This conviction makes me wonder if anyone has ever been convicted before for receiving a free opinion poll?:

This file composite photo shows former President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) and self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun. (Yonhap)

A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison after finding him partially guilty of accepting illegal political funds in the form of free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power broker.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted the jailed former president on charges of violating the Political Funds Act in a ruling that marked a departure from a separate trial where his wife was acquitted on the same charges.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team earlier indicted Yoon on charges of colluding with his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and receiving 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won (US$180,100) in total for free from the power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, between April 2021 and March 2022.

In its ruling, the court recognized that Yoon had received 14 opinion polls from Myung for free over the period, sentencing him to prison and ordering a forfeiture of 13.96 million won.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this:

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting on state financial strategies at Cheong Wa Dae on July 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that the government will use additional tax revenue expected from the ongoing semiconductor boom to create a “future response fund” aimed at investing in future industries and policies for younger generations.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

South Korea is apparently performing well at this year’s RIMPAC exercise:

This photo of Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, is provided by the Pacific Fleet. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A senior U.S. Pacific Fleet commander said Sunday he was “extremely pleased” with the South Korean Navy’s performance during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), praising Seoul’s expanded leadership role in the multinational drills.

Rear Adm. Kim In-ho is serving as RIMPAC’s combined maritime component commander, making South Korea the first Asian country and the fourth nation outside the United States to hold the post.

A senior U.S. Pacific Fleet commander said Sunday he was “extremely pleased” with the South Korean Navy’s performance during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), praising Seoul’s expanded leadership role in the multinational drills.

Rear Adm. Kim In-ho is serving as RIMPAC’s combined maritime component commander, making South Korea the first Asian country and the fourth nation outside the United States to hold the post.

“We are very happy to partner with the Republic of Korea and Rear Adm. In-Ho Kim and his team. I am extremely pleased with their performance,” Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a written response to Korean media.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This is a horrible murder and cover up that has put the ruling party’s attempt to take investigation powers away from prosecutors at risk:

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong sits down for a meeting at the agency’s office in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

The murder of a high school student in Gwangjuand an alleged cover-up attempt by police have abruptly disrupted a policy push to strip prosecutors of all remaining investigative powers. The killing by Jang Yoon-gi, son of a police officer, has raised the question of whether Korea should press ahead with institutionalizing unchecked police power at the very moment its dangers have been laid bare.

A special investigation team under the National Police Agency probing the alleged misconduct in the investigation of the murder case visited the office of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police’s commissioner and other top command posts to collect evidence, expanding its inquiry to the police leadership.

This came after investigators named the chief of Gwangsan Police Station in the city, the leader of the violent crimes team and his members as criminal suspects. The team leader was arrested last week on charges including leaking official secrets and destroying evidence. Investigators are also probing Jang’s father — himself suspected of destroying key evidence — on suspicion of colluding with the local police investigation team.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

I don’t think this law is meant to target US social media companies. I think it is meant to target speech certain politicians don’t agree with:

The U.S. Department of State expressed “significant concerns” over Korea’s recently revised Information and Communications Network Act, commonly known as the “fake news” law, amid worries that the law could restrict free speech and negatively affect American platforms operating here.

“The United States has significant concerns with the ROK government’s approval of an amendment to the Network Act that risks negatively impacting the business of U.S.-based online platforms and undermining free speech,” the department’s press office said in response to an inquiry from The Korea Times, referring to Korea by an abbreviation of its official name, the Republic of Korea.

“We expect the ROK to deliver on its commitment to ensuring that U.S. companies are not discriminated against and do not face unnecessary barriers in terms of laws and policies concerning digital services,” it added.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

The summertime heat has come to South Korea:

A heat wave emergency warning — the highest alert level — was issued for Gyeongsan and Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province at 10 a.m. Sunday, marking the first activation of the alert since it was introduced under the revised advisory system last month.

The warning is issued when a region that has already had a perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least two consecutive days is expected to have a perceived temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or an actual temperature of 39 degrees or higher, for at least one more day.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

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