Internal Conflict Deepens in People Power Party as Han Dong-hoon Counterattacks Critics

▷ Amid falling approval ratings and internal strife, Representative Kim Seok-ki (김석기) demanded that former leader Han Dong-hoon (한동훈) step back and serve the party without any status.

▷ In response, Han criticized lawmakers who defended the insurrection, questioning what they were doing to save conservatism when martial law was being declared.

▷ The People Power Party remains in a state of chaos as the rift grows wider over Representative Jang Dong-hyuk (장동혁)’s actions and the party’s declining public support.

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South Korea Grants Google Access to High-Precision Map Data Amid Economic and Security Debates

▷ The South Korean government has officially approved Google’s request to export high-precision map data after 20 years, aiming to boost future mobility industries such as autonomous driving and robotics.

▷ While the government expects global standardization and improved tourism convenience, Professor Jeong Jin-do (정진도) warns of potential economic losses reaching up to 197 trillion won due to platform dependency.

▷ To address security concerns, the government implemented a “Red Button” system for immediate data cutoff, but domestic firms continue to raise issues regarding potential tax and regulatory inequalities.

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Men in Their 20s Arrested for ‘Revenge Proxy’ Crimes Involving Feces and Lacquer

▷ A man in his 20s, referred to as A (A씨), was arrested for vandalizing a stranger’s apartment door with food waste, feces, and red lacquer in exchange for 800,000 won worth of cryptocurrency.

▷ A similar incident occurred in Gunpo, where another man, B (B씨), was apprehended for threatening a victim and painting their door after receiving instructions through Telegram for 600,000 won in crypto.

▷ Police are currently conducting an investigation to identify the “upper-level” instigators who ordered these crimes and are looking into the connections between the two cases.

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Hyundai Motor Group to Invest 9 Trillion Won in Saemangeum for Robotics and AI Hub

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) attended an investment agreement ceremony in Saemangeum, where Hyundai Motor Group announced a 9 trillion won plan to build a robotics, AI, and hydrogen innovation hub.

▷ The project, which includes an AI data center and a robot manufacturing plant, is expected to enhance South Korea’s global competitiveness and promote balanced regional development by creating jobs in the Honam area.

▷ Chairman Chung Eui-sun (정의선) showcased advanced technologies such as autonomous robots, while the government promised to drastically lower regulatory barriers to support the group’s bold investment.

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Special Prosecutor Indicts Sitting Prosecutors Over Alleged Pressure in Coupang Investigation

▷ A special prosecution team led by An Gwon-seop (안권섭) has indicted sitting prosecutors Um Hee-jun (엄희준) and Kim Dong-hee (김동희) for abusing their power to block the indictment of Coupang Fulfillment Services regarding unpaid severance pay.

▷ Investigators found that the defendants pressured a subordinate prosecutor to dismiss the case despite evidence that 40 workers were denied 120 million KRW, leading to the first-ever indictment of active prosecutors by a permanent special prosecutor.

▷ In addition to the abuse of power, Kim faces charges for leaking investigation secrets to Coupang’s lawyers, while Um is charged with perjury for giving false testimony during a National Assembly audit.

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South Korean Government Approves Export of Large-Scale Map Data to Google Under Strict Security Conditions

▷ The South Korean government has decided to permit the export of 1:5,000 scale map data to Google, provided that the company strictly adheres to five security measures to protect national safety.

▷ Key conditions include masking military and security facilities in satellite imagery, processing raw data exclusively on domestic servers, and implementing a “Red Button” feature for emergency technical responses to security threats.

▷ This decision is expected to enhance navigation services for foreign tourists and stimulate economic growth in the spatial information and Geo AI industries.

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Special Prosecution Appeals Life Sentence for Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Citing Premeditated Insurrection

▷ Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok (조은석) filed an appeal against the court’s decision to sentence Yoon Suk-yeol (윤석열) to life imprisonment, asserting that the martial law was a meticulously planned act for power retention rather than a spontaneous response.

▷ The prosecution argued that evidence, such as the notebook of Noh Sang-won (노상원), indicates that preparations for the insurrection began as early as October 2023, involving military appointments and plans to detain politicians.

▷ Furthermore, they criticized the lower court for unfairly considering the defendant’s old age as a mitigating factor and failing to properly reflect the dangerous order to use live ammunition in the sentencing.

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Morgan Stanley raises KOSPI target to 6,500 with a bull case of 7,500

▷ Morgan Stanley (모건스탠리) has upgraded its year-end KOSPI target from 5,200 to 6,500, stating that the Korean strategy remains in a “sweet spot.”

▷ The bank projected that the index could climb as high as 7,500 in a bull case scenario, fueled by the ongoing AI infrastructure investment cycle and corporate reform efforts.

▷ While maintaining a positive outlook, it noted that a potential slowdown in semiconductor profit momentum after the second quarter could act as a key variable for the market.

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Court Administration Minister Park Young-jae Offers Resignation Amid Judicial Reform Push

▷ Park Young-jae (박영재), the Minister of National Court Administration, has expressed his intention to resign from his position.

▷ His decision appears to be a protest against the forceful implementation of current “judicial reform” measures.

▷ This resignation highlights significant internal friction within the judiciary regarding the direction and method of the ongoing reforms.

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Hyundai Motor Group to Invest 9 Trillion Won in Saemangeum for AI and Robotics Hub

▷ Hyundai Motor Group has signed an MOU with the government and Jeonbuk State to invest 9 trillion won in Saemangeum to establish a future industry hub featuring AI data centers and robotics clusters.

▷ Chairman Euisun Chung (정의선) and President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) attended the ceremony, where the group detailed plans to build a large-scale AI infrastructure and hydrogen production plants to be completed by 2029.

▷ The project is expected to generate an economic impact of 16 trillion won and create 71,000 jobs, accelerating the group’s transition into a leader in human-centered AI and robotics.

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