Author: GIKorea

The Korean left continues their crusade against President Yoon’s wife:

The state anti-corruption agency said Thursday that it is looking into allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee improperly received a high-end designer bag from a pastor last year. 

A liberal YouTube-based news channel had previously claimed that the wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol had been gifted the Christian Dior bag valued at around 3 million won (US$2,200) by the Korean American pastor and released a video recording of the incident.

A civic group later filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, requesting an investigation into Kim for the alleged violation of anti-graft laws.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This is probably a smart move by the ROK to complete cost sharing negotations before any potential of Donald Trump being elected President. During his prior presidency he put enormous pressure on the ROK to pay more for the upkeep of USFK:

Korea and the United States have agreed to begin talks on their next deal on defense cost sharing earlier than planned, sources said, Jan. 16. Yonhap

Korea and the United States have agreed to begin talks on their next deal on defense cost sharing earlier than planned, sources said Tuesday, a move that appears to consider the possible reelection of former U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his tough bargaining on such deals.

The allies have reached an understanding to start the negotiations on sharing the costs for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), this year, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter.

The early talks, if launched, will come nearly two years ahead of the original schedule for the deal, known as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), currently in effect until the end of 2025 under a six-year term.

Seoul and Washington signed the SMA for 2020-26 in April 2021 after 1 1/2 years of tough haggling over how much Seoul should pay for the stationing of the USFK on its soil, as the then Trump administration had called for a sharp increase in Seoul’s share.

The early launch of the defense cost-sharing talks appear to have taken into account the possibility of Trump returning to the White House if he wins the November presidential vote.

During his term in office, Trump accused the allies of relying on the U.S. for their defense and called them “free riders” who “rip off” America. Some media had reported that Trump demanded Seoul pay $5 billion for its share, more than a fivefold increase from 2019.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

President Yoon best hope that Kim Jong-un does not call him on this threat. For example if North Korea was to sink a ROK naval ship would President Yoon order the ROK military to then launch an attack against a North Korean naval base to sink multiple ships in response? If he does things can quickly escalate:

President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to punish North Korea multiple times as hard in the event it carries out a provocation against South Korea, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for defining South Korea as a “primary foe and invariable principal enemy.”

Kim issued the call during a parliamentary meeting Monday, saying the country should revise its constitution to codify the new definition of South Korea and the North’s commitment to “completely occupying” South Korean territory in the event of war.

“The current Republic of Korea government is different from any previous government,” Yoon said during a Cabinet meeting, referring to South Korea by its formal name. “Our military has an overwhelming response capability. … Should North Korea provoke us, we will punish them multiple times as hard.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

As with any news coming out of North Korea from defector reports make sure to keep some skepticism, but this report seems plausible to me:

More than 17 young North Koreans were prosecuted for watching unsanctioned videos and using South Korean slang in 2023 as the regime strengthened its control over almost every aspect of people’s lives, according to a report published Thursday (U.S. time).

In its annual World Report, Human Rights Watch (HWR), a New York-based NGO, said North Korea “remains one of the most repressive countries in the world” as totalitarian leader Kim Jong-un continues to use torture, executions and other barbaric means to tighten his grip on power.

Citing North Korean escapees who spoke to their relatives there, Elaine Pearson, HRW’s Asia director, said 17 young North Koreans were prosecuted last year for watching unauthorized videos ― likely originating from South Korea ― and using South Korean-style language.

“The group’s leader was sentenced to 10 years forced labor,” Pearson said in response to The Korea Times’ email inquiries. “In another case, youth athletes were sentenced to 3-5 years for using South Korean vocabulary.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.