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Quotes of the Day:
"Only the brave know how to forgive.... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature."
– Lourence Sterne
"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
– Plato
"It's the truth I'm after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self deceit and ignorance.:
– Marcus Aurelius.
1. [US expert diagnosis] "Trump recognizes 'free ride' in South Korea..."Comprehensive cooperation plan should be presented" (comprehensive)
2. Editorial: Supreme Court must deliver a swift verdict on Lee Jae-myung
3. N. Korea-Russia relations strengthen despite Ukraine peace talks
4. Trade chiefs of S. Korea, China, Japan discuss advancing trade cooperation at three-way meeting
5. Main blaze in massive wildfire contained in Sancheong after nearly 10 days
6. South Korea's nuclear ambitions: self-defense or risky gamble?
7. South Korea ready to assist Myanmar, Thailand in earthquake relief efforts
8. Rival parties accuse each other of insurrection as political crisis drags on
9. Korean Embassy in Myanmar dispatches consul to stricken Mandalay as Seoul offers $2 million in earthquake relief
10. Korea to earmark additional $6.8 billion for wildfire recovery and tariff defense
11. Gyeongsang wildfires declared contained as police book man suspected of starting blaze
12. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Four Struggling Female Students Expelled and Banished to Rural Areas for Prostitution: Young People's Violation of Order Met with Harsh Punishment
13. RFA Wins Gracie Award for Report on 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors'
14. [WHY] Why do so many Korean men enlist during college?
1. [US expert diagnosis] "Trump recognizes 'free ride' in South Korea..."Comprehensive cooperation plan should be presented" (comprehensive)
Below is a Papago translation of a Yonhap article. It was never published in English. It provides some very useful views from experts.
I personally think South Korea is far from a freeloader and is really a critically important alliance partner. (But I know I will be accused of bias - And admit that I am biased toward the ROK/US alliance as a critical component in US national security).
Here is an AI (Perplexity) summary of the key points from each of the experts.
The article from Naver News discusses former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks about South Korea's trade and defense contributions, as well as the reactions of experts on U.S.-Korea relations. Below is a summary of the key points translated into English:
Trump's Remarks on South Korea:
During a speech in Congress, Trump criticized South Korea for imposing tariffs four times higher than those of the U.S. and for benefiting unfairly from U.S. military support.
Experts interpret these comments as reflecting a deep-rooted perception of South Korea as a "freeloader" in the U.S.-Korea alliance.
Expert Reactions:
Victor Cha (CSIS):
Trump’s comments align with his belief that South Korea is not playing fair in trade, given its $61 billion trade surplus with the U.S.
He may demand South Korea increase its defense budget to 3-5% of GDP and reduce semiconductor subsidies.
Andrew Yeo (Brookings Institution):
Trump’s claims about tariffs misrepresent facts, as the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has significantly lowered tariffs.
He might pressure South Korea to invest in U.S. projects like Alaska's natural gas pipeline.
Bruce Bennett (RAND Corporation):
Trump could demand a higher defense cost-sharing contribution from South Korea, potentially up to 5-10 times more than current levels.
He might also consider reducing U.S. troop presence in South Korea.
Robert Rapson (Former Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea):
Trump views South Korea as overly reliant on U.S. security guarantees.
He may revisit defense cost-sharing agreements and push for greater Korean contributions.
Tammy Overby (Albright Stonebridge Group):
Trump’s understanding of tariffs is flawed, as most bilateral tariffs are below 1% due to the FTA.
She suggests South Korea emphasize its investments in the U.S., such as manufacturing plants that create American jobs.
Thomas Cynkin (R Street Institute):
While free trade agreements have reduced tariffs, non-tariff barriers like VAT still exist.
South Korea should explore ways to address remaining trade barriers and expand its role in regional security beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Troy Stangarone (Wilson Center):
Trump’s administration may impose new tariffs on sectors like automobiles and semiconductors, impacting Korean producers.
Resolving political instability in South Korea could help address these trade and defense issues more effectively.
Recommendations for South Korea:
Experts suggest that South Korea highlight its contributions to the U.S. economy and propose comprehensive cooperation packages in areas like LNG imports, defense industry products, shipbuilding, and advanced technologies such as AI and biotechnology.
Building alliances with various levels of the U.S. government—federal, state, and local—is also recommended.
This translation provides an overview of the article's content without verbatim reproduction. If you need further details or specific sections translated directly, please let me know!
Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share
Yonhap News Agency
[US expert diagnosis] "Trump recognizes 'free ride' in South Korea..."Comprehensive cooperation plan should be presented" (comprehensive)
Input 2025.03.07 AM 6:57 AM Revised 2025.03.07 AM Article 6:58 AM
https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0015250832?type=journalists&utm
"Trump May Demand Significant Increase in South Korea's Defense Budget, Cost-Sharing of US Forces Korea"
"Rather than saying 'Trump is wrong', I want him to suggest improving non-tariff barriers and increase his contribution to regional security."
“South Korea will be in a better position to solve the Trump administration’s concerns only when the political crisis is resolved quickly.”
(Washington, New York = Yonhap News) Cho Joon-hyung, Lee Ji-hun, Song Sang-ho, Kim Dong-hyun, correspondent = Regarding US President Donald Trump's comment that South Korea, which receives US military support, is treating the US unfairly by setting tariffs four times higher than those of the US, Korean Peninsula experts in the US assessed that it revealed a deep-rooted perception of South Korea as a "free rider."
Experts also predicted that in this situation, President Trump could ask South Korea to significantly increase its defense budget to 3-5% or more in the future, and could withdraw or cut subsidies that he agreed to provide to Korean companies under the Semiconductor Act.
As a result, experts pointed out that South Korea needs to highlight South Korea's contribution to the US economy and present a package of cooperation measures in areas such as shipbuilding and liquefied natural gas (LNG) that the US is interested in to correct President Trump's perception of the argument that is separated from reality, such as "four times the tariff."
In addition, it was suggested that the administration, parliament, and local governments make efforts to create Korean allies.
The following is a summary of the answers of Korean Peninsula experts in the United States who responded to the interview with Yonhap News.
Victor Cha, Chair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Korea
President Trump is strategically predictable and tactically unpredictable.
I don't think South Korea will be surprised by President Trump's speech to Congress on the 4th. He thinks that South Korea's $61 billion trade surplus with the US, the fourth largest among the Indo-Pacific and NATO allies, means that South Korea is not playing a fair game in trade with the US
President Trump wants South Korea to pay more for its defense contribution (South Korea's share of the cost of stationing the US military in South Korea) and wants to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. And he does not see the need for US ground forces to be in South Korea.
(Regarding President Trump's policy on the Korean Peninsula) I know there is an expectant prospect that some things can be avoided, as it was during Trump's first term.
However, one should not be under the illusion that Trump will think differently (from what he said in his speech). That is the strategic view of Korea, and that is clear.
