Shinhan Bank retains Incheon city treasury after Seoul win, eyes court deposit contract

Bank defends Seoul's first and second treasury accounts, then Incheon's first — cementing its lead in public fund management Nara Love Card, University of Seoul treasury also secured; court deposit bank selection draws attention Shinhan Bank has again demonstrated its strength in public fund management, successfully defending both the Seoul and Incheon city treasury accounts. The bank retained operating rights to Seoul's first and second treasury accounts — which handle an annual volume of more than 50 trillion won ($36.5 billion) — in May, and on Thursday was named the preferred negotiating partner for Incheon's first treasury account. Shinhan Bank first made waves in 2018 when it unseated Woori Bank, which had managed the Seoul city treasury for more than a century, in a competitive selection process. It has since held on to the Seoul treasury contract in successive rounds, firmly establishing itself as the city's primary treasury bank. Seoul announced in May that Shinhan Bank received the highest scores for both the first and second treasury accounts following a review by the city's treasury designation committee. Shinhan Bank and Woori Bank submitted proposals for the first treasury account, while KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank and Hana Bank all bid for the second. Shinhan Bank scored 973.904 points for the first account and 925.760 for the second, topping both categories. The Seoul city treasury manages an annual volume of about 51 trillion won. Shinhan Bank also held on to the Incheon first treasury account. Incheon convened its treasury designation committee on Thursday and named Shinhan Bank as the preferred negotiating partner for the first account. The selected partner will finalize a contract with the city within 20 days of the selection date after discussing the proposal details and specific terms. Under the new arrangement, Shinhan Bank will manage Incheon's first treasury account for four years from 2027 through 2030, extending its unbroken run — which began in 2007 — to 24 years. Incheon's first treasury account covers general accounts, public enterprise special accounts and funds, with an annual operating volume of about 17 trillion won ($12.4 billion). Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank competed for the contract. Hana Bank made its pitch partly on the strength of Hana Financial Group's planned relocation to Incheon's Cheongna district, but could not overcome Shinhan Bank. NH NongHyup Bank, the sole applicant for Incheon's second treasury account — which handles special accounts and related funds — was named preferred negotiating partner for that slot. Shinhan Bank was earlier selected as the operator of the third-generation Nara Love Card program, covering 2026 through 2033, and in July signed an agreement to manage the University of Seoul's treasury for four years starting in 2027. Attention in the financial sector is now turning to the selection of court deposit banks. The Court Administration Office is choosing new deposit banks for 17 courts nationwide whose contracts expire at the end of this year. The key question is how much of its existing business Shinhan Bank — which has long dominated the court deposit market — will be able to retain. Having successfully defended major municipal treasury accounts in Seoul and Incheon, Shinhan Bank is also well-positioned in the ongoing competitions for district treasury accounts in Gangnam, Seocho and Seongdong-gu.

Sept. 17, 2026

'I already forgave you once, so you can't divorce me now': Husband's brazen defense after second affair with same woman

A woman who forgave her husband's affair and secured his promise never to see the other woman again discovered he had resumed the relationship — only to have him refuse a divorce on the grounds that she had already pardoned him once. The story of the woman, identified only as A, who has been married for 15 years, was featured Thursday on YTN Radio's legal advice program "Jo In-seop's Counseling Office." A said physical affection between the couple had gradually faded. "I thought it might just be a rough patch, but everyone said that is how married life goes, so I decided to focus on my role rather than expect excitement," she said. She later discovered her husband was having an affair with a woman who worked at one of his company's client firms, and resolved to divorce him. Her husband begged for another chance, saying, "Please think of the children and give me one more opportunity," and promised never to see the woman again. The other woman also apologized to A and promised to cut off all contact with the husband. Fearing what it would mean to end a 15-year marriage while her children were still young, A chose to forgive him. Less than a year later, however, she found out that her husband had never stopped seeing the other woman. When A again demanded a divorce, her husband refused, arguing, "You already forgave me before, so you cannot use this as grounds for divorce." Attorney Lim Hyeong-chang addressed the case, saying that forgiving a past act of infidelity means only that — forgiving what had already happened up to that point. "It does not mean that future acts of infidelity are acceptable," he said. Lim added that if the husband had promised never to meet the woman again and the couple had reconciled, any subsequent infidelity could constitute new grounds for divorce. "The fact that he was given a chance to rebuild trust and then repeated the same behavior would actually weigh heavily against him when a court assesses responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage," he said. On the question of the other woman, Lim advised that if she had resumed the relationship after promising to end it, A could consider filing a claim for consolation damages against her. However, he added that infidelity and the division of marital assets are separate matters. "Each spouse's contribution to the marital estate must be assessed independently," Lim said. "If the husband spent a significant portion of the couple's shared assets on the affair — buying expensive gifts or covering the other woman's living expenses — that spending could be challenged as an unauthorized disposal of marital property." He also advised A to gather not only evidence of the affair itself but also records of any money transfers the husband made to the other woman, gift purchases and travel expenses.

