[Newsmaker] [News focus] Constitutional Court justice candidate faces conflict of interest allegation over stock ownership

Constitutional Court Justice nominee Lee Mi-sun was in the hot seat Thursday over stocks worth around 3.5 billion won ($3 million) she and her husband hold, igniting allegations of a possible conflict of interest.The couple bought the stocks through 5,200 transactions -- 1,200 times by Lee and 4,000 times by her husband Oh Cheong-jin -- prompting financial authorities to look into alleged irregularities.Lee claimed she was unaware of the scope of the transactions as stock trading was done by her

PoliticsApril 11, 2019

[Newsmaker] JYJ member Park Yu-chun denies drug rumors

K-pop singer-turned-actor Park Yu-chun held a press conference Wednesday and denied rumors that he had supplied drugs to ex-fiancee Hwang Ha-na, who is under investigation for alleged drug use.Park Yu-chun (Yonhap)“I never used drugs,” Park said.“When I saw the report that Hwang Ha-na said a celebrity had offered her drugs, I was so scared that the person could be mistaken for me. I was terrified by the thought that I could be labeled a drug user even though I never did drugs.”The 32-year-old sa

Social AffairsApril 10, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ex-President Chun denies helicopter shootings in 1980

Former President Chun Doo-hwan on Monday once again denied in court that military helicopters shot at civilians during a pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju in May 1980.Chun did not show up for a preparatory hearing at the Gwangju District Court on Monday for his trial on charges that he defamed the dead.Chun’s lawyer Chung Joo-kyo objected to about one-third of the evidence that prosecutors submitted, including a report by a special panel of the Defense Ministry and a National Forensic Service re

Social AffairsApril 9, 2019

[Newsmaker] Cho Yang-ho, tycoon who led rise of Korean Air but fell over family’s notoriety, dies at 70

Cho Yang-ho, the second-generation chaebol scion who led the rise of the nation’s largest air carrier Korean Air, only to struggle late in life to contain damage from a series of power abuse scandals involving his wife and children, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 70.He had been receiving treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic disease, since late last year that was not disclosed to the public. He died at a hospital in LA early Monday morning Korean time, in the presence of his family mem

IndustryApril 8, 2019

[Newsmaker] Probe on drug use broadens to celebrities

Police are expanding an investigation on drug use to celebrities, as Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of a major South Korean dairy producer, has revealed she took illegal substances on the recommendation of a celebrity acquaintance. (Yonhap)Hwang, 31, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products’ founder Hong Du-yeong, was arrested Saturday for suspected of drug trading and use. She is accused of selling methamphetamine and using it herself in 2015. Separately, she is suspected of h

Social AffairsApril 7, 2019

[Newsmaker] Roy Kim booked for distribution of obscene photo

K-pop singer Roy Kim was booked by police Thursday, charged with sharing an obscene photo in a group chat.According to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Thursday, police told Kim to appear for a police investigation after finding the photo in a group chat room with fellow entertainer Jung Joon-young and others.Police, however, have not confirmed if Kim had taken the photo.Roy Kim (Yonhap)The 26-year-old singer shot to fame after winning the fourth season of TV music competition “Superstar K” i

Social AffairsApril 4, 2019

[Newsmaker] S. Korean ship held for violating UN sanctions on NK

North Korea continues to ship coal despite sanctions and a South Korean ship has been held at port for nearly six months for suspected involvement in related activities, it was revealed Tuesday. According to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a South Korean ship suspected of transferring petroleum products to a North Korean vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer is currently being held in Busan. The South Korean ship suspected of being involved in violating sanctions on North Korea sits at anchor a

North KoreaApril 3, 2019

[Newsmaker] Main opposition Liberty Korea Party draws criticism for campaigning inside football stadium

In the final sprint to the April 3 parliamentary by-election, main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and the party’s Changwon district candidate Kang Ki-yoon on Monday were blasted for violating the K League’s ban on campaigning inside a stadium of the soccer league over the weekend, while Gyeongnam FC said they may be subject to punishment. Main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) and the party’s Changwon district candidate Kang Ki-yoon greet spectator

PoliticsApril 1, 2019

[Newsmaker] Prosecution to reinvestigate sex bribery case of ex-vice minister

Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il on Friday ordered a reinvestigation into a high profile case involving former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui, over allegations of rape, sexual bribery and abuse of power. Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il (Yonhap)The prosecution launched a special investigation team of 13 prosecutors led by Yeo Hwan-seop, who heads Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office, to guarantee “fairness” of the probe, it said. 　Kim, who retired from public service in March 2013, faces allegat

Social AffairsMarch 29, 2019

[Newsmaker] SMEs Minister nominee Park says Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang knew of ex-vice justice minister’s sex-bribery video

Minister of SMEs and Startups nominee Rep. Park Young-sun on Thursday continued her claims that main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn knew of ex-Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui’s sex-bribery video before he took office.“Tell the truth. Of course, we didn’t watch the CD together. I clearly remember that afternoon, you left the scene baffled with red face and ears,” Park tweeted. SMEs and Startups Minister nominee Park Young-sun speaks at a confirmation hearing by the National

