Latest news with #Chun
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
New oceans minister vows efforts to turn Busan into hub for maritime industry
The new oceans minister vowed Thursday to transform the southeastern city of Busan into the forefront of South Korea's maritime industry in the envisioned era of Arctic shipping routes. "With the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, the government will bring together administrative, industrial and financial functions in the city to open a new frontier in maritime and fisheries while laying the foundation for a new leap forward of the sectors," Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo said in his inaugural address. "The ministry's relocation to Busan will mark a turning point in our national strategy to equip South Korea with a new growth engine based on the ocean economy," he added. Chun said Busan, Korea's largest port city located about 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul, will serve as the strategic base of the country's maritime industry in light of the anticipated expansion of Arctic shipping routes. Arctic shipping routes refer to maritime passages through the Arctic Ocean that could potentially offer shorter and more efficient trade routes between Asia and Europe. The relocation plan was one of President Lee Jae Myung's key election campaign pledges aimed at developing Busan into a leading global maritime hub and dispersing the excessive concentration of economic assets in Seoul. (Yonhap)
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First Post
26-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What will happen to over 500,000 dogs after South Korea's meat ban?
As South Korea phases out its dog meat industry by 2027, over half a million dogs and thousands of livelihoods hang in the balance. The new law reflects shifting public attitudes, but its implementation has triggered fears of animal abandonment. Farmers demand clearer support as shelters struggle to accommodate the fallout read more Dogs look on from their cages at a dog meat farm in Hwaseong, South Korea, November 21, 2023. File Image/Reuters Last year the South Korea's National Assembly ended a centuries-old practice by unanimously enacting legislation to abolish the dog meat industry. The sweeping law, which targets every stage of the trade — from breeding and slaughtering to sale and consumption — grants a three-year grace period, with full enforcement set for February 2027. The move was aimed to align with changing societal views that increasingly recognise dogs as household companions rather than livestock. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This transformation in perspective is especially visible among younger generations. According to Gallup Korea, the percentage of citizens who reported eating dog meat dropped from 27 per cent in 2015 to just 8 per cent in 2023. A separate government survey conducted in 2024 found that only 3.3 per cent of respondents planned to continue consuming dog meat once the law comes into effect. For animal rights advocates, the shift reflects growing national and global support for compassionate treatment of animals, particularly canines. Activists such as Chun highlight this evolution. 'With time, people's views on dogs have evolved. They are no longer seen as food, but as family,' she told the BBC. Nonetheless, the transition has triggered a crisis involving both animals and the humans who once depended on this trade, the report by BBC has reported. What happens to over half a million dogs? As of 2022, South Korea's Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries estimated that more than 520,000 dogs were being raised on over 1,100 farms across the country. These dogs — many of them large breeds such as the Tosa-Inu — were intended for human consumption. Today, their fate is uncertain. While the government has pledged that local municipalities will accommodate surrendered animals in shelters, the reality is proving far more difficult. Rehoming large-breed dogs has become a serious logistical challenge, especially because such breeds are often categorised as 'dangerous' under South Korean law. Urban households typically prefer small pets, and concerns persist about health issues and behavioural trauma among dogs raised in meat farms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Although the dog meat ban has passed, both the government and civic groups are still grappling with how to rescue the remaining dogs,' Lee Sangkyung of Humane World for Animals Korea (Hwak) told BBC. 'One area that still feels lacking is the discussion around the dogs that have been left behind.' Rescue efforts are underway, but the scale of the problem is overwhelming. A limited number of dogs are being transported overseas for adoption, yet these efforts barely make a dent in the overall population. Humane Society International Korea's JungAh Chae described the legislation as 'history in the making,' but highlighted the need for urgent implementation strategies to ensure that dogs don't end up neglected or worse. According to Cho Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, the consequences of inaction could be tragic. 