Looming PM Vote, CO2 kills one man, and Judge Blasted For Online Comments

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: A man dies from CO2 poisoning in a hotel and we could see a public poll over President Park’s controversial PM nominee. Plus a Suwon Judge is blasted for posting messages online and North Korea cancels the Arirang Mass Games.

Man dies of inhaling carbon dioxide, six injured at Gyeongju Hotel

A gas leak in an underground boiler room at a hotel in North Gyeongsang province left one person dead and six injured. Carbon dioxide leaked through the fire extinguishing system at Kolon Hotel in Madong, Gyeongju, Saturday afternoon. Approximately 60 guests staying at the hotel escaped the building, and officials are investigating what caused the fire alarm to go off.

Moon proposes poll on PM nominee

Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), proposed Friday a public opinion survey to decide whether prime minister nominee Lee Wan-koo is suitable for the job.

Online surveys conducted by The Korea Times on Wednesday and Thursday showed that more than two thirds of readers were opposed to Lee's appointment, while other polls show that support for the former Saenuri floor leader has dipped well below 50 percent.

Judge under fire for biased comments online

A Suwon District Court judge is under fire for posting 10,000 extremely right-wing and often vulgar political comments online over the past seven years. The 45-year-old judge, identified only by his surname Lee, has admitted to making the posts saying he was merely expressing his opinion as an individual, according to Suwon District Court.

In one case where a husband and a wife sued each other for adultery, Lee said, "The wife's family is simply shameless. Naked photos of their daughter having sex with another man were all presented during the hearing, and they still demand punishment for the husband. They have no sense of guilt or humiliation.”

The Supreme Court plans to investigate his case and arrange a disciplinary committee on the grounds that Lee violated the judicial code of conduct by engaging in undignified behavior that could jeopardize the reputation of the judiciary.

Korea cancels Arirang mass games for 2015: tour agency

North Korea has canceled its annual signature dance and gymnastic performances scheduled for this year, a Chinese tour operator said, amid continued quarantine measures against Ebola.

You can find information on all of these stories and more by visiting The Korea Times website. The Korea Times Podcast podcast is written and produced by The Korea Times. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It's free and when you do, the next episode is delivered to you automatically every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.