Sept. 17, 2026

See a show, savor K-food: Changdong Station's night alley is being reborn

Seoul selects Changdong Station alley for 'Dalbit Yajang' program, with up to 2 billion won in support District aims to build a stay-and-spend nighttime district tied to Seoul Arena by 2028 The alley near Exit 1 of Changdong Station in Seoul's Dobong-gu is set to be reborn as a nighttime destination blending K-pop concert culture with K-food. Dobong-gu announced that the Changdong Station shopping district has been selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's first "Dalbit Yajang" open-call project, and that the district will invest up to 2 billion won ($1.46 million) through 2028 to develop the area into a K-food specialty street and a stay-oriented nighttime commercial district. The plan is designed so that moviegoers at Seoul Arena — slated to open in Changdong in 2027 — will linger in the surrounding commercial district before and after shows, enjoying food, culture and the nighttime atmosphere. The restaurant- and bar-lined food alley near Exit 1 of Changdong Station, a transfer hub for subway lines 1 and 4, will be transformed into a "co-prosperity night market" where residents and merchants can enjoy the space together. To that end, the district will pursue four initiatives in phases: creating a K-food-themed nighttime streetscape, improving sidewalks and the surrounding environment, building a foundation for music and cultural content, and establishing a cooperative framework with relevant agencies. At the entrance to Changdong Station, a signature gateway, photo spots and landscape lighting will be installed to create a branded K-food nighttime streetscape unique to the Changdong area. Sidewalks will be repaired and barrier-free access provided to make the street more walkable. Safety and sanitation measures will also be significantly strengthened, including systems to manage noise, odors and waste. Entertainment tied to music culture will also be introduced, including a dedicated outdoor performance space called "Moon Stage" for small concerts and busking. A cooperative council will also be formed — centered on existing merchants and bringing together Dobong-gu, Seoul Arena, the neighborhood council and the Dobong-gu Sock Manufacturers Association — to promote the sustainable development of the commercial district. The Changdong Station Dalbit Yajang is under review for a full launch timed to coincide with the opening of Seoul Arena. Detailed operating hours and programming will be finalized through the development of a master plan and consultations with relevant agencies. "When K-pop at Seoul Arena meets K-food in Changdong, it will breathe new energy into the entire neighborhood," Dobong-gu District Mayor Kim Dong-wook said. "Starting with the Dalbit Yajang, we will build Dobong into a music city where music, culture, tourism and local commerce come alive."

Sept. 17, 2026

Mapo-gu District Mayor Shops at Aehyeon Market to Spread Chuseok Spirit

Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-kyun visited Aehyeon Market on Thursday afternoon ahead of the chuseok holiday to shop at the traditional market. Yoo toured the market, listening to vendors share their experiences during the busy holiday season, and greeted residents who had come out to shop. He then purchased holiday essentials — including tteokguk rice cakes, fruit sets, kimchi, samgyeopsal gift sets and assorted jeon — adding to the market's festive energy. At a donation ceremony that followed, he presented the purchased goods to the Mapo Welfare Foundation, underscoring the spirit of sharing that defines chuseok. "I hope that visiting the market ahead of the holiday gives strength to the vendors and brings warm holiday gifts to our neighbors," Yoo said. "I encourage all residents to visit their nearby traditional markets and share in the warmth and abundance of chuseok together."

Sept. 17, 2026

Yeongdeungpo-gu Celebrates 31st Residents' Day

Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin attended the 31st Yeongdeungpo Residents' Day ceremony Thursday afternoon at Yeongdeungpo Art Hall. About 800 residents took part in the event, which proceeded in the following order: an opening ceremony and pledge of allegiance, a video screening of the Constitutional City Declaration, a recitation of the Residents' Charter, the appointment of honorary district mayors, a commemorative video screening, a civic merit awards presentation, and a communal singing of the Residents' Day song. "I will turn Yeongdeungpo's potential into reality and make 'the greatest Yeongdeungpo under heaven' a certainty," Jo said. "I will fulfill my responsibilities so that four years from now, residents can say, 'Yeongdeungpo has really changed' and 'I'm so glad to live in the greatest Yeongdeungpo under heaven.'"

