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Quotes of the Day:
"Thinking is difficult. That's why most people judge."
– Carl Jung
"True freedom is the right to say something that others do not want to hear."
– George Orwell
“Of course, there is more to history than vast impersonal forces such as Communism, technology, geopolitics, and so on. There are also personalities and human agency, with all of their implied contingencies. Vladimir Putin has been the most dangerous Russian leader since Stalin; Xi Jinping is as relentless and ideological as Mao Zedong; Donald Trump, whose political career may lie in the past tense, is more vain and superficial than von Papen even. The point is, there is the raw material in today’s world that can force a true cataclysm, or at the least keep this permanent crisis of world order going. There will be no let-up from the headlines, in other words. Forget Hitler. Every tyrant is unique, just as every hero is. And just as technology liberates, technological demons will abound. The key element in all of this will be closeness. We will all—Eurasia, Africa, North and South America—be exposed to each other’s crises as never before. In this, the mid-and late 21st century will be to the 20th century as the 20th was to the 19th and even the 18th. That is, the pace and quality of connectivity—of closeness—will unceasingly accelerate. That will deliver many wonders, of course. But it will be the disease variants, the toxic destabilizing elements, that can threaten to overwhelm us.”
— Robert D. Kaplan, Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis
1. U.S. military considering permanent deployment of F-35 fighter jets to S. Korea: source
2. S. Korea-U.S. alliance prospects marked by hope, concern in Trump's 1st 100 days
3. S. Korean soldier accidentally fires machine gun at inter-Korean border
4. Close aide to N. Korean leader reappears after 2-month absence
5. N. Korea denounces Japan PM's offering to war shrine
6. Korean battery makers help drive Bezos' effort to challenge Tesla's dominance in EV market
7. Hyundai Motor, Kia to rebalance portfolio as US tariff shocks weigh on earnings
8. Lee Jae-myung tapped presidential candidate for Democratic Party
9. North Korea's New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers
10. Group launches anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North from Paju despite local opposition
11. Lee Jae-myung must dispel fears of absolute power
12. Ex-Presidents Moon, Yoon likely stand criminal trial simultaneously
13. Han faces candidacy deadline as his potential run roils conservative bloc
1. U.S. military considering permanent deployment of F-35 fighter jets to S. Korea: source
Excellent news for Korean AND regional defense. (if this is accurate reporting).
This would be one step toward taking a holistic approach to defining US interests throughout Indo-Pacom.
U.S. military considering permanent deployment of F-35 fighter jets to S. Korea: source | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. military is considering the permanent deployment of advanced F-35A radar-evading fighter jets to South Korea, a source said Sunday.
The deployment, if realized, would mark a major addition to U.S. air assets in South Korea, which consist mostly of older-generation F-16 fighter jets. F-35s have previously only been temporarily deployed for joint training.
"The U.S. military has a concept of permanently deploying F-35As at Kunsan Air Base," the source said. "It will first deploy one squadron, and there is a possibility of rotationally deploying another squadron."
A squadron is an Air Force unit made up of around 20 aircraft.
In July last year, the U.S. 7th Air Force in South Korea announced the relocation of nine F-16s from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base to establish a "Super Squadron" of 31 fighter jets at Osan Air Base.
The 7th Air Force said last week it will also relocate most remaining F-16s from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base in October for another "Super Squadron," a move that will make Osan Air Base home to 62 F-16s.
The 7th Air Force said the Kunsan Air Base will operate as a "primary exercise and rotational force bed-down location" for U.S. air component forces in South Korea.
When asked about the possible deployment of F-35As at Kunsan Air Base, a 7th Air Force official said nothing has been decided.
F-35s are considered to be capable of flying deep into enemy territory without being detected. South Korea currently operates 39 F-35As and plans to acquire 20 more.
North Korea has often reacted angrily to the deployment of key U.S. military assets to South Korea, accusing Washington of raising tensions.
This file photo, taken April 18, 2025, shows an F-35 stealth fighter landing at an air base in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
2. S. Korea-U.S. alliance prospects marked by hope, concern in Trump's 1st 100 days
Let's hope the hope prevails over the concerns.
(News Focus) S. Korea-U.S. alliance prospects marked by hope, concern in Trump's 1st 100 days | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · April 27, 2025
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Yonhap) -- The prospects for the South Korea-U.S. alliance have been marked by hope and concern over the last nearly 100 days since President Donald Trump took office, as Seoul has seen tariff threats, an alignment on the North Korea denuclearization goal and cooperation opportunities in shipbuilding and other fields.
After Trump's return to office in January, uncertainty shrouded the alliance amid Trump's tariff pressure, his claim of Seoul's insufficient reimbursement for America's military support and the Asian ally's unlikely placement on the U.S. Department of Energy's "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)."
A fair dose of optimism has also emerged, driven by Seoul's diplomatic push to navigate new and future U.S. levies and explore possibilities for collaboration over Trump's policy priorities, though the aftermath of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration has injected unforeseen uncertainties into the alliance
In the first several months of Trump's second term, South Korea appeared to have been low on his foreign policy list with his administration heavily consumed with the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the fentanyl crisis, border security and trade policy formulation, to name a few.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on April 2, 2025, in this photo released by Reuters. (Yonhap)
But the Asian country sprung back into the spotlight on Thursday when it and the United States held high-level "two plus two" consultations in pursuit of a deal over new U.S. import taxes and other economic issues that are consequential for South Korea's export-reliant economy.
Seoul's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun joined Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer for the talks, after the U.S. started imposing "reciprocal tariffs," including 25 percent duties on South Korea, on April 9, only to put a 90-day pause on them shortly afterward.
During the talks, the two sides agreed on joint efforts to pursue a comprehensive package agreement by July 8, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariff ends.
South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok (2nd from L), Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun (L), U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (2nd from R) and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer pose for a photo prior to their trade talks in Washington on April 24, 2025, in this photo provided by Seoul's industry ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The high-profile trade talks came after Trump laid bare his apparently negative perception toward South Korea as a trading partner.
During a congressional speech last month, Trump claimed that South Korea's average tariff is four times higher than that of the U.S., arguing that the tariff rate is in place although the U.S. has helped the Asian ally for security and in "so many other ways."
South Korea's tariff on its most-favored nations (MFNs) stands at around 13.4 percent -- compared with the U.S.' 3.3 percent on its MFNs -- but that rate is not applicable to countries with free trade agreements with Korea, including the U.S.
