Category: ESTA News

Voice phishing scams impersonating the Korean Embassy in the United States are on the rise again, requiring special caution.

Mr. A, a businessman in Annandale and a resident of Laurel, Maryland, recently received a phone call purporting to be from the embassy. Mr. A said, “The caller was a man who said, ‘Documents have arrived from the Korean court.’ When I asked what they were, he said he couldn’t confirm them over the phone.” Mr.

A added, “I told him I was near Washington, D.C., and would visit in person, but he instructed me to come to the second floor of the embassy. I found it odd that they told me to come to the embassy instead of the consulate, but I had several concerns, including a possible property tax issue in Korea, so I decided to visit the embassy.” However, when he explained his reason at the information desk on the first floor of the embassy, an employee told him, “This is all a voice phishing scam.”

Mr. A said, “I was shocked for a moment. I thought, ‘If I hadn’t gone in person that day, I might have been asked to remit money later.'”

Cases like this have been popping up in the Korean community in the Washington area recently. At a consulate general in Washington’s traveling consular business event held at the Washington Korean Community Center in Alexandria on the 10th, consulate staff told a reporter from this newspaper, “Embassy impersonation and voice phishing are on the rise these days,” and “There’s even a story about a $60,000 wire transfer through voice phishing.”

Consul Kim Bong-ju said, “Voice phishing was particularly severe last year, and it continues to occur throughout the year. Voice phishing cases are being reported not only in the Washington area but also at other embassies in the U.S., and there are cases where people actually send wire transfers and suffer losses.”

Consul Kim added, “We continue to receive calls asking for confirmation regarding the authenticity of voice phishing scams impersonating the embassy.”

According to a notice on the website of the Korean Embassy in the United States, there are instances of scammers impersonating embassy or consulate staff and deceiving recipients by calling them with information from the Korean National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice (Supreme Prosecutors’ Office), or the Financial Supervisory Service.

Typical examples include: luring recipients to fake websites claiming to check their criminal records, stealing their personal information and then inducing them to send money; spoofing phone numbers from the Ministry of Justice or the Immigration Office, claiming their passports have been stolen or invalidated, and requesting personal information; and impersonating the administrator of the Overseas Koreans Agency’s 365 Civil Affairs Portal using commercial email addresses.

The Korean Embassy in the United States urges, “Neither Korean nor U.S. public institutions directly request or verify personal information over the phone or online. Please do not panic and never respond to such requests.”

The Embassy also emphasizes the following: Do not open emails from government agencies using commercial email addresses (e.g., Gmail, Naver), be suspicious of passwords or other personal information requests, verify the authenticity of the website, and avoid clicking on links from websites of unknown origin

The nurses’ union at a major New York City hospital went on strike on the 12th. They went on strike as announced after their demands for wage increases, staffing increases, improved treatment, and enhanced nurse safety were not met.

The New York State Nurses Association, the state’s nurses’ union, declared a breakdown in negotiations with management at midnight and began the strike at 6 a.m. This strike was joined by nurses from five major hospitals under three New York City healthcare systems: New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Hospital in Manhattan, Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, the Main Campus of Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, and two hospitals under the Mount Sinai system. With a staggering 150,000 employees, it’s the largest nursing strike in history.

Montefiore Hospital officials blamed the union for the strike, stating, “The union’s proposal for a 40% wage increase is reckless.” They added that the hospital claims that the agreement reached three years ago has raised the minimum wage for nurses by nearly 20% over the past three years, with starting salaries exceeding $100,000 for new nurses and an average annual salary of $165,000 for experienced nurses.

According to New York State, which mediates labor-management negotiations, nurses from 12 private hospitals in the state have been negotiating with hospitals since last year, and agreements were reached at most hospitals last week. However, negotiations with five hospitals under the three major healthcare systems have broken down.

New York Governor Kathy Hokule declared a state of emergency on the 9th, citing the nursing workforce shortage at these hospitals in anticipation of a possible strike by the New York City nurses’ union.

