Author: Seoul Reporter

BTS member Jungkook drew attention with his deep, expressive gaze at a photo call event in Seoul on February 12.Event Details in GangnamThe afternoon gathering occurred at a store on Wooil-ro in Gangnam-gu. Jungkook struck confident poses, engaging fully with photographers present.

Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office Criminal Division 4, led by Chief Prosecutor Jeon Young-woo, indicted and detained a staff member identified as A on December 12 for violating laws on special prosecutions involving national treasury losses. A, from the office’s audit division handling seized property sales, allegedly embezzled nearly 4 billion won (3.996 billion won precisely) over 2 years and 8 months, from April 2023 to December 2025. Embezzlement Scheme Exposed A exploited vulnerabilities in the handling of seized precious metals, such as gold items. These assets often sell as scrap if not pure, making tracking difficult. Instead of proper valuation,…

Comedian Han Mingwan stated that Yeon Jung-hoon’s romantic confession to his wife, actress Han Ga-in, fails to resonate deeply with him.Dialect Challenge on Han Ga-in’s YouTube ChannelHan Ga-in’s latest YouTube video, titled “Jeolla Dialect vs. Gyeongsang Dialect! The Dialect That Captivates Han Ga-in? (feat. Yeon Jung-hoon’s Friends),” showcases a playful dialect lesson. She invited her husband Yeon Jung-hoon’s friends, including Han Mingwan and Yang Sangguk, to demonstrate regional accents.The group reenacted humorous scenarios, such as murmuring “Am I here?” in various dialects during a skit.Insights on Charms and AccentsHan Mingwan shared, “Jeolla dialect requires delivering lines with a haughty flair.…

Authorities have launched raids on government offices and a national intelligence data center as part of a renewed investigation into the handling of the January 2024 assassination attempt on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.Task Force Executes Multiple SearchesThe National Police Agency’s special task force, focused on the Gadeokdo ballot case, initiated searches after 4:30 p.m. on the 12th. Teams targeted key government facilities and the National Intelligence Service data center. Investigators also approached the National Assembly’s Information Committee but could not meet with the secretary.Background of the Assassination AttemptOn January 2, 2024, during Lee Jae-myung’s visit to the Busan Gadeokdo…

Michael Carrick’s appointment as Manchester United’s interim manager has ignited excitement across the Premier League, with the former midfielder delivering impressive results since taking charge last month following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.Carrick Delivers Strong League FormCarrick guides Manchester United through the remainder of the 2025-26 season with authority. In the last five league outings, his team secured four victories and one draw, including triumphs over Manchester City (2-0), Arsenal (3-2), Fulham (3-2), and Tottenham Hotspur (2-0). A 1-1 stalemate against West Ham highlighted resilience, despite a late equalizer from Jarrod Bowen.As of February 12, Manchester United sit fourth in the standings…

HD Hyundai recorded an operating prof of 6.996 trillion won for 2024, reflecting a 104.5% year-over-year increase. The company also posted sales of 71.2594 trillion won, up 5.2%, and net prof of 3.6755 trillion won, a 90.4% rise. These figures highlight balanced growth across key sectors. Strong Performance in Shipbuilding and Offshore Executives emphasized contributions from shipbuilding and offshore operations. “Sales growth in these divisions has driven solid shipbuilding sector results,” they stated. “Across the entire machinery portfolio, core shipbuilding has led performance for all major customers.” The HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore division achieved sales of 29.9332 trillion won…

A Seoul court has sentenced Yoo Hyuk-gi, 53, second son of the late former Semo Group Chairman Yoo Byung-eun, to five years in prison for receiving bribes from affiliates and laundering 25.4 billion won. The ruling includes a fine of 9.247 billion won, with Yoo immediately detained in court.Court Details the ViolationsThe special prosecutor’s economic crimes division convicted Yoo on charges of improper solicitation and graft. On December 12, Criminal Division 14, presided over by Judge Sohn Seong-beom, imposed the sentence. Prosecutors had sought eight years imprisonment and a 25.49 billion won additional fine during the December closing arguments.The court…

A popular tourist site in China has suspended a controversial carousel ride powered by live horses after widespread accusations of animal cruelty.The Unusual AttractionVisitors at Shijingli, a scenic spot in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province in northwest China, encountered the ride starting July 6, ahead of the country’s major Chunjie festival. The setup featured real horses secured at one-meter intervals to a central iron pillar, forcing them to walk in circles as riders mounted their backs.Each spin costs around 30 yuan (approximately $4), drawing lines of eager tourists despite the horses’ visible distress in the summer heat.Public Backlash and Safety ConcernsVideo footage…

Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has prevailed in the first-instance trial of her civil lawsuit against HYBE over put options worth around 260 billion won. The Seoul Central District Court ordered HYBE to pay her approximately 25.5 billion won.Court Delivers Verdict in Favor of MinOn December 12, the court’s Civil Division 31, presided over by Judge Nam In-soo, sided with Min Hee-jin, current head of Okeh Records. The ruling came after HYBE contested the payout amount in the dispute surrounding the put options and shareholder agreement.HYBE submitted evidence reflecting adjustments for the shareholder agreement termination, weekly stock price fluctuations, and…

Min Hee-jin, former ADOR CEO and current OK Records head, has prevailed in first-instance rulings on two interconnected lawsuits against HYBE. The court rejected HYBE’s bid to void their shareholder agreement and mandated payment for exercised put options totaling around 28.6 billion Korean won.Court Ruling DetailsThe Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31, presided over by Chief Judge Nam In-soo, dismissed HYBE’s request to confirm termination of the shareholder agreement against Min Hee-jin. Simultaneously, the panel upheld Min’s claim seeking stock purchase payment from HYBE.Judges ordered HYBE to disburse 25.5 billion won to Min Hee-jin, 1.7 billion won to former…