Tag: South Korea

Here is something to keep in mind that freedom of speech in the U.S. does not apply in South Korea. If you say something in the U.S. it can be used to arrest you if you travel to South Korea:

Police plan to question Korean American professor Morse Tan this week over his alleged defamation of President Lee Jae Myung, sources said Tuesday.

The questioning will take place at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at 10 a.m. Wednesday over allegations that the professor at U.S.-based Liberty University falsely accused Lee of involvement in murder as a teenager.

Tan allegedly made the claim at a press conference in the United States last year. He also claimed Lee had been sent to a juvenile detention center for the crime.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Tough day for the Korean stock market:

South Korean stocks tumbled nearly 10 percent Tuesday as foreign investors dumped major semiconductor shares and other market heavyweights amid profit-taking, tracking overnight losses in U.S. technology stocks. The local currency weakened against the U.S. dollar.

After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 910.71 points, or 9.99 percent, to close at 8,203.84. The index hit an intra-day high of 9,175.45.

The Korea Exchange (KRX), the bourse operator, activated a circuit breaker at around 2:33 p.m. after the KOSPI plummeted more than 8 percent from the previous session’s close.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

When you promise people free things you have to find money to pay for it and it appears the Lee administration may be targeting home owners:

An aide to President Lee Jae Myung has hinted at imposing more taxes on homeowners to stop the housing market from further overheating.

This prompted the right-wing opposition People Power Party’s call to hold the presidential aide accountable for causing confusion in the property market, as it claimed the tax hike on the wealthy would wind up hurting the poor.

On Saturday, Kim Yong-beom, chief secretary for national policy for the liberal president, wrote via Facebook that it would be plausible to “normalize” taxation on real estate assets.

In other words, South Korea needs to “rationally adjust” property taxes and comprehensive real estate holding taxes for those owning at least a house, as well as capital gains taxes for those selling their houses for profit, he noted.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

I guess this is how Starbucks Korea is trying to end criticism of the failed Tank Day event by holding mandatory sensitivity training:

Starbucks Korea will close all of its stores nationwide early Monday to provide employee training aimed at improving historical awareness and social sensitivity, following a controversial promotion linked to the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.

All 2,160 stores across the country will close at 3 p.m. It marks the first time Starbucks Korea has ended operations early nationwide since opening its first outlet in 1999.

Starbucks Korea, operated by E-Mart Inc., a unit of Shinsegae Group, launched an online “Tank Day” promotion on May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju pro-democracy uprising. The event was suspended within hours after drawing widespread public criticism.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

The June 2000 summit was bought and paid for by the Korean government via Hyundai in what became known as the Cash for Summit Scandal. At the time North Korea was desperate for cash and agreed to the summit. This is not the case now since the Kim regime is having their cash and resource needs met currently by the Russians and thus have no incentive to cut a deal with the South Koreans:

President Lee Jae Myung (L) attends a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, celebrated by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik (R) on June 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday he believes the “ember of hope” for reviving dialogue and cooperation with North Korea still exists, reaffirming his commitment to making the utmost efforts to establish peace with Pyongyang. (……)

Lee referred to the inter-Korean joint statement adopted June 15, 2000, calling it a “historic turning point” that, he said, signaled the possibility of overcoming inter-Korean tensions and opening up dialogue and cooperation. 

The president noted the first inter-Korean joint statement had led to reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, as well as humanitarian cooperation and other exchanges, opening the door to new hopes for building peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

The article doesn’t say, but it appears that this South Korean ship was one of the 200 that President Trump said successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance of the U.S. military:

Another vessel operated by a South Korean shipper has successfully passed through the crisis-stricken Strait of Hormuz, marking the second case of its kind, Seoul’s oceans ministry said Thursday.

The vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier operated by a Korean shipping company under a charter agreement with a foreign party, with eight Korean crew members on board, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Details of the ship, the company and the foreign charterer were undisclosed.

The ministry said the decision was made through consultations between the Korean shipper and the foreign charterer.

The vessel is headed to a different destination than South Korea, it added. 

With the latest case, the number of South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz went down to 24 from 25, with the number of Korean sailors down to 139 from 147.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.