Tariffs aside, the Trump administration has taken issue with a bevy of South Korea's non-tariff barriers in a recent USTR report, including the country's import ban on American beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, its "offset" defense trade policy and emission-related regulations on imported cars.
Trump's emphasis on allies' burden-sharing has also been a source of tension.
During his first phone call with South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo earlier this month, Trump said he and Han discussed the U.S.' "big time" military protection of the Asian ally -- a remark that reinforced speculation he might demand a rise in Seoul's share of the cost for stationing the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
"We pay for military over in Europe. We don't get reimbursed by much ... South Korea too," Trump told reporters at the White House this month, responding to a question about whether he has any plans to reduce the number of American troops in Europe.
This photo, taken on March 10, 2025, shows Apache attack helicopters at Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, some 65 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
On the North Korea front, South Korean policymakers heaved a sigh of relief in late January when the White House said that Trump will pursue the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.
Trump's commitment to the denuclearization goal came days after he called North Korea a "nuclear power" -- an expression that fueled concerns that he could accept the recalcitrant regime as a nuclear-armed country and focus on mitigating security risks rather than on ridding it of nuclear arms.
His return to the Oval Office has raised cautious hope for the revival of his summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The president's "top-down" leader-to-leader approach during his first term led to three in-person meetings between the leaders, including their first summit in Singapore in 2018.
In a media interview after his inauguration, Trump said he will reach out to Kim again, calling him a "smart guy."
"Since inauguration, (Trump) has continued to give signals (for reengagement with Kim), and he's assembled a team around him that should be able help him follow through on his ambitions with Pyongyang, although there are others in his administration who perhaps are less supportive," Rob Rapson, former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, told Yonhap News Agency via email.
"It's just a matter of timing, in my view, so perhaps later this year as conditions warrant," he added.
This AFP file photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after signing a joint statement at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. (Yonhap)
As to the agenda for the future Trump-Kim talks, Rapson anticipated that it may not be tethered so tightly to denuclearization given that Trump appears more interested in a "bigger" deal with the North Korean leader.
Among the most contentious alliance issues was South Korea's inclusion in the U.S. Energy Department's SCL, a list that includes North Korea, Russia, China and Iran -- a grouping that South Korea, a longtime staunch ally of the U.S., was hardly expected to join.
The department confirmed to Yonhap News Agency last month that the preceding Biden administration added South Korea to the lowest category of the SCL in early January. The designated countries are subject to stricter scrutiny when access is requested to the department's research institutions or other facilities for technology cooperation or other purposes.
The designation drew keen public attention in Seoul as many Koreans viewed it as a matter of trust in the long-standing alliance with the U.S.
Amid controversy over the SCL, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said that the U.S. looks forward to "continued" and "robust" scientific research cooperation with South Korea, and it "greatly values" its relationship with South Korea.
This photo, released by UPI, shows the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington. (Yonhap)
Another potential fault line in the alliance has stemmed from the possibility that the Trump administration could pursue greater "strategic flexibility" in its use of USFK assets to deal with threats from China and other security priorities.
Seoul has balked at USFK moves that might weaken its focus on deterring a provocative North Korea, but Washington has sought to leverage USFK assets for a broader security role rather than keeping it as a static fixture on the Korean Peninsula.
The U.S. military has recently deployed Patriot missile defense batteries from the South to the Middle East on a temporary basis -- a dispatch that has brought the strategic flexibility issue to the fore in both Seoul and Washington.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has advocated for strategic flexibility. During last year's interview with Yonhap News, he noted the need for a USFK overhaul to make it "more relevant" to handling China-related contingencies rather than being held "hostage" to countering North Korean challenges.
"Pressure from China hawks on Trump's team for Korea to take much stronger measures against Beijing will be a key and potentially divisive issue as will possible efforts by some to have Korea take on more direct responsibility for its defense against North Korea -- all of which contributes to growing concern among many Koreans about the strength of the U.S. treaty commitment to Korea's defense," Rapson said.
Brightening the prospects for the alliance is the shared desire for future cooperation on various areas, including the shipbuilding industry.
With China known to have over 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the U.S., Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to cooperate with allies to build naval vessels.
"We don't really essentially build ships anymore, which is ridiculous. It's going to be a very big business for us in the not-too-distant future," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting earlier this month.
"But in the meantime, we have countries that do very well at building ships, and we'll be dealing with those countries, and we may be ordering top-of-the-line ships from those countries."
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he hosts NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2025, in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)
Trump has also signaled his desire to elicit South Korea's cooperation in an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. He told a joint congressional session last month that Korea, Japan and others want to partner with the U.S. in the project "with investments of trillions of dollars each."
The project, estimated at US$44 billion, aims to build a 1,287-kilometer pipeline from the North Slope, a proven massive reserve of natural gas, to southern Alaska to transport natural gas that will be cooled to liquid for shipments to Asia. Trump's interest in it came amid his push for America's "energy dominance."
"From a geopolitical perspective, I think the kind of perceived benefit would be ... making a strong signal to the president (Trump) and to the administration about Korea's desire to consolidate and strengthen the alliance with the United States," Paul Saunders, the president of the Center for the National Interest, a U.S.-based think tank, told Yonhap News Agency in a recent interview.
"I think in addition to that, certainly many would view it as an investment in energy security and an opportunity for Korea or for others to diversify away from the Middle East, or in some cases from Russia."
The future trajectory of the alliance will likely be affected by the outcome of South Korea's June 3 presidential election set up by the ouster of Yoon who was impeached over his martial law imposition in December.
Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the liberal Democratic Party, is seen as the front runner in the presidential race as various polls put him far ahead of other contenders. Should Lee be elected president, he could have a strong mandate backed by his party's parliamentary clout.
"As such, while a policy of strong support for the U.S. alliance and partnership across the spectrum of issues will undoubtedly maintain, it will be tempered by a greater pragmatism and capacity to push back on Trump administration policies that run at sharp odds with Korea's core national interests ... more so than a prospective conservative administration," Rapson said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · April 27, 2025
3. S. Korean soldier accidentally fires machine gun at inter-Korean border
Failed to clear the chamber?
Excerpt:
....the soldier mistakenly fired a single round from the K6 heavy machine gun from a guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone ..