Andrew Yeo, chair of Brookings Institution Korea
In his speech, President Trump mentioned Korea along with India and China regarding tariffs. Korea is not the only country in terms of tariffs, but Korea is a close ally of the United States unlike India and China. President Trump seems to have some negative beliefs or prejudices about Korea. South Korea needs to counter President Trump's claims of misleading facts by emphasizing South Korea's contribution to the US economy.
President Trump mentioned the abolition of the semiconductor law, which can be adjusted by reducing incentives (such as subsidies) for foreign companies, but given the US demand for semiconductors, the semiconductor law is not expected to be completely abolished.
President Trump mentioned Korea and Japan's participation in the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Project, but no decision has been made. Nevertheless, President Trump's mention of Japan and Korea as partners in the Alaska business seems to have put some pressure on Alaska to invest.
Bruce Bennett, senior fellow at the Land Research Institute
Considering President Trump's remarks on South Korea and US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby's mention of 10% of defense spending on Taiwan on the 4th, it is not surprising if President Trump calls for South Korea to increase its defense budget ratio (currently around 2.3%) to 3-5%.
Maybe ask for more than that.
Trump may demand more responsibility (for defending the Korean Peninsula) and cut South Korean government subsidies for South Korean products (in the name of fair trade).
US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson at Busan Port
(Seoul = Yonhap News) On the 3rd, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from the US Navy's 1st aircraft carrier strike group entered the Busan base. 2025.3.3 [Photo by Joint Photo Foundation] photo@yn
U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson at Busan Port
(Seoul = Yonhap News) On the 3rd, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from the US Navy's 1st aircraft carrier strike group entered the Busan operation base. 2025.3.3 [Photo by Joint Information Foundation] photo@yna.co.kr
Robert Rappson, former deputy US ambassador to South Korea
President Trump generally seems to view South Korea as a "free rider," especially when it comes to the South Korea-US security alliance.
President Trump will undoubtedly want to renegotiate the Special Agreement on the Sharing of Defense Costs (SMA), which was quickly signed by South Korea and the US in November last year, and seeks a much higher "sharing of responsibility" contribution from South Korea, ranging from five to 10 times.
There is also a threat and real possibility of reducing the US military on the Korean Peninsula. It is much bigger than it was in the first term of Trump's presidency.
The Trump administration will also cancel or at least reduce subsidies under the Semiconductor Act.
Investment in US shipbuilding capabilities and participation in US LNG pipeline projects are seen as possible options with potential.
South Korea will have to find its allies at the US administration, Congress, the private sector and state level.
2. Editorial: Supreme Court must deliver a swift verdict on Lee Jae-myung
Editorial: Supreme Court must deliver a swift verdict on Lee Jae-myung
By The Chosunilbo
Published 2025.03.30. 09:32
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2025/03/30/2ETA7X74CNG5RBPBBLV4RQ647A/
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung leaves the Seoul High Court in Seocho District, Seoul, after attending an appellate ruling on election law violation charges on March 26, 2025./Pool photo
South Korean prosecutors have appealed the appellate court’s acquittal of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in his election law violation case, filing the appeal just a day after the ruling. The prosecution, which had a week to challenge the verdict, moved swiftly, calling the decision “unacceptable.”
The case carries major political stakes, as it could determine Lee’s eligibility to run in the next presidential election. A lower court had convicted Lee of making false statements during his previous campaign, sentencing him to prison over remarks that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) had “threatened” officials to rezone land in Baekhyeon-dong. If upheld, the ruling would have cost him his parliamentary seat and barred him from running for president. However, the appellate court overturned the conviction, ruling that his comments were political rhetoric or exaggeration rather than deliberate falsehoods.
The stark contrast between the lower and appellate court rulings has caused public confusion, especially as the facts of the case remain unchanged. MOLIT officials and Seongnam city employees testified that no threats were made, yet the two courts arrived at opposite conclusions. With Lee’s political future at stake, a swift Supreme Court ruling is needed to resolve the legal uncertainty.
There is little reason for the Supreme Court to delay. The trial has already dragged on for two and a half years, with all evidence thoroughly examined. The only remaining issue is whether Lee’s remarks legally constitute false election statements. By law, the Supreme Court must rule on election law violations within three months. Furthermore, since Lee was acquitted at the appellate level, he has no right to appeal, reducing the likelihood of procedural delays. If prioritized, a final verdict could come within two months.
The court’s decision will ultimately hinge on either upholding Lee’s acquittal or overturning the appellate ruling. Typically, if the Supreme Court rejects an appellate decision, it sends the case back for retrial, prolonging the process. However, in cases where the facts are undisputed, the Supreme Court has the authority to issue a final ruling without remanding the case—a procedure known as reversal and self-rendering of judgment. While rare, such decisions have precedent.
If an early presidential election were to take place, Lee’s legal status could become a national flashpoint. To prevent political turmoil, the Supreme Court should either confirm his acquittal swiftly or exercise its authority to issue a final ruling. A prompt resolution would serve not only the public interest but also the best interests of both Lee and the Democratic Party.
3. N. Korea-Russia relations strengthen despite Ukraine peace talks
Kim Jong Un is likely trying to figure out how he can keep making money with Putin even if there is a ceasefire and peace agreement.
N. Korea-Russia relations strengthen despite Ukraine peace talks
The Korea Times · March 30, 2025
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend an official ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to welcome Putin for a state visit on June 19, 2024. TASS-Yonhap
Alliance expected to thrive postwar amid evolving US-Russia relations
By Lee Hyo-jin
North Korea and Russia’s partnership is showing signs of deepening even as Moscow participates in peace talks to end its war in Ukraine, fueling speculation that their military cooperation could persist well beyond the end of fighting.
Their military ties, solidified during a surprise summit between their leaders in September 2023, have been rooted in mutual strategic interests. Russia has relied on North Korea for ammunition and troop support in its invasion of Ukraine, while Pyongyang is believed to have received military technology in return.
Despite expectations that their transactional partnership would weaken after the war, analysts suggest their bond is only growing stronger, even as ceasefire negotiations between Russia and the United States to end the three-year conflict in Ukraine are seeing some progress.
"Throughout the war, North Korea has proven to be Russia’s most reliable — if not the only — ally. No other country has openly sided with Russia and sent troops in support," said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
"Even if peace negotiations are signed and the war winds down, military tensions between Russia and NATO will persist, meaning Putin will still need Pyongyang, a trusted partner capable of providing munitions if necessary," Cho added.
The growing partnership between North Korean and Russia has been evidenced by a recent visit to Pyongyang by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Shoigu met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to reaffirm their countries’ commitment to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.
On Friday, Putin cited North Korea as one of the nations Russia is willing to engage with in resolving the war. The Russian leader mentioned not only BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — but also North Korea as a potential participant in the peace process, signaling Moscow’s increasing recognition of Pyongyang in its diplomatic circles.
A Russian serviceman walks past a building destroyed in combat in the city of Sudzha, Russia, March 23 (local time). TASS-Yonhap
Meanwhile, some analysts say Trump’s friendly outreach toward Putin could give Kim further reason to maintain close ties with Moscow, as the Russian leader could serve as a key intermediary in potential U.S.-North Korea negotiations.
