. The 68-year-old driver, surnamed Cha, was indicted for negligent driving in August, but he has consistently claimed that the car experienced sudden unintended acceleration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-line type01&quot;&gt; &lt;hr&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.48171680580a4cb789149ea15bc3a9ac_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh Soh-yeong appear for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on April 16. (Newsis)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh Soh-yeong appear for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on April 16. (Newsis)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;SK chief’s pricey divorce suit&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The nation’s most expensive divorce suit between SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won and his estranged wife, Roh So-young, is feared to affect the energy-to-chip conglomerate’s governance structure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In May, a Seoul court ordered the SK chief to pay 1.38 trillion won ($937 million) in property division to Roh, the only daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo. The couple married in 1988 and have three children.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The divorce settlement is based on Roh’s contribution to SK’s growth into the nation’s second-largest conglomerate. But Chey appealed the ruling immediately, saying it overestimated his role in inflating the group’s asset values considering he inherited the parent company Korea Telecom, now renamed SK Inc., from his father.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Supreme Court is still to review the case, which is expected to take another two to three years.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10182159</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10182159</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:39:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Muan filled with desperation, grief - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.241085676e4c4d3d893020ee1191d053_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Mourners weep at a memorial altar for the Jeju Air plane crash victims held in the Sports Complex in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Joint Press Corps via Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Mourners weep at a memorial altar for the Jeju Air plane crash victims held in the Sports Complex in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Joint Press Corps via Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Grieving family members form unspoken bond overnight, agree to hold funerals together once identification is completed&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;MUAN, South Jeolla Province -- The night stretched endlessly for hundreds of grieving family members as they waited for authorities to confirm the identities of their loved ones lost in the tragic plane crash.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As the names of the victims were announced through microphones one by one, screams of desperation filled the air.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At Muan International Airport, where a plane crashed on landing Sunday morning, claiming 179 lives, a woman burst into tears after hearing the name of a family member whose body had been identified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We deeply regret your loss, please proceed to the next building,” a government official told her, referring to the location where family assistance services were being provided.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As of Monday afternoon, despite the DNA tests underway, 33 bodies remained unidentified as they were so badly damaged. The plane was destroyed after it collided with the perimeter wall and burst into flames.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The victims&#39; bodies can only be transferred to their families for funerals and final goodbyes once their identities are confirmed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bodies not yet transferred to funeral homes will be preserved in cold storage facilities set up in hangars and other designated areas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The family members at the airport, once strangers, bonded overnight in shared grief, agreeing to delay funerals until all identifications have been finalized.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We can make our voices heard when we stay together,” Park Han-sin, the representative of the bereaved families, said at the lounge of Muan International Airport on Monday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The bereaved shared the latest updates, and exchanged their thoughts on funeral-related procedures and a possible change to the location of the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park, five kilometers from the airport.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But some revealed their pent-up, suffocating emotions as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“How many planes take off from Muan Airport every day? If the plane wasn’t fit to land, they shouldn’t have allowed it,” a man at the airport said through a microphone, accusing the airport of poorly handling the crisis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Who cares about Muan Sports Park?” the man asked. “I still haven’t seen the bodies of my wife and son — what’s the meaning of all this?”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The man’s frustration soon spilled out in loud sobbing that silenced everyone in the lounge once again.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The long list of victims included a nine-member family who returned home from a trip in celebration of an 80th birthday as well as municipal government officials on a trip to mark a colleague&#39;s retirement. The nine-member family had a 3-year-old baby accompanied by his parents in their 30s.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although government officials tried to update the families with the latest information, the families demanded to know more.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We told you to speak louder! We can’t hear you!” a person shouted to a Land Ministry official when an announcement was made at 6 p.m. Sunday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“What we wanted to know was which of the victims have been identified, or the procedures the families need to take to confirm their identities -- not how many died!” another person screamed during the announcement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As the sun rose, more cars and visitors gathered at the airport, even though it had closed and all passengers had been confirmed dead.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Friends of the bereaved offered consolation. And the bereaved families, who tried to hide their emotions, burst into tears meeting friends who arrived at the scene.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the airport&#39;s second floor, temporary shelters organized by the Korean Red Cross and the Korea Housing Builders Association offered refuge to grieving families, whose cries of anguish pierced through the fragile walls.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.e4e6c7e2f5d147ce86351d93f0c0e613_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik lays a flower at the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik lays a flower at the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Monday. (Yonap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10148838</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10148838</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:31:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Si-jin, No Kyung-min</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Search for cause underway the day after air disaster - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Search for remains continues on day after crash; Seoul to inspect all Boeing 737-800 planes&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241230.75d9ede2dcc44c9d94f4da0eb2d6fcff_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Family members of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash weep at the site of accidents at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Family members of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash weep at the site of accidents at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;MUAN, South Jeolla Province/ SEOUL -- The Transport Ministry said Monday it would carry out all-out safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 model airplanes operated by six South Korean air carriers, in response to the fatal plane crash that killed 179 people at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province, on Sunday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 model accounts for nearly 25 percent of South Korea&#39;s fleet of over 400 passenger aircraft used in international flights, according to the Transport Ministry&#39;s Aviation Technical Information System. There are 101 Boeing 737-800 planes registered with the government, including the one that crashed Sunday in the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joo Jong-wan, head of the aviation policy bureau at the South Korean Transport Ministry, said in a briefing Monday afternoon that a weeklong special safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft will take place until Friday. Authorities will examine the maintenance history of engines, landing gear and other flight operating systems, Joo added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Boeing 737-800 model, which first flew in July 1997, is currently used by South Korean low-cost air carriers, such as Jeju Air, the operator of the Boeing 737-800 flight in Sunday&#39;s deadly crash. T&#39;way, Eastar Jet, Air Incheon and the nation&#39;s flag carrier Korea Air Lines also use the model.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We have overseen (the air carriers&#39;) the timeliness of their maintenance efforts,&quot; Yoo Kyung-soo, head of aviation safety policy at the Transport Ministry, said in a briefing Monday morning. &quot;We will look into any deficiencies or violation of regulations.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Transport Ministry also revealed that it had launched a &quot;high-intensity inspection&quot; into Jeju Air. It dispatched safety inspectors after another Boeing 737-800 aircraft en route to Jeju Island on Monday declared an emergency due to suspected landing gear malfunctioning and diverted to Incheon International Airport, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;According to Joo, the government would conduct a joint investigation into the cause of the plane crash with two US National Transportation Safety Board officials and two Boeing representatives. Engine maker CFM International may also participate in the investigation, according to the ministry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Earlier on Monday, acting president Choi Sang-mok ordered the administration to overhaul aircraft operations in South Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Choi instructed the Transport Ministry to &quot;carry out an emergency safety inspection of South Korea&#39;s entire flight system&quot; to ensure the tragic incident would not be repeated. The inspection will begin after the immediate aftermath of the crash has been dealt with.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The remarks came as Choi presided over the fourth disaster control meeting in Seoul on Monday. Choi has taken over the roles of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as both have been impeached by the parliament. He also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Later on Monday, Choi held a closed-door meeting with National Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik. A representative of Woo said the two discussed ways to handle the aftermath of the deadly incident and measures to support the bereaved families.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Amid ongoing debates over the causes of the Jeju Air flight crash at Muan International Airport, authorities have identified 146 of the 179 deceased passengers and crew according to the latest government estimate as of press time Monday. Experts largely agree that a landing gear malfunction triggered the disaster, but differing opinions persist on what caused the failure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some point to a bird strike as the likely culprit, while others question why additional braking systems failed to engage or the existence of a concrete wall past the end of the runway. The cause of the post-crash fire also remains a subject of contention among experts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the cause of the disaster still under investigation the Transport Ministry stated that all 179 victims had been transferred to temporary morgues in the airport&#39;s hangars. Recovery teams have been working overnight to identify the victims and collect their remains, with authorities assuring grieving families that the remains would be handed over once identification and forensic procedures were completed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, the bereaved families of the victims of the Jeju Air crash expressed a collective desire to establish a joint memorial site on the first floor of Muan International Airport, closer to the site of the tragedy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241230.4880ed5612c24aeca5150d72d3d824f1_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A person cries while paying respects to the victims of Sunday’s deadly Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crash, at a joint memorial in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province on Monday. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;A person cries while paying respects to the victims of Sunday’s deadly Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crash, at a joint memorial in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province on Monday. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Though the joint memorial altar was set up at Muan Sports Park, which is about five kilometers away from the airport, some family members suggested the memorial be made at the airport.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The family delegation also discussed funeral arrangements, emphasizing that no funerals should take place until all the bodies have been recovered and identified. However, they acknowledged that some families might need to proceed earlier due to personal circumstances.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Park Han-sin, the representative of the bereaved families, said that they wish to put a pause on funeral-related procedures until all the identities of all the bodies are confirmed, adding that almost 20 bodies are yet to be identified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We carefully ask the families to stop holding individual meetings regarding funeral matters,” Park told the families in Muan International Airport’s lounge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some individuals present claimed some people wish to bring their family members home as soon as they are identified. However, others agreed to the representative’s suggestion for joint action.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“It’d be better to hold the funeral together as well,” said another man.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The bereaved families continued to exchange their thoughts, shared the latest updates with as many family members as possible and tried to find the best way to help the deceased to rest in peace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, the South Jeolla provincial government announced Monday that it would set up separate memorial altars across the 22 cities and counties of the province to enable the public to share their condolences and mourn the loss of their loved ones.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To assist in the aftermath of the disaster, the Transport Ministry announced the launch of an integrated support center for the victims. Located on the third floor of the administration building at Muan International Airport, the center is being led by the central government.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The legal community has also stepped up to support victims and their families. Legal experts anticipate a series of civil and criminal actions once the Transport Ministry concludes its investigation into the incident, and the Gwangju Bar Association announced the formation of a legal support task force to assist those affected by the disaster.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The association is actively recruiting lawyers to join the task force, with the first phase of recruitment set to conclude by Monday. The task force is expected to begin operations Tuesday, working in collaboration with Gwangju City and South Jeolla Province to provide legal assistance tailored to the needs of victims and their families.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10130665</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10130665</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:20:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Son Ji-hyoung, Choi Jeong-yoon, Lee Si-jin</author>