S. Korean soldier accidentally fires machine gun at inter-Korean border | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean soldier at the inter-Korean border accidentally fired a machine gun toward North Korea last week, prompting the military to air broadcasts to notify the North of the mistake, military officials said Sunday.
The accident happened at around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday when the soldier mistakenly fired a single round from the K6 heavy machine gun from a guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in Cheorwon County, about 70 kilometers north of Seoul, according to the officials.
The South Korean military immediately notified North Korea of the incident by airing broadcasts, the officials said, adding they presume the round did not reach the North's side as it went through a reinforced door, likely slowing it down.
The South Korean military said it has yet to detect any unusual signs of North Korean military activity.
This undated file photo, provided by the Defense Daily, shows Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo inspecting a border unit. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
4. Close aide to N. Korean leader reappears after 2-month absence
Perhaps he was on the accelerated re-education process. I wonder how he enjoyed his short stay in the gulag.
Close aide to N. Korean leader reappears after 2-month absence | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Jo Yong-won, a North Korean party secretary considered a close aide to leader Kim Jong-un, has reappeared in public after a two-month absence, a state media photo showed Sunday.
The photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Jo, along with other officials, attending a trade show for regional factories in Pyongyang from Tuesday to Saturday, marking his reappearance in state media.
Jo was last seen in state media Feb. 28 while attending groundbreaking ceremonies for regional industrial factories. His prolonged absence had raised speculation about a possible purge.
South Korea's unification ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs, said last week it was keeping close tabs on possible changes to his status.
Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that Jo's two-month absence suggests that he may have undergone "revolutionary" education, possibly for disciplinary purposes.
Jo Yong-won, a North Korean party secretary considered a close aide to leader Kim Jong-un, attends a trade show for regional factories that took place in Pyongyang from April 22-26, 2025, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on April 27. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 27, 2025
5. N. Korea denounces Japan PM's offering to war shrine
The only thing that unites north and South is when Japan makes an offering at the war shrine.
N. Korea denounces Japan PM's offering to war shrine | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · April 27, 2025
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for making a ritual offering to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo, saying it again demonstrated Japan's pursuit of militarization.
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the criticism in a commentary Saturday after Ishiba sent an offering last week to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted by the Allied forces after World War II.
A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers also visited the shrine in person to pay their respects at that time.
The KCNA denounced those actions by Japanese politicians as "the road to militarization," saying they would only precipitate the ruin of all of Japan.
The KCNA accused Japanese politicians of regularizing their annual offerings and visits to Yasukuni, denouncing the moves as an attempt to "invariably and deeply implant the poison of militarism in the whole area of the archipelago with the shrine as the origin."
It also claimed that Japan is in the final stage of legal, institutional and military preparations for a continental invasion, referring to the country's recent launch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Joint Operation Command and constitutional revisions.
"The revision of Japan, which has systematically and extensively pushed forward with its political and military rearmament for decades since its defeat, is approaching as the reality, not expectation," the KCNA said.
Sending an offering or visiting the shrine has been a point of criticism from neighboring countries like South Korea and China, which view such actions as an attempt to glorify the country's militaristic past.
Japan invaded China during World War II, and Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-45.
This photo shows offerings sent from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to the Yasukuni Shrine on the occasion of an annual spring festival on April 21, 2025. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · April 27, 2025
6. Korean battery makers help drive Bezos' effort to challenge Tesla's dominance in EV market
Korean battery makers help drive Bezos' effort to challenge Tesla's dominance in EV market
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20250428/south-korean-battery-makers-help-drive-bezos-effort-to-challenge-teslas-dominance-in-ev-market
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Front row from left, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla CEO Elon Musk attend U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20. UPI-Yonhap
By Park Jae-hyuk
- Published Apr 28, 2025 1:00 am KST
- Updated Apr 28, 2025 1:00 am KST
SK On picked as supplier for Slate
Korean battery makers are playing a key role in Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' efforts to challenge Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Slate, an EV startup backed by Bezos and founded in Mississippi in 2022, chose SK On to supply 20 gigawatt-hours of U.S.-made batteries for its two-seat pickup trucks from 2026 to 2031. The deal is valued at approximately $2.8 billion.
Though Slate’s name is seen as an anagram of Tesla, its new pickup stands in stark contrast to Tesla’s Cybertruck.
Slate plans to price its pickup under $30,000 by simplifying manufacturing and design, while Tesla’s Cybertruck, by comparison, is priced up to $100,000.
Industry officials attribute Slate's choice of SK On to the Korean company's position as the only non-Chinese battery maker that does not supply Tesla, even though it manufactures its batteries in the United States.
SK On began mass production in Georgia in 2022, following its 2019 investment to build factories there.
The Korean firm also anticipates the start of standard operations at its three U.S. plants by the end of next year, aiming for their output to account for 50 percent of its global production capacity.
SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee, right, poses with Slate CEO Chris Barman during an event to unveil the U.S. electric vehicle maker's new pickup truck in California, Thursday (local time). Courtesy of SK On
"SK On's innovative approach and partnership has allowed us to meet our target of delivering a radically affordable vehicle," Slate CEO Chris Barman said.
SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee noted that the partnership with Slate demonstrates how his company's U.S. manufacturing capabilities are enabling more effective and flexible support for innovative customers.
"North America is a key market for us and we are committed to delivering reliable, high-quality batteries that support our partners in making EVs more accessible, while reducing emissions and advancing sustainable mobility," he said.
Rivian, another U.S. EV manufacturer backed by Bezos, also opted for batteries from Korean companies.
While Samsung SDI supplied batteries for Rivian's R1T long-range electric pickup truck, LG Energy Solution provided products for the U.S. carmaker's R1S all-electric SUV. However, the two companies are also suppliers for Tesla.
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Considering recent controversies surrounding Musk's political moves, the Bezos-backed companies are expected to expand their presence in the market.
Tesla has been facing a global boycott as Musk was appointed to lead the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency due to his support for U.S. President Donald Trump.
In the first quarter of this year, the carmaker sold approximately 128,000 vehicles, marking a 9 percent year-on-year decline. Its U.S. market share also fell from 53 percent to 43 percent.
Additionally, the company reportedly delayed the U.S. launch of its affordable Model Y by several months.
