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Memri
a day ago
- Politics
- Memri
Open Sources Indicate Chinese Involvement In South Korea – Support For Pro-China Politicians, Cultural Influence, Sexual Bribery, Espionage, And Online Manipulation
Open sources indicate that China influences politics and society in South Korea through many channels. Much of this influence is connected to the pro-China leftist Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which dominates the National Assembly. The DPK has weaponized the legislative branch's lawmaking power and impeached pro-US President Yoon Suk-yeol, who pursued economic decoupling from China. The following short list, comprising information taken form open sources, gives some examples of China's influence in South Korea. China's Long-Term Support For Pro-China Politicians In South Korea: Lee Jae-myung, current DPK candidate at the June 3 presidential elections • Lee actively advocates for improving relations with China and criticized the "inequality" of the U.S.-South Korea alliance . • He has claimed that, if elected, he would cancel THAAD deployment. He argues that the U.S. uses THAAD to block China's maritime access and spy on Chinese secrets, solely for U.S. interests. • Lee holds an anti-Japan stance. On November 14, 2016, he criticized the South Korea-Japan Military Intelligence Protection Agreement. • In March 2024, Lee questioned the Yoon administration's stance toward China, asking, "Why provoke China? What does the Taiwan issue have to do with South Korea?" Former President Moon Jae-in (2017-2022) • During his presidency, Moon Jae-in promoted China-South Korea reconciliation. • Yoon accused Moon's administration of leaking THAAD-related intelligence and collaborating with China. See: Exclusive: Audit finds Moon administration leaked THAAD details to China, civic groups, Chosun daily, Nov.19, 2024 Editorial: Moon officials undermined THAAD to appease China, Chosun daily, Apr. 10, 2025 • Moon Jae-in has publicly endorsed the view that South Korea's founding was illegitimate, portraying it as the work of pro-Japanese collaborators under U.S. influence. Cultural Involvement • By the end of 2023, there were 39 Confucius Institutes promoting the CCP in South Korea. • In Seoul National University's (SNU) there is a "Xi Jinping Collection Room," a section of the main library that houses more than 10,000 books and videos donated by the Chinese leader after his visit to the country in 2014. • In 2019, Institute for Democracy, an arm of the Democratic party of Korea responsible for election strategy, signed an agreement with the CCP Central Committee's Party School, which produces the party elites. Sexual Bribery A senior South Korean intelligence official told Epoch Times journalist Joshua Philipp about high-ranking South Korean officials and business elites being under the control of the CCP due to sexual bribes, and secret fund transfers.[1] Spy Activities Chinese Students Caught Using Drones to Spy on U.S. and Korean Military Bases • In June 2024, three Chinese students were caught using drones to film U.S. aircraft carrier. In January 2024, a Chinese national was detained flying a drone near a security-sensitive zone. Chinese nationals had been caught filming South Korean military and key government facilities on 11 occasions since June 2024. • On December 23, 2022, the Korean media reported that a restaurant in Seoul was identified as a CCP 'secret police station' to suppress dissidents. Legal Loopholes: Article 98 of Korea's criminal code defines espionage only in relation to "enemy states" (i.e., N. Korea). China is not classified as an enemy, which limits legal tools to prosecute Chinese spies. Online Manipulation • Troll Army "Wu Mao" active in Korean online platforms like Naver, Daum, to sway opinion on political issues. • Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) investigated hacking by N. Korea and CCP against South Korea's National Election Commission servers and computers, and it discovered serious weaknesses in the system.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Staple food prices in South Korea are rising at an alarming rate — here's what's driving the increases
Rising food prices have been big news in the United States. But these increases are happening across the world, with the changing climate driving hikes on grocery staples. Korean news outlet Chosun recently reported that food costs are soaring in South Korea. Products such as bread, cakes, tea, and beer have all increased at least 5% this year, with some prices going up by as much as 30%. There are political issues exacerbating these increases. The South Korean government is in upheaval, as its president was indicted earlier this year on insurrection charges. And the value of South Korea's currency has fallen, in part because of a trade war sparked by new U.S. tariffs. But the biggest driving force behind these increases is weather instability. For example, as Chosun reported, extreme flooding and drought conditions have hit various parts of West Africa, causing shortages in cocoa production. This has resulted in the price of cocoa tripling since 2023. Similar extreme weather conditions have caused price increases for coffee beans and wheat. Ask anyone who's on a budget, and they'll tell you that rising food prices are a major concern. Ask any conservationist, and they'll also voice worry. The extreme weather events that cause crop shortages, and ultimately price increases, are becoming more common. That's a byproduct of rising global temperatures. As one expert put it, the changing climate is "basically steroids for weather" — and the more polluting gases that pour into our atmosphere, the more likely we are to experience major floods, droughts, and other weather that make farming less predictable and more difficult. As with most climate-related issues, staying informed and speaking up are two of the most important steps you can take. In Australia, lobbyists are pushing a misconception that more dirty fuel production will make energy cheaper, which will in turn bring down grocery prices. The reality is that the more dirty energy we use, the more extreme weather conditions will wreak havoc on crop yields. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. There are also steps you can take to combat rising prices in your own life. By growing your own food and shopping smarter at the grocery store, you can feel good about what you and your family are eating — while saving a few dollars at the same time. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
