Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Choi Seo-eun
“Proactive disclosure of information” touted by the National Police Agency, yet the ‘pre-disclosure of information’ on its website is largely inadequate
With the rollout of the new criminal justice system, the National Police Agency, which had said it would “proactively provide key public safety information,” has been found not to be properly disclosing on its website the various public-safety-related information that should be pre-disclosed.
Police recognize additional charges against six ‘Saekdongwon’ employees over abuse of persons with disabilities… transferred to the Incheon National Police Agency
Police investigating sexual violence and assault incidents at the Saekdongwon residential facility for persons with disabilities acknowledged additional charges including assault against six staff members and transferred the case to the Incheon National Police Agency.
Korean who transported over 5 tons of drugs on the South American high seas caught in Ghana after 22 years···octogenarian repatriated to Korea
An octogenarian who was arrested in Ghana on suspicion of transporting more than 5 tons of narcotics on the high seas off South America has been repatriated to Korea after 22 years. The National Police Agency announced on the 26th that, in cooperation with the Busan Coast Guard, suspect A, who had been subject to an Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) Red Notice, was brought back to Korea on the 20th through forced deportation by the Ghanaian authorities.
Police to conduct an intensive crackdown on imitation ‘police uniforms’ during the Halloween period
Ahead of Halloween Day on the 31st, the police will carry out an intensive crackdown on the manufacture·sale ·distribution of imitation police uniforms and equipment. The National Police Agency announced on the 25th that from the 26th to the 1st of next month, metropolitan and provincial police agencies nationwide will jointly conduct an intensive crackdown on the manufacture·sale and distribution of imitation police uniforms·equipment.
National Police Agency to add ‘Service’ to its English name…“Transition to a citizen-centered police service”
On the 19th, the National Police Agency announced that it is pursuing a change to its English name, saying it will “renew itself as an institution that puts the safety and rights of the people first.” In a media notice that day, the National Police Agency stated, “To coincide with ‘Police Week’ this week, we are pursuing a change of the English name of the National Police Agency from Korea National Police Agency to Korea National Police Service.” The Korean name remains unchanged, but in the...
Man in his 20s arrested for extorting money after deliberately colliding with people and demanding “Pay for the phone repair”···extorted 22 million won from 38 people
At a large, crowded shopping mall, a man in his 20s intentionally bumped into passersby to make his mobile phone fall, then extorted money on the pretext of repair costs; he has been apprehended by police. Songpa Police Station in Seoul said on the 16th that on the 15th it had referred a man in his 20s, identified as A, to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office in custody on fraud charges.
Recruiting even middle schoolers for gambling operations and flaunting a lavish lifestyle···In joint cooperation with the UAE, ringleader behind illegal gambling worth around 3 trillion won arrested
The government, through international cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), arrested three top ringleaders who operated illegal gambling websites totaling 3.1 trillion won. The government-wide joint ‘Transnational Crime Special Response TF(task force)’ announced on the 14th that it had apprehended in the UAE the main operator A, the deputy operator B, and the developer C behind the illegal gambling sites. B and C were repatriated to Korea via Incheon International Airport the same day.
Acting National Police Agency chief “Regarding allegations about the daughter of Rep. Han Dong-hoon, if new facts come to light, a reinvestigation is not ruled out”
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Kim Jong-cheong stated at a parliamentary audit on the 12th that, regarding allegations of ‘fabricated credentials’ involving the daughter of Rep. Han Dong-hoon, he would not rule out the possibility of a full reinvestigation if new facts emerge. At the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit of the National Police Agency held that day at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun District, Seoul, when Rep.
Highway rest area janitorial workers rest in stalls next to toilets···“Trembling over the risk of electric shock, snatching catnaps in tiny rooms”
At a highway rest area, janitorial workers employed by a subcontractor have for years been using a corner of a restroom as their break space. While on break, they endure the sounds and stench of patrons using the stall right next door, a mark of inhumane treatment. According to Kyunghyang Shinmun reporting on the 7th, female janitorial workers employed by a subcontractor at Rest Area A on a domestic expressway have converted one of the restroom stalls used by the general public into a break room.