For North Korea, Russia is a key diplomatic ally, especially as it seeks leverage in its dealings with the United States. With signs of improving Russia-U.S. relations, Kim may aim to leverage his ties with Putin to gain an advantage in potential negotiations with Washington.
"Despite the constraints of sanctions and infrastructure shortages, North Korea and Russia are expected to continue pursuing pragmatic cooperation," read a recent report by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies on the future of North Korea-Russia relations published March 24.
"Russia’s strategic goal of enhancing its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with its vision of a new multipolar world, aligns with North Korea’s ambition to assert greater control over Korean Peninsula affairs. This mutual alignment could deepen their ties further," the report added.
A key demonstration of this strengthened partnership could come soon, as Kim is considering a visit to Russia. The Kremlin confirmed last week that preparations are underway to welcome the North Korean leader later this year.
One possible occasion for Kim’s visit is Moscow’s Victory Day parade on May 9, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed invitations were extended to several Asian leaders, according to Russian media reports, fueling speculation that Kim could be among them. If Kim attends, it would mark a rare appearance at a multilateral event for the reclusive leader.
"Kim's potential trip to Moscow on Victory Day would provide both Russia and North Korea a key platform to showcase that their relationship will outlast the Ukraine war," Cho said.
However, Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, cautioned that a trip to Moscow in May might be too risky for Kim.
"If Kim were planning to visit, we would already see signs of preparations and some North Korean senior officials traveling to Moscow," Yang said. "But so far, there are no clear indications of such exchanges."
Yang also noted that North Korea lacks a private aircraft capable of flying directly to Moscow. In his previous trip to the Russian Far East region, Kim traveled by armored train.
"While Russia may offer an aircraft to North Korea for Kim's travel, it would be a blow to Kim’s pride. And although the war in Ukraine isn’t directly impacting Moscow, traveling to a region near the conflict carries significant risks for the secretive leader," he added.
Servicemen march in formation during a Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square, May 9, 2024, marking the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. TASS-Yonhap
The Korea Times · March 30, 2025
4. Trade chiefs of S. Korea, China, Japan discuss advancing trade cooperation at three-way meeting
Alliance management.
Will China separate Japan and the ROK from the US? We must not take the strength of our alliances for granted.
Although Japan and China are wary of current US actions in Europe and Ukraine as well as expected demands from the Trump administration, I also think they can play a very sophisticated diplomatic game with China without giving into its malign influence. The ROK, in particular, has already been a victim of Chinese economic warfare and has successfully defended itself.
(2nd LD) Trade chiefs of S. Korea, China, Japan discuss advancing trade cooperation at three-way meeting | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Na-young · March 30, 2025
(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 7-9, 12-15)
By Kim Na-young
SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- The top trade officials of South Korea, China and Japan on Sunday discussed bolstering trade cooperation among the three countries in their first trilateral ministerial meeting in six years, held amid growing protectionism and tensions in the global trade market.
The 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting among the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People's Republic of China took place in Seoul, involving South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto.
It marked the first time since December 2019 that the industry ministers of the three nations held a trilateral meeting, as well as the first such meeting taking place in Seoul in 10 years. The 2019 meeting was held in Beijing. Sunday's meeting was a follow-up to the summit of the three countries' leaders held in Seoul last year.
"Amid the rapidly changing global economic and trade environment, the meeting of the three countries' trade ministers for the first time in six years carries significant resonance not only for the three nations but also for the international community," Ahn said in his opening remarks.
He called for efforts to create a "stable" environment for global trade by restoring the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Ahn also urged the three countries to join hands to respond to current issues in the global trade market, such as the rise of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation of economies and supply chain cooperation on critical minerals.
South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun (C), Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (R) and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto pose for a photo ahead of their trilateral trade ministers' meeting in Seoul on March 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
Sunday's meeting drew keen attention as it was held just a few days before U.S. President Donald Trump's administration plans to announce reciprocal tariffs.
South Korea, China and Japan are all expected to be included on the list of countries subject to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The U.S. had the biggest trade deficit with China last year, and Japan and South Korea were the seventh and eighth largest contributors to the U.S. trade deficit, respectively.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, the three ministers said they support the "rules-based, open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core."
The ministers called for the reform of the WTO to strengthen its functions, including negotiations, monitoring, deliberation and dispute settlement, as part of efforts to help the organization better respond to current trade challenges.
In particular, Wang Liping, director general of Asian affairs department at China's commerce ministry, said in a joint press briefing that China, South Korea and Japan should oppose protectionist trade policies as major players in the global and regional economies and protect the multilateral trade system.
China wishes to join hands with South Korea and Japan to jointly respond to "new challenges in the global economy," he said.
The meeting showed the three countries are not active supporters of trade protectionism, an official from Seoul's industry ministry told reporters on the condition of anonymity.
Ahn told the three-way meeting that uncertainties in the global trade market have increased due to protectionist policies of major economies and that trade protectionism cannot be the right answer, according to the official.
In Sunday's meeting, the three ministers also agreed to speed up negotiations for the proposed trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to realize a high-quality and mutually beneficial FTA while advancing the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP), the joint statement read.
RCEP is one of the world's biggest free trade agreements, which South Korea, China and Japan have signed. The 15 member nations of RCEP account for around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, population and trade volume.
Ahn, Wentao and Muto also agreed to boost cooperation on creating a "predictable" and "reliable" business environment to foster "free, open, fair, non-discriminatory and transparent" trade in the region, and exchanged opinions on measures to stabilize supply chains and export control issues, according to the statement.
To foster sustainable growth, Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo will work together to strengthen cooperation on carbon-free energy technologies, including renewables, nuclear power and hydrogen, and advance digital cooperation, they said.
The ministers also discussed bolstering cooperation for the successful hosting of the Osaka Expo, set to kick off next month in Japan, and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in South Korea's southeastern city of Gyeongju in November and in China next year.
On the sidelines of the three-way meeting, Ahn was also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Muto later in the day, following his one-on-one meeting with Wentao on Saturday.
The next trilateral economic and trade ministers' meeting of South Korea, China and Japan will be held in Japan.
South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun (R) speaks at the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting among the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People's Republic of China in Seoul on March 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Na-young · March 30, 2025
5. Main blaze in massive wildfire contained in Sancheong after nearly 10 days
Even as Korea suffers its own tragedy it will still send $2 million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar/Burma for the earthquake.
(2nd LD) Main blaze in massive wildfire contained in Sancheong after nearly 10 days | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · March 30, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more info in paras 1-7; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- A massive wildfire that began in Sancheong County and swept through nearby regions in South Gyeongsang Province has been fully contained, authorities said Sunday.
The main fires were under control as of 1 p.m. Sunday, nearly 10 days after they first broke out March 21, according to forestry officials.
The wildfire has scorched an estimated 1,858 hectares of woodland, equivalent to around 2,600 football fields.
At least 30 people have died from the recent wave of nationwide wildfires, including 26 reported in North Gyeongsang Province.
The military deployed 600 soldiers and 49 helicopters Sunday to help completely extinguish the remaining embers and provide medical and other assistance.
