Latest news with #Korean-language
Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Proposed Cho Kuk pardon a two-edged sword for Lee
President Lee Jae Myung faces a political dilemma over whether to grant a Liberation Day pardon to Cho Kuk, the former justice minister and leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, as he returns from a weeklong summer break. On Thursday afternoon, the Justice Ministry's Pardon Review Committee convened to discuss recommendations for pardons. Former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk and his wife, former Dongyang University professor Chung Kyung-shim, are widely believed to be included on the list. Cho was convicted of fabricating official documents to help his children's academic careers, as well as illegally interfering in a government audit. Chung was convicted of several charges related to fraudulently helping her children and financial crimes. The final call now lies with Lee, but reports that the committee had decided to include Cho has already sparked a significant backlash. Lee is scheduled to review and approve the special pardon list at a Cabinet meeting on Aug. 12. And Lee will announce the beneficiaries of presidential pardon on Aug. 15, National Liberation Day. South Korean presidents have issued pardons to commemorate important national holidays, such as the Liberation Day celebrating Korea's 1945 independence from Japanese colonial rule, to reward the good behavior of offenders and foster national harmony. Cho, who served as a senior aide to former President Moon Jae-in and as justice minister in 2019, began his two-year prison term in December after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction on charges of academic fraud involving his children and unlawful interference in a government inspection. The mooted pardon for the minor progressive party leader is seen as a double-edged sword. Should Lee decide to pardon Cho, it could boost support from left-leaning voters. But clemency toward a man who illegally helped his children get university places could also undermine Lee's commitments to fairness in society, potentially sapping the momentum of his administration in its early stages. Multiple progressive lawmakers and religious leaders, including the Ven. Jinwoo — president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism — publicly called for the pardon of Cho, as they view him as a victim of prosecutorial manipulation. Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea also backed Cho's pardon, explaining that Cho and his family suffered greatly from a political 'witch hunt' led by former President Yoon, who was prosecutor general at the time of the investigation. With former President Moon also publicly calling for Cho's pardon after a meeting with Woo Sang-ho, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, on Tuesday, a ruling party official reportedly said that unity among the Democratic Party of Korea and Rebuilding Korea Party could be achieved with the pardon. And Lee could face significant repercussions if Cho is not pardoned. The anonymous official was quoted by the Korean-language daily Chosun Ilbo as saying that refusing to grant the presidential pardon was likely provoke strong criticism from the ruling party's support base and that this risk could not be ignored. Split on Cho Pardon The main opposition People Power Party's interim leader Song Eon-seog expressed his anger at the suggestion of pardoning Cho. 'We are outraged that Cho, who has been widely condemned by the public, was included in the Liberation Day special pardon (list),' Song told the reporters in a press briefing on Thursday. Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party also put pressure on Lee after posting an online message, claiming Lee's administration will be labeled as unjust government if Cho's pardon is approved. As Cho's convictions include using his influence to receive academic favors for his children, his rumored inclusion on the ministry list sparked outrage among some parents and students, especially Suneung test-takers. Suneung is South Korea's nationwide college entrance exam. An online post titled 'They're not going to pardon someone involved in academic fraud, right?' uploaded in a local student-based online community Pnmath Mathematic Lab, received multiple comments opposing Cho's pardon. A poll on the issue suggests the public sentiment does not lean clearly for or against pardoning Cho. In a three-day poll conducted by local polling company Jowon C&I and media outlet Straight News from Aug. 2 involving 2,018 participants, 48 percent of the people reportedly supported the special pardon for Cho, while 47.6 percent opposed it. The presidential office, meanwhile, remained tight-lipped about whether Cho would be granted a pardon. 'It is difficult to know until the president makes his final decision. The special pardon list will likely be available when the list is finalized after the Cabinet meeting,' presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a press briefing Thursday.
