The Korea Times

Seoul 11th most expensive city for expats: survey

Seoul's night viewBy Lee Hyo-jin, Park Si-soo What is the world's most expensive city for expats?Seoul ranks 11th out of 209 cities this year in a survey conducted in March by Mercer, a U.S. human resources consulting firm. It is down seven places from last year. Hong Kong has topped the list for two years in a row, followed by Ashgabat, Tokyo, Zurich and Singapore. Mercer said Hong Kong kept the title due to currency movements measured against the U.S. dollar, which resulted in an increase in the cost of living. Mercer has released the cost of living survey annually for 26 years, based on a comparison of more than 200 goods and services, including housing, transportation, food, household goods and entertainment. The world's least-expensive cities for expats are Tunis (209), Windhoek (208) and Tashkent and Bishkek, which tied to rank 206.

Jun 12, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Seoul 11th most expensive city for expats: survey

Law & Crime

Drunk driver hits, kills, boy, 8

The crosswalk where the young boy was killed by a drunk driver in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinA drunk driver struck and killed a boy, 8, who was on his way to school Thursday in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. The incident happened about 8 a.m. at a crosswalk at an intersection near Buchun Elementary School, where the boy was heading, according to Seosan Police Station. The drunk man, in his 60s, was driving an SUV. The victim was taken to hospital but died soon after. Seosan Police Station confirmed that the driver's blood alcohol level was 0.031 percent, high enough for his license to be revoked. He told police he had consumed three glasses of liquor the day before. The accident site, only 120 meters from the school, was not designated as a school zone. The Road Traffic Act states that an area within 300 meters of the main gate of an elementary school can be designated. It is therefore unlikely the driver will be charged with violating the so-called “Min-sik law,” a traffic-related bill revised in March that carries the name of

Jun 12, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

K-pop

Suspended jail term for rapper NO:EL confirmed

Rapper Chang Yong-jun was sentenced to a suspended jail term for drunk driving. Courtesy of Indigo MusicBy Lee Hyo-jin, Park Si-soo A suspended jail term for rapper Chang Yong-jun for drunk driving has been confirmed after he decided not to appeal. Seoul Western District Court said Friday Chang, 20, did not appeal the verdict imposed on June 2. The deadline for his appeal was June 8. The prosecution also did not appeal. Chang, better known by his stage name NO:EL, is a son of Rep. Chang Je-won of the main opposition United Future Party.The court sentenced him to 18 months' jail for drunk driving and ramming a motorbike that left its rider injured. But it suspended the term for two years, citing the victim's call for leniency. Chang became popular after performing on Mnet's audition show “High School Rapper” in 2017.

Jun 12, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Suspended jail term for rapper NO:EL confirmed

Entertainment

Actor Ryu Seung-beom announces plans to marry Slovakian girlfriend

Actor Ryu Seung-beom in the film “Tazza: One-Eyed Jack.” Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Lee Hyo-jinSouth Korean actor Ryu Seung-beom, 40, is planning to marry his Slovakian girlfriend, his agency SEM Company said Wednesday. The actor's non-celebrity fiancee is known to be 10 years younger than Ryu and they have been together for three years. She is an artist mainly working in France. Her name has not been revealed.The agency also said that the couple is expecting a baby later this month. “Ryu is currently in France with his bride-to-be,” the agency said. “She is pregnant and will soon give birth this month. The couple had been planning a small wedding with only family and acquaintances, but delayed the ceremony due to the coronavirus crisis.” Ryu debuted in 2000 in the film “Die Bad,” directed by his older brother Ryu Seung-wan. He has starred in several hit films such as “Crying Fist” (2005), “The Unjust” (2010) and “The Berlin File” (2013). Following the film “The Net” in 2016, Ryu to

Jun 11, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Actor Ryu Seung-beom announces plans to marry Slovakian girlfriend

Law & Crime

Man faces indictment for vandalizing Peace Statue

The Peace Statue in Dongjak District, Seoul, was damaged. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin A man in his 20s is facing indictment for allegedly vandalizing a Peace Statue in Dongjak District, Seoul. The statue, also known as the “statue of a girl,” symbolizes victims of wartime sex slavery. They are established in several cities in Korea and overseas by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.The man was arrested at the site as he was vandalizing the statue by hitting its face with a rock about 6:40 a.m. on May 20, according to Dongjak Police Station. The statue's left cheek, head and shoulder were damaged. After an investigation, police sent the case to prosecutors on Thursday. The charges include property damage and violence. The man was also accused of attacking an official from the district office who was trying to restrain him. Police said the suspect has admitted his crime and is reportedly receiving treatment for mental illness. Police found no connection between the crime and controversies surrounding the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.