Far-right groups’ rally outside Yoo Hae-jin’s home escalates to personal attacks and threats against actors’ safety··· ‘Assassin(s)’ dragged into the political arena
Conservative YouTubers label it “political propaganda” Claim the filmmakers and cast are “accomplices” Calls for ad boycotts; even endorsing actors and reviewers targeted Megabox apologizes over bullet-mark ticket controversy Political class turns it into a tool of partisan strife Film community fears “excessive politicization” that threatens creators The controversy surrounding the film <Assassin(s)> has gone beyond legitimate criticism of the work and is spreading to attacks on individuals...
Chinese nationals behind lacquer attack at Chinese restaurant ‘Xi Jinping’···Police “Will apply for arrest warrants today”
Police will apply for arrest warrants for the Chinese nationals who broke into a Chinese restaurant that used the name of Chinese President Xi Jinping as its trade name and damaged the interior.
Police officers disciplined for misconduct top 2,800 over six years… 6 out of 10 are ‘mid-level’ lieutenant·captain ranks
Over the past six years, the number of police officers disciplined for various forms of misconduct has surpassed 2,800, and 6 out of 10 of those disciplined were in the police mid-level ‘backbone’ ranks of lieutenant·captain. About half of the disciplined officers received severe penalties such as suspension, demotion, dismissal, or removal from office.
“The scope of investigations exclusive to the police has actually shrunk”···Head of the National Investigation Headquarters rebuts concerns over a ‘dinosaur police’
As the revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect on October 2, expanding police investigative authority and prompting concerns about a ‘dinosaur police,’ the National Investigation Headquarters countered that “the scope of investigations that only the police can conduct has actually shrunk.” Hong Seok-gi, head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency, said at a regular press briefing held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 28th that...
Working even through the holidays··· Rest area workers living in spaces with sagging ceilings and leaks
“Areas not visible to customers are neglected” An urgent need for measures such as repair·renovation of aging facilities “Dormitories and break areas at highway rest areas are far too poor. Even when buildings are old and facilities have aged, places that are not visible to customers are left unattended.
‘For commuting’, the Han River Bus recorded ‘0 operations’ between 7~9 a.m.
The Han River Bus, introduced as waterborne public transportation for commuting, has not operated even once during the 7~9 a.m. morning rush hours since it began service in September 2025.
“Wife unreachable” found within 2 hours···Number of discoveries up 65% after missing-person investigation measures
Police tallied that the number of missing persons found increased by about 65% after measures to improve missing-person investigations were implemented in the wake of the Jeju missing-person case cover-up last August. According to the National Police Agency on the 22nd, from August 24 to September 13, after the measures took effect, the number of missing-person discoveries was 12,793, up 64.7% compared with the period before implementation (August 3~August 23).
“No wonder it was hard to get tickets”… 157 arrested over scalping of concert·KTX tickets
A total of 157 scalpers who used macro programs to snap up large quantities of concert tickets and KTX train tickets for resale have been apprehended. The National Office of Investigation at the National Police Agency announced on the 20th that, as part of the six-month ‘Special Crackdown on Crimes Disrupting Everyday Prices’ that began on March 3, it targeted ‘ticket scalping using macros’ and detected 126 cases, apprehended 157 people, and took two into custody.
Approved 169 disbursements without the township head knowing to embezzle 1,395,870,000 KRW; police uncover 1,863 in entrenched local corruption and refer 44 for illegal no-bid contracts
Six-month special crackdown; 729 sent for prosecution, 27 arrested Also signed a 96,000,000 KRW service contract via a borrowed-name company The National Police Agency sent 729 people for prosecution and arrested 27 after uncovering abuses of authority and improper contracting in a six-month special crackdown on entrenched local corruption.
