2023 National Top 10 News

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Published: 28 Dec. 2023, 17:46

2023 National Top 10 News

1. Inter-Korean tensions soar to new heights

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observes the launch of a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on Dec. 18 in this photo released the day after by the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the regime’s ruling Workers’ Party. [NEWS1]

Inter-Korean tensions showed no signs of abating in 2023 as the North tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in April, followed by its first successful launch of a military spy satellite into orbit in November.

The launch of the Hwasong-18 — Pyongyang’s first solid-fuel ICBM — underlined the regime’s pronouncements that it possesses a growing and diversifying array of weapons to strike the mainland United States.

While Pyongyang fired Hwasong-18 ICBMs on two more occasions in July and December, the weapons test that Seoul found most provocative was the regime’s successful launch of a spy satellite on Nov. 21, which led South Korea to partially suspend restrictions on border reconnaissance that had been instituted under the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

In turn, the North announced that it would terminate its participation in the pact.

The North’s successful launch of a spy satellite — a military asset long coveted by regime leader Kim Jong-un — came after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare summit that took place in the Russian Far East in September.

Their meeting has had wide-ranging repercussions.

Seoul and Washington believe that Pyongyang received significant technological assistance for its satellite program from Moscow in return for supplying armaments and artillery ammunition to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The exchange also highlighted the limits of U.S. efforts to isolate North Korea and Russia and the growing cohesion among countries aligned against the United States and its allies.

2. Jamboree in shambles amid heat, typhoon and poor planning

Scouts attending the 25th World Scout Jamboree take shelter in the shade on Aug. 4, when the mercury at the event site hit 34 degrees Celsius. [NEWS1]

What was meant to be a joyful, 12-day long celebration of the World Scouting Movement in early August turned into a nightmare after poor planning left the campsite of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum a baking, puddle-ridden field wholly unsuited for hosting 43,000 scouts and volunteers from 158 countries.

Reports of participants being taken ill in heat exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) even before the Aug. 2 opening ceremony cast a harsh spotlight on local officials' failure to make adequate preparations for torrid weather at the campsite, which was built atop a reclaimed tidal flat that the organizing committee had previously promised to turn into a “lush forest.”

As hundreds of scouts fell ill from heat exposure and insect bites, the central government hurriedly provided air-conditioned buses and vehicles to Jamboree participants.

But the government eventually decided to evacuate the campsite entirely on Aug. 8 as Typhoon Khanun began its approach toward the peninsula, and scouts dispersed across Korea to participate in cultural and tourist programs that had been prepared for them by local authorities.

A JoongAng Ilbo investigation later revealed that Buan County and North Jeolla officials undertook over 90 trips abroad, purportedly to prepare for the Jamboree, including visits to countries that had never hosted the event.

The Jamboree planning fiasco also cast a harsh spotlight on North Jeolla’s process for awarding contracts to companies to provide services to the Jamboree, with 15 out of 256 companies given deadlines past the Jamboree’s official opening date.

3. Korea-Japan relations achieve historic thaw, but problems remain

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida raise glasses of beer at a restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, after their bilateral summit on March 16. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The leaders of Korea and Japan worked to normalize bilateral relations frayed by ongoing historical disputes and a trade spat, enabling stronger trilateral security cooperation with the United States through the historic Camp David summit.

On March 16, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a bilateral summit in Tokyo, where they agreed it is in both countries' national interests to mend ties, considering security matters such as North Korea. This marked the first bilateral visit by a Korean president to Tokyo in 12 years, reviving “shuttle diplomacy” between the two countries.

The summit came around after the Yoon government announced earlier in March its decision to pay compensation to victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through a Korea-backed public foundation without set contributions from Japanese companies. Issues related to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over Korea had long plagued bilateral relations.

In turn, the two countries formally normalized their General Security of Military Information Agreement, or Gsomia, a military intelligence-sharing pact almost terminated by Seoul in 2019 in response to Tokyo's trade curbs. Japan also lifted export restrictions imposed on Korea in the summer of 2019.

As a result of the thaw in Seoul-Tokyo relations, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Yoon and Kishida in a historic trilateral summit at the Camp David retreat in Maryland on Aug. 18, where the leaders agreed to immediately consult each other in the event of threats to their collective interests and security.

