-
Child rapist jailed again for violating movement restrictions
Cho Doo-soon, a convicted child rapist who is under probation and electronic monitoring, has been sentenced to prison again for repeatedly violating court-ordered movement restrictions and attempting to damage his electronic tracking device. The Suwon District Court’s Ansan Branch in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday sentenced Cho to eight months in prison and ordered his detention. The court also imposed treatment and custody measures, citing concerns about the risk of reoffending. Cho, now in his
Jan. 28, 2026 -
Prosecution probes massive crypto loss under its watch
South Korean prosecutors have launched an internal audit into the loss of confiscated cryptocurrency worth about 40 billion won ($28 million), warning that criminal liability could follow if wrongdoing is uncovered. The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday that five inspectors are under audit over a case in which 320 bitcoins were stolen in August 2025 during an internal handover process. According to prosecutors, the inspectors attempted to verify the amount of bitcoin stored in
Jan. 28, 2026 -
Former first lady gets 1 year, 8 months for church bribery
The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to a year and eight months in prison and a forfeiture order of 12.8 million won ($9,000), finding her guilty of receiving bribes from the Unification Church. The court acquitted Kim of her other charges, including her alleged participation in the Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation scheme and illegal obtaining of public opinion polling data from a close aide. "As first lady, the defendant was an influentia
Jan. 28, 2026 -
Seoul to consult with US on investment bill following tariff hike announcement: ministry
The government will closely communicate with the United States over the ongoing legislative progress on a special bill to support Seoul's investment plans in the US, the finance ministry said Tuesday, shortly after US President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement to raise reciprocal tariffs and auto duties for Korea. "We are currently working to gauge the intentions of the US side," the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a message to reporters. "Going forward, we will engage with the
Jan. 27, 2026 -
Ex-PM Han, special counsel appeal 23-year prison sentence in insurrection case
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and a special counsel team on Monday both appealed against a court ruling sentencing him to 23 years in prison for playing a key role in an insurrection over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law. Last Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence, making Han the first member of Yoon's Cabinet to be convicted in connection to the former president's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Han's legal team sub
Jan. 26, 2026 -
South Korea tightens indoor air quality standards in public facilities
● Updated Law: Enforcement Rule of the Indoor Air Quality Control Act What it does: Lowers allowable indoor ultrafine dust levels in public-use facilities Took effect: Jan. 1 South Korea has strengthened indoor air quality rules for public facilities in an effort to create safer environments, particularly children and teenagers. Under the revised regulation, the maximum allowable level of ultrafine dust in certain facilities has been lowered from 50 micrograms per cubic meter to 40 micrograms pe
Jan. 26, 2026 -
Tax credit expansion for national strategic technology research, succession support for SMEs
Jan. 26, 2026 -
Vape juice imports escape harsh charges imposed on tobaccos
The Seoul Administrative Court partially sided with vape juice importers in a lawsuit alleging that the Ministry of Health and Welfare wrongfully imposed National Health Promotion Charges for tobacco products. In a ruling issued in November 2025, the court said that while vape juices should be categorized as cigarettes for legal purposes, the charges levied by health authorities were excessive and violated the principle of equality, according to legal circles on Sunday. Although the plaintiffs a
Jan. 25, 2026 -
Court upholds ruling ordering Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate forced labor victims
An appellate court on Thursday upheld a lower court order requiring Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate South Koreans who were forced into labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The Gwangju High Court partially sided with 14 plaintiffs — surviving victims and bereaved families — reaffirming a district court ruling that found the Japanese conglomerate responsible for damages Under the ruling, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was ordered to pay 100 million won ($68,00
Jan. 22, 2026 -
Ex-PM gets 23 years in prison as court calls 2024 martial law an insurrection
The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison, finding him guilty of playing a key role in an insurrection by aiding former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Han was immediately taken into custody in the courtroom following the sentencing. “As prime minister, the defendant bore a duty to uncover the truth behind the insurrection,” presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan said while reading the ve
Jan. 21, 2026 -
Lee pledges unwavering prosecutorial reform
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prosecutorial reform, pledging to push ahead with structural changes despite resistance. Unchecked power within law enforcement institutions, he argued, undermines fairness and democracy. “Unless institutions entrusted with power by the people truly function for the people, it will be impossible to correct unfairness, privilege and misconduct,” Lee said during his New Year’s press conference, stressing that reform
Jan. 21, 2026 -
Term limits debate slows abortion's path out of legal limbo
Debate is intensifying over abortion limits in South Korea, as lawmakers move to address a legal vacuum that has persisted since the Constitutional Court struck down the country’s abortion crime provision. Although the court ruled that a blanket criminal ban was unconstitutional, the National Assembly has yet to pass follow-up legislation, leaving the practice decriminalized but largely unregulated for nearly seven years. Critics say this prolonged uncertainty has left couples and patients witho
Jan. 20, 2026 -
Court allows live broadcast of sentencing trial of ex-PM Han's insurrection-related case
A Seoul court on Monday approved a live broadcast of the upcoming sentencing trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in his insurrection-related case later this week. The Seoul Central District Court said Wednesday's sentencing hearing for Han, who faces charges of abetting former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law, will be broadcast live. It will mark the second time a sentencing trial has been televised among cases indicted by three special counsels handling matters relate
Jan. 19, 2026 -
Comprehensive wage agreement ban, penalty surcharge for accidents
Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act Proposed by Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui (Democratic Party of Korea) Proposed Bill: Class Action Act Proposed by Rep. Oh Gi-hyoung (Democratic Party) Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act Proposed by Rep. Kim Ju-young (Democratic Party) Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission Administrative Announcement
Jan. 18, 2026 -
Court sentences Yoon Suk Yeol to 5 years in prison for obstructing arrest
The Seoul Central District Court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to a five-year prison term for multiple charges, including obstruction of investigators' attempt to detain him last year, marking the first verdict on cases stemming from his 2024 failed declaration of martial law. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk had sought a combined sentence of 10 years for Yoon, including five years for resisting arrest, two years for revising the martial law decree after the fact and three years
Jan. 16, 2026