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani expressed his support for the striking nurses by participating in a picket protest outside New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Hospital.

Mayor Mamdani emphasized, “Nurses who save lives should not be asked to take pay cuts, cut benefits, or accept excessive workloads. Their value is not negotiable.”

Among the series of free policies that New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has been ambitiously pursuing since taking office, it appears that the free bus service will not be implemented this year.

This is because it has been confirmed that the free bus service in New York City will not be included in the major policies to be announced in 2026 in New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s New Year’s address on the 13th.

In an interview with the press on the 8th, Governor Hochul said, “I have no plans to include the free bus project, which was one of the key pledges that Mayor Mamdani made during the election, on the list of policies to be announced in the New Year’s address. Not now. But it has not been completely ruled out.”

Mayor Mamdani had garnered support from the working class by making the free bus service a key campaign promise during his mayoral election. He estimated that the free bus service would require $700 million annually, and he planned to raise this by raising taxes on the wealthy. However, adjusting tax rates, such as the personal income tax rate and corporate tax rate, such as raising taxes on the wealthy, requires the approval of the New York State Legislature and the Governor, and thus the Governor’s cooperation was essential. However, Governor Hochul stated that “it cannot be pursued this year.”

Political circles analyze that Governor Hochul, who is running for re-election this year, has passively turned away from the free bus policy, which is controversial due to his own election conscious. Governor Hochul emphasized, “It makes no sense to impose more taxes on everyone, especially the wealthy (millionaires), just for the sake of raising taxes.” However, Governor Hochul actively cooperated with Mayor Mamdani’s free childcare policy, which expanded free childcare services in New York City to children up to 2 years old.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling on a major case on the 9th, raising speculation that the fate of “reciprocal tariffs” could be sealed.

According to Reuters, the Supreme Court announced on its website on the 6th that it could announce its decision on a case being heard during the Justices scheduled appearance on the 9th. The Supreme Court did not disclose which case it was ruling on. Reuters noted the possibility of a ruling on the legality of reciprocal tariffs, one of the most closely watched cases before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is examining the legality of tariffs imposed by President Trump, who asserted that the US trade deficit constituted a national emergency and expanded the executive branch’s authority. These tariffs include reciprocal tariffs imposed on countries around the world at arbitrary rates and high tariffs imposed on China, Canada, and Mexico to pressure them to curb drug smuggling.

The Supreme Court has been examining the legality of President Trump’s actions, which invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977, to impose tariffs while claiming a national emergency.

U.S. federal courts have sided with the plaintiffs in both the first and second trials, holding the reciprocal tariffs illegal. The International Trade Court ruled in May of last year that the president had abused his power and invalidated the tariffs, and the appeals court essentially upheld the first trial’s decision in August of last year.

The Supreme Court, with a 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices, has often issued decisions favorable to the conservative Trump administration. However, this time, there is speculation that the legitimacy of reciprocal tariffs will likely not be recognized as President Trump wishes.

According to Reuters, during the November 5 hearing, the justices, regardless of their progressive or conservative leanings, displayed skepticism about the legality of reciprocal tariffs. President Trump has repeatedly expressed his anxiety about the possibility of losing the case due to this atmosphere.

On the social media platform TruthSocial on the 2nd of this month, he stated, “It would be a terrible blow to the United States to lose the ability to impose tariffs on other countries that treat us unfairly.”

On the 5th of this month, President Trump asserted, “Because of tariffs, our country is much stronger financially and from a national security standpoint, and we are more respected than ever before.” If the Supreme Court rules that reciprocal tariffs are illegal, it is expected to trigger renewed chaos both domestically and internationally.

The global economy could be affected by the possibility of at least procedural changes to the trade order that the Trump administration re-established through high tariffs. Within the United States, the Trump administration’s policy of maximizing executive power in almost every matter could be put to the test.