The summit produced three agreements providing guidelines and a vision for strengthened trilateral relations: “Commitment to Consult,” “Spirit of Camp David” and “Camp David Principles.” In December, South Korea, the United States and Japan launched a system for the real-time sharing of missile warning data on North Korea.

In August, Japan began its controversial release of treated radioactive water from the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, sparking a fierce backlash from civic groups and environmentalists.

A Korean group of experts inspected the Fukushima plant in May, following the Yoon-Kishida summit in Seoul earlier that month. The South Korean government said it would “respect” the results of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) review on the safety of Japan's plan to release the water, and the two countries said they would continue close consultations on the issue.

4. Busan's fierce but futile campaign for Expo 2030

Residents of Busan shed tears after the port city’s defeat by Saudi’s Riyadh in a secret ballot in Paris on Nov. 28, dashing Korea’s hope to host the World Expo in 2030. People had gathered in Busan Citizen’s Hall in Dong District to watch the voting process of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in France. [YONHAP]

Despite Korea's best efforts, Busan was defeated by Saudi Arabia's Riyadh in a fierce three-way race to host the 2030 World Expo.

On Nov. 28, members of the Paris-headquartered Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the 182-member international body that oversees the World Expo, held a secret ballot that resulted in Riyadh's resounding victory with 119 votes, trouncing Busan's 29 and Rome's 17 votes.

Over the past year and a half, Korea's public and private sectors, including the president, government officials and business leaders, traveled 495 laps around the globe — a total distance of 19,891,579 kilometers (12.3 million miles) — to promote Busan's bid.

While Busan was a latecomer to the Expo bid, a joint private-public committee led by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won launched in July 2022 conducted an intense diplomatic campaign to promote the southern port city under the slogan, "One Team Korea."

However, the final vote fell short of Korea's expectations of a runoff race with Saudi Arabia. President Yoon Suk Yeol publicly apologized to the nation, blaming the country's failed bid on his own shortcomings.

As Busan was looking forward to an economic boost and job opportunities through the Expo, the Korean government promised to follow through on pledges made during the bid campaign to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects in Busan.

5. Yoon makes state visit to the United States, croons 'American Pie'

U.S. President Joe Biden, center, and Broadway stars, left, react as Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, sings ″American Pie″ by Don McLean during a state dinner at the White House in Washington on April 26. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol charmed Americans with his rendition of the pop song "American Pie″ by Don McLean during a state dinner with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington.

The viral moment came during Yoon's state visit to the United States in April to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance.

While Seoul and Washington hashed out key agreements to enhance ties, Yoon made world news headlines for his impromptu performance of the 1971 folk rock classic at the star-studded affair at the White House on April 26. Yoon was Biden's second state guest.

During their bilateral summit at the White House earlier that day, Yoon and Biden adopted the "Washington Declaration" to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The two sides also established a bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to enhance dialogue and information sharing on nuclear strategy.

The NCG was formally launched in July, strengthening joint planning and execution to support U.S. nuclear operations, including deployments of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, a move that Yoon said established a "nuclear-based alliance."

The Yoon administration, in turn, has demonstrated its prioritization of Korea's alliance with the United States, expanding it to technology and supply chain cooperation as the U.S.-China strategic rivalry intensifies.

Yoon visited the United States three more times in 2023 — in August for the Camp David trilateral summit, in September for the UN General Assembly in New York and in November for the APEC summit in San Francisco.

6. Teacher's suicide sparks demands for classroom respect

Teachers shed tears in mourning the death of the school teacher of Seo2 Elementary School in Seocho District, southern Seoul, who took her own life, on the school campus on July 23, five days after her death. She was allegedly harassed by the parents of her students over a school violence case. [NEWS1]

The death of an elementary school teacher in Seoul who took her own life in July after alleged harassment by parents of students sparked outrage among teachers in the country, tens of thousands of whom took to the streets for weeks to rally for the rights of teachers.

The 23-year-old teacher was in her second year of teaching at Seo2 Elementary School in Seocho District, southern Seoul, when she was found dead at the school on July 18.