Park Jae-hyuk
Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
7. Hyundai Motor, Kia to rebalance portfolio as US tariff shocks weigh on earnings
Hyundai Motor, Kia to rebalance portfolio as US tariff shocks weigh on earnings
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20250428/hyundai-motor-kia-to-rebalance-portfolio-as-us-tariff-shocks-weigh-on-earnings
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Headquarters of Hyundai Motor and Kia in Seoul / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Lee Min-hyung
- Published Apr 28, 2025 1:00 am KST
- Updated Apr 28, 2025 1:00 am KST
Carmakers reorganize US production structure
Hyundai Motor and Kia are moving to rebalance their production portfolio in the United States, in a desperate bid to minimize a possible earnings drop amid the country's imposition of massive auto tariffs.
Last week, Hyundai Motor Group's two automakers reported solid first-quarter earnings, boosted by strong auto sales in the U.S.
The figure, however, is feared to fall in the second quarter and the latter half of 2025, following the U.S. implementation of a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles.
In response to the escalating trade uncertainty, the group has formed a task force dedicated to setting up a contingency plan to optimize auto production and sales in the U.S.
“We will prepare the contingency plan to shape our ideal production strategies by regions and vehicles,” Lee Seung-jo, executive vice president at Hyundai Motor, told investors during a conference call on Thursday.
The executive also said it will gradually localize production there for more automobiles and auto parts from a long-term viewpoint.
The strategy seems inevitable, given the carmaker's increasing reliance on its U.S. earnings. According to the carmaker’s latest earnings report, it sold some 834,700 vehicles abroad in the first quarter, down 1.4 percent from a year earlier. However, U.S. sales jumped 1.1 percent during the same period.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun applauds during an opening ceremony for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, March 27. Yonhap
Kia is also increasing its vigilance on the sales uncertainty in the U.S. caused by tariffs. The carmaker reported a 6.9 percent sales growth in the first quarter compared to the previous year, driven by rising demand for value-added vehicles, such as hybrid cars.
The carmaker also said it will deal with the U.S. tariff risk by strengthening its production portfolio in the country.
“We have plans to deal with the auto tariffs by reshaping our sales portfolio,” Kia Senior Vice President Kim Seung-jun said Friday during a conference call.
“For now, we sell some vehicles — manufactured at our Georgia plant — to Canada or Mexico, but cars assembled in the U.S. will be assigned for sales preemptively in the U.S."
The carmaker also expects the U.S. tariff shock to start weighing on the company in May.
“We have a two-month inventory for the global market,” he said. “As the tariff shock casts influences on global automakers, we will focus on turning the sense of crisis into an opportunity.”
The Korean government is also going all out for local carmakers to receive tariff exemptions from the U.S., but the outlook remains unclear as it is uncertain whether both sides will reach timely agreements on their pending trade issues.
The tariff risk is expected to become a main trigger driving down auto demand in the latter half of this year, the Kia official said.
Lee Min-hyung
Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
8. Lee Jae-myung tapped presidential candidate for Democratic Party
Just to remind us:
South Korean politician Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and a prominent opposition figure, is currently facing multiple legal challenges. Below is a summary of the crimes he has been accused of, along with their status and potential implications under U.S. laws:
Crimes and Allegations Against Lee Jae-myung
1. Misappropriation of Public Funds
Details: Lee is accused of misusing approximately 106.5 million won (around $72,399) in public funds during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province (2018–2021). Allegations include using government-issued corporate credit cards for personal expenses such as laundry services, food, and family-related events.
Status: The trial began on April 8, 2025, in the Suwon District Court. His wife was also implicated but has not been formally charged due to limited involvement.
2. Bribery and Property Development Scandal
Details: Lee faces charges related to bribery and corruption during his time as mayor of Seongnam. This includes allegations tied to a controversial $1 billion property development project.
Status: These charges are part of ongoing trials at the Seoul Central District Court.
3. Election Law Violations
Details: Lee was previously convicted for providing false information during a parliamentary review in 2021 but was acquitted on appeal in March 2025.
Status: The appellate court overturned his conviction, allowing him to remain eligible for political office.
4. Illegal Remittances to North Korea
Details: Lee is accused of orchestrating an $8 million illegal remittance to North Korea between 2019 and 2020 through the Ssangbangwool Group while serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province. The funds allegedly supported a smart farming project in North Korea and facilitated a planned visit by Lee to Pyongyang.
Charges:
Third-party bribery
Violating South Korea's Foreign Exchange Transactions Act (FETA)
Violating the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act (IECA), which regulates economic activities with North Korea.
Status: Trials are ongoing, with proceedings set to resume on April 23, 2025. Lee denies the charges, claiming no connection between Gyeonggi Province and the remittance.
Do Any Crimes Violate U.S. Laws?
The illegal remittance to North Korea may potentially violate U.S. laws under certain conditions:
Violation of U.S. Sanctions on North Korea: The United States enforces strict sanctions on financial transactions with North Korea under its sanctions regime (e.g., the International Emergency Economic Powers Act). If any part of the $8 million transfer involved U.S.-regulated financial institutions or U.S. persons/entities, it could constitute a violation of U.S. sanctions.
There is no evidence from the provided information that U.S.-based entities were involved in these transactions.
Conclusion
Lee Jae-myung faces significant legal challenges in South Korea, including allegations of bribery, misuse of public funds, and unauthorized dealings with North Korea. While his alleged illegal remittance to North Korea could theoretically breach U.S. sanctions if linked to U.S.-regulated systems, no such connection has been reported so far.
(2nd LD) Lee Jae-myung tapped presidential candidate for Democratic Party | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 27, 2025
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with acceptance speech, background; ADDS photo; RECASTS first 3 paras)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung, who has made economic recovery and talks with North Korea his top priority, won the party's presidential nomination Sunday and solidified his stance as front-runner for the June 3 presidential election.
Lee, a human rights lawyer-turned-politician, won 89.77 percent of all votes cast in the party's primary, becoming the party's formal presidential candidate for the second time, after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office over his failed martial law bid.
This marks the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates since South Korea achieved its full-fledged democracy in 1987.
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung poses for a photo after winning the Democratic Party's nomination for president at a party event in Goyang, just north of Seoul, on April 27, 2025. (Yonhap)
With just 37 days remaining before the June 3 election, Lee vowed to build a "completely new country" and what he called a "true Republic of Korea."
