🇰🇷Week of October 5

A South Korean appeals court acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to receiving free polling services from Myung Tae-gyun, reversing a first-instance conviction that had sentenced him to two years in prison. The court found that what Yoon received from Myung constituted 'assistance' rather than a criminal offense. The ruling follows a separate acquittal of Kim Keon-hee in a related case.12345

The presiding judge in the acquittal was Cho Hyung-woo, a chief judge who also handled the first-instance trials in the Daejang-dong development case and a case involving Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Attention now focuses on how the same court will rule in Oh Se-hoon's sentencing, given the judge's prior involvement in his case.312

Attributed claim: Coverage of the verdict splits along editorial lines: left-leaning Han-gyeore foregrounds the court's reasoning and the pending Oh Se-hoon sentencing, while centre-left JTBC highlights the reversal and the 'assistance' finding. Centre outlets such as Newsis and YTN focus on the contrasting outcomes between the first and second trials and question the reasons for the opposite rulings.3125

The appeals court's decision raises questions about its potential impact on the full-bench review of Kim Keon-hee's case, as noted by centre outlet Newsis. The outcome also draws scrutiny to the judicial reasoning that led to the acquittal after a first-instance conviction.25

Ukraine publicly accused South Korea of supplying petroleum products to Russia, saying the shipments help a country that has lost its own refining capacity. The claim was reported across South Korean outlets including Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun, YTN and Daum.12345

South Korea's presidential office rejected the accusation, stating that the Ukrainian claim is not true and is inappropriate. The Blue House said Ukraine had described South Korea as if it had acted against the sanctions regime on Russia, calling that a distortion.1234

The presidential office urged Ukraine to refrain from making inappropriate remarks, saying the characterization misrepresents South Korea's position on sanctions against Russia. The statement was carried by outlets across the political spectrum, from the centre-left Kyunghyang Shinmun to the right-leaning Chosun Ilbo and centre-right Dong-A Ilbo.1234

A North Korean anti-personnel landmine was found at the Demilitarized Zone site where a mine explosion occurred, during a third day of on-site investigation. Military authorities said the wooden mine's type differs from what soldiers had described in their statements, and that its discovery constitutes a violation of the Armistice Agreement.12345

General Kang Shin-chul said the incident is a clear violation of the armistice agreement and that South Korea will take corresponding measures. Asked whether the mine might have been lost or displaced, Kang said it was a planted mine and estimated it is related to the fortification of the border line.135

The Foreign Ministry said it is reviewing the practical benefits of pursuing various measures in response to the North Korean landmine. North Korea had warned it would respond strongly to even a 1-millimeter incursion, and the government warned of corresponding measures.12345

Attributed claim: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the North Korean landmine cannot be specified as an attack and opposed sanctions, while warning that North Korea's border-line fortification could nullify the Armistice Agreement and saying South Korea is consulting with the UN Command on a response. The ruling and opposition parties are in a war of nerves over how strongly South Korea should react.145

Kang Shin-chul said the military's response likely left North Korea considerably taken aback.3

President Lee said South Korea's "Korean-style green grand transition" is an essential precondition for the success of the "three mega" initiatives, and that the country must become a leader in the green market rather than a follower. The plan, known as K-GX, aims to pursue environmental protection and growth together.123

The green transition program would deploy 1,000 trillion won over 10 years, according to the announced plan. The presidential office framed the initiative as a start toward a Korean-style green transition that does not sacrifice either the environment or economic growth.42

Under K-GX, industrial decarbonization is to be pushed forward in earnest, with high-greenhouse-gas-emitting industries undergoing "green rebuilding." The president said South Korea should act as a designer and leader that directly shapes the green market.35

Much of the IP traffic used in the hacking of financial institutions was 'laundered' through intermediary addresses, obscuring the origin of the attacks. Coverage described the campaign as AI-driven and said South Korean society as a whole was targeted, with banks, churches and large companies exposed indiscriminately.12

Church information protection requires checking administrator accounts and enabling two-factor authentication, a measure recommended in coverage of the breaches. The recommendation followed the leak of member and donation records at the two large churches.34