The Korea Times

Human rights watchdog to investigate Olympic star's rape scandal

National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) Chairwoman Choi Young-ae speaks about a plan to launch a special investigation unit to deal with violence and sexual abuse allegations in the sports circle and come up with countermeasures, during a press conference at the NHRCK building in central Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe human rights watchdog will establish a special unit to investigate human rights violations and sexual assault in sports, planning for the largest-ever survey of athletes about their experiences of violence and other types of abuse.The plan to eradicate such malicious practices has come amid revelations of sexual assault involving Shim Suk-hee, one of the nation's top short track speed skating stars.“Violence has been justified in the training process here to win a medal and sexual violence came from there,” National Human Rights Commission of Korea Chairwoman Choi Young-ae said during a press conference at the commission's building in central Seoul, Tuesday. “Victims cannot fight back against such crimes and th

Jan 22, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Human rights watchdog to investigate Olympic star's rape scandal

Politics

Ex-special inspector reasserts embezzlement and illegal surveillance by Cheong Wa Dae

Kim Tae-woo, a former inspector at Cheong Wa Dae, loosens his tie before a press conference at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Monday where he spoke about allegations involving irregularities at the presidential office. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonBy Kim Jae-heunCheong Wa Dae conducted illegal surveillance of citizens and its officials embezzled money, claimed Kim Tae-woo, a former special inspector from the prosecution deployed at the presidential office. Kim, the central figure in the corruption allegations surrounding Cheong Wa Dae's civil affairs office, held a press conference at the Korea Press Center, Monday, to dispute charges leveled against him, while repeating his claims about the presidential office.Kim, who returned to the prosecution, was recently dismissed from the organization for interfering in an investigation into an acquaintance and leaking classified information he obtained while working at Cheong Wa Dae.“I am standing here today to prove myself innocent and make my position clear. I've never made any inquiries into the investigations of my acquaint

Jan 21, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Ex-special inspector reasserts embezzlement and illegal surveillance by Cheong Wa Dae

Health

Korea heading for demographic cliff

Korea's total fertility rate is estimated at 0.96 to 0.97 for 2018, according to the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy. / Korea Times filesBy Kim Jae-heunKorea's fertility rate is estimated to have hit an all-time low last year after falling below the level of 1 for the first time, according to a presidential committee, Friday, raising concerns that the nation is heading for a “demographic cliff” faster than expected.According to the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, the country's total fertility rate is estimated at 0.96 to 0.97 for 2018.According to Statistics Korea, the fertility rate refers to the number of children that one woman is estimated to have in her lifetime. Statistics Korea also predicted last March that the nation's fertility rate would dip below the threshold of 1. “If the fertility rate does not improve and stays at a critical level of 1, we can face the decrease in the country's total population sooner than 2028, the year we predicted such result,” Statistics Korea Commissioner Kang Sh

Jan 18, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Others

Recovery from gas poisoning

Two students from Daesung High School in Seoul leave Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Friday, after fully recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning last month at a guesthouse in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Seven students, who were left unconscious by fumes from a faulty ventilation pipe, have been released from hospital. Three others were killed. / Yonhap

Jan 18, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Law & Crime

Ex-President Chun hit for playing golf amid Alzheimer's claim

Former President Chun Doo-hwan, right, and his wife Lee Soon-ja vote in the May 2017 presidential election at a community center in Seodaemun-gu, western Seoul. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunFormer President Chun Doo-hwan is under fire for apparently playing golf although he has claimed he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, an excuse he gave for refusing to attend trial hearings in a libel suit filed against him.A local daily reported Wednesday that Chun was seen playing golf with his wife in April and December last year. A caddie testified that he seemed to have no memory problems, and could add up scores in his head.The ex-president, who led the military suppression of pro-democracy activists and citizens in the 1980 Gwangju Pro-Democracy Uprising, was accused of defaming an activist, priest Cho Bi-oh, in his 2017 memoir. He called Cho a “shameless liar,” for claiming to have witnessed soldiers firing on civilians from military helicopters during the suppression. The Gwangju District Court held the first hearing in August but Chun refused to appear, citing his deterioratin