Sept. 17, 2026

Shinhan Bank, Nonghyup Bank named Incheon city depositories

The two banks will manage city funds for four years from 2027 to 2030 First depository holds 14.45 trillion won, second holds 2.02 trillion won Incheon has selected the banks that will manage approximately 16 trillion won ($11.7 billion) in city funds over the next four years. Shinhan Bank was chosen as the first depository and Nonghyup Bank as the second. The city made the decision Thursday after the Incheon City Depository Designation Review Committee conducted a comprehensive evaluation of financial institutions' proposals and presentations. Under the selection, Shinhan Bank and Nonghyup Bank will handle Incheon's depository operations for four years, from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2030. The first depository competition drew particular attention as a head-to-head contest between Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank. Shinhan Bank, which has operated the first depository for 20 years, sought to defend its position, while Hana Bank mounted a challenge to claim the role. Shinhan Bank ultimately prevailed. The first depository manages Incheon's general accounts, public enterprise special accounts and funds. Based on the 2026 base budget, assets under management total 14.45 trillion won. Nonghyup Bank will take charge of the second depository, which manages other special accounts amounting to 2.02 trillion won in city funds. Nonghyup Bank had been the only applicant for the second depository from the outset, prompting the city to issue a re-announcement, but no additional financial institutions came forward. Nonghyup Bank was formally selected following an evaluation by the review committee in accordance with relevant regulations. The review was conducted through the Depository Designation Review Committee, which included outside experts. The 11-member panel comprised university professors, lawyers, certified public accountants, tax accountants and city council members. The evaluation criteria went beyond the size of financial institutions or existing business relationships. In accordance with Ministry of Interior and Safety guidelines and Incheon city ordinances on depositories, the committee assessed 20 detailed items across six categories: the creditworthiness and financial stability of each institution, loan and deposit interest rates offered to the city, convenience for residents, depository management capability, contributions to the local community and cooperation projects with the city, and other considerations. The evaluation also covered the convenience of financial services that residents can directly experience, as well as each institution's IT systems and management capacity to carry out depository operations reliably. Incheon plans to announce the selection results in the city gazette and on its official website and notify the chosen institutions. The city also plans to sign agreements with the next depositories in October. "We selected the financial institutions for the next depository designation through an objective and fair process in accordance with relevant regulations," a city official said. "We will ensure that residents can pay taxes and other fees more conveniently, and that city funds are managed in a stable manner."

Sept. 17, 2026

Gangnam-gu Assembly Speaker Lee Jae-jin Cheers On Inclusive Sports Day for People With Disabilities

The Gangnam-gu Council attended the Gangnam-gu Hanmaeum Sports Day for People with Disabilities on Thursday morning at Segok Sports Park, joining participants with and without disabilities in a day of athletic activities and community fellowship. Organized by the Gangnam-gu Disabled Sports Association, the event was designed to expand opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in recreational sports and to foster a sports culture where disabled and non-disabled residents can interact naturally. Assembly Speaker Lee Jae-jin, Economic and Urban Affairs Committee Chair Song Yeong-gwang, and council members Kim Jin-gyeong, Park Dae-yong and No Mi-jin attended, joining participants in a range of sports and hands-on activities to celebrate the spirit of inclusion in disability sports. About 500 people took part, including people with disabilities, personal care assistants, local residents, National Assembly member Seo Myeong-ok and Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyeon-gi, along with other guests. The event opened with a nanta percussion performance, followed by commendations for outstanding contributions to disability sports, a fun sports competition featuring five events, and a color-board-flipping recreation activity. Experience booths were also set up where participants could try national energy exercise (gukhaggigong), hankung and shulen, giving attendees a chance to explore a variety of lifestyle sports. The fun sports competition was a particular highlight, featuring five events: lifting the globe, shoe archery, a ball-pit ball festival, tire rolling and ad-balloon volleyball — all designed for participants to enjoy together, deepen mutual understanding and come together in a meaningful way. "The sweat and effort you athletes have poured in have proven to all of us that we can do it, and you have moved us deeply," Assembly Speaker Lee Jae-jin said. "I hope that today becomes a festival day where the field is filled with everyone's passionate energy, win or lose." He added that the Gangnam-gu Council would spare no effort in expanding sports infrastructure and providing tailored support so that athletes with disabilities can safely and comfortably enjoy sports and pursue their dreams.

Sept. 17, 2026

KCTU joins 'mega special zone' labor talks; clash over 52-hour exemptions expected

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has agreed to join a one-point social dialogue on labor exemptions under the proposed mega special zone act. The move follows the government's decision to offer the one-point format in recognition of the KCTU's longstanding refusal to participate in the Economic, Social and Labor Council. With the KCTU now at the table, a sharp confrontation with the government is expected over issues including exemptions to the 52-hour workweek cap and a proposed extension of fixed-term contracts. The KCTU held a central executive committee meeting Thursday and voted to join the one-point social dialogue on the mega special zone act, according to Yonhap. The government, which has been pushing for labor exemptions to boost the zones' competitiveness, now faces fierce opposition from the KCTU, which has resisted any loosening of labor protections. Key issues expected to come before the talks include a "white-collar exemption" that would lift the 52-hour weekly work limit for high-earning managers and research and development workers while eliminating overtime, night-shift and holiday pay, as well as a "2+2" fixed-term contract proposal that would allow the current two-year limit on contract workers to be extended by an additional two years with the worker's consent. The KCTU said it had long called for a "zero-base" discussion that did not presuppose any labor exemptions. "To prevent the expansion of labor exemptions and the rollback of labor rights, it is necessary to join the dialogue and directly express our opposition," the union said. KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo said the union should enter the social dialogue and push to block the 52-hour exemption and the white-collar exemption, while advocating for a four-and-a-half-day workweek. "The government is trying to expand the dispatch and fixed-term contract laws, but we should argue for restricting the use of non-regular workers in the mega special zones," Yang said. "Companies are being handed enormous tax benefits, and there is an urgent need to demand measures that return the resulting profits to society." With both the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the KCTU now committed to the dialogue, the government — which aims to pass the mega special zone act into law by year's end — plans to convene the first session as soon as possible. However, whether the talks will produce any concrete results remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the KCTU also discussed whether to return to the Economic, Social and Labor Council at Thursday's meeting but reached no conclusion.