"I will humbly fulfill the responsibility of achieving national unity, which is both the mission of politics and the president's top priority," Lee said in his acceptance speech.
He stressed that being elected with an unprecedented 89.77 percent support is a "reflection of the public's desperate hope" to realize democracy, human rights, peace, safety, recovery, growth, unity and happiness.
"From now on, Lee Jae-myung is not only the DP's candidate but also the candidate for all citizens yearning to end turmoil, overcome crises, and achieve unity and happiness," he said.
Mentioning the word "unity" 14 times in his speech, Lee pledged to "close the door of the old era stained by inequality, despair, conflict and confrontation," and to open a new one filled with hope and unity.
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon came in second with 6.87 percent, while Kim Kyung-soo, a former South Gyeongsang Province governor, won 3.36 percent.
In 2022, Lee lost to former President Yoon Suk Yeol by just 0.73 percentage point.
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung (L) raises his hands up at a primary event to choose the party's flag bearer for the June 3 presidential election in Goyang, just north of Seoul, on April 27, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Lee has emphasized economic growth as one of his top priorities before the primary, in a notable departure from previous liberal politicians.
While his presidential campaign in 2022 highlighted redistribution measures, such as universal basic income, Lee has focused more on economic growth and pragmatism in his second presidential bid, touching on issues like advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
Since earlier this year, Lee has sought to break away from the DP's traditional pro-labor stance and be seen as more business-friendly in a bid to appeal to conservative and centrist voters.
Lee has also recently voiced openness to dialogue with North Korea.
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung poses for a photo after winning the party's nomination for president at a party event in Goyang, just north of Seoul, on April 27, 2025. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 27, 2025
9. North Korea's New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers
Photos at the link: https://www.twz.com/air/north-koreas-new-frigate-has-ballistic-missile-launchers?utm
North Korea's New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers
North Korea just unveiled its new air warfare frigate and the ship has a whopping 74 vertical launch cells, some of which could launch cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as SAMs.
Tyler Rogoway
Published Apr 26, 2025 8:02 PM EDT
88
twz.com · by Tyler Rogoway
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North Korea has officially unveiled the Choi Hyon, its air defense-capable frigate that we previously had seen under construction. The warship, which was supposedly built in just over a year, carries the hull number 51, likely to emulate the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyer that it bears a minor resemblance to. You can read our previous analysis on the vessel when it was under construction here, but now that we are seeing it in full, one thing is very clear, it intends to pack more weaponry than any ship of its size. As for that size, a displacement of 5,000 tons is being circulated, but it’s unclear if it actually hits that figure.
Clearly visible on its bow is a large deck gun, possibly in the 127mm class. Then we also see a primary close-in weapon system (CIWS) towards the rear of the ship’s superstructure. This looks very similar to Russia’s navalized Pantsir-ME system that features both cannons and highly maneuverable short-range missiles. This could be a North Korean knock-off, or it could be from Russia directly as part of reimbursement for North Korea’s support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
(KCNA)
Giving the ship a credible CIWS capability would be very important, as the rest of its anti-air capabilities will take time to develop and may never reach the point of a highly reliable defense. A pair of AK-630 turreted six-barrel 30mm rotary cannons are also visible on each side of the ship, which can engage air and surface targets over very close ranges.
We also see two countermeasures dispensers arrayed on both sides of the ship, along the outer edge of the superstructure, as well as what appear to be the same number of turreted four-cell launchers. These are most likely capable of firing loitering munitions and short-range guided missiles, as well as possibly anti-submarine charges. What could be an enclosure that houses angle-launched anti-ship cruise missiles is seen amidships, although it’s inconclusive as to what this structure is for. This enclosure does look broadly similar, but also appears to be thinner, than one that conceals angled cruise missile launchers on North Korea’s new Amnok class corvette.
(KCNA)
When it comes to armament, the sheer number of vertical launch system (VLS) cells on this ship is remarkable. Not just that, but there appear to be at least four (possibly even five) distinct sizes of VLS cells that make up its two VLS arrays. This is of particular interest because it would maximize magazine depth for a given loadout and is capable of hosting a wide range of different weapon sizes. It is more complex than having one or even two VLS cell sizes only.
In total, the ship features 32 small cells, 12 medium-sized cells, 20 large cells (although these could also be different sized, with 12 forward cells being different than the eight aft) and 10 very large cells, for a total of a whopping 74 cells. That is a remarkable number for a ship this size, which looks larger than it actually is. This is especially true considering some of those cells are quite large.
For comparison, the upcoming Constellation class frigate will feature 32 cells, for instance, although, like all Mk41 VLS cells, they can be quad-packed with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles. An Arleigh Burke class destroyer has between 90 and 96 cells, depending on the variant, and like the Constellation class, all the cells have the same aperture dimensions.
KNCA
It’s very likely that the Choi Hyon‘s large cells will be able to accommodate long-range cruise missiles and the extra large ones will be able to launch ballistic missiles.
North Korea has previously test-launched its Hwasal-2 long-range cruise missile, which is supposed to have strategic (nuclear) capability, from its new Amnok class corvette. Other cruise missiles and adapted guided artillery rockets could also fill the large cells.
Hwasal-2 test launch. (KCNA)
North Korea has a dizzying array of ballistic missiles in its weapons catalog, with short-range ballistic missile types (such as the Hwasong-11 family) being suited to fit inside the ship’s extra-large VLS cells. The adoption of ballistic missiles, both in a land attack and anti-ship capacity, aboard surface warships is an emerging trend. North Korea’s arch nemesis and neighbor, South Korea, is adopting exactly this weapons capability for its far more capable top-of-the-line warships. So, when you consider this and Pyongyang’s affinity to ballistic missiles, as well as the odd dual-role of this ship (which we will get to in a moment), it is unsurprising that North Korea is following suit.
The Hwasong-11 family of SRBMs would be a prime candidate to fill the very large VLS cells on North Korea’s new frigate. (KCNA)
The smaller VLS cells would primarily support the ship’s stated anti-air warfare mission, carrying various surface-to-air missiles.
In the new imagery, we also see the four-sided phased array radar system that will provide the ship’s primary sensor capability, as well as ancillary sensor and communications systems festooned atop its superstructure. A flight deck is also present on the ship’s stern, but with no hangar facility to house a rotary-wing asset.
Overall, it is clear that this frigate was designed to absolutely maximize its weapons-carrying capabilities.
