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Lee Kyung-min

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South Korea

Fire in apartment block kills four, injures 124

An apartment block in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, is seen destroyed by a fire that broke out Saturday morning. YonhapBy Lee Kyung-minFour people were killed and 124 injured ― 10 critically ― in a fire at an apartment block in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, Saturday morning.More than 220 people from 175 households were left homeless, and the local government will ask  the central government to declare the area a disaster zone.Victims, most with burns or suffering from toxic gas inhalation, were taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Those who lost their homes are staying at an emergency shelter the government set up in a nearby elementary school.Uijeongbu police said surveillance camera footage showed the fire started from a motorcycle parked near the Daebong Green apartment block entrance, one minute after the machine’s owner readjusted the seat and left.The owner, surnamed Kim, 54, who is not a resident, was one of the injured, and police will question him about possible arson.About 20 cars parked nearby caught fire first, with the fire then spreading quickly to

Jan 11, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
  • Most of victims in Uijeongbu fire are in 20s and 30s
South Korea

Gov't to crackdown on exploitation in fashion industry

Gov’t to look into exploitation of youth laborBy Lee Kyung-min The government said Sunday it will crack down on fashion firms and designers that are underpaying young workers in harsh working conditions.The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it will conduct an inspection into suspicious firms and designers.The move comes a week after two youth groups announced fashion bigwig Lie Sang-bong as the winner of the 2014 Exploitation Award at a press conference in Gwanghwamun, in a sarcastic gesture to point out the prevalence of exploitation in the industry.Presenting the award, the Youth Community Union and the Fashion Union disclosed that some interns and apprentices were only paid 100,000 won to 300,000 won a month, far short of the government-set 5,580 won per hour minimum wage.Fashion Union Director “Batman D” said last week, signing a contract itself represented the dignity workers were entitled to, adding they were demanding a fundamental change in employers' mindsets.Following their move, the ministry vowed such practices in the name of “traditi

Jan 11, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Doctor who performed surgery while drunk suspended

By Lee Kyung-minThe Ministry of Health and Welfare will suspend the license of a plastic surgeon who performed a procedure under the influence of alcohol on a three-year-old boy on Nov. 28.According to the ministry, it notified the 33-year-old plastic surgeon, whose identity was withheld, at a hospital in Namdong-gu, Incheon, after he tested positive following a police breathalyzer test right after the surgery was performed. However, the doctor is not criminally liable since there is currently no specific law banning such action, said police.In a related move, Rep. Lee Chan-yeol of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) introduced a bill that would make performing surgery after drinking alcohol a crime punishable by a prison term of up to two years, or payment of a fine of up to 20 million won ($18,000).The moves come after mounting criticism of the lack of laws against such practices.On the day of the incident, the boy came to the hospital emergency room at around 11 p.m. with a chin injury after he slipped and fell, according to the Incheon Namdong Police St

Jan 8, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Former Naver accountant indicted

By Lee Kyung-min A former accountant at Naver, the country’s biggest Internet service provider, has been indicted on charges of embezzling 1.46 billion won ($1.2 million) in company funds, prosecutors said Tuesday.The Seoul Eastern Prosecutors’ Office said the man, surnamed Ahn, created a slush fund by setting up bank accounts using the name of his colleagues and Naver’s affiliates from November 2008 until February 2012. Ahn left the company in October 2013.The prosecution launched an investigation into Ahn in June last year after his boss discovered financial irregularities in the firm’s account book.The supervisor filed a complaint after noticing some 50 unreported money transfers made between two company accounts, all were opened under the name of Naver and one of its subsidiaries, the prosecution said.Ahn, who was responsible for money transfers between the two companies, admitted to embezzlement, the prosecution said.With the stolen money, he paid off his gambling debts and invested in stocks, according to the prosecution. 

Jan 6, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Manhunt begins for Coko CEO

By Lee Kyung-minKim Woo-jongCoko co-CEOPolice are seeking cooperation with Interpol to locate Coko Entertainment co-CEO Kim Woo-jong, who fled to the United States in November last year after allegedly embezzling hundreds of millions of won in company funds.Dozens of popular comedians, including Kim Joon-ho, Lee Kook-ju and Kim Dae-hee, belong to the entertainment company, established in May 2011. Kim Joon-ho is one of two CEOs. Police said they have put the suspect on the wanted list. A court issued an arrest warrant for Kim on Monday. “We will ask Interpol to help him detain Kim who is hiding in the U.S.,” said an officer from Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station. On Dec. 18, a group of Coko employees and the comedians filed a complaint with the police, claiming that Kim fled after embezzling hundreds of millions of won in company funds.Before leaving the country, Kim filed for personal bankruptcy at Seoul Southern District Court, after suffering financial losses from his restaurant business.Kim’s creditors include Ourhome, a food company, and MPK, the

