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Fitch Holds Korea’s Credit Rating Steady in 2025: Impeachment Fallout and Election Risks Ahead

By Jacob Yang April 10, 2025

1. Fitch Maintains Korea’s Credit Rating Amid Yoon’s Impeachment Fallout In February 2025, global credit rating agency Fitch reaffirmed South Korea’s sovereign credit rating at "AA- Stable," a decision that hinged on the anticipated impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. On April 4, 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld Yoon’s impeachment, a move Fitch later praised as a step toward reducing political uncertainty. In a statement released on April 10, Fitch noted, "The court’s ruling eliminated a key political risk factor we factored into our February assessment." This aligned with predictions from major investment banks like JP Morgan, which foresaw Yoon’s impeachment followed by a Q2 election, and Citi, which projected a late May or early June presidential vote. The decision calmed markets and bolstered confidence in Korea’s political stability. However, Fitch cautioned that while the impeachment resolved short-term chaos, the upcoming...

How Jang Won-young’s Cyberbully Got Caught: The Talduk Camp Takedown

By Jacob Yang April 09, 2025

1. Unmasking the Cyber Wrecker Behind Jang Won-young’s Torment In a gripping episode of tvN’s *You Quiz on the Block* on April 9, 2025, attorney Jung Kyung-seok shared the story of how he brought down the operator of ‘Talduk Camp,’ a notorious YouTube channel infamous for spreading malicious fake news about idols, including IVE’s Jang Won-young. Host Yoo Jae-suk kicked off the conversation, marveling, “I thought catching someone like this was impossible back in the day.” Jung agreed, noting that tracking down anonymous cyber wreckers once seemed futile due to their hidden identities and the legal blind spots they exploited. The Jang Won-young cyberbullying case, however, became a game-changer. Jung revealed how the culprits taunted victims with a smug “Go ahead, sue me,” assuming they were untouchable—until he proved otherwise. 2. Cracking the YouTuber Lawsuit with Global Cooperation The breakthrough in the Talduk Camp case hinged on international persistence. Yoo Jae-...

North Korean Soldiers Briefly Cross DMZ—South Korea Responds with Warning Shots

By Jacob Yang April 08, 2025

1. North Korean Soldiers Cross MDL, South Korean Military Fires Warning Shots Around 12:30 p.m. on April 9, an incident occurred in the central section of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where approximately 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The South Korean military responded immediately with warning broadcasts and warning shots. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the North Korean soldiers were partially armed and carrying tools such as pickaxes, indicating they were likely engaged in work-related activities. After the warning shots, the intruding soldiers quickly retreated back to the North. No direct contact or skirmish occurred, and there were no reported casualties or damages on the South Korean side. 2. Likely an Accidental Crossing—Analyzing the Motive Military authorities believe the incident was likely an accidental crossing rather than a deliberate provocation. Due to the dense vegetation within the DMZ, identifying the exact position of t...

Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached: A Historic Turning Point in South Korea

By Jacob Yang April 04, 2025

1. Historic Ruling by the Constitutional Court On April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court of South Korea unanimously upheld the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. As a result, Yoon was immediately removed from office, becoming the second president in South Korean history to be impeached. Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae stated during the ruling, “Even if declaring martial law is a matter of high political discretion, its compliance with the law can be reviewed,” affirming the legitimacy of the National Assembly’s impeachment process. Yoon’s claim of a “warning-style martial law” was rejected due to its lack of legal grounding, reflecting a stern judgment on actions that violated the Constitution and statutes. 2. Grounds for Impeachment and Legal Verdict The basis for Yoon’s impeachment was distilled into five key issues: violation of martial law declaration requirements, the illegality of the martial law decree, atte...

Yoon Suk Yeol Impeachment Verdict on April 4, 2025

By Jacob Yang April 01, 2025

On April 4, 2025, at 11 a.m., South Korea’s Constitutional Court will issue a pivotal ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial—a decision that could seal his political destiny. Marking the third time a sitting president faces such a moment, following Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye, this event carries immense weight. With today being March 31, 2025, here are three key factors to observe: 1. How the Ruling Unfolds The court’s process involves announcing the decision and outlining its rationale, though the sequence depends on the justices’ preference. In Roh’s case, the court explained its stance before dismissing the impeachment after roughly 28 minutes. For Park, a summary came first, followed by her removal in 21 minutes. Yoon’s verdict could hinge on whether the eight justices are united or divided, affecting whether the conclusion or explanation takes precedence—a nuance that might sway public reaction. Expect live coverage too; history suggests this will like...

Kim Soo-hyun’s Press Conference

By Jacob Yang March 31, 2025

1. The Controversy: Family Allegations and Escalating Claims The storm surrounding South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun erupted when the family of the late Kim Sae-ron, alongside the controversial YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (GRI), accused him of an inappropriate relationship with Sae-ron during her minor years. The allegations, which surfaced in early 2025, claimed a six-year romance beginning when Sae-ron was just 15, substantiated by alleged 2016 messages and photos with suggestive undertones. Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Goldmedalist, initially dismissed these as "baseless rumors," only to later clarify that the two had dated for a year after Sae-ron reached adulthood, from summer 2019 to fall 2020. The situation grew murkier when the late Sulli’s family joined the fray, hinting at further unrest from the 2017 film "Real". These conflicting narratives have fueled a relentless cycle of accusations, with GRI threatening additional exposés and the legal battle...

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