Latest news with #ChosunIlbo
CNA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
South Korea's defence ministry says no talks held with US on troop withdrawal
SEOUL: South Korea's defence ministry said on Friday (May 23) that Seoul and Washington had not had discussions about the withdrawal of some US troops stationed in the country. The ministry made the comment in response to a report by the Wall Street Journal that said the US was considering pulling out roughly 4,500 troops from South Korea. One option being considered was to relocate some of the troops to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam, according to the report, which cited unnamed US military officials. There are currently 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. South Korea would continue cooperation with the United States to maintain a strong combined defence posture in order to deter North Korea, its defence ministry said in a statement. South Korean media later on Friday said US Defense Department chief spokesperson Sean Parnell had denied the report. The United States was prepared to work with the next government in Seoul on strengthening their alliance, Chosun Ilbo newspaper and Yonhap news agency reported. Seoul and Washington agreed on a five-year plan on defence cost sharing last year but US President Donald Trump has signaled that the cost of the US military presence could be up for discussion in ongoing trade negotiations with Seoul. South Korean officials have so far maintained the position that defence costs are a separate matter from the trade talks. South Korea elects a new president in a snap election on Jun 3 after the removal of conservative Yoon Suk Yeol following his failed attempt at declaring martial law in December.
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Tottenham star Son Heung-min extorted by ex for $214,000 over pregnancy claim: report
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was extorted by a former girlfriend, who claimed to be pregnant with his child, prompting the player to pay her over 300 million won ($214,000), according to a police investigation and local media reports. Seoul Gangnam Police confirmed Friday the arrest of two suspects — a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s — over attempted extortion targetting the South Korean football star. The arrests were made Wednesday and the police carried out searches of their homes the following day. According to a report by the Chosun Ilbo, the arrest woman is a former romantic partner of Son. In June last year, she contacted Son claiming to be pregnant with his child, presenting a purported ultrasound image as evidence. Son transferred over 300 million won and the woman signed a written agreement not to disclose the alleged pregnancy. In March, however, the scheme thickened when the woman's new boyfriend, the other arrested suspect, contacted Son, demanding an additional 70 million won and threatening to leak the story to the media. Son refused to pay the second demand and reported the case to police, leading to their arrests. Police said they plan to request formal arrest warrants for both suspects as the investigation continues. Son's agency issued a statement Thursday, stressing that the player is 'clearly the victim' and declaring that they will pursue strong legal action without leniency.
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
South Korea's sinkhole cases spark fears of underground malls' structural stability
Beneath the bustling streets of major South Korean cities, vast underground malls have become an integral part of urban life, but several sinkhole incidents across the country have raised concerns about the safety of this subterranean network. Advertisement A prime example is the sprawling GOTO Mall beneath the express bus terminal station in Seoul, a major transfer hub between three subway lines. The 880-metre-long underground mall street attracts many visitors to its 630 stores, ranging from restaurants and grocery stores to medical clinics. There are also unstaffed stores running 24 hours a day, including pet supply shops and print centres. Fears about the structural stability of underground malls were further heightened by two recent sinkhole incidents in South Korea . A large sinkhole opened up beneath a pedestrian crossing in Busan in April, just a month after a 20 metres wide by 18 metres deep sinkhole in Seoul caused a motorcyclist to plunge to his death. Over 63 sinkholes have been reported across Seoul since March 2022, according to an analysis of the capital city by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Advertisement Malls like the GOTO Mall have become a crucial revenue source for financially pressured transit operators like Seoul Metro.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Former NCT member Taeil faces fresh controversy as court hearing date nears