South Korea and Ukraine discuss what to do with North Korean prisoners of war
South Korea told Ukraine it was ready to accept North Korean soldiers captured by Kyiv if they were willing to move to the country, state news agency Yonhap reported. In a phone call, foreign minister Cho Tae Yul told his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha the prisoners would be considered South Korean citizens and Seoul would accept their defection if they expressed such an intention. Ukraine estimates that North Korea deployed nearly 11,000 soldiers to aid Russia's war effort, marking the first time that the isolated country has put boots on the ground in a foreign conflict. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had killed or wounded about 4,000 North Korean soldiers in Kursk, the Russian border region which Ukrainian forces entered last August in their only significant counterattack into Russian territory. Kyiv has since lost most of the territory it held there. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied that North Korean troops are fighting in the Ukraine war even after signing a mutual defence last November that obligates each to come to the other's aid in the event of an external attack. In January, Mr Zelensky said his forces had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers from the Kursk battlefield. He shared a video showing one of the soldiers expressing a desire to stay in Ukraine. One of the soldiers reportedly told South Korea's Chosun newspaper that he was willing to defect to the country and asked if he would be accepted for asylum. The talks between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Ukraine came amid concerns about the fate of North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine. "If the soldiers are captured and tell information to the enemy, their families will be punished, go to a political prison camp, or worse, they will be executed in front of the people," North Korean defector Pak Yusung told ABC News.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seo Yea-ji: I have nothing to do with Kim Soo-hyun and his brother!
14 Mar - Seo Yea-ji recently admitted that she is feeling suffocated over the previous rumour of her supposed romance with Kim Soo-hyun and his brother Irobe resurfacing, now that the actor is embroiled in a scandal concerning late actress Kim Sae-ron. The actress, who worked with Kim Soo-hyun in the 2020 drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay", took to her fan cafe to express her feelings after she received lots of inquiries about the previous rumour, including from a netizen asking if she cheated on him during their alleged relationship. Sharing a screenshot of the question, she wrote, "I am also a human being. I really feel stressed, tired, bored, sad and suffocated. And I have been enduring it... I hope this stops now. I have no relationship with him (Kim Soo-hyun) and his brother (Irobe). I don't even know why I have to clarify this, but today I am really frustrated." Kim Soo-hyun was recently accused of dating Kim Sae-ron for six years, which started when she was just a minor. While his company Gold Medalist denied it, a new photo of him kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek had since circulated the Internet and turning netizens against him. Irobe, who was first introduced as Kim Soo-hyun's cousin before sources said that he is his older half-brother, co-founded Gold Medalist with the actor. Meanwhile, Seo was with the company for four years before leaving in 2023. (Photo Source: Seo Yea-ji IG, Chosun)
South China Morning Post
20-02-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
North Korean POW captured in Ukraine seeks asylum in South, sparking potential ‘domino effect'
North Korean prisoner of war has become the first from his country captured in Ukraine to seek asylum in South Korea , with experts suggesting it could spark a flood of similar requests and force Pyongyang to reconsider its role in a conflict far beyond its borders. Advertisement The 26-year-old POW, surnamed Ri, is one of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces. In his first interview with the Korean press, Ri told the Chosun newspaper that he was almost certain about defecting. 'I'm about 80 per cent sure about my decision,' Ri said in the interview published on Wednesday. 'Most importantly, I want to seek refuge in the Republic of Korea. If I apply for asylum, will they accept me?' he said, referencing South Korea's official name. Professor Kim Jee-yong, an expert in international relations at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, said he believed that granting Ri asylum could set off a 'domino effect', with other North Korean POWs following suit. 'This would force North Korea to reconsider its continued participation in the war,' Kim told This Week in Asia. Ukrainian forces capture two North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Moscow's forces in Russia's Kursk border region. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP A government official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that North Korean soldiers were South Korean citizens under the South's constitution, which defined all Koreans – whether they lived in the North or South – as citizens of the Republic of Korea.
