Seoul police have stopped Gangnam-based nightclub Burning Sun from pulling out of the building it is located due to concerns of destruction of evidence at the venue now at the center of multiple allegations involving drug use and sexual abuses, police said Thursday.The club affiliated with Seungri of boy band Big Bang began pulling out of the building located at the Le Meridien Seoul late Monday, a day after it shut down operations.Burning Sun entrance (Yonhap)The latest move has sparked critici

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2019

K-pop star Seungri, affiliated with the nightclub Burning Sun, may be questioned by police as the authorities have expanded a drug and assault investigation centered on the club, police said Tuesday. “We are currently expanding the targets of the investigation. If necessary, Lee (Seungri) may be questioned,” the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.This is the first time police have mentioned the possibility of the celebrity being questioned.　The K-pop star resigned from his post as the Gangnam

Social Affairs Feb. 19, 2019

The number of foreign residents in Korea continues to grow and now accounts for some 3.6 percent of the country’s population. This story is part of a series that examines how Korea is grappling with the issue of multiculturalism, as well as the challenges facing new arrivals. -- Ed.Raising a rural population that has been declining for come 30 years has long been near the top of the government agenda, with some municipal governments resorting to helping pay for foreign brides.　Over 35 municipal

Social Affairs Feb. 18, 2019

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is politicizing the “comfort women” issue as part of efforts to win supporters at home.“It is shameless. Prime Minister Abe is in a corner (in Japan), so he is politicizing the issue for domestic politics,” Moon said in an interview Friday during a US visit. “A greater politician would think about strengthening cooperation between Korea, the US and Japan ahead of the second US-North Korea summit,” Moon added.National

Politics Feb. 18, 2019

Police are widening a crackdown on drugs and distribution at clubs located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, according to an announcement Sunday.The crackdown comes amid heightened public anger over unlawful assault at the club Burning Sun, owned by K-pop star Seungri, which has sparked suspicions of sexual violence against female customers after drugging them with GHB, known as a date rape drug, on top of a short sex video that was allegedly filmed at the club.“In addition to Burning Sun we have wide

Social Affairs Feb. 17, 2019

Outraged over inflammatory remarks by far-right politicians about the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, some 300 family members of those who died during the uprising and Gwangju citizens on Wednesday took to the National Assembly to voice their anger and grief, calling for answers and apologies.“My husband Jung Ki-bong, an ordinary citizen, was kidnapped by soldiers on the streets. He was let go after being tortured for a month and 10 days at the Army 31st division, which caused severe mental pr

Politics Feb. 13, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea will proactively seek to eradicate physical and sexual abuse in the sports community and hate speech this year, the human rights watchdog agency said Tuesday. “One of our goals for this year is to make public the issue of hate speech and set up a special committee to raise awareness about hatred and discrimination,” Choi Young-ae, the chief of National Human Rights Commission of Korea, said during a New Year’s press conference held at the commission

Social Affairs Feb. 12, 2019

Former main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo on Monday pulled out of the bid for the party’s leadership, in a surprise move less than two weeks after entering the race.“It is regretful that I cannot stay until the end,” firebrand conservative politician Hong said in a statement sent to party members. “This national convention has to be one where candidates are fairly verified for our party to start afresh.”Hong’s withdrawal is widely viewed as a reaction to imprisoned former P

Politics Feb. 11, 2019

Political parties called for the expulsion of three lawmakers of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Monday over their remarks about the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, minor conservative opposition Bareunmirae Party, minor liberal Party for Democracy and Peace and progressive Justice Party have stepped up pressure on the Liberty Korea Party to expel the three members -- far-right Rep. Kim Jin-tae, Rep. Lee Jong-myeong and Rep. Kim Soon-rye --

Politics Feb. 11, 2019

The number of foreign residents in Korea continues to grow and now accounts for some 3.6 percent of the country's population. This is part of a series that examines how Korea is grappling with the issue of multiculturalism, as well as the challenges facing new arrivals. -- Ed.As the precise number and whereabouts of undocumented children in South Korea remain unknown, lawmakers are moving to pass revised laws on birth registration accessible to foreign residents.“The amendment was prepared from

Social Affairs Feb. 10, 2019

The number of foreign residents in Korea continues to grow and now accounts for some 3.6 percent of the country's population. This is part of a series that examines how Korea is grappling with the issue of multiculturalism, as well as the challenges facing new arrivals. -- Ed.Pueong, 7, smaller than his peers, is an undocumented child living with his undocumented Vietnamese migrant parents in Gyeonggi Province. “When I grow up I want to be a policeman and catch thieves. My favorite food is spagh

Social Affairs Feb. 10, 2019

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and representatives of five political parties will leave for a five-day trip to Washington on Sunday, with the aim of reaffirming the US-South Korea alliance and discussing peace on the peninsula, according to the National Assembly on Friday.“I plan to convey to the new US Congress our stance on ways to improve South Korea’s relations with North Korea and the US. Ahead of the second US-North Korea summit, Korea’s National Assembly and the US Congress will

Politics Feb. 8, 2019

Lawyer Yoo Young-ha, a confidant of ousted former President Park Geun-hye, on Thursday conveyed Park’s disappointment at former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn’s bid for leadership of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. “Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn told prison authorities he wanted to meet the (former) president, but she declined,” said Yoon in a rare TV interview.“I believe the public will be able to judge whether former Prime Minister Hwang is a pro-Park figure,” added Yoo, the only

Politics Feb. 8, 2019

Former Seoul city Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday declared his candidacy for leadership of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party despite lingering bitter sentiment against Oh in the party’s stronghold of the Yeongnam region.“It is time for us to surpass and overcome politician Park Geun-hye. I am well-aware that former President Park had saved our party twice. But we must overcome Park for conservative politics to rise again,” Oh said at the party’s headquarters in western Seoul.“We must no longe

Politics Feb. 7, 2019

In tech-savvy South Korea, ride-sharing and ride-hailing mobile apps are an untouched market due to vehement protest from some 300,000 taxi drivers, who claim new technologies will ultimately wipe out the taxi industry, an industry insider said Thursday.“First, it is illegal to operate carpooling services (in Korea). The biggest issue is the high possibility that carpool apps would take over the taxi market. We are fighting to protect our livelihoods because the government is pushing to allow ca

Social Affairs Feb. 7, 2019