1. Prosecutors investigating allegations that the late former President Roh Tae-woo concealed a slush fund have conducted a search and seizure at the home of his widow, Kim Ok-sook. The search, executed by the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, reportedly included Kim's private residence in Yeonhui-dong, the East Asia Cultural Center chaired by her son, Roh Jae-won (Ambassador to China), and the Roh Tae-woo Center. The investigation has been underway after prosecutors received a complaint from organizations including the May 18 Memorial Foundation, alleging that the family—including Kim, Art Center Nabi Director Roh So-young, and Ambassador Roh—concealed a slush fund and evaded taxes.
2. As the Hyundai Motor labor union failed to find common ground with management in wage negotiations, it went on a full-scale strike today (August 21), halting operations across all production lines for the day. This marks the first total strike by the Hyundai Motor union in 10 years since 2016. The union halted all production lines at its Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan plants today. The union has been demanding higher bonuses, the extension of the retirement age to 65, and the reinstatement of dismissed union members, but has reportedly failed to narrow differences with the company. The union has also announced plans to stage partial strikes for four hours each on August 24 and 25.
3. The government has decided to establish a future response fund exceeding 100 trillion won to invest tax revenues increased by the semiconductor boom into future growth engines. Related ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Education, held the 1st Fiscal Operation Strategy Consultative Meeting today and announced plans to promote this future response fund. Local education finance grants, which have faced growing calls for reform due to the declining school-age population, will be restructured from the previous method of automatically allocating about 20% of internal taxes to a new formula reflecting economic conditions and demographic changes. Under the existing system, next year's grants could exceed 100 trillion won, but applying the new formula will reduce them to about 79 trillion won, with the difference set aside for the future response fund and the education talent account.
4. Kim Dong-hwan, who was charged with plotting to murder six colleagues, including a fellow pilot who worked with him at an airline, and murdering one of them in March, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial. The Busan District Court sentenced Kim, who was indicted on charges including murder, to life imprisonment, stating that the crime was committed after meticulous preparation and that the results of a psychological analysis showed a high risk of reoffending, necessitating permanent isolation from society.
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