Successive presidents and administrations over the past 20 years have failed to fulfill their pledges to establish an independent body with the power to investigate and indict high-ranking government officials as well as the president’s family members.The National Assembly has hit a snag in its plans to fast-track 10 key bills that deal with abuses of power, including one concerning the proposed investigative unit and another that would readjust the division of powers between the prosecution and

Politics March 27, 2019

Some 10,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on Wednesday held a protest urging the government to adopt key conventions of the International Labor Organization in continuation of its efforts to allow temporary and dismissed workers to join labor unions. The rally in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, follows a recent statement by the Korea Employers Federation opposing the conventions, rebutting the union’s key arguments.Some 10,000 members of the Korean Confede

Social Affairs March 27, 2019

Unification Minister nominee Kim Yeon-chul said Tuesday that reintroducing the Cooperative Threat Reduction program for the US and North Korea could hasten the resumption of stalled denuclearization talks.“A creative solution is one that the US and North Korea can agree to. During my tenure as the head of the Korea Institute for National Unification, I proposed adopting the Cooperative Threat Reduction program for Yongbyon. Including this, I will look for as many different ways as possible,” sai

Politics March 26, 2019

Eyes on whether former party leader Ahn Cheol-soo will return to Korea in summerIntensifying dispute between members of the minor conservative Bareunmirae Party due to differing views on the independent investigative agency has sparked the possibility of former party leader Ahn Cheol-soo’s return to politics. In the midst of Bareunmirae Party members showing no signs of reaching an agreement, some party officials have hinted at the possibility co-party founder Ahn could return home from his stay

Politics March 24, 2019

Singer Jung Joon-young admitted to the charges against him Thursday, acknowledging he had illegally filmed and distributed sex videos, before heading into the Seoul court for his arrest warrant hearing. Jung was transferred to the Jongno Police Station around noon with his hands bound and will be held there until the court decides whether to issue an arrest warrant. The court’s decision is expected either late Thursday evening or Friday morning. Wearing a black suit and with his hair tied back,

Social Affairs March 21, 2019

Rep. Song Young-gil of the Ruling Democratic Party of Korea criticized the US government for allocating part of the defense budget for US troops here to build the controversial US-Mexico border wall.“South Korea’s burden-sharing to maintain US troops here is not ‘free money’ the US can use as it wishes,” Song said in a statement released Wednesday.“North Korean soldiers did not invade (the South) through the Mexico border,” he added, pointing out the purpose of cost sharing is intended to cover

Politics March 20, 2019

Seoul police said Wednesday they have booked four people for livestreaming and selling secretly filmed videos of some 1,600 motel guests in the past year.Two have been arrested for distribution of illicitly filmed videos of motel guests via wireless internet protocol cameras set up at 42 motel rooms at 30 motels in 10 cities in the North and South Gyeongsang and Chungcheong Provinces between Nov. 24 last year and March 2 this year. (Yonhap)Two people that helped set up the spycams have been book

Politics March 20, 2019

Spokesperson Lee Hae-sik of the ruling party Democratic Party of Korea defended Tuesday his criticism of a Bloomberg reporter, saying his comments were directed at conservative media and political leaders, and rejecting accusations of racism. “The commentary I wrote was aimed at (Liberty Korea Party) Floor Leader Na Kyung-won’s parliamentary speech, it was not a commentary about an individual reporter. I am not sure who wrote it (the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club official statement), but I’

Politics March 19, 2019

Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Monday said a Seoul court and the prosecution had helped cover up allegations surrounding former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui’s sexual bribery received from a local businessman.“Not only the prosecution, the Seoul High Court also exonerated the former vice justice minister from alleged sexual bribery,” said Baek, who is a member of the National Assembly’s Judiciary Committee.  Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the ruling Democratic Party of

Politics March 19, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has delivered its opinion to the Constitutional Court that criminal penalties for women who undergo abortion, as well as doctors who perform them, are unconstitutional.The current law on abortion violates the right to self-determination, among others, the rights panel said Monday.  Those in support of abortion participate in a press conference calling on the Constitutional Court to rule criminal penalties for women and doctors involved in abortion un

Social Affairs March 18, 2019

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday that it would seek an arrest warrant for K-pop singer Jung Joon-young, 30, on suspicion of secretly recording and distributing sex videos. It would be the first arrest in a case that broke last week with a series of shocking revelations involving Seungri of Big Bang and a close group of his friends.Jung, who has been booked on charges of filming and sharing sex videos without his partner’s consent, was sent home early Monday morning after a five-h

Social Affairs March 18, 2019

Reflecting the common Korean expression “My monthly paycheck includes the cost of excessive criticism and emotional labor,” widespread verbal and emotional bullying in the workplace has risen as a social issue in the wake of revelations of chilling office harassment by chief of WeDisk Yang Jin-ho in 2018.In late 2018, the Labor Standards Act, which legally defines and bans office bullying, was amended in response to growing calls for regulations to stop widespread misbehavior at work and punish

Social Affairs March 17, 2019

In the midst of widespread speculation about possible police misconduct in connection with the Burning Sun nightclub, National Police Agency Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong on Thursday reaffirmed that he had every intention of leading thorough and complete investigation into the case.“A new KakaoTalk transcript has surfaced, and the investigation will leave no stone unturned,” Min said in briefing the Public Administration and Security Committee at the National Assembly. National Police Agenc

Social Affairs March 14, 2019

National Police Agency Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong on Wednesday vowed to thoroughly investigate the Burning Sun scandal amid the latest finding: that a chat room of which troubled K-pop stars Seungri and Jung Joon-young were among the members had seen exchanges suggesting the involvement of a police commissioner general.“The police will make all-out efforts to thoroughly investigate speculation that high-ranking police officers were involved,” Min said in a press conference.“The messages

Social Affairs March 13, 2019

Facing full-throttle response from political parties over her highly controversial parliamentary speech Tuesday, main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Na Kyung-won on Wednesday refused to apologize, heightening tensions at the National Assembly.In her speech, Na implied President Moon Jae-in was acting as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s spokesperson, referring to foreign media reports.Na’s strident criticism of the Moon administration has been seen as a strategic move to cement the

Politics March 13, 2019