Sept. 17, 2026

Man who raised daughter alone after wife's death saves 6 lives through organ donation

A man in his 40s who raised his daughter alone after losing his wife gave six people a second chance at life through brain-death organ donation before he died. Park Jong-hee, 43, donated his heart, liver, both kidneys and both corneas at Chosun University Hospital on Sept. 4, the Korea Organ and Tissue Agency said Thursday. Park spoke with his mother by phone on the evening of Aug. 23, a routine call like any other. The following morning, she could not reach him, and he was found collapsed at his home and rushed to hospital. He underwent surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage but eventually fell into brain death. His heart, liver, kidneys and corneas went to six recipients. According to his family, Park had long viewed organ donation positively. About a decade ago, when his mother expressed her wish to donate her body after death, Park supported the idea, saying it was a good deed that helped many people. The family consented to the donation in recognition of his lifelong belief in the value of sharing. An only child, Park was described as mature and responsible from an early age, never once causing his mother worry. He would wait up for her on late nights, prepare his own meals and help with household chores. After more than 20 years working in sales following graduation, he raised his only daughter on his own after his wife died. Park would approach elderly people in need without hesitation and treated colleagues and customers at work like family. Those who knew him said he would repay a single act of kindness three or four times over. His mother, No Pan-im, said that while she held her son's phone during his hospitalization, calls poured in from worried acquaintances. Many friends and coworkers also came to pay their respects at the funeral. "Seeing all of that, I thought, 'He lived a short life, but he lived it well,' and that was a great comfort to me," she said. In a final message to her son, she said: "Jong-hee, I am heartbroken that you left so soon, but thinking that you did something good before you went makes your mother happy. Don't worry about me — I hope you keep doing good things wherever you are, just as you did here." No also had words for those who received her son's organs. "I hope you live long and healthy lives — including the years my son never got to live," she said. Lee Sam-yeol, head of the Korea Organ and Tissue Agency, said: "A son who once supported his mother's wish to donate has now fulfilled that wish himself. We pay our deepest respects to the family for making such a courageous decision in the midst of grief, and we hope that this meaningful act of giving, during Life Sharing Week, will resonate with many more people."

Sept. 17, 2026

Woman drove drunk, unlicensed and wrong-way, hitting teen — then denied being at the wheel

A woman in her 30s has been sent to prosecutors after driving drunk and without a license the wrong way down a road, striking a high school girl and leaving her seriously injured. The woman not only failed to help the victim after the crash but also tried to pin the blame on her passenger by claiming she had not been driving — a lie that CCTV footage quickly exposed. Gyeonggi Gwangju Police Station recently forwarded the woman, identified only as A, to prosecutors on charges including aggravated injury through dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, according to JTBC's "Sageon Banjang" on Wednesday. Her male passenger, identified as B, was referred to prosecutors without detention on charges of aiding drunk driving. The incident occurred around 2:12 a.m. on Aug. 4, when A was driving drunk on a road in Ssangnyeong-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and struck a pedestrian fence before hitting a passerby. The victim, a first-year high school girl, was on her way home after studying when the crash happened. CCTV footage from the scene captured the student's body being thrown into the air by the impact. After getting out of the car, A ran her hand through her hair, glanced at the injured girl and pointed at her, but did nothing to help. She then got back in the vehicle and moved it to a spot beside a nearby building, while B was seen removing car parts that had broken off in the crash — a cigarette in his mouth as he did so. Police arrived after a passerby called for help, but both A and B pointed at each other as the driver. A was particularly vocal, shouting, "I wasn't the one driving." Police reviewed the CCTV footage and confirmed that A had been behind the wheel. Both occupants had been drinking at the time of the crash, and A's blood alcohol level was high enough to warrant license suspension, police said. A also had no driver's license and no auto insurance. The road where the crash occurred is a one-way street, and A had been driving against traffic when she struck the student. The victim was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral edema, and regained consciousness only two days after the crash. She underwent surgery for facial bone fractures and other injuries, with surgical costs alone exceeding 10 million won ($7,310). She has also been receiving psychological counseling after developing symptoms of depression following the accident. A made no contact with the victim's family after the crash, but later sought a meeting once she learned that CCTV footage of the incident existed. "The perpetrator only asked to meet after finding out there was CCTV footage," the victim's family said, urging that A be severely punished.

