The search for 21 missing passengers of a sightseeing boat that sank in Hungary continued Sunday as recovery efforts remained hampered by high waters, strong currents and poor underwater visibility. Upon returning from Hungary on Sunday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the full-scale underwater search operation could begin Monday, as the Danube River’s water levels were expected to fall and currents to be slower. “We will see the river conditions and dispatch divers

Foreign Affairs June 2, 2019

On a breezy Saturday afternoon, tens of thousands of people paraded through central Seoul in Korea’s biggest pride parade ever in a call for equal rights for sexual minorities, despite vocal opposition from conservative protesters.Seoul City Square was filled with an estimated 80,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their supporters, who came to attend the 20th annual pride parade in a country where sexual minorities still live on the fringes of society. 　“As part of

Social Affairs June 1, 2019

The wife of convicted child rapist Cho Doo-soon, whose brutal rape of an 8-year-old girl in 2008 shocked the nation, described him as a “polite person” in a petition she wrote on his behalf while he was under trial, a TV program revealed late Wednesday. The petition she wrote in 2008 was disclosed as public concerns grow over Cho’s release on Dec. 13, 2020. Some have taken to the presidential petition board to ask for his 12-year sentence to be extended.　Cho is very likely to r

Social Affairs May 30, 2019

Korean rapper Psy admitted Wednesday that Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian fugitive involved in the 1MDB scandal, was his friend and that he had attended a dinner gathering arranged by Yang Hyun-suk, head of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment. Low, sought by authorities in Malaysia, Singapore and the US in connection with the 1MDB scandal, earlier said through his spokesman that he had met Yang through his friend Psy, denying allegations that he had received sexual services procured by Yang at the

Social Affairs May 30, 2019

An independent panel under the Ministry of Justice concluded Wednesday that the prosecution abused its power and intentionally conducted a slipshod investigation into former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui in his favor in 2013. Announcing the result of its review of findings by a fact-finding team of the Supreme Prosecutors Office into the 2013 probe, the panel, tasked with looking into controversial cases in the past, called on the prosecution to thoroughly investigate three former prosecutor

Social Affairs May 29, 2019

Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian fugitive sought by authorities in Malaysia, Singapore and the US in connection with the 1MDB scandal, denied allegations Wednesday that he had attended a dinner gathering arranged by Yang Hyun-suk, head of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment.　The MBC program “Straight” aired late Monday the allegations that Yang hosted dinner parties and procured sexual services for two wealthy Southeast Asian investors in July 2014. One of the investors was reported to be Low

Social Affairs May 29, 2019

Actor Jung Woo-sung, a goodwill ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency, on Tuesday stressed the need for South Korea to support the Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar after his second visit to the world’s largest refugee camp. “The refugee issue is not only their problem, it is our problem,” Jung told a group of reporters during an interview held at the office of the UNHCR in central Seoul. “When I say ‘we,’ it could be taken as a limited meaning, but

Social Affairs May 29, 2019

A third-generation scion of a conglomerate “played an important role” at dinner gatherings involving sexual services arranged by YG Entertainment head Yang Hyun-suk for foreign investors, according to an investigative TV program reporter Tuesday. 　 The MBC program “Straight” which aired late Monday alleged that Yang hosted dinner parties and procured prostitutes for two wealthy investors -- Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian fugitive sought by the authorities in Malaysia, Singapor

Social Affairs May 28, 2019

Asking for a conservative political party to be disbanded, and taking issue with a judge who did not issue an arrest warrant for K-pop star Seungri. Expressing opposition to an upcoming LGBTQ pride parade, and calling on the government not to accept refugees.　These are only some of the requests that have flooded Cheong Wa Dae’s online petition system in recent months.  Thanks to the system, South Koreans are closer than ever to the president as anyone can anonymously file a petit

Social Affairs May 27, 2019

Yang Hyun-suk, head of South Korean entertainment powerhouse YG Entertainment, procured sexual services for foreign investors, according to a preview video released by a local investigative TV program. YG Entertainment flatly denied the allegations. In the teaser video for the upcoming episode, which was to be officially aired Monday night on the MBC program “Straight,” the show’s team argued that it had obtained detailed testimony indicating that Yang had solicited prosti

Social Affairs May 27, 2019

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Yeouido Hangang Park in southwestern Seoul was packed with people seeking to enjoy the greenery at outdoor picnics. A sea of tents is a familiar sight along the riverside parks -- but this time, the tents had to be squeezed into a smaller space due to new regulations from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. As of April 22, tents are allowed only in designated zones within the riverside parks until 7 p.m., and must remain open on at least two sides at all times.A pla

Social Affairs May 20, 2019

Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il on Thursday reiterated his opposition to bills on redistributing investigative powers between the prosecution and police, saying it runs counter to the principles of democracy.(Yonhap)At a press briefing, he also vowed efforts to overhaul the prosecution and meet public expectations for curbing its authority amid long-held criticism that the law enforcement agency wields too much power.　　“The bills designated as fast-track proposals do not meet the democratic princ

Social Affairs May 16, 2019

Police said Wednesday that they are set to refer a senior police officer to the prosecution on charges of abuse of power for allegedly pulling strings for Burning Sun, the nightclub owned by former Big Bang member Seungri. (Yonhap)The police, having dispatched some 150 officers for the investigation and targeted some 50 people over the past three months, are facing criticism that they conducted a slipshod probe and protected their own. Announcing the results of their probe into the embattled clu

Social Affairs May 15, 2019

The prosecution on Wednesday conducted a search and seizure operation at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency over allegations of corrupt ties between the police and a suspected pimp.  (Yonhap)The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office sent prosecutors and investigators to the police agency and the Suseo Police Station in Seoul to secure relevant documents and records. The prosecution suspects that a former police officer, surnamed Park, was warned ahead of police raids into prostitution est

Social Affairs May 15, 2019

K-pop band Big Bang’s former member Seungri on Tuesday attended a hearing that could lead to his arrest over allegations that he purchased sexual services himself, procured prostitutes for potential investors in his business and siphoned off funds from the nightclub Burning Sun. Seungri did not take questions from reporters as he entered the courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court at around 10 a.m.Seungri is suspected of procuring prostitutes for parties he organized in 2015, misappropriat

Social Affairs May 14, 2019