[Newsmaker] Following the inter-Korean summit, South Korea’s main opposition party is in crisis

Following last month’s historic inter-Korean summit, South Korea’s main opposition Liberty Korea Party is embroiled in internal conflict, leading to one of its members quitting in protest against the conservative party’s controversial leader, Hong Joon-pyo.Rep. Kang Kil-bu, who had been openly demanding that Hong step down, mainly over controversial remarks he made regarding the results of the inter-Korean summit, officially left the party on Sunday. Kang said Thursday that if Hong did not resig

PoliticsMay 7, 2018

[Newsmaker] Another reformative FSS nomination highlights pledge on financial reform

Even after the two previous leaders’ terms ended amid disputes, the next candidate tapped as chief of the financial market watchdog is, again, another reformative nonbureaucrat, reflecting the administration’s determination for financial reform.The Financial Services Commission said Friday that it had nominated Yoon Suk-heun as the new governor of the Financial Supervisory Service. He is a visiting professor of business administration at Seoul National University and chairman of the

MarketMay 4, 2018

[Newsmaker] Ex-President Chun faces another trial over Gwangju uprising after 23 years

GWANGJU -- Former President Chun Doo-hwan will stand another trial over a brutal crackdown on the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju, more than two decades after he was charged with sedition and other crimes in connection with the bloodshed.The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office said Thursday it has indicted the 87-year-old on the charge of defamation of the deceased. The former Army general, who was president from 1980-88, is accused of defaming the victims of the nin

PoliticsMay 3, 2018

[Newsmaker] Moon Chung-in’s ‘personal views’ once again lands him in hot water

Moon Chung-in, a special national security and foreign affairs adviser to President Moon Jae-in, is once again making headlines. And again for all the wrong reasons. The latest controversy began with his contribution to the foreign policy magazine Foreign Affairs. In the article published online on April 30, Moon Chung-in outlined the Panmunjeom Declaration, which includes ending the Korean War and signing a peace treaty.  Moon Chung-in, at a forum on April 26 at the inter-Korean summit media ce

PoliticsMay 2, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korean Air heiress denies assault allegations in 'water rage' probe

Cho Hyun-min, a former senior executive of South Korea's largest airline and a daughter of its chief, has denied allegations that she physically assaulted an advertising agency official during a business meeting in March, police said Wednesday.Cho Hyun-min, an heiress to Korean Air Lines Co., is surrounded by reporters on her way back from the Seoul Gangseo Police Station on May 2, 2018, after undergoing police questioning over assault allegations. (Yonhap)The 35-year-old is under police investi

Social AffairsMay 2, 2018

[Newsmaker] Police grill Korean Air chief's daughter over alleged assault

Police on Tuesday questioned a daughter of Korean Air's Chairman Cho Yang-ho over suspicion that she assaulted an advertisement agency's employee during a business meeting last month.The Seoul Gangseo Police Station brought in Cho Hyun-min, a former Korean Air senior executive, for questioning over the allegations of assault and obstruction of business in a case that has tarnished the image of the country's flag carrier."I am sincerely sorry for having caused concerns," Cho said repeatedly as sh

IndustryMay 1, 2018

[Newsmaker] ‘Spycam porn’ victims support program launched in South Korea

The South Korean government’s first-ever measures to support victims of online and digital sexual violence, including those who have been affected by so-called “spycam porn” or “revenge porn,” took effect Monday.　The measures include a government agency deleting, upon victims’ requests, spycam or revenge porn footage that has been illegally uploaded online.　“We hope that victims of digital and online sexual violence can go back to their normal lives as soon as possible and no longer feel that th

Social AffairsApril 30, 2018

[Newsmaker] Connecting railways: precursor for broader economic cooperation

　With the two Koreas’ leaders pledging to restore now-defunct railways and roads during the summit, hopes are high that the initiative will prompt cross-border cooperation in the economy and logistics. 　President Moon Jae-in and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un agreed to adopt “practical measures” to connect and modernize the Gyeongui Line and East Coast Line. The former is between Seoul and Sinuiju, while the latter had connected the South’s coastal city of Busan and Wonsan of the North. 　The a

North KoreaApril 29, 2018

[Newsmaker] ‘Instant bond’ between first ladies of two Koreas grabs attention

Among the many spectacles Friday’s inter-Korean summit offered was the two Korea’s first ladies’ first-ever meeting with one another, and the seemingly instant bond they formed.Ri Sol-ju, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made her much-anticipated appearance at Panmunjeom at 6:18 p.m. on Friday. She did not accompany her husband when he came for talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in earlier in the day, and her attendance at the summit dinner remained unconfirmed until afternoo

North KoreaApril 29, 2018

[Newsmaker] Unexpected moments at inter-Korean summit

As South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un headed to the Peace House inside the truce village of Panmunjeom for their historic summit on Friday, the whole world watched three unexpected scenes play out. The unscripted moments were: President Moon stepping over the Military Demarcation Line into North Korea, North Korean military officials saluting Moon and the two leaders and their delegations taking a group photo with the North’s Panmungak in the background. Moon