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    <item>
      <title>Seoul expresses deepest condolences, honoring Carter’s legacy - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.065aa07f93f34f828b70bb5d5cde0409_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Former US President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10, 2007, in Toronto. (AP)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Former US President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10, 2007, in Toronto. (AP)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean government on Monday expressed its &quot;deepest condolences&quot; over the passing of former US President Jimmy Carter on Sunday, stating it did so &quot;together with the Korean people.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a statement of condolences issued by the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, the Korean government underscored Carter&#39;s lifelong dedication to advancing universal values of humanity, such as international peace, democracy and human rights, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;He actively engaged in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula with great interest,&quot; the statement read.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The government and people of Korea highly commend and will forever remember the spirit and achievements of former President Carter,&quot; it added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korean government sent its message of condolences over Carter&#39;s passing under the name of acting President Choi Sang-mok, a Foreign Ministry official confirmed Monday afternoon.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10128144</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10128144</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:10:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Ji Da-gyum</author>
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      <title>Between despair and hope: A December that tested our limits - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-mtitle type02&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;As tumultuous December and 2024 draw to an end, fractures, quiet solidarity, hard-earned hope endure&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.b0b4709140d141deaf2aa578cc1e797f_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Family members of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash cry near the crash site at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Monday, a day after the deadly incident claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Family members of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash cry near the crash site at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Monday, a day after the deadly incident claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;December in South Korea felt like an endless night: no festive lights, no holiday cheer, only a suffocating string of crises that kept piling on. The final punch to the gut came on Dec. 29, when Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, claiming 179 lives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“It felt like one heavy blow after another,” says 27-year-old social activist Lee Yeon-joo. “There’s no time or mental space to think about the new year -- my heart’s still stuck in that tragedy.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-mtitle type03&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crash that ended the year&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Before the plane disaster, political chaos had already consumed December. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law in early December sowed fear and anger. Mass protests erupted, followed by his impeachment on Dec. 14. Acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached less than two weeks later. Just when people thought it would not get any worse, national tragedy struck.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/30/news-p.v1.20241230.f63ac27e98044fb498eb9be2bed62072_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Police forensic investigators work at the scene of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Monday afternoon. (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Police forensic investigators work at the scene of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Monday afternoon. (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaptio

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      <title>[Meredith Sumpter] Alaska’s successful election system - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/29/news-p.v1.20241229.135c74944f734d289e2c1607dd798815_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the end of a bitter and closely divided election season, there’s a genuine bright spot for democracy from our 49th state: Alaskans decided to keep the state’s system of open primaries and ranked choice voting because it is working.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is good news not only for Alaska, but for all of us ready for a government that works together to get things done for voters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Alaska’s new system has only been in place for two years. Yet, voters protected it from a repeal effort driven from the extremes because it has already delivered results that Americans in other cities and states would be wise to look to.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I was born and raised in Alaska, so I can attest that ranked choice voting and open primaries have returned a spirit of problem-solving and collegiality to a state where voters want practical results instead of partisan plays. The reality of the state’s terrain and climate require Alaskans to rely on our neighbors no matter their politics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Before voters enacted this reform, however, Alaska’s Legislature had stopped working this way. Like so many legislatures across the country, lawmaking was stifled by elected leaders beholden to a small partisan primary electorate rather than the needs of the majority. Many Alaskan voters felt alienated by how toxic and partisan elections had become, contributing to lower turnout and engagement, particularly among rural and Alaska Native communities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As a result, Alaska’s Legislature was one of the least productive in the country. Lawmakers failed to agree on a budget and couldn’t pass key bills on topics like education, pensions and health care.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now, that problem-solving spirit is back. With ranked choice voting and open primaries, Alaskans running for office need to talk -- and listen -- to all of their voters. In Alaska’s system, the top four finishers in an open primary advance to the general election. There, voters have the option of ranking candidates according to their preferences. The winner is the candidate supported by the majority of Alaska’s voters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In other words, candidates campaign not just to a partisan base, but to all voters in their state.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Voters -- including the nearly 60 percent of Alaska voters unaffiliated with either party -- have seen firsthand how effective this new system is. In 2022, nearly 20 percent of Alaskans ranked candidates of multiple parties, simply voting for the candidates they thought would do the best job. Alaskans have found ranked choice voting easy to use and like the results it generated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yet, the most important improvement hasn’t been the election itself, but what comes after. Those who win know that they have a mandate to solve problems, having won support from a real majority of voters. As a result, lawmakers from across Alaska’s political landscape -- Republicans, Democrats and independents -- have come together to create governing coalitions that have made real nonpartisan progress on addressing energy issues, growing the state’s economy and workforce, and improving public education.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And so a broad coalition of Alaskans came forth to protect the reform, even as extreme partisans encouraged them to repeal it and put them back in charge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The final results were close. But Alaskans of all backgrounds were heard loud and clear. The new system worked, and it is here to stay.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a proven and viable system that rescued Alaskan politics from the ditch of dysfunction and potholes of polarization. Just think what ranked choice voting and open primaries could do in your state.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It’s true that voters in three other states (Idaho, Colorado, Nevada) turned similar systems down this year -- in part because they were drowned out by millions of dollars and old-fashioned partisan misinformation from those seeking to preserve their hold on power. But Alaska is proof that the people who use this system like it and will work to retain it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, ranked choice voting’s momentum continued unabated at the city level in November. Washington voted overwhelmingly to adopt it, as did Oak Park, Illinois. That makes 31 wins in its last 32 votes at the city level, for what has become one of the nation’s most potent and popular election reforms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That march forward will continue, and the governing results from Alaska are the reason why. Ranked choice voting will keep growing because it works for voters and elected leaders who want to get things done -- and voters know it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Meredith Sumpter&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meredith Sumpter is president and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections. She wrote this column for the Fulcrum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news platform covering efforts to fix the US governing systems. The views expressed here are the writer&#39;s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;(Tribune Content Agency)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10033072</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Lee Kyong-hee] Warmongers, shamans and plastic surgery - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/29/news-p.v1.20241229.12f2e4d5dcaf491ca1bc305ebd5a0cec_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Koreans obviously will remember December 2024 for the rapid quashing of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree and his impeachment. But if allegations surrounding his self-coup prove true, the back story will not take a backseat when judging how sinisterly Yoon behaved. The allegations paint a picture of a leader who not only put his nation’s democracy at risk but also its security to gain traction on his stalled policy goals.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The imminent question before the Constitutional Court is whether Yoon is guilty of attempting an insurrection to silence opposition parties and assuming carte blanche authority. However, if there is even a thread of truth in the allegations, the real question is whether a person with despicable morals and ethics should be retained in office.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Revelations by opposition lawmakers and investigators claim Yoon and his accomplices tried to bait North Korea into an attack on several occasions to create a pretext for martial law. Their plot is suspected to have included military provocations in hopes of inducing a dramatic response by the North, which would raise public fears in the South and induce acceptance of martial law.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One supposed attempt involved an order by then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to strike the spot from where the North sends its garbage-filled balloons. But Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, squelched the order, fearing “a limited war and consequent damage on civilians,” according to investigators.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim Yong-hyun also is suspected of ordering drones into North Korea. In mid-October, North Korea claimed to have discovered the remnants of uncrewed aerial vehicles carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets in its capital. It accused Seoul of sending the drones and destroyed North-South road and rail links, escalating tensions further. Kim was arrested on Dec. 8, on charges of recommending the martial law order and sending troops to block lawmakers from parliament. The same day, a military warehouse for drones and launchers burned down. The origin of the fire so far is a mystery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Noh Sang-won, a retired defense intelligence commander, also is a suspect. He and officers of the Defense Intelligence Command are known to have met at a hamburger restaurant. Investigators say Noh’s notebook contains notes for a false flag operation aimed at inducing an attack by the North across the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean sea border and a major flash point.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The “Baengnyeongdo Operation” allegedly called for the assassination of 16 political figures on board a ship headed toward the island, close to the NLL. The plan involved an assault by an unidentified vessel and pointing the finger at North Korea. That would justify cross-border retaliation and risk tit-for-tat armed exchanges along the Demilitarized Zone, arousing a crisis needed as the pretext for martial law.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Investigators say they have yet to ascertain any connection between Noh’s memos and Yoon’s martial law order. But they dovetail with opposition lawmaker Kim Byung-joo’s assertion that 20 members of the Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment unit were “on standby at a location in Seoul” on the night of Dec. 3, when Yoon declared martial law. The HID unit is normally deployed to the DMZ for operations in North Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim, an Army four-star general-turned-politician, citing anonymous military sources, says that the HID unit was tasked with causing disturbances at the National Election Commission the following day. Yoon asserted that his martial law order was primarily to verify rumors that the April parliamentary elections were rigged to hand the opposition camp a landslide victory.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The notes also segue into another alleged conspiracy. Testifying at a National Assembly hearing on Dec. 13, YouTube journalist Kim Ou-joon said he received a tip about an “assassination squad.” Its tasks, according to Kim, included the killing of Han Dong-hoon, then the leader of the ruling People Power Party, and US soldiers, burying North Korean military uniforms at a specific location and “discovering” the uniforms so all the slayings could be attributed to North Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim testified that his information had not been “fully verified.” Pressured about his source, he only said the tips came from “an ally with an embassy in Seoul.” Although the US Embassy in Seoul denied it was the source, coincidentally or not, US Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California) said during an interview with MBC, “If the South Korean military struck a location within South Korea in a false flag operation, the US would have known the truth and I would hope the public know it, too.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One would expect Pyongyang to pounce on the allegations and portray the South as a warmonger. But it remains silent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Intriguingly, Noh was found to be running a fortunetelling shop under the pseudonym “Baby Bodhisattva.” That instantly arouses suspicions that this “old boy” is part of an unofficial network of first lady Kim Keon Hee, who boasts of her own fortunetelling skills.