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☆ South Korea midterms: Opposition wins landslide parliamentary vote in resounding blow to Yoon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held on Wednesday, dealing a resounding blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party but likely falling just short of a super majority. A splinter liberal party considered allied with the DP was expected to take at least 10 seats, projections showed. It marked the highest ever turnout for a parliamentary election, though the numbers were down from the 2022 presidential vote that narrowly brought Yoon to power. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, watches election results at his district office in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. “Given his likely lame duck status, the temptation for Yoon will be to focus on foreign policy where he will still have statutory power,” Richey said.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Suk, Lee Jae, myung, Lee, Yoon, ”, Kim Keon Hee, SeongJoon Cho, Mason Richey, “, ” Richey Organizations: South Korea CNN, South, Democratic Party, National Election Commission, Dior, People Power Party, Election Commission, NEC, Bloomberg, Getty, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Incheon

☆ Aespa’s Karina: K-pop star ends relationship weeks after it sparked a fan backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —After apologizing last month for a new relationship that angered some particularly animated fans, K-pop star Karina is once again single – highlighting the long-standing challenges of dating in the fervid fanspace of Korean entertainment. Karina, of the girl group Aespa, and actor Lee Jae-wook have broken up after going public five weeks ago, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing statements from the pair’s respective representatives. Lee’s agency, C-JeS Studios, said he had ended the relationship to focus on work, “leaving them as colleagues who support each other,” Yonhap reported. In the past, K-pop stars who went public with their relationships have faced heavy public backlash, sometimes impacting their professional careers and contracts. There have been some signs of change in recent years, with attitudes slowly shifting among both fans and agencies.

Persons: Karina, Lee Jae, Yonhap, “, ” Yonhap, ”, Lee, wasn’t, Jisoo, Ahn Bo, hyun, “ I’m, commenter Organizations: CNN, South, JeS, Chosun Ilbo Locations: South Korean

☆ Aespa’s Karina apologizes to K-pop fans after relationship reveal sparks backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Are K-pop stars allowed to love? Under Karina’s apology post on Wednesday, the comment section was flooded with fans rallying in support. “No idols (K-pop stars) should apologize for dating in 2024,” one top comment read. And while there were messages of support there, too, there were plenty of disgruntled fans who weren’t satisfied with Karina’s apology. “Other fans pointed out that Karina’s apology hadn’t mentioned the status of her relationship – speculating that was simply confirmation they were still dating.

Persons: Karina, Lee Jae, wook, ”, “, Hyuna, Dawn, Jisoo, Ahn Bo, hyun, Aespa, hadn’t Organizations: South Korea CNN, Chosun Ilbo, Entertainment, Triple H, CNN, Twitter Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, Instagram, Japan, Weibo

☆ Samsung chief Lee cleared of charges in 2015 merger case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Samsung Electronics Co. Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong leaves after attending a final decision at the Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 05, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul Central District Court acquits Samsung Electronics Co. Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong in controversial 2015 merger case. Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee was found not guilty by a Seoul court on Monday in a case related to irregularities in a 2015 merger of Samsung affiliates that prosecutors said was designed to cement his control of the tech group. Lee denied wrongdoing, arguing that he and other executives acted on the belief the merger would benefit shareholders. The sentence prevents a return to jail for Lee who was convicted in 2017 of bribing a friend of former President Park Geun-hye.

Persons: Lee Jae, Jay Y, Lee, Prosecutors, Park, Yoon Suk Organizations: Samsung Electronics Co, Seoul Central, Court, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Locations: Seoul, South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial crimes involving a contentious merger between Samsung affiliates in 2015 that tightened his grip over South Korea’s biggest company. The court said the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove the merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee’s control over Samsung Electronics. Lee had denied wrongdoing in the current case, describing the 2015 merger as “normal business activity.”Lee, 56, did not answer questions from reporters as left the court. Lee Jae-yong served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2017 over separate bribery charges related to the 2015 deal. Some shareholders had opposed the 2015 merger, saying that it unfairly benefited the Lee family while hurting minority shareholders.

