18-month prison term sought for Seoul mayor in appellate political funds trial

The Korea Times - Oct 2, 2026

A special counsel team on Friday sought an 18-month prison term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a political funds case over opinion polls conducted in the lead-up to the 2021 mayoral by-election. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team made the request at the Seoul High Court after a lower court fined Oh 10 million won ($7,400) for violating the Political Funds Act, putting him at risk of losing his mayoral post. Under the law, elected officials are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for accepting illegal political funds. Oh was indicted on charges of having a supporter pay 33 million won for opinion poll results he received on 10 occasions from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the by-election in April 2021. The lower court partially recognized the charges, ruling that Oh had asked Myung for opinion polls on five occasions and his supporter paid a total of 21 million won. "Defendant Oh Se-hoon is a prominent politician who, more than anyone else, is in a position to follow the Political Funds Act," Min's team said,

Read full article

More News

Jim Carrey reportedly weds girlfriend believed to be of Korean descent

Jim Carrey reportedly weds girlfriend believed to be of Korean descent

Hollywood star Jim Carrey has reportedly tied the knot for a third time, marrying his partner Min Ah, who is 32 years his junior, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. Multiple U.S. entertainment outlets, including TMZ and People, reported Wednesday that Carrey recently held a small, private wedding ceremony in Los Angeles. Min Ah has been described as being of Korean descent, although her Korean heritage has not been officially confirmed. The couple reportedly began dating in 2022 but kept their relationship largely out of the public eye. They made their first official public appearance together in February at the César Awards in Paris, France. Carrey received an honorary award at the ceremony and publicly acknowledged Min Ah during his acceptance speech, describing her as his "sublime companion" and saying that he loved her. The marriage marks another chapter in the personal life of the 64-year-old actor, one of Hollywood's most recognizable comedy stars. Born in 1962, Carrey married Melissa Womer, an actress and former waitress, in 1987. The couple had a daughter, Jane Carrey, before d

BTS named 'honorary guests' of Bogota ahead of Latin America tour kickoff

BTS named 'honorary guests' of Bogota ahead of Latin America tour kickoff

Global K-pop phenomenon BTS has been designated "honorary guests" of Bogota, an official honor recognizing the group's contribution to culture and youth influence, ahead of the start of its Latin American tour, the group's label said Friday. BigHit Music said the title was conferred by the mayor of Bogota, the capital of Colombia, on the septet for helping raise the international profile of Korean music and culture since its 2013 debut and influencing younger generations. The honor is given to prominent visitors who have contributed to citizens' welfare or urban development in various fields, such as politics, public service, the arts, sports, science and education. BTS is set to kick off the Latin American section of its ongoing "Arirang" world tour with two shows at the Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin, commonly known as El Campin, in Bogota on Friday and Saturday (Colombian time). City officials said they expect the concerts, which mark the group's first full-group performance in the country, to provide a significant economic boost. The Bogota tourism organization estimated that spen

Defense chief highlights S. Korea-US alliance, readiness on 1st visit to USFK base

Defense chief highlights S. Korea-US alliance, readiness on 1st visit to USFK base

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul underscored the South Korea-U.S. alliance and their firm combined readiness during his first visit to the main U.S. military base south of Seoul on Friday, his office said. The trip marked Kang's first visit in his new capacity to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, since taking office last month. Kang, a retired Army general and former deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), met with U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson and discussed "key pending issues," the defense ministry said, without providing further details. "Minister Kang reaffirmed the solid combined defense posture and close coordination between South Korea and the United States," the ministry said in a release. "He highlighted the importance of the resolve to 'fight together,' citing lessons from the history of war, and called for an airtight defense posture amid a grave security landscape on the Korean Peninsula," it said. Discussions may well have included last week's land mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ

President Lee, first lady meet citizens at traditional market

President Lee, first lady meet citizens at traditional market

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung visited a traditional market in Seoul on Friday and met with citizens in the president's latest public outreach, a presidential spokesperson said. The presidential couple toured Yeongcheon Traditional Market in Seoul following their attendance at a ceremony marking the Day of Older Persons, and heard from merchants and citizens, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press release. During the visit, Lee and Kim also talked to merchants and purchased food from them before having lunch at a restaurant in the outdoor market, where they chatted with other customers, Kang said. The market visit marks the latest in a series of Lee's public outreach activities, with the president often visiting markets across the country to speak with people.

Parliamentary committee passes resolution calling for expulsion of opposition lawmaker

Parliamentary committee passes resolution calling for expulsion of opposition lawmaker

A parliamentary committee on Friday passed a resolution led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to demand the expulsion of Rep. Kim Tae-kyu over his remarks denying that former President Chun Doo-hwan had committed an "insurrection." Kim of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) came under fire after he appeared in a YouTube interview the previous day and said he did not consider either Chun or former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law in December 2024, to have committed insurrection. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996, later reduced to life imprisonment, on charges that included insurrection for his roles in a 1979 coup and the military's violent suppression of the Gwangju democratization movement in May 1980. In a vote at the National Assembly's House Steering Committee, the resolution passed 16-0, with PPP lawmakers refusing to take part in the vote. "Defending those who committed insurrection and undermined the constitutional order amounts to giving up one's qualification as a lawmaker," DPK floor leader Han Byung-do said, referring to Kim. Shortly befo

Seoul pushes for dialogue with NK, but gov't speaks in different tones

Seoul pushes for dialogue with NK, but gov't speaks in different tones

President Lee Jae Myung’s renewed call for dialogue with North Korea following a recent land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is highlighting differences in tone within his administration over how to respond to Pyongyang. While the government remains committed to restoring inter-Korean dialogue, Cheong Wa Dae, the unification ministry and the military have differed in how they have addressed North Korea’s responsibility for the incident and how Seoul should respond. Lee referred to the Sept. 21 explosion, which injured three South Korean soldiers, as an “unfortunate accident,” during his Armed Forces Day speech Thursday. Rather than directly blaming North Korea, he called on Pyongyang to “restore trust and resume the dialogue that has been severed.” “Firm security means creating peace in which there is no need to fight,” Lee said, pledging to continue “practical steps” to reduce military tensions. Cheong Wa Dae sought Friday to dispel criticism that Lee’s wording was intended to play down North Korea’s responsibility. “The expression ‘unfortunate

Could sharing ketchup over french fries be an 'indirect kiss?'