Jun 11, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Man faces indictment for vandalizing Peace Statue

Law & Crime

Man attacks friend with knife for 'not visiting during coronavirus crisis'

A man in his 60s has received a suspended jail sentence for a knife attack on a friend. GETTYIMAGESBANKBy Lee Hyo-jinA man in his 60s, who attacked a friend with a kitchen knife after believing the friend had used the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse for not visiting him, has received a suspended jail sentence.According to the Seoul Eastern District Court Wednesday, Judge Kim Jae-eun sentenced the man, surnamed Lee, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, on June 5. The court also ordered monitoring of his whereabouts and 80 hours of community service. Lee was accused of attacking the friend at his home in Songpa District, Seoul, about 11:50 p.m. on Feb. 25, injuring the man's neck, according to the Seoul Economic Daily. Lee said he got upset while drinking with the victim, as he thought his friend had been avoiding him by using the pandemic as an excuse. “Lee's actions might have led to a severe injury,” the court said. “He has a criminal record, with a suspended prison sentence for a similar crime in the past.“The defendant fully admits his crime

Jun 11, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Man attacks friend with knife for 'not visiting during coronavirus crisis'

K-pop

Former X1 member under fire for alleged school bullying

By Lee Hyo-jinX1's former member Cha Jun-ho. Capture from InstagramCha Jun-ho, 18, a former member of K-pop boy band X1, is under fire for his alleged school violence six years ago. The speculation started with several tweets posted on Tuesday by Twitter user “RuHwa_180,” who claimed to be Cha's former classmate at Dukmyung Elementary School in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong Province. “I was constantly bullied by Cha Jun-ho and his female friends in my 5th grade,” the tweet said. “Even our homeroom teacher was aware of it.” Through several tweets, the accuser said Cha also used to verbally abuse and insult other classmates. The alleged victim added screen captures of Kakao Talk messages and photos from the yearbook as evidence.Twitter user “RuHwa_180” tweeted Tuesday that he was a victim of Cha Jun-ho's bullying at Dukmyung Elementary School in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong Province. Screen Capture from TwitterAs the postings went viral through Twitter and other social media platforms, internet users demanded a response from

Jun 10, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Former X1 member under fire for alleged school bullying

Global Community

Foreigner faces deportation for self-quarantine violation

Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency. / Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin, Park Si-soo An Indonesian man faces deportation for violating mandatory two-week self-quarantine, which the South Korean government has imposed on international arrivals to contain the spread of coronavirus. The Indonesian, in his 20s, is being held at Daegu Police Station and the immigration office will soon decide on the next step. The justice ministry, which controls immigration affairs, has deported more than 60 rule-breaking foreign nationals since the coronavirus outbreak here. According to police, the Indonesian arrived at Incheon International Airport from Indonesia on May 30. He cleared immigration on the promise that he would stay for two weeks at a state-designated quarantine facility in Gimpo. But instead he took a taxi heading for Daegu, his final destination. Airport police confirmed his violation through surveillance camera footage and called the taxi's driver, telling him to bring the man back to the airport.Realizing that he was being traced, the man fled from the taxi on the way back.Police launched

Jun 9, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Foreigner faces deportation for self-quarantine violation

Music

Singer Lee Sun-hee confirms divorce

Singer-songwriter Lee Sun-hee. / YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Singer Lee Sun-hee, 56, broke up with her husband earlier this year, ending their 14-year marriage. The artist's agency Hook Entertainment confirmed Wednesday that the couple had mutually agreed to divorce in February. The reason is unknown. Lee herself did not directly mention her divorce. “Six years of waiting… My 16th album will come out on June 15. You'll find it on the Melon website,” she tweeted. “How am I doing ... Well, nothing special. No big deal…” She did not mention her marriage. Lee married her non-celebrity husband, surnamed Jung, in 2006. It was her second marriage. She previously married her first husband, a music producer, in 1992, and they separated after six years. According to the agency, despite the divorce, the singer has been working on her 16th album. She plans to release the first part “Part 1” on June 15, and “Part 2” this fall.The seasoned singer made her big debut with her song “To J” at the Gangbyeon Song Festival in 1984. She ha

May 27, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Society

Hyundai Heavy grapples with series of worker deaths

Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan Metropolitan City / Courtesy of Hyundai Heavy IndustriesBy Lee Hyo-jinA subcontracted worker hired by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) died while working at a shipyard in Ulsan Metropolitan City, according to Korea's biggest shipbuilder Friday. The 34-year-old man, surnamed Kim, was found unconscious at around 11:20 a.m. Thursday in an LNG carrying vessel where he was working on welding operations. He was immediately taken to Ulsan University Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after. The cause of death is assumed to be argon gas poisoning. Argon gas is used to control air pressure in welding. It can be fatal if a person is exposed to the gas for a long period of time in an enclosed area. This year alone, there have been three more tragic accidents in HHI which led to workers' deaths. In February, a subcontracted worker fell from a height of 21 meters and died. On April 16 and 21, two workers were killed in separate accidents caused by a “big door” and a hydraulically operated door.Due to the repeated fatal accidents, the Min

May 22, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

Seoul 11th most expensive city for expats: survey

Drunk driver hits, kills, boy, 8

Suspended jail term for rapper NO:EL confirmed

Actor Ryu Seung-beom announces plans to marry Slovakian girlfriend

Man faces indictment for vandalizing Peace Statue

Man attacks friend with knife for 'not visiting during coronavirus crisis'

Former X1 member under fire for alleged school bullying

Foreigner faces deportation for self-quarantine violation

Singer Lee Sun-hee confirms divorce

Hyundai Heavy grapples with series of worker deaths

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