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Suspicious int'l parcels have no connection with terrorism so far: gov't

This photo, provided by the fire response headquarters in Busan, shows suspicious international packages retrieved in Busan, July 22. YonhapNearly 700 suspicious international parcels that have been received from across the nation have shown no connection to terrorism so far, the government said Monday.Announcing an analysis of 679 packages collected for investigation, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, under the Prime Minister's Office, said no toxic or hazardous substances were found.The incident initially came to light when three people working at a welfare center for the disabled in the southeastern city of Ulsan were rushed to the hospital after opening a random parcel from Taiwan. They reportedly complained of dizziness and difficulty breathing.Since then, similar reports of suspicious parcels have been flooding in from various locations across the nation. (Yonhap)

Jul 24, 2023
Suspicious int'l parcels have no connection with terrorism so far: gov't

Police investigating 679 suspicious int'l parcels among 2,141 reports nationwide

A team of police officers, Korean army and firefighters investigate unspecified international packages delivered to homes in Gangwon Province, in this July 22 photo provided by the Gangwon State Fire Headquarters. YonhapA total of 2,141 reports of suspicious parcels have been received across the nation over the past five days, police said Monday, though investigations so far have found none containing hazardous materials.Of the 2,141 reports made to the police as of 5 a.m. Monday, 679 packages were collected for investigation, while the rest were found to be mistaken reports, the National Police Agency said.The reports of suspicious international packages began Thursday, when three people working at a welfare center for the disabled in the southeastern city of Ulsan were rushed to the hospital after opening a random parcel from Taiwan. They reportedly complained of dizziness and difficulty breathing.Similar reports of suspicious parcels have flooded in from across the nation, but no toxic or hazardous substances have been found so far. In most parcels, lip balm or other cheap product

Jul 24, 2023
Police investigating 679 suspicious int'l parcels among 2,141 reports nationwide

5 regional gov't, police offices raided over deadly underpass flooding

The chief of the Heungdeok Police Station gives a briefing on the deadly underpass flooding in Osong, July 15. YonhapProsecutors raided five regional police and government offices Monday as part of an investigation into what went wrong in the response to a deadly underpass flooding in the central city of Cheongju.The Cheongju District Prosecutors Office sent investigators to the provincial police agency, the fire service headquarters and the regional government of North Chungcheong Province, as well as the city government of Cheongju and a state city construction agency, to seize evidence. A district police station in the region was also searched by the police in connection with the case. An underground roadway in Osong in western Cheongju, located 112 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was flooded amid heavy rains in mid-July when a nearby river overflowed after an embankment was brought down by rising water levels. The flooding left 14 people killed and 10 others injured.Police authorities in the region are accused of failing to promptly respond to emergency calls urging traffic restri

Jul 24, 2023
5 regional gov't, police offices raided over deadly underpass flooding

Worries continue over hundreds of suspicious international parcels

Firefighters and soldiers enter a post office in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, after receiving a report about a suspicious parcel found there, Sunday. YonhapPresidential office holds meeting with police, spy agency amid ongoing investigationBy Jung Min-hoConcerns about possible terrorist acts using chemicals continued over the weekend amid an investigation into suspicious international packages delivered to hundreds of seemingly unrelated Korean addresses.In a message to the public, police warned against opening the parcels labeled with “CHUNGHWA POST,” as they could contain toxic materials. So far, more than 640 such packages sent via Taiwan were confirmed to have been delivered to addresses across the nation including Jeju Island since Thursday. Police said all of them are now under scrutiny.An X-ray scan raised an alarm early Sunday over a potentially harmful gas inside a package delivered to a home in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. But after an additional inspection, police later said they found no such gas.The mysterious parcels have stoked fear and confusion si

Jul 23, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Worries continue over hundreds of suspicious international parcels

Court issues arrest warrant for stabbing rampage suspect

A 33-year-old surnamed Cho, who wielded a weapon near Sillim Station, killed one man and injured three others, is surrounded by reporters in front of the Seoul Central District Court, July 23. Yonhap The Seoul Central District Court granted a warrant to arrest the 33-year-old suspect, surnamed Cho, on charges of murder and attempted murder, citing fears he might flee.On Friday, Cho was detained after stabbing a complete stranger in his 20s multiple times to death with a weapon near Sillim Station on Line 2 and the Sillim Line and then wounding three other men.The suspect and the victims were strangers to one another, police said.As he left the Seoul Gwanak Police Station earlier in the day to attend the court hearing, Cho said he committed the crime due to an unspecified "extreme hardship.""I committed the crime due to my extreme hardship. I am repenting," Cho told reporters without elaborating on what hardship he has been in.He repeatedly said to reporters, "I'm sorry," with his eyes closed as he left the police station.Upon arrival at the court, Cho said he had been in "too bad a s