AFP
2 days ago
- Politics
- AFP
Clip shows Donald Trump praising former German chancellor, not Yoon Suk Yeol
"Shocking interview by Trump: 'Yoon Suk Yeol is the world's greatest leader'," reads the Korean-language caption of a video shared on the right-wing Ilbe forum on August 4, 2025. The video shows a clip from the "Mornings with Maria" show on the Fox Business channel (archived link). The host appears to be conducting a telephone interview with Trump, in which he says: "Fantastic leader. I was with somebody the other day that thinks she's the greatest leader in the world today. She's the smartest and the greatest leader in the world today." Korean-language subtitles superimposed on the clip, however, do not translate the pronoun "she", creating the false impression Trump was referring to Yoon. The former South Korean president, who was impeached in June 2025 after attempting to suspend decades of civilian rule on December 3, 2024, is currently in detention and resisting questioning by special prosecutors (archived link). Image Screenshot of the false post captured on August 5, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The same 10-second clip was also shared in similar posts on South Korean right-wing communities on Naver Band and YouTube. "Even the world's leader Trump understands that the true winner is President Yoon," read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "President Trump surely will come to President Yoon's rescue." A keyword search on Google found the original footage was posted on the verified Fox Business YouTube channel on August 20, 2015 with the title, "Trump: Angela Merkel is the greatest leader in the world" (archived link). Trump, who at the time was running for the Republican presidential nomination, was speaking on the phone with host Maria Bartiromo. The clip used in the false posts was taken from the 4:02 mark of the Fox Business video, after Trump was asked to give his thoughts on Merkel. Image Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and the Fox Business video posted in August 2015 (right) The full transcript of the interview -- available on the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara -- shows Trump was responding to the question about Merkel (archived link). He was then asked for his opinion on then-UK prime minister David Cameron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and China's President Xi Jinping. Trump's description of Merkel was also referenced in a report by US media outlet The Intercept in 2018, in the context of his criticism of Germany's immigration policies (archived link). As of August 6, 2025 there have been no official reports about Trump praising Yoon in such glowing terms. AFP has previously debunked similar instances of Trump remarks and social media posts being misrepresented as references to South Korea.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Too close to Seoul to stand out? Gyeonggi bets on independent travelers to revive tourism
Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul and is home to over 13 million people, is rolling out a new strategy in hopes of attracting more international tourists. Despite being one of South Korea's most accessible regions from the capital, trouble navigating often keeps foreign visitors away. In an attempt to address the situation, the province announced its '3.3.5.5 Strategy." Despite its size, access to the DMZ, and proximity to Incheon Airport, Gyeonggi Province's share of foreign visitors dropped from 14.9 percent in 2019 to around 10 percent in 2024, according to data from South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Seoul's share has long held at around 80 percent. Meanwhile, the country's tourism landscape has changed. Over 80.5 percent of foreign tourists in 2024 were Free Independent Travelers — those who plan trips on their own rather than booking through a group tour. In 2019, FITs made up 77.1 percent. Gyeonggi now wants to target this growing segment. The strategy sets four measurable goals: Boost international visitor share from 10 to 30 percent. Increase average stays from 2.13 days to 3 days. Raise spending per tourist from 350,000 won to 500,000 won (about $215 to $360). Improve the repeat visitation rate from 34 to 50 percent. Why Gyeonggi gets overlooked The paradox is that Gyeonggi is geographically convenient, but functionally inaccessible. Booking regional buses and trains often requires Korean-language apps or domestic credit cards. Car rentals are available, but GPS systems and maps are primarily designed for local users. Google Maps still lacks turn-by-turn navigation in Korea. Korean apps like Naver Map and Kakao Map support English, Chinese and Japanese, but often fall short for tourists unfamiliar with Korean signage or cultural context. These barriers help explain why South Korea, despite ranking No. 14 overall in the World Economic Forum's 2023 Travel and Tourism Development Index, landed at No. 60 in tourism services and infrastructure. What the province plans to fix To address this, Gyeonggi Provinceworked with national tourism agencies, universities, and research institutes to develop a four-part action plan. It includes: Improved transportation: more shuttle buses, FIT-friendly day tours, a new tourist taxi system, and a dedicated Gyeonggi tourism center in Seoul. Better digital tools: smarter booking platforms and information services for foreign users. Expanded experiences: DMZ tours, regional food programs, and new outdoor and industrial tourism offerings. Targeted marketing: a global tourism brand and campaigns focused on younger travelers. Officials say implementation will begin in 2026, starting with high-impact projects. The province also plans to work with Seoul and Incheon to create a regional tourism network and is pushing the national government to ease lodging and transportation regulations. 'Our goal is to make Gyeonggi Province a place where international visitors can explore freely and comfortably,' said Jang Hyang-jeong, the province's tourism policy director. 'We want them to discover that Korea is more than just Seoul.'