Stalker targeting the bereaved family in the Jeju missing case is a 14-year-old male··· 29 texts and calls, referred to prosecutors
Police have referred a 14-year-old male to prosecutors on suspicion of stalking, after he repeatedly contacted the bereaved family in the Jeju missing·death case. The National Office of Investigation of the National Police Agency said on the 17th that it had sent to the prosecution a male minor, A (14), on suspicion of violating the Stalking Punishment Act, among other charges.
Will stalking·domestic·dating violence crimes decrease···Police to use ‘protective measure rate’ as a performance indicator starting next year
Target set at 12.3% The budget to protect the socially vulnerable decreases by about 20% Starting next year, the police will introduce the ‘rate of protective measures for victims of relationship-based crimes’ as an internal performance indicator for focused management. The step comes in response to a series of homicides in relationship-based crimes, including the recent Jang Yun-gi case.
“Advancing police reform with public participation”…National Police Agency launches ‘Public Participation·On-site Accompaniment Police Reform Unit’
The ‘Public Participation·On-site Accompaniment Police Reform Unit’ of the National Police Agency, which enables the public to directly participate in the police reform process and reflects voices from the police frontline in institutional improvements, was launched on the 9th.
The ‘Behemoth Police’ that have seized investigative powers… What will happen from organization to oversight
With the revised Criminal Procedure Act taking effect on October 2, in line with the principle of separating investigation and prosecution, prosecutors’ investigative powers will disappear and the police will stand at the center of criminal investigations. This completes the ‘independence of investigative powers’ that the police have long sought for decades.
Entire command chain, including the Jeju Western Police Station chief, placed on standby over Jeju missing-person case
In connection with the false closure of a Jeju missing-person case, the entire command chain at the Jeju Western Police Station has been placed on standby.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency “Full review of some 90,000 missing-person reports”… Principle: lift designation only after in-person contact
Amid growing controversy after police in Jeju failed to properly investigate a missing-person case and falsely closed it, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has launched a full review of some 90,000 missing-person reports.
Police reinforce personnel to counter ‘technology leakage’ in semiconductors and AI…prioritized deployment to areas hosting major corporations and national industries
The police will expand dedicated response personnel centered on Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area to prevent technology leakage from national key industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). Technology leakage is regarded as a serious crime that can undermine the competitiveness of national industries.
Jeon Jang-yeon to suspend morning-commute subway boarding protests… Park Hong-geun: “Will review disability budget”
The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against People with Disabilities (Jeon Jang-yeon) has decided to suspend, starting on the 19th, the subway-boarding protests that had been planned to take place daily.
Rain·showers in many places nationwide… another sweltering day today
On Wednesday the 19th, the country will be generally sweltering, with scattered showers in places. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, through the morning there will be areas, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, the Jeolla region, South Gyeongsang, and Jeju Island, where rain or showers continue. From morning to evening, showers are also expected in southern Gyeonggi; the inland and mountainous areas of southern Gangwon; the Chungcheong region; and the southern provinces.
On a Telegram channel, explicit photos of women in their 20s and even student and resident ID cards are being distributed… concerns over secondary offenses
It has been found that on a Telegram channel, photos of women in their twenties and thirties, along with personal information such as names and schools, are being circulated. Highly revealing photos and even identification documents such as student IDs and passports have been uploaded. The police plan to launch an investigation. According to reporting by the Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 14th, more than 600 photos of women have been posted on a Telegram channel to date.
Average 11.4 hours per day, 20 hours straight across two consecutive days ‘murderous labor’···Behind the industrial accident involving a Myanmar worker at a KTX construction site
Aung Min Oo died while working on the Pyeongtaek~Osong track Some months he could not take a single day off···His pay fell far short of that of Korean nationals Exploitative labor leveraging the vulnerable status of migrant workers It has emerged that Myanmar worker Aung Min Oo (37), who died in a conveyor belt accident last month at a KTX track construction site, had been subjected to heavy labor averaging more than 11 hours per day.