'If remaining dogs become 'lost and abandoned animals' then it's heartbreaking but they will be euthanised,' she warned in 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Government authorities have denied euthanasia is part of their policy, and have instead introduced financial incentives — offering up to 600,000 Korean won (around $450) per dog to farmers willing to exit the trade early. Still, critics like Hwak say the measures remain vague and insufficient. Public shelters are already under strain, and many private facilities lack the funding or space to accommodate the expected influx of animals. What does mean for farmers who depended on the dog meat trade? For those whose livelihoods were rooted in the dog meat industry, the legislation has been deeply destabilising. Farmers, vendors, and restaurant owners now face the prospect of economic ruin without a clear roadmap for transition. Reverend Joo Yeong-bong, 60, who raised dogs for commercial purposes, is among those now trapped in a livelihood that has abruptly become unsustainable. 'Since last summer we've been trying to sell our dogs, but the traders just keep hesitating,' he told the BBC. 'Not a single one has shown up.' With mounting debts and few employment alternatives, farmers like Joo are in a precarious situation. 'People are suffering,' he continued. 'We're drowning in debt, can't pay it off, and some can't even… find new work. It's a hopeless situation.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another farmer, Chan-woo, aged 33, is responsible for around 600 dogs and faces a tight timeline. 'Realistically, even just on my farm, I can't process the number of dogs I have in that time,' he told BBC. The stakes are high: failing to comply with the new law by 2027 could result in up to two years of imprisonment. Despite investing all of his personal assets into the farm, Chan-woo says there's little assistance or coordination from either authorities or advocacy groups. 'They [the authorities] passed the law without any real plan, and now they're saying they can't even take the dogs,' he lamented. Joo echoed this sentiment, stating that many are barely holding on in the hope of policy adjustments. 'Right now, people are still holding on, hoping something might change… But by 2027, I truly believe something terrible will happen,' he said. 'There are so many people whose lives have completely unravelled.' What next for the South Korea dog meat ban? While the majority of the public now supports the ban, the decision has not been universally welcomed. Some sellers and farmers have voiced strong opposition, accusing the government of yielding to external cultural influences and infringing upon personal freedoms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Former dog farmer Yang Jong-tae, who shut down his operations in 2023, described being emotionally moved by the kindness shown by rescue teams. 'When I saw how they handled the animals, like they were handling people, so gently and lovingly, it really moved me. We don't treat them like that. For us, raising dogs was just a way to make a living.' Nonetheless, Yang remains unconvinced about the ethical consistency behind the law. 'If dog meat is banned because dogs are animals, then why is it okay to eat other animals like cows, pigs or chicken?' In response to the growing unrest, the government has allocated around 6 billion Korean won annually to expand and support public and private shelters. The financial compensation for farmers who voluntarily exit the trade early is intended to ease the transition, but many say the funds and resources are not nearly enough to address the full extent of the upheaval. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Farmers like Chan-woo are now calling for an extension to the grace period to allow for a more gradual transition. The looming deadline of February 2027 continues to cast a shadow over those whose futures are now uncertain. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After US bombs Iran, North Korea watches closely
AP Image North Korea on Monday condemned the US attacks against three of Iran's key nuclear sites, accusing the administration of President Donald Trump of violating Iran's territorial integrity and the United Nations Charter. "The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts," said a spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry, according to the Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang had previously described Israeli missile attacks against Iran as a "hideous act." North Korea 'watching very closely what is going on in Iran' Nuclear-armed North Korea has maintained friendly ties with Iran. For decades, Tehran and Pyongyang have been suspected of military cooperation, including in developing ballistic missiles that Iranian scientists have reportedly since enhanced. Around 20 years ago, North Korea began dispatching engineers with specialist deep tunnelling expertise. Since the three-year Korean War began in 1950, North Korea has concealed much of its own key military capabilities in underground bases. The regime will be keen to determine the effectiveness of its underground bunkers, while looking at the impact of the GBU-57 "massive ordnance penetrator" weapons dropped by the US on Iranian targets in