Sept. 17, 2026

KCTU agrees to join social dialogue on mega special zones for first time in 6 years

Union demands labor exemptions be discussed from scratch; seeks to block 52-hour exceptions KCTU sets three conditions for joining Economic, Social and Labor Council Yang Kyung-soo to convene delegate assembly in early October for final decision The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has agreed to participate in a government-proposed "single-issue social dialogue" on the special law governing mega special economic zones — the first time the KCTU has joined a government-initiated social dialogue in six years, since a labor-management-government representatives' meeting convened in 2020 to address the COVID-19 crisis. The decision does not, however, mean an immediate return to the Economic, Social and Labor Council, known as the Gyeongsa-nowi. The KCTU said it will join the council only if three core conditions are met: consensus-based decision-making, guaranteed participation by industry-level unions, and a change to the council's name. The KCTU announced Thursday that its central executive committee had met and decided to take part in the social dialogue on the mega special zone legislation. The union has consistently demanded that labor exemption provisions be stripped from the special zone bill and that any discussions start from scratch without presupposing the introduction of such exemptions. The government's proposed agenda is reported to include exempting high-income semiconductor research and development workers from the 52-hour workweek cap and extending the permitted employment period for fixed-term workers. The KCTU said it concluded it needed to join the talks and voice its opposition directly in order to block deregulation of working hours and rules governing non-regular employment. "The KCTU needs to make its opposition clearly known in order to stop labor exemptions and any rollback of labor rights," KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo said. "We will enter the social dialogue to block the 52-hour exemption and the push for a white-collar exemption, and we will push for the introduction of a four-and-a-half-day workweek." The KCTU also plans to propose restricting the use of non-regular workers within mega special zones, countering the government's push to expand the scope of dispatched and fixed-term employment. The union said it will also call for profits and operating profit generated through corporate tax benefits to be returned to society. The KCTU reaffirmed Thursday its broader push to pursue social bargaining, including eventual participation in the Economic, Social and Labor Council. The plan calls for consultations based on the three conditions — consensus-based operations, guaranteed industry-union participation, and a name change — with formal legal and institutional procedures to follow once an agreement is reached. Earlier, at a central executive committee meeting on July 23, the KCTU had decided to maintain its boycott of the council in its current form, judging that participation would be ineffective. It called instead for the council to be restructured — with a new name, a revised voting framework, and a deliberative, consensus-based operating model that allows industry-level unions to participate directly in labor-management-government discussions. The final decision on joining the council will be made at a KCTU delegate assembly. After disagreements over the relevant procedures emerged at Thursday's central executive committee meeting, Chairman Yang said he would use his authority as chairman to convene a delegate assembly between Oct. 6 and Oct. 8.

Sept. 17, 2026

KCTU joins mega special zone social dialogue for first time since COVID-19

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has agreed to participate in social dialogue on the mega special zone, marking its first such engagement in six years since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sept. 17, 2026

Broker in new-drug lobbying case admits contacting Kim Seung-won but denies wrongdoing

A broker surnamed Yang, who faces allegations of lobbying then-lawmaker Kim Seung-won to expedite approval of a COVID-19 drug's clinical trial, acknowledged contacting Kim but denied any wrongdoing. Yang issued a statement through his attorney Thursday, saying he "takes seriously" the burden his behavior placed on Kim and others. "I accept that my careless words and actions — which may have appeared to flaunt my ties to politicians — caused concern and inconvenience to nominee Kim and others," the statement said. Yang is accused of asking Kim, at the time a National Assembly member, to press the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for swift processing of a clinical trial application for a COVID-19 treatment developed by Genencell. He was subsequently indicted on charges of promising to provide Kim with a 5 million won ($3,650) political donation — an act prosecutors characterized as a bribe offer. On the substance of the lobbying allegations, Yang's side said he never asked anyone to conceal specific data or figures. "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety subsequently requested supplementary materials on 14 items and convened an expert advisory panel, reviewing conditional approval through its established procedures," the statement said. Yang said he had acted out of concern that a treatment developed over many years by Genencell's representative, identified only by the surname Kang, might not receive timely review due to administrative delays — or that the related technology could be transferred abroad. "At the time, securing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments was an urgent global priority," the statement said. "I asked nominee Kim to pay attention to the matter so that the review of the treatment could proceed promptly." On the bribery charge, Yang drew a line, saying there had been "no prior agreement or definitive promise" to hand over the 5 million won political donation. Yang also rebuffed allegations that Genencell had acquired convertible bonds issued by a company he operated in exchange for his introduction to Kim. His statement said Kang had sold all of his Genencell shares to Sejong Medical roughly one month before the convertible bond acquisition agreement was signed. "At the time the contract was concluded, Kang was not in a position to control Genencell's decision-making or to direct the acquisition of the convertible bonds," it said. Yang additionally denied ever operating an adult entertainment establishment. His side released the business registration certificate for a venue he previously ran called "Yagi," saying it was registered as a general restaurant serving Western-style food. "Describing it as a room salon does not accord with the objective documentary record," the statement said.