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Curiously, Kim reportedly visited her favorite plastic surgery clinic for three hours on the evening of Dec. 3. The purpose of her visit remains unknown. Rumors run rampant that she “wanted to look prettier before her gods” at the critical hour. All said and done, the sooner she and her husband awake from the delusion of continuing to wield power, the better for the nation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Lee Kyong-hee&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lee Kyong-hee is a former editor-in-chief of The Korea Herald. The views expressed here are the writer&#39;s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10033070</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Room Tone] Live TV in an on-demand world - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/27/news-p.v1.20241227.9b82ce363f0d4b229685be7313029666_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korean television broadcasting officially began in the aftermath of the Korean War, as the nation sought to rebuild and modernize. The first television station, HLKZ-TV Channel 9, was established in 1956, marking a significant milestone in Korean media history. Broadcasting in black and white, HLKZ-TV primarily aired educational programs, cultural content and news, reflecting the developmental aspirations of the time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In July of that same year, HLKZ-TV made history by airing “Heaven’s Gate,” Korea’s first scripted television drama. This 15-minute program told the story of two thieves who meet at the gates of Heaven and reflect upon their lives. Due to the technological limitations of the era, the drama was performed live and broadcast in real-time, captivating audiences with its storytelling and immediacy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the launch of government-run KBS-TV in 1961 and the emergence of private broadcasters like MBC and TBC, live programming dominated the airwaves, spanning news, educational content, dramas and variety shows. This era of live television fostered a sense of real-time connection and adaptability, as broadcasters navigated the challenges of creating content in a growing industry without the benefit of prerecorded production techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today, the world has embraced an on-demand model, transforming how people consume media. Streaming platforms and video apps let audiences access content anytime, anywhere, eliminating the need for traditional scheduled programming. Viewers can binge-watch shows, listen to playlists, or catch up on the news at their convenience, prioritizing flexibility and control over fixed broadcast times. In this on-demand era, scheduled programming has largely faded, replaced by the expectation that entertainment and information are always available.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Despite the shift in consumption, I believe live television remains relevant and compelling because it offers a unique sense of immediacy and communal experience that on-demand content cannot replicate. Events like live sports, breaking news and reality competitions thrive on the anticipation and unpredictability that only live broadcasts can provide. Audiences tune in not just for the content but to be part of a shared moment, engaging in real-time reactions that foster connection in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. These shared experiences serve as cultural touchstones, creating memories that become part of a collective narrative. For example, the excitement of an international sporting event or the urgency of a breaking political announcement highlights the unmatched drama of witnessing history as it happens.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Live television also provides creatives with opportunities to experiment with formats that leverage audience interaction and participation. Features like live polls and interactive segments allow viewers to influence outcomes, blurring the line between passive consumption and active engagement. Programs such as live musicals, talent competitions, and live-scripted episodes add an element of spontaneity and risk that heightens their entertainment value. For advertisers, live broadcasts ensure immediate visibility, as audiences are less likely to skip ads during real-time programming. In a media landscape dominated by on-demand options, live television offers a fresh and unfiltered alternative, serving as a complement to streaming platforms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In today’s media landscape, a balanced mix of live and on-demand programming offers the best of both worlds, meeting the audience’s rapidly evolving preferences. By embracing both formats, the industry can cultivate a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem that merges the spontaneity and immediacy of live broadcasts with the convenience and depth of on-demand offerings. This harmony between live and on-demand programming ensures that media remains both relevant and engaging, embodying the evolution of the Korean broadcasting industry over the past 70 years; a seamless blend of the pioneering spirit of its live television origins with the innovation and adaptability that has propelled it to the forefront of global media&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Thomas Suh is the founder and managing director of Systeme D Entertainment, a filmed media and entertainment company that specializes in content acquisition, management and production for film and television. &quot;Room Tone,&quot; the title of Suh&#39;s column series, refers to the ambient sound of a space in which filming takes place. Thomas Suh can be reached at tommysuh@me.com -- Ed.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10032202</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2024 04:53:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] ‘Superaged’ Korea - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea needs to explore a redesign of&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;policies for the growing elderly population&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea has formally become a “superaged” society at a faster pace than previously expected, with policymakers and the public unprepared to tackle a host of tricky social and economic issues caused by a growing elderly population.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As of Monday, the number of South Koreans aged 65 or older stood at 10.24 million, accounting for 20 percent of the country&#39;s total population of 51.22 million, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The United Nations classifies countries where more than 7 percent of the population is 65 or older as an aging society, those with over 14 percent as an aged society and those with more than 20 percent as a super-aged society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The superaged society label for Korea means more challenges ahead as the country has already been trying to grapple with a democratic crisis related to a persistently low birth rate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea’s total fertility rate, which shows how many children the average woman will have over her lifetime, stood at 0.76 in the third quarter, up 10.1 percent from a year earlier, but it is still far from sufficient to bolster the shrinking working-age pool.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea became an aged society in August 2017, and it took just 7 years and four months for Korea to gain a new demographic status where individuals aged 65 and older make up one-fifth of its population. If the current pace continues, the proportion of the elderly is forecast to hit 37.3 percent in 2045.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The earlier-than-expected advent of a superaged society also points to the Korean government’s failure to capture the shifting demographic trends. Statistics Korea said in its outlook released in February that Korea’s elderly population, which was 17.4 percent in 2022, would rise to 19.2 percent this year and reach 20.3 percent next year. The forecast turned out to be overly complacent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More worrisome is the near absence of specific government and corporate policies to deal with the worsening demographic change that can translate into a smaller workforce and higher welfare costs. This is a potentially toxic mix that could weaken the fundamental base of Korean society and its economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some of the tasks of the government are to set up new standards for the age that qualifies as elderly and tweak social and economic policies. Policy discussions are needed for the country’s retirement age, which is currently set at 60.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The revision to the retirement age, which involves additional costs for the government and companies, is a hot-button issue. The second baby boom generation -- born between 1965 and 1974 -- is set to retire at age 60 but have to live without any reliable income source until becoming eligible to receive the national pension at age 65.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Companies, meanwhile, fret that an extension of the retirement age is too costly. One estimate puts the additional cost for the new retirement age at 15.9 trillion won ($10.8 billion) per year. The increase in the retirement age also results in fewer jobs for the younger generations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea unveiled plans to launch a new ministry of population strategy to address its demographic crisis, but policy discussions have stopped altogether due to the political unrest following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yoon earlier pledged to reform the pension system, which is also thrown into uncertainty. On top of the pension reform, other critical demographic issues, such as the trouble-laden health insurance budget and the lack of nursing facilities, have yet to be discussed by policymakers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A superaged society does not mean a simple increase in the elderly population; it comes with a substantial shift in social and economic structures. The government must start exploring a comprehensive redesign of policies on retirement, health services, welfare and lifelong education.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031554</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Robert J. Fouser] 2025, a challenging year ahead - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/26/news-p.v1.20241226.f2cf5d73afb84485ad85bf422e5f12ab_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The end of 2024 also marks the beginning of the second half of the 2020s. Decades often develop a distinct image that reflects historical events and cultural trends. After two decades that are hard to classify, the 2020s have so far been the decade of rotating crises. The decade opened with the worst pandemic in a hundred years. That was followed in 2022 by the first major war in Europe since World War II as Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2023, the Middle East exploded after Hamas’ attack on Israel. In 2024, Donald Trump won reelection as US president, sending shivers around the world. In South Korea, Yoon Yuk Yeol’s declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment has sent one of Asia’s leading democracies into its most serious political crisis in decades. The effects of climate change, meanwhile, continue to worsen at an accelerating pace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Things could change in 2025 as crisis fatigue forces talk of a way out. Take the Middle East. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in late November, and it appears to be holding. The collapse of the pro-Iranian regime of Bashar Assad has greatly weakened Iran’s position, which may help bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Once the fighting stops, the process of rebuilding can begin, though that will be fraught with danger until more stable structures of peace are agreed to.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The war in Ukraine also appears to be heading toward some sort of resolution. Both sides are weary of war and neither side is close to achieving victory on its terms. Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans have threatened to end US aid to Ukraine, but do not want to see Ukraine collapse on their watch. Political turmoil in France and Germany, Europe’s leading nations, makes it difficult to summon the political will to replace any lost US support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The political crisis in South Korea will consume the nation for the first half of the year while President Yoon’s fate is decided. Removal from office is the most likely outcome, which would prompt a new election within 60 days. By the middle of the year, South Korea will most likely have a new leader who can focus on serious challenges facing the nation. Hopefully, the new leader will try to ameliorate the politically polarized environment by reaching out to supporters of the election loser.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The next year holds the potential for new, unseen crises. Aside from the conflict in the Middle East, few pundits could have predicted the big crises of the first half of the 2020s. Worsening tension between the US and China, however, makes for a predictable crisis that could explode later in the decade. The two countries will spend most of 2025 getting used to Trump 2.0, which is certain to include higher tariffs on Chinese goods flowing into the US. They will have a negative effect on both countries, causing inflation in the US and dampening economic growth in China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A major source of tension is the status of Taiwan. China wants to subjugate Taiwan, but it also wants to avoid starting a catastrophic war with the US and its allies. To date, China has assumed that US influence will weaken, but China’s post-pandemic slowdown and recent strength in the US economy may have changed those calculations, at least for now.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And then there is Donald Trump. Many voters in the recent US election remember him for a strong pre-pandemic economy, but the political establishment then successfully constrained his worst impulses. Those guardrails have now largely disappeared, and he feels emboldened to push hard. Higher tariffs and bigger budget deficits risk renewed inflation and higher interest rates. Tax cuts and cutting regulation may spur some growth, but it most likely will not make up for weakening business and consumer sentiment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For South Korea, all of this means that the global economic environment could turn negative just as the nation is exiting the political crisis. The new administration will find itself facing an economic and geopolitical puzzle full of risky choices. The US is South Korea’s closest political and military ally, but China is its largest trading partner. It needs good relations with both nations to prosper, but that may become increasingly difficult as tensions keep rising. To make informed choices, the new administration will need to draw on the tradition of pragmatic and dispassionate decision making that has helped the country through previous crises.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Robert J. Fouser&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Robert J. Fouser, a former associate professor of Korean language education at Seoul National University, writes on Korea from Providence, Rhode Island. He can be reached at robertjfouser@gmail.com. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031543</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Career Compass] Expectation-setting meeting to jump-start work relationship - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/26/news-p.v1.20241226.75358741431c4bdd89b39d5e24f90ba0_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;How do you jump-start working with your new team members and become an effective manager? One of my mentees working in Singapore is getting promoted in January, leading a team of five people. She was determined to become “the best boss on earth,” but, as this was her first time managing others, she sought my advice on crafting a thoughtful and effective approach.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A suggestion I offered was to hold an “expectation-setting meeting” within the first month with each of her direct reports. It is straightforward yet impactful. For me, it has been a proven method for quickly establishing mutual understanding, fostering a strong working relationship and providing tailored support to my team members. You can use it any time when you have a new direct report.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here are the topics to discuss at the “expectation-setting meeting.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. Personal background&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learning about family, interests and personal goals is an excellent way to begin. Ask about professional profiles such as past assignment history, best roles or best work achievements.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Expectations of the current role and work&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What does your direct report want to achieve in the role? How does the individual feel about the work? Encourage your direct report to be open, as this is a new relationship and a fresh beginning. During one such meeting, my new Chinese direct report confided, “I am really struggling. My family is in Vietnam, and I really miss them.” This candid conversation prompted me to find him a position in the Vietnam office, rather than having him leave the company.