Reuters reported that the Supreme Court is also hearing free speech cases related to voting rights and LGBTQ+ counseling, suggesting that the ruling on the same day may not be a reciprocal tariff.

The number of countries requiring a “visa deposit” of up to 20 million won (approximately $20,000 USD) when applying for entry to the United States has nearly tripled. While the majority are African, the list also includes countries from Central and South America, including Venezuela, which recently suffered a US military attack, and Asian countries.

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published a list of 38 countries subject to the visa deposit on its website on the 6th.This system essentially requires citizens of these countries to post a deposit of $5,000 (approximately $7.25 million), $10,000 (approximately $14.5 million), or $15,000 (approximately $21.74 million USD) when applying for a short-term US visa.

The list of countries subject to the visa ban was originally 13, but on this day alone, 25 countries were added, nearly doubling the number. In addition to Venezuela, Cuba, a frequent US ally, was added, along with African countries like Nigeria, Algeria, and Uganda, and Asian countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.

A visa deposit system for the 25 countries added to the list will go into effect on the 21st. Paying the deposit does not guarantee a visa, and even if a visa is granted, entry and exit is limited to three international airports: Boston Logan, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles.

The Associated Press noted that this system has made the process of obtaining a US visa prohibitively expensive for many citizens of these countries. Therefore, this is interpreted as the latest measure by the Trump administration to further increase barriers to entry into the US.

Since Trump’s second term, the US government has required in-person interviews and required years of social media records from all countries requiring visas. In addition, the US government recently mandated that foreign tourists using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) submit five years’ worth of social media records and various other personal information.

The US government describes the visa deposit system as a mechanism to ensure that visitors do not overstay their visas. The deposit is refunded to visitors whose visas are denied or who comply with the conditions of the issued visa.

Amid President Trump’s recent order to halt offshore wind power projects nationwide, including in Virginia, citing national security concerns, a Virginia-based offshore wind company has taken legal action against the Trump administration.

According to local media outlet WTOP, Richmond-based Dominion Energy filed a complaint in federal court on the 24th, calling the government’s construction halt arbitrary, capricious, and unconstitutional, and asking for the order to be suspended.

Dominion Energy warned that the halt is costing the company more than $5 million per day in operating construction vessels 24 hours a day, a cost that will ultimately be passed on to companies and consumers.

The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 29th that Vice President J.D. Vance, a leading Republican presidential candidate, played a major role in the reconciliation between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who once exchanged harsh criticisms and faced a breakdown.

President Trump and Musk have been close since last year’s presidential election and have displayed a strong bromance. Musk was even called “Trump’s first buddy” for providing massive political funds to President Trump’s camp during the presidential election.

After his victory, President Trump appointed Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk’s relentless pursuit of federal government layoffs and budget cuts has sparked conflict with many of President Trump’s associates. The decisive turning point between the two was the tax cuts pushed by the Trump administration. Musk publicly criticized the bill, simultaneously announcing plans to form a third party, and even mentioned Trump’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In response, President Trump publicly criticized Musk, calling him a “big drug addict.” He also withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman, a close Musk associate, to head NASA, seemingly leading to a complete breakdown in their relationship, as if they had crossed the “bridge of no return.”

According to the Washington Post, Vice President Vance was the most active mediator during this process. The Washington Post pointed out that Vance, the Republican presidential frontrunner, could benefit from Musk, saying, “Musk is unpredictable, but he’s also a formidable ally.

With virtually unlimited resources and unrivaled digital influence, Musk could be a powerful asset to the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again, a term for Trump’s core supporters) after Trump leaves office.” Concerned that Musk’s new party would hurt the GOP’s future political moves, including the midterm elections next year, Vice President Vance not only contacted Musk directly, but also called his close associates, urging them to drop the plan to form a new party.

