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Lee Kyung-min

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South Korea

Bacteria suspected cause of group infection at Konkuk Univ.

By Lee Kyung-minA strain of bacteria was cited Tuesday as the cause for the mystery disease with pneumonia-like symptoms that struck Konkuk University in Seoul in October.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced its months-long epidemiologic investigation into the disease which has affected 55 people since Oct. 19.All patients were students working at laboratories in the school’s College of Animal Bioscience and Technology building, and were discharged from hospital care later as their condition was not life-threatening.The KCDC said the type of bacteria, saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, was discovered in multiple samples taken from the patients and the university labs.“Based on the results of the lab examinations, we believe that the disease resulted from the bacteria that may have proliferated in the feedstuffs kept in the labs,” said KCDC Director Yang Byung-guk during a media briefing.Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula is commonly found in soil or in plants. Agriculture workers who come into frequent contact with hay are prone to inhale t

Dec 8, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Thief drove stolen luxury car for a month, police say

By Lee Kyung-min   A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a Mercedes-Benz sedan and driving it for a month, police said Monday.According to Incheon Jungbu Police Station, the man, surnamed Jin, 25, took the 100 million won car from a long-term parking lot near Incheon International Airport Oct. 21. Jin, who does not have a driver’s license, then drove the luxury vehicle for a month.He told police that he found the door unlocked and the key in the trunk. Jin allegedly said he stole the car because he wanted to drive an expensive luxury sedan. Police had been looking for the car since its owner reported it stolen.They found the vehicle in Daebang-dong, southern Seoul.

Dec 7, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Court reenacts 'Itaewon murder'

Arthur John Patterson, who is on trial for allegedly stabbing a Korean student to death in a restroom in a Burger King restaurant in Itaewon in 1997, enters the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Friday. / YonhapBy Lee Kyung-minSeoul Central District Court conducted a reenactment of the “Itaewon murder” that took place 18 years ago at 2:30 p.m. Friday, in a mock-up of the bathroom it occurred in. Investigators for the prosecution installed the mock-up as the original has been destroyed.The move was part of the murder trial involving 35-year-old Korean-American Arthur Patterson, who was indicted in September for the alleged stabbing death of Korean student, Cho Joong-pil, at a Burger King restaurant in Itaewon on April 3, 1997.Edward Kun Lee, who was initially convicted for the murder but later acquitted, was also present at the reenactment, along with 15 people including presiding Judge Shim Gyu-hong, prosecutors and defense attorneys, as well as a family member of the victim. Alongside Patterson and Lee, three actors who have similar builds as those of Pat

Dec 4, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
Court reenacts 'Itaewon murder'
South Korea

Medical interns' weekly hours to be cut to 80

By Lee Kyung-minHarsh working conditions for young doctors will be improved following a new law that will reduce their maximum working hours to 80 hours a week, down from the 100 hours or more they work now.Late Wednesday night, the National Assembly passed a special act concerning the working conditions of medical trainees, the first move aimed at protecting their rights since the medical training system was introduced here in 1951.The law will take effect as early as 2017 after the government proclaims it, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. When the government will proclaim the act has not yet been set.Under the new rule, interns and residents will not be allowed to work for more than 80 hours a week. Also, they will not be allowed to work for more than 36 hours straight. Even in emergency situations, the hours cannot exceed 40.When working in emergency rooms, 12 hours off is required after 12 hours on. This can be changed to 24 hours on and 24 hours off only when allowed by the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine.They will also be banned from working the night shift

Dec 3, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Green Cross wins gov't approval for new flu vaccine

By Lee Kyung-minGreen Cross Corp. said Tuesday that it has obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its new flu vaccine.It is the first pharmaceutical company in Korea and fourth worldwide to win approval for a vaccine that is effective against four types of influenza, following GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, and MedImmune.The new vaccine, named GC Flu Quadrivalent, is an upgraded version of the firm’s previous vaccine that worked against three types of influenza. That vaccine currently accounts for more than 60 percent of the supply for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), one of the world's oldest international public health agencies.With this latest approval, Green Cross aims at expanding its share in the international flu vaccine market.Green Cross is seeking approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for influenza vaccine prequalification. If approved, the vaccine will be authorized for use by organizations supervised by the United Nations.The company is also seeking ministry approval for its tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, named GC1107

