The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: Feb. 9.
Assembly Speaker Woo discusses hallyu ban with Xi, extends APEC invitation
South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Feb. 7, marking Xi’s first meeting with a senior South Korean official since Seoul’s political turmoil erupted last December. During their 42-minute meeting—far exceeding the scheduled 15 minutes—Woo invited Xi to visit South Korea for the APEC summit in October, to which Xi responded that Beijing was seriously considering his participation. Woo also raised concerns over China’s restrictions on South Korean cultural exports, imposed after South Korea’s 2017 deployment of the U.S. THAAD system, while Xi emphasized the importance of cultural exchange, fueling speculation that Beijing may ease restrictions. Woo’s visit, made at the invitation of China’s top legislator Zhao Leji, coincided with the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025.
Prosecutors appeal Samsung chairman’s acquittal in accounting fraud case
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been acquitted of all 19 charges related to alleged false corporate disclosures and accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics in both his first and second trials. With all fact-finding trials concluded, prosecutors announced on Feb. 7 that they will appeal the acquittal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the two lower courts reached conflicting conclusions and contradicted a Seoul Administrative Court ruling recognizing accounting irregularities. While appeals are common, legal experts noted that it is rare to challenge factual findings after two not-guilty verdicts. The prosecution’s case focuses on discrepancies in the lower courts’ assessments of Samsung Biologics’ accounting practices in 2014 and 2015. While the first trial found no wrongdoing, the appellate court acknowledged some lapses but ruled they were not intentional misconduct. Prosecutors also contest the exclusion of key evidence deemed unlawfully obtained, though legal experts believe the Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn the lower courts’ rulings, as it has consistently upheld strict standards on illegally obtained evidence.
S. Korean skaters sweep women’s 500m short track at Asian Winter Games
South Korean short track speed skaters Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li, and Lee So-yeon swept the podium in the women’s 500-meter event at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, on Feb. 8, winning gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. Choi secured victory in 43.016 seconds, narrowly edging out Kim (43.105) and Lee (43.023). Starting from Lane 1, she led from the outset, becoming the first South Korean female skater to win gold in the event at the Asian Winter Games. It marked her second title after winning gold in the mixed 2,000-meter relay, while Kim added silver to her tally after earlier golds in the mixed relay and women’s 1,500 meters. The win contributed to South Korea’s six-gold medal haul for the day, which included victories in the mixed 2,000-meter relay, Kim’s 1,500 meters, Park Ji-won’s men’s 1,500 meters, Lee Seung-hun’s men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe, and Lee Na-hyun’s women’s 100-meter speed skating event.
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