[Newsmaker] Special counsel to probe Druking’s part in circumstances of lawmaker’s death

The independent counsel investigating the “Druking” scandal is to focus on shedding light on the suspects’ wrongdoings, including whether they threatened the late Rep. Roh Heo-chan.Roh, a member of the minor Justice Party, died by suicide Monday, days after it was alleged he had illegally received political funds from an organization run by Kim Dong-won, the main suspect in the case who is also known as Druking. Park Sang-yoong, spokesman for special prosecutor Huh Ik-bum`s team, briefs the medi

Social AffairsJuly 24, 2018

[Newsmaker] Samsung, victims agree to accept upcoming mediation on work-related illness

Samsung Electronics Co. and the advocacy group representing victims of work-related diseases Tuesday inked an agreement to accept upcoming mediation on the long-standing dispute surrounding compensation, which has lasted more than 10 years.In a landmark decision to end the long drawn-out case, the tech giant decided to accept any proposal made by the mediation committee, which will be delivered in two months. The Supporters for the Health and Rights of People in the Semiconductor Industry also d

IndustryJuly 24, 2018

[Newsmaker] Liberal politicians embroiled in organized crime scandal

Angry online petitions are being filed to the presidential office after a TV program accused Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, as well as Seongnam Mayor Eun Soo-mi, of maintaining an illicit relationship with members of an organized crime syndicate, among others. 　Lee, 53, considered among the most influential politicians in the ruling Democratic Party, is accused of having secret ties to a gang believed to be involved with a controversial murder case that took place in Pattaya, Thailand, in

Social AffairsJuly 23, 2018

[Newsmaker] Soldier victims of chopper crash honored in funeral service

A funeral service was held in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on Monday for the five Marines who died in a Marine Corps helicopter crash on July 17.Around 1,000 bereaved family members, close friends, the minister of national defense, Navy chief of staff, Marines and others attended the service to pay their respects.Before chief funeral commissioner Maj. Gen. Jun Jin-goo read the funeral speech, he read out the names of each of the departed Marines, as mourners lamented the victims. Jun prais

Social AffairsJuly 23, 2018

[Newsmaker] Soaring land prices could prevent possible troop withdrawal from DMZ

The two Koreas’ efforts to ease military tension along the border may be hampered by unexpected obstacles – including the vicissitudes of the real estate market. At the April 27 inter-Korean summit, the leaders of the two Koreas pledged to ease tensions, feeding speculations that South Korea’s military is preparing to reduce its presence across the border. Among possibilities being raised is the pulling back of forward-deployed troops near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, particularly t

DefenseJuly 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] Two Koreas form panel to bring home remains of colonial-era forced laborers from Japan

Civic groups from South and North Korea have formed a committee to bring home the remains of Koreans forced into hard labor in Japan during the 1910-45 colonial era, a leading organizer of the project here said Sunday.Kim Hong-gul, head of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC), told reporters that he and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong-dae, a vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, signed an agreement for the joint project in Pyongyang on W

North KoreaJuly 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] YouTube, Facebook dominate Korea’s video ad market: report

YouTube and Facebook grabbed a combined 73.1 percent share of South Korea’s video advertising market in the first half of this year, according to a report by Mezzomedia, a digital marketing firm.Data showed Friday that YouTube garnered 116.9 billion won ($103.2 million) and Facebook 93 billion won from online video advertising between January and June this year. The 73.1 percent share controlled by the two firms marks a 6 percent increase from last year’s 67.5 percent.(Yonhap)Naver, the country’

IndustryJuly 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Court reviews arrest warrant for fatal child abuse case

A day care worker accused of fatal child abuse entered the Seoul Southern District Court Friday morning for a hearing to review the warrant for her arrest. Accompanied by Gangseo police officers, the 59-year-old woman was seen covered up in a black hat and mask in front of the court around 10 a.m. Asked if she admitted to killing the 11-month-old victim, Kim reportedly did not say a word. The suspect enters the Seoul Southern District Court Friday morning. (Yonhap)The day care worker allegedly s

Social AffairsJuly 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korean figure skaters mourn death of Kazakh star Denis Ten

South Korean figure skaters on Friday mourned the death of Denis Ten, a Kazakh star of Korean descent, taking to social media to express their condolences.Ten, the 2014 Olympic men's singles bronze medalist and a great-great-grandson of a Korean-born independence fighter Min Keung-ho, was stabbed to death in Almaty on Thursday at age 25.South Korean icon Kim Yu-na wrote on her Instagram page that she was "traumatized" by the news of Ten's death, while also posting a photo of herself and Ten toge

More SportsJuly 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Kazakh-Korean figure skater Denis Ten stabbed to death: report

Denis Ten, a Kazakh figure skater of Korean descent, has been stabbed to death at 25, a Kazakhstan news agency reported Thursday.　Kazinform reported that Ten was stabbed by two unidentified men in Almaty at 3 p.m. Friday (local time) and was pronounced dead at a hospital.　The news agency added that Ten lost 3 liters of blood and was fighting for his life for nearly three hours before his passing. Denis Ten (Yonhap)　Kazinform also quoted the healthcare ministry spokesman Yernar Akimkulov as sayin