Dec 1, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

KCTU head pressured to leave Jogye Temple

A monk at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul tries to calm down a devotee, who is urging Korean Confederation of Trade Unions head Han Sang-gyun to stop seeking refuge there, in the temple’s grounds which are milling with Buddhists, civic activists and journalists, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Lee Kyung-minCalls are mounting from citizens who attend the Jogye Temple for the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Han Sang-gyun, who has taken refuge from police there, to stop “abusing” the place in pursuit of a political agenda and face investigation.Such objections are rare, as the temple and other religious facilities have long been used in Korea as sanctuaries for social activists on the run from the authorities.The head of the nation's second-largest umbrella union is on the police’s wanted list for refusing to appear in court on charges of organizing illegal rallies. While evading police, he appeared at the massive anti-government rally in Seoul on Nov. 14 and then took refuge at the temple.As he has remained there for over two weeks, frustration is ru

Dec 1, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Closed mines to be tourist attractions

By Lee Kyung-minThe government plans to transform a number of abandoned mines located in Gangwon Province into tourist attractions as part of their efforts to revive the regional economy and improve the infrastructure for visitors prior to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said Monday that it plans to spend some 13.9 billion won next year setting up theme parks, trekking courses, meditation centers and restaurants near a number of closed mines near Jeongseon, Yeongwol, Taebaek, and Samcheok.The investment is the second stage of the government’s plan to develop the region into a cultural venue between 2015 and 2019 with a budget of 146.2 billion won. The first stage was completed from 2004 to 2013.Thirteen new projects will begin, including trekking courses using the mines and tourism information centers in each region. A healing center using charcoal will be set up in Yeongwol, a “slow restaurant” in Taebaek, a market selling local products in Samcheok, a cookie baking venue and a new rail-bike track in Jeongseon.The m

Nov 30, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Gov't to ease parole restrictions

By Lee Kyung-minThe government has decided to ease parole restrictions in an attempt to give convicted criminals a better chance of reintegrating into society, and to reduce overcrowding in prisons.According to a judicial committee under the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice adopted the measures this month.  Under the changed conditions, those who serve at least 80 percent of their prison sentence are eligible for parole. Currently, only those who complete more than 90 percent of their sentence are eligible for early release.While high-profile figures such as politicians or executives of large corporations are likely to be subject to the eased measures, violent criminals including murderers and rapists will be excluded.However, no high-profile figures currently in prison are likely to be reviewed for parole any time soon, the ministry added.  SK Group Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won has served 74 percent of his three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, and LIG Nex1 Vice Chairman Koo Bon-sang has served 77 percent of his four years.The criminal law stipulates that parole is

Nov 29, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Police seeking to shut down porn site Soranet

By Lee Kyung-minPolice are increasing efforts to shut down Soranet, the largest porn site with more than 1 million users.National Police Agency (NPA) Commissioner General Kang Sin-myeong recently said during a meeting at the National Assembly that officers are investigating the website and its operators.Police are focusing on not only on the manufacturing, storing and spreading of obscene content online but also on the operators’ suspected involvement in, or willful negligence of users’ in prostitution and other illegal acts for the past 16 years since the site was set up in 1999.“We are having talks with our U.S. counterparts to swiftly shut down the website which has its server in the U.S.,” Kang said. “The two sides have reached an agreement in principle that the website should be closed.”So far, police have taken a lukewarm attitude toward calls for cracking down on the website, saying it had no jurisdiction over a website using overseas servers.The police move follows increasing criticism about the website. More than 70,000 people have signed

Nov 26, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Overpass closure delayed to next month

By Lee Kyung-min   The Seoul Station Overpass will be closed to traffic starting Dec. 13, a delay from its earlier plan to close it on Nov. 29, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), Wednesday.The city said that it needs more time to prepare before closing the site to traffic because it has not come up with a plan for a detour, as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) has delayed its review of the matter.The city plans to turn the overpass into an elevated park, similar to New York’s High Line built on an unused elevated railway.“We have proposed some traffic control plans to the police,” said a city official. “We hope to finish discussions with the police on the issue soon.”The delay comes hours after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) gave its final approval for closing the overpass, announcing that it expects no major traffic flow problems. The ministry said the city government will have to discuss detailed traffic control plans with the police to minimize inconveniences to motorists and pedestri

Nov 25, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
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