[Newsmaker] Politics take over Blue House petitions board

The petitions board of the presidential office website is once again making headlines, this time over calls for the dissolution of political parties.A petition filed on April 22 requesting the dissolution of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party had garnered over 461,177 signatures as of 5:30 p.m. Monday.Liberty Korea Party lawmakers hold a protest at the National Assembly on Monday. YonhapThe petition claims the party is hampering legislative activities by staging protests outside the parliam

PoliticsApril 29, 2019

[Newsmaker] [Feature] Debunking Saxenda myth

 In recent months, an unusual buzzword has spread among trendsetters, social media influencers and the general public. Injectable medicine “Saxenda” is being touted across various circles as one of the quickest and most efficient ways to lose weight, by suppressing one’s appetite.Although a prescription-based medicine, there were soon reports of people buying them in bulk through backdoor dealings and others reselling them. Saxenda (liraglutide) injections soon soared to the No. 3 spot in Korea’

IndustryApril 28, 2019

[Newsmaker] Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun arrested over suspected meth use

K-pop singer-actor Park Yoo-chun was arrested Friday (early Saturday) on suspicion of purchasing and using methamphetamine. (Yonhap)Park, 33, is suspected of buying 1.5 grams of methamphetamine on three occasions and taking it on five occasions earlier this year with his former fiancee, Hwang Ha-na.　Hwang, 31, is the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products. 　Park, a member of the K-pop band JYJ, appeared before the Suwon District Court at around 1:50 p.m. on Friday to attend the h

Social AffairsApril 26, 2019

[Newsmaker] Singer Park Yoo-chun appears for arrest warrant hearing

K-pop singer and actor Park Yoo-chun appeared before a local court for a hearing on his arrest Friday, over suspected use of an illegal drug after he recently tested positive for methamphetamine. The result is likely to come late Friday or early Saturday.  (Yonhap)Wearing a gray suit, Park, 33 and one-third of K-pop band JYJ, appeared before the Suwon District Court at around 1:50 p.m. to attend the hearing. He did not answer a barrage of questions by reporters at the scene. He is suspected of b

Social AffairsApril 26, 2019

[Newsmaker] Prosecution rejects ex-president’s stay of execution request

The prosecution concluded Thursday that former President Park Geun-hye, who was jailed for corruption, should not be allowed a stay of execution of her prison sentence as her state of her health does not warrant it. Park, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a fine of 20 billion won ($17.2 million) for bribery and abuses of power by the appeals court, asked for a stay of execution last week, citing her “searing” back pain that cannot be treated in custody. Former President Park Geun-hye (

Social AffairsApril 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ex-environment minister indicted on power abuse charge

Prosecutors on Thursday indicted a former environment minister and presidential secretary for alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of business and coercion in replacing an auditor of an agency under the ministry.Kim Eun-kyung is the first ex-minister of the Moon Jae-in administration to be indicted.(Yonhap)Prosecutors cleared of charges Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and others involved in the alleged surveillance of civilians by a Cheong Wa Dae special inspection t

Social AffairsApril 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Speaker okays change of judiciary reform panel member amid political turmoil

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang on Thursday approved a minor opposition party's plan to replace its member on the special parliamentary committee on judiciary reform, a crucial move in efforts to fast-track a relevant bill.Earlier in the day, the center-right Bareunmirae Party sent a document by fax to Moon suggesting Rep. Oh Shin-hwan be replaced by his party colleague Rep. Chae Yi-bae as a member of the committee. National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang (Yonhap)Moon signed it without h

PoliticsApril 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Singer Park Yoo-chun to retire from showbiz over suspected meth use

K-pop singer and actor Park Yoo-chun was expelled from his agency on Wednesday, after results revealed that he had tested positive for methamphetamine. A hearing on whether to arrest him is scheduled for Friday.(Yonhap)His management agency, C-JeS Entertainment, announced in a statement it had terminated its contract with Park, of K-pop boy band JYJ, and he would retire from the entertainment industry. 　All of his engagements have been called off, and the three-member JYJ is expected to disband.

Social AffairsApril 24, 2019

[Newsmaker] Parliament to fast-track election reform, investigation unit bills this week

The National Assembly is expected to fast-track bills on electoral reform and establishing a unit to investigate high-ranking government officials over corruption this week, party officials said Tuesday.Four parties on Monday reached a package deal on the adoption of a new proportional representation election system, the establishment of the investigative unit and enhancing the police's authority to conduct probes.(Yonhap)Earlier in the day, they approved the agreement at their respective meetin

PoliticsApril 23, 2019

[Newsmaker] Police seek arrest warrant for singer Park Yoo-chun over drug allegations

Police on Tuesday sought an arrest warrant for Park Yoo-chun, an actor and member of boy band JYJ, over allegations that he took drugs together with the granddaughter of the founder of a dairy producer.The police requested the prosecution to apply for a writ against the 33-year-old Park over his suspected drug use, after quizzing him on three occasions.(Yonhap)He is alleged to have used methamphetamine early this year with Hwang Ha-na, the now arrested granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dai

