Special counsel seeks 25-year prison term for ex-justice minister over martial law role

The Korea Times - Sep 29, 2026

A special counsel team on Tuesday sought a 25-year prison term for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in his appellate trial over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team made the request at the Seoul High Court, after a lower court sentenced Park to 25 years in prison in June on multiple charges, including playing a key role in an insurrection, which exceeded the team's initial recommendation of 20 years. Park is accused of convening a meeting of senior ministry officials following Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, to review follow-up measures, such as dispatching prosecutors to a martial law body. "Instead of siding with the people and the rule of law, he sided with insurrection forces and aided a self-coup by becoming the hands and feet of Yoon Suk Yeol," Cho's team said.

Read full article

More News

BIGBANG takes over London with world tour marking 20th anniversary

BIGBANG takes over London with world tour marking 20th anniversary

BIGBANG held its first solo concert in London in nearly 14 years as part of its ongoing world tour marking the iconic K-pop act's 20th debut anniversary, the group's agency said Tuesday. The "XX: Cosmos" concert took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday, marking BIGBANG's first solo tour in the British capital since 2012, according to YG Entertainment. The gig opened with the group's megahit "Fantastic Baby" and included tracks such as "Haru Haru" and "Lies." At the concert, members of BIGBANG — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — thanked fans for their unwavering support and noted that celebrating the group's 20th debut anniversary feels like a "miracle," YG Entertainment said. The world tour, which began in South Korea last month, will continue across North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia through February next year.

Cabinet passes special bill on introduction, operation of nuclear-powered subs

Cabinet passes special bill on introduction, operation of nuclear-powered subs

The government on Tuesday passed a special bill outlining measures to introduce and operate nuclear-powered submarines as part of a national strategic project. The bill was passed during a Cabinet meeting led by President Lee Jae Myung and will be submitted to the National Assembly for deliberations. It is aimed at helping the systematic running of nuclear-powered submarine projects and promoting sustainable economic growth through the establishment of national security based on self-reliant defense, the maintenance of international peace and the development of the defense industry. In particular, it outlines special provisions for the introduction and operation of nuclear subs, as well as regulations concerning the safe management of nuclear power, as the project is the country's first case combining weapons systems with nuclear energy. The government has said it aims to enact the special law before the end of the year to launch the lead ship in the mid-2030s and field the homegrown nuclear-powered submarine in the late 2030s.

DMZ mine blast puts Seoul's NK outreach at risk

DMZ mine blast puts Seoul's NK outreach at risk

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the military on Tuesday to determine the cause of a land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border and take necessary measures, raising questions about how his administration, which has been pursuing dialogue with Pyongyang, might respond if North Korea is found responsible. Possible responses range from resuming propaganda broadcasts along the border to adjusting military operations inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and seeking action through the United Nations Command (UNC). The government has yet to announce any specific measures. “The military must work closely with the UNC to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and establish the facts transparently,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. “Necessary measures will then be taken based on the findings.” His remarks followed an interim military investigation that found a very high likelihood that North Korean mines caused the Sept. 21 explosions, which injured three South Korean soldiers. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) have pledged corresponding measures

Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam

Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam

Korea’s national Korean language proficiency exam is preparing for a major digital overhaul, introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to draft test questions and grade essays as global demand to learn the language surges. The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education unveiled a comprehensive strategy Tuesday to modernize the Test of Proficiency in Korean, widely known as TOPIK. The overhaul aims to transition the traditional paper-heavy exam into an AI-driven digital testing platform by 2029, catering to an expanding pool of foreign students, job seekers and workers aiming to establish careers in Korea. Since its launch in 1997 with fewer than 3,000 test-takers across four countries, TOPIK has grown into a crucial gateway for foreign nationals seeking university admission, corporate employment or residency visas in Korea. Annual applicants soared from roughly 329,000 in 2018 to more than 566,000 in 2025, spanning 94 countries. By September, registration had already reached 564,606 — up 10 percent from the same period last year — putting the exam

Cornell disputes light-punishment claims in drugging, assault case

Cornell disputes light-punishment claims in drugging, assault case

Cornell University has disputed claims that students named in a sexual assault lawsuit were allowed to mitigate their punishment simply by submitting essays, calling the characterization false and warning it could deter survivors from coming forward. When asked about the disciplinary action against the accused students, the Ivy League university said that any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault,” the university said in a statement on Monday (local time), which it sent to The Korea Times in response to the newspaper's inquiry. The response came after a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit in New York this month alleging that seven members of the school's Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. The university said the

College student jailed for attempting to join ISIS

College student jailed for attempting to join ISIS

CHEONGJU — A college student was jailed Tuesday for pledging allegiance to the extremist militant group ISIS while in high school, officials said. The Cheongju District Court sentenced the 18-year-old male student to an indeterminate prison term of one to 1 1/2 years after finding him guilty of violating the anti-terrorism law. The student, whose identity was withheld, was charged with attempting to join ISIS after watching various propaganda materials at an encrypted online platform operated by an ISIS-affiliated group between November 2024 and February this year, and swearing allegiance to ISIS. He was also suspected of obtaining bomb-making instructions from an ISIS contact, forming a bomb attack scheme against the government forces of Mozambique and requesting an ISIS evaluation for his attack plan, according to court officials.