Police concluded the death was a suicide, but forensic tests on her electronic devices failed to find evidence that the parents of her students harassed her.

The Education Ministry, which also investigated the case, found signs that the teacher was struggling, especially after two students in her class got in a fight and one was injured with a pencil.

The fight took place a week before her death. The parent of the injured student had allegedly called the teacher repeatedly on her personal mobile phone, which she said “gave her the chills” because she could not recall sharing her personal contact information with the parent before, according to the Seoul Education Office’s records obtained by the People Power Party.

The case spotlighted other incidents of harassment toward teachers by students and parents, such as the case of two teachers at an elementary school in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi.

The two teachers took their own lives within just six months of each other in 2021. Initially, their deaths were reported as accidents, but subsequent reports revealed that both teachers took their own lives due to stress caused by harassment from parents.

Since the Seo2 Elementary School teacher's death in July, five other teachers took their own lives.

After teachers’ associations called for measures to protect teachers from harassment from parents, especially when handling school violence cases, the Education Ministry announced earlier this month that dedicated investigators will handle school violence cases starting in March next year. It said 62,052 school violence cases were reported last year.

7. DP leader Lee Jae-myung legally challenging year

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung enters the Seoul Central District Court to attend his trial on Daejang-dong development and other consolidated cases on Dec. 19. [YONHAP]

Starting with his first summoning by the prosecutor’s office on Jan. 10, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung spent 2023 dealing with various legal problems, some quite extraordinary.

Indeed, the mere act of calling in the head of the major opposition party for questioning was unprecedented.

The DP chief is implicated in multiple cases, including the infamous Daejang-dong development scandal, where he allegedly amassed a 40 billion won slush fund through profits generated through apartment construction.

As Seongnam's mayor then, he is accused of approving the development scheme's structure, which allegedly funneled exorbitant profits to private developers led by former journalist Kim Man-bae.
His first trial on the Daejang-dong development scandal began in October.

The trial is consolidated with similar cases, including the Wirye and Baekhyeon-dong development projects, which transpired during his tenure as Seongnam's mayor.

The DP chief is also accused of making alleged quid pro quo deals with major Korean businesses like Naver and Doosan for sponsoring Seongnam's football club.

The DP chief has been on trial since March for purportedly lying during the 2022 presidential election.

This includes his denying knowledge of a Seongnam city employee crucial to the Daejang-dong project, who accompanied him on an 11-day overseas trip.

He is also accused of falsely accusing the Park Geun-hye administration of pressuring him and Seongnam to lift regulations on developing an apartment complex in Baekhyeon-dong.

The DP chief is also under investigation for allegedly transferring money to North Korea illegally through an underwear company, supposedly in an attempt to procure an invitation to North Korea. If so, this would violate local law and constitute a clear violation of UN sanctions against North Korea.

Lee and his wife are also currently subjects of a probe over the alleged improper use of the Gyeonggi government’s credit card. The investigation focuses on their purchasing of personal items using Gyeonggi taxpayer money, including Japanese shampoo and takeout sushi.

8. Random attacks and copycat threats terrify a nation

Police officers dispatched to AK Plaza shopping mall in Bundang District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Aug. 3, where the random knifing attack claimed the life of one woman and injured at least a dozen people. One of the injured victim was hospitalized and succumbed to her injuries later in August. [YONHAP]

A series of random knife attacks and brass-knuckle assaults this summer, followed by hundreds of threats to do the same, shocked a nation once believed to have one of the highest standards of public security.

The first of these attacks occurred outside Sillim Station in Gwanak District of southern Seoul on July 21. Jo Seon, a 33-year-old male, stabbed a complete stranger 13 times, killing him. Three other people were stabbed but survived the attacks.

When police caught him, Jo said he committed the crime out of anger and wanted others to feel as miserable as him. Prosecutors indicted Jo for murder and attempted murder in August.

Within two weeks of the attack, another random stabbing rampage took place in Bundang District of Seongnam, Gyeonggi. Choi Won-jong, 22, drove a car onto a sidewalk, ramming pedestrians near Seohyeon Station, before stabbing people inside the AK Plaza shopping mall on Aug. 3.

