The Korea Times

Arrest warrant sought for leaders of KCTU over violent rallies

Members of the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering union branch of the KCTU protest in front of the town hall building in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, in advance of the general meeting of stockholders that was held in the building later that day. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunPolice are set to recommend the prosecution seek arrest warrants for six leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), for staging multiple violent rallies in front of the National Assembly between March 27 and April 3.Yeongdeungpo Police Station said Tuesday that it had asked prosecutors to request a local court to issue arrest warrants for the six.They are accused of damaging objects for public use, trespassing in a public building, interfering with public duty and obstructing traffic.The six allegedly tore down a fence at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, in an attempt to enter the government compound during protests against the extension of the introduction of the flexible work hour system. They also used violence against police officers during clashes.Police officers have questio

May 28, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Arrest warrant sought for leaders of KCTU over violent rallies

Society

Rainstorm bombards Jeju, canceling flights

A resident uses an umbrella on Jeju Island, Monday, as heavy rain bombarded the resort island. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunSevere rain hit Jeju Island, Monday, forcing mass cancellations of domestic flights connecting the resort island with the mainland. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the storm dumped more than 400 millimeters of rain on some parts of Mount Halla, reaching a maximum of 442 millimeters. The KMA issued heavy rain warnings for northern and southern Jeju as well as mountainous regions, while heavy rain watches were put in place in the remaining areas. Due to inclement weather conditions people were banned from climbing the mountain. With strong wind and wind shear warnings being issued for Jeju International Airport, 35 flights, in and out of Jeju, were canceled and 128 were delayed. A high seas watch was also issued for all coastal areas of the island, so operations of cruise ships and ferries were also suspended as the weather agency forecasted over 20 millimeters of rain per hour until 6 p.m. there.“We expect travelers on planes and crui

May 27, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Rainstorm bombards Jeju, canceling flights

Health

Government to crack down on young e-cigarette smokers

A signboard of the U.S. e-cigarette brand JUUL is set up at a convenience store in Yongsan, Seoul, Friday. The new tobacco device went on sale here on the day. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe government will step up efforts to curb smoking by young people as a new type of e-cigarette has made its Korean debut, catching on with adolescents.“New e-cigarettes, including JUUL that are popular among teenagers overseas, have been or will be launched in Korea, so we will cooperate with relevant authorities to intensively control the sales of e-cigarettes and their devices to minors at convenience stores and retail stores until June,” the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement. Since its 2017 U.S. release, the tobacco device has taken more than 70 percent of the e-cigarette market. It went on sale here Friday. The vaporizing pen has become a big trend among young people in the U.S., raising concerns over tobacco addiction in teenagers. “Many foreign countries, such as the United States, are struggling to deal with young people smoking these new e-cigarettes, especial

May 24, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Government to crack down on young e-cigarette smokers

Law & Crime

Court rules teacher guilty of leaking exam questions to daughters

Former teacher at Sookmyung Girls' High School is walking to the courtroom to stand trial for his charge of "obstruction of business" at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap By Kim Jae-heunA court found a former teacher at Sookmyung Girls' High School guilty Thursday of illegally providing exam questions to his twin daughters attending the same school, prior to them sitting the test.The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the father, surnamed Hyeon, to three-and-a-half years in prison for “obstruction of business.”“It is beyond description how much the teacher has obstructed the school's business by committing the crime over two semesters. His misdeed has led the public to suspect other high schools' management of their students' test records, something that requires transparency and fairness for college admissions,” the court said in its ruling. “As a result, the people's trust in public education was negatively affected as was other teachers' morale. The accused, however, continues to deny the charge despite trying to d

May 23, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Court rules teacher guilty of leaking exam questions to daughters

Law & Crime

Bitcoin misused for more crimes in black market

The number of cases of criminal use of bitcoin has increased over the past 10 years, and the government is urged to control the use of cryptocurrency in the black market.By Kim Jae-heunThe big advantage of cryptocurrencies is they enable financial transactions between individuals without intervention by the government or regulators. A number of experts in the field, however, have warned that criminals can take advantage of this to do business under the protection of this anonymitySince its release in 2009, bitcoin has become the most popular cryptocurrency here, but it has brought chaos to financial firms with its unstable value ― making some people wealthy and wiping out the fortunes of others. But most importantly, the fear that it would become a useful tool in the black market has unfortunately come true. A number of recent trials here have shown bitcoin is being used for purchasing illegal drugs and paying ransoms to kidnappers.A Seoul court handed down a one-year prison term suspended for two years to a 37-year-old man surnamed Lee for smoking marijuana. The man was found guilty

May 23, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Bitcoin misused for more crimes in black market

Society

'Education needs to embrace diversity'

