Navy Chief of Staff Resigns Following Disciplinary Action Over Dec 3 Martial Law

▷ Navy Chief of Staff Kang Dong-gil (강동길) offered to resign after receiving a heavy disciplinary measure of one-month suspension from the Ministry of National Defense for violating his duty of sincerity during the Dec 3 martial law incident.

▷ At the time of the martial law, he served as the Head of Military Support at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was accused of assisting in the formation of the Martial Law Command.

▷ The ministry decided not to refer him for further criminal investigation, as he fully cooperated with the inquiry and admitted to the charges brought against him.

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Former Louisiana Mayor Convicted of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor

▷ Misty Roberts (미스티 로버츠), the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was found guilty of sexual misconduct involving her son’s 16-year-old friend during a pool party at her residence.

▷ Prosecutors presented incriminating evidence, including text messages about contraception and testimonies from her family members, with her sentencing scheduled for April 17.

▷ Adding to the family’s disgrace, her brother Braden Roberts (브래든 로버츠) was recently sentenced to 32 years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl and a young woman.

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People Power Party Falls Behind Democratic Party Even in Traditional Gangnam Stronghold

▷ Hong Young-rim (홍영림), former director of the Yeouido Institute, warned that the People Power Party (PPP) is losing its grip on the Gangnam area, with a recent poll showing the Democratic Party leading 50.5% to 29.9% in the district.

▷ The analysis indicates that “purge politics” against figures like former leader Han Dong-hoon (한동훈) and the “pro-Yoon” stance of leader Jang Dong-hyeok (장동혁) have contributed to the widening gap between the two parties.

▷ Hong stressed that the “golden time” for the PPP to recover before the upcoming local elections is slipping away, noting that the downward trend is consistent across both ARS and telephone interview surveys.

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Iran Claims Attacks on Over 10 Tankers and Asserts Control over Strait of Hormuz

▷ The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have attacked and set fire to more than 10 oil tankers with missiles, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is now under their full control.

▷ In response, Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) announced that the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers if necessary and provide insurance guarantees for energy transport vessels through a federal agency.

▷ While Saudi Arabia is redirecting some oil exports to the Red Sea to bypass the strait, security experts warn that these alternative routes remain vulnerable to threats from the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Suyu-dong Serial Murder Suspect Diagnosed as a Psychopath

▷ A woman in her 20s, Ms. Kim (김씨), who is accused of killing men by spiking their drinks with benzodiazepine drugs, has been identified as a psychopath following a psychological evaluation.

▷ The investigation revealed that she used ChatGPT to research lethal doses of sleeping pills and intentionally doubled the amount of medication after her first attempt failed to kill the victim.

▷ While the prosecution prepares to decide whether to disclose her identity, police are expanding the investigation to identify any additional victims who may have lost consciousness in her presence.

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210 Elementary Schools in South Korea Record Zero New Students This Year

▷ According to data submitted by the office of Representative Jin Sun-mee (진선미), the number of elementary schools with no new students reached 210 this year due to the declining birth rate.

▷ While South Jeolla Province had the most cases with 45 schools, Seoul and Gwangju also recorded their first instances of zero enrollment in schools that are operating normally without any renovation issues.

▷ This population crisis is extending to higher grades as well, with 12 middle schools and 7 high schools across the country also reporting a total lack of new freshmen this year.

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BOK Governor Rhee says 1,500 KRW exchange rate is temporary amid ample dollar liquidity

▷ Governor Rhee Chang-yong (이창용) stated that the recent surge of the won-dollar exchange rate over 1,500 KRW is a temporary phenomenon, noting that dollar liquidity remains sufficient.

▷ He emphasized that South Korea’s external borrowing spreads and Credit Default Swap (CDS) premiums are maintaining stable levels, which distinguishes the current situation from past crises.

▷ The Bank of Korea plans to closely monitor market volatility driven by Middle East tensions and will cooperate with the government to intervene in a timely manner if exchange rates deviate from economic fundamentals.

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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Attends First Trial Over Myung Tae-kyun Allegations

▷ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (오세훈) attended the first trial at the Seoul Central District Court on the morning of the 4th regarding charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

▷ Mayor Oh expressed strong suspicion that the timing of his indictment and the trial dates, scheduled for March and April, precisely overlap with the upcoming election period.

▷ He stated that although he had repeatedly urged the prosecution to conduct a swift investigation since September 2024, the process resulted in a trial schedule that is difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence.

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Iran’s Assembly of Experts Expected to Announce Mojtaba Khamenei as Successor

▷ Iran’s Assembly of Experts has deliberated on electing Mojtaba Khamenei (모즈타바 하메네이), the second son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (아야톨라 세예드 알리 하메네이), as the next supreme leader.

▷ According to reports, an official announcement regarding the succession is expected to be made as early as the morning of the 4th.

▷ While some dissident media claim he has already been elected, there are concerns within the council that he may become a target for the United States and Israel.

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KOSPI Triggers ‘Sell’ Sidecar Amid US-Iran Conflict, Later Rebounds to 5,600 Level

▷ The KOSPI index plunged over 6% in early trading due to escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, triggering a ‘sell’ sidecar for the second consecutive session.

▷ Although the market opened sharply lower, it managed to recover to the 5,640 level as major tech stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix attempted a rebound.

▷ While the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plummeted 4.56%, Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) promised military protection for ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which helped slightly ease the market’s downward pressure.

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