Sept. 17, 2026

'Police lack basic legal knowledge,' critics say at first police reform public forum

First police reform public forum held Thursday Sharp criticism of the police poured out Thursday at the first public forum on police reform, held at the Korean National Police Agency headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The forum was organized as part of an internal overhaul effort following a string of recently exposed cases of shoddy police investigations. Speakers were quick to call out a lack of professional expertise within the force. Jeon Ji-hye, a member of the grievance committee of the Korean Women Lawyers Association, said investigation is now a core police function, not a secondary one. "As a lawyer, I often feel that police investigators lack basic legal knowledge — including criminal procedure law — and a grounding in civil law," she said. She added that she hoped police investigators would develop at least enough legal knowledge and capability to review the legal principles of the cases they handle on their own. Jeon also said the practice of soliciting favors from police in connection with cases quietly persists. "There are still stories going around that, at certain police stations, you need to give someone money or treat them to a round of golf to get a case handled smoothly," she said. "Please give the public firm confidence that the police, at least, have rooted out hospitality culture and preferential treatment of former officials." Acting Commissioner General Kim Jong-cheol of the Korean National Police Agency responded by acknowledging the criticism. "Investigation is the most fundamental of all police duties," he said. "Despite efforts to strengthen investigative capacity both before and after the redistribution of investigative authority between prosecutors and police, doubts about that capacity still linger — and as a member of the police leadership, I am deeply sorry to the public for that." He added that the agency was aware of its shortcomings despite years of effort. "We will work tirelessly to earn the public's trust that any investigator, anywhere in the country, will conduct investigations responsibly and fairly," he said. The forum also heard concerns from victims about investigative gaps created by the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority. Participants called for a separate channel through which victims could directly challenge police decisions not to refer cases to prosecutors. Jin Yang-hee, co-chair of the National Council of Family Violence Counseling Centers, said victims of relationship-based crimes she encounters in the field strongly feel that their avenues for redress have effectively closed since prosecutors lost their supplementary investigative authority. "Above all, police investigations must be conducted properly, which means investigators need thorough training on the relevant laws and systems," she said. Jo Jin-gyeong, head of the Teen Girls' Human Rights Center, said that even when objections are filed after a case is closed without charges, they rarely lead to active follow-up investigations, making it hard to see any practical value in the system. "It would be helpful to have a channel where victims can raise concerns directly with the police about a decision not to refer a case — without having to go through prosecutors," she said. Acting Commissioner General Kim said listening to the public first was the essential first step toward reform. "Hearing from citizens — the sovereigns of this country — about the moments when trust in the police broke down is the first step in reform," he said. "I believe we must listen most seriously to the voices of those who feel fear and hardship in the face of crime."

Sept. 17, 2026

Prosecutors seek 10-year prison term for man who broke into actor Nana's home

Prosecutors have asked a court to sentence a man in his 30s to 10 years in prison for breaking into the home of actor Nana, whose real name is Im Jin-ah. They particularly urged a heavy punishment, saying the suspect has continued to inflict secondary harm on the victim by exploiting her status as a celebrity. At the appeal hearing for the robbery and injury case against the suspect, identified only by his surname Kim, held Friday before Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 14-3 — presided over by judges Jeong Gyeong-geun, Lee Hyeong-geun and Lee Hyeon-u — prosecutors made the request, according to Yonhap. Prosecutors had sought the same 10-year sentence at the first trial, but the court handed down a lighter sentence of seven years. "Far from showing remorse for his wrongdoing, he has filed a criminal complaint against the victim and continues to make false claims," prosecutors said. "He is perpetuating secondary harm against the victim by exploiting the fact that she is a well-known celebrity." They added that the original sentence was too lenient given the gravity of the offense and Kim's extensive prior criminal record. Kim's defense attorney, however, said his client "deeply regrets the psychological harm caused to the victims," while arguing that Kim "did not break into the home with the intention of committing robbery from the outset." The attorney went on to say: "I know it is selfish for a defendant who has committed a crime to ask for leniency, but I earnestly plead for it." The appeal verdict is scheduled for Oct. 22. Kim was indicted on charges of breaking into Nana's home in Acheon-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi Province, in the early hours of Nov. 15 last year, armed with a weapon. He allegedly threatened Nana and her mother by choking them and demanded money, but did not succeed. The first-instance court said Kim "committed the crime by breaking into the victims' home armed with a weapon at night, a time when absolute peace must be preserved," adding that "punishment commensurate with the gravity and seriousness of the offense is unavoidable."

Sept. 17, 2026

Court upholds salary cut against Hyun Joo-yeop over unauthorized absences, overturns some school penalties

