Today's MEARI ⏰1-Minute News⏰
1. Lee Jae-myung Officially Nominated as Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate 🗳️
2. Former President Moon Jae-in Indicted Without Detention on Bribery Charges ⚖️
3. Will the Next Pope Be from Asia? Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik Speaks Out 👀
What Happened in the SK Telecom USIM Data Breach?📱
APR's Korean Picks #3 Picnic with a View: Why Koreans Love the Han River 🏞️
Korean Dictionary: 소록소록 [sorok-sorok] 🌱
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⏰1-Minute News⏰ by Editor Dodo🦤 by Editor Puff ☁️
Lee Jae-myung Officially Nominated as Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate 🗳️
Lee Jae-myung has been officially nominated as the Democratic Party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election. On the 27th, the party's election committee announced at a primary event in Goyang that Lee secured 89.77% of the cumulative vote, confirming his position without a runoff.
This marks Lee’s third presidential bid, and with a majority of valid votes in the first round, he bypassed the need for a second round. Kim Dong-yeon came in second with 6.87%, followed by Kim Kyung-soo with 3.36%.
Lee’s dominance was evident across all categories—party member votes, delegate votes, overseas ballots, and public opinion surveys. Notably, he garnered 98.69% in the overseas vote and received 89.21% support in the public survey.
Out of over 1.14 million eligible voters, around 690,000 (60.47%) cast their votes. The final result was calculated by combining 50% of party member and delegate votes with 50% of the national public survey. With this overwhelming support, Lee Jae-myung is set to represent the Democratic Party in the 21st presidential election.
Former President Moon Jae-in Indicted Without Detention on Bribery Charges ⚖️
Former President Moon Jae-in has been indicted without detention on bribery charges in connection to the alleged preferential employment of his former son-in-law at Thai low-cost airline T’way Eastar Jet. This comes about 3 years and 5 months after the case was first launched following a civic group’s complaint in December 2021, and it marks the first time Moon has been indicted since leaving office in May 2022.
Prosecutors allege that Moon received around 217 million won (approximately $160,000) in bribes from former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik. This amount includes salary and housing costs paid to Moon’s son-in-law, who was employed as an executive at the airline owned by Lee between August 2018 and April 2020. The prosecution argues that Lee offered the job as a form of political and economic favor to Moon, and that the salary was not a legitimate wage but rather a bribe to the president.
Lee has also been indicted without detention on charges of bribery and breach of duty, while Moon’s daughter and son-in-law have been given suspended indictments.
The trial will be held at the Seoul Central District Court.
Moon strongly denied the allegations through Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Kun-young, calling it “absurd and outrageous,” and claimed it was a “politically motivated retaliation” in response to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment. He added that he intends not only to prove his innocence in court but also to expose the abuse of prosecutorial power.
His legal team stated that Moon was not aware of his son-in-law’s employment beforehand and that he never gave any inappropriate instructions to presidential aides. They also emphasized that Moon was not involved in Lee’s appointment to public office or his candidacy for the National Assembly.
Will the Next Pope Be from Asia? Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik Speaks Out 👀
Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Vatican is preparing for a new conclave — the secret gathering of cardinals to elect the next pope — expected to begin in early May. South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the only Korean eligible to vote and be elected, commented that while "a transitional period is full of uncertainties," the conclave "may end quickly."
When asked about the possibility of the next pope coming from Asia, he answered, “There is no East or West before the Lord.” His comment has drawn attention, as global media outlets have noted the growing influence of the Catholic Church in Asia and Africa. Cardinal You and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle have both been named among the top 12 candidates by Italy’s largest daily, Corriere della Sera.
Pope Francis’s funeral Mass was held on April 26 at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, and the Holy See has declared a nine-day mourning period, with daily prayer events continuing through May 4.
The conclave is scheduled to begin between May 5 and 10. A total of 133 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, though two are expected to be absent due to health issues. That leaves 131 voters who will cast secret ballots, isolated from the outside world, until a candidate receives at least two-thirds of the vote. 🙏
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What Happened in the SK Telecom USIM Data Breach?📱 by Editor Dodo🦤
In April 2025, SK Telecom experienced a major breach that exposed the USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) information of over 800,000 subscribers. A USIM is a small chip essential for mobile communication, but it doesn't just store basic details like a phone number or a name. In South Korea’s IT industry, where phone numbers, resident registration numbers, usernames, and even passwords have long been treated almost like public property, many people reacted indifferently, saying, "Our personal data was already out there anyway." 📇 However, this incident is different. It's not just about leaked information — it’s about what can be done with that information. With access to USIM data, attackers could clone a USIM and authenticate themselves on different devices, leading to serious secondary damages like unauthorized access to communication services or even financial accounts. 🚨
The breach was first detected on April 18, when SK Telecom noticed unusual data movements. Later that night, the company confirmed that a hacking attack had occurred, and by the evening of April 19, they identified that USIM information had been compromised. However, SK Telecom did not officially disclose the incident until April 22, leading to criticism that it violated the legal obligation to report such breaches within 24 hours.
Hackers infiltrated SK Telecom’s USIM issuance system and stole a massive amount of data, some of which was later found circulating on the dark web. 💻
In response, SK Telecom initiated emergency measures, offering free USIM replacements for all affected users and implementing additional security protocols to block abnormal authentication attempts. The government also launched a joint investigation, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Personal Information Protection Commission.
