Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon signals re-election bid while slamming opposition party’s “unreasonable” candidates.

[글로벌 요약 (news English)]

▷ Governor Kim Dong-yeon (김동연) effectively announced his run for re-election, urging the People Power Party to nominate “sane” candidates for the upcoming local elections.

▷ He defended the cancellation of lecturer Jeon Han-gil’s (전한길) concert, stating it was based on a fraudulent application and went against social norms during the current political situation.

▷ Regarding real estate, Kim criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (오세훈) for driving up housing prices while expressing strong support for stabilizing the market in cooperation with the central administration’s previous policies.

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MPVA to Re-examine National Merit Status of Late Colonel Park Jin-kyung

▷ The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has decided to re-evaluate the national merit status of late Colonel Park Jin-kyung (박진경) due to his controversial role as a commander responsible for the bloody suppression during the Jeju April 3 incident.

▷ The decision follows a legal review revealing a procedural flaw, as the registration was conducted without the mandatory deliberation by the Veterans Review Committee, which is required for government-initiated registrations.

▷ The ministry plans to conduct a full investigation into similar cases of merit recipients registered without review and intends to improve the system to ensure fairness and procedural integrity in the future.

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President’s Pragmatism vs. Factional Disputes: Analyzing the Internal Power Struggles of Rival Parties

▷ Director Yoon Tae-gon (윤태곤) analyzed that both the ruling and opposition parties are currently focused on internal power struggles rather than public welfare, describing it as “their own league.”

▷ While President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) emphasizes pragmatism and national results, his supporters in the Democratic Party are criticized for sticking to old ideological battles, such as demanding the withdrawal of prosecutions.

▷ In the People Power Party, Representative Jang Dong-hyeok (장동혁) maintains his leadership despite calls for change, as the fast-approaching local elections leave little time for a major organizational reshuffle.

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Kim Jong Un defines South Korea as an “eternal enemy” and “hostile state”

▷ Chairman Kim Jong Un (김정은) declared that South Korea is permanently excluded from the category of “compatriots,” labeling the current administration’s conciliatory gestures as a “clumsy deception.”

▷ He emphasized that treating South Korea as a partner for unification is a “mistaken practice” and that the shift to a hostile state policy is a “historical choice” to safeguard national security.

▷ Kim warned that North Korea could initiate “arbitrary actions” if its security is threatened, even stating that the possibility of South Korea’s “complete collapse” cannot be ruled out.

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Independent Lawmaker Kim Byung-ki Summoned by Police Over 13 Allegations

▷ Independent lawmaker Kim Byung-ki (김병기) appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 26th for his first questioning regarding 13 different allegations, including the receipt of illegal political funds.

▷ The investigation involves a wide range of suspicions, such as his spouse’s alleged misuse of a district council corporate card, preferential treatment in his son’s college transfer and employment, and exercising undue influence on a previous police probe.

▷ Kim (김병기) denied the charges, stating he would clear all “malicious rumors” and restore his reputation during the two-day questioning session scheduled by the authorities.

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Survivor Lee Yong-soo Expresses Last Wish for Final Resolution of Comfort Women Issue

▷ Lee Yong-soo (이용수), a 98-year-old survivor and activist of Japanese military sexual slavery, shared her wish to meet Lee Jae-myung (이재명) to ensure the complete resolution of the issue before her life ends.

▷ She expressed deep heartache over recent insults and demands to remove the Statue of Peace, emphasizing that the matter should be resolved legally through international bodies like the ICJ or the UN Committee Against Torture.

▷ While cherishing memories through three symbolic songs from her past, she stated that her final hope is for the youth of South Korea and Japan to learn the truth of history and build a friendly relationship.

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Porsche Driver Arrested on Drug Charges After Crashing Through Banpo Bridge Railing

▷ A female driver in her 30s, A (A씨), was arrested for violating the Narcotics Control Act after her Porsche fell onto the Han River bank from Banpo Bridge on the evening of the 25th.

▷ Police discovered half a bottle of propofol, numerous disposable syringes filled with drugs, and medical tubing inside the crashed vehicle.

▷ The accident resulted in minor injuries to both the driver and a 40-year-old man whose car was struck by the falling Porsche, and police are now considering an arrest warrant after further investigation.

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Bank of Korea raises this year’s growth forecast from 1.8% to 2.0%

▷ The Bank of Korea (한국은행) has revised its economic growth forecast for this year upward, moving it from the previous 1.8% to 2.0%.

▷ This adjustment indicates that the central bank expects the nation’s economic recovery to be stronger than what was initially predicted.

▷ The 0.2 percentage point increase reflects a more optimistic outlook on the overall performance of the Korean economy for the remainder of the year.

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Evolution of Crime Scenes in the ‘Suyu-dong Serial Murder’ Case

▷ A woman in her 20s, Kim (김씨), has been referred to the prosecution on murder charges for strategically moving crime scenes from public cafes to private motels to evade detection and intervention.

▷ Investigations revealed that Kim (김씨) used ChatGPT to research the lethal effects of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol and subsequently doubled the drug dosage, resulting in two deaths.

▷ Experts suggest the suspect’s behavior shows a process of evolving her criminal methods through trial and error, as she continued to target men in increasingly secluded locations despite previous police encounters.

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President Lee Jae-myung Directly Intervenes to Settle Ruling Party Conflict and Ensure Unity

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) took direct action to resolve internal party strife and dismiss rumors of discord between the presidency and the ruling party ahead of the upcoming local elections.

▷ He emphasized a “one-team” spirit, clarifying that recent delays in legislation, such as the administrative integration bill, were based on the government’s cautious stance rather than political friction with Jung Cheong-rae (정청래) and the party leadership.

▷ Highlighting the urgency of pending economic bills like the “Stock Price Suppression Prevention Act,” the President called for strong legislative cooperation to overcome various political obstacles.

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