Operation Midnight Hammer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ductless Air Conditioners Are Selling Like Crazy [See Why] Keep Cool Click Here Undo "They are definitely watching very closely what is going on in Iran," said Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general in the Republic of Korea Army and now a senior fellow with the National Institute for Deterrence Studies. "I believe the conclusions that North Korea will come to will be that they need to accelerate their nuclear weapons capabilities, that they need to further fortify their storage areas," he told DW. Chun added that the North Koreans need to adopt additional protective measures, such as enhanced air defence and retaliatory options. Pyongyang unlikely to talk Asked whether there is any likelihood of the attacks encouraging Pyongyang to return to dialogue, Chun said, "Absolutely not. It is just not in their nature." Nevertheless, he said, North Korea was almost certainly as shocked as the rest of the world at the Trump administration's "decisive nature." "This is an America that we have not seen for a long time and would have caught the North by surprise," Chun said. "The priority there now will be to ensure that the same thing does not happen to them, which is why I am sure they will be observing closely and accelerating their weapons programs." Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said Pyongyang will be aware that its situation is starkly different from that of Tehran, both in terms of the country's geography, the proximity of allies and the status of the two nations' nuclear programs. "Pyongyang's nuclear program is much more advanced, with weapons possibly ready to launch on multiple delivery systems, including ICBMs," he said. "The Kim [Jong Un] regime can threaten the US homeland, and Seoul is within range of many North Korean weapons of various types." "In Iran's case, Israel aggressively exploited Tehran's strategic and tactical errors, using superior intelligence, technology, and training to degrade Iran's air defences, high-value personnel and retaliatory capabilities," he pointed out. "North Korea will learn from Iran's mistakes, South Korea is more risk-averse than Israel and China and Russia are better-positioned to help Pyongyang than Tehran." Russia's coordinates with Iran, North Korea Easley said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will also lean on his alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, to obtain the latest weapons and technology and in sufficient amounts to preserve his regime. "It is no coincidence that Moscow was quick to host Iran's foreign minister after the US strikes, and that Putin sent [Defence Minister] Sergei Shoigu to meet Kim Jong Un while the G7 was gathering in Canada," he said. "Russia's coordination with Iran and North Korea shows how security across multiple regions is increasingly linked." Ultimately, however, Chun said Kim's priority is ensuring his own personal safety and the future of the only hereditary communist dictatorship. And he will have been deeply alarmed at Trump's hints that the US military knew where Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding and that he favours regime change in Tehran. "Even now, Kim is very well protected from the threat of a 'decapitation strike,' with veils of secrecy around his location and movements," Chun said. "I am sure he will maintain that secrecy and make sure that the information on his whereabouts at any time is as limited as possible."
DW
24-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
After US bombs Iran, North Korea watches closely – DW – 06/24/2025
Pyongyang has shared weapons technology and underground construction know-how with Tehran. Now it will want to know how it can best protect itself should the US turn its military attention to North Korea. North Korea on Monday condemned the US attacks against three of Iran's key nuclear sites, accusing Washington of violating Iran's territorial integrity and the United Nations Charter. "The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts," North Korea's Foreign Ministry said, according to the Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang had previously described Israeli missile attacks against Iran as a "hideous act." Nuclear-armed North Korea has maintained friendly ties with Iran. For decades, Tehran and Pyongyang have been suspected of military cooperation, including in developing ballistic missiles that Irainian scientists have reportedly since enhanced. Around 20 years ago, North Korea began dispatching engineers with specialist deep tunneling expertise. Since the three-year Korean War began in 1950, North Korea has concealed much of its own key military capabilities in underground bases. The regime will be keen to determine the effectiveness of its underground bunkers, while looking at the impact of the GBU-57 "massive ordnance penetrator" weapons dropped by the US on Iranian targets in Operation Midnight Hammer. "They are definitely watching very closely what is going on in Iran," said Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general in the Republic of Korea Army and now a senior fellow with the National Institute for Deterrence Studies. "I believe the conclusions that