South Korea - The Korea Times

Gender minister vows to prevent sexual crimes in public sector

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok / YonhapSouth Korea's Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok on Friday pledged to map out effective and strengthened measures to prevent further sexual crimes in public institutions amid an ongoing controversy over sexual abuse allegations of late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon."As the minister in charge of preventing sexual harassment and protecting victims, I feel a great sense of responsibility," Lee said in a meeting with experts in sexual violence prevention at the government complex in Seoul. The minister added she was "very worried about the victim who has been suffering from mental pressure and psychological pain."Last week, Park was found dead a day after a former secretary filed a complaint with the police about his alleged sexual harassment. According to civic groups and her attorney, the victim has suffered unwanted physical contact and received inappropriate messages from Park for over four years.The gender minister assessed that not enough was being done to eradicate sexual crimes in the public sector, including

Jul 17, 2020

Gender minister vows to prevent sexual crimes in public sector

Court rejects police request for access to late mayor's mobile phones

A man wearing a face mask walks near Seoul City Hall in Seoul, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. APA Seoul court has denied a police request to access mobile phones used by late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon as part of their ongoing probe to determine the exact cause of his death, police said Friday.Police had filed a request to acquire the call history for three mobile phones under Park's name, including his official phone that was retrieved when Park was found dead at a Seoul mountain last week.The Seoul Northern District Court said while phone access can be granted in criminal investigations, there was "a lack of explanation for a mandatory probe" in this case. There was no explanation of whether the cause of his death was related to a crime, such as murder, it added.Park is suspected of taking his own life. Police said there were no signs of foul play and the city government released a handwritten note by Park, which said that he was "sorry" to everyone, without elaborating.Park's abrupt death came a day after a former secretary filled a complaint with the police about his alleged sexual har

Jul 17, 2020

Court rejects police request for access to late mayor's mobile phones

Police reveal identity of another key suspect in 'Nth room' case

Police take Nam Kyung-eup to a van parked near Jongno Police Station in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSo far, police have revealed the identities of six key suspects in the “Nth room” scandal. YonhapPolice have disclosed the identity of a man accused of being involved in running the notorious porn channels on the Telegram chat app.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Wednesday, Nam Kyung-eup, 29, was an accomplice of Cho Ju-bin, 24, who called himself “baksa (doctor).” Together, they operated chat rooms in which they sexually abused many women.“I'm sorry,” Nam told reporters as he was taken to a van parked near Jongno Police Station in Seoul. “I admit (the charges).”Nam was a paid-up member of Cho's channels before conspiring to find targets and coercing victims to have sex in front of cameras, police said.A seven-member police committee ― including a lawyer, a psychologist and a journalist ― decided to disclose Nam's identity Tuesday. He immediately filed for an injunction, which the court rejected Wednesday.So far

Jul 15, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Police reveal identity of another key suspect in 'Nth room' case

'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him

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

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

Gender ministry hit for being 'unconcerned' about sexual abuse cases

Kim Jae-ryun, a lawyer representing a former secretary of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, speaks at a press conference held at the Korea Women's Hot Line office in western Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been drawing criticism from civic activists for its reluctance to comment on a series of recent sexual abuse allegations aimed at high-profile figures, including the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. The ministry, which should represent women's voices, has been working to root out various sex crimes and support the #MeToo movement. But it has remained silent over related issues recently, including the Nth Room case and a local court's recent rejection of a U.S. extradition request for Son Jung-woo, the operator of one of the world's biggest child pornography sites who was recently released from a local prison.With the criticism over the ministry's reluctance escalating, it belatedly released a statement regarding the alleged sexual harassment by the former mayor, Tuesday. In the statement, the ministry said it would support the vict

Jul 14, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Gender ministry hit for being 'unconcerned' about sexual abuse cases

Top prosecutor 'gives in' to justice minister

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl leaves his office in southern Seoul after accepting Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's recent order regarding an ongoing investigation. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl “gave into” Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Thursday, as he accepted the minister's order to recuse himself from a controversial case involving a now fired journalist and one of his close aides. Releasing a statement early in the morning, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, “The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office will carry out the investigation, and the district office has been notified of the decision..But, at the end of the statement, it said: “In the 2013 investigation into the National Intelligence Service, Yoon, who was then the investigation team leader, was removed from the team,” indicating the source of Yoon's displeasure.Choo immediately welcomed Yoon's announcement, stating, “Yoon answered citizens' calls for a fair investigation.”By accepting the order, Yoon avoided a head-on clash with Choo and put an e

Jul 9, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Top prosecutor 'gives in' to justice minister

Busan police investigate US soldiers over disruptive fireworks

By Jun Ji-hyePolice in the southern port city Busan have begun an investigation into disruptive fireworks set off by dozens of foriegn nationals including U.S. military personnel near the city's famous Haeundae Beach last Saturday, officials said Thursday.The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said it is currently working to gather evidence by analyzing CCTV footage and looking for witnesses, and reviewing whether or not those involved violated local ordinances.Police are working in cooperation with the United States Forces Korea (USFK) seeking to take action against those who broke public ordinances on that day.Foreign nationals set off fireworks near Busan's Haeundae Beach, July 4. / YonhapAccording to police, among the revelers were members of the USFK stationed here and other foreign nationals. CCTV footage shows that the revelers let off numerous fireworks for about two hours even directing some towards members of the public and nearby buildings, apparently in celebration of U.S. Independence Day.Police officers attending the scene in response to numerous complaints were jeered at

Jul 9, 2020

Busan police investigate US soldiers over disruptive fireworks

'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him

Son Jong-woo, who operated "Welcome to Video," one of the world's largest child porn sites, leaves the Seoul Detention Center at Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province, Monday, after the Seoul High Court rejected a extradition request for him. YonhapThe operator of "Digital Prison" has revealed the identities of Son ― and the judges who released him ― among other criminals and suspects in some of Korea's most notorious cases. Screengrab of "Digital Prison"By Jung Min-hoThe operator of “Digital Prison,” an overseas-based website, has revealed the identities of infamous child porn site operator Son Jong-woo and three judges who recently rejected the U.S. government's extradition request for him.The unidentified operator says the purpose of creating the site was to “punish the criminals with the punishment they would fear the most ― exposing their identities.”The site, which opened a few months ago, came into the spotlight after it disclosed the photos, names and other personal information of Son, the operator of “Welcome to Video,” among other convicts and susp

Jul 9, 2020By Jung Min-ho

'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him

Specter of LA riots haunts Koreans in US

Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) President Charles Yoon with blue tie, center, and Rev. Al Sharpton pose with Korean American community leaders and members of the National Action Network in New York on June 13. / Courtesy of KAAGNYIn 1992, angry mobs burned down Koreatown; this time, shops were looted by opportunists in guise of protesters By Kang Hyun-kyungA Korean American merchant surnamed Kim ― who operates a mid-sized shop selling skincare, haircare and other health and beauty-related products in America's northeast ― has been wary of the fallout from the Black Lives Matter protests since May when the movement gained steam in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and spread to other cities.She said she fully supports the protests and is on the same page with protesters regarding the social justice causes they are fighting for.But, as a self-made immigrant having successfully built her own business through decades of hard work, Kim said she is worried that her shop could be targeted for looting and vandalism as over 110 Korean-owned shops in several cities had been dama

Jul 9, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Specter of LA riots haunts Koreans in US

Author defines LA riots as multi-ethnic incident

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