Jan 17, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Ex-President Chun hit for playing golf amid Alzheimer's claim

Others

Demanding probe into nurse's death

Members of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union demand the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the affiliated Seoul Medical Center to launch a fact-finding committee over the suicide of a nurse at the hospital who allegedly suffered bullying from colleagues, during a press conference in front of the City Hall, Thursday. / Yonhap

Jan 17, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Society

Female students' councils disappearing amid growing sexism in society

This picture shows entrance of the women’s student council at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, western Seoul. The female student body has been abolished as of Jan. 4./ YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunAll female students' councils at universities in Seoul have been dissolved, with the last remaining group, Prism at Yonsei University, closing Jan. 4. The closures have apparently been brought about by an indifference to student bodies on campus, as well as an increasing number of female students attending coeducational facilities. The latter has made many people think that female students no longer experience discrimination ― one of the reasons why the councils were initially set up.Yonsei University's student council said 13,637 students, or 54.8 percent of its membership, participated in a vote on the 31-year-old association, and 78.9 percent of them were in favor of abolishing it. Only 18.2 percent voted to keep it open.The student council decided to set up a subcommittee to deal with sexual violence, something the female council dealt with.The first female students' councils were estab

Jan 16, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Society

Gov't may designate fine dust as disaster

An electronic display nearby a subway station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, shows ultrafine dust concentration at a “very bad” level, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe government will include fine dust as a “disaster” to deal with it more systematically, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Tuesday. The move comes with the current fine dust blanketing the country showing no signs of being resolved, with emergency measures being ordered from Sunday to Tuesday in Seoul and the metropolitan area for the first timeAccording to the ministry, multiple revision bills to the Disaster and Safety Management Law, proposed to include fine dust, are pending at the National Assembly. The law currently includes 17 natural disasters including typhoons, flooding, heavy snowfall and earthquakes. Heat waves and cold snaps were included in September.If the revision is adopted, the government will be able to set up a standardized manual for the control of fine dust at the state level.However, it is still discussing whether fine dust is a natural or man-made disaster, the

Jan 15, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Gov't may designate fine dust as disaster

Law & Crime

Row rises over police response in dealing with offender with knife

Korean National Police Agency Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong speaks during the government audit held at the National Assembly on Oct. 29, last year. The picture is unrelated to the story. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunA controversy is rising over police officers overpowering a teenager who stabbed his friend with a paper cutter in the street.Police detained the 19-year-old at 7 p.m. on Sunday near Amsa Station in Gangdong-gu, eastern Seoul, for stabbing his friend in the thigh. The victim received treatment at a hospital and returned home that night.A part of the half-hour confrontation between the boy and police officers was recorded by a citizen and posted on YouTube. In the video, two police officers arrived at the scene, and one first tried to use a taser on the teenager. However, he failed to hit his target and the other police officer took out his baton to overpower the offender, who fled the scene and was caught shortly after.Watching the clip, people are expressing concerns and urging for the police to have more power, because the perpetrator had a knife and he could have injure

Jan 14, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Row rises over police response in dealing with offender with knife

Health

CARE employees urge representative to quit over euthanasia

Staffers of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) urge its president Park So-youn to step down at the body's office in Seoul, Sunday, following revelations that the organization had euthanized sheltered animals. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe head of the nation's largest animal rights organization is under pressure to quit in the wake of disclosure that the organization put hundreds of its sheltered animals to death “indiscreetly.”The call comes after a former employee of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) revealed that its president, Park So-youn, was responsible for the euthanization of more than 230 animals at its shelter from 2015 to 2018, including 80 last year, without telling employees about the mercy killings.“We are very sorry as staff of CARE. We did not know such a horrible thing happened. Park, who has deceived us, should resign,” an official said during a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday. “CARE's slogan that it is a no-kill shelter has turned out to be a downright lie. Given that Park made most of the de

Jan 13, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Kim Jae-heun

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