The Korea Times

Long road lies ahead of legal abortion

Protesters urge the Constitutional Court to rule against abortion ban in front of the top court in Jongno, Seoul, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunAlthough the Constitutional Court ruled against the country's 66-year-old abortion ban, Thursday, there still seems to be a long way to go before a law revision is made by next year.The top court ordered the National Assembly to amend related laws by Dec. 31, 2020, but many possible issues are emerging such as how many weeks into pregnancy abortion will be allowed and whether the national health insurance will cover it. For the next 20 months, terminating a pregnancy is still illegal and people can be punished for having the procedure. Prosecutors will postpone their investigations and indictments over abortion charges and the courts will delay rulings to wait for the law revision. Above all, the biggest controversy will be up to how late into a pregnancy abortions will be allowed. France and Germany allow abortion until 12 weeks, Australia 20 weeks and England 24 weeks.However, medical professionals warns that fixing a certain number of w

Apr 12, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Historic ruling sparks debate over abortion pills

Others

Remember Sewol victims

A wooden structure commemorating victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking stands at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Friday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government built the edifice after removing bereaved families' tents that had occupied a strip of the popular plaza since July 2014 to urge the government to get to the bottom of the accident that killed 304 passengers. / Yonhap

Apr 12, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Health

Single-parent families suffer financial difficulties

First lady Kim Jung-sook waves hand at audience during the event celebrating establishment of single parent family day at Ferrum Tower in Jongno, central Seoul in this May 2018 photo. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday financial hardhip is the top concern for single-parent familes. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwonBy Kim Jae-heunFinancial hardship is the top concern for single-parent families, as 80 percent of them say they have difficulty covering child rearing expenses and education costs, according to a survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Thursday.The ministry surveyed 2,500 single parents across the country last year. Most of them became single parents after divorce, and were raising 1.5 children on average. Some 51 percent of the families were comprised of a mother and children, while 21.1 percent were a father and children, and others had children in the care of additional family members such as grandparents.According to the survey, the monthly income of a single-parent family was an average of 2.19 million won ($1,925). This has incr

Apr 11, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Single-parent families suffer financial difficulties

Law & Crime

TV personality Robert Holley detained for meth use

Holley's longtime friend claims police overstepBy Kim Jae-heun The apprehension of famous TV personality Robert Holley Monday for alleged drug use has come as a big shock to the public as he appeared to be a conservative and in his many TV appearances. Police apprehended him at a parking lot in western Seoul at around 4:10 p.m. Monday on charges of allegedly purchasing methamphetamine online and using it at his residence in Seoul.The 58-year-old has reportedly admitted to some of the allegations. When he encountered the press while being transferred from Suwon Nambu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province early Tuesday morning, he said, “I am sorry, I have a heavy heart.”Police confirmed he sent hundreds of thousands of won to the bank account of a drug dealer late last month, and at his home they found a syringe they suspect was for drug use.Holley tested positive for meth in a preliminary test, and the police sent his hair and urine samples to the National Forensic Service for drug testing.They will decide soon whether to ask the prosecution to seek an arrest warrant,

Apr 9, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Holley scapegoat of 'dirty' cops, says his friend Peterson

Society

Gangwon Blaze kills one, destroys 401 houses

A hill in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday, is seen devastated by a forest fire that broke out last Thursday. President Moon Jae-in designated five cities and counties in the province as special disaster zones, Saturday, to help them recover from damage from the blaze that destroyed 401 houses and left 466 people homeless. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe Ministry of Interior and Safety (MOIS) said Sunday that the forest fires that hit five cities and counties in Gangwon Province from Thursday to Friday destroyed 401 houses in the surrounding area. They also left one person dead and injured 11, one of whom is still hospitalized.Some 530 hectare of forest, 77 warehouses, 158 outdoor filming sets, and 959 livestock farms and agricultural facilities were also devastated by the blazeCurrently, 722 residents of the region who were evacuated are being housed at 21 shelters ― the government is planning to utilize nearby training facilities owned by the public institutions to ease overcrowding. “It is time to focus on helping victims in the affected area,” Interior and Safety Minist