Persons: Lee Jae, Lee, ” Lee, Jin Kim, Lee Kun, Park, Yoon Suk, tycoons, Kim Tong, hyung Organizations: Samsung, Korea’s, Seoul Central, Cheil Industries, Samsung Electronics, Prosecutors, South, National Pension Service Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, Ukraine

☆ Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong acquitted in 2015 merger case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Seoul CNN —Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong was found not guilty by a Seoul court on Monday on charges of stock manipulation and accounting fraud connected to a controversial merger in 2015 of two Samsung affiliates. The acquittal comes as a major relief to the chairman of Samsung Electronics, who has been embroiled in legal problems for years. They alleged that the merger of the two firms allowed Lee to gain a tighter grip on Samsung Electronics, the group’s flagship company. “Even if Lee’s control has been strengthened, the merger in this case cannot be considered unfair, as long as there is a reasonable purpose for the merger,” Park said. He added the decision will “lead to lowering the confidence of foreign investors in the Korean legal system and the soundness of the Korean capital market.”

Persons: Lee Jae, Lee, Park Jeong, ” Organizations: Seoul CNN — Samsung, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, Cheil Industries, Seoul, District Court, Seoul National University, CNN Locations: Seoul

☆ Samsung’s Leader Acquitted in Stock and Accounting Fraud Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( John Yoon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Lee Jae-yong, Samsung’s top executive, on charges of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud, the latest twist in the billionaire’s legal troubles tied to a merger that helped him secure control of the nation’s largest company. Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of five years and a fine of 500 million won against Mr. Lee, 55. Prosecutors have the option to appeal the decision to a higher court. Neither Samsung Electronics nor the prosecutors’ office immediately commented after the verdict. Mr. Lee’s lawyers said in a statement that the decision “clearly confirmed the legality” of the merger and the accounting of its affiliates.

Persons: Lee Jae, Lee, “ Organizations: Samsung, Prosecutors, Mr, Samsung Electronics Locations: Seoul

☆ Hyundai Motor's fourth-quarter net profit rises 31%, misses forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hyundai Motor, the world's No.3 automaker by sales with its affiliate Kia Corp, reported a net profit of 2.2 trillion won ($1.65 billion) for the October-December period versus a profit of 1.7 trillion won a year earlier. That compared with a 2.9 trillion won average forecast by LSEG SmartEstimate, which is weighted towards estimates from analysts who are more consistently accurate. It expects a 4.9% jump in North American vehicle sales but a 3.7% drop and 0.6% fall in vehicle sales in China and Europe, respectively. "Hyundai Motor expects the business environment will remain difficult to predict, due to macro uncertainties centered on emerging markets and a downturn in the real economy," Hyundai Motor said in a statement. Shares in Hyundai Motor were trading up 2.0% after it reported its earnings, outperforming 0.1 rise for the benchmark Kospi.

Persons: Hyundai, LSEG SmartEstimate, Lee Jae, Lee Organizations: Hyundai, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp, Eugene Investment, Securities Locations: San, San Leandro , California, South, Russia, China, Europe

SEOUL, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Operations at Kia Corp's (000270.KS) assembly plant in South Korea have been suspended due to disruptions in parts supplies, the carmaker said on Wednesday. Poongki Industrial Co Ltd, a Kia supplier that makes chassis parts, suffered a fatal accident that resulted in the death of one worker on Tuesday and halted its own operations, causing supply disruptions at Kia's plant, a Kia spokesperson said. Labour authorities are investigating the accident, putting a halt to forklift truck operations at the Kia supplier's factory, a labour ministry spokesperson said. Kia is checking on alternative sources for Poongki's components, according to the Kia spokesperson. The plant located in the southwestern city of Gwangju produces about 2,000 vehicles a day, according to media reports.