(KCNA)
While this ship should be capable as a launch platform for longer-range strike missiles, its other primary role as an air warfare asset is highly debatable. As with other new high-profile North Korean weapon systems, while they may offer advanced capabilities in relation to what the country already has, in a wartime scenario, they would be the first to be targeted and destroyed. Having a ship that looks loosely like more advanced foreign ones and packed with weapons is one thing, actually making it a survivable asset, with all the technology and training that goes with it, is a far higher bar to reach. Infusion of Russian technologies and assistance could help in this regard, but only to a degree.
(KCNA)
It is unlikely that Pyongyang will ever be able to build these ships in large enough numbers to give their fleet true depth and resiliency in combat, assuming they even stand a shot in a combat scenario at all. Even if multiple frigates are built, they would be tracked and sunk quickly during the opening stages of a conflict. This is especially true considering they could carry standoff weapons with nuclear warheads. Still, they may have enough time to send their long-range weaponry on its way before they reach their demise. Considering the unique weapons configuration we are seeing, that could very well be their point. An ambiguously assured second-strike deterrent.
In that framing, this ship is certainly similar to what we have seen as of late from the nuclear-armed Hermit Kingdom. They may be token capabilities, but the fact that they could deliver strategic attacks makes them a threat that must be dealt with. Even the possibility of them getting a single nuclear armed weapon fired off works as its own deterrent value, although a relatively dubious one.
Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com
Editor-in-Chief
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense media space. He was the creator of the hugely popular defense site Foxtrot Alpha before developing The War Zone.
10. Group launches anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North from Paju despite local opposition
Information is the key to human rights, solving the "Korea question," and achieving a free and unified Korea that results in denuclearization.
To those in Paju: when has the north ever responded kinetically to balloon launches? Opposition to balloon launches is an act of appeasement of the Kim family regime.
Sunday
April 27, 2025
Group launches anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North from Paju despite local opposition
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-27/national/northKorea/Group-launches-antiPyongyang-leaflets-into-North-from-Paju-despite-local-opposition/2294555
Published: 27 Apr. 2025, 16:07
The Families of Abductees to North Korea Association prepares to launch eight balloons carrying anti-North Korea leaflets toward the North from behind the fence at Peace Land in Paju, Gyeonggi, on April 27. [FAMILIES OF ABDUCTEES TO NORTH KOREA ASSOCIATION]
The Families of Abductees to North Korea Association launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets early Sunday at Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, Gyeonggi, despite backlash from regional governments and civic organizations.
Members released eight balloons at 12:20 a.m. from behind the fence at Peace Land near Imjingak in Paju.
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"We are not launching leaflets to create conflict or confrontation with Gyeonggi, Paju or civic groups," Choi Seong-ryong, head of the association, said during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily. "We are requesting confirmation of the fate of abductees, prisoners of war and separated families in North Korea. We happened to visit Imjingak that day and, since a southwesterly wind was blowing, we hurried to send them."
The balloons carried approximately 10,000 leaflets, which included newsletters featuring photos and descriptions of six abductees and leaflets showing a fabricated image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un behind prison bars.
Leaflets aimed at North Korea flutter from a large balloon during the ″Safe Return Memorial Ceremony″ hosted by the Families of Abductees to North Korea Association near Peace Land at Imjingak in Paju, Gyeonggi on April 23. [NEWS1]
The group initially prepared 10 plastic balloons, keeping each within the two-kilogram (4.4 pounds) weight limit required by law, but only launched eight due to a shortage of helium gas. The association believes the balloons traveled toward North Korea.
After the launch, the association issued a statement demanding that North Korea confirm the fate of abductees, prisoners of war and separated families.
"The government must apologize to the victims' families and take the lead in protecting its own citizens," the association said. "At the previous rally, opposing groups protested by telling citizens sending newsletters to 'go to North Korea,' but even if they cannot join us in sending newsletters to abducted family members, we at least ask them not to tell us to go to North Korea."
The association had already filed a rally notice covering events through May 7 as part of its "sending newsletters to abducted family members" campaign.
It attempted a similar event on April 23 but canceled the balloon launch due to unfavorable wind conditions.
After a brief confrontation with Gyeonggi’s special judicial police, the group withdrew but left tents and helium tanks in place, vowing to continue leaflet operations.
About 60 residents from three villages — Tongilchon, Daeseong-dong and Haemaru Village — within the civilian control zone, meanwhile, crossed Tongil Bridge with eight tractors and held a counterprotest at Imjingak. Progressive civic groups also staged separate rallies opposing the leaflet launches.
Residents from three villages inside the civilian control zone in Paju, Gyeonggi — Tongilchon, Daeseong-dong and Haemaru Village — drive tractors and hold a protest opposing the Families of Abductees to North Korea Association’s attempt to launch anti-North Korea leaflets. [JOONGANG ILBO]
Gyeonggi designated Paju, Yeoncheon and Gimpo as "danger zones" under the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety last October to block balloon launches. The province has conducted 24-hour patrols since then through its special judicial police unit.
No Gyeonggi special judicial police, Paju officials or police officers, however, were present during Sunday’s launch and no physical clashes occurred.
Residents of Tongilchon, a village inside the civilian control zone, cross Tongil Bridge driving tractors to stage a protest against the Families of Abductees to North Korea Association’s attempt to launch anti-North Korea leaflets at Imjingak in Paju, Gyeonggi, on April 23. [YONHAP]
"We will review the legal grounds for action once we secure evidence that the Families of Abductees to North Korea Association launched the leaflets," a Gyeonggi government official said.
Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY CHOI MO-RAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]
11. Lee Jae-myung must dispel fears of absolute power
Monday
April 28, 2025
Lee Jae-myung must dispel fears of absolute power
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-28/opinion/columns/Lee-Jaemyung-must-dispel-fears-of-absolute-power/2294612
Published: 28 Apr. 2025, 00:03
Choi Hoon
The author is the senior columnist at the JoongAng Ilbo.
If the presidential election were held tomorrow, all indicators suggest that Lee Jae-myung would likely win. A Gallup Korea survey conducted three days ago showed Lee, the Democratic Party’s (DP) presidential candidate, defeating each of the four major People Power Party candidates — Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon and Hong Joon-pyo — by margins exceeding 52 percent, ranging from 52 to 56 percent. Even against acting President Han Duck-soo, Lee holds a commanding lead of 53 percent to 38 percent. A Realmeter poll conducted last week similarly found that 59.9 percent of respondents hoped for a change in administration, far outpacing the 34.3 percent who preferred the continuation of the current government.