A Seoul court has upheld the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's finding that Hyun Joo-yeop, a former professional basketball player turned broadcaster, left his post without authorization while serving as head coach of the Whimoon High School basketball team. The Seoul Administrative Court's Second Administrative Division, presided over by Chief Judge Gong Hyeon-jin, ruled Thursday partly in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by Whimoon Uisuk — the foundation that operates Whimoon High School — against the Seoul superintendent of education, seeking to overturn audit-based disciplinary demands. The case was triggered in early 2024 when a parent at Whimoon High School filed a petition alleging that Hyun had neglected his coaching duties to pursue broadcasting activities, including mukbang filming. The education office launched an audit of the school and, in July of that year, notified it of disciplinary demands — including a salary reduction for Hyun, suspension for the principal, and reprimands for the vice principal, teachers and the administrative director. Beyond Hyun's unauthorized absences, the education office had also cited improper payment of coaching staff wages by the school and its officials, inadequate management of student athletes, and mishandling of contract procedures. The court found that the grounds for disciplining Hyun were valid. It determined that Hyun had left his post without prior authorization on 18 occasions for broadcasting shoots — instances when he should have used tardiness, early-leave, outing or annual-leave procedures — thereby neglecting his core duties as a sports team coach. The court also found that Whimoon High School had violated relevant law by hiring replacement staff to cover Hyun's coaching role during his broadcasting activities from November 2023 to February 2024 without proper recruitment procedures or compensation. The school had also been negligent in conducting athlete human-rights education and maintaining training logs. However, the court ruled that imposing administrative and financial sanctions on the school on those same grounds violated the principle of proportionality. The education office had previously notified the school's athletics program of a one-year ban on transferring in student athletes with sports talent designations, a restriction on training camps lasting more than 10 days, and exclusion from winter and summer special training subsidies for one year. The court cited the significant damage a one-year transfer ban would inflict on the team's competitiveness — and on current student athletes — as well as the difficulty of achieving meaningful training results under the restricted camp schedule. "Imposing all at once a set of measures that could seriously disrupt the operation of the athletics program places a burden on the private interests of the school, students and parents that outweighs the public benefit gained," the court said. The court also overturned disciplinary demands against two school officials stemming from allegations of improper handling of a sculpture installation contract and a cafeteria supply contract, finding that the grounds for those charges did not hold up.

Sept. 17, 2026

Prosecutors' Future Committee fact-finding team to extend mandate by 30 days

Probe targets expanded from 7 to 19 cases last month; written inquiries sent on statistics manipulation, West Sea shooting The fact-finding team under the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutors' Human Rights and Future Committee has decided to extend its mandate by 30 days. The extension was deemed unavoidable given that the team's caseload has grown to 19 — up from the original seven after 12 cases were added last month — and that formal inquiries have already been sent out. The fact-finding team submitted a request for an extension to the Ministry of Justice through the Supreme Prosecutors' Office earlier this week, according to reporting compiled Thursday. The committee held a meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday to discuss the extension. Under the relevant guidelines, the team is required to complete its investigation and submit a findings report within 90 days of its establishment. However, if it is unable to finish the investigation or prepare the report in time, it may report the reasons to the justice minister through the prosecutor general and seek extensions in 30-day increments. Earlier, then-Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho ordered the creation of the committee in April to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuse of authority during prosecutorial investigations. The committee was set up to verify the facts of cases involving such violations and recommend follow-up measures to the minister. The committee, chaired by attorney Jang Ju-young, a former head of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, selected seven cases as its initial targets: the SBW inter-Korean remittance case, the Daejang-dong case, the case involving former Democratic Research Institute Vice Chairman Kim Yong, the Wirye new town case, the West Sea civil servant shooting case, the statistics manipulation case, and the case involving allegations of false reporting defaming Yoon Suk Yeol. The fact-finding team was assembled at the committee's request the same month and began operations. It initially set up at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office before moving to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and is now based at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. The team twice asked the Supreme Court for access to trial records in the Kim case but was denied both times. It is currently working with copies held by prosecutors. The Ministry of Justice held a public application process in June and July to identify additional cases for investigation, and the committee subsequently selected 12 more. The 12 additional cases include allegations of separate-charge and targeted prosecution of a former Daegu deputy mayor along with suspected witness coaching, allegations related to Gyeonggi Province corporate card use, the Kim Hak-eui travel ban case, a case involving unpaid wages at Daeyoo Winia Group, the alleged politically directed investigation into interference in the Ulsan mayoral election during the Moon Jae-in administration, and allegations related to the Baekhyeon-dong development. Also selected were the case involving allegations related to Seongnam FC, a case concerning an allegedly unlawful search and seizure at the office of an attorney who is a former senior prosecutor, a case in which the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office allegedly fabricated bribery charges related to the salary of former President Moon Jae-in's son-in-law, allegations of politically directed investigations orchestrated from Cheong Wa Dae, allegations of concealment during the investigation into Coupang Inc.'s failure to pay severance, and a case related to alleged subornation of perjury in the trial of former Vice Chairman Kim. The fact-finding team recently sent written inquiries to the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office team that investigated the statistics manipulation case and to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office team that handled the West Sea shooting case, marking a shift from document review to active investigation. The team is expected to move into the investigation phase for the remaining cases once it finishes reviewing their records. Legal circles have raised questions about whether the process is laying the groundwork for withdrawing indictments, noting that eight of the 19 cases are directly or indirectly linked to President Lee Jae Myung. Some observers suggest that if the committee finds fault with the investigations or prosecutions related to Lee, the findings could lead to the launch of a special prosecution team or even the withdrawal of charges.