Persons: Kia Corp's, Poongki, Kia, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Ed Davies Organizations: Kia, Poongki Industrial Co Ltd, Labour, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Gwangju

☆ S.Korea exports snap year-long downturn, recovery in China demand slow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jihoon Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Overseas sales last month by Asia's fourth-largest economy rose 5.1% year-on-year to $55.09 billion, trade data showed on Wednesday. By destination, exports to the United States gained 17.3%, the most since May 2022, while China-bound shipments fell 9.5%, the least in 13 months. Exports of cars rose 19.8%, extending gains to a 16th straight month, while petroleum products also jumped 18.0%, after seven straight months of decline. Semiconductor shipments fell for the 15th consecutive month, but the 3.1% drop in October was the smallest in the streak. In October, South Korea's factory activity contracted for the 16th straight month, but the decline in new export orders softened, another survey showed on Wednesday.

Persons: Lee Jae, Asia's, Lee Jeong, Jihoon Lee, Christian Schmollinger, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Sonali Paul Organizations: Busan New, REUTERS, Rights, Overseas, United States, Eugene Investment Securities, Trade, Thomson Locations: Busan, Busan New Port, Seoul, Rights SEOUL, United States, China, United, Israel, South

Over Halloween weekend last year, nearly 160 young people died in a crowd crush in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul. For those who survived or lost loved ones, the past year has been a time of deep frustration and trauma. Many wrote online that the young victims and survivors should blame themselves. In December, Lee Jae-hyeon, 16, a survivor who had lost two of his best friends in the crowd crush, took his own life after battling online detractors of the victims. As the first anniversary of the disaster approached, survivors and victims’ family members struggled with unanswered questions, missing their loved ones and at the same time deeply troubled by the government’s response.

Persons: Lee Jae, “, ” Locations: Itaewon, Seoul

☆ US growth boom tees up year-end bust
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The latest report on the country's growth is worth celebrating, but not for too long. Household incomes after inflation and taxes fell by $71 billion in the third quarter, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics. That shrank in the third quarter, with managers flagging peak interest rates as a larger concern, leaving less in the pipeline. Yet stores spent $81 billion in excess inventory last quarter and are likely to wait to restock shelves. Last quarter’s boom should give way to a bust.

Persons: Lee Jae, LSEG, Ben Winck, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Rights, Reuters, Macroeconomics, Savings, Companies, X, Unilever, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Kia Corp unveils three smaller-medium-sized EVs to speed its electrification ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Kia Corp (000270.KS) on Thursday unveiled three new small-to-medium sized electric vehicles (EV) to attract a wider range of customers in an effort to expedite its electrification strategies. The production of the EV5 will take place in both China and South Korea, Kia said, adding that the EV5 in China and South Korea would have different battery types. Kia did not disclose the detailed driving range of the EV5 for South Korea, adding that it will be tailored to meet market demands. Analysts said Kia's push to launch more affordable EVs is timely as an increasing number of car buyers are looking to purchase price friendly EVs. "While those early adopters have preferred more expensive premium electric vehicles, as EVs have become more popular among more general public, consumer needs for more affordable EVs have significantly grown," said Lee Jae-il, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities.

Persons: Kia, Song Ho Sung, ”, Spencer Cho, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Kia Corp, South, Kia, Global, Analysts, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, China

☆ Union at Kia Corp suspends strike action to resume talks with company
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The union and Kia's management had been holding talks for three months over wage increases and an extension of the retirement age. Earlier, the union said it would limit working hours for six working days from Oct. 12 after negotiations stalled, in what would have been the first industrial action at Kia in three years. Kia declined to comment on the industrial action. Last month, the union at South Korea's second largest automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accepts their demands. Because the deals with Hyundai Motor and affiliate Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) were concluded without any industrial action, Kia's unions are likely to avoid any major industrial action, analysts said.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, Reuters, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS, South Korea's

☆ Kia Corp's unionised workers to go on partial strike over wages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Kia Corp is seen on its electric vehicle EV6 during a photo opportunity in Seoul, South Korea, June 1, 2021. Last month, the union at South Korea's No.2 automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accept the demands. The union said it would work regular hours on days when they are holding talks with the management. Kia declined to comment on the strike. Shares in Kia Corp were trading up 0.7%, versus the benchmark KOSPI's (.KS11) 2.1% rise as of 0217 GMT.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Kia, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS

☆ South Korea opposition leader avoids jail after court rejects warrant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at campaign rally PHOTO:while campaigning for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea March 8, 2022. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against prosecutors who sought Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's arrest, saying there were insufficient grounds to support their argument that he may try to destroy evidence. Lee welcomed the decision and thanked the court as he walked out of a holding centre soon after the ruling, which came well after midnight. Lee had narrowly lost to conservative Yoon, a career prosecutor, in the presidential election last year. Some members of Lee's party joined the conservative ruling party in voting last week to lift Lee's immunity from arrest as a member of parliament, drawing criticism within the party.