SportsJuly 19, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korea plans to criminalize workplace harassment

The government announced a plan to criminalize workplace harassment on Wednesday, saying that some 70 percent of all Korean employees have been bullied by their work superiors and colleagues at least once in their lives. Citing a report by the National Human Rights Commission, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that a vast majority of working Koreans suffer from workplace harassment, and about 60 percent of the victims have never taken any action, fearing possible disadvantages. Lee also added that

Social AffairsJuly 19, 2018

[Newsmaker] Court orders compensation for Sewol victims' families

A Seoul court on Thursday ordered the state and a shipping firm to compensate families of victims from a 2014 ferry sinking that killed over 300 passengers aboard, finding they are responsible for their suffering. The Seoul Central District Court awarded 200 million won ($177,000) in compensation for each deceased passenger and 40 million won to parents of students who lost their lives in the tragedy. It is the first court ruling that upholds the victims' call for state liability in the accident

Social AffairsJuly 19, 2018

[Newsmaker] Conscientious objector sentenced to prison in South Korea

A South Korean conscientious objector was sentenced to a jail term Tuesday, despite the recent Constitutional Court order for the government to introduce civilian forms of service for them.Seoul Western District Court ruled Tuesday that the man, surnamed Oh, must serve 18 months in prison for not complying with the country’s mandatory military service. Oh, 30, says that his political beliefs go against serving in the armed forces. In its ruling, the court said Oh’s motives are “unclear,” especia

Social AffairsJuly 18, 2018

[Newsmaker] Surion Army choppers grounded after Tuesday crash

South Korea's Army has grounded more than 90 Surion helicopters in service, an official said Wednesday, as safety concern has grown since the deadly crash of a Surion chopper a day earlier.The MUH-1 Marineone, the Marine variant of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter, crashed at a military airport in the southeastern city of Pohang, killing five of the six marines aboard and injuring the other.The Marine Corps is investigating the cause of the incident."We will review whether to resume the operation (of

DefenseJuly 18, 2018

[Newsmaker] Marine Corps helicopter crash in Pohang leaves 5 dead, 1 injured

A Marine Corps helicopter crashed in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on Tuesday, leaving five dead and one injured, according to the authorities.Gyeongbuk Fire Service Headquarters said the Surion (MUH-1) carrying six passengers crashed on the landing strip at the Navy’s Sixth Air Command in Pohang around 4:45 p.m. The helicopter was landing when it crashed from 10 meters above ground and caught fire, according to the authorities. (Yonhap) This photo provided by the Marine Corps on July 17 sh

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2018

[Newsmaker] Human rights watchdog to get first female head

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday named a women’s rights expert to head the National Human Rights Commission, amid growing calls to better protect the rights of women and minorities. 　Choi Young-ae, chief of the human rights commission of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has been tapped as the new chief of the National Human Rights Commission, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom announced at a press briefing.　If appointed, the 67-year-old will become the first female chief of the human rights

PoliticsJuly 17, 2018

[Newsmaker] Military intelligence agency behind NK restaurant workers' defection: source

South Korea's military intelligence agency masterminded the controversial defection of a dozen North Korean restaurant workers based in China, an informed source said Tuesday.The Defense Intelligence Command, affiliated with the defense ministry, led the 2014 operation supported by the National Intelligence Service, according to the source privy to North Korea issues.The 12 waitresses working at the Ryugyong Korean Restaurant in Ningpo, a city in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, defected to the

North KoreaJuly 17, 2018

[Newsmaker] Protesters raise voice against dog meat consumption

Hundreds of protesters held a rally for and against dog meat consumption near Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun on Sunday ahead of chobok, a day when Koreans traditionally eat “stamina food.” Koreans commonly eat hot bowls of supposedly stamina-boosting soups on the three “bok” days of summer. The days are referred to as chobok, jungbok and malbok and fall on July 17, July 27 and Aug. 16, respectively.Some of these soups involve commonplace meats such as chicken, but others have d

Social AffairsJuly 16, 2018

[Newsmaker] Unlikely alliance: Workers from rival airlines protest scandal-hit controlling families

They have been rivals for decades, but unionized workers from South Korea’s two largest airlines, Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, found themselves seeking the same goal over the weekend -- seeing their chairmen resign.Chanting a slogan against the power abuse of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho and Asiana Airlines Chairman Park Sam-koo, employees of the two airlines held a joint rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday evening.Employees of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines stage a protest i

IndustryJuly 15, 2018

[Newsmaker] Belgium finishes 3rd at World Cup, beats England 2-0

For Belgium and England, the third-place match at the World Cup was more like a dress rehearsal for future finals.At least they hope.The Belgians earned their best World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 on Saturday in a match both saw as the start of a push for the European Championship title in 2020 or the World Cup in 2022."With this winning mentality you can win trophies," said Eden Hazard, who scored Belgium's second goal. "In two years, in four years, we will be better. We have young playe

SportsJuly 15, 2018