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. Expectations of boss&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What help and support does your direct report want? What area of coaching and development does the individual need? This is also an ideal opportunity to ask your direct reports for help in areas where you need support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. Career interest&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ask about short-term and long-term career aspirations. Discuss what skills or experiences are required to achieve career goals. This conversation enables the manager to create a coaching plan and map out the projects, experiences and exposure opportunities for the direct reports. Share your expectation that the individual needs to own and lead his or her career planning but you will give your full support as the manager.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. Strengths, weaknesses and hot buttons&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of my direct reports disclosed that his weakness was meeting deadlines due to his perfectionism, while I admitted that my hot button was when someone missed a deadline without any warning. Our amicable solution was for him to give me a heads-up if he anticipated a potential delay. It worked perfectly each time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;6. Reward and recognition&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What does meaningful reward and recognition look like to the direct report? When I was a vice president working in Singapore, one of my directors told me, “Jooyoun, I have a large family with three children and parents to support. While recognition is nice, what I truly appreciate is a salary increase. What can I do to get promoted?” It was clear and understandable. This resulted in a productive follow-up discussion about his qualifications for promotion, skill gaps and development plan. He later expressed his gratitude, saying it was a turning point for him. He felt empowered, supported and truly valued the conversation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;7. Preferred operating style&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Examples include delegation scope, one-on-one meetings, how to give and receive feedback, communication methods and frequency, and specific scheduling needs. Don’t underestimate how these seemingly small details can make life easier for both parties. They also allow your direct reports to understand your preferences rather than having to guess them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Below are tips on how to conduct an expectation-setting meeting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Clearly communicate that your goal is to get to know each other and establish a strong working relationship.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Send out the topics and give ample time to prepare for the meeting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Reassure and maintain confidentiality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Have the direct report go first and then you share yours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Listen and seek to understand.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Show your vulnerability. It builds trust fast.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That&#39;s it! It&#39;s a simple way to establish a positive and effective working relationship. Give it a try and let me know how it went!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kim Jooyoun, an independent board member at SK Innovation and a former CEO at P&amp;amp;G, answers questions on careers and multinational companies. She can be reached at kimjy2025@outlook.com. -- Ed.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031331</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10031331</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 07:12:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Wang Son-taek] Misconception of People Power Party - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/25/news-p.v1.20241225.0e34ac7b7dd74ea18c4d28d8002c7758_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Three weeks have passed since the insurrection by President Yoon Suk Yeol in the name of martial law declaration. Many things have happened and are happening. President Yoon was impeached at the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court began deliberation on Yoon’s impeachment. Law enforcement is investigating the insurrection charge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, people do not feel comfortable watching the impeachment trial or investigations. The international community is also paying close attention to Korea from the perspective of an unstable country. As the resilience of Korean democracy has been highlighted by this incident, there was a positive factor for the image of Korea. However, there is also a possibility that the negative image might prevail in the future, given that the vulnerability of democracy has been exposed to the extent that the president committed an insurrection and that there are uncertainties and anxiety about the country&#39;s future. A significant reason for the uncertainties originated from the tenacious resistance by President Yoon. In addition, the ruling People Power Party opposed his impeachment and sympathized with him. The attitude has intensified the level of uncertainty and anxiety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Why is the People Power Party, which put the people&#39;s power in the name of the party, against the president&#39;s impeachment demanded by 75 percent of the people and is passive in punishing him? Putting together what is reported in the media, it seems they are afraid of the collapse and loss of political power. Lawmakers who openly oppose impeachment say that they cannot support impeachment to prevent the election of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, as he is likely to be elected president if the presidential election is held after the confirmation of impeachment. Recalling the passing of the impeachment motion of former President Park Geun-hye in December 2016, they argue that if the party agrees to impeachment, conservatives will be demolished. Even if the People Power Party is against impeachment, voters will forget about it after one or two years, according to a member of the parliament. At a glance, the People Power Party’s approach seems reasonable. The problem is that all perceptions of the situation presented above are delusions. A strategy based on illusion can never succeed and causes self-destruction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the presidential election is held after the impeachment, the prediction that opposition leader Lee Jae-myung will win is reasonable. However, it is a preposterous illusion to calculate that if the People Power Party opposes the impeachment, the presidential election could be delayed and prevent the election of Lee. Nobody can stop impeaching him as he committed a serious crime against people, threatening people with military force. That should be the bottom line. If the National Assembly had not passed the impeachment motion, large-scale protests and bloodshed would have occurred. As a number of lawmakers are breaking away from the People Power Party, the party itself is reduced to half. In the history of Korea, there have been times when Koreans have failed to punish a small number of elites for colluding for small gains. However, there has never been an acceptable case when the elites ignore the people&#39;s demands for unfair gains. This case is the one that the public does not condone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some lawmakers say that allowing the impeachment vote in 2016 was a mistake and should never be repeated. This is a case of understanding the lessons of history entirely backward. Conservative parties have faced a devastating situation since 2016 because the leading conservative party at the time, the Saenuri Party, disagreed with impeachment. The results of the presidential election on May 9, 2017, would show immediately. At the election, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party earned 41 percent of the vote, Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party 24 percent, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People&#39;s Party 21 percent, Yoo Seung-min of the Bareun Party 6.7 percent and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party 6 percent. Even though the presidential election was held right after the conservative leader&#39;s impeachment, the progressive camp gained only 47 percent of the total votes. Considering the impeachment, the number of votes of the candidates for impeachment was 75 percent, and 24 percent against impeachment. The party fell into big trouble not by the passage of the impeachment but by rejecting it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is also not true that voters would forget about the past in a year or two. In the May 2017 election, people had already given more votes to the conservative or neutral camps. The revival of the conservative camp after one or two years is by no means the result of the people&#39;s oblivion of the conservative camp&#39;s wrongdoing. The public was angry at the excessive partisan attitude of the Moon Jae-in government, which took power after impeachment, such as conducting an excessively long and unprincipled liquidation of deep-rooted evils, leading to a situation in which the conservative camp was re-established.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The People Power Party seems to follow the Saenuri Party&#39;s path. It opposed the impeachment and eventually failed to block it. If the People Power Party does not abandon its attitude of ignoring the people&#39;s demands, chances are high that the future path will unfold similarly. The party will be divided over whether to go with President Yoon, and we might witness the collapse of conservatives while watching Rep. Lee Jae-myung win the presidential election in April at the earliest.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Even now, if the People Power Party favors impeachment and agrees with the people&#39;s demand for punishment against Yoon, the People Power Party will have an opportunity to return. Though it is difficult to win the presidential election, the party can seize a chance to win the 2026 local elections. If they fail to wake up from the illusion and flock to the forces opposing impeachment, they will not be able to avoid their own destruction, and the nation and the people will also be forced to suffer massive losses due to the delay of uncertainty and anxiety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Wang Son-taek&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wang Son-taek is an adjunct professor at Sogang University. He is a former diplomatic correspondent at YTN and a former research associate at Yeosijae. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022938</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022938</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Park In-jo] Discover, develop science talent early - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/25/news-p.v1.20241225.db6fa01ed8734b2483cd5dabcbed0e76_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, South Korea ranked eighth in the world. The outstanding achievements of Korean athletes can be attributed in some part to the athletic specialist system established in the 1960s and to corporate support for athletes since the 1980s. Why not apply the early discovery and training system for athletic talent and corporate support for athletes to develop scientific talent?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Individuals make career decisions based on their interests and on expectations of wealth and social reputation. While providing career counseling to university students, I found that students mainly want to choose a career based on their interests. For those who decide to become doctors, the criteria may include expectations of wealth and social reputation, as well as a desire to contribute to society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of the issues facing our society -- a focus on one occupational group, such as doctors -- is an obstacle at a time when we need to prepare for the future through the development of scientific talent. We need to open a new phase in fostering scientific talent for the era of the fourth industrial revolution, represented by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace, biotechnology, the internet of things, robotics, blockchain and other developments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The medical profession, compared to scientific research and development jobs, has the advantages of a late retirement age, high income, social recognition and high preference in attracting a spouse. In developing scientific talent, addressing these limitations is no simple task. In-depth efforts are needed to solve such problems from the macro perspectives of institutions, society and education. It is difficult for us to address the challenges all at once, but we believe that solutions can be presented in one field.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The advantages of developing athletic talent can be applied to training competitive scientific talent. First, as with students enrolled in special tracks for physical education, students talented in science are selected early (i.e., in elementary school) and receive separate education. It is possible to create a curriculum for teaching students who have been discovered early and provide them with a mentoring system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For example, we could establish a system in which students in domestic master&#39;s and doctoral courses become mentors of selected science specialists, and at the government level, we pay scholarships to graduate students who become mentors. Through mentoring, we can train young people to think scientifically by asking questions that can develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Mentees can listen to their mentors&#39; opinions on various science topics and express their opinions logically. Mentors can teach mentees through advanced experiments and research activities as well as theory on in-depth topics or the latest scientific research (e.g., AI, gene scissors, blockchain technology). Since the mentors would be graduate students from a variety of schools, the program would require systems for selecting quality mentors, as well as standardization for mentoring, and training in mentoring techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Second, like physical education at middle schools, science at middle schools should be established nationwide as part of the education system. For example, we can consider establishing a semiconductor middle school in Suwon, where Samsung produces semiconductors; a middle school in Jeonju, home to the Rural Development Administration and Korea Agricultural and Marine University; an aerospace middle school in Sacheon, where the Korea AeroSpace Administration is located; and an AI middle school in Daejeon, where the National Science and Technology Human Resource Development Center is located.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the case of the United States and Japan, some middle schools operate STEM programs to strengthen science education. In the United States, STEM programs for middle school students specializing in science take a project-based learning and problem-solving approach. Students talented in science gain more interest in their future careers when they receive intensive education through specialized curriculum, experiments and research, field learning, and convergence education (e.g., art, psychology, sociology). Early education through science middle schools can help us develop competitive science talent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Third, companies can assist in training science talent. Companies can lay the financial foundations necessary for developing science talent by supporting those who are selected early in life. Donations can be used to award generous scholarships, purchase equipment necessary for individual science projects and provide overseas science training during school breaks. Of course, companies that support young athletes benefit from advertising through the athletes&#39; media exposure. Since fostering scientific talent has no advertising benefit, it is necessary to provide incentives in other ways. For example, companies that sponsor science students could receive tax incentives at the national or local levels.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Personal interest in a career, which is the basis for making decisions about one&#39;s future, becomes stronger and more important as knowledge increases and competencies develop. By applying the above strategies, we can look forward to young people growing their interest in science and becoming competitive R&amp;amp;D talents in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Park In-jo&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Park In-jo is an associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology at Jeonbuk National University. