Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk refused to testify on all charges against him during an eight-hour questioning session by prosecutors Thursday. “I deemed it unnecessary to answer their questions,” Cho said in a statement released by his attorney. “If the prosecutors decide to indict me, I will reveal the truth in court.” Observers speculate that Cho, who teaches criminal law at Seoul National University, was trying to find out what evidence the prosecutors have aga

Politics Nov. 15, 2019

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk was questioned for eight hours by prosecutors Thursday. Cho appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in the morning, a month after his resignation as justice minister, and three days after his wife’s second indictment on additional charges. “Given all charges against me are all untrue, I think it’s unnecessary for me to address prosecutors’ questions one by one. I intend to reveal the truth at the court,”

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2019

The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office said Wednesday that it asked the court to withhold trial and instead fine a Mongolian judge accused of groping a Korean flight attendant roughly $6,000. Prosecutors said Judge Dorj Odbayar was summarily indicted as he admitted to most of his charges during a flight from Ulaanbaatar to Incheon on Oct. 31. He was also accused of verbally abusing a Mongolian crew member but was cleared because the crew member did not press charges.  Prosecutors

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2019

Once a K-pop icon, Steve Seung Jun Yoo, also known as Yoo Seung-jun, is ever closer to entering South Korea again for the first time in more than 16 years. With the exception of a sojourn in 2003, the Korean American singer and actor has not been able to set foot in his motherland since he chose to become a US citizen, which immediately relieved him of his duty to serve in the military in Korea.  Korea’s Military Manpower Administration, or MMA, viewing his US naturalization in

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2019

Police said Tuesday they are questioning one of two men, identified as Russians, who performed a parachute glide from a 155-meter-tall, 42-story hotel in the Haeundae district of Busan on Sunday a week earlier.  The two Russians, who call themselves “base-jumping artists,” sky-dived from the building with a parachute without the permission of building maintenance. The two men have been conducting similar stunts at other skyscrapers in the city, according to police. Police 

Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2019

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Tuesday said the parliament could open an investigation into what really happened when Seoul deported two North Korean fishermen on Thursday a week ago. “The committees -- intelligence, defense and foreign affairs -- will convene to find out what happened that day,” said Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party. “If that’s not enough, we could open a parliamentary investigation.” Last Thursday, South Kor

North Korea Nov. 12, 2019

Prosecutors on Monday indicted former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s wife on 14 charges, including obstructing business, insider trading, embezzlement and destroying evidence.  Chung Kyung-shim is already on trial for forging a document to support their daughter’s college application. The judge presiding over the forgery trial is likely to review her other 14 charges as well. Chung, arrested on Oct. 23, has consistently denied most of the charges against her during six rounds

Politics Nov. 11, 2019

Police said Thursday they have placed a travel ban on Dorj Odbayar, head of Mongolia’s Constitutional Court who is accused of groping a Korean flight attendant and verbally abusing a Mongolian crew member during a flight from Ulaanbaatar to Incheon on Oct. 31. “We feel confident that Odbayar’s charges are clear and well founded. We will hand him over to the prosecution on Friday or some time definitely before Nov. 15, when the 10-day travel ban expires,” an Incheon Metro

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2019

A special investigation unit tasked with reinvestigating the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014 officially commenced work Thursday. “I fully understand the gravity of the task I’m leading. I will do my best, considering it the last opportunity to reexamine the case,” said Lim Gwan-hyeok, the unit’s chief prosecutor. A day earlier, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office announced that it would establish a special body to address resurfacing questions about t

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2019

South Korean police on Wednesday again questioned a senior Mongolian official accused of groping a Korean flight attendant during a flight from Ulaanbaatar to Incheon on Oct. 31. The Incheon Metropolitan Policy Agency arrested Dorj Odbayar, head of Mongolia’s Constitutional Court, who made a stopover at Incheon Airport on Wednesday morning en route to Mongolia’s capital from Indonesia. Odbayar and his colleague, facing arrest warrants for alleged sexual harassment of separate

Social Affairs Nov. 6, 2019

Seventy-one members of the National Assembly on Tuesday rolled out a resolution calling for a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War. Sponsored by Rep. Kim Kyung-hyup of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the motion calls on the two Koreas, US and China to declare a formal end to the Korean War and to start discussing signing a peace treaty. “We need the resolution to facilitate denuclearization and help usher in peace in the Korean Peninsula,” said Kim, head of the parl

Politics Nov. 5, 2019

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk will likely face prosecutors’ questioning over corruption allegations no later than Nov. 11, the final day of detention for his wife, Chung Kyung-shim, who was taken into custody Oct. 23.   Cho’s alleged crimes are threefold.  He is accused of influencing his wife to purchase shares in battery firm WFM at a price lower than their market value, while he worked as a senior presidential secretary.  Choi is accused of complicity in other a

Politics Nov. 4, 2019

The Ministry of Justice said Wednesday that it will ban reporters from the prosecution’s premises if they are found to have reported false stories on an ongoing investigation. Effective December after a trial run in November, the new regulation also prohibits prosecutors and their aides from speaking with reporters about ongoing investigations. Instead, a designated public relations officer will release press statements upon the media’s request. The latest announcement on pro

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2019

The Ministry of Government Legislation and the Korea Legislation Research Institute jointly held the seventh Asian Legislative Experts Symposium in Seoul on Wednesday. Under the theme “Legislative Modification Strategies for Smart City Development,” government officials and experts from Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, discussed drawing up legislation to facilitate the development of smart cities based on internet of things technology. “Countrie

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2019

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said Tuesday he will put the controversial prosecution reform bills to floor discussion on Dec. 3. Moon’s decision comes as a compromise between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, which have been divided over when the parliament should deliberate on the four bills fast-tracked in April amid fierce opposition from the Liberty Korea Party. The Democratic Party said the parliament should begin discussing

Politics Oct. 29, 2019