Seoul: A Seoul court has sentenced a former Marine commander to three years in prison following the death of a young Marine during a 2023 search mission.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court found Lim Seong-geun, a retired two-star general and former commander of the 1st Marine Division, guilty of failing to uphold safety obligations during the operation.

In other developments, the ruling Democratic Party's (DP) attempt to bring a constitutional change to a national vote during the upcoming local elections was thwarted. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) continued to boycott the parliamentary vote on the proposal. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced during Friday's plenary session that the amendment bill would not be put to a vote after the PPP threatened to launch a filibuster to block it.

Public safety measures are being increased following the random killing of a female high school student in Gwangju. The 17-year-old was fatally stabbed by a 24-year-old stranger near a university in the Gwangsan district, leading police to announce stepped-up patrols and inspections to quell rising public anxiety.

South Korean financial markets saw mixed results, with stocks extending their winning streak to a fourth session despite earlier losses amid Middle East tensions. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at a new high of 7,498 points, up 0.11 percent, while the local currency experienced a sharp drop against the U.S. dollar.

Additionally, a South Korean vessel successfully navigated through the Red Sea, marking the fourth oil shipment of its kind. This comes as Seoul seeks alternative routes to bring in oil due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the oceans ministry.