Smoke rises from a mountain in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on March 29, 2025. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, police authorities said they have booked a man suspected of starting the massive wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province.
The 56-year-old man is accused of causing the fire at around 11:25 a.m. on March 22 while performing an ancestral rite at a family grave on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province.
The fire then spread rapidly to nearby Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok for days due to gusty winds amid dry conditions.
The wildfires also destroyed an estimated 4,000 structures, including Goun Temple -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- along with homes, factories and other facilities.
The suspect has denied the allegations against him, according to police.
A hillside grave site in Uiseong County, believed to be the point of origin of a massive wildfire that ravaged the country's southeastern region, is left charred in the aftermath on March 29, 2025. (Yonhap)
The Korea Forest Service earlier announced the wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province had been fully brought under control as of 5 p.m. Friday before they reignited overnight Saturday.
About 48,000 hectares of woodland, equivalent to some 80 percent of the size of Seoul, have been scorched in the worst wildfire disaster ever in South Korea, according to the forestry agency.
The fire that started in Sancheong County and spread to Mount Jiri National Park was mostly contained as of Sunday, with authorities battling to put out the remaining fire, which is 200 meters long, on the outskirts of the park.
Authorities deployed 50 helicopters, 1,473 personnel and 213 vehicles, starting at dawn, to extinguish the blaze, which was 99 percent contained as of 8 a.m.
Police plan to conduct a joint investigation as early as next week in coordination with the National Institute of Forest Science, the National Forensic Service and the fire authorities.
This photo, taken March 29, 2025, shows a golf course destroyed by a wildfire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · March 30, 2025
6. South Korea's nuclear ambitions: self-defense or risky gamble?
I saw a comment on social media that said the problem with nuclear proliferation is that too many of America's enemies have nuclear weapons and not enough US allies do. He suggested we should rethink our proliferation views.
Maybe Dr Strangelove was right: "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."
South Korea's nuclear ambitions: self-defense or risky gamble?
The Korea Times · March 30, 2025
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, second from left, and North Korean officials attend a launching ceremony for a tactical nuclear attack submarine, Sept. 8, 2023. AP-Newsis
Trump may back Seoul's nuclear push as critics warn of crippling sanctions
By Lee Hyo-jin
South Korea has long faced the threat of its nuclear-armed northern neighbor, a risk that continues to grow as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vows to expand his country’s nuclear weapons program.
But what if both Koreas possessed nuclear weapons? Would it strengthen Seoul’s deterrence and create a balance of power — or would it turn the Korean Peninsula into one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints?
The debate over whether South Korea should abandon its long-standing nuclear-free policy and develop its own nuclear weapons has resurfaced after the U.S. Department of Energy recently designated Seoul as a "sensitive country." This move placed South Korea on a list that primarily consists of U.S. adversaries such as China, Russia, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran.
Speculation that this designation may signal growing U.S. concerns over increasing voices in South Korea advocating for nuclear armament has sparked further debates among scholars and politicians.
At the heart of the debate over South Korea acquiring its own nuclear weapons are three main considerations: whether it has a clear justification for developing them, the technical and diplomatic feasibility, and whether the export-reliant nation could withstand sanctions if the international community opposes it.
"Simply put, South Korea is in the worst position to develop its own nuclear weapons," Jun Bong-geun, a nuclear expert and head of the Korea Nuclear Policy Society, told The Korea Times.
"If you look at cases like Pakistan or North Korea, any country pursuing nuclear weapons must be prepared for severe international sanctions, even at the risk of being labeled a rogue state. Do we have a national consensus on this? Is our leadership strong enough to push it through? " he said. "The answer is no."
One key question is whether the United States, which has long upheld nuclear nonproliferation, would permit South Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Some argue that President Donald Trump, a skeptic of alliances who wants to reduce the financial burden of protecting U.S. allies, might be open to the idea, as it could lessen Washington's responsibilities on the Korean Peninsula.
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are shipped into the United States during an address from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday (local time). UPI-Yonhap
However, Jun believes this is unlikely.
"I don't think Washington, even under Trump, will abandon its nonproliferation policy, which remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy," he said, pointing out that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently publicly opposed Ukraine going nuclear — a country which is in a more dire situation than South Korea.
Beyond political considerations, some also question whether South Korea actually has the capability to develop enrichment or reprocessing facilities, which are essential for nuclear weapons development.
"Without any facilities, it would take at least three years to build the necessary infrastructure, even in an optimistic scenario. And that’s assuming our nation isn’t hit with sanctions that would block us from obtaining necessary materials," Jun said.
Nevertheless, discussions about South Korea developing nuclear weapons are unlikely to fade anytime soon, especially amid growing skepticism over the reliability of U.S. extended deterrence.
Public support for nuclear armament, which has reached 60 to 70 percent in recent surveys, appears to stem from the belief that South Korea must take a bold step for its own defense against the North’s expanding nuclear threats.
Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, is a vocal advocate for South Korea going nuclear. He leads a group of local researchers pushing for nuclear weapons development and authored a book in 2023 supporting this stance.
"The topic, once tabooed among scholars, gained significant attention since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, and Kim Jong-un drastically stepped up his nuclear ambitions," Cheong said.
U.S. Forces Korea troops participate in a joint exercise with Korean troops in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, March 19, during the Korea-U.S. joint Freedom Shield exercise. Yonhap
He explained that if South Korea were to possess its own nuclear weapons, its security and inter-Korean relations would no longer be significantly affected by changes in U.S. policies. At times, Seoul has been left frustrated when the U.S. used its security guarantees as bargaining chips — such as when Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Korea unless Seoul shouldered more defense costs.
"Imagine if the U.S. decides to withdraw U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). In that scenario, even those who currently oppose nuclear armament would seriously consider it. But by then, it would be too late for us to begin discussions," Cheong said.
"It is a long-term agenda that cannot be accomplished in a short period. That's why we need to begin a thorough review. At the same time, we must engage in diplomatic efforts to persuade neighboring nations, such as China and Japan, to accept our position," he added.
He also viewed that Trump could be open to South Korea acquiring nuclear potential.
"We could negotiate revisions to the South Korea-U.S. nuclear energy agreement and use it as leverage if Trump demands higher defense cost-sharing. That way, we could secure nuclear potential and shorten the lead time for developing actual nuclear weapons," he said. "From a U.S. strategic perspective, a nuclear-armed South Korea could help deter China."
Supporters of acquiring nuclear weapons also point to similar discussions emerging in European nations, such as Germany and Poland.
"In a world where the U.S. no longer wants to act as the global police, each country needs its own means of ensuring security," Cheong said.
The Korea Times · March 30, 2025
7.South Korea ready to assist Myanmar, Thailand in earthquake relief efforts
South Korea: A global pivotal state.
South Korea ready to assist Myanmar, Thailand in earthquake relief efforts
koreaherald.com · by Hwang Dong-hee · March 29, 2025
A man uses his smartphone to record at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok on March 29, 2025, a day after an earthquake struck central Myanmar and Thailand. Afp
South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul expressed the country's readiness to assist those affected by the earthquake that struck Myanmar and caused damage in neighboring Thailand.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been impacted by the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand," Cho said via social media on Friday.