‘Jeju Air passenger plane disaster’ police special investigation team raids Korea Airports Corporation·Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
The police special investigation team probing the 12·29 Muan Airport Jeju Air disaster launched additional search-and-seizure operations on the 11th at Korea Airports Corporation, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Busan Regional Office of Aviation.
Police to reduce disciplinary action for voluntary reporting of internal misconduct… whistleblower rewards also expanded
To encourage reporting of internal misconduct, the police decided to reduce disciplinary sanctions for voluntary reporters and to expand whistleblower rewards.
Head of the National Office of Investigation “We will maximize the completeness of cases when sending them to the prosecution… concerns about the ‘dinosaur police’ have largely been alleviated”
The police announced a policy, in connection with the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act abolishing prosecutors’ authority to request supplementary investigations, to raise the completeness of cases from the earliest stage of investigation and then refer them to the prosecution.
National Police Agency arrests 16 suspects in sexual exploitation material cases through international cooperation…“Every trace is collected, so do not even attempt it”
Police arrested suspects in child sexual exploitation material crimes through cooperation with overseas organizations. The National Police Agency said on the 3rd that it collected and analyzed information related to the distribution of sexual exploitation materials at home and abroad, identified 102 cases over the past four months, and arrested 16 people.
Two out of three teachers are women, yet principals remain a minority... the glass ceiling in education persists
Although women make up the majority of elementary, middle, and high school teachers, their share falls sharply in administrative posts, indicating that the glass ceiling in education remains solid. At universities as well, the share of women presidents and deans stayed around 10%.
Highs up to 39 degrees, ‘sweltering heat’…The heat wave heads to the Seoul metropolitan area this week
As the center of the heat wave shifts from the south to western regions including the Seoul metropolitan area starting this week, hot weather will continue nationwide on Monday the 3rd as well. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, daytime highs for the day are forecast at 33∼39 degrees. For the time being, temperatures will remain above the seasonal normals of lows at 22∼25 degrees and highs at 28∼33 degrees.
Far-right YouTubers converge as Ambassador Michelle Steel takes office···“Please meet former President Yoon”
Conservative-leaning groups and far-right YouTubers gathered near the U.S. Embassy on the 31st to welcome the arrival of Michelle Steel, the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
Shocking betrayal by a housekeeper who worked for 10 years··· Stole 78 million won worth of luxury goods including Chanel and Gucci
Woman in her 60s, ‘suspended prison sentence’ on theft charges History of stealing from another home where she worked for 10 years A housekeeper in her 60s who stole luxury goods worth tens of millions of won from the home where she had worked for 10 years received a suspended prison sentence.
Man in his 50s detained for killing a woman at a Gangbuk-gu officetel···drug test ‘positive’
A detention warrant has been issued for a man in his 50s, identified as A, who is suspected of killing a woman in her 50s at an officetel in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. The Criminal Division 10 single-judge bench of the Seoul Northern District Court (Chief Judge Park Sa-rang) issued the detention warrant for A on the afternoon of the 30th, citing concerns about destruction of evidence and risk of flight.
‘Protection for crime victims’ has been strengthened… “The pain of victims cannot be divided by the name of the charge” concerns persist
“There may be degrees of culpability depending on the charge, but there is no weight to the suffering of crime victims. From the perspective of victims, what crime could be less important or lighter? Everyone suffers, so I do not think there should be discrimination by the name of the charge.
Police Workplace Council: “Treating 130,000 police officers as criminals… We will fight to the end against rotational assignments”
The National Police Workplace Council (Police Council) has vowed a collective response against the plan to introduce forced rotational assignments in the police prompted by the Jang Yoon-gi case.