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022936</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] Boost domestic demand - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consumer sentiment fall largest in Dec.; retail sales decrease 10 straight quarters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consumer sentiment is plunging amid the fallout from the presidential impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To make matters worse, weak domestic demand has overlapped with sluggish exports and prolonged Korean currency depreciation. If this continues, no one can rule out the possibility of the national economy entering long-term stagnation and falling far short of its potential growth rate next year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The consumer sentiment index fell to 88.4 in December, down 12.3 points from a month earlier, according to a Bank of Korea survey Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This marks the largest fall since March 2020, when the nation was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Credit card payments decreased 26.3 percent nationwide in the first week of December from the previous week. It is the first time since 2020 that card use diminished this fast in early December.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a poll by the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise, 88.4 percent of respondents said sales had decreased after the martial law declaration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The retail sales index, an important barometer of year-over-year change in consumption, fell in the third quarter for a tenth quarter in a row, beginning from the second quarter of 2022, also a record for the longest decrease, according to Statistics Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea Development Institute, a state think tank on development policies, evaluated domestic demand as sluggish for 13 straight months from December last year, which is the longest ever.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The loan default rate of the low-income self-employed with low credit scores hit an 11-year high of 11.5 percent at the end of the third quarter.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Economic conditions felt by small businesses are worsening to an unbearable level. In a recent meeting between heads of business lobbies and acting President Han Duck-soo, Kim Ki-mun, chair of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, told Han that presently &quot;politics might be hard while economic conditions are absolutely tortuous.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Of particular concern is the possibility of the current struggling economy not reviving in a short period of time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok said on Monday that the nation&#39;s economic growth rate is expected to fall short of its potential level of 2 percent next year. The Bank of Korea recently forecast Korea&#39;s potential growth rate to drop continuously to the 1 percent range by 2030. Choi&#39;s prediction is a warning that it may fall faster than the central bank has forecast.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Considering the weakened fundamentals of the Korean economy, it is hard to expect the rapid resilience of the past.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ahead of the launch of the Donald Trump administration that is expected to strengthen protectionism, South Korea&#39;s export prospects look dim. If the government misses the timing for undertaking proper measures, the stagnant economy will likely be prolonged.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Measures to revive consumption are urgent. The government has to figure out ways to help the self-employed substantially. Banks on Tuesday announced 2 trillion won ($1.37 billion) for three-year programs to reschedule debt for the self-employed in financial straits and extend low-interest loans to them. The programs must operate transparently.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government is said to consider front-loading 75 percent of its 2025 budget in the first half to kick-start an economic recovery. Boosting the effort requires a supplementary budget. Both the ruling and opposition parties should cooperate over the extra budget issue. If this matter is delayed, the effect of government efforts to revive domestic demand cannot but be limited.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A trilateral consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties and the government will set sail Thursday after many twists and turns. Rival parties on Monday agreed to operate the organization in a bid to lessen turmoil in the aftermath of the presidential impeachment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of the first things to do is to discuss drawing up a supplementary budget. It is also necessary to operate the body on two separate tracks: one to deal with political issues and the other economic matters.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022920</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022920</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Kim Seong-kon] I am dreaming of a colorful Christmas - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/24/news-p.v1.20241224.605b9fa741f44eefbadff75ad9aec902_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Every Christmas Day, I like to reminisce about the fabulous, colorful Christmas trees I saw on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1978. The sparkling electric light bulbs and multicolored ornaments on the trees in the streets and inside shop windows were dazzling and fabulous.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you have ever had the experience of looking down upon Los Angeles from a descending airplane at night, you must have felt the same awe and adoration that I felt when I saw those Christmas trees. LA’s colorful night scenery is stunningly beautiful when you look down from the sky. If LA’s night view were black and white, it would not be enchanting or awesome at all. Likewise, if the Christmas tree decoration lights I saw in Chicago were monochromatic, they would not be captivating or enthralling, either.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In an American children’s book, “White Cat, Black Cat,” White Cat lives in a black house and Black Cat lives in a white house. When Black Cat visits the White Cat’s house, he cannot be seen because all the backgrounds are black. Likewise, when White Cat visits Black Cat’s house, he, too, cannot be seen because everything is white. Thus, they decide to meet in a colorful place. There, they can finally see each other clearly and thus are overjoyed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Colorfulness is therefore much better and far superior to simple black and white. The above tale reminds us that if everything were black and white, we would lose half of our vision and thus not see half of our surroundings. Likewise, if our minds are stuck in black and white, our thoughts and perspectives will also be reduced by half.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A foreign national residing in Seoul recently told me that in South Korea, he could see mostly black cars and white cars. There are some silver or beige cars, but cars with other colors are rarely seen. In other countries, colorful cars constantly roll down the streets. The foreign national thinks that this phenomenon may reflect the Korean people’s mindset that tends to divide things by black and white.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some time ago, when the political correctness movement was at its pinnacle, the leaders of the movement criticized “Merry Christmas!” as a religiously biased greeting that ignores non-Christians. They recommended “Happy holidays!” on Christmas Day, instead. However, Christmas has become everybody’s holiday, including non-Christians.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since the extreme PC movement tried to ignore colorfulness and diversity in American society, Time magazine once called it, the “Thought Police.” Indeed, pushed to the extreme, the PC movement ends up monitoring and manipulating people’s minds to the point that it degenerates into a dogmatic ideology.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whenever Christmas comes, the notion of the Christmas spirit, including such important moral lessons as what it means to “forgive and forget,” or to “help needy neighbors,” prevails in many societies. Listening to Christmas carols, people’s minds become full of the Christmas spirit: hatred melts and compassion overflows.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I hope the 2024 Christmas is a colorful one, glittering with generosity and empathy, just like beautifully decorated Christmas trees that gather family members and relatives for the joyous occasion. The song, “White Christmas,” begins with “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know.” I would like to sing, “I’m dreaming of a colorful Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We were not always like this. A long time ago, we lived in a colorful place where we embraced diversity and differences. At that time, we cared for others whom we treated as our neighbors and friends. Sadly, those good old days are gone and now we suspect and detest one another as if we were archenemies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Looking back upon this year, we realize that we have ruthlessly antagonized those with different opinions, thoughts and ideologies. Especially in our political arena, such a phenomenon has been egregious and ubiquitous. It is a cancerous ailment that has plagued our society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We hope that in this Christmas season, we can forget our rancor, acrimony and animosity, and care about others including our political foes. We also hope that the Christmas spirit is prevalent in our society and that we can reconcile in harmony and cooperate with each other in order to make a better society. That is what we humans should do.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the 2004 Hollywood movie “Hellboy,” the protagonist Hellboy is born as an ugly monster, but becomes a hero and the savior of human beings. Eventually, he is even better than humans. At the end of the movie, FBI agent John Myers narrates: “What makes a man a man? Is it his origins? The way he comes to life? I don’t think so. It’s the choices he makes, not how he starts things, but how he decides to end them.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although we may have started wrongfully, we can end things beautifully. Surely, that would be the true Christmas spirit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Kim Seong-kon&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022681</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Editorial] Clouds on the horizon - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-subtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korea’s export drive projected to face trouble in 2025 due to shift in chip sector&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The South Korean economy has been chugging along thanks to solid shipments of semiconductors this year. But the outlook for exports in 2025 is far from optimistic, and the reason also involves chips, the country’s key export item.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Business organizations project that exports could stagnate next year largely due to worsening market conditions for semiconductors and automobiles. Demand for Korean chips may weaken amid intensifying competition with China. A global economic slowdown cannot be ruled out in connection with the uncertainties in major economies around the world, which in turn could hurt the export-driven Korean economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Federation of Korean Industries, a major business lobby group, forecast a meager 1.4 percent increase in exports next year, citing its survey of 150 companies across 12 key export industries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Korea International Trade Association similarly predicted that the growth rate of exports could slow to 1.8 percent. Other major economic institutes including the Bank of Korea and the state-run Korea Development Institute came up with an export growth projection of less than 2 percent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Only the Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade said exports would increase by 2.2 percent next year. But its survey of 133 industry professionals showed the manufacturing sector’s export sentiment index for January 2025 would slide to 76, a negative outlook based on a neutral figure is 100.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The key reason for the negative outlooks is the looming trouble in the semiconductor sector in Korea. This year, total shipments of semiconductors are forecast to hit a record $139 billion, or roughly 20 percent of the country’s total exports. There is no question that chip exports have bolstered Korea’s exports as a result of a higher demand worldwide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But Korean chipmakers may not enjoy a boom next year largely because Chinese rivals are rapidly encroaching on the market for legacy semiconductors. Chinese electronics makers, which long relied on imports of Korean memory chips, are increasingly shifting toward local alternatives. The continued replacement of Korean legacy memory chips by Chinese products could cut into the 2025 revenues of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aside from the threats to legacy products, the two major Korean chipmakers confront US restrictions on high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, exports to China. In addition, they are importing their own memory chips made in their Chinese production facilities for final processing since they cannot deploy the advanced chip equipment due to the US restrictions on China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As long as the trade friction between the US and China persists, Korean chipmakers cannot avoid collateral damage. The problem is that US President-elect Donald Trump could make things more burdensome for all trading partners, including Korea, with his protectionist trade policies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beyond semiconductors, other industries are also faltering. Steel exports are expected to shrink by 3-5 percent, and automobile exports may grow by a modest 0-2 percent in 2025. The mix of a global economic slowdown and protectionist policies initiated by the US is feared to bring more uncertainties to Korea’s export-driven economic policy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Even the country’s top official in charge of economic policy expressed related worries. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Monday said, “Export growth faces headwinds from base effects and the shift in the semiconductor cycle, raising concerns about a potential slowdown.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Strong exports have been a lifeline for the Korean economy this year, with domestic demand mired in a deep slump. Conversely, if export growth slows significantly and domestic demand fails to recover next year, the repercussions could be severe for the entire economy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Given the gravity of the looming challenges, bipartisan efforts are urgently needed to devise a safety net for exports and prevent a hard landing. In the long term, policymakers also have to draw up plans for structural reforms such as reducing the country’s heavy reliance on semiconductor exports and rebalancing its trade dependence on the US and China. Bold and decisive action is the only way forward.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10022668</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Court issues arrest warrant to detain Yoon - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/31/news-p.v1.20241231.191ab6000dd744b0b9b7ed3c51fc95d8_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;President Yoon Suk Yeol (Yonhap)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Seoul court approved a request from investigative authorities to detain South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, making him the first sitting president to face arrest in Korea&#39;s constitutional history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday issued the warrant against Yoon on charges of leading and organizing the martial law declaration in early December as well as abuse of power, according to legal sources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court’s decision comes a day after the joint investigation team probing the martial law case filed for a warrant for Yoon after he ignored three successive summonses requesting his attendance for questioning.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following the court’s decision, authorities are given 48 hours to take Yoon into custody for questioning and to file the arrest warrant.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10333090</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:49:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Jung-joo</author>