He further added, "We sincerely hope for the swift rescue of the victims."
Earlier on Saturday, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, followed by an aftershock measuring 6.4 that struck the Mandalay region in central Myanmar and Thailand.
In response to the earthquake, the ministry held an emergency meeting to assess the situation regarding South Korean nationals and to discuss measures to protect citizens abroad.
The ministry stated that there have been no reports of South Korean casualties so far.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Hwang Dong-hee · March 29, 2025
8. Rival parties accuse each other of insurrection as political crisis drags on
Rival parties accuse each other of insurrection as political crisis drags on
koreaherald.com · by Son Ji-hyoung · March 30, 2025
Opposition threatens impeachment over acting president's inaction on court appointment
Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Rep. Park Chan-dae (from left), acting President Han Duck-soo and People Power Party Floor Leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong (Yonhap)
The ruling and opposition parties are trading accusations of insurrection as a monthslong political crisis drags on, with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea threatening to impeach the recently reinstated acting president, and potentially, the rest of the Cabinet.
The Democratic Party on Sunday warned of a “grave decision” against acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo if he fails to appoint progressive nominee Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice by Tuesday, hinting at the possibility of a second impeachment. Han was first impeached on Dec. 27, 2024, then reinstated by the Constitutional Court on March 24.
Rep. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed that Han’s refusal to fill the vacant seat on the bench of the Constitutional Court — which is still reviewing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment — is part of the ruling bloc's broader conspiracy to reinstate Yoon and enable him to declare martial law a second time, following his failed attempt in December.
"We hereby send a stern warning to Han. We urge Han to halt the project for Yoon's reinstatement and appoint Ma by Tuesday," Park said in a press conference Sunday.
Park also suspected that Han could be seeking to use his power to appoint replacements for two outgoing left-leaning justices on the court who are set to retire on April 18, which could in turn increase the chance of the conservative president's impeachment being overturned.
"If Han fails to deliver on his constitutional duty by then, the Democratic Party will take a grave decision. The Democratic Party will use all available means to fulfill the National Assembly's duty to safeguard the constitutional order," the floor leader said.
Han had not commented on Ma's pending appointment as of press time Sunday.
Asked about the ruling People Power Party's pledge on Saturday to level accusations at 71 Democratic Party lawmakers, including opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung, of instigating an insurrection, Park assessed that the ruling party "was contemplating an insurrection and a second martial law imposition" under the Yoon administration.
Park's comments partially echoed the main opposition's earlier warning that Han could face impeachment again, and that other Cabinet ministers would meet the same fate.
First-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea are seen holding a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap)
Seventy first-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea warned in a joint statement Friday that Han's failure to appoint Ma by Sunday would lead to a motion of impeachment against him. Just a week earlier, the Constitutional Court overturned the previous opposition-led impeachment motion against Han.
The statement also warned that any Cabinet minister who assumed Han's role in South Korea's line of presidential succession would meet the same fate, even if that means vacating the entire Cabinet.
The main opposition holds 170 parliamentary seats out of 300, so its lawmakers can unilaterally impeach any member of the Cabinet.
At a press conference on Saturday, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling party, described the opposition's threats as "a coup d'etat led by the parliament and an attempt to overthrow South Korea's government," as he pledged to file criminal suits on Monday against scores of main opposition lawmakers for conspiring and instigating insurrection. The first-term Democratic Party lawmakers said Sunday they would respond by accusing Kweon of false accusations.
Also on Sunday, 44 first-term lawmakers of the ruling party claimed Han should "seriously consider dissolving the Democratic Party, which is an 'insurrectionist party,' before the Cabinet becomes paralyzed and the functioning of the administration comes to a halt," during a joint news conference at the Assembly.
However, Floor Leader Park said the party has yet to consider impeaching the entire Cabinet using legislative powers, when asked whether such a plan had been discussed among the party's top decision-makers.
First-term lawmakers of the People Power Party are seen holding a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sunday. (Yonhap)
The conservative administration's refusal to appoint Ma to the Constitutional Court is considered one of the major factors behind recent clashes between the rival parties, while political crisis drags on in Korea with a delay in the Yoon impeachment ruling. In a Facebook post on Sunday, opposition leader Lee asked the court to swiftly remove Yoon from his post, saying the ongoing delay has caused anxiety among the people.
In February, the Constitutional Court found that then-acting President Choi Sang-mok had a duty to name a ninth judge to the court, and that failing to do so would constitute a violation of the legislature's rights. But the same ruling indicated that the court has no authority to force the acting president into taking action.
Choi, the deputy prime minister who served as acting president while Prime Minister Han was suspended, is already facing an impeachment threat himself, with an impeachment motion filed on March 21. Choi in January selectively appointed two out of three Constitutional Court justice nominees, excluding Ma.
Han, in December, said bipartisan compromise is a prerequisite for Ma's appointment, which prompted the impeachment motion by parliament that led to his suspension from office in late December.
consnow@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Son Ji-hyoung · March 30, 2025
9. Korean Embassy in Myanmar dispatches consul to stricken Mandalay as Seoul offers $2 million in earthquake relief
Sunday
March 30, 2025
dictionary + A - A
Korean Embassy in Myanmar dispatches consul to stricken Mandalay as Seoul offers $2 million in earthquake relief
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-30/national/diplomacy/Korean-Embassy-in-Myanmar-dispatches-consul-to-stricken-Mandalay-as-Seoul-offers-2-million-in-earthquake-relief/2273548
Published: 30 Mar. 2025, 16:33
- LIM JEONG-WON
- lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr
Rescue workers carry out a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30. At least 17 people were confirmed dead, 32 injured and 83 were still missing in Bangkok, following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and caused tremors in neighboring Thailand. [EPA/YONHAP]
Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it would dispatch a consul from the Korean Embassy in Yangon to Mandalay to provide necessary consular assistance, including daily necessities, to Korean residents affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.
The Foreign Ministry said the previous day that Korea would offer Myanmar $2 million in humanitarian aid for earthquake relief.
A 7.7-magnitude hit 33 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, on Friday, killing over a thousand, according to the Myanmar government and international reports. No Koreans have been affected by the earthquake so far.
It is estimated that there are approximately 2,000 Korean residents living in Myanmar, with around 1,700 living in Yangon, the largest city, and 70 in Mandalay.
A total of 20,000 Korean residents live in Thailand, which suffered damage from the earthquake, with approximately 12,000 in the capital Bangkok, 4,000 in Chiang Mai, and 260 in Chiang Rai, respectively.
The local embassies are currently checking with relevant authorities in Myanmar and Thailand and local Korean communities to determine if there were Korean casualties.
BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
10. Korea to earmark additional $6.8 billion for wildfire recovery and tariff defense
Tariff defense.
But aren't allies? Not when it comes to trade and other economic issues POTUS deems important.
Wouldn't all this tariff money be better spent on defense?