He is accused of killing two women and injuring 13 other people. One of the women was in her 60s and walking with her husband when she was hit by Choi’s car. Another was a 20-year-old who was also struck by the vehicle. Prosecutors indicted Choi with murder and attempted murder on Aug. 29.

Choi, believed to suffer from bipolar disorder, claimed to be a victim of stalking for several years.

Before August was over, another gruesome attack took place in Sillim-dong.

A 30-year-old man, Choi Yoon-jong, allegedly assaulted a woman — a complete stranger — on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong in broad daylight on Aug. 17.

He was allegedly wearing brass knuckles on both hands and beat her unconscious before trying to rape her.

A passerby called the police after hearing the woman scream. The police arrested Choi on the spot.

The victim was hospitalized but succumbed to her injuries later that day. Local media reported she was an elementary school teacher heading to her school to attend a training session for teaching staff.

Choi was indicted for rape and murder in September.
Police revealed the identities of all three individuals because of the heinousness of their crimes.

Sowing further fear were hundreds of online threats to go on similar rampages — more than 300 in August alone. Police detected at least 315 such threats and arrested 119 perpetrators by Aug. 11.

9. Bedbug menace sparks nationwide fear

Workers from the state-run train operator Korail disinfect subway trains in Guro District, western Seoul, on Nov. 14 amid an alarming rise of suspected bedbug cases in the country. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Public fear of bedbugs surged in Korea after reports of local infestations spiked late this year.

Bedbugs reportedly reappeared in the country in a jjimjilbang, or Korean bathhouse, in Incheon on Oct. 13. The pests, which survive up to 100 days without feeding, can leave a bright red rash accompanied by itches on people’s skin from their bites.

This was followed by belated reports of a suspected bedbug outbreak at a dormitory at Keimyung University in Daegu in September. The school kept mum about the incident until it began disinfecting facilities after reports of the Incheon infestation.

Bedbugs practically disappeared in Korea in the 1970s after the government improved residential conditions and sprayed DDT pesticides through the Saemaeul Movement.

Authorities had received only nine reports of bedbugs since 2014.

As fear over the bedbug menace grew, the government opened a nationwide bulletin board that monitors the bedbug situation in real-time. Sales of bedbug pesticides skyrocketed, jumping 813 percent in the first week of November compared to the same period last year, according to ecommerce operator G Market.

Local governments disinfected public transportation by hot-steaming fabric seats on subways and inspecting bedbug-prone areas, such as gosiwon, or cheap studio apartments for students.

Suspected reports of such bedbugs are continuing, with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirming 46 cases in the third week of December. A total of 185 cases were confirmed by local authorities as of the first week of December, according to government data.

10. U.S. soldier flees to North Korea at JSA

A portrait of American soldier Travis King is displayed as his grandfather, Carl Gates, talks about his grandson on July 19 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. [AP]

U.S. Soldier Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King bolted across the inter-Korean border during a group tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on July 18. King was returned to U.S. custody at the end of September as Pyongyang decided to “expel" him per North Korean law.

According to the Pentagon, he dashed across the border "willfully and without authorization" at the JSA near the so-called truce village of Panmunjom while on a group tour.

A month after, Pyongyang’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said King told interrogators that he came over to the North because he harbored "ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the [U.S.] Army."

This marked Pyongyang’s first public confirmation that the regime had the soldier in custody.

King was accused of committing assault against a Korean national on Sept. 25 and fined 5 million won ($3,940) for repeatedly kicking and damaging the back door of a police patrol vehicle in Seoul on Oct. 8.

He was released on July 10 after serving 48 days in a Korean confinement facility instead of paying a fine.

A day before his apparent defection, he was escorted by the U.S. military to Incheon International Airport for a flight to Fort Worth, Texas, to face further military discipline. However, he managed to leave the airport on his own after military escorts released him at a security checkpoint. The next day, he joined a civilian tour group to the JSA.

In October, the U.S. Army charged King with eight crimes, including desertion and possessing child pornography, according to a document cited by multiple U.S. outlets.

BY LEE HO-JEONG, SARAH KIM, ESTHER CHUNG, MICHAEL LEE AND CHO JUNG-WOO [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]