Persons: Lee Jae, myung, Kim Hong, Lee, Han Dong, hoon, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South Korea's Democratic Party, REUTERS, Rights, Seoul Central, Court, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Japan, North Korea, Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam

☆ Schwab slashes fees on more fixed income ETFs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Suzanne Mcgee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 25 (Reuters) - Schwab Asset Management on Monday said it cut fees on the Schwab High-Yield Bond ETF (SCYB) and the Schwab U.S. That brings the fees for those products to the same level as its other fixed income ETF products. State Street slashed fees on ten SPDR ETFs in August, including that high-yield bond product. Schwab doesn't want these low-cost ETFs to end up as loss leaders for the company's array of asset management products, Bostet said. Schwab has nearly $300 billion in ETF assets under management, out of more than $920 billion managed by Schwab Asset Management overall.

Persons: Lee Jae, David Botset, Bostet, Schwab doesn't, Schwab, Suzanne McGee, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Schwab Asset Management, Schwab, Bond, Management, Thomson Locations: Seoul, Schwab U.S

☆ South Korea opposition leader ends 24-day hunger strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at campaign rally while campaigning for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's opposition leader ended a 24-day hunger strike on Saturday, a party spokesperson said, two days after parliament voted to let prosecutors serve an arrest warrant against him for alleged bribery. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will maintain a schedule including court attendance while hospitalised for the time being, the spokesman told reporters. Lee, who lost South Korea's presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol last year, has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations "fiction" and a "political conspiracy". South Korea is to hold parliamentary elections in April.

Persons: Lee Jae, myung, Kim Hong, Lee, . Lee, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joyce Lee, William Mallard Organizations: South Korea's Democratic Party, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party of Korea, Prosecutors, South, Police, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam, ., Lee's

☆ South Korea lawmakers vote to pave way for opposition leader's arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at campaign rally while campaigning for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea March 8, 2022. The vote means Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung will face court to contest his arrest over the charges. Members of parliament have immunity against arrest when the assembly is in session unless its members vote to rescind it with a simple majority. Lee's Democratic Party holds 167 seats in the 297-member parliament. President Yoon is currently in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Persons: Lee Jae, myung, Kim Hong, Han, Han Duck, Yoon Suk Yeol, Democratic Party's Lee, Lee, Yoon, Hyunsu Yim, Jason Neely Organizations: South Korea's Democratic Party, REUTERS, Democratic Party, Democratic, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, North Korea, Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam, New York, Korea's

☆ Dollar eases as traders eye upcoming central bank decisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Data on Monday showed U.S. homebuilder confidence fell for a second month in September, with optimism dropping to the lowest since April as high interest rates cut into affordability for prospective buyers. Fed fund futures show investors expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates on hold in the 5.25% to 5.5% range on Wednesday. The European Central Bank raised interest rates to 4% last week, but said this hike could be its last. Traders think Sweden's central bank is highly likely to raise interest rates on Thursday by 25 basis points to 4%, piling more pressure on the economy. The yen was up about 0.15% against the dollar at 147.62 to the dollar, with traders out for a Japanese public holiday.