Jan 6, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
Manhunt begins for Coko CEO
South Korea

Ewha to charge for graduation postponement

By Lee Kyung-min Ewha Womans University students are up in arms over a new rule to charge seniors who “intentionally” postpone their graduation with extra tuition fees.According to the university Monday, starting in the spring semester this year, seniors who wish to postpone their graduation should register at least one class and pay one-sixth of the total tuition, roughly 600,000 won ($540) per semester, although the exact amount could vary depending on the course taken.  So far, such extensions required no financial burden on the students’ part, with most of them deliberately failing to meet mandatory graduation requirement such as not attending chapel or not submitting a graduation paper, leading to an automatic extension.   The students affected have vehemently opposed the decision.“The university handed out the notice in such an abrupt manner, leaving the students so unprepared. Such a rule taking effect as soon as this semester should have been more carefully decided,” a student said.“It is not my university, but many seni

Jan 5, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Daebo chairman charged with embezzlement, bribery

By Lee Kyung-minCho Dung-kyuDaebo Group Chairman Choi Dung-kyu has been indicted on charges of embezzling some 30 billion won ($27 million) in company funds in order to bribe defense officials, the prosecution said Friday.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Choi created a slush fund by inflating construction costs and operating expenses.Part of the money was allegedly provided to members of a screening committee for bidders of a 50 billion won ($45-million) project, initiated by the Ministry of Defense to build residences for officers in 2010.Choi bribed the officials through three company executives, who were also detained Friday, prosecutors said.The prosecution said it discovered the bribery case while conducting a broader investigation into corruption allegations surrounding defense procurement projects.Prosecutors also sought an arrest warrant for a university professor also suspected of taking bribes from Daebo.Daebo won the bid in 2011, and completed the construction of the residences in December 2013.In September, investigators raided Choi's home, the gr

Jan 2, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
Daebo chairman charged with embezzlement, bribery
South Korea

Food poisoning virus spreads

By Lee Kyung-min Health authorities issued a warning Friday over the spread of norovirus, which causes food poisoning.Hospitals have reported more cases of the viral infection this winter than usual. On Wednesday alone, 50 patients suffering from enteritis were admitted to Severance Hospital in Seodaemun, northwestern Seoul.Unlike summer, when food is easily spoiled due to warm temperatures, the recent infection is due to norovirus, according to the hospital.“Norovirus, commonly found in human excrement, is common in the winter. The colder it is, the more it thrives,” a hospital official said.  According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 40 percent of viral infections occur from November to February.The virus spreads through infected food or water or through physical contact with an infected person.The best way to avoid infection is for people to wash their hands as frequently as possible, and fully cook all food, the KCDC said.The virus is also moderately heat-resistant, so infected food might still carry the virus if not properly h

Jan 2, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

159 women missing in Suwon

By Lee Kyung-minOver the past two years, 159 women aged 18 or older have been reported missing in Suwon, the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency said Thursday.Suwon is the scene of last month’s gruesome “torso murder” in Paldal-gu, in which a Korean-Chinese illegal alien Park Chun-bong killed his Korean-Chinese ex-girlfriend and discarded her body parts in four separate places. Ten women, five each in 2012 and 2013 living in Paldal-gu were reported missing, police said.  In 2012, another Korean-Chinese, Oh Won-choon, kidnapped and killed a 23-year-old woman and cut the body into more than 300 pieces. Oh was jailed for life last year.    Police plan to expand their investigations based on a possible link between the missing women and Park, who was arrested on Dec. 15.Police said they have designated some districts in Suwon where there are large foreign communities as “vulnerable areas,” and will increase patrols and security measure.  Such areas include Maekyo-dong, Kyo-dong, Godeung-dong and Ji-dong, where some 47,000 foreigners in

Jan 1, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
South Korea

Local council moves to designate 'Daemado Day'

By Lee Kyung-min The district council of Saha in Busan recently passed a unanimous motion calling for efforts to “reclaim” sovereignty over the Japanese island of Tsushima, called Daemado in Korean.The motion calls for designating April 13 as Daemado Day to raise public awareness of the island, which is now part of Nagasaki Prefecture.Councilors from the district claim the island is Korean territory, but is occupied illegally by Japan.“There should be administrative and financial support from provincial and central governments to reclaim the island,” the motion reads.April 13 is the day when Korean soldiers won their first victory during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16th century.The council approved the motion at a plenary session on Dec. 22.It will take effect if Saha District Office approves. However, the district office has asked the council to give up the motion, citing difficulties in pushing for the measures it includes.“They are obviously beyond the capacity of a district office,” a Saha official said.The motion is seen as a re

Jan 1, 2015By Lee Kyung-min
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