President of the World Coalition for Equity and Diversity in Education Francisco Rios poses during the congress held at Hoam Faculty House at Seoul National University, Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-heunBy Kim Jae-heunEducation has been largely developed and passed down in a way to consolidate the dominance of men and the rich, and in this changing era of globalization, education needs to embrace other parts of society and respect diversity, said Francisco Rios, a professor of Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University.Rios came to Korea to participate in the World Coalition for Equity and Diversity in Education’s (WCEDE) first world congress being held at Hoam Faculty House at Seoul National University, Seoul, Wednesday.The coalition, established in July 2017, brings together three groups -- the Korean Association for Multicultural Education (KAME), the National Association for Multicultural Education from the United States, and the Institute to Advance International Education from Europe. The coalition aims to work toward advancing inclu

May 22, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Society

35 Asian cities to discuss solutions for fine dust in Seoul

Participants pose for the picture during the opening ceremony of the  international forum on air quality improvement held at Seoul City in last September. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentBy Kim Jae-heunOfficials from 35 Asian cities will gather in Seoul to discuss solutions for fine dust and other forms of air pollution, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, Tuesday.They are meeting at the Seoul International Forum on Air Quality Improvement hosted by the city government at Seoul City Hall from today until Friday.The annual event has been held here since 2010, and has brought together officials from Northeast Asian countries to seek joint countermeasures to worsening air pollution in the region. Starting this year, the forum is expanding its size in order to find ways to combat the pollution that is becoming a worldwide problem. Experts from five additional countries ― China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam and Singapore were invited ― have been invited to speak.From China, in particular, 16 cities will join the forum as the country's role in the issue is important, Seoul

May 21, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

35 Asian cities to discuss solutions for fine dust in Seoul

Society

Foreigners to patrol Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong

Mapo-gu Office Head Yoo Dong-gyun, second from left, patrols around the Hondae area with foreigners recently picked for volunteer patrol company program in the town, last Friday. Courtesy of Mapo-gu OfficeBy Kim Jae-heunAmid a rising number of foreign residents, tourists and multiracial families here, Mapo-gu Office in western Seoul has launched a patrol unit comprised of foreigners, to offer help to foreign residents and tourists in the areas around Hongik University Station.The district office said, Monday, that it held a welcome ceremony for the unit, Friday, consisting of 20 volunteers including foreign residents from Nigeria and China. The move follows an influx of more and more foreigners in the district. According to the population and housing census in 2017, the number of multiracial family members living in Mapo-gu was 5,585. Also, the Hongdae area is one of the most popular tourist destinations visited by many foreigners and local residents, together with Yeonnam-dong next door which has gained popularity recently. The unit members will patrol twice a week for four hours. T

May 20, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Foreigners to patrol Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong

Politics

Launch of May 18 fact-finding committee still pending

By Kim Jae-heunA public outcry to uncover the truth behind the suppression of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising continues to grow. However, the formation of a special fact-finding committee to find those responsible for the ensuing human rights violations and the bloody crackdown at the time remains adrift.At a ceremony marking the 39th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Saturday, President Moon Jae-in called on the country to rise to the challenge in discovering the truth. “I urge the National Assembly and my fellow politicians to take greater responsibility and proceed with the launch of the special committee. When it is established, the government will fully support its investigation and provide all the necessary information and data needed,” Moon said during a speech at the National Cemetery for the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju.He also called on the political parties to end their confrontation over the issue. Liberty Korean Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn was met by angry protestors in Gwangju, the same day, who demanded that he pu

May 19, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Launch of May 18 fact-finding committee still pending

Tears flow at memorial

Law & Crime

Ex-chairman of Gimpo council detained for killing wife

By Kim Jae-heunYou Seung-hyunPolice detained former Gimpo City Council Chairman You Seung-hyun, Wednesday, for allegedly killing his wife in a repeated assault committed while he was intoxicated. According to the Gimpo Police Station, You called an emergency services center at 4:57 p.m. to report that his wife had “fainted” at their home in Yangchon, Gyeonggi Province, and was not breathing.When emergency personnel arrived at his house in an ambulance, his wife was found to be unresponsive.Police officers, who arrived at the scene following a report by the emergency staff, found the wife's body to be covered in bruises with her face and head swollen. They also found a bloodstained golf club and three empty liquor bottles nearby, one of them broken.You, 55, admitted to killing his wife, saying he was drunk at the time and “accidentally” hit and kicked her while they were arguing. He claimed that he used his fists and feet to punch and kick her, but did not hit her with the golf club or the bottles.Police immediately detained You and are questioning him about th

May 16, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Kim Jae-heun

Read more

Arrest warrant sought for leaders of KCTU over violent rallies

Rainstorm bombards Jeju, canceling flights

Government to crack down on young e-cigarette smokers

Court rules teacher guilty of leaking exam questions to daughters

Bitcoin misused for more crimes in black market

'Education needs to embrace diversity'

35 Asian cities to discuss solutions for fine dust in Seoul

Foreigners to patrol Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong

Launch of May 18 fact-finding committee still pending

Ex-chairman of Gimpo council detained for killing wife

Top 5 stories