Persons: Lee Jae, BoE, BoJ, Michael Brown, Janet Yellen, Brown, Kazuo Ueda, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Chris Reese, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Trader, Treasury, European Central Bank, Traders, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Seoul, Swedish, Bank of England

☆ Hyundai Motor's South Korea union accepts 12% wage hike deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Hyundai Motor Company is pictured at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. Workers at Hyundai Motor, the No.3 global automaker by sales with its affiliate Kia Corp (000270.KS), last went on strike in 2018. The United Auto Workers (UAW) last week went on strike against all three Detroit automakers - General Motors Co (GM.N), Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) - at once for the first time. Hyundai Motor Group, which houses Hyundai Motor, Kia, luxury brand Genesis, operates U.S. production sites in Alabama and Georgia. “The labour risks have been there all along, especially in the auto sector, but this UAW strike is unprecedented.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, ”, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Andrew Heavens, Jan Harvey, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Hyundai Motor, New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Workers, Kia Corp, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit, General Motors Co, Ford Motor, Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, Alabama, Georgia, United States

REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON/SINGAPORE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar hovered near a six-month high on Monday as traders looked ahead to interest rate decisions this week from the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan. the yen was up a similar amount at 147.69 to the dollar, with traders out for a Japanese public holiday. Traders were looking towards central bank decisions later in the week which could shake up the currency market. Investors expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates on hold in the 5.25% to 5.5% range on Wednesday. The European Central Bank raised interest rates to 4% last week, but said this hike could be its last.

Persons: Lee Jae, Alvin Tan, RBC's Tan, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda's, Carol Kong, Ueda, Sterling, BoE, Harry Robertson, Vidya Ranganathan, Lincoln, Bernadette Baum, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Traders, Investors, Bank of, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Seoul, SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, Europe, China, Bank of England, Ukraine, London, Singapore

☆ S. Korea opposition leader hospitalised after hunger strike, prosecutors seek arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at campaign rally while campaigning for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 18 (Reuters) - South Korea's main opposition leader was hospitalised on Monday, days into a hunger strike in protest against government policies, while prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for him over corruption allegations. Hours after Lee was transferred to a hospital, prosecutors said they had requested an arrest warrant for him as part of an investigation into a development project and bribery allegations. Prosecutors also accused Lee of bribery in connection with a company suspected of $8 million in illegal money transfers to North Korea. Parliament rejected their previous request for an arrest warrant in February.

Persons: Lee Jae, myung, Kim Hong, Kim Gi, Lee, Prosecutors, Yoon Suk, 1,327.4000, Soo, hyang Choi, Hyonhee Shin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South Korea's Democratic Party, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party of Korea, National Assembly, Power Party, Seongnam Development Corporation, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Seongnam, North Korea

☆ S. Korea Opposition Leader Hospitalised After Hunger Strike, Prosecutors Seek Arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Soo-hyang ChoiSEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's main opposition leader was hospitalised on Monday, days into a hunger strike in protest against government policies, while prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for him over corruption allegations. Hours after Lee was transferred to a hospital, prosecutors said they had requested an arrest warrant for him as part of an investigation into a development project and bribery allegations. Prosecutors also accused Lee of bribery in connection with a company suspected of $8 million in illegal money transfers to North Korea. A Seoul court needs the 300-member parliament, where the Democrats hold a majority, to waive Lee's immunity from arrest to review the prosecution's request. Parliament rejected their previous request for an arrest warrant in February.

Persons: hyang Choi SEOUL, Lee Jae, myung, Kim Gi, Lee, Prosecutors, Yoon Suk, 1,327.4000, Soo, hyang Choi, Hyonhee Shin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Democratic Party of Korea, National Assembly, Power Party, Seongnam Development Corporation Locations: Seoul, Seongnam, North Korea

☆ US junk debt issuers use window to extend liabilities but at higher costs, Morgan Stanley report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - U.S. junk-rated companies are using a more favorable debt issuance window this year to extend billions of dollars of short-term liabilities. Twelve high-yield issuers have raised $9.6 billion this week, making it the busiest week since November 2021, according to JPMorgan (JPM.N). Ninety of these borrowers used the money raised to refinance, the report noted. Junk bond issuers are now paying roughly 100 to 300 basis points more in coupons on new refinanced debt relative to in-place coupons, according to the report. But the opportunity to refinance is not open to all junk-rated issuers.

Persons: Lee Jae, Morgan Stanley, Matt Tracy, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan, CCC, Thomson Locations: Seoul

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