[Newsmaker] FIFA's Blatter comes through a new storm

ZURICH ― A new election triumph in the midst of a corruption scandal established FIFA president Sepp Blatter as the politician who can come through any storm.Unapologetically divisive, Blatter has had to deal with scandal virtually since his first day in office.And Blatter knows that he still has a long way to go to reach the aim he outlined Friday of getting FIFA in a safe port “where the boats will stop rocking.”“He sees it all like a marathon. And he is one of the most determined men you will

World NewsMay 31, 2015

[Newsmaker] FIFA mired in $150 million bribery case

NEW YORK ― In accusing soccer federation leaders of tarnishing the sport by taking $150 million in bribes and payoffs, U.S. prosecutors laid out a sweeping corruption case that hinges on the testimony of insiders, including some who have agreed to cooperate in plea deals.Prosecutors announced the racketeering conspiracy and other charges Wednesday against 14 defendants ― nine current and former officials with global soccer governing body FIFA, four sports marketing executives and an accused inte

SoccerMay 28, 2015

[Newsmaker] New NPAD key man vows ‘zero-tolerance’

The new chairman of the main opposition party’s reform panel vowed on Wednesday to overhaul the beleaguered party, urging its members to abandon their factional interest and rebuild the party for the next general election.Kim Sang-kon, the former chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office, pledged “zero-tolerance” against any attempts to build factions within the New Politics Alliance for Democracy. The party has been beset by factional feuds since its crushing defeats in the April by-electio

PoliticsMay 27, 2015

[Newsmaker] Ministry under fire for MERS response

As Seoul on Monday confirmed its fourth MERS case ― the daughter of the third confirmed patient, who asked to be quarantined but was rejected by the authorities ― the Health Ministry is under fire for the poor handling of the potential patients.Fear of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Korea further spread on Tuesday as two medical staff members who had been in contact with the patients showed symptoms of fever. The two were transported to a hospital to test for infection, the Korea Center

Social AffairsMay 26, 2015

[Newsmaker] Duda: Heir apparent to Kaczynski twins

WARSAW ― Andrzej Duda, the 43-year-old conservative MEP and lawyer who won Poland’s cliffhanger presidential election on Sunday, has strong ties to the powerful Kaczynski twins.The devout Catholic was close to the late president Lech Kaczynski, who died in a 2010 plane crash in Russia, and calls himself his “spiritual heir.”But Duda only became well-known after Lech’s controversial twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski ― a former prime minister and current leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) conservat

World NewsMay 25, 2015

[Newsmaker] Tough road ahead for prime minister nominee

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the nominee for South Korea’s new prime minister, is expected to face a daunting task of proving his capability to serve as the nation’s No. 2 during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, with the opposition blocs already voicing concerns about what they alleged as his unbalanced political views.President Park Geun-hye designated current Justice Minister Hwang on Thursday to fill the prime minister’s post left vacant for nearly a month by ruling Saenuri Party’s Rep. Lee Wan-koo

Social AffairsMay 21, 2015

[Newsmaker] Steve Yoo asks to be taken back

So, Steve Yoo wants to be taken back into Korea, the country he abandoned 13 years ago to avoid military service. In an interview in Hong Kong late Tuesday night, the ’90s pop star who performed as Yoo Seung-jun ― but is now better known here as a high-profile draft-dodger ― knelt down, shed tears and apologized for his “foolish” decision in 2002 to renounce his Korean citizenship and become a U.S. citizen.The move, made just three months before the scheduled conscription and despite his repeate

PeopleMay 20, 2015

[Newsmaker] Cho's resignation worsens pension tension

A top presidential aide’s resignation worsened tensions on Tuesday between the main political parties over a draft law reforming the civil service pension bill, as Korea’s top lawmakers struggled to restart the negotiations on the legislation.Cho Yoon-sun was the top secretary for political affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, a liaison job between the ruling Saenuri Party and President Park Geun-hye. Park approved Cho’s resignation Monday. Cho cited her failure to persuade parties to pass the civil servic

PoliticsMay 19, 2015

[Newsmaker] Lone Star suit weighs heavily on Seoul

The ongoing suit over a multibillion-dollar investment compensation against U.S. private equity firm Lone Star is a battle with no retreat for the South Korean government, which has much to lose.The $4.7 billion dispute settlement has so far cost 24 billion won ($22 million) in litigation expenses, and the amount is expected to escalate further in upcoming years, now that the hearing has kicked off.Much to Seoul’s concern, however, the legal dispute is currently in a deadlock, with no conspicuou

May 18, 2015

[Newsmaker] Beijing rebukes U.S. over islands row

BEIJING ― China’s foreign minister told top U.S. diplomat John Kerry on Saturday that Beijing was “unshakeable” in its defense of sovereignty, as tensions between the powers mount over Chinese island-building in strategic but disputed waters.The United States is weighing sending warships and surveillance aircraft within 12 nautical miles ― the normal territorial zone around natural land ― of artificial islands that Beijing is building in the South China Sea.Such a move could lead to a standoff o

