The independent counsel investigating the corruption scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye on Friday reaffirmed its stance on suspending the indictment of the president, hinting at its determination to make sure the investigation into Park continues under state prosecutors.The counsel team also said the final investigation result will be announced on March 3 at the earliest, if its deadline is not extended. The team has requested a one-month extension for its investigation and is a

Social Affairs Feb. 24, 2017

The Constitutional Court reconfirmed Friday that the final hearing for President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment trial will be held Monday as previously scheduled, regardless of the replacement of an outgoing justice, dismissing Park’s calls for a delay in the last hearing. “The final session will be held on Feb. 27. This decision was already made by all the eight justices,” an official from the court said during a briefing, hinting that the hearing will not be put off even in the case of a boycott

Social Affairs Feb. 24, 2017

Civic groups called for the enactment of an anti-discrimination act Thursday, taking a swipe at presidential hopefuls who have been reluctant to support the law in the face of fierce opposition from Protestant and conservative groups. An association of 112 civic groups advocating sexual minorities, women, the disabled and migrant workers said that an anti-discrimination act would be a minimum tool to provide the socially marginalized with much-needed protection. An association of 112 civic group

Social Affairs Feb. 23, 2017

President Park Geun-hye’s defense team Wednesday waged an all-out war against the Constitutional Court, calling it “biased” and even demanding the removal of one of its justices for “taking sides” with the parliament. 　The court, which at one point warned Park’s lawyers to watch their language, rejected their requests for the exclusion of Justice Kang Il-won from the impeachment trial and additional hearings to question witnesses. It, however, did heed their call for more time to prepare for the

Social Affairs Feb. 22, 2017

The Constitutional Court reviewing the legality of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment Monday urged President Park to decide by Wednesday whether she will appear at court for closing arguments.It also rejected the request by Park’s lawyers for more hearings to review evidence and cancelled the questioning of absent witnesses in a display of strong determination to conclude the historic trial before mid-March. (Yonhap)“Please confirm whether she will appear or not before the next hearing. We ha

Social Affairs Feb. 20, 2017

With the arrest of Samsung Group’s heir apparent Lee Jae-yong, the special counsel team is likely to accelerate its investigation into President Park Geun-hye who is suspected of receiving bribes and giving favors in return. Lee, Samsung Electronics vice chairman, was arrested early Friday morning, after a court approved the second request from the counsel to issue a warrant. He is suspected of offering 43 billion won ($36 million) to Choi Soon-sil, Park’s longtime friend, which the investigator

Social Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

Samsung Group’s heir apparent Lee Jae-yong was arrested with physical detention early Friday morning on charges that include bribery to President Park Geun-hye and her friend Choi Soon-sil. The arrest of Samsung Electronics vice chairman came shortly after a court issued a warrant in the second attempt by the special counsel to arrest him.  　Lee Jae-yong (Yonhap)“It is acknowledged that there is a need and reason for the arrest, given a newly added criminal charges and additional evidence," the

Social Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

The independent counsel team looking into the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil on Thursday officially requested an extension of its investigation. “We took into account that we cannot complete the probe into those involved in the scandal (by the given end date of the investigation),” the independent counsel’s spokesperson Lee Kyu-chul told reporters. “We can more efficiently use the investigation period if we know in advance whether t

Social Affairs Feb. 16, 2017

A Seoul court on Thursday dismissed an independent counsel’s request to suspend the presidential office’s refusal to be searched by investigators, effectively killing the possibility of an unprecedented raid of the nation’s highest office. The Seoul Administrative Court dropped the case on the grounds that the independent counsel, as a state authority, cannot lodge an administrative lawsuit against the action or decision of another state authority.  (Yonhap)Lee Kyu-chul, spokesperson for special

Social Affairs Feb. 16, 2017

Most schools across the nation appeared Wednesday to have rejected a set of controversial state-authored history textbooks advocated by impeached President Park Geun-hye.The textbooks for middle and high school students were unveiled by the government last month to correct what it said was a left-leaning, pro-North Korea bias in existing history textbooks made by private publishers.This image taken from Yonhap News TV shows three state-authored history textbooks. (Yonhap)Liberals denounced the n

Social Affairs Feb. 15, 2017

Malaysian police on Thursday arrested another female suspect in connection with the killing of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a police statement showed.The woman police detained is Siti Aishah, a 25-year-old who was holding an Indonesian passport, a Malaysian police statement showed. The latest arrest comes as the Southeast Asian nation moves to get to the bottom of Kim Jong-nam's death.(Yonhap)The first suspect was caught at the airport -- a 29-year-old woman with Vietname

North Korea Feb. 15, 2017

The murdered half brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un seems to have shown his support for victims of the terrorist attacks in France in November 2015, according to a profile image on a Facebook account presumed to be his on Wednesday. (Facebook)On the Facebook account opened under the name of Kim Chol, the most recently created profile photo visible to the public is an image of an animal uploaded on Nov. 16, 2015. The photo was run through a filter that overlaid the colors of France's na

North Korea Feb. 15, 2017