[Newsmaker] NPAD defector pushes new opposition bloc

The election win of Chun Jung-bae in Gwangju indicated that South Korea’s biggest opposition party is losing support in its main stronghold, and heralded the rise of a new political faction in the already-troubled liberal camp.Chun, formerly of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, won a landslide victory over NPAD candidate Cho Young-taek in Wednesday’s by-election. The following morning, he vowed to rally politicians in Gwangju and Jeolla Province that can rival the NPAD in

PoliticsApril 30, 2015

[Newsmaker] New NH chief takes office amid doubts

NH Financial Group welcomed Kim Yong-hwan as the new chairman on Wednesday, but it appeared to have done so with a rather heavy heart.The new chief not only has to prove himself a capable successor to Yim Jong-yong ― who became chairman of the Financial Services Commission ― but is also facing allegations that he had illicit ties with the disputed Keangnam Enterprises.Hit by the sudden exit of its much-reputed leader, NH Financial initially welcomed the nomination of Kim, who had served in key f

April 29, 2015

[Newsmaker] Victim at forefront of sex slavery crusade

Young and cheerful albeit poor, 16-year-old Lee Yong-soo was taken to a Kamikaze unit in Taiwan by a Japanese man in what appeared to be a military uniform during World War II. She did not know she would be raped, repeatedly, and face electric torture if she disobeyed. Now frail, diminutive and wheelchair-bound, the 86-year-old Korean flew to Cambridge, the U.S., to stage a silent vigil against Tokyo’s unbridled attempts to whitewash the appalling chapter of history at Harvard University, where

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2015

[Newsmaker] Samsung, LG wage new smartphone battle

South Korea’s leading tech giants are set for fierce competition in the global smartphone sector, as LG Electronics is set to unveil its new flagship smartphone the G4 in six global markets on Wednesday, just weeks after Samsung released the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.Both Samsung and LG have been pinning high hopes on their latest smartphone models, each equipped with unique cutting-edge features and all-new designs.The upcoming LG G4 is expected to be equipped with the industry’s most advanced tech

TechnologyApril 27, 2015

[Newsmaker] Will Apple Watch spell doom for Samsung?

The smart watch hype is at its peak as two of the world’s largest tech giants and archrivals ― Samsung Electronics and Apple ― step up their efforts to gain the upper-hand in a new round in a battle for the wrist.The first wearable device by Cupertino-based Apple landed in stores in nine global markets including the U.S. Australia, and Hong Kong on Friday.Even though South Korea was not included in the first group of the launch nations, the news of the Apple smart watch made headlines on many lo

TechnologyApril 26, 2015

[Newsmaker] Dongkuk Steel Mill hit by chairman scandal

Dongkuk Steel Mill chairman Chang Sae-joo’s alleged wrongdoings are poised to deal a fatal blow to the company, raising questions about the transparency of the country’s steel industry. Dongkuk is the second steelmaker to be mired in allegations of irregular practices after POSCO this year. It is the nation’s third-largest steelmaker after POSCO and Hyundai Steel. Chang is suspected of embezzling about 20 billion won ($18.4 million) from the company, and of habitually gambling illegally. The pro

IndustryApril 23, 2015

[Newsmaker] Gaffes, abuse shame Doosan Heavy chairman

“It is not good manners to not strike one’s neck when one has asked for it. I will strike in the most bloody and painful way possible.”The graphic comments are not threats by IS terrorists on YouTube videos. Instead, they are from Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction chairman Park Yong-sung, a business tycoon, in an email he sent to professors at Chung-Ang University in Seoul where he was serving as the board chairman. Park on Tuesday stepped down from all three posts after sparking controve

IndustryApril 22, 2015

[Newsmaker] "Sleaze-buster" felled by corruption

Yet another of President Park Geun-hye’s picks for her top deputy bit the dust Monday, as Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo submitted his resignation, succumbing to mounting pressure from his alleged involvement in a recent graft scandal.Lee’s demise came a little more than a month after he vowed all-out government effort against corruption on March 12. Deceased businessman Sung Woan-jong ― who died in an apparent suicide on April 9 amid a corruption probe ― suspected that Lee initiated the investigati

PoliticsApril 21, 2015

[Newsmaker] Opposition wins Finnish election, ousts P.M.

HELSINKI ― Finland’s opposition Center Party won Sunday’s general election, ousting Prime Minister Alexander Stubb’s left-right coalition after a campaign dominated by the country’s economic woes.Center Party leader Juha Sipila, a 53-year-old IT millionaire and newcomer to politics, is set to become Finland’s next prime minister.“It seems as though the Center has won. Congratulations,” Stubb told Finnish public radio and television YLE after around 70 percent of votes had been counted. Sipila’s

World NewsApril 20, 2015

[Newsmaker] More work urged amid Greece default worries

WASHINGTON ― Greece was told Saturday to urgently deliver a detailed fiscal and debt plan to official lenders as the IMF-World Bank spring meetings wound up amid escalating worries of a looming default.As Athens’ talks with creditors continued in Paris, both IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi warned in Washington that Greece has not provided enough information about how its economic and reform plans will impact its finances.With Greece seeking th