Social AffairsApril 23, 2019

[Newsmaker] Jinju arson-murder attack reveals shortcomings of Korea’s mental health care

Wednesday’s brutal arson and murders in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, which left five people dead and 15 others injured, put the spotlight on the glaring shortcomings in the country’s mental health care system. The total budget designated for mental health this year stands at 171.3 billion won ($150.1 million), accounting for 1.5 percent of the government budget for public health, data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare showed Monday.(Yonhap)The portion of the budget spent on mental hea

Social AffairsApril 22, 2019

[Newsmaker] Hyundai scion arrested over drug-use allegations

A grandson of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung was apprehended Sunday at the Incheon Airport on suspicions of using liquid marijuana, even as another SK Group family member is under probe for using it. (Yonhap)The 28-year-old -- eldest son of Chung Mong-il, the eighth son of Hyundai founder and CEO of Hyundai M Partners -- was taken into custody at around 9:30 a.m. upon his arrival from the United Kingdom, according to the police. Chung is suspected of purchasing a liquid form of mar

Social AffairsApril 21, 2019

[Newsmaker] Hyundai family member arrested at Incheon airport over drug allegations

A grandson of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung was taken into custody Sunday on charges of using illegal drugs.The 28-year-old, who is the eldest son of Chung Mong-il, the eighth son of the Hyundai founder and CEO of Hyundai M Partners Co., was detained at around 9:30 a.m. upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, police said.(Yonhap)The junior Chung is suspected of illegally using a liquid variety of marijuana on three occasions at his home in Seoul last year and smoked mar

Social AffairsApril 21, 2019

[Newsmaker] Court says no need to release documents on 2015 deal over sex slavery

An appeals court said Thursday the government does not have to disclose documents on the negotiations that led to a controversial 2015 deal between South Korea and Japan on Tokyo’s wartime sex slavery, citing national interest. (Yonhap)Overturning a lower court’s decision, the Seoul High Court ruled that making public the documents, which include diplomatic secrets, could severely violate Korea’s interests and damage ties with Japan.“If the information is revealed, Japan’s side would be disclose

Social AffairsApril 18, 2019

[Newsmaker] Lawmaker, ex-lawmaker rapped for remarks on families of Sewol victims

The main opposition party is taking steps to discuss disciplinary action against a lawmaker and a former legislator over their remarks concerning those who lost family members in the sinking of the Sewol ferry five years ago, which killed more than 300 people.On Tuesday morning, Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the Liberty Korea Party posted on Facebook what he said was a message from a friend, “Tell them to stop taking advantage of Sewol. They really shouldn’t be acting like this if they feel sorry for th

Social AffairsApril 17, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ex-football coach banned for life over alleged sexual harassment

The former head coach of a women's football club received a lifetime ban from the sport's national governing body on Wednesday for allegedly sexually harassing his former players.The Korea Football Association said Ha Keum-jin, former head coach of Gyeongju Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Women's Football Club in the WK League, will no longer be allowed to engage in any football-related activities.Sexual harassment allegations against Ha emerged in January. (Yonhap)The KFA promptly launched an inv

Social AffairsApril 17, 2019

[Newsmaker] Police raid K-pop singer Park Yoo-chun’s house in drug probe

Gyeonggi police searched South Korean singer-actor Park Yoo-chun’s home and took hair samples Tuesday in a drug probe that started when his ex-girlfriend accused him of using illegal drugs. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency drug squad said 11 investigators had raided Park’s residence in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, and confiscated his cellphone and car, a day before Park’s scheduled appearance for police questioning Wednesday.In spite of Park’s denials, police found his ex-girlfriend’s te

Social AffairsApril 16, 2019

[Newsmaker] Sewol victims’ families call for new probe, punishment

Bereaved families of the victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster on Monday called for a fresh prosecutorial investigation into the event and punishment for those accountable, a day before the fifth anniversary of the disaster. (Yonhap)Five years after the 6,800-ton ferry sank in waters off the southern coast on April 16, 2014, killing 304 people -- most of whom were high school students on a field trip -- the victims’ families said justice has not yet been served because of attempted cover-ups.

Social AffairsApril 15, 2019

[Newsmaker] Feuding Hanjin siblings mourn brother’s death

Over the weekend, renowned corporate and political figures paid tribute to late Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, who died of a chronic illness last week. However, his younger brothers Cho Nam-ho and Cho Jung-ho garnered more attention due to their strained relations in the past. Another brother, Cho Soo-ho, former chairman of Hanjin Shipping, died in 2006. Nam-ho is the former chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries, while the youngest Jung-ho is current chairman of Meritz Financial Group. The sib

IndustryApril 14, 2019

[Newsmaker] Korea welcomes WTO ruling, vows to continue import ban on Japanese seafood

The South Korean government on Friday welcomed a ruling by the World Trade Organization that upheld the government’s import ban on Japanese seafood in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.“The government has been making all-out efforts to follow the principle of making the health and safety of the people a priority, and the government highly appraises the WTO’s decision,” the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Energy said in a statement, adding that it would continue the import ban on Japanese

IndustryApril 12, 2019