North KoreaApril 27, 2018

[Newsmaker] Two Koreas' leaders in historic handshake

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in shook hands Friday over the Military Demarcation Line that divides their countries in a gesture laden with symbolism ahead of a historic summit."I am happy to meet you," Moon told Kim before the visitor stepped over the line, making him the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War ended in an armistice 65 years ago.The two men briefly stepped back over the line into the North before walking to th

North KoreaApril 27, 2018

[Newsmaker] All eyes on Panmunjeom

[2018 Inter-Korean summit] All eyes on PanmunjeomWith the inter-Korean summit on Friday forecast to pave the way for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the event is being keenly watched by all those seeking to sit down at the negotiating table with North Korea. For the participants of the now-defunct six-party talks -- including the United States, China, Japan and Russia -- the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could serve as a guide an

Foreign AffairsApril 26, 2018

[Newsmaker] Top court finalizes prison term for Park’s aide

The Supreme Court on Thursday finalized an 18-month prison term for an aide to former President Park Geun-hye for leaking confidential presidential documents to Park’s friend at the center of a massive corruption scandal.It was the first Supreme Court verdict on a case implicating Park as an accomplice in the influence-peddling scandal that led to her impeachment and removal from office last year.Jeong Ho-seong was indicted last November for providing 47 classified documents, under Park’s instru

Social AffairsApril 26, 2018

[Newsmaker] Vietnam massacre victims demand Korean government’s apology

Two Vietnamese women sat nervously in a mock trial on Sunday as they awaited the ruling on their case against South Korea over massacres that took place during the Vietnam War.“Defendant South Korea should pay reparations accordingly to the State Compensation Act and officially recognize its liability (in the massacre) to regain the dignity and honor of the plaintiffs,” Kim Young-ran, former Supreme Court Justice, delivered the ruling as the chief judge of the mock trial.As Kim read out the verd

Foreign AffairsApril 25, 2018

[Newsmaker] A unified Korea? Leaders bring contrasting visions to summit

Unification is an idea that moves most Koreans, North and South, on an emotional level.For some, especially young people in the South, it may not be a burning issue. Details like the costs, the risks and what specifically both sides stand to gain are rarely given much thought by anyone who isn’t an academic, politician or activist.]But when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet on Friday, the prospect of unification, even if only in the abstract, will loom l

North KoreaApril 25, 2018

[Newsmaker] Professor accused of sexual assault sues alleged student victim for defamation

A Dongduk Women’s University professor who has been accused of sexual assault has sued the alleged student victim for defamation, claiming that he will not tolerate another “mob justice” which he believes has been triggered by the ongoing #MeToo movement.　Ha Il-ji, 62, who is also an established novelist, offered to step down from his teaching post in March, after he was accused of allegedly making controversial remarks concerning the #MeToo campaign during one of his literature classes. The uni

PoliticsApril 23, 2018

[Newsmaker] Park In-bee to reclaim No. 1 ranking in women's golf

´South Korean LPGA star Park In-bee will reclaim the No. 1 ranking in women's golf following a runner-up finish at her latest event, the LPGA Tour said.Park finished tied for second at the Hugel-JTBC LA Open at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time), but it will be good enough to lift the world No. 3 past current Nos. 1 and 2, Feng Shanshan and Lexi Thompson, to the top of the new rankings when they're announced Monday.Park In-bee of South Korea watches her tee shot on the f

GolfApril 23, 2018

[Newsmaker] Police raid blogger's office in opinion rigging probe

The police raided a power blogger’s office Sunday as part of a probe into allegations that he and his colleagues illegally manipulated the popularity of certain online comments to attack the current government.　The blogger, surnamed Kim, was indicted last week for allegedly using a computer program that artificially ramps up the number of clicks on “agree” -- the South Korean search engine Naver’s equivalent of Facebook’s “like” -- for comments that were critical of President Moon Jae-in and his

PoliticsApril 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] Police raid blogger's office in opinion rigging probe

Police on Sunday raided a local publishing company run by an influential blogger as part of a probe into allegations that he ran a massive scheme to manipulate online comments in news articles about President Moon Jae-in.Police sent investigators to search the premises in Paju, north of Seoul, and confiscate evidence, including digital files and surveillance footage, officials said. (Yonhap)Law enforcement authorities are investigating the suspected rigging of Internet news comments by the 48-ye

PoliticsApril 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] Police say lawmaker was in contact with comment rigger

Democratic Party Rep. Kim Kyung-soo had communicated with a blogger accused of manipulating online opinions, the police said Friday, contradicting earlier statements. According to the latest revelations, Kim had sent the blogger, known by the online name Druking, links to news articles about President Moon Jae-in in what they suspect was an attempt to ramp up the number of clicks on “Agree” on a local search engine -- an equivalent of Facebook’s “Like.” Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democrat

Social AffairsApril 20, 2018