Vice President Vance also reached out to members of the Senate Commerce Committee to secure Isaacman’s renomination as NASA administrator, securing his support and ensuring a swift confirmation. Senior White House officials, including Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Czar David Sachs, also provided behind-the-scenes support. The White House even nominated Sergio Gor, White House Personnel Director who opposed Isaacman’s nomination, as ambassador to India.

The Washington Post reported that Musk’s inner circle had been reluctant to launch a new party, and following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September, Musk had expressed his intention to broaden his network with Republicans and return to politics for next year’s midterm elections. Vance’s months-long mediation efforts ultimately proved successful last month, when Musk attended a dinner at the White House to welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and exchanged greetings with President Trump, effectively ending the conflict.

Recently, reports surfaced that Musk had donated a significant amount of money to the Republican Party and pledged additional support. While President Trump and Musk have reestablished friendly relations, both sides view this “truce” as unstable. Furthermore, some analysts argue that Vice President Vance, who has stepped in as a mediator, may find his close relationship with Musk politically detrimental.

The Washington Post noted, “Vance, who has been criticized for his friendship with billionaires since his 2021 Senate campaign, may need to approach things cautiously.” The Post added, “Given the widespread skepticism toward Silicon Valley among many Americans, and even deeply entrenched within the Trump administration, his ties to Musk carry political risks.”

Multiple human remains were recently discovered at a residence in the Southcrest community of San Diego, Southern California. The photo shows police investigating at the scene. (Reuters)The discovery of multiple humans remains at a residence in the Southcrest community of San Diego, Southern California, has shocked residents and prompted a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement agencies, re-examining potentially related cold cases and recent homicides.

According to Newsweek, the FBI, California Highway Patrol (CHP), San Diego Police Department, and other agencies conducted a search of a residence on Newton Avenue on the 2nd. Law enforcement officers discovered human remains inside, but the exact number and identities have not yet been released. This search stemmed from a lead obtained by the CHP in another homicide case, prompting multi-agency cooperation.

Although the police have not released the exact location of the remains, it is speculated that they may have been hidden in a concealed area of the house structure for a long time, such as under walls, under floors, in the soil of the yard, or in enclosed storage spaces, making them difficult for ordinary residents to detect. Furthermore, the investigation is believed to involve a cold case, meaning the death may have occurred many years or even longer; over time, the smell of decomposition would have dissipated, and if the remains were sealed in an airtight space, it would be almost impossible for tenants to detect them in their daily lives.

Law enforcement officials revealed that 74-year-old Dwight William Rhone, a former resident of the residence, is currently in custody for another homicide. According to NBC News, Rhone is accused of shooting and killing 54-year-old Bernardo Moreno on Highway 905 in October 2023 and then burning the body to destroy evidence. Court data shows he has had 33 prior convictions since 1963.

Further court records reveal a clear connection between the property and Rhone. According to a 2022 name change application, the residence where the remains were found was previously registered as Rhone’s address.

Earlier, in 2017, Rhone was forced to evict from a Newton Avenue home due to a civil restraining order. Documents show that the then-owner, Ernie Monia (Rhone’s sister-in-law, then 70 years old), had allowed Rhone to reside there, but he repeatedly violated regulations by allowing unfamiliar men and women to stay overnight, drinking alcohol or using drugs, verbally threatening Monia, and damaging property. Monia subsequently applied for a restraining order, and police carried out the eviction.

The Estrada Gonzalez sisters, who currently live in the house, said they moved in last year. Investigators told them that the case was unrelated to the current residents but rather involved new developments in a cold case concerning the previous residents. They pointed out that the investigators entered the backyard through a neighbor’s entrance before entering their house, searching for the area below the bedroom. “They told us that what we were looking for was under the house,” said one of the sisters, Judith.

An 18-year-old neighbor told NBC that she often saw police coming and going in the neighborhood, but she didn’t pay much attention at the time, only remembering that her parents repeatedly told her and her sister not to go near the house.