Thirty-six days remain until the June 3 election — an eternity in political terms. Given the likelihood of unexpected variables, premature conclusions would be unwise. From the PPP’s perspective, it would require a near-perfect alignment of factors to make the contest competitive: a voluntary pledge to shorten the presidential term, unification of the ruling camp around acting President Han, a last-minute alliance with Lee Jun-seok’s reformist New Conservative Party, and a major blunder by the DP. Without these pieces fitting together like Lego blocks, even a close contest seems unlikely. Most critically, after the consecutive collapses of two conservative presidencies, the party has failed to offer genuine reflection, a sincere apology or a renewed vision for conservatism — leaving it without the forgiveness, atonement and momentum necessary for a resurgence.
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, speaks during the party's regional primary in the Jeolla region at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on April 26. [NEWS1]
The starkest difference in this election compared to previous ones is the looming specter of “the birth of absolute power.” Beyond personal feelings toward Lee Jae-myung, public anxiety centers on the very real prospect that absolute power, which history shows inevitably corrupts, may soon become reality. If Lee assumes the presidency, the ruling bloc would control 189 seats in the National Assembly, securing dominance over both the executive and legislative branches. Korea’s president has the authority to appoint roughly 7,000 officials, including 166 at the ministerial and vice-ministerial levels, as well as top posts at 331 public institutions. In total, about 18,000 government positions fall under the president’s control. If legislative oversight is also lost, fears that Korea may see the rise of a “new czar” are hardly far-fetched. The president also wields indirect influence over the judiciary through nominations to the Constitutional Court, further raising concerns about the consolidation — rather than separation — of powers. Without realistic mechanisms for impeachment or veto, the system may grow disturbingly silent. Even before the public has fully recovered from the frustration and fatigue caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imperial presidency, anxieties over an even greater suffocation of liberty are rapidly spreading.
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Yet history shows that in Korean politics, absolute power has rarely gone unchallenged. Since democratization in 1987, of 10 general elections, four resulted in ruling party majorities and six produced opposition majorities. In 1991, during President Roh Tae-woo’s tenure, the Democratic Liberal Party was formed through a three-party merger and secured 219 seats, creating a behemoth ruling party. However, power struggles between factions loyal to Kim Young-sam, Lee Jong-chan, Park Tae-joon, Park Chul-un and Kim Jong-pil led to constant internal conflict. In 2004, even after the Uri Party secured a majority of 152 seats following the backlash against President Roh Moo-hyun’s impeachment, ideological rifts between the party’s next-generation leaders like Kim Geun-tae and Chung Dong-young and the Roh administration created enduring friction.
Lee Jae-myung and other Democratic Party candidates hold a final campaign rally in front of Yongsan Station in central Seoul, April 9, 2024, on the eve of the parliamentary elections. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
President Lee Myung-bak, despite his sweeping victory by 5.31 million votes and his conservative Grand National Party’s win of 153 seats in the subsequent general election, soon faced rapid crisis. The administration’s arrogance and its tone-deafness to public sentiment — particularly the perception of cronyism involving wealthy elites from Gangnam and Lee’s personal networks, dubbed “Gangbuja” (Gangnam rich) and “Gosoyoung” (Korea University, Somang Church, Yeongnam region) appointments — triggered public backlash. Misreading public anxiety over U.S. beef imports, the administration saw its presidential secretaries resign en masse just six months into the term. Similarly, the Park Geun-hye administration, despite winning a clear majority, was dogged by criticism of cronyistic appointments, and the Yoon Suk Yeol administration faced the same. In each case, arrogant personnel decisions confined to inner circles triggered political collapse.
Even the Moon Jae-in administration, which enjoyed a historic 180-seat supermajority after the 2020 general elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately fell victim to the “winner’s curse.” Mistaking the absence of checks and balances for unconditional support, the government pressed ahead aggressively with punitive property taxes, nuclear phaseout policies, income-led growth and the so-called “cleansing of accumulated evils,” only to collapse under the weight of its own overreach.
This is the historical lesson Lee Jae-myung must heed. He must move swiftly to address concerns about emerging absolutism. Institutional reforms — such as transitioning to a four-year, two-term presidency and allowing the National Assembly to recommend the prime minister — should be promised to take effect by 2030 at the latest. The next administration will launch without the benefit of a transition committee, and its first major test will come one year later in the local elections. Personnel appointments will be decisive.
One of Lee’s close aides recounted that when a candidate for appointment was recommended to Lee, he would ask only, “Is that person competent?” When asked whether Lee risked being dragged along by hardliners in the DP — particularly concerning labor policies for semiconductors, inheritance taxes and other economic issues — the aide simply quoted Lee as saying, “There are always good cops and bad cops in this world.”
Ultimately, there is only one way to allay fears of absolute power: a leader’s willingness to embrace diversity, balance and inclusion by appointing talent from across ideological and partisan lines. Whoever wins, the highest and most urgent duty of the next president will be the “great unification of Korea.”
Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
12. Ex-Presidents Moon, Yoon likely stand criminal trial simultaneously
It is dangerous to be an ex-president in South Korea.
Ex-Presidents Moon, Yoon likely stand criminal trial simultaneously
koreaherald.com · by Lee Si-jin · April 27, 2025
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from left) and former President Moon Jae-in (third from left) meet at the former presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on March 22, 2022, almost two weeks after Yoon was elected president. (Presidential Archives)
Former President Moon Jae-in’s indictment on bribery charges, involving questions over his former son-in-law’s salary, has raised the prospect of Moon standing trial alongside disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul.
The Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office, which had investigated Moon since 2021, filed the indictment with the court on Thursday, explaining that because the bribery case centers around the former presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, jurisdiction belonged to the Seoul Central District Court.
Having accepted jurisdiction, the Seoul Central District Court will simultaneously hold criminal trials for two former South Korean presidents, who held office successively, as Yoon was indicted for insurrection in late January.
The detailed schedule of Moon’s case has yet to be announced, but it is possible that the two former presidents will appear in court on the same day as the court decided Tuesday to hold three hearings every two weeks in Yoon's case until the end of this year.