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      <title>Mother of legendary labor activist acquitted of martial law violations after 44 years - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-mtitle type01&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Court rules 1980 emergency measures unconstitutional&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/27/news-p.v1.20241227.af28b3de5269416f8863aabfa30a2bb5_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;This file photo shows a memorial museum for Jeon Tae-il near the Seoul Peace Market in South Korea&#39;s capital city. (Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;This file photo shows a memorial museum for Jeon Tae-il near the Seoul Peace Market in South Korea&#39;s capital city. (Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The mother and younger brother of legendary labor activist Jeon Tae-il were acquitted of martial law violations more than 44 years after their initial convictions under Chun Doo-hwan&#39;s military regime, court officials said Friday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They were among four people whose charges were ruled invalide by the Seoul Eastern District Court, due to the unconstitutional nature of the emergency martial law under which they were prosecuted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jeon&#39;s mother Lee So-sun, who died in 2011 at the age of 82, had been sentenced to 10 months in prison in 1981 for violating martial law provisions, including restrictions under the Assembly and Demonstration Act. His brother Jeon Tae-sam and others received sentences of up to three years on related charges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court ruled that the military regime&#39;s expansion of emergency martial law to the entire country on May 17, 1980, citing alleged rumors of North Korean infiltration into South Korea, lacked constitutional legitimacy from the outset.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It stated that &quot;the declaration was issued without meeting the requirements set forth by the Constitution and relevant laws and violated fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom of expression.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Since the declaration of martial law was unconstitutional and invalid from the beginning, the charges against the defendants based on violations of martial law cannot constitute a crime,&quot; the court added.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court’s ruling followed a retrial request filed by the defendants, including Jeon Tae-sam, with the Seoul Eastern District Court in November 2021. The retrial resulted in the formal recognition of their innocence, as the court acquitted them 44 years after their original convictions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jeon Tae-il, a garment worker and labor rights activist, served as a catalyst for public debate on the substandard labor conditions and the brisk labor union movement in the country. He died while protesting on Nov. 13, 1970, at the age of 22.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following her son’s death, Lee became a labor activist herself. She was arrested multiple times throughout the 1970s and 1980s for participating in illegal protests against authoritarian governments and aiding fellow labor activists.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10032303</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:32:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lee Jaeeun</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Constitutional Court nominees say Han qualified to confirm them - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/23/news-p.v1.20241223.1fc1e263a2a045a8bb2ab26ac07d11dd_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Seoul Central District Court Justice and Constitutional Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk speaks during a parliamentary hearing at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Monday. Yonhap&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;Seoul Central District Court Justice and Constitutional Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk speaks during a parliamentary hearing at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Monday. Yonhap&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Two nominees to the Constitutional Court who were recommended by the opposition to handle President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case urged the acting president on Monday to confirm their nominations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The remarks were made during a National Assembly hearing on Seoul Central District Court Justice Ma Eun-hyuk and Seoul Western District Court Justice Jeong Gye-seon. The two were recommended by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea early this month to fill vacancies on the nine-member bench, alongside another candidate recommended by the People Power Party.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“I believe it is appropriate for the president or the acting president to name a Constitutional Court justice if necessary procedures are carried out in the Assembly when nominating a candidate,” Ma said at the parliamentary hearing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jeong echoed Ma’s sentiment and said that if the Constitution grants the president the power to confirm nominations made by the Assembly or the chief justice of the Supreme Court “as a formality,” then acting President Han Duck-soo would have the same authority.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The ruling People Power Party, which boycotted Monday’s hearing, has claimed that the law does not bestow the acting president the power to nominate Constitutional Court justices. The People Power Party&#39;s acting chief, Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong, said in a recent press conference that the acting president only can become the head of the government and not the head of the state, which means Han does not have the power to confirm the justices.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ma also stressed that the Constitutional Court can subject Yoon’s botched Dec. 3 martial law imposition to judicial review, refuting Yoon’s earlier remarks in his Dec. 12 televised public address. Yoon has claimed that the president&#39;s exercise of the right to declare emergency martial law is an act of governance not subject to judicial review, similar to the president’s power of the pardon.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ma pledged to “swiftly and faithfully carry out the deliberations” if his nomination is confirmed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The hearing for the third nominee, ex-Seoul Administrative Court Justice and attorney Cho Han-chang, who has been recommended by the ruling party, is set to take place Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The court currently has six justices, but the law states that at least seven justices must participate in a review of an impeachment motion.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, as the Constitutional Court recently accepted an injunction request from Lee Jin-sook, chair of the Korea Communications Commission, to temporarily suspend the provision of the Constitutional Court Act that required hearings by seven or more justices, hearings with six justices have also become possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the same time, reaching a decision on a presidential impeachment with just six justices is a perilous task, as it would require all six justices to accept the parliament&#39;s request to remove the president from power.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The People Power Party, in the afternoon, called for the opposition-led Assembly to halt its nomination process for Ma and Jeong, labeling the two candidates as politically biased.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The Democratic Party has recommended judges that have openly expressed their biased ideals and political tendencies and is now trying to nominate them as (Constitutional Court) justices,&quot; the party said in a statement. &quot;We request that they immediately halt the nomination process for the Constitutional Court justices.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10021541</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:18:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jung Min-kyung</author>
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      <title>[Bills in Focus] Supporting semiconductors, securing worker safety - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/23/news-p.v1.20241223.5f35a2bc25dd47928f1c217c0ab5a89f_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Proposed by Rep. Park Ju-min (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Under the current Commercial Act, major shareholders’ voting rights are capped at 3 percent when appointing an auditor. To better represent the interests of minority shareholders, this amendment seeks to extend the “3 percent rule” to apply during mergers between affiliated companies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kang Jun-hyeon (Democratic Party of Korea) &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment requires that when a listed company conducts a split-off initial public offering, preemptive rights be granted to at least 70 percent of the shares for minority shareholders who did not request a stock buyback.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Special Act on Strengthening Competitiveness and Promoting Innovative Growth in the Semiconductor Industry &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Chul-gyu (People Power Party)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Amid intensifying global competition for dominance in the semiconductor market, this bill proposes various measures to support Korea’s semiconductor industry. It establishes a legal basis for providing subsidies to the semiconductor industry and exempts workers in semiconductor R&amp;amp;D from standard working hour regulations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill expands the permitted business activities of specialized credit finance companies, such as card companies. The amendment allows these companies to offer corporate credit inquiry services alongside their existing operations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Occupational Safety and Health Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Employment and Labor &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment introduces stricter reporting requirements for businesses. It mandates that companies notify the government if they terminate a contract with a specialized safety and health institution or dismiss a safety officer, health officer or occupational medicine doctor. Additionally, companies involved in the installation or dismantling of tower cranes must report any changes in their workforce.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For any queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10021297</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2024 02:08:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Legal updates in Korea] Resident identification card goes mobile - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2024/12/23/news-p.v1.20241223.3ec177c5ee144a1f8b9037144fec69c6_P1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;newline&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: Resident Registration Act&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: South Korean citizens will be issued with mobile identification cards&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takes effect: Dec. 27&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: None&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All South Korean citizens aged 17 or older who hold a national identification card can apply for a mobile one starting Dec. 27. This is the first time that digital resident ID cards have been issued in Korea.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Citizens can either visit a local civic center, where they can activate their mobile ID by scanning a one-time QR code or tap a physical IC chip-enabled ID card on their smartphone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The issuance fee is free. The mobile ID uses the latest security technologies, including encryption, to prevent counterfeiting, falsification, and fraudulent use. It can only be issued to a single mobile phone device and can be reissued if the cellphone is replaced or if it expires after a period of three years. In the event that the phone is reported lost, the mobile ID will cease to be valid.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mandatory installation of fire extinguishers in vehicles with five or more seats&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: Act on Installation and Management of Firefighting Systems&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: Requires car manufacturers and sellers to install fire extinguishers in vehicles with five or more seats&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Took effect: Dec. 1&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: Punishments may vary&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Starting in December, any person who manufactures, assembles, imports, or sells a passenger vehicle with five or more seats, or the owner of the relevant vehicle must install or carry a fire extinguisher within the vehicle. The regulation applies to motor vehicles that are manufactured, assembled, imported, or sold, as well as to motor vehicles whose ownership is transferred and registered in accordance with Article 6 of the Motor Vehicle Management Act on or after Dec. 1. It should be noted that vehicles purchased and registered prior to Dec. 1 will not be subject to retroactive application. Unlike ordinary fire extinguishers, fire extinguishers for motor vehicles are designed to withstand the vibrations and high temperatures in a vehicle, and are labeled as “fire extinguisher for motor vehicles” on the container. The installation or availability of a car fire extinguisher is subject to inspection pursuant to Article 43 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, including new and regular inspections. It is thus compulsory to install or carry a fire extinguisher for motor vehicles in the vehicles that are subject to this regulation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-- In collaboration with the Ministry of Government Legislation, The Korea Herald publishes a monthly article on laws that have recently been updated in South Korea. The ministry’s Easy Law service (https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/Main.laf) provides accessible summaries of Korean laws grouped by category in English and 11 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mongolian, Nepali, Thai, Uzbek and Vietnamese -- Ed.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10021191</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10021191</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2024 01:03:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jung Min-kyung</author>
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    <item>
