The Korea Times

GM Korea CEO indicted for violating labor law

GM Korea CEO Kaher KazemBy Kim Se-jeongProsecutors indicted GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem, Tuesday, for violating the Labor Law, a blow to Korea's third largest automobile manufacturer which has been struggling financially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The prosecution also indicted four other senior managers whose identities were not immediately made public.“Between Sept. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2019, GM Korea hired 1,719 local temporary workers through 24 unauthorized human resources agencies and put them to work making automobile frames, painting and assembling parts which was illegal,” the prosecution said in a statement issued the same day. The Labor Law requires companies to hire temporary workers through authorized human resources agencies only, and bans temporary employees from working on car production lines. Prosecutors in Incheon, Changwon and Jeonju cooperated in the indictment; and while they did not seek the detention of the accused, they did call for them not to be allowed to leave the country. Founded in 2011, GM Korea produces seven vehicle models for the domestic ma

Jul 21, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

GM Korea CEO indicted for violating labor law

Society

Businesswoman turns children's drawings into bags using recycled leather

Ahn Ji-haeBy Kim Se-jeong Ahn Ji-hae, 46, is no ordinary bag maker.She uses recycled leather for her products and the designs are inspired by children's drawings.“It started off quite simple,” the CEO of OWNU told The Korea Times during a recent interview at Seoul Upcycling Plaza.“I designed bags for several companies for almost 15 years. Just like everyone, I always wanted to have my own business. While I was off taking care of my children, I saw my seven-year-old daughter's drawings ― and a thought came that I wanted to make a bag out of them.”That's how her first product was born in 2014. Then, she invited other children, mostly children of her acquaintances, to draw. Choi Min-joon's drawing and the brooch inspired by the drawing/ Courtesy of Ahn Ji-haeLater, she organized drawing contests to find talented young artists. That's how she found 13-year-old Choi Min-joon in 2017. His lizard and fox drawings, among many others, were turned into a brooch and a purse charm and they were given to then IMF managing director Christine Lagarde in 2017 as gifts during

Jul 19, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Businesswoman turns children's drawings into bags using recycled leather

Society

Gov't faces strong backlash from taxpayers

Homeowners march in Seoul, Saturday, in opposition to the government's real estate policies focused on punitive taxation. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong Homeowners took their anger to the streets in Seoul on Saturday, opposing the government's recent moves to curb property speculation by employing a series of policies focused on punitive taxation. “Not only tenants but also landlords are citizens,” according to a banner held by one of the protesters gathered outside the Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. in downtown Seoul. “I fully complied with the government rules when I was in the rental business, but what I receive in return is a tax bomb. I can't believe this,” one protester was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency. Another said “The new measures victimized everyone ― homeowners with multiple homes and those with no home. I feel the new tax is like a penalty (for owning multiple homes and renting them out).” On July 10, the government announced an increase in the acquisition tax, comprehensive real estate holding tax and transfer income tax for homeowners

Jul 19, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Gov't faces strong backlash from taxpayers

Gov't not to open 'greenbelt' for housing supply

Politics

Gyeonggi governor to retain post after top court's ruling

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung talks to reporters in front of his office in Suwon, Thursday morning. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongGyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung will be able to retain his position after the Supreme Court sent his case back to an appeals court, Thursday, which had previously found him guilty of violating the Election Law.The ruling also cleared the way for Lee to pursue a presidential bid on the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) ticket in 2022.In a 7-to-5 vote, the court ruled that he had not violated the Election Law. “The law can't punish Lee Jae-myung for disseminating false information (at the debate) unless he actively declared the false claim was a fact. Some of Lee statements in the debate were simply made to deny claims made by his opponent and this cannot be seen as a deliberate act to disseminate false information…,” Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su ― who wrote for the majority ― said during the session which was televised on TV and livestreamed on YouTube. Usually, four judges hear the case at the top court, but in Thursda

Jul 16, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Gyeonggi governor to retain post after top court's ruling

Politics

Corruption investigation agency now official but not ready

The law regarding the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Office went into effect on Wednesday, but its opening is still far off./ YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong An independent agency tasked with investigating corruption allegations against high-ranking government officials and their family members became official, Wednesday, as the law regarding its establishment and operation went into effect.However, it will still be a while until the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) is up and running, as the process has ground to a halt due to political fighting between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP). The most recent development involved lawyer Jang Seong-geun, who had been appointed to find a leader for the new investigative body, less than a day after the appointment by the DPK, Tuesday.Feeling pressure the from the UFP, Jang withdrew himself, saying that he had defended Kang Hoon ― who is currently on trial for conspiring with Cho Ju-bin to force women, including minors, to create sexually explicit vide

Jul 15, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Corruption investigation agency now official but not ready