‘Jang Yoon-gi case’ prompts full review of cases involving police officers’ families…117 cases identified, 44 transferred
Using the ‘Jang Yoon-gi case’ as a catalyst, the police conducted a comprehensive review of cases involving family members of police officers, identifying a total of 117 cases and transferring 44 of them to other police units. The National Police Agency announced on the 28th that, as one of the measures to eradicate internal corruption in police investigations, it conducted a full review of cases involving police officers’ family members from the 10th to the 22nd.
Police elevate crime victim protection unit… “No more mistakes like the Namyangju murder case”
The National Police Agency has established the ‘Crime Victim Protection Division’ within its organization to strengthen victim support functions. This measure follows the confirmation of institutional gaps in victim protection, brought to light by recent cases such as the Namyangju stalking murder. The National Police Agency announced on the 28th that it created the Crime Victim Protection Division under the Public Safety and Traffic Bureau and has been operating it since last month.
Man in his 50s taken into emergency custody after killing a woman with a weapon at a Gangbuk District officetel
A man in his 50s was apprehended by police on suspicion of killing a woman in her 50s at an officetel in the Gangbuk District of Seoul. The Gangbuk Police Station stated that at around 1:40 a.m. on the 28th, it took a man in his 50s, identified as A, into emergency custody on suspicion of murder. A is accused of wielding a weapon in a room at an officetel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk District, causing the death of a woman in her 50s identified as B.
The ‘Police Investigation Reform Committee’ begins activities… Puts the ‘Jang Yoon-gi case’ on its first agenda
Reform TF changes name at the first meeting Activities to be led by civilian members Prompted by allegations of inadequate investigation and concealment by police in the Jang Yoon-gi case, the National Police Agency’s ‘Reform Task Force (TF) to Enhance Trust in Investigations’ held its first meeting on the 27th and launched full-scale activities.
First-instance verdict today for former President Yoon Suk-yeol over Public Official Election Act violation… Will the People Power Party have to return about 39.7 billion won
The first-instance verdict for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was brought to trial on charges of announcing false information during his presidential candidacy, will be delivered on the 27th. If the former president receives a finalized sentence with a fine of at least 1 million won, attention is focused on whether the People Power Party would have to return about 39.7 billion won, including election expenses, to the National Election Commission.
“An organization with pedigree descending from Chairman Lee Jung-jae”···40 members of the Dongdaemun faction in their 20s and 30s arrested
Forty people, including members of the Dongdaemun faction organized crime group and allied members that had been active in the northern area of Seoul, were apprehended by police. The Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 23rd that it had arrested a total of 40 people: 21 members of the Dongdaemun faction active since 2017 and 19 members from three allied factions.
‘Alleged proxy payment for Myung Tae-gyun opinion polls’ Oh Se-hoon, first-trial verdict today… Will he keep the mayoral post?
The first court ruling on Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was brought to trial over ‘allegations of a proxy payment for opinion polls involving Myung Tae-gyun’, will be delivered on the 22nd. The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyeong-woo) will hold the sentencing hearing at 2 p.m. today for Mayor Oh, who has been indicted on a charge of violating the Political Funds Act.
followed by … why do people go wild for ‘retribution’?
The dramas that have recently taken off domestically share a common formula. It is the so-called ‘satisfying retribution’ narrative that punishes villains in ways rarely seen in real life and relieves victims’ sense of injustice.
Is hate speech about May 18 also "freedom of expression"?... The Baejae High School affair stoked by politics
The controversy over Baejae High School baseball players mocking the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement has brought to the surface the problem of hate speech casually consumed across our society. However, some in the political arena are reframing it simply as an issue of "freedom of expression" or using it as a tool for partisan strife, obscuring the essence of the matter and rolling back social debate.
‘Obstructing the special parliamentary inquiry committee investigation and assaulting police’ Man in his 60s detained
A man in his 60s who obstructed the on-site investigation by the National Assembly Special Committee on the parliamentary investigation into the 6·3 local election ballot paper shortage and assaulted police was detained on the 4th.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Choi
Contact Choi, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack