17,000 South Koreans in Middle East Conflict Zones Remain Safe for Now

▷ The South Korean government announced that approximately 17,000 citizens are staying in about 10 Middle Eastern countries currently under attack, with no casualties reported as of October 2nd.

▷ Kim Jin-ah (김진아), the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that the actual number of citizens could be higher when accounting for short-term travelers and transit passengers not included in long-term residency statistics.

▷ As tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, the government is operating a pan-governmental response system to ensure the safety of its nationals and facilitate their swift return to Korea.

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Both sides appeal 6-year sentence for ‘Geonjinbeopsa’ in Unification Church lobbying case.

▷ Both Jun Seong-bae (전성배), known as Geonjinbeopsa, and the Special Counsel team led by Min Jung-ki (민중기) have filed appeals against the first-instance court’s 6-year prison sentence.

▷ The court found Jun guilty of receiving luxury items worth 80 million KRW from the Unification Church for lobbying Kim Kun-hee (김건희), but acquitted him of receiving 100 million KRW for election nomination favors from Park Chang-uk (박창욱).

▷ The judge notably imposed a heavier sentence than the 5 years requested by prosecutors, citing Jun’s initial denial of crimes and his lack of sincere remorse during the investigation.

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Military Conflict Intensifies Between US-Israel and Iran with Surging Civilian Casualties

▷ Tensions escalated into a full-scale war as Iran launched retaliatory strikes following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (아야톨라 알리 하메네이) in a US airstrike.

▷ President Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) announced that combat operations could continue for up to four weeks until all strategic goals are achieved, while Ali Larijani (알리 라리자니) of Iran declared a refusal to negotiate.

▷ The conflict has taken a devastating toll on civilians, including a bombing at an Iranian elementary school that killed 165 people, most of whom were children.

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People Power Party to Launch Street Protests Against Democratic Party’s Legislative Push

▷ The People Power Party (PPP) announced a protest march from Gwanghwamun to the Blue House on the 3rd to denounce the Democratic Party’s unilateral passing of various bills.

▷ Park Seong-hun (박성훈), the chief spokesperson of the PPP, stated that the party plans to focus on a two-week-long struggle under the leadership of Jang Dong-hyeok (장동혁).

▷ Although the party attempted a filibuster to block judicial reform laws, it was forced to halt the process due to internal divisions regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration special act.

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458 Clergy Arrested for Sex Crimes Over 5 Years, Most Involving Rape and Assault

▷ According to police data, 458 clergy members were arrested for sexual offenses between 2020 and 2024, with rape and indecent assault accounting for nearly 88% of the cases.

▷ Serious cases involving the abuse of religious authority continue to emerge, including the notorious scandal of Jeong Myeong-seok (정명석) and recent charges against former pastors for exploiting followers.

▷ In response, the National Assembly has proposed the “JMS Prevention Act” to ban convicted sex offenders from working at religious facilities for a specific period after serving their sentences.

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Israel Resumes Major Offensive as Ceasefire with Hezbollah Effectively Collapses

▷ Israel has effectively terminated its truce with Hezbollah and launched extensive airstrikes on facilities in Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, in response to recent rocket and drone attacks.

▷ Rafi Milo (라피 밀로), commander of the Israel Defense Forces Northern Command, issued a stern warning that Hezbollah would pay a heavy price for its continued aggression and ties to the Iranian regime.

▷ According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strikes have resulted in at least 31 deaths, marking the most significant military confrontation since the ceasefire agreement was established in November 2024.

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Park Hong-keun Nominated as First Minister of Planning and Budget for Lee Administration

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) has nominated Park Hong-keun (박홍근), a four-term lawmaker and former floor leader of the Democratic Party, as the first Minister of Planning and Budget.

▷ Park, a budget and policy expert who helped design the ministry’s structure, expressed a heavy sense of responsibility and vowed to serve as a “lubricant” for the government’s success and national growth.

▷ The nomination comes 36 days after the initial nominee, Lee Hye-hoon (이혜훈), withdrew her candidacy following various allegations.

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President Lee Jae-myung Sells Bundang Home, Pressuring Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok

[글로벌 요약 (news English)]

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) has listed his long-term residence in Bundang for sale, sending a strong message that holding non-residential or multiple properties will no longer be profitable.

▷ This move has put Representative Jang Dong-hyeok (장동혁) of the People Power Party in a difficult position, as he had previously pledged to sell his six properties if the President sold his.

▷ Political analysts are divided on whether this act is a precursor to stricter real estate tax regulations or a tactical maneuver to gain the upper hand in political discourse.

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KOSPI Daily Trading Volume Hits Record 32 Trillion Won Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

▷ The KOSPI’s average daily trading volume reached an all-time high of 32.23 trillion won last month, driven by a surge in semiconductor stocks and optimism over corporate reforms.

▷ However, global markets face uncertainty after a joint U.S. and Israeli strike led to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (아야톨라 세예드 알리 하메네이), prompting Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) to emphasize blocking Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

▷ While international indices are retreating and gold prices are rising, analyst Choi Jin-young (최진영) suggests that a long-term war is unlikely due to Iran’s internal leadership confusion and low military morale.

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DP Floor Leader Han Warns of “Decisive Action” Over Deadlock on U.S. Investment Act

▷ Han Byung-do (한병도), the Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, urged the People Power Party to cooperate on passing the U.S. Investment Special Act, warning that he would take “decisive action” if no progress is made by the December 9 deadline.

▷ Han indicated that these measures could include utilizing National Assembly procedures such as ex-officio tabling or entirely re-evaluating the distribution of standing committee chairmanships.

▷ In response, Park Seong-hun (박성훈), the spokesperson for the People Power Party, accused the majority party of revealing its intent for a “one-party dictatorship” and argued that the DP’s push for “Judicial Control 3 Acts” is the real cause of the legislative paralysis.

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