The FBI stated that its Evidence Response Team assisted in the evidence collection, including using police dogs to detect the remains. Since the remains were found on the property, the San Diego Police Department will handle the follow-up investigation.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the identity of the deceased and the cause of death. No additional charges have been filed so far based on the new discovery of the remains. Police are appealing to the public for information regarding Rhone’s past behavior or other potentially related cases. Anyone with information is asked to contact the homicide unit at 619-531-2293 or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

A well-regarded couple in Simi Valley, California, were ambushed and shot dead in the garage of their $1.3 million mansion. To everyone’s surprise, the murderer turned out to be their own son. 63-year-old doctor Eric Cordes and his 66-year-old fitness instructor Vicki Schiller were found with multiple gunshot wounds, lying in their garage.

Police say the shooter was Cordes’ 37-year-old son, Keith Cordes, who then drove away to Chino, 70 miles away, where he set his car on fire and shot himself. This meticulously planned ambush was chilling.

Neighbor Mike Hylton recalled that the suspect had appeared in the neighborhood multiple times in a black Honda Civic before noon that day, as if he were scouting the area. He said the car passed by once at 11:25 a.m., like a “practice run,” and then stopped in a dead end to lie in ambush.

Around 12:01 PM, as soon as the garage door opened, gunshots rang out. Hilton’s son heard the gunshots upstairs and looked out the window, only to see the black Honda speeding away.

When Hilton rushed to the scene, the sight before him was one he would never forget: he saw Colz lying by the door of the Maserati, shot in the neck and head; Schiller lying behind him, “his body riddled with bullet holes.”

He said painfully, “I watched them die with my own eyes.”

However, the police have not yet confirmed this claim. The community residents are still unable to accept this horrific murder. Traces of red blood remain by the driveway, and a small memorial made of flowers and candles glows faintly at night.

Police and paramedics arrived and attempted to resuscitate Eric, but he died at the scene. Vicky clung to the wounds for about ten minutes before also succumbing to her injuries. Neighbors gathered in front of the driveway; the scene was stained with blood, and the air was thick with shock.

Hours later, law enforcement tracked the suspect’s black Honda Civic using a license plate recognition system; it had been set on fire inside Ayala Park in Chino. A severely burned body was found inside the car, which was later confirmed by a forensic doctor to be Keith. A suspected weapon used in the crime was also found in the car. Police said the motive is still under investigation, but neighbors revealed that there may have been a financial dispute between the father and son, and that Keith had made threats, which he has now carried out. However, the police have not yet confirmed this claim.

Today, that street, once filled with neighborhood interactions, camping memories, and backyard parties, is left with only endless questions and an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

President Donald Trump attended the repatriation ceremony for the bodies of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter who were killed in an attack by Syrian soldiers believed to be Islamic State (IS) extremists on the 17th.The president attended the ceremony held at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware that afternoon, saluting each casket carrying the bodies of the fallen soldiers as they were unloaded from an Air Force C-17 transport plane and transported to vehicles.

The ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere, with cell phone use prohibited, and the president wore a somber expression throughout.

This is the first time since the inauguration of his second term (January 20th) that President Trump has attended a ceremony to return the bodies of American soldiers killed in overseas operations. In addition to President Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine also attended the event.

Among White House staff members, the attendance of Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles, who sparked controversy the day before with a magazine interview harshly criticizing President Trump and others, was noteworthy.

Earlier, on the 13th, a surprise attack on US and Syrian government forces conducting a field reconnaissance in Palmyra, central Syria, killed three soldiers: Sergeants William Howard and Edgar Torres-Tovar of the Iowa National Guard, and American interpreter Ayad Mansour Saqat.

The Syrian government announced that the attacker, who was killed in the fighting, was a member of the Syrian army but committed the crime just before being forcibly discharged due to suspected Islamic extremist ideology.

President Trump declared that the attack was not carried out by the Syrian government, but by ISIS (the US military’s term for the Islamic State), and that there would be strong retaliation.