So now it looks like any conservative that made social media comments about the failed martial law plan is now subject to arrest as well:
A special counsel team detained former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn Wednesday on charges of inciting an insurrection following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law.
Hwang, who served under former President Park Geun-hye, made Facebook posts following the martial law imposition Dec. 3 to call for the eradication of pro-North Korea forces and those involved in alleged electoral fraud.
He also called for the arrest of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and then People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon.
Investigators from special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team executed a detention warrant for Hwang at his home in Seoul’s Yongsan Ward after he ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.
You can read more at the link, but Hwang was targeted by the investigation after an online news outlet highlighted his X post. There is probably a lot of conservatives scrubbing their social media accounts now that this can be used as an excuse to detain them.
This is a pretty cool family legacy to have. Congratulations to LTC MacKnyght or her recent retirement:
The great-granddaughter of U.S. Army Gen. Matthew Ridgway recently visited South Korea to see the place where United Nations troops waged a desperate fight to finally halt a Chinese counteroffensive nearly 75 years ago. Julie MacKnyght, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, toured Chipyong-ni, where U.S. and French troops under the United Nations Command held off waves of Chinese attacks Feb. 13-15, 1951.
Her great-grandfather, at the time commander of Eighth Army, ordered the U.S. 23rd Regimental Combat Team, along with the French, to hold the vital crossroads village and halt the Chinese army advance. U.N. troops, surrounded and outnumbered five to one, held on for three days, according to a U.S. Army account of the fight. “It’s been amazing to be able to come here,” MacKnyght said Tuesday during a tour of the Chipyong-ni battle memorial about 40 miles east of Seoul. “I’ve been fascinated by my great-grandfather since I was a little girl. So, it’s really cool to see firsthand his impacts here in Korea.”
You can read more at the link.
This is clearly being targeted at people protesting against Chinese influence in South Korea:
President Lee Jae Myung urged officials on Tuesday to take stern measures against the sp
read of hate speech and disinformation, calling such acts crimes that must be stamped out.
Lee made the remark during a Cabinet meeting, stressing that such extreme expressions spreading across social media and through other channels fuel social anxiety amid a growing polarization in society.
“There are still anachronistic acts of discrimination and hatred based on race, origin or nationality in some parts of our society,” Lee said.
“On social media, hate speech targeting specific groups is spreading indiscriminately, while false and manipulated information remains rampant,” he said.
Lee’s remarks came as South Korea has seen growing anti-China demonstrations by some conservative groups. Last week, the chair of the Korean Red Cross resigned following revelations about his past racist comments about foreign ambassadors.
Lee strongly denounced those acts as crimes that threaten democracy and everyday life, and urged police to do their utmost to root out such behaviors.
You can read more at the link, but if you protest against China you are supposedly racist. So when the anti-Japan or anti-U.S. protests inevitable start up at some point by the Korean left will President Lee ask for those people to be arrested as well?
Here is the latest from the deadly tower collapse in Ulsan:
The body of another worker was recovered Tuesday night after search operations resumed for those trapped under a collapsed boiler tower at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan, raising the death toll to four.
Firefighters found the body of a man in his 60s around 10:14 p.m. in the debris of Tower 5, about 6 1/2 hours after two adjacent towers were demolished to clear the way for rescue efforts.
You can read more at the link.
The incompetent martial law attempt by former President Yoon appears now to be used as an excuse to conduct a complete purge of conservatives from the Korean government:
The government will launch a task force to investigate whether public officials were involved in illegal activities or misconduct in connection with former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law attempt last December, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok made the proposal during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, stressing that the government’s top priority is to uphold the sovereignty of the people and democracy.
“We will swiftly conduct an internal investigation into public officials who participated in or cooperated with the martial law bid and secure the grounds for taking appropriate personnel measures,” Kim said in his opening remarks.
All 49 central government agencies, excluding those under the presidential office or independent bodies, will be subject to the investigation, which will run through Jan. 31.
You can read more at the link.
It looks like workers will be working five years longer in South Korea before they can retire:
Debate is heating up over raising Korea’s statutory retirement age, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) moves to increase it from 60 to 65, citing the nation’s transition toward a super-aged society.
Critics warn the move could reduce job opportunities for younger workers and place additional burdens on companies already facing high labor costs.
The DPK stated that its special committee on raising the retirement age has been in discussions with leading labor and business organizations — including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) — to coordinate their positions on the proposed legislation.
The ruling party has pledged to pass the bill by year’s end, with gradual increases starting in 2027 bringing the age up to 65 by 2033.
You can read more at the link.
