The wife of former Daeju Group chairman Huh Jae-ho has pledged to pay the billions in fines for the disgraced tycoon, who has been pushed into tight corner over his hidden assets. The development came amid the prosecution’s enhanced probe into Huh, who was levied the remaining 22.4 billion won ($21.2 million) fine after deducting six days of short prison labor last month. Huh was initially sentenced to pay off his 25.4 billion won fine with 50 days of prison labor after he was found guilty of em

Social Affairs April 1, 2014

A survey of businesses that hire part-time teenage workers has found that more than two-thirds violate labor laws.Labor law breaches were found at 69 percent of the 939 employers surveyed. Nearly 1,500 violations were found, including delayed payment and paying below minimum wage, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s survey, which was held from Jan. 15-Feb. 8 and released Sunday. Businesses that do not specify working conditions in labor contracts made up the largest share, at 41.

Social Affairs March 30, 2014

Nearly 18 percent of high-ranking officials in the Park Geun-hye administration and lawmakers saw their assets rise above 100 million won ($935,000) last year, a state report showed on Friday. 　Up to 18.2 percent of 2,339 senior officials at government branches said their assets grew significantly, with most of them serving in the judicial branches, according to the Government Public Ethics Committee. On average, 60.8 percent of high-ranking civil servants and lawmakers held more assets than the

Social Affairs March 28, 2014

An appellate court on Tuesday acquitted Korean poet Ahn Do-hyun, who was accused of spreading false rumors and slandering then-presidential candidate Park Geun-hye.The 54-year-old defendant was indicted on charges of violating the election law while working as a chairman of opposition candidate Moon Jae-in’s election committee in 2012. The Gwangju High Court handed down a not-guilty verdict to Ahn, citing a lack of evidence to prove the prosecution’s charges. “To prove the defendant’s crime, it

Social Affairs March 25, 2014

The state-run National Health Insurance Service on Monday confirmed that a mid-ranking official had illegal access to personal information of a woman suspected to be a mistress of former prosecution chief Chae Dong-wook. Prosecutors also said they recently summoned the NHIS official to investigate who else was involved in the illegal act, adding that they are looking into allegations the request was made by Cheong Wa Dae officials.The announcement came after local daily Kyunghyang Shinmun report

Social Affairs March 24, 2014

An international group of hackers known as “Anonymous” has announced that it will attack the South Korean government’s websites next month, officials said Saturday.According to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the group stated via its Twitter account and YouTube that it will conduct cyberattacks on the South Korean government on April 14, claiming that it has wasted taxpayers’ money, oppressed citizens and distorted the media.The specific targets of the attack were unknown, offi

Social Affairs March 23, 2014

Prosecutors on Sunday detained Oh Deok-gyun, head of CNK International, who has been allegedly hiding out for two years after being suspected of manipulating the stock price of his company.Investigators took the suspect into custody immediately after his arrival at Incheon International Airport early in the morning and transferred him to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul, officials said.The prosecution is reportedly planning to request an arrest warrant for Oh on Monday and process charge

Social Affairs March 23, 2014

A city bus carrying three passengers crashed into nearly a dozen vehicles in Seoul on Wednesday, killing the driver and a commuter, police said Thursday.The No. 3318 bus was rolling through the Seokchon Lake junction at about 11:50 p.m. when it veered into a row of taxis and drove 1.2 kilometers further off-course, strking at least six more vehicles, according to the Songpa Police Station. Seventeen people affected by the accident sustained serious injuries.Police said a black box from the bus w

Social Affairs March 20, 2014

A Seoul district court ruled Thursday in favor of former President Lee Myung-bak in a lawsuit filed by a former tenant of a Seoul building that Lee owned.A Chinese restaurant owner sued Lee in September 2013, claiming that the former president and his charitable organization made millions of undue profits from a building extension fully funded by the tenant. The Seoul District Court cleared the allegations against the former president, citing lack of evidence. The restaurant owner said he would

Social Affairs March 20, 2014