Sept. 17, 2026

Special forces soldier in his 20s dies during martial arts promotion test; family donates organs

A special forces non-commissioned officer in his 20s collapsed during a sparring session at a martial arts promotion test and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. According to military authorities, Staff Sergeant A collapsed around 10:50 a.m. Thursday at a gymnasium belonging to a Special Forces unit in Incheon while undergoing a "teukgong" martial arts belt promotion test. He was transported unconscious to a nearby hospital, where he received treatment but died that day. Military authorities and police are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident after the soldier appeared to show signs of distress during the sparring match. The soldier's family has informed the hospital of their decision to donate his organs. "The family, even in their grief, decided to donate his organs so that their son's death could be remembered in a more meaningful way," a military official said.

Sept. 17, 2026

PPP floor leader urges caution on Hiroshima trip controversy, citing ongoing investigation

Lee Jong-seok, the People Power Party floor leader at the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Assembly, called for restraint Thursday after the Democratic Party raised political allegations over a trip in which 200 Gangwon FC supporters traveled to Japan roughly seven months before local elections during former Governor Kim Jin-tae's tenure. Lee said the assembly should be careful not to turn a matter already under investigation into a political dispute. In a statement released that day, Lee said it is the assembly's natural duty to examine whether public funds were spent properly and whether administrative procedures were followed. "If there were administrative errors, they must be corrected, and those responsible must be held accountable," he said. "However, this matter is currently under investigation following a complaint filed by a civic group. The enforcement decree of the Local Autonomy Act makes clear that administrative audits or investigations must not be conducted with the aim of interfering in an ongoing trial or criminal investigation. Our assembly must also be careful not to prejudge the facts and legal responsibilities that investigators must determine, or to escalate the matter into a political dispute that could influence the direction of the investigation." Lee also noted that Gangwon Governor Woo Sang-ho has been reported to prosecutors by civic groups on charges of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act, in connection with announcements he made during the last local elections regarding the recruitment of a Gangneung AI data center. "The assembly must not prejudge whether the governor's remarks constitute the publication of false information, nor reach a conclusion based on political convenience," he said. "Whether it is the Gangwon FC case or the Gangneung AI data center case, the same principles and the same standards must apply to all matters currently under investigation." Lee added that Gangwon FC belongs to no party and no politician. "It is a club that has grown through the taxes and support of all Gangwon residents," he said. "If there were administrative wrongdoing, the assembly must of course correct it. But we must not drag the sweat the players shed on the field, or the pure passion of the fans, into political controversy."

Sept. 17, 2026

Seoul city government hits back at minister nominee's threat to seek damages over missing rebar

"Unilaterally treating Seoul's liability as a foregone conclusion is highly inappropriate" "Safety confirmed through inspections by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea National Railway" The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday strongly criticized remarks by Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, who said she would seek damages from the city over losses stemming from missing rebar at GTX-A Samsung Station. City spokesperson Lee Min-kyung issued a statement calling it "highly inappropriate" to unilaterally treat Seoul's liability as a foregone conclusion and announce plans to seek damages before any objective verification of the cause and responsibility for the losses had been completed. "We express deep regret," Lee said. According to Lee, GTX-A Samsung Station had originally been scheduled to begin non-stop train passage in August this year. After the missing rebar was discovered in November 2025, the city conducted its own safety inspection and in December of that year drew up a reinforcement plan. In March 2026, the city prepared a detailed construction plan and shared the specific reinforcement measures and future schedule with Korea National Railway on April 24 and with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on April 29. "Above all, the assessment of structural safety was not Seoul's alone," Lee said. "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea National Railway also confirmed safety through their own direct inspections." The ministry conducted an emergency nighttime inspection on April 29, while Korea National Railway carried out an emergency safety inspection by outside experts from May 6 to May 8, both confirming no structural safety problems. Facility verification tests that had been temporarily suspended were subsequently resumed, with a total of 94 trial train runs completed through May 19. A vibration measurement conducted May 5 at the request of the Korea Infrastructure Safety Corporation recorded a maximum vibration velocity of 0.069 centimeters per second. A separate measurement carried out July 15 and 16 by the Korea Concrete Institute — commissioned by the ministry and Korea National Railway using a test train — recorded 0.049 centimeters per second. "Both measurements came in at roughly one-quarter or less of the 0.3-centimeter-per-second standard for railway facilities, repeatedly confirming that the impact of train passage on the structure is negligible," Lee said. "If the structure had been in a genuinely dangerous state, would the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have been able to resume trial runs on its own?" she said. Lee argued that the ministry had delayed the start of reinforcement work even after safety had been confirmed through inspections by relevant agencies — during what she described as a politically sensitive period ahead of an election — and had extended the original inspection period, which was set to end July 20, by four months to Nov. 20. "As a result, the reinforcement work that could have been completed in July and the Samsung Station non-stop passage originally scheduled for August were both delayed," she said. Lee said it was "utterly brazen" for the ministry and Korea National Railway to confirm structural safety themselves, resume trial runs, and then delay related procedures for an extended period under the pretext of additional verification, only to demand that Seoul's taxpayers foot the resulting costs. "If a claim for damages is actually filed, Seoul will clearly distinguish between responsibility for the missing rebar and responsibility for the additional inspections and schedule delays," she said. "We will respond firmly to any attempt to shift onto Seoul taxpayers the additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's own decisions."

Sept. 17, 2026