Sunday
March 30, 2025
dictionary + A - A
Korea to earmark additional $6.8 billion for wildfire recovery and tariff defense
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-30/business/economy/Korea-to-earmark-additional-68-billion-for-wildfire-recovery-and-tariff-defense/2273604
Published: 30 Mar. 2025, 18:17
Updated: 30 Mar. 2025, 18:28
- SHIN HA-NEE
- shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr
Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok enters a meeting room at the government complex in central Seoul for an emergency ministerial meeting on March 30. [NEWS1]
Korea will push to allocate a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) to economic revitalization in the wake of the worst wildfire in the country’s history.
The proposed allocation would fund efforts not only to restore areas impacted by the massive wildfire that swept through the southeastern region of the country over the past 10 days, but also to mitigate trade risks and support small businesses, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Sunday. The ministry has not yet specified the amounts it would set aside for each respective area.
Related Article
The latest development marks a breakthrough in the drive for additional fiscal spending, over which Korea's two major political parties have long been at an impasse amid political tension surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment proceedings.
The ministry will submit its supplementary budget plan to the National Assembly swiftly, with a goal of having it approved by the end of April.
The scope of the proposed budget is significantly smaller than what policymakers have previously suggested, likely in an effort to minimize disagreements. The liberal Democratic Party (DP) has been advocating a massive 35 trillion won supplementary budget allocation since February while the conservative People Power Party (PPP) has held firm on the 15 trillion won range. Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong has repeatedly suggested a range between 15 trillion won to 20 trillion won.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, right, holds hands with people displaced by ongoing wildfires at a gymnasium in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, on March 27. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
As Korea continues to grapple with weak private spending and waning growth momentum, calls for extra budget have been constantly present throughout the year. The PPP and the DP agreed on the need for additional funding during a four-way consultative meeting with then-acting President Choi Sang-mok and the National Assembly speaker on Feb. 20, but the joint discussion stalled without a clear resolution after the DP excluded the government from further talks over Choi’s decision not to appoint the ninth justice of the Constitutional Court.
The discussion picked up momentum again after the massive wildfire broke out, but the PPP and the DP are still locking horns regarding the scope and the approach of the budget plan.
The PPP is now arguing that the reserve funds — which the DP cut to 2.4 trillion won from the government’s initial proposal last year — should be restored to 4.8 trillion won, while the DP insists that the current allocation of the reserve funds is sufficient, considering that separate government funding exists for natural disaster relief. The DP has previously suggested that the additional budget include safety funding and a stimulus package to support North Gyeongsang, which was impacted by the wildfire.
People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, center, holds hands with a woman displaced by ongoing wildfires at a shelter in Andong, North Gyeongsang, on March 27. [NEWS1]
“The recent wildfire resulted in record damages, burning 48,000 hectares [118,610 acres] and causing 75 casualties,” said Choi, now minister of economy and finance, during an emergency economic ministerial meeting at the government complex in central Seoul on Sunday.
“Meanwhile, the global race for technology leadership in advanced industries such as AI is accelerating, with external trade risks involving the U.S. government’s tariff implementations materializing,” noted the minister, adding that “The burden on household economies will likely increase due to slowing export growth amid weak domestic demand.”
Choi called for “prompt additional budget injection,” stressing that the nation should leverage its resources in an all-out effort to navigate such multifaceted risks.
“The government aims to create a supplementary budget worth 10 trillion won, focusing only on programs where budgets can be implemented swiftly, in order to address pressing issues,” said Choi.
The finance minister repeatedly emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging lawmakers to put aside their differences for a bipartisan effort to pass the additional budget.
“If there is any push for projects that the parties cannot agree with or that do not align with the intended purpose of the additional budget during the parliamentary discussion, the review process may drag indefinitely, ultimately undermining the impact of the supplementary measure,” Choi said, requesting that the parties “agree.”
BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]
11. Gyeongsang wildfires declared contained as police book man suspected of starting blaze
Excerpts:
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency booked a 56-year-old man without detention on Sunday on charges of starting a wildfire in North Gyeongsang that caused at least 30 deaths as the blaze swept the region over the past week.
The development comes as Korea's disaster response authorities declared an end to the wildfire emergency on Sunday.
The man is accused of violating the Forest Protection Act and causing a fire in the area while tidying his grandparents’ graves in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, at around 11:24 a.m. on March 22. He reportedly denies the charges.
The police’s scientific investigation team took measures to preserve the scene the day before the arrest was made, with police planning to conduct a joint investigation with the National Institute of Forest Science, the National Forensic Service and local fire departments as early as next week.
At the time of the fire's ignition, the man’s daughter told the 119 situation room that a fire had incinerated her great-grandfather's grave site. The man’s wife had been with them at the scene, too, according to the police.
Sunday
March 30, 2025
dictionary + A - A
Gyeongsang wildfires declared contained as police book man suspected of starting blaze
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-30/national/socialAffairs/Police-book-man-accused-of-starting-devastating-North-Gyeongsang-wildfire/2273539
Published: 30 Mar. 2025, 16:36
Updated: 30 Mar. 2025, 18:37
- LIM JEONG-WON
- lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr
Soldiers from the Army's 50th Division closely examine a forest area while supporting a wildfire suppression operation in the Gyeongsang region on March 30. [YONHAP]
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency booked a 56-year-old man without detention on Sunday on charges of starting a wildfire in North Gyeongsang that caused at least 30 deaths as the blaze swept the region over the past week.
The development comes as Korea's disaster response authorities declared an end to the wildfire emergency on Sunday.
The man is accused of violating the Forest Protection Act and causing a fire in the area while tidying his grandparents’ graves in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, at around 11:24 a.m. on March 22. He reportedly denies the charges.
The police’s scientific investigation team took measures to preserve the scene the day before the arrest was made, with police planning to conduct a joint investigation with the National Institute of Forest Science, the National Forensic Service and local fire departments as early as next week.
At the time of the fire's ignition, the man’s daughter told the 119 situation room that a fire had incinerated her great-grandfather's grave site. The man’s wife had been with them at the scene, too, according to the police.
Related Article
The daughter of the arrested man told police during the basic fact-finding investigation that they had “tried to burn a tree at the grave site with a lighter because it wouldn’t bend, but the wind ignited the sparks and started a fire.”
“We will call the suspect in after the basic fact-finding investigation is complete,” a police officer said.
The wildfire spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok in northeastern North Gyeongsang, riding strong winds.
Thirty people, including a helicopter pilot, wildfire watchers and residents, died in the wildfire.
Evacuees eat lunch at the Cheongsong National Sports Center, a shelter for evacuees from the wildfire in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang, on March 30. [YONHAP]
Tangible cultural heritage sites such as Gounsa Temple, national treasures and an estimated 4,000 houses and factories were lost in the blaze.
The wildfire affected 45,157 hectares of land, equivalent to 63,601 football pitches.
When the wildfire broke out on March 22, in addition to the report from Goesan-ri, there were separate 119 reports of fires in Yonggi-ri, Angye-myeon and Cheongro-ri, Geumseong-myeon.