Politics

Seoul to probe accusations against late mayor

Seoul city government's spokesman Hwang In-sik speaks during a press conference in the city government building, Wednesday./ YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongThe Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will launch a joint investigation into the sexual harassment allegations made against the late Mayor Park Won-soon who was found dead Friday, two days after his former secretary had filed a complaint with the police.“By creating a joint investigation committee of civilian experts and government officials, the city will ensure the probe's fairness and objectivity,” spokesman Hwang In-sik said during a press conference held at City Hall. Park was found dead on Mount Bugak, northern Seoul early Friday. Almost 600 officials were dispatched to search for him, two hours after his daughter reported him missing to the police. Hwang didn't give details about the size of the committee; when its investigation would start and how much power it would have, but said: “We will have to start to talk about it. Given that fairness and objectivity are the city's priority, we'll discuss the

Jul 15, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Seoul to probe accusations against late mayor

DPK chief apologizes over sexual abuse allegations against late mayor

Law & Crime

Seoul City pressed to get to the bottom of scandal

Late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's office is seen in the Seoul Metropolitan Government building. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Se-jeongThe Seoul Metropolitan Government is under growing pressure to investigate the sexual harassment allegations made against the late Mayor Park Won-soon.The police haven't officially announced any relation between Park's suicide and the harassment allegations, but it's widely thought that he took his own life because of the pressure he felt from these.The former mayor committed suicide in a forest on Mount Bugak, northern Seoul, Thursday, one day after his former secretary filed a sexual harassment complaint with the police. Speaking at a press conference, the victim's lawyer said the victim had been harassed for four years ― between 2016 and earlier this year ― but her attempts to get help were ignored.The city is being urged to act immediately because the police are expected to close the case. Criminal law doesn't give the law enforcement body the grounds to continue investigations when those accused are no longer alive. Observers say the city has a good rea

Jul 14, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Seoul City pressed to get to the bottom of scandal

Ruling party in dilemma over nominating mayoral candidates for by-elections

Law & Crime

Ruling on Gyeonggi governor to be livestreamed

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myungBy Kim Se-jeong The Supreme Court's ruling on incumbent Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung's appeal against the verdicts finding him guilty of abuse of power and violating the Election Law will be livestreamed on YouTube and aired on television Thursday, court officials said Tuesday. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.The officials cited the public interest surrounding Lee and his trial for its decision to make the final court session public. Lee is one of the most popular politicians in Korea and was considered a leading liberal candidate for the 2022 presidential election. Before being elected governor, he served for two terms as mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. During Wednesday's session, all 14 Supreme Court justices, instead of the usual four, will decide whether they agree with the high court's decision that fined him 3 million won for violating the Election Law. Lee needs the high court verdict overturned to retain his position as governor and to run for the presidency. To overturn the verdict, he needs votes from at least eight of the

Jul 14, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Ruling on Gyeonggi governor to be livestreamed

Politics

Park's public funeral takes place amid lingering controversy

Park Won-soon's ashes are carried to a bus after cremation in Seoul, Monday. The ashes were scattered in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, where his parents are buried. /YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongFriends, family and supporters gathered Monday to say goodbye to former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a human rights lawyer who was regarded as a potential candidate for the 2022 presidential election. Park was found dead early Friday morning on Mount Bugak in central Seoul, a few days after his secretary filed a sexual harassment complaint. In a handwritten note, he said sorry to everyone. A vehicle carrying his coffin arrived at the Seoul City Hall building in downtown Seoul at 8:30 a.m., Monday. About 200 of his supporters gathered outside, with another 100 attending the service which was livestreamed online. “I can't believe I am at his funeral service,” Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Hae-chan said. “My heart is wrenching. Park, as I know, was a very driven man. He pioneered the civic movement in Korea. I can't be sadder and sorrier that he ended life this w

Jul 13, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Park's public funeral takes place amid lingering controversy

'All I wanted was judgment by law and apology'

Politics

Mayor's sudden death shocks Seoul citizens

Policemen carry the body of Park Won-soon who was found dead in northern Seoul early Friday. / YonhapPark says 'sorry to everyone' in suicide noteBy Kim Se-jeongSeoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a former human rights lawyer with a long record of defending women, was discovered dead in an apparent suicide early Friday, two days after his secretary filed a sexual harassment complaint against him.The reason for his action is not yet known but it is presumed that Park, who was seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2022, killed himself because of undue pressure following the complaint. An investigation is under way to discover what drove him to kill himself.A police search team found his body near Sukjeong Gate, the northern gate of the old city walls on Mount Bugak, one minute after midnight. Police said that he was found in a state that seems to suggest that he committed suicide.According to the complaint filed with the police in Seoul, Wednesday, the harassment began in 2017, with him hugging the victim and groping her body in his office. She said she had also received obscene images

Jul 10, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Kim Se-jeong

Read more

GM Korea CEO indicted for violating labor law

Businesswoman turns children's drawings into bags using recycled leather

Gov't faces strong backlash from taxpayers

Gyeonggi governor to retain post after top court's ruling

Corruption investigation agency now official but not ready

Seoul to probe accusations against late mayor

Seoul City pressed to get to the bottom of scandal

Ruling on Gyeonggi governor to be livestreamed

Park's public funeral takes place amid lingering controversy

Mayor's sudden death shocks Seoul citizens

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