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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Shincheonji followers kill themselves amid public criticism intensifying

A Shincheonji follower jumped to her death in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, after a quarrel with her husband about her religion, police said Wednesday. It happened two weeks after another Shincheonji believer killed herself in Ulsan by jumping from her seventh-floor apartment after facing domestic violence that began with her husband's disapproval of her religion. While police are investigating what drove the two to kill themselves, Shincheonji ― a mysterious cult at the center of nationwide criticism for its members' role in spreading coronavirus ― claims they have fallen victim to the “public frame vilifying the religion.” The latest case happened Tuesday night at an 11-story apartment building in Jeongeup. The husband told police his wife jumped to her death from the apartment balcony shortly after they clashed over Shincheonji. She had two children, aged seven and five. Police found no suicide note or anything that could be seen as a will at her home. The husband said he learned seven or eight years ago that his wife was a Shincheonji believer and they had clashed

Mar 11, 2020
Shincheonji followers kill themselves amid public criticism intensifying

Thailand puts off Korean drug smuggler's extradition to prevent coronavirus spread

By Park Si-soo Thailand is putting on hold the extradition of a South Korean drug smuggler held at a local detention center for nearly two months to prevent the possible cross-border spread of coronavirus.According to reports, the man, in his 50s, is suspected of smuggling 6 kilograms of methamphetamine ― equivalent to 198,000 doses ― into South Korea from Cambodia. He was caught late last year in Cambodia in a joint investigation by South Korea's prosecution and the National Intelligence Service. But he broke out of jail and sneaked into Thailand where police detained him. South Korean authorities want his quick extradition for trial, along with two dozen suspected accomplices. But Thailand is not cooperating, citing a ban on the cross-border travel of criminal suspects aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.“It's uncertain when the extradition process for him will begin,” a prosecutor familiar with the case said.

Mar 11, 2020
Thailand puts off Korean drug smuggler's extradition to prevent coronavirus spread

Crusader or self-deceiver?

Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon waves at supporters waiting for him in front of Seoul Central Court in southern Seoul, Monday, where he was brought in for questioning over his political activities. YonhapCCK leader under fire for going too far By Park Ji-won“There is no one who was infected with the coronavirus while attending the outdoor public gathering.” Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, head of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) and pastor of Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seoul, said in front of thousands of protestors who gathered in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Sunday, amid fears of the spread of the deadly COVID-19. “God will treat us and save us from the deadly disease. So please come again next week as we will host another rally here,” he said. The 63-year-old pastor is a self-proclaimed right-wing crusader. But his controversial remarks and “overconfidence” regarding potential health risks have pitted him against other right-wingers. Criticism came from all over the political spectrum after he pushed for the public gathering despite the nationwid

Feb 25, 2020By Park Ji-won
Crusader or self-deceiver?
  • Gov't to conduct coronavirus tests on all Shincheonji followers
  • Government urged to curb Shincheonji activities

Military to temporarily suspend drafting soldiers from Daegu

Workers wearing protective gears spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. South Korea on Friday declared a "special management zone" around a southeastern city where a surging viral outbreak, largely linked to a church in Daegu, threatens to overwhelm the region's health system. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The military manpower agency said Friday it will suspend conscription in the southeastern city of Daegu and the adjacent county of Cheongdo next week following a mass outbreak of the new coronavirus in the region.The move came after the government designated the two areas as a "special management zone" after they reported nearly 100 additional COVID-19 cases in the last few days. With a population of 2.4 million, Daegu is the country's fourth-largest city. When the draft can resume in the region will be decided after the government removes the special designation, the Military Manpow

Feb 21, 2020
Military to temporarily