S. Korea, US Marines stage joint reconnaissance drills
The 10-day drills began Wednesday at training ranges in the cities of Paju and Dongducheon, near the border with North Korea, mobilizing some 70 Marines from special reconnaissance units of both countries as part of the Korea Marine Exercise Program, according to the Marine Corps.
During the exercise period, the Marines will conduct various drills focused on close-quarters combat, sniper training and reconnaissance, it said.
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Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Kim faces stock manipulation, election influence, bribery allegations — plus 13 more
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared in court Tuesday morning for a detention warrant hearing, after a special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki sought her arrest on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, and bribery. The probe centers on her alleged role in stock price manipulation involving imported car dealer Deutsch Motors, influence-peddling in the 2022 by-elections and a bribery case linked to shaman Jeon Seong-bae. But investigators still have 13 other major allegations to examine before their 150-day mandate expires on Nov. 29. Among the list of suspicions, Kim faces accusations that her company, Covana Contents, had enjoyed extensive sponsorship from large companies seeking to build ties with Yoon Suk Yeol, who had served as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office before becoming prosecutor general and later president. The special counsel announced that it had 'reexamined past investigation records regarding the case involving allegations of sponsorships that might constitute bribes.' The team has also conducted multiple search and seizure operations, and summoned individuals ranging from sitting lawmakers and a religious figure to former and current company CEOs. It is also looking into Kim's alleged violation of the anti-graft law and was set to arrest her aide Kim Ye-seong, widely known as the former first lady's "butler." A local court previously issued an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong in July on charges of occupational breach of trust. The butler Kim was previously convicted for his involvement in forging a bank balance certificate for Kim Keon Hee's mother, and is suspected of receiving 18.4 billion won ($13.2 million) in improper investments from major companies — including Kakao Mobility, HS Hyosung and Shinhan Bank — for his rental car company IMS Mobility, formerly known as BeMyCar. He is thought to have made a large profit by selling his 4.6 billion won stake through a shell company during the investment process. But since the company had more debts than assets and was considered to be in a state of capital erosion, the special counsel team suspected that the investors provided funds as a possible quid pro quo, considering the close ties between Kim Ye-seong and the former first lady. BeMyCar was also one of the companies that sponsored Covana Contents, an exhibition agency run by the former first lady, since the mid-2010s. The special counsel team is set to investigate Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling case. The probe centers on claims that South Korean customs officials aided Malaysian smugglers in bringing methamphetamine through Incheon Airport in early 2023. After the suspected smugglers implicated an Incheon Customs official, a police investigation was launched but reportedly faced pressure to halt from high-ranking presidential, police and customs officials. The allegations surfaced after Baek Hae-ryong, former head of the Yeongdeungpo Police investigation team, revealed that he received a phone call from Cho Byeong-no, a senior officer in the Seoul Metropolitan Police. During the call, Cho allegedly told Baek to remove references to the Korea Customs Service before the October 2023 press briefing announcing the investigation's results. Cho was previously suspected of asking Lee Jong-ho — the former CEO of Black Pear Invest and a key suspect in the alleged stock price manipulation involving the former first lady — to help him get promoted. Investigators suspect that the connections between Kim, the police official Cho and the businessman Lee may point to influence peddling and interference in state affairs. The special counsel team also plans to continue its investigation into the recently revealed cases involving luxury gifts such as a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a Vacheron Constantin watch, as the team is required to look into any related criminal acts identified during its investigation.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Kim faces stock manipulation, election influence, bribery allegations -- plus 13 more
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared in court Tuesday morning for a detention warrant hearing, after a special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki sought her arrest on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, and bribery. The probe centers on her alleged role in stock price manipulation involving imported car dealer Deutsch Motors, influence-peddling in the 2022 by-elections, and a bribery case linked to shaman Jeon Seong-bae. But investigators still have 13 other major allegations to examine before their 150-day mandate expires on Nov. 29. Among the list of suspicions, Kim faces accusations that her company, Covana Contents, had enjoyed extensive sponsorship from large companies seeking to build ties with Yoon Suk Yeol, who had served as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office before becoming prosecutor general and later president. The special counsel announced that it had 'reexamined past investigation records regarding the case involving allegations of sponsorships that might constitute bribes.' The team has also conducted multiple search and seizure operations, and summoned individuals ranging from sitting lawmakers and a religious figure to former and current company CEOs. It is also looking into Kim's alleged violation of the anti-graft law and was set to arrest her aide Kim Ye-seong, widely known as the former first lady's "butler." A local court previously issued an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong in July on charges of occupational breach of trust. The butler Kim, who was previously convicted for his involvement in forging a bank balance certificate for Kim Keon Hee's mother, is suspected of receiving 18.4 billion won ($13.2 million) in improper investments from major companies, including Kakao Mobility, HS Hyosung and Shinhan Bank, for his rental car company IMS Mobility -- formerly known as BeMyCar. He is thought to have made a large profit by selling his 4.6 billion won stake through a shell company during the investment process. But since the company had more debts than assets and was considered to be in a state of capital erosion, the special counsel team suspected that the investors provided funds as a possible quid pro quo, considering the close ties between Kim Ye-seong and the former first lady. BeMyCar was also one of the companies that sponsored Covana Contents, an exhibition agency run by the former first lady, since the mid-2010s. Alleged interference in drug smuggling probe The special counsel team is set to investigate Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling case. The probe centers on claims that South Korean customs officials aided Malaysian smugglers in bringing methamphetamine through Incheon Airport in early 2023. After the suspected smugglers implicated an Incheon Customs official, a police investigation was launched but reportedly faced pressure from high-ranking presidential, police and customs officials to halt. The allegations surfaced after Baek Hae-ryong, former head of the Yeongdeungpo Police investigation team, revealed that he received a phone call from Cho Byeong-no, a senior officer in the Seoul Metropolitan Police, telling him to remove references to the Korea Customs Service before the October 2023 press briefing announcing the investigation's results. Cho was previously suspected of asking Lee Jong-ho -- the former CEO of Black Pear Invest and a key suspect in the alleged stock price manipulation with the former first lady -- to help him get promoted. Investigators suspect that the connections between Kim, the police official Cho, and the businessman Lee — may point to influence peddling and interference in state affairs. Meanwhile, the special counsel team plans to continue its investigation into the recently revealed cases involving luxury gifts such as a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a Vacheron Constantin watch, as the special counsel team is required to look into any related criminal acts identified during the course of its investigation.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea, China agree to enhance joint crackdown on illegal fishing
South Korea and China have agreed to boost their joint efforts to crack down on illegal fishing, Seoul's oceans ministry said Tuesday. In a working-level meeting held last week, the countries agreed to step up joint efforts to monitor fishing activities and crack down on illegal practices in their shared waters, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Seoul has also called on Beijing to toughen its penalties for Chinese ships that engage in illegal fishing in waters near the Northern Limit Line, South Korea's de facto maritime border with North Korea, in the Yellow Sea. Also under the agreement, China will begin accepting all Chinese vessels nabbed in South Korea for violating fishing regulations. Currently, China only takes over Chinese ships that are caught in South Korean waters without a fishing license. Those with China-issued fishing licenses are set free after facing due penalties here for illegal fishing. Starting next month, all Chinese vessels that are caught here while engaged in illegal fishing will be handed over to China, possibly for further penalties, after facing punishment here. (Yonhap)