This incident highlighted that the impact of a USIM breach goes far beyond basic privacy concerns — it directly threatens communication security, financial safety, and identity verification systems. Going forward, choosing a mobile carrier will no longer be just about pricing or service speed; how seriously a company handles data protection will become an equally important factor. 📱🌍
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APR's Korean Picks #3 Picnic with a View: Why Koreans Love the Han River 🏞️ by Editor Puff ☁️
Spring is in full swing! Thinking of what to do this weekend?🤔 How about heading to the Han River? For many Koreans, the Han River isn’t just a body of water. It’s a relaxing everyday space where people catch up with friends, go on dates, or just sit alone and unwind.🍀 And among the many ways to enjoy it, the most popular these days is definitely having a Han River picnic.
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One of the best parts about picnicking at the Han River is that you don’t need to prepare much. Some people bring simple snacks like gimbap or sandwiches from home, but honestly, you don’t even need to do that.🍱 These days, you can get food delivered directly to the park—everything from chicken and pizza to even spicy hot pot (mala-tang)!🍕
There are also lots of picnic rental shops near the parks, offering things like mats, foldable tables, picnic trays, and more. So even if you come empty-handed, you can still enjoy a stylish and comfortable picnic setup.
Since the Han River runs through the city, there are several parks to choose from—Ttukseom, Banpo, Yeouido, Mangwon, Yanghwa… Each has its own vibe, and everyone has their favorite. |
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I recently visited Yanghwa Han River Park, which has been gaining popularity lately. I laid out a rented mat, grabbed a cup of instant ramyeon from the convenience store in the park, and enjoyed the view—it was surprisingly refreshing.🍃 The calm riverside, wide grass fields, and overall peaceful atmosphere make it a great place to relax. And the sunset? Absolutely beautiful—don’t miss it!🌅 |
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My Experience ☁️
Besides the food and the view, I also loved how there were so many things to do.😊 You can rent bikes, play badminton, or just take a walk. 🚲🚶♀️ These days, with everyone so busy, it’s not easy to plan long trips or spend a lot of energy on activities. That’s why a Han River picnic is perfect—it’s a simple but satisfying way to recharge.
So if you’re in Seoul (or planning to visit), I’d say a Han River picnic is a must-do! Don’t overthink it—just grab a mat and head out. Sometimes the simplest things make the best memories.🙂↕️
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Korean Dictionary by Editor Narae🕊️
소록소록 [sorok-sorok] 🌱
Spring is in full bloom here in Korea. Under the warm sun, soft green sprouts are sorok-sorok—quietly and gently—rising from the ground, and the streets are lined with yellow forsythia, pink azaleas, and tiny wildflowers whose names most of us don’t even know. When you go for a walk, you start to feel—somehow, somewhere—that the season is quietly shifting. That gentle feeling is exactly what today’s Korean word is all about: 소록소록 (sorok-sorok). 🌱
🌿 What does 'sorok-sorok' mean? Sorok-sorok is a Korean adverb used to describe something that moves softly, quietly, and gently. You might use it to describe how plants grow, how someone sneaks up quietly, or even how a soft sound—like footsteps or whispers—reaches you. It doesn’t refer to loud or obvious movement, but rather to something subtle and delicate. Imagine a tiny green shoot slowly breaking through the soil, or a soft rustle that barely makes a sound. In moments when there’s almost no noise, but a gentle movement or presence is felt, Koreans often think of sorok-sorok.
📘 How 'sorok-sorok' is used
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The morning after a spring rain, new buds were sorok-sorok sprouting in the garden.
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The sleepy child sorok-sorok snuggled into their mother’s arms.
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Someone’s warmth sorok-sorok seeped into my heart.
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Outside the window, spring was sorok-sorok settling into the world.
☘️ The emotional beauty of 'sorok-sorok' What makes sorok-sorok so lovely is that it feels like a mood, a scene, or even a gentle breeze. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t rush. Instead, it quietly arrives. That’s why it’s often used to express tenderness or affection, like saying, “That person sorok-sorok came into my heart.” Korean has many expressive sound-symbolic words, and sorok-sorok is one of the most delicate. It fits anything that approaches softly—be it a person’s footsteps, the hush of a rainy day, or the slow and subtle passing of time.
As spring unfolds, can you feel sorok-sorok warmth creeping into your days too? The air is soft, the sun is kind, and maybe this is the perfect moment to slow down just a little and feel what’s gently changing around you. 🌼 I’ll be back next week with another beautiful word from the Korean language. Until then, may a little sorok-sorok peace find its way to you. 💕
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Korean Version & Useful Infos Below ⬇️ |
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오늘의 메아리 요약 ⏰1분 뉴스⏰
1. 이재명, 민주당 대선 후보로 확정 ⚖️
2. 문재인 전 대통령, 뇌물 혐의로 불구속 기소 ⚖️
3. 차기 교황, 아시아 출신 나올까? 유흥식 추기경 발언 주목 👀
4월의 추천 #3 주말엔 한강에서 피크닉 어때요? 🏞️
한국어 사전: 소록소록 [Sorok-sorok] 🌱
유학, 취업 정보 |
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