Stories from Seoul · South Korea

President Lee Jae-myung stated during a cabinet meeting that South Korea can protect its own security without relying on other nations. South Korean military strength is reported as the fifth largest globally.

Green Cross has passed the preliminary review of the Constitutional Court regarding its lawsuit to cancel administrative fines.

Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, is involved in a scandal concerning the manipulation of BMW dealership Dorch Motors. She is married to the jailed former President Yoon Song-nyeol. The prosecution has brought charges against her in relation to these matters. The proceedings are being conducted at the Seoul High Court, according to reports from South Korean media. Both the defense and prosecution have announced appeals following the verdict. The prosecution is also appealing, claiming the court's sentencing was too lenient. A court sentenced Kim Geon-hee to four years in prison and imposed a 50 million won fine. The charges involve receiving expensive items prior to the 2022 inauguration of her husband, former President Yingsang Ngyal. Jung Sang-yool is currently jailed.

National Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong received a 2-year prison sentence and a 100 million won fine in a first-instance trial. The ruling upheld the previous decision regarding the illegal fund acquisition. The court ordered a fine of 50 million won and the confiscation of high-priced gifts, plus the recovery of 20.94 million won.

A Seoul-based NGO reported that executions in North Korea rose sharply after 2020 following the country's border closures to prevent coronavirus spread. Offences resulting in the death penalty included criticizing leader Kim Jong-un. The report was discussed on WBUR. Prosecutors have linked the rise in death penalty cases to criticisms of leader Kim Jong-un.

The total market capitalization of companies listed in South Korea has increased by more than 45% this year. In contrast, the UK market capitalization has grown by only 3% during the same period. Bloomberg data indicates that the UK market size was approximately double that of South Korea at the end of 2024. This growth in South Korea is linked to a global pivot toward artificial intelligence. South Korea's total industrial production increased by 0.3% in March, marking the second consecutive month of growth following a 2.1% rise in February. According to March industrial activity trends, automotive production grew by 7.8% and machinery equipment rose by 4.6%. However, semiconductor production fell by 8.1%, following a 28.2% decline in the previous month. Mining and manufacturing production increased by 0.3%, while the service sector grew by 1.4%.

South Korea and Ghana signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to expand cooperation in climate change, artificial intelligence, and maritime security. South Korean authorities are investigating reports of syringe hoarding. The trend is reportedly linked to supply disruptions caused by conflicts in the Middle East affecting plastic manufacturers.

Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis met with President Lee Jae-myung to discuss opening a Google AI campus in Seoul within this year. The move follows Hassabis's visit to the Blue House. The expansion aims to establish the first facility of its kind in Seoul. The move occurs amid ongoing disputes regarding network usage fees between Korean providers and US big tech companies. Korean providers argue for fees due to lack of cost-sharing, while US firms claim such charges violate net neutrality principles. This tension is creating new friction in US-South Korea trade negotiations. The development occurs amidst trade friction regarding network usage fees between US tech firms and South Korea.

South Korean National Election Commission reported 5,355 requests to delete illegal deepfake posts as of April 23. This comes ahead of the June 3 local elections. The report noted that fake photos have already caused police resource diversion, with 71 officers responding to a single incident. The source stated that over 300,000 posts claiming manipulation have been made. The number of deepfake-related incidents rose 27 times compared to the previous year. Specifically, 35.2% of these cases involved deepfake-related falsehoods. The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency recorded 4,413 cases of cyber sexual violence crimes between November 2024 and October 2025, representing a 35% increase from the same period last year. A study from the MIT Media Lab indicates that 7 out of 10 people cannot distinguish between real and fake videos.

A 75-year-old woman in South Korea tested positive for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) on April 24. This marks the second confirmed case in the country following a 70-year-old male infection in Ulsan on April 21. SFTS is a viral infection typically occurring between April and November when ticks are active. Symptoms include high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and bleeding. The disease is transmitted via tick bites. The disease can affect the lungs and breathing or cause hemorrhagic fever. The British government is closely monitoring the reports.