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
South Korean superstar Son Heung-min is signing with LAFC for MLS record transfer fee
LAFC's signing of South Korean national team captain Son Heung-min appears to be one of those rare acquisitions that checks every box and helps everybody. Not only is it one of the most significant signings in MLS history, but it instantly makes LAFC better while boosting the World Cup hopes of the Korean national team and the profile of Korean soccer in the U.S. But in few places will the impact of the signing, which is expected to be completed Tuesday, be felt more directly than in Southern California's Korean community, the largest in the U.S. 'The Korean community has been buzzing ever since rumors of Son Heung-min's potential move to LAFC began to spread,' said Kyeongjun Kim, a writer with The Korean Daily, the largest Korean-language media outlet in the U.S. 'The fact that a player of his caliber is coming to L.A. is monumental event. 'Son's move to the LAFC is as exciting — if not moreso — than when Chan-ho Park and Hyun-jin Ryu joined the Dodgers.' Luring Son, 33, away from Tottenham of the English Premier League, where he spent the last 10 seasons, came at a high price though. Although financial details of the signing were not announced, a league official with knowledge of the negotiations said the transfer fee easily topped the MLS-record $22 million Atlanta United paid to Middlesbrough in February for the rights to striker Emmanuel Latte Lath. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, put the price at $26 million, more than LAFC's total payroll of nearly $22.4 million, which is sixth-highest in the league. Yet, strangely, that could still prove to be something of a bargain and represents another signing coup for general manager John Thorrington who, over the past four seasons, has signed Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud, the most-capped and highest scorer for the French national team, respectively; Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale, captains of the Italian and Welsh national teams, respectively; and Denis Bouanga, who led the MLS in goals in the last two full seasons. Thorrington didn't have to break the bank to do any of it. LAFC earned $10 million from it's participation in this summer's Club World Cup, money it then invested in Son. And despite the massive transfer fee, the team could actually profit financially from the deal since it has long believed a Korean star playing in Los Angeles would more than pay for itself in marketing and sponsorship deals, much the same way the Dodgers have profited off Japan's Shohei Ohtani. Kim said that's a very good bet. 'The passion and influence of Korean and Korean-American soccer fans should never be underestimated,' he said, noting that major European clubs with Korean players have begun posting online content in Korean. 'Korean broadcasters,' he predicted 'may seek to acquire broadcasting rights and new business opportunities could emerge. Son's arrival at LAFC will benefit not only the club but also the league as a whole.' The impact won't be limited to the Korean community, however. Son, who was one of the most popular players in the Premier League, speaks English well and has a positive and humble personality, which will make him easy to market across ethnic boundaries. Check back soon for updates on this developing news story.
AFP
3 days ago
- Business
- AFP
AI image misrepresented as rally outside South Korean tech giant Samsung's headquarters
The image appearing to show scores of striking workers holding up placards demanding Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong "join collective bargaining" was shared on Facebook on August 3, 2025. "Situation in front of Samsung HQ due to the yellow envelope bill," reads the image's Korean-language caption, referring to proposed amendments to South Korea's Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act that the ruling Democratic Party has . According to The Korea Times, the bill would broaden protections for workers and strengthen their right to take collective action, including an expanded definition of legitimate labour disputes (archived link). Business groups have criticised the bill, with a report in The Chosun Daily saying industry leaders had warned the proposed changes could escalate strikes, delay production, and force shutdowns (archived link). Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on August 4, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The same image was also shared in similar posts in Facebook groups frequented by conservative users, as well as on the South Korean forum Ilbe. "The law hasn't even passed yet and these commies are already striking," read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "They're taking part in Lee Jae Myung's plan to nationalise all businesses." But as of August 5, there have been no official reports of such a protest outside the . Hypothetical scenario A keyword search found the falsely shared image first appeared in a July 2025 report by South Korean outlet Edaily, which speculated on possible labour unrest if the yellow envelope bill were to become law (archived link). The image's caption says it was generated using ChatGPT. Image Screenshot of the AI image as it appears in the Edaily report A visual analysis of the image reveals inconsistencies indicating it was made with AI, such as distorted lettering on protest placards, misshapen or fused limbs on protesters, and an unnatural crowd arrangement. Although generative AI technology is improving rapidly, identifying visual inconsistencies remains the best way to distinguish fabricated content from genuine material. Image Screenshot of the falsely shared image, with visual inconsistencies highlighted by AFP Moreover, the buildings and environment in the falsely shared image do not match Google Street View imagery of the area outside Samsung's headquarters in Seoul (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the AI image (left) and Google Street View imagery of Samsung headquarters in Seoul (right) AFP has misrepresenting AI-generated images and videos as real-life events.
