Special Prosecutors Charge Two Former Audit Officials Over Evidence Tampering
The second special prosecutor team investigating allegations of a cover-up regarding the audit of the presidential office has charged two former officials from the Board of Audit and Inspection with distorting and tampering with evidence to maintain the original audit conclusions.On August 19, the special prosecutors announced the non-custodial indictment of Choi, the former head of the Administrative Safety Audit Bureau, and Son, the former first section chief of the bureau.This indictment focu
Korea National Oil Corporation Establishes New Department for Oil Reserves and Energy Security
The Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) is establishing a new department dedicated to expanding oil reserve facilities and managing international joint reserves. The organization will also undergo restructuring, including reallocating overseas oil development research personnel to operational sites and consolidating management departments.On August 19, KNOC announced its organizational restructuring and personnel changes aimed at strengthening energy security and public service functions.This
Fans Donate Over $500,000 as Im Young-woong Celebrates 10th Anniversary
As singer Im Young-woong celebrates his 10th anniversary, his fan club, Hero Era, has continued a wave of donations exceeding 500 million won. Im Young-woong is also commemorating the milestone with a stadium concert and a special album.According to the fan club's tally on August 19, donations from Hero Era and fan gatherings across the country totaled 544.33 million won, including 527.89 million won in cash and 16.44 million won in goods. There were a total of 53 donations.The recipients of the
Seoul Bar Association Hosts Forum on Public Interest Litigation Costs
The Seoul Bar Association, led by President Cho Soon-yeol, announced it will hold a forum on public interest litigation costs on August 20 at 2 p.m. in the Justice Hall on the fifth floor of the Seoul Bar Association building in Seocho-dong. The event is co-hosted with lawmakers Kim Nam-hee of the Democratic Party and Choi Bo-yoon of the People Power Party.Current civil procedure law maintains the 'loser pays principle,' which requires the losing party in a lawsuit to bear all litigation costs.
Hyundai Department Store Expands K-Fashion in Shibuya, Japan
"I love Korean fashion and often wear Korean brand clothes. I really enjoy being able to discover brands that are not easily found in Japan," said university student Momona, who visited the 'The Hyundai Global' store on the fourth floor of Parco Shibuya in Tokyo on August 16. She added, "I frequently look up Korean fashion on Instagram, and each brand has a unique style. I never miss shopping for clothes when I travel to Seoul."This store, which will celebrate its first anniversary next month, i
K-Beauty ODM Firms Report Record Earnings Amid Growing Demand
Global demand for K-beauty has led domestic cosmetics original design manufacturers (ODM) to achieve record earnings in the second quarter. The rise in indie brands expanding overseas has resulted in increased orders for both sun care and skincare products, alongside a diversification of client companies and export regions. Although the second quarter is typically considered the peak season for the cosmetics ODM industry, analysts predict continued strong growth into the third quarter. Accordi
Does Eating Rice Make You Gain Weight? Examining the Differences Between White and Brown Rice
August 18 is designated as 'Rice Day' in South Korea. While rice is a staple for Koreans, it often gets eliminated from diets when people start trying to lose weight due to the perception that 'eating rice leads to weight gain.' So, should one really cut out white rice to lose weight?The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a commemorative event at the Seoul Craft Museum on August 18 for the 12th Rice Day. The date was chosen based on the Chinese character for rice (米), which ca
Homeplus Reports 43.7 Billion Won in Sales After Reopening
홈플러스 has generated 43.7 billion won in sales over five days since reopening 67 stores nationwide. This figure represents a nearly threefold increase compared to sales prior to the temporary closure. According to Homeplus, sales from August 13 to 17, during the 'Home Is Back' event, totaled 43.7 billion won, marking a 191% increase from the 15 billion won recorded from July 2 to 6, before the sales suspension. Average daily sales rose from 3 billion won to 8.7 billion won during this perio
Joint Investigation Team Probes Election Official Over Ballot Shortage
The Joint Investigation Team, led by Kim Tae-hoon, deputy chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is investigating the head of the Seocho District Election Commission in connection with the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections.According to legal sources on August 19, the team has summoned the Seocho District Election Commission's secretary as a suspect for questioning regarding the ballot shortage incident.Additionally, the team is investigating a represe
Trump Pushes for Meeting with Kim Jong Un as China's Wang Yi Visits South Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, coinciding with the visit of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and the country's foreign minister, to South Korea. This has raised questions about a potential turning point in the situation on the Korean Peninsula.On August 19, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Wang Yi would visit South Korea and Indonesia. A ministry spokesperson stated, "In res