Moon Taeil , former member of global K-pop group NCT , has been under investigation recently. Amidst the news of the charges and the trial dates just around the corner, the former K-pop idol was spotted in public, drinking with friends. Taeil was spotted out and about with friends A netizen recently spotted Taeil out and about in public along with his friends. The former idol was drinking in a restaurant and appeared to be relaxed. The netizen shared a post online with photographs of Taeil in a restaurant. The post read, 'I saw Moon Taeil previously, LOL. Seems like he's going around drinking, with his first trial impending LOL.' 문태일미친새끼 — 건자반 (@bottIe_god) April 20, 2025 It was also found that a friend of the original poster of the photo also shared that allegedly one of the persons that was present there with Taeil had approached them, requesting them not to take photographs. The post read, 'My friend took this photo as they ran into him coincidentally while eating, and the person next to him ridiculously said that he was having a hard time and asked them not to take photos,' as quoted by Pinkvilla. Original post deleted The original post online that shared his photographs has now been deleted; however, that did not stop it from going viral. The original post before being deleted amassed more than 500,000 views. Reaction from the public Before being deleted, the post gained a lot of response from the public, and even after being deleted, a screenshot of the original post did the rounds on social media platforms. Many netizens shared their opinion online and expressed their disdain in the matter. the audacity… — ni¹²⁷ | 쟌도툥🫶🏻 (@w00dzies) April 21, 2025 Hopefully his next dinner gonna be in jail — m&m's ♡ (@bemyonlyae) April 21, 2025 Original Charges Taeil, who was formerly a member of NCT and a couple of its subunits, now faces charges of alleged quasi-rape. Originally reported by news outlet Chosun Ilbo, the former idol faced charges of allegedly raping a drunk woman along with acquaintances in June 2024. After the indictment and Anna court hearing, it was decided by the judge that there is no immediate need to detain the man. The court ordered that he is allowed to be in public until the next hearing, which is said to be held in the coming days.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
South Korean superstar Kim Soo Hyun tearfully denies controversial claims about relationship with late actress
Embattled South Korean superstar Kim Soo Hyun has personally addressed a growing scandal about the nature of his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron for the first time, in a closely watched saga that has roiled the country's entertainment industry. Speaking at a press conference Monday, a tearful Kim Soo Hyun, 37, said accusations made by a YouTube channel in March that he had entered into a relationship with his fellow performer when she was still a minor were untrue. He has repeatedly denied the allegations. 'I did not date her when she was a minor,' Kim said at the emotional news conference, where he declined to take questions. 'Apart from the fact that we were both actors, we were just an ordinary couple like anyone else. We had feelings for each other, and as time passed, we eventually parted ways. After that, we rarely kept in touch.' After the press conference, a lawyer for the actor and his agency, Goldmedalist, announced a lawsuit against multiple parties, including the YouTube channel and the family of Kim Sae-ron, accusing them of defamation and violation of information protection. CNN has reached out to the family for comment. Kim Sae-ron was found dead at home in February at 24 years old, nearly two years after she retreated from public view following a drunk-driving conviction that prompted heavy public backlash and reputational damage. The allegations made by the YouTube channel, known for covering political news, started an online firestorm against Kim Soo Hyun despite his denials. His talent agency previously said that while the two actors had been in a relationship, it took place when both were adults, according to the Chosun Ilbo, one of South Korea's newspapers of record. The fallout for the actor has been swift, with luxury fashion house Prada and popular Korean cosmetics brand Dinto both ending their collaborations with Kim Soo Hyun in the weeks after the scandal broke. A star at home and across Asia, Kim Soo Hyun is best known for the award-winning series 'It's Okay to Not be Okay' and 'My Love from the Star.' On Monday, he also apologized for staying quiet for the first few days after the allegations emerged last month, saying he was worried about the consequences for his recently aired Netflix series 'Queen of Tears.' 'If you want to criticize me for being cowardly or selfish, I will accept that,' he said. Kim Sae-ron was a prolific actor who shot to stardom as a child, but her career stalled after she crashed her car in the South Korean capital in 2022. In April 2023, a Seoul court found her guilty of driving under the influence. She avoided jail but was fined about $14,000. Kim Soo Hyun also claimed that many text messages that had been distributed online, purportedly between him and Kim Sae-ron, were false. There were no signs of foul play and officers are investigating the circumstances of her death, a police official told CNN last month.