World BusinessApril 19, 2015

[Newsmaker] Scandal-hit P.M. talks his way into trouble

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo fell deeper into his quagmire on Thursday as his choice of words and inconsistent explanations of graft allegations against him led the opposition to escalate calls for his resignation.Lee altered his stance on joining President Park Geun-hye’s campaign trail in 2012 and how well he knew the deceased former Keangnam Enterprises chief Sung Woan-jong.Lee has found himself the main target of the opposition’s ire in the graft scandal sparked by a testimony and a memo left

PoliticsApril 16, 2015

[Newsmaker] Obama moves to drop Cuba from terror list

WASHINGTON ― President Barack Obama is set to remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, in a landmark step paving the way towards restoring ties frozen for five decades.Obama on Tuesday notified Congress of his “intent to rescind” Cuba’s inclusion on the blacklist, after a lengthy review launched late last year as Washington openly began a rapprochement with its Cold War foe.U.S. lawmakers now have 45 days to oppose the move; otherwise, it will go ahead, removing a key hurdle to re

World NewsApril 15, 2015

[Newsmaker] P.M. criticized for ties to graft suspect

South Korea’s prime minister reiterated Tuesday his denial he received illegal campaign funds from a recently-deceased businessman during a parliamentary by-election two years ago, vowing to resign if the accusation was true.But the tide appears to be turning against Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo as critics increase their attack against him, citing his record of lying about past wrongdoing. Testimonies that Lee was close to the late Sung Woan-jong also intensified suspicion against the prime minist

PoliticsApril 14, 2015

[Newsmaker] Sung’s eight

After Sung Woan-jong ― a South Korean businessman who was under investigation for corruption ― was found dead last week in an apparent suicide, a list of politicians who supposedly received money from him has stirred up a dispute within the political circles here.The eight politicians on the list include former and incumbent chiefs of staff for President Park Geun-hye, sitting Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, prominent members of the ruling Saenuri Party, and those who played key roles for Park durin

PoliticsApril 13, 2015

[Newsmaker] Clinton to focus on economic security

CHICAGO — Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign will center on boosting economic security for the middle class and expanding opportunities for working families, while casting the former senator and secretary of state as a “tenacious fighter” able to get results, two senior advisers said Saturday.They provided the first preview of the message that Clinton planned to convey when she launches her long-anticipated campaign on Sunday with an online video. Until now, the former first lady has

World BusinessApril 12, 2015

[Newsmaker] Court reviews antiprostitution law

The debate on legalizing prostitution has heated up in South Korea as the Constitutional Court began reviewing the law that criminalizes the sex trade. The court held its first public hearing Thursday.The antiprostitution law was enacted in 2004 to protect human rights, partly prompted by fire that killed 14 sex workers who were locked in a brothel in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, in 2002. The law stipulates that both purchasing and selling of sex carry a penalty of up to one year in prison or

Social AffairsApril 9, 2015

[Newsmaker] Rand Paul's libertarian crusade

LOUISVILLE ― Instead of an American flag, Republican presidential hopeful Rand Paul wears a red penny in his lapel, symbolizing the core of his philosophy: no more runaway debt and total submission to the U.S. Constitution.“We say they’ve taken all our money. We don’t have one red cent more to send them in Washington,” the conservative Kentucky senator said in 2010 shortly after a crushing poll win. Paul’s launch of his presidential candidacy on Tuesday follows that of Texan fellow senator Ted C

World NewsApril 8, 2015

[Newsmaker] Salvaging ferry to be uphill battle

President Park Geun-hye on Monday said her administration will “actively review” salvaging the Sewol ferry that sank last year, leaving over 300 people dead or missing. It is the first time the South Korean leader has commented about recovering the ill-fated ship, but a myriad of issues, including technical difficulties, significant costs and doubt remain about the daunting task of recovering the vessel. Park’s statement comes with the condition that the government will push ahead with the opera

Social AffairsApril 7, 2015

[Newsmaker] Putin’s Ukraine gamble brings mixed results

MOSCOW ― A year since the start of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, Vladimir Putin may not have emerged the winner in his showdown with the West but he has not lost either, analysts say.By supporting Ukrainian separatists, they say, he took a huge risk but it largely paid off as it allowed him to punish Kiev’s pro-Western authorities for seeking to turn their back on Russia and stand up to the West.Most importantly for the Kremlin, the annexation of Crimea and support for fellow Russian speakers

World NewsApril 6, 2015

[Newsmaker] Iran deal leaves major questions unresolved

WASHINGTON ― The framework nuclear deal sealed by world powers and Iran leaves major questions: Could Iran cheat? Possibly. Would the U.S. or anyone else be able to respond in time? In theory, yes. Are they prepared to use military force? Questionable.Would a final deal settle global fears about Iran’s intentions? Almost surely, no.But the surprisingly detailed fact sheet released by the United States after Thursday’s diplomatic breakthrough in Switzerland provides President Barack Obama signifi

World NewsApril 5, 2015