North Korea will come to will be that they need to accelerate their nuclear weapons capabilities, that they need to further fortify their storage areas," he told DW. Chun added that the North Koreans need to adopt additional protective measures, such as enhanced air defense and retaliatory options. Asked whether there is any likelihood of the attacks encouraging Pyongyang to return to dialogue, Chun said, "Absolutely not. It is just not in their nature." Nevertheless, North Korea was almost certainly as shocked as much of the rest of the world at the "decisive nature" of President Donald Trump's administration, he said. "This is an America that we have not seen for a long time and would have caught the North by surprise," Chun said. "The priority there now will be to ensure that the same thing does not happen to them, which is why I am sure they will be observing closely and accelerating their weapons programs." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Pyongyang will be aware that its situation is starkly different from that of Tehran, however, both in terms of the geography of the country, the proximity of allies, and the status of the two nations' nuclear programs, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. "Pyongyang's nuclear program is much more advanced, with weapons possibly ready to launch on multiple delivery systems, including ICBMs," he said. "The Kim [Jong Un] regime can threaten the US homeland, and Seoul is within range of many North Korean weapons of various types." "In Iran's case, Israel aggressively exploited Tehran's strategic and tactical errors, using superior intelligence, technology, and training to degrade Iran's air defenses, high-value personnel, and retaliatory capabilities," he pointed out. "North Korea will learn from Iran's mistakes, South Korea is more risk-averse than Israel, and China and Russia are better positioned to help Pyongyang than Tehran." North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will also lean on his alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, to obtain the latest weapons and technology and in sufficient amounts to preserve his regime. "It is no coincidence that Moscow was quick to host Iran's foreign minister after the US strikes, and that Putin sent Sergei Shoigu to meet Kim Jong Un while the G7 was gathering in Canada," he said. "Russia's coordination with Iran and North Korea shows how security across multiple regions is increasingly linked." Ultimately, however, Kim's priority is ensuring his own personal safety and the future of the only hereditary communist dictatorship, said Chun. And he will have been deeply alarmed at Trump's hints that the US military knew where Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding and that he favors regime change in Tehran. "Even now, Kim is very well protected from the threat of a 'decapitation strike,' with veils of secrecy around his location and movements," Chun said. "I am sure he will maintain that secrecy and make sure that the information on his whereabouts at any time is as limited as possible." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The Sun
18-06-2025
- The Sun
Temerloh fatal crash: Car driver involved charged with drug possession, trafficking
TEMERLOH: The car driver involved in a road crash that resulted in the death of two teenage girls was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with trafficking more than 50 grammes of Methamphetamine last week. Chun Kok Keong (pix), 38, of Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, is charged with committing the offence in front of the lobby of the Temerloh District Police Headquarters at about 12.30 am on June 12 this year. The charge, under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, provides the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 15 strokes of the cane in the absence of the death penalty, upon conviction. No plea was recorded from Chun, who works as a customer service officer, after the charge was read out before Magistrate Tan Chiew King, as the case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Chun was also charged with possessing heroin weighing about 0.85 grammes at the same location and time under Section 12(2) of the same act. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which provides a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction. The court allowed him bail of RM4,500 with one surety for the charge and set Sept 18 for mention. Deputy public prosecutors Adriana Azrin and Siti Sarah Aqilah Lokman appeared for the prosecution, while Chun was represented by lawyer Siti Fatimah Mohd Shahril, from the National Legal Aid Foundation. In the same court, Chun also pleaded not guilty to two charges of dangerous driving, which resulted in the death of Nur Erdina Shaffiya Muhammad Nazri and Aneez Irdiena Sofya Khairul Azman, both aged 18, at the traffic lights on Jalan Tengku Ismail, here at 10.50 pm, on June 11 this year. The charge, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), provides imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of RM50,000 if convicted. Chun was not allowed bail as he is also facing charges for drug trafficking, which is a non-bailable offence. The court set July 17 for mention.