      <title>Defense technology security, urban planning reform - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/12/16/20241216050016_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Yoon Han-hong (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment requires boards of directors to take steps to safeguard shareholders‘ interests when planning significant capital transactions, such as mergers, splits or comprehensive stock swaps and transfers. These steps include preparing and disclosing a written opinion that outlines the purpose, anticipated benefits and rationale behind such transactions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Yong-man (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment requires that when a listed company conducts a split-off IPO, preemptive rights be granted to at least 25 percent of the shares for the company’s minority shareholders who did not request a stock buyback.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Special Act on Strengthening Competitiveness and Promoting Innovative Growth in the Semiconductor Industry&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Chul-gyu (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Amid growing global competition for dominance in the semiconductor market, this bill proposes measures to strengthen Korea‘s semiconductor industry. It provides a legal basis for offering subsidies to the semiconductor sector and exempts workers in semiconductor R&amp;amp;D from standard working hour regulations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Defense Technology Security Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of National Defense&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill strengthens the protection of defense technology by establishing legal grounds to penalize individuals who possess unauthorized copies of defense technology data and refuse to delete them. It also increases penalties for leaking defense technology to foreign countries, mandating a minimum sentence of one year of imprisonment with labor and a fine of up to 2 billion won ($1.4 million).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Rules on Decisions, Structures and Installation Criteria of Urban or Gun (County) Planning Facilities&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill relaxes regulations on the types of convenience facilities that can be included in urban or county-level planning areas. It allows delivery centers and indoor sports facilities to be located within these areas, provided they offer good accessibility.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For any queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10018987</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Dec 2024 02:19:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Strengthening shareholder rights, clearer M&amp;A transparency - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/12/10/20241210050018_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Jung-mun (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To better protect the interests of general shareholders, this amendment broadens the scope of directors‘ duty of loyalty to include both the company and its shareholders. Additionally, it mandates that large publicly listed companies adopt cumulative voting for the election of directors and introduce electronic shareholder meetings to improve transparency and fairness in corporate governance and decision-making.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Jang-kyom (People Power Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To prevent foreign information and communication service providers from avoiding legal responsibilities and to better protect domestic users, this amendment clarifies the criteria requiring foreign businesses to appoint a domestic agent. It also strengthens penalties for non-compliance with applicable laws.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Depositor Protection Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Eom Tae-young (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To enhance depositor protection, this amendment proposes increasing the maximum insurance coverage for deposits from 50 million won to 100 million won ($35,000 to $70,000). It also mandates a review and update of the maximum coverage limit for each financial sector every five years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To enhance corporate autonomy and transparency in merger valuations, this bill excludes mergers involving non-affiliated companies from the mandatory calculation formula for merger prices, replacing it with a requirement for external evaluations to ensure fairness. For mergers between affiliated companies, the bill requires that external evaluation institutions be selected with the approval of the audit committee to strengthen oversight and protect minority shareholders.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Additionally, external evaluation institutions must adhere to newly established quality management standards when conducting merger evaluations, and inspection results must be disclosed. Institutions involved in the merger price determination process are prohibited from being selected as external evaluators for the same transaction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment requires institutional investors to establish internal control guidelines and implement an electronic monitoring system to prevent naked short selling. It also sets the base amount of administrative fines for violations at 100 million won.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10016753</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10016753</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Dec 2024 02:27:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Enhancing AI safety, regulating MVNO dominance - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/12/02/20241202050049_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Sang-hoon (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment seeks to innovate the trust system by allowing liabilities, like mortgages, to be included in trusts. Currently, trust assets are limited, which complicates managing assets tied to debt. This change enables trusts for mortgaged properties, ensuring comprehensive asset management.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Act on the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Jo Seoung-lae (Democratic Party of Korea) and Rep. Lee In-seon (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill establishes legal grounds to promote the growth of the AI industry and ensure the safe and reliable development of related technologies. This act aims to support the growth of AI-related industries and includes essential measures for fostering trustworthy AI. The bill also outlines a regulatory framework to address potential risks associated with AI development and use, particularly those impacting public health, safety, and rights, implementing guidelines to safeguard against significant risks.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Hyun (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Rep. Kim Hyun has introduced an amendment to limit the market dominance of large conglomerates in the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) sector. The proposal aims to restrict the number of MVNO subsidiaries that conglomerates can own, preventing major telecom companies like SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus from using subsidiaries to dominate the market. The bill’s objective is to curb the excessive influence of major corporations and to ensure fair competition in the MVNO market.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Sites and Development Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill permits the operation of vertical farms or plant factories within industrial complexes to boost total agricultural productivity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Microfinance Support Act &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment increases banks’ contribution rate to the supplementary microfinance account from 0.035 percent to 0.06 percent to ensure stable financial support for the general public and vulnerable groups. It also establishes a legal basis for the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency‘s secondary conservation project, which provides partial interest support for microfinance users.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10012144</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 06:27:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Promoting chip sector growth, fair LLC audits - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/25/20241125050107_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Special Act on Strengthening Competitiveness and Promoting Innovative Growth in the Semiconductor Industry&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Chul-gyu (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Amid the intensifying global competition for semiconductor dominance, this bill introduces measures to bolster Korea’s semiconductor industry. It establishes legal grounds for providing subsidies for infrastructure development and forming administrative bodies to support semiconductor policy formulation and execution. The bill also aims to simplify permitting processes for semiconductor clusters and allows for flexible working hours by exempting semiconductor R&amp;amp;D workers from the 52-hour workweek regulation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on External Audit of Stock Companies&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Sang-hoon (People Power Party)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment requires limited liability companies that meet specific criteria to undergo external audits. This change seeks to prevent companies from evading audit requirements by converting to an LLC structure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Proposed by Rep. Jeong Jun-ho (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Under the current Act, directors are not liable for actions or decisions that may harm shareholder interests if the company itself is not affected. This bill proposes extending directors‘ fiduciary duty to cover shareholders’ proportional interests, thereby enhancing protection for general shareholders.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill establishes legal grounds for insurance claim trusts and sets out regulations for asset management businesses. It includes the National Forestry Cooperative Federation and performance compensation funds within the scope of collective investment business entities. Additionally, it permits these entities to transact with affiliates when necessary to achieve their operational objectives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Motor Vehicle Management Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill outlines the criteria and procedures necessary to implement certification systems for the modification, safety and conformity inspections of key motor vehicle components. Importantly, it mandates safety testing in 12 areas for batteries used in electric vehicles, covering aspects such as vibration, shock and overcharging.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10011652</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:26:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>[Legal updates in Korea] Providing housing for &#39;jeonse&#39; fraud victims - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/25/20241125050064_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: The Special Act on Supporting Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: Allows &quot;jeonse&quot; fraud victims to live in public housing without paying rent for 10 years&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Took effect: Nov. 11&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: None&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Jeonse&quot; is a unique Korean system in which renters give landlords a large returnable deposit instead of paying monthly rent. The system has existed for decades, but in recent years, scammers have taken advantage of the system, refusing to return the deposits -- typically a tenant&#39;s life savings -- at the end of the lease.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The accumulated number of victims of jeonse fraud totaled 24,668, according to government data released Nov. 22. The majority of the victims or 74.36 percent were aged under 40.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To help the victims, public housing providers may purchase housing that was involved in jeonse fraud cases in auctions and turn it into public housing for the victims. The victims will be able to live in these homes for 10 years without paying rent, and any profits from auctions will be used to cover rental expenses.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The government will bear the cost associated with purchasing the housing, as well as any rental shortfalls that remain after using auction profits for rent. After 10 years of residence, victims can either extend their stay for up to another 10 years at a rent lower than the market rate or receive the remaining amount after deducting the rental support from the auction profits.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Improving hygiene of vending machine foods &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: Enforcement Decree of the Food Sanitation Act&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: Improves hygiene of foods sold in vending machines by expanding the scope of the law&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Took effect: Nov. 15&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: None&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From now on, the scope of the food vending machine business will be expanded to include the sale of food products that undergo automatic mixing and processing inside the vending machines to strengthen hygiene management. Previously, the food vending machine business was defined as selling only finished products. However, with the increasing variety of food vending machines with various functions, such as those for robot coffee, meal kits, and cotton candy, it is necessary to strengthen the hygiene management of these vending machines as well, which has prompted the revision of the regulation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;-- In collaboration with the Ministry of Government Legislation, The Korea Herald publishes a monthly article on laws that have recently been updated in South Korea. The ministry’s Easy Law service (https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/Main.laf) provides accessible summaries of Korean laws grouped by category in English and 11 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mongolian, Nepali, Thai, Uzbek and Vietnamese -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10011609</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 06:45:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jung Min-kyung</author>
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      <title>[Bills in Focus] Flexible work hours for high-tech, fairness in network fees - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/18/20241118050068_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Ko Dong-jin (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To enhance the competitiveness of Korea’s national high-tech strategic industries, this bill aims to exempt the R&amp;amp;D sector in industries such as semiconductors, displays, biotechnology and secondary batteries from the current weekly cap of 52 work hours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rep. Ko, a former CEO of Samsung Electronics, emphasized that flexibility in working hours is essential for boosting productivity in advanced industries. He pointed out in recent interviews that Europe&#39;s loss of competitiveness in the semiconductor field was partly due to reduced working hours, underscoring the need for a more adaptable labor framework to maintain Korea&#39;s global edge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Jeong-heon (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● In response to the significant burden large content providers place on domestic internet infrastructure, this bill aims to prevent these entities from leveraging their market positions to avoid network usage fees. The amendment, also known as the &quot;Network Free Rider Prevention Act,&quot; mandates that major domestic and international value-added telecommunications companies must enter into network usage agreements with facilities-based telecommunications operators. Moreover, they are required to provide fair compensation for using their networks.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rep. Lee highlighted that if large global content providers like Google continue to occupy domestic internet resources without appropriate compensation, it will discourage investment in domestic internet infrastructure and stifle the growth of local content providers. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, Google accounts for 30.55 percent of daily domestic traffic, Netflix 6.94 percent, and Meta 5.06 percent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Oh Gi-hyoung (Democratic Party of Korea) and Rep. Cha Gyu-geun (Rebuilding Korea Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;●This bill seeks to tackle the issue of undervaluation in Korea’s stock market by reforming corporate governance structures. In particular, it proposes to increase the number of independently elected auditors in large listed companies and impose voting restrictions on significant agenda items for the largest shareholders and their affiliates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Quantum Science Technologies and Quantum Industry Promotion Act &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Science and ICT&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill outlines the development of a comprehensive plan to promote quantum science technologies and the quantum industry. It includes establishing a quantum strategic committee, creating an R&amp;amp;D hub, fostering a quantum technology ecosystem, and advancing the commercialization of quantum technologies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Promotion and Support for the Saemangeum Project &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment seeks to lower the barriers to foreign investment in the Saemangeum Project by adjusting the eligibility criteria for project executors. Instead of assessing the credit rating and capital strength of newly established domestic subsidiaries, the amendment will consider the credit rating and capital strength of the parent company, in this case a foreign investor. This change is designed to encourage more foreign investment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Additionally, the amendment will increase the number of members on the building committee from 30 to 70 to include a broader range of expertise in areas such as urban planning, landscape and transportation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10011106</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:40:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Aligning retirement with pension eligibility, enhancing urban growth - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/11/20241111050507_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Kim Jae-sub (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment expands the Act‘s regulatory scope to cover distribution systems involving atypical securities, paving the way for innovative solutions in fractional investing, such as “investing in bits and pieces” or “fractional share trading.” It establishes legal grounds for security tokens, creates an issuer’s account management agency and introduces curb brokers. These measures are expected to facilitate the convenient and efficient issuance, distribution and management of securities in small quantities, amid rising interest in investing in tiny pieces.