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Young Koreans turning to AI lawyers
As artificial intelligence advances, a growing number of young South Koreans are turning to generative AI for legal advice in relatively minor criminal cases. The Maeil Business Newspaper reported Wednesday that a 23-year-old college student used generative AI to develop a legal strategy before being questioned by police over sexually insulting remarks made while playing an online video game. “I explained the facts and trained the AI on relevant legal provisions and precedents. It helped me get
March 12, 2026 -
Lives could have been saved if rescue teams had arrived minutes earlier: Itaewon survivor
“If rescue teams had arrived about 10 minutes earlier, more than 100 lives could have been saved.” The remark by survivor Min Sung-ho set a somber tone Thursday as a special investigation panel held its first public hearing into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush. Speaking at the hearing in central Seoul, Min recalled the moment the crowd surge turned fatal in a narrow alley in the Itaewon nightlife district during Halloween celebrations on Oct. 29, 2022. A total of 159 people were killed. “My chest w
March 12, 2026 -
Seoul eyes using commercial satellite imagery for defense
South Korea is considering the use of commercial satellite imagery for defense, a move aimed at reducing the cost of developing military satellites while expanding access to such data. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Thursday it has commissioned a study on ways to utilize commercial satellite imagery for military use. The agency said the study will serve as the basis for future projects to acquire and use commercial satellite imagery for defense operations. The 64.2 million w
March 12, 2026 -
96 child abuse deaths in Korea in 5 years, most involving parents
Nearly 100 children in South Korea died from abuse over the past five years, most at the hands of their own parents, according to police data covering tens of thousands of reported cases nationwide. A total of 63,575 child abuse cases were recorded during the five-year period, resulting in 96 deaths, according to data from the National Police Agency released Thursday by Rep. Chung Choon-saeng of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party. In 2025 alone, 14,211 cases were recorded, up from 11,572 in 2021,
March 12, 2026 -
Musical actor Nam Kyung-ju referred to prosecutors over alleged sex crime
Musical actor Nam Kyung-ju has been referred to prosecutors on allegations of sexual assault, while Hongik University, where he serves as an associate professor, said it has begun personnel procedures in accordance with its regulations. According to police, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station referred the 63-year-old to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday for sexual intercourse by abuse of occupational authority. As outlined in Article 303, Nam could face up to seven years i
March 12, 2026 -
National Assembly set to vote on bill on US investment pledges
The National Assembly is set to hold a plenary session Thursday to vote on a special bill on South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge to the United States under a trade deal between the two nations after rival parties reached a bipartisan agreement earlier this week. On Wednesday, the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party approved the bill during a meeting of the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee. Under the bill, a new state-run corporation specia
March 12, 2026 -
N. Korea's Kim, daughter test pistols together at munitions factory
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a factory for light, portable munitions, where he and his teenage daughter tested pistols together, according to state media Thursday. Kim oversaw arms production at a "major munitions factory" under the second economy commission the previous day, where production began based on a new pistol design approved at a meeting of the party's central military commission last month, the Korean Central News Agency said. The second economy committee oversees the pr
March 12, 2026 -
Trump says 'we've won' in war with Iran
US President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that "we've won" in the war against Iran after he said in a media interview that the ongoing conflict will end "soon" as there is "practically nothing left to target." Trump made the remarks during a public event in Hebron, Kentucky, as the US military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," entered its 12th day, seeking to destroy Iran's missile capabilities and its Navy, and sever any pathway to nuclear arms. "Let me say we've won. ... You never
March 12, 2026 -
Trump says war with Iran will end 'soon' as 'practically nothing left to target': Axios
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the war with Iran will end "soon" as there is "practically nothing left to target," according to a news report, as concerns continue over the impact of the conflict on oil prices and the global economy. Trump made the remarks in a five-minute phone interview with Axios, as the US military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," entered its 12th day, seeking to destroy Iran's missile capabilities and its Navy, and sever any pathway to nuclear arms
March 12, 2026 -
US launches Section 301 trade investigation into S. Korea, China, Japan, 13 other economies: USTR
US President Donald Trump's administration opened a trade inquiry into South Korea, China, Japan and 13 other economies to uncover "unfair" trade practices related to "structural" excess capacity and production, a move that might result in tariffs, the US Trade Representative said Wednesday. In a press call, USTR Jamieson Greer said that the Trump administration published a Federal Register notice initiating an investigation under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act -- a legal provision that allow
March 12, 2026 -
Iranian Embassy in Seoul displays banner with image of Khamenei
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul has put up a banner bearing the image of the late former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and accusing "war criminals," sources said Wednesday. The embassy in Seoul's central Yongsan district has recently installed the banner on the building's outer wall bearing an image of Khamenei and the English phrase, "When will the world hold war criminals accountable?" diplomatic sources said. It also said "the massacre of women and children is neither forgivable nor forgettable,
March 11, 2026 -
Defense minister inspects S. Korea-US military exercise sites
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday inspected sites of an ongoing South Korea-US military exercise, calling for thorough preparations for the planned recovery of wartime operational command from the United States. The minister visited the defense command headquarters, the command center for the Freedom Shield exercise, where he received a briefing on the progress of the drills, his ministry said. The allies launched the annual springtime military exercise on Monday for an 11-day run, with
March 11, 2026 -
S. Korea, Ghana leaders seek tangible cooperation on security, critical minerals
The leaders of South Korea and Ghana agreed to work closely together to deliver tangible results across a range of sectors, including the economy, maritime security and critical minerals, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The agreement was reached at President Lee Jae Myung's summit with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who is on a working visit to South Korea, on Wednesday afternoon at the presidential office in Seoul. Mahama’s visit marks the first by an African head of state since Lee took o
March 11, 2026 -
South Korea investigates BTS ticket scalping after nearly 1,900 illegal listings detected
South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it had identified 1,868 suspected scalping listings tied to upcoming BTS concerts in Goyang and Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area after monitoring major online resale platforms. Authorities said four cases involving 105 tickets appeared to reflect organized attempts to resell seats at steep premiums, and those cases have been referred to the National Police Agency for investigation. According to data released by the ministry, the majority of susp
March 11, 2026 -
Lawmaker in talks with Coupang CEO to get taste of night delivery
Democratic Party lawmaker Rep. Yeom Tae-young is in talks with Coupang Chief Executive Officer Harold Rogers to visit overnight delivery workers' workplace and experience their night shifts together. According to Yeom's office, arrangements are being made to visit a Coupang Logistics Service's facility to get a sense of what it is like to do delivery jobs during night time with Rogers, with March 19 being one of the options for them, but the schedule has yet to be fixed. Other liberal party lawm
March 11, 2026