PoliticsMarch 28, 2019

[Newsmaker] Human rights advocate among NK embassy attack suspects

One of the suspects behind an attack on the North Korean Embassy in Spain has been revealed to be well-known human rights activist Adrian Hong Chang, according to a news outlet that specializes in North Korea issues. Hong, a Mexican passport holder who lives in the US, is believed to be the leader of a 10-member group that broke into the embassy in Madrid on Feb. 22 and tried to persuade a North Korean commercial attache to defect. The group left him tied up in the basement when he refused and t

North KoreaMarch 27, 2019

[Newsmaker] KCTU stages protest urging approval of key ILO conventions

Some 10,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on Wednesday held a protest urging the government to adopt key conventions of the International Labor Organization in continuation of its efforts to allow temporary and dismissed workers to join labor unions. The rally in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, follows a recent statement by the Korea Employers Federation opposing the conventions, rebutting the union’s key arguments.Some 10,000 members of the Korean Confede

Social AffairsMarch 27, 2019

[Newsmaker] Cooperative threat reduction a creative method to resume US-North Korea denuke talks: unification minister nominee

Unification Minister nominee Kim Yeon-chul said Tuesday that reintroducing the Cooperative Threat Reduction program for the US and North Korea could hasten the resumption of stalled denuclearization talks.“A creative solution is one that the US and North Korea can agree to. During my tenure as the head of the Korea Institute for National Unification, I proposed adopting the Cooperative Threat Reduction program for Yongbyon. Including this, I will look for as many different ways as possible,” sai

PoliticsMarch 26, 2019

[Newsmaker] Police book Hotel Shilla CEO’s doctor amid propofol abuse allegation

Police investigation of the alleged propofol abuse by Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin gathered steam, with the head of a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul where she is claimed to have taken the injections was booked without detention Friday.The clinic, located in Cheongdam-dong, is suspected of having administered the highly addictive anesthetic injections in 2016 to Lee, daughter of Samsung Group patriarch Lee Kun-hee.Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin (Yonhap)The police booked the doctor on charges of vi

Social AffairsMarch 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] More than 500 drug offenders busted in one-month crackdown

Police said Monday that they have arrested over 500 people, for using or trafficking narcotics, in their latest crackdown on drug crimes. On Feb. 25, police declared a total war against drug crime in the wake of a nation-rocking drug and sex scandal at Burning Sun, a nightclub in southern Seoul.(Yonhap)Police busted a total of 523 people for using or distributing drugs over the past one month, with 216 of them detained. The figures were up 30 percent and 65 percent from a year ago, respectively.

Social AffairsMarch 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Bareunmirae Party’s deepening conflict to hold back fast-tracking of key bills

Eyes on whether former party leader Ahn Cheol-soo will return to Korea in summerIntensifying dispute between members of the minor conservative Bareunmirae Party due to differing views on the independent investigative agency has sparked the possibility of former party leader Ahn Cheol-soo’s return to politics. In the midst of Bareunmirae Party members showing no signs of reaching an agreement, some party officials have hinted at the possibility co-party founder Ahn could return home from his stay

PoliticsMarch 24, 2019

[Newsmaker] Police raid surgeon's office in possible probe against Samsung heiress

The police raided a plastic surgery clinic on Saturday in a possible probe into allegations that Lee Boo-jin, a daughter of Samsung Group patriarch Lee Kun-hee, may have abused an addictive substance.Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided the clinic in Seoul's plush Gangnam area.The police earlier said they were simply checking facts regarding the drug abuse allegation brought up by a local news outlet.(Yonhap)Reports suggested Lee, currently the chief executive officer o

Social AffairsMarch 24, 2019

[Newsmaker] US apologizes to S. Korean figure skater after controversial incident

The US figure skating team at the world championships has apologized to injured South Korean skater Lim Eun-soo following a controversial incident involving her American rival.The Korea Skating Union said the US delegation insisted on Thursday that Mariah Bell didn't intend to hurt Lim when they collided during a warmup before Wednesday's short program at the International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan. In this Associated Press photo, Lim Eun-soo of South Kor

More SportsMarch 22, 2019

[Newsmaker] Singer Jung Joon-young admits to sex video charges before arrest warrant hearing

Singer Jung Joon-young admitted to the charges against him Thursday, acknowledging he had illegally filmed and distributed sex videos, before heading into the Seoul court for his arrest warrant hearing. Jung was transferred to the Jongno Police Station around noon with his hands bound and will be held there until the court decides whether to issue an arrest warrant. The court’s decision is expected either late Thursday evening or Friday morning. Wearing a black suit and with his hair tied back,

Social AffairsMarch 21, 2019

[Newsmaker] Seungri postpones military draft amid Burning Sun probe

The enlistment of K-pop star Seungri has been delayed amid the investigation into the Burning Sun scandal, the Military Manpower Administration announced Wednesday.Seungri filed an application Monday to delay his enlistment, requesting that it be postponed while the case is under investigation.The MMA said his original enlistment date of March 25 has been delayed for three months, with the possibility of an additional extension.Seungri (Yonhap)On Tuesday, drug use was added to the still-growing

Social AffairsMarch 20, 2019