Could sharing ketchup over french fries be an 'indirect kiss?'

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Sharing french fries with a friend can sometimes lead to a familiar moment: You take a bite, then plunge the same fry back into the communal ketchup. It may seem harmless, particularly among close friends. Children and teenagers sometimes jokingly call sharing food this way an "indirect kiss." As it turns out, the joke may have a little science behind it. Bacteria from the mouth can indeed make their way into a shared sauce when someone takes a bite and dips the food again, a practice known as "double dipping." But how many double dips would it take to transfer roughly as many bacteria as a 10-second kiss? The answer, based on a playful comparison of findings from separate studies, is around 800,000. Double dipping can transfer oral bacteria Researchers at Clemson University in the United States examined how much bacteria could be transferred when a person bites into food and then dips it back into a shared sauce. Their findings were published in the Journal of Food Safety. The experiment confirmed that bacteria from the mouth can enter the sauce

Busan moves to secure trademark rights for viral waterfront shark

Busan moves to secure trademark rights for viral waterfront shark

When a shark estimated at around two meters in length — believed to be a bronze whaler or dusky shark — drifted unannounced into the harbor off Busan’s North Port, it transformed almost overnight from a surprise guest into a viral mascot for Korea’s second-largest city. Now, municipal officials are stepping in to ensure that the unlikely local celebrity remains a public asset rather than a corporate cash cow. The city government said Friday that it will file trademark applications this month for "Bukangi," the affectionate moniker bestowed upon the shark currently frequenting the North Port Waterfront Park. The decision comes after officials discovered five unauthorized trademark applications filed by a private individual on Sept. 21. The private claims seek exclusive commercial rights over the name in both Korean and English, alongside design graphics covering roughly 40 product categories, including keychains, plush toys and apparel. While trademark filings do not grant automatic rights under Korean law, city administrators warned that a private registration could severely res

Korean American singer wins appeal in 3rd lawsuit over visa denial

Korean American singer wins appeal in 3rd lawsuit over visa denial

A court of appeals on Friday upheld a lower court's ruling in favor of Steve Yoo, a Korean American singer, in his third lawsuit seeking to overturn the Korean government's decision to deny him an entry visa after he renounced his Korean citizenship, allegedly to evade mandatory military service. The Seoul High Court ruled that the decision by the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles to deny Yoo an entry visa must be revoked, upholding a ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court in August last year. The high court did not provide a specific explanation for its ruling. The case is an appeal of Yoo's third lawsuit against the LA consulate general after it denied his visa application. Yoo, 48, also known by his Korean name Yoo Seung-jun, has been barred from entering Korea after he became a U.S. citizen and renounced his Korean citizenship in 2002, with the alleged goal of dodging his military duty. Yoo first filed a lawsuit in 2015 after the LA consulate general refused to issue him a visa. In 2020, Yoo won a Supreme Court ruling that the visa refusal was procedurally flawed. After the to

'The Assassin(s)' actors to skip BIFF events amid controversy over historical inaccuracies

'The Assassin(s)' actors to skip BIFF events amid controversy over historical inaccuracies

Actors who starred in "The Assassin(s)" will not attend events at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the film's distributor said Friday, amid allegations over historical distortion in the Korean film. The decision comes after some critics raised concerns that the historical film, which deals with the 1974 assassination attempt on then Korean President Park Chung-hee, resulting in the death of the first lady, implies that Park or intelligence authorities were possibly behind the case. "After careful consideration, and taking into account the safety of audiences and attendees, we have decided not to participate in the BIFF's opening ceremony or the Outdoor Stage Greeting scheduled for Oct. 7," Hive Media Corp. said in an English-language statement posted on its social media account. Lead actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho were set to take part in the opening ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, while director Hur Jin-ho, actor Park Hae-il and the other two actors were set to participate in the outdoor event the following day to introduce the film. An "Actor's House" program,

Nana's 'direct' flirting style resurfaces after she confirms romance with T.O.P

Nana's 'direct' flirting style resurfaces after she confirms romance with T.O.P

Singer and actress Nana's candid comments about love are drawing renewed attention after she confirmed that she is dating T.O.P, with fans revisiting everything from her preference for "gentle" men to her admission that she makes the first move when she likes someone. Nana's agency, Sublime, confirmed the relationship to Xportsnews on Friday, saying the two became acquainted while working on a music video. "They formed a connection through filming a music video and are currently enjoying a good relationship," an agency official said. As news of the romance spread, comments Nana made about her ideal partner and approach to dating just months earlier began attracting fresh attention. During a March appearance on MBC's reality show "The Manager," also known as "Omniscient Interfering View," Nana discussed relationships while traveling to a beauty salon with her manager. "This is exactly the time when you should be dating," Nana said. When her manager said dating seemed difficult, Nana offered a glimpse into her own approach to balancing romance with a busy schedule. "Dating is something you do

Recommended

Asia Viral News

Asia Viral News features the latest and most trending news from Asia. Get ready to immerse yourself in the daily engaging topics with share-worthy news only in Asia Viral News.

ABOUT US
Newsletter

Copyright © 2015 - 2026 Asia Viral News. All Rights Reserved.