World NewsMay 17, 2015

[Newsmaker] Modi's China trip marks warming ties

BEIJING ― They are the strongest leaders to emerge in years from the world’s two most populous nations ― and appear to be trying to forge a strong working relationship.In a rare personal touch, Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the Indian prime minister in his hometown of Xi’an for Thursday’s start of Narendra’s Modi’s three-day visit, highlighting warming ties between the Asian giants despite their continued rivalry and contrasting political systems.The move returns the favor after Modi ho

World NewsMay 14, 2015

[Newsmaker] North Korean general meets grisly end

Hyon Yong-chol, a once-high-flying North Korean general, ended his dramatic life after he was executed late last month for “dozing off at a military event and talking back” to Kim Jong-un, the leader of the dictatorial regime.Until his execution on April 30, the 66-year-old official served as the chief of the People’s Armed Forces ― equivalent to South Korea’s defense minister. His position was the second highest in the North’s 1.19 million-strong military after Hwang Pyong-so, the director of t

North KoreaMay 13, 2015

[Newsmaker] Picasso’s ‘Women of Algiers’ sets record

NEW YORK ― A Picasso masterpiece fetched more than $179 million in New York on Monday, smashing the world record for the most expensive art sold at auction in what was dubbed the “sale of the century.”A bronze statue by Alberto Giacometti also broke the record for most expensive sculpture sold at auction, fetching more than $141 million at the same sale in a packed auction room at Christie’s.The Pablo Picasso oil painting, “The Women of Algiers (Version 0),” sold for $179,365,000 after 11 and a

World NewsMay 12, 2015

[Newsmaker] N.K. submarine missile serious threat

North Korea’s push to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile is posing a daunting security challenge to South Korea and the U.S. as the allies would have almost no means to counter the emerging threat should it become fully operational. The allies have so far been focusing on countering missile threats from land-based launchers as they believed Pyongyang was far from developing an SLBM given the small size of its submarines and outdated technology.But the North’s test-firing last week sh

DefenseMay 11, 2015

[Newsmaker] Im wins highest honor for Korean in Venice

Im Heung-soon, the winner of the Silver Lion award at this year’s Venice Biennale for his documentary “Factory Complex,” has gained recognition for entwining art and film in his documentaries that reflect on society, its people and their histories.The artist goes by a number of titles ― cinematographer, director and scriptwriter. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in painting from Kyungwon University (now Gachon University), Im has straddled the boundaries of art, photography and media while

FilmMay 10, 2015

[Newsmaker] KT unveils phone plans based on data

KT, the nation’s second-largest telecom carrier, on Thursday launched new service plans that charge users based on their data use while offering almost unlimited voice call and messaging services. This is an unprecedented phone plan in Korea where Internet-based communications are fast replacing traditional voice calls and text messages. Under the new scheme, the lowest-priced plan, 300 megabytes per month, is 29,900 won ($27.45) with free mobile calls. Those who pay more than 54,900 won per mon

TechnologyMay 7, 2015

[Newsmaker] Prosecutor-turned-politician at nadir over graft scandal

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Joon-pyo’s stellar legal and political career is facing uncertainty as he faces a prosecutorial summons Friday as a key suspect in a burgeoning graft scandal.The prosecution said Wednesday that it would summon Hong on Friday morning at 10 a.m. to question him over allegations that he received 100 million won ($93,000) from late Keangnam chairman Sung Woan-jong in 2011. Hong is the the first of the eight political heavyweights involved in the high-profile bribe

PoliticsMay 6, 2015

[Newsmaker] Obama picks Marine general as military chief

WASHINGTON ― President Barack Obama will nominate Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as the next chairman of the joint chiefs, choosing an officer with battlefield experience in Iraq and Afghanistan for the U.S. military’s top job.If confirmed by the Senate for the post, Dunford will be drawing on his years fighting insurgents over the past decade when he advises Obama on the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State group.The next chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff will also have to contend with a

World NewsMay 5, 2015

[Newsmaker] NPAD leader pledges drastic reforms

South Korea’s main opposition leader Monday vowed to “do anything” to win next year’s parliamentary elections in response to growing criticism from within his party for its crushing defeat in last week’s parliamentary by-elections.Rep. Moon Jae-in, chair of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, pledged to consider changing “everything from the party’s people to the party’s day-to-day functioning” to achieve victory in the 2016 general election. Next year’s nationwide polls will decide if the

PoliticsMay 4, 2015

[Newsmaker] Royal baby belies aging problems

LONDON ― The birth of a princess on Saturday demonstrated the enduring strength of Britain’s rulers, consolidating four generations of a family now more popular than ever, but cannot hide the weaknesses of an aging institution.Queen Elizabeth II turned 89 just weeks ago and shows no sign of abdicating, even if she has stepped back a little from public duties in favor of her 66-year-old son and heir Charles, the Prince of Wales.Prince William and his wife Kate’s second child will be fourth in lin

World NewsMay 3, 2015