Apr 7, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Gangwon Blaze kills one, destroys 401 houses

Others

Welcome new governor

A troupe of the Namwon Chunhyang Festival marches on Sejong Daero in central Seoul, Sunday, to perform a traditional parade welcoming a newly appointed administrator to the town. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will close the street to cars every Sunday until Oct. 27 and stage various events. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-kee

Apr 7, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Society

'More change in corporate culture needed to prevent workplace sex crimes'

Hwang Hyun-sook, deputy director at the Seoul Women Workers Association, speaks at her office in Seoul, Feb. 20. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwonBy Kim Jae-heunHwang Hyun-sook, deputy director at the Seoul Women Workers Association (SWWA), says big changes have been made in Korean society and women are no longer reluctant to report crimes related to the sexual harassment or assault they experience, but companies are still far from protecting their female employees.“An act on equal employment for both sexes was amended last May and all companies have to take immediate action when an employee reports sexual violence,” Hwang said during a phone interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. “However, it is hard to raise an issue to one's boss in Korean corporate culture. Also, many senior workers think it is part of the job to experience what they call 'hardship.'” Hwang said the Ministry of Employment and Labor is the sole competent authority in this circumstance and it needs to take a more active part in supervising private companies.According to Hwang, report

Apr 5, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Law & Crime

Singer Roy Kim booked for sharing sex photos

K-pop singer Roy Kim was booked for sharing sex photos in a chat room where another singer, Jung Joon-young, uploaded his own illicit videos, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, Thursday. / Courtesy of Stone Music EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop singer Roy Kim was booked for sharing sex photos in a chat room where another singer, Jung Joon-young, uploaded his own illicit videos, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, Thursday.Police have requested Kim, who is studying in the U.S. to return to Korea for questioning.They said they have not confirmed whether the photographs were taken by Kim, as was the case with Jung.Earlier the police transferred Jung to the prosecution for sharing at least 13 sex videos he took without the consent or the knowledge of his partners, in the same chat room.Other singers, Seungri of BIGBANG and Choi Jong-hoon of FT Island, are also undergoing police investigation over alleged sharing of illegally recorded sex videos. Those singers involved allegedly shared the photos and videos in 23 group or one-on-one chat rooms. Sixteen people participated

Apr 4, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Singer Roy Kim booked for sharing sex photos

Others

Nabbed for alleged drug abuse

Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products founder Hong Du-yeong, is taken to Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, after being apprehended for alleged drug use. She has been 'involved' in multiple drug use cases but always avoided criminal charges, raising suspicions over cozy relations between her family and senior police officers. Police reportedly received tips recently about other incidences of drug use. / Yonhap

Apr 4, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Law & Crime

Gov't to investigate child abuse by state-offered babysitters

Babysitter from the goverment's childcare center forces baby to eat food in this surveilance camera footage uploaded by the parents online. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe government will conduct a wide-ranging investigation into state babysitting services, following a recent child abuse case involving one of the sitters in Seoul, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family said, Wednesday.Minister Jin Sun-mee made an official apology over the allegation before a meeting with officials concerned at the Health Family Support Center in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. “I understand how serious the recent child abuse case is. I want to express my apologies and consolation to not only the mother who must have been shocked by the incident, but also to the whole family,” she said. “I am sure many parents might have found themselves in the victim's mother's shoes, especially those who have a babysitter taking care of their own babies. We will conduct a survey on every household using our service to check if there are any unknown similar cases and to take action,” Jin added.The governm

Apr 4, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Kim Jae-heun

Read more

Long road lies ahead of legal abortion

Remember Sewol victims

Single-parent families suffer financial difficulties

TV personality Robert Holley detained for meth use

Gangwon Blaze kills one, destroys 401 houses

Welcome new governor

'More change in corporate culture needed to prevent workplace sex crimes'

Singer Roy Kim booked for sharing sex photos

Nabbed for alleged drug abuse

Gov't to investigate child abuse by state-offered babysitters

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