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Furthermore, the amendment enhances investor protection by requiring general investors to set investment limits based on their investment objectives, financial situation and experience when engaging in transactions on these platforms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee In-seon (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment offers tax incentives to companies that deliver shareholder returns surpassing 120 percent of the previous year‘s market average. Specifically, it allows these companies to deduct 5 percent of the excess return from their corporate tax for the relevant taxable year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment and Elderly Employment Promotion&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Park Hong-bae (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To bolster financial stability, the Korean government enacted a law in 1998 to gradually raise the pension age from 60 to 65, spanning from 2013 to 2033. This reform aimed to extend the retirement age and delay pension payments for seniors. Although the legal retirement age is set at 60, many individuals retire earlier. As the pension age is set to reach 65 by 2033, a gap is emerging between retirement and pension eligibility ages. This amendment seeks to align the retirement age with the pension age by 2033, effectively closing this gap.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Insurance Business Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill mandates that insurance companies set up computer systems, allowing hospitals to automatically claim medical indemnity insurance proceeds without needing to visit offices or submit complex paperwork.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Support for Urban Complex Development&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill provides exclusive benefits for private urban complex development projects, such as a shorter deliberation period and an increased floor area ratio, to boost city competitiveness and improve residential stability.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3851596</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:46:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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      <title>Strengthening workplace safety, minority shareholders - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/04/20241104050817_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Cho Ji-yeon (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● In response to the tragic fire at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, which resulted in the loss of 23 lives -- 18 of whom were residents of foreign nationality — this proposed amendment aims to tighten the accountability of risk assessment certifications for workplace safety. The government is planning to revamp an existing risk assessment recognition program managed by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Currently, businesses conduct their own risk assessments. Those deemed by KOSHA to have superior risk management practices receive benefits, such as reduced premiums for industrial accident insurance. However, the devastating fire highlighted significant flaws in this system, as the factory involved was safety-certified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This amendment proposes that if a significant accident, like the fire in Hwaseong, occurs within the certification period, companies would be required to repay any industrial accident compensation benefits they received as part of their recognition. The intent is to ensure that safety certifications accurately reflect a company‘s commitment to accident prevention and to encourage continuous diligence in maintaining safe working conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee Kang-ill (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment specifies corporate directors‘ duty of loyalty and duty of fairness and restricts the voting rights of management and major shareholders who have been indicted for embezzlement or misappropriation. It also requires listed companies to hold virtual shareholders’ meetings and enable electronic voting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This proposed amendment aims to address the structural limitations of the current Commercial Act, which inadequately protects minority shareholders from the dominance of management and major shareholders, according to Lee. To counter these issues, the amendment explicitly defines directors‘ duty of loyalty and duty of fairness, ensuring that directors act impartially and do not favor specific shareholders or stakeholders when executing their duties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Moreover, the bill seeks to protect minority shareholders by restricting the voting rights of management and major shareholders who are indicted for crimes such as embezzlement or misappropriation, allowing for fairer decision-making by all shareholders. To further empower shareholders, the amendment mandates listed companies to facilitate virtual shareholders‘ meetings and enhance electronic voting options, enabling minority shareholders to exercise their rights in a fair and equitable management environment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Act on the Promotion of AI Advancement and the Establishment of Trust Framework for AI&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Proposed by Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig (People Power Party)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● To establish a regulatory framework for the safe and reliable advancement of AI, this bill mandates a triennial AI master plan covering policy direction, industry promotion and trust framework establishment. It proposes the creation of a National AI Committee, a National AI Center and an AI Safety Research Institute. It also imposes a duty on high-risk AI business operators to ensure reliability and safety and mandates transparency for operating generative AI systems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Game Industry Promotion Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill requires foreign game providers to appoint a domestic representative to fulfill indication obligations for game products. Violations may result in fines of up to 20 million won ($14,500). It also relieves game-related businesses from punishment if youth access age-restricted products through deception or threat.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Broadcasting Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Science and ICT&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment eases entry regulations for program providers in radio, data and VOD by changing the registration system to a reporting system. It also removes restrictions that previously limited IPTV providers from excessive channel ownership or influence.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For queries about the bills, contact cr@draju.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3844228</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3844228</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2024 04:41:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Legal updates in Korea] Preventing repeat DUI offenses - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/11/04/20241104050657_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(Ministry of Government Legislation)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: Road Traffic Act&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: Requires repeat drunk driving offenders to install car breathalyzers or in-car alcohol monitoring systems&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Took effect: Oct. 25&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: Imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine up to 3 million won, driver&#39;s license revoked for failure to use the devices.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;South Korea has been making decisive moves in recent years to prevent drunk driving accidents and fatalities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many celebrities and politicians have made headlines after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Seoul Western District Court last month sentenced Suga of BTS to a fine of 15 million won ($11,469) on charges of driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;An average of 200 people lose their lives in drunk driving-related incidents here every year, according to the state-affiliated Korea Transport Institute in a report released in June. Police say that 159 people were killed in drunk driving accidents last year, a 25.7 percent fall from 2022, which recorded 214 deaths.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a bid to curb drunk-driving accidents, a conditional driver&#39;s license system came into effect on Oct. 25. It will require people who have had their driver&#39;s license revoked for DUI again within five years of the date of their first offense to install an ignition interlock device in order to drive a motor vehicle. An ignition interlock device measures the driver&#39;s breath before starting the car and ensures that the car will only start if no alcohol is detected.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the person drives without the device, he or she will be punished by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 3 million won, and the conditional driver&#39;s license will be revoked.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Shielding debtors from excessive threats&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Updated law: Personal Credit Management and Debtor Protection Act&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What it does: Requires debt collectors to provide advance notice to debtors before visiting&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Took effect: Oct.27&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Punishment: Debt collectors required to compensate debtors if safeguards are violated&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beginning October 17th, when commencing debt collection activities, debt collectors will be required to provide advance notice to individual financial debtors of the date they plan to begin collecting individual financial debts and how to exercise their rights of defense. In addition, various measures will be introduced to alleviate excessive collection burdens on individual debtors. This includes the “total collection regulation,” which restricts debt collectors from contacting debtors more than seven times in seven consecutive days for each debt and the “collection moratorium,&quot; which prohibits debt collectors from contacting debtors for a certain period upon confirming that the debtor is facing a major disaster or an accident. It also includes the “right to request debt settlement,” which allows debtors to file a request for debt settlement with creditor financial institutions when they have difficulty paying their debts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;-- In collaboration with the Ministry of Government Legislation, The Korea Herald publishes a monthly article on laws that have recently been updated in South Korea. The ministry’s Easy Law service (https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/Main.laf) provides accessible summaries of Korean laws grouped by category in English and 11 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mongolian, Nepali, Thai, Uzbek and Vietnamese -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3846483</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3846483</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:28:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Korea Herald</author>
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    <item>
      <title>Aircraft tariffs exemption, national pension reform - The Korea Herald</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;article-photo-wrap size-l align-c&quot;&gt; &lt;figure class=&quot;article-img&quot;&gt; &lt;img src=&quot;https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/10/28/20241028050448_0.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;(123rf)&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt; &lt;figcaption class=&quot;caption&quot;&gt;(123rf)&lt;/figcaption&gt; &lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Customs Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Proposed by Rep. Park Soo-young (People Power Party)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Proposed by Rep. Park, this bill aims to extend tariff exemptions on imported aircraft parts until the end of 2029 to alleviate costs in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, which rely heavily on global supply chains.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Under the current law, import tariffs on aircraft parts are fully exempt until the end of this year. Starting next year, the exemption rate is set to decrease by 20 percentage points annually, with all benefits ending by 2029. However, if Rep. Park‘s amendment is passed, the full 100 percent exemption will remain in place through the end of 2029. This legislative effort stems from concerns that diminishing tariff exemptions could undermine the overall competitiveness of Korea’s aviation industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Corporate Tax Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Proposed by Rep. Lee In-seon (People Power Party)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● Rep. Lee has introduced a bill to address significant tax revenue losses caused by global tech giants‘ tax evasion. This proposed amendment would require major foreign tech companies to report their domestic sales accurately, allowing appropriate tax rates to be applied.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;According to Rep. Lee, Google‘s annual revenue in South Korea is estimated to exceed 12 trillion won ($8.65 billion). However, Google’s 2022 audit report for its Korean operations shows only 3.65 billion won in revenue and 234 billion won in operating profit. The corporate taxes Google paid in the last two years were 15.5 billion won and 16.9 billion won, amounts comparable to those paid by small to medium-sized enterprises. Despite Google dominating over 90 percent of the domestic Android app market and having a significant impact on the local IT sector, there is a notable discrepancy in its reported revenue and tax payments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Critics point out that Google attributes the majority of its app market revenue to its Singapore-based entity, Google Asia-Pacific, excluding it from domestic figures. In 2020, the National Tax Service reported that 134 global IT firms paid a combined total tax of 23.76 billion won in Korea -- less than the 45 billion won paid by Naver alone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This bill aims to close that gap, providing a legal framework to ensure these companies contribute fairly to Korea‘s tax system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on the Guarantee of Employees’ Retirement Benefits&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Proposed by Rep. Han Jeoung-ae (Democratic Party of Korea)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment aims to reform the national pension plan to boost reliability and increase profit rates. It expands and reorganizes the previous SME Retirement Pension Fund Plan into a trust-based model named the Corporate Retirement Pension Fund Plan and mandates the National Pension Service to operate the National Retirement Pension Fund.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This bill specifies the responsibilities assigned to executives via the responsibility map and the comprehensive management duties of representative directors to ensure corporate directors faithfully fulfill their role in monitoring internal control.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Real Estate Investment Company Act&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;● This amendment broadens the investment scope of REITs to include new assets with high demand and profitability, including structures installed on land or buildings, such as data centers and industrial sites, and real estate financial products, such as asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, in addition to traditional real estate assets, such as offices and residential properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR &amp;amp; AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. -- Ed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;For any queries

@TonyRL TonyRL merged commit 336464d into DIYgod:master Dec 31, 2024
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