Lee says success of 3 megaprojects depends on creating right living conditions

Lee says success of 3 megaprojects depends on creating right living conditions

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday the success of the government's "three megaprojects" initiative centered on building up the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries will depend on creating the right living conditions for workers and their families. Lee made the remark at the third public-private meeting discussing progress on the initiative, which focuses on developing hubs for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers across the nation. "Today we will focus our discussions on ways to create living conditions, which could be called the key to the project's success," he said at the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, which brought together relevant ministers and presidential officials, as well as senior executives from Samsung and SK. "The megaprojects' ultimate goal is for young people and talents to flock to regions (outside the capital area) in search of jobs, and for all regions and people to evenly enjoy the benefits of growth," he said. Lee went on to explain that the projects should be pursued under a combined plan for the construction of industrial complexes and

2 former Chinese soldiers indicted for leaking secrets from Korean, US military

2 former Chinese soldiers indicted for leaking secrets from Korean, US military

PYEONGTAEK — Two former Chinese soldiers have been indicted on charges of leaking secrets from the Korean military and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), legal sources said Tuesday. One of the suspects was charged with wiretapping communications at major Korean and U.S. air and naval bases 13 times between March 2024 and August this year, according to the Pyeongtaek branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office. The 60-something operative, who had served for about 40 years at an eavesdropping unit in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), is accused of collecting 13.9 terabytes of intercepted data and smuggling it to China. The other suspect, a 45-year-old former member of the PLA's special forces unit, faces charges of stealing Korea-U.S. joint military exercise data and leadership information on 12 occasions. The former special forces member was found to have recruited a civilian worker and soldiers working at Camp Humphreys while running a military supply shop near the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, some 50 kilometers south of Seoul, from November 2021 to May this year. The suspect

Defense chief says DMZ blast 'clear' violation of armistice agreement

Defense chief says DMZ blast 'clear' violation of armistice agreement

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday last week's explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), highly likely caused by North Korean land mines, is in "clear" violation of the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Kang made the remarks during a plenary session of the parliamentary defense committee, after the South Korean military announced Monday that North Korean landmines were "highly likely" the cause of the Sept. 21 blast. "This is a clear violation of the armistice agreement," Shin said, in response to an opposition lawmaker pointing out the explosion was North Korea's blatant provocation and a breach of the armistice. "As responsibility lies on North Korea, we will take corresponding measures, (if the blast is confirmed to have been caused by land mines planted by North Korean forces)," the minister said. The explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas left three South Korean soldiers injured. A joint survey team, comprising South Korean military officials and the U.N. Command's Military Armistice Commission, h

Lee proposes higher refund of fare for off-peak commuters

Lee proposes higher refund of fare for off-peak commuters

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday proposed increasing the reimbursement of fares for people who use public transportation outside peak commuting hours. Lee made the proposal at a Cabinet meeting after the transport ministry reported that the reimbursement rate for public transportation users traveling outside peak commuting hours has been raised from 20 percent to 30 percent. "Doesn't the fact that people are avoiding rush-hour commuting to save on transportation costs show how difficult their situation is? For people who are struggling financially, isn't a 20 to 30 percent refund insufficient?" Lee said. The president noted that easing rush-hour congestion also aligns with government policy and serves the national interest. Lee said he believes higher refunds would help people who already face the hardship of starting work as early as 4:30 or 5 a.m., for instance. "I don't want to put a specific figure on it, but wouldn't covering about half the cost be reasonable?" he said, adding the increase would not require much additional budget. Budget Minister Park Hong-geun responded to Lee's pr

Busan shark becomes tourist sensation, but stirs concerns over warming seas

Busan shark becomes tourist sensation, but stirs concerns over warming seas

A shark unexpectedly stranded in an artificial waterway at Busan’s North Port has become a sensation, drawing more than half a million visitors — but experts and environmental groups warn that the frenzy risks turning the animal into a spectacle while overlooking what its unusual appearance may signal about a changing marine environment. The shark has remained in the artificial waterway at North Port for 12 days as of Tuesday. More than 483,000 people visited the park during the Chuseok holiday alone, while cumulative visitors have surpassed 560,000 since the city began counting them on Sept. 19. Social media users dubbed the shark "Bukangi," from "buk hang" — the Korean name for Busan’s North Port. As public interest surged, Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo described the shark’s unexpected appearance as an opportunity to raise the profile of the North Port area. Riding on Bukangi’s growing popularity, the city on Tuesday officially appointed the shark as an honorary promotional ambassador. The shark's popularity has also delivered a boost to nearby businesses. Some convenience store

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.