These will be the first simultaneous criminal trials of two former presidents in 29 years. In 1996, former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo appeared in court on charges of insurrection, bribery and corruption.
Trials for former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak were also held during overlapping periods in 2018. But Park, whose trial on charges of abuse of power and corruption began first, stopped attending the hearings and was therefore never physically in court at the same time as Lee.
Lee was indicted in 2018 on 16 charges, including abuse of power, tax evasion, election law violation and leaking of government secrets.
Former President Moon can still request a transfer of his case to a different court.
Article 15 of South Korea’s Criminal Procedure Act stipulates that a prosecutor or defendant may apply for a higher court to take their case if they consider it impossible to receive an impartial trial due to “the nature of the offense, the popular sentiment of the district, the circumstances of the proceedings or any other circumstances.”
Moon's lawyers reportedly announced that nothing has been decided yet regarding a potential transfer.
Moon is accused of allowing his former son-in-law, identified by his surname Seo, to receive preferential treatment in securing a job with an airline. According to the prosecution, almost 220 million won ($154,000) in salary and expenses for relocating to Thailand were paid to the son-in-law between July 2018 and April 2020, which prosecutors argue constituted a de facto bribe to the former president.
The prosecution claims that Lee Sang-jik, a former two-term lawmaker from the then-ruling Democratic Party and founder of the budget airline Eastar Jet, was the source of the alleged bribe. Lee allegedly appointed Seo as executive director of Thai Eastar Jet despite his lack of airline industry experience, and paid him a monthly salary of 8 million won -- almost twice the salary of the airline’s CEO -- despite Eastar Jet’s financial struggles.
Moon’s legal representatives have denied all allegations, insisting that the prosecution abused its power by indicting a former president without giving him the opportunity to respond and defend himself against the claims.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea, including Rep. Youn Kun-young and Rep. Jung Tae-ho, argued that the prosecution is trying to divert public attention from Yoon’s criminal trial for political reasons and is attempting to defame Moon by portraying him as a former leader accused of crimes as serious as the allegations against Yoon.
Moon is the sixth former president to face criminal trial as a defendant.
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Lee Si-jin · April 27, 2025
13. Han faces candidacy deadline as his potential run roils conservative bloc
And ensures a win for Lee Jae Myung?
Han faces candidacy deadline as his potential run roils conservative bloc
koreaherald.com · by Hwang Joo-young · April 27, 2025
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo returns to his seat after delivering a speech at a memorial event for fallen military and police personnel at the Daejeon National Cemetery on Friday. (Yonhap)
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election has emerged as a key variable for the conservative bloc, with an announcement speculated to come as early as this week.
The time is approaching for Han to make a decision. Under election law, he must resign from his current position by May 4 — 30 days before the early election on June 3 — to run for president.
Presidential hopefuls from the People Power Party have expressed their willingness to unify their bids and work together to select the most competitive candidate against Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner for the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination.
In political circles, it is believed that Han could step down as early as Wednesday, given that the Democratic Party was set to finalize its presidential candidate on Sunday and a Cabinet meeting is to be convened Tuesday. The People Power Party plans to finalize its presidential candidate on May 3.
The Korea Herald learned from a source familiar with the matter that Han told former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell that he was "seriously considering" a presidential bid during their one-on-one meeting on April 23 in Seoul.
The most critical question is whether Han will vie for the People Power Party's nomination. If he does, he is likely to face a one-shot primary against the party's final candidate, though this would require approval from the four current candidates, who were whittled down from eight contenders on April 22.
A second primary is being held on Sunday and Monday, with 50 percent party membership votes and 50 percent public polling determining the nominated candidate. The outcome is to be announced Tuesday. If no candidate secures a majority, the top two will compete again under the same 50:50 methodology on Thursday and Friday, with the final nominee to be selected Saturday.
The People Power Party's four contenders appear open to competing with acting President Han if he enters the race.
On Sunday, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, one of the People Power Party's final four, said he would face Han in a runoff if it would bolster the party’s chances against Lee Jae-myung.
“If Han Duck-soo runs, I will debate him twice and hold another public primary. If that’s the way to defeat Lee Jae-myung, I will gladly do so," Hong said in a statement.
Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo also emphasized the importance of uniting the anti-Lee forces, suggesting he would work toward a swift candidate consolidation if Han enters the race.
Other People Power Party contenders, including former party leader Han Dong-hoon and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, similarly signaled support for Han’s potential bid.
Ahn said Sunday that should Han Duck-soo run in the presidential election, "a primary has to be held with our party's ultimate candidate in order to finally choose a single (unified) nominee."
Ahn added, "I hope the strongest candidate to compete with Lee Jae-myung (of the Democratic Party) will be selected by the most objective and accurate process."
In a televised debate Saturday, Han Dong-hoon said, “I believe many voters are suggesting a variety of ideas to win the election," when asked whether he felt uncomfortable about Han Duck-soo joining the race.
Although Han has not yet officially declared his candidacy, signs point to a decision to come soon, with him stepping up public activities, drawing increased attention as a potential candidate. On Wednesday, he visited the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, reaffirming the crucial alliance and commending US forces who helped combat recent wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province — a move widely seen as boosting his national security credentials.
Observers are divided over the ramifications that Han Duck-soo’s candidacy could have for the conservative bloc in the presidential race, as his competitiveness in the presidential election has been interpreted differently depending on polling methodology.
In an April 23-24 YTN survey of the most favored candidates in the conservative bloc, acting President Han ranked fourth at 9 percent, behind three Poeple Power Party candidates: Han Dong-hoon with 14 percent, Hong with 11 percent and Kim with 10 percent.
However, in a head-to-head poll against Lee conducted by TV Chosun over the same period, Han trailed Lee by 15 percentage points — a narrower gap than those of the four People Power Party options.
The Democratic Party has been publicly critical of Han's potential run, while its individual presidential contenders have remained focused on their own campaigns.
In a statement Sunday, Democratic Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mee warned that Han’s presidential bid would amount to "national ruin.”
"Acting President Han should deeply apologize for the grave betrayal that has undermined the nation’s standing in less than three years," Park said. "He should quietly fulfill his duties until the end of his acting presidency and await trial, rather than defying the natural order. If he chooses to run, he will immediately face the harsh judgment of the public."
flylikekite@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Hwang Joo-young · April 27, 2025
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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