Jul 23, 2023
Court issues arrest warrant for stabbing rampage suspect

Nearly 2,000 reports of suspicious int'l parcels received nationwide: police

This photo, provided by the Daejeon Fire Service, shows firefighters checking an unidentified international parcel sent from Taiwan to a home in Daejeon, July 21. YonhapClose to 2,000 reports of suspicious parcels have been received from across the nation over the past four days, police said Sunday, amid concern they might contain hazardous materials.A total of 257 new reports related to the delivery of dubious parcels have been filed with the police in the last 12 hours, officials said, bringing the total number of such reports to 1,904 as of 5 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Police Agency.Of them, 587 packages were collected by police for investigation while the rest were mistaken reports.Reports of suspicious parcels began coming in on Thursday, sparking fears that they could contain hazardous or poisonous material. But no such substances have been found so far. In most parcels, lip balm or other cheap products were found, with some packages delivered empty.Earlier in the day, police received a report of a suspicious international parcel sent from Taiwan to a home in the ce

Jul 23, 2023
Nearly 2,000 reports of suspicious int'l parcels received nationwide: police

Constitutional Court to rule on impeachment against interior minister over Itaewon tragedy

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, center, who was impeached by the parliament, attends the initial hearing on his impeachment that has suspended his duties at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, May 9. Korea Times fileThe Constitutional Court plans to rule this week on whether to endorse or reject the National Assembly's impeachment of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min over last year's deadly Itaewon crowd crush.The court will deliver its decision on Tuesday, more than five months after Lee was impeached on Feb. 8 for mishandling the crowd crush that left 159 people killed in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29 last year.Upon the impeachment, Lee was suspended from duties as minister.Should the court endorse the impeachment, Lee will be removed from office, but he will be reinstated if the court rejects the impeachment. (Yonhap)

Jul 23, 2023
Constitutional Court to rule on impeachment against interior minister over Itaewon tragedy

200 evacuate following bomb threat targeting Genshin Impact festival in Seoul

A message threatening to detonate a bomb at the venue of the Genshin Impact Summer Festival 2023 held at Olympic Park in Seoul's eastern ward of Songpa, is seen in this screenshot from Twitter, July 22. YonhapAbout 200 people were evacuated Saturday after a message threatening to detonate a bomb at a gaming festival in Seoul surfaced on social media, according to police and firefighting officials.The police said a Twitter user posted a message claiming to have placed a bomb at the venue for the Genshin Impact Summer Festival 2023 held at the Olympic Park in Seoul's eastern district of Songpa earlier in the day.The person wrote that the bomb will go off "when the time arrives" and told followers to "look forward to it." The user also shared photos of what appeared to be the alleged explosive.After discovering the message, organizers suspended the event and reported it to the police. After searching the venue, police and firefighting officials said there was no bomb at the site.Police are currently tracking down the person who wrote the message.Genshin Impact is a popular open-world ac

Jul 22, 2023
200 evacuate following bomb threat targeting Genshin Impact festival in Seoul

Flurry of reports of suspicious int'l parcels received in Korea

A package from Taiwan delivered to a home in Incheon, 27 kilometers southwest of Seoul, is seen in this July 21 photo provided by the local fire department. YonhapPolice said Saturday they received continued reports of suspicious international packages for the second straight day across the nation amid concerns that the parcels might contain an unspecified hazardous material. Police said they received a total of 987 reports related to the delivery of dubious parcels from abroad, mostly from Taiwan, on Friday alone, and more similar reports have continued.Regional government authorities sent out an emergency alert to citizens not to open such parcels in cases where the identity of the sender is not clear. They also advised people to report suspicious international packages to police or fire fighters.In most parcels, lip balm or other cheap products were found, with some packages delivered empty.Police said they will decide whether to launch an investigation, depending on the results of substance analysis. Police seem to see the possibility of terrorism as low, as no hazardous material

Jul 22, 2023
Flurry of reports of suspicious int'l parcels received in Korea

Yoon's mother-in-law detained as appeals court finds her guilty of forging documents

Choi Eun-soon, center, the mother-in-law of President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at the Uijeongbu District Court in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, July 21. YonhapThe mother-in-law of President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained Friday after an appeals court upheld a one-year prison sentence for forging a financial document used in a land purchase deal.The appellate court in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, struck down an appeal by Choi Eun-soon who demanded the prison sentence handed down to her by a district court be reconsidered.The appeals court confirmed the lower court's ruling, finding the 76-year-old guilty of using a fake bank balance certificate to purchase a swath of land in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, between April and October 2013. The forged document suggested she had deposited 34.7 billion won ($27 million) into the account. The court cited "the gravity of the crime" for arresting her, adding Choi's right to defend herself had been fully guaranteed.Choi vehemently claimed her innocence upon hearing the verdict and eventually passed out.In December 2021, the district court in the same

Jul 21, 2023
Yoon's mother-in-law detained as appeals court finds her guilty of forging documents
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