At the time, the forestry authorities informed the press that the two fires were separate from the Goesan-ri blaze, potentially requiring additional investigations.
A man looks around his burned down house in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang, on March 30, after a wildfire swept through the area. [NEWS1]
According to the forestry authorities, the fire in Angye-myeon was believed to have started when a resident burned a field. The resident in question was not identified, according to the North Gyeongsang provincial government.
The Uiseong Forestry Division plans to determine the cause of the fire through witness and on-site investigations.
The fire that began in South Gyeongsang's Sancheong County and swept the region for 10 days was largely extinguished as of 1 p.m. Sunday, approximately 213 hours after it ignited, according to the forest authorities the same day.
The head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Ko Gi-dong, said during a briefing Sunday that “all of the large-scale wildfires that broke out in the Gyeongsang region last week have been extinguished after an all-out response."
Forest authorities concentrated their firefighting efforts on Saturday to put out the last 1 percent of the wildfire in Sancheong and Hadong counties in South Gyeongsang but could not wholly extinguish them due to the rugged terrain.
A golf course in Andong, North Gyeongsang, is seen blackened by wildfires on March 29. [YONHAP]
As soon as the sun rose Sunday, 996 personnel, including 108 special firefighting units and 50 helicopters, were deployed to begin the final operation to extinguish the blaze. Forest authorities are focusing on extinguishing the last remaining fire line, a 200-meter blaze near Mount Jiri.
The forestry authorities issued a Level 3 wildfire alert — the highest in the country — after the fire began on March 22 and began extinguishing operations, but the fire grew rapidly due to strong winds and continued to spread for several days.
A total of 2,158 people were displaced due to the Gyeongsang wildfires, according to the authorities.
Wildfire victims and their families check the damage in a village in Andong, North Gyeongsang, on March 29. [YONHAP]
BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
12. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Four Struggling Female Students Expelled and Banished to Rural Areas for Prostitution: Young People's Violation of Order Met with Harsh Punishment
It does not have to be this way.
The root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the most evil mafia- like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that has the objective of dominating the Korean Peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.
＜Inside N. Korea＞Four Struggling Female Students Expelled and Banished to Rural Areas for Prostitution: Young People's Violation of Order Met with Harsh Punishment
asiapress.org
(FILE PHOTO) Typical university student attire consists of a white shirt and black skirt with high heels. Photographed in Pyongsung, South Pyongan Province, September 2013. ASIAPRESS
Four impoverished female university students in North Korea were reportedly expelled and banished to rural areas after being caught engaging in prostitution. This information was relayed by a northern region partner who heard directly from university officials. The Kim Jong-un regime has been intensifying its crackdown on "non-socialist behavior," with particularly strict punishment for students and young people. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)
◆Economic Hardship Increases Prostitution After COVID
According to the reporting partner in the northern part of the country: "Four female students at Chongjin University of Mining and Metallurgy were caught engaging in organized prostitution, expelled from school, and forcibly assigned to rural areas. Economic hardship was reportedly the reason."
Since the COVID pandemic, the Kim Jong-un regime's severe restrictions on personal economic activities have dramatically reduced cash income for urban residents. The increase in prostitution among struggling women has become a social problem, with even underage female students routinely selling their bodies or engaging in "compensated dating."
This case likely stems from such economic difficulties. According to reporting collaborators living in North Korea, there are "agents" who connect struggling housewives and students with male clients.
◆Rural Banishment Ruins Lives
Chongjin University of Mining and Metallurgy is a government-operated university in North Hamgyong Province. Its students typically have good academic records and come from relatively financially stable families.
The fact that the four students were not only expelled but also forcibly assigned to rural areas represents an extremely harsh punishment that effectively ruins their future lives. In North Korea, once urban residents are demoted to farmer status, most never return to cities and are forced to work as farm laborers, considered the "bottom" of North Korean society.
asiapress.org
13. RFA Wins Gracie Award for Report on 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors'
Congratulations to two outstanding journalists.
This is a Google translation of an RFA report.
RFA Wins Gracie Award for Report on 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors'
WASHINGTON-Park Jae-woo parkja@rfa.org
2025.03.27
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/27/rfa-north-korea-grace-award/
Reporters Seo Hye-jun (left) and Jamin Anderson (right) of Radio Free Asia (RFA) won the Foreign Language Award at the 50th Gracie Awards this year. (RFA)
Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Korean service won a Gracie Award for its in-depth report, "Please Save My Brother: A North Korean Woman's Cry Against a Dictatorship," which covered the reality of the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China.
The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM) announced on the 25th that among the winners of the Gracie Awards, which celebrate their 50th anniversary this year, RFA reporters Seo Hye-jun and Jamin Anderson (Jamin Lee) were selected as the winners of the Best Foreign Language Radio Award.
This report focuses on the ongoing reality of forced repatriation of North Korean defectors within China and the human rights violations suffered by North Korean women in the process.
Related Articles
[Calling for North Korean Human Rights in Geneva] ① Anger at China, the ‘Either-in-Law’
[Calling for North Korean Human Rights in Geneva] ② “We’ll be together until the end”
[Calling for North Korean Human Rights in Geneva] ③ “I hope the same tragedy won’t happen again”
The Gracie Awards, now in their 50th year, are presented annually to recognize the best programs highlighting women across media outlets including television, radio, and cable.
This year, many famous media outlets in the U.S., including CNN, ABC, NBC, and ESPN, will participate, and the awards ceremony will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles on May 20.
14. [WHY] Why do so many Korean men enlist during college?
A good article to help us better understand Korean culture.
Quick story. My drive for two years while I was the CHief of Staff at SOCKOR was doing his military service after his junior year at Seoul National University where he was majoring in biochemical engineering. While he served with us, he spent all his free time reading the law. As he would wait for me to finish meetings he would be sitting in our vehicle reading law books. I asked him why he was studying law. He said that he wants to pass the Bar examination in patent law so that when he invents new biochemical processes he will be able to patent them. Sure enough at the time of his military service he took the bar examination and passed. He returned to Seoul National University and completed his studies. He asked me for a letter of recommendation for MIT which I happily wrote for him. He went on to get his PhD at MIT and the last time we talked he was at Yale doing a postdoc.
Saturday
March 29, 2025
dictionary + A - A
[WHY] Why do so many Korean men enlist during college?
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-29/national/socialAffairs/WHY-Timing-mandatory-military-service-How-Koreas-young-men-make-plans-to-minimize-yearslong-interference-to-their-lives/2270679
Published: 29 Mar. 2025, 07:00
Updated: 30 Mar. 2025, 15:23
- PAIK JI-HWAN
- paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr
Recruits salute during an enlistment ceremony at Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong on Jan. 6. [NEWS1]
Enter college, finish mandatory military service while still in school, graduate: This is a typical routine for most Korean men, who must complete 18 to 21 months of military service before the age of 30 as required by law.
Related Article
Men do have a choice of undergoing the mandatory service after college, as the military service laws allow those enrolled in four-year universities to enlist at age 24, though this can be delayed under certain circumstances.
This age is 24 under the traditional Korean age system — no longer broadly used for official purposes with the notable exception of the Military Manpower Administration — that considers people to be one-year old at birth and adds one year on Jan. 1 regardless of an individual's actual birthday. To avoid confusion, this article will only use the traditional Korean age system.
Under this age system, most Korean men are 20 when entering college and 24 at around the time they graduate, if they did not complete their military service while in school.
Completing the military service after college, however, has not been considered an attractive option for the majority of Korean men for some time.
Data provided by the Military Manpower Administration suggest that around a combined 70 percent of Korean men enlisted at either age 20 or 21 from 2014 to 2024.
The almost two-year absence in the middle of their college years forces young men to split up their studies and pick up where they left off, which is not ideal for educational continuity.
The trend of serving in the military before graduation, however, has persisted as 74 percent of men aged 20 and 21 joined the armed forces in 2024.
But why is this still the case today despite potential interruptions to their studies?
Less knowledge loss
Completing the military service after college forces men to seek employment nearly two years after they have finished their studies.
Soldiers from the 72nd Infantry Division study in Yangju, Gyeonggi on Oct. 15, 2019. [YONHAP]
This can put men at a disadvantage when finding a job, as they can forget much of what they learned in school by the time they finish their service.
“If I had joined the military after finishing college, I would have returned to society after forgetting what I studied,” Lee Jae-hee, who majored in civil engineering and enlisted at 22 after his first college year, said during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily. “There is that (knowledge) loss, and trends of what I need to study further to get a job I want could change by the time I finish the military service.”
Enlisting before the second year of college, when most students start studying more major-focused subjects, can also reduce the amount of studies they could forget and burden of having to readjust to studying.
“You will have forgotten so much by the time you finish the military service, but if you had only finished your first year, it would make it relatively easy for you to catch up on your studies,” Lee said. “It took me nearly six to eight months to regain to my studying habits.
“There were times in my second year of college when I couldn’t remember basic things, which made me think ‘I can’t even remember this?’”
No peers will be left, if postponed until after graduation
As over 70 percent of men undergo the military service between 20 and 21, those who do not complete their service until after graduation will most likely not have many peers their age left in school when receiving their diplomas.
“Maintaining your friendship group becomes hard, if you are left alone,” Lee said. “And if you complete the military service late, there won’t be anyone around you by the time you finish your service.
“There can also be a situation where you cannot ask anyone close to you for help, if you are left alone.”
Those who enlist after college will also likely have to deal with younger senior military members, which is not an ideal situation for those who are conscious about Korea's age-stratified culture which determines social interactions and hierarchy.
Soliders from the 11th Maneuver Division rest at a barrack in Hongcheon, Gangwon on Aug. 3, 2018. [NEWS1]
In Korea, age is critical in determining how you speak and behave toward the people around you. Speaking to somebody even a year older requires an entirely different honorific system and the assumption that what they say should be treated with respect. To some extent the opposite is true to somebody younger.
This traditional aspect of Korean society remains especially prevalent among men.
But in the military, age is just a number and rank is all that matters. Lower ranked members in the military must speak in a polite form to higher-ranked people regardless of their age.
If you enter the military late, the chance that you will be faced with the embarrassment of being required to treat somebody younger than you with the respect afforded to somebody senior is a very real concern for Korean men.
“Those around me were worried about having to face younger members in the military,” Lee said.
No more reserve forces training in 30s
Another advantage of finishing the military service early lies with the reserve forces training period.
Reserve forces members train at the 51st Infantry Division in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi on March 6. [YONHAP]
The earlier men finish the military service, the earlier they will be free of reserve forces training duties — required for eight years after completion of service.
The one to three-day reserve forces training sessions, mandated regardless of jobs, interfere with men’s daily lives. This could prove fatal for businesses with owners that have to undergo training at the cost of temporarily closing their stores.
But finishing the military service at 22, for example, would release men from reserve forces duties before their 30s when they generally develop more responsibilities.
Teachers finish studies first
The majority of Korean men prefer to enlist before college graduation as suggested by data from the Military Manpower Administration, but cases of joining the military after college do exist in particular groups such as teachers.
While the Military Manpower Administration told the Korea JoongAng Daily that it does not collect data of what percentage of to-be-teachers join the military after finishing their four-year studies, multiple male teachers reached by this newspaper said that most education students around them have chosen to finish college first.
Students attend a class at the 2024 Korea Educational Innovation Expo at Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi on Dec. 13, 2024. [YONHAP]
Seoul Sungwon Elementary School Teacher Park Tae-joon, who served in the Korean Air Force as an enlistee from 2014 to 2016, told the Korea JoongAng Daily that that option is prevalent among would-be teachers as returning to college after the military service could increase their study load for the teacher qualification test.
“For example, if you studied the 2009 education curriculum in your first and second years of college, but the 2015 education curriculum had been adopted after you returned to school from the military service, you would have to study both curriculums [for the test.]” Park said.
Teachers can choose to enlist as commissioned officers instead of enlistees, as they would have earned their bachelor’s degrees — required to enlist as military officers — after graduation.
This option requires them to serve in the military for 39 months, however, as opposed to 18 to 21 months.
“The excessively long service period was a burden for me,” Park said about why he chose not to serve as an officer. “When I was in the military, the Air Force service period was 24 months and Army was 21 months, which is half as much as the officer service period.
“But those around me who served as officers were mostly satisfied with their experience.”
Some teachers even choose to further postpone their enlistment and join the military after one or two years of teaching.
As is the case with college students, nearly a two-year absence caused by the military service forces teachers to readjust to work — with a lesser degree of concern though.
“Those around me who returned to work after serving in the military have adapted well,” Park said. “The work culture in school doesn’t significantly change in one or two years, so I don’t think we experience particular challenges.”
Medical students
Medical students are another group typically joining the military after finishing their studies.
Since medical education in college is six years long in Korea, medical students are allowed to postpone their enlistment until the age of 27. They can further delay until the age of 28, if they purse studies in medical graduate school.
The Seoul National University College of Medicine entrance in is seen in southern Seoul on July 10, 2024. [NEWS1]
Upon finishing their long studies, medical students enlist as medical officers and serve in the military for 38 months.
“Most medical students graduate first and join the military after obtaining medical licenses,” a Military Manpower Administration official said during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily.
But there has been a recent surge of medical students who opted to serve in the military as enlistees instead since the service period gap between enlistees and officers became wider around 2020.
Around 200 medical students reportedly completed their military service as enlistees in 2022, twice the number reported in 2018.
The Military Manpower Administration official also said that he did hear about the recently shifting trend among medical students.
No right or wrong timing for enlistment
Subjects studied in college are a factor that determines when men prefer to enlist as seen in the preceding examples.
Whether they enlist early or late, they inevitably spend nearly two years outside of their comfort zones, in addition to undertaking reserve forces duties after their initial period of service.
There is thus no right or wrong timing for enlistment, although preference for particular enlistment ages continues to be a reality for Korea's young men.
The timing merely decides their experience after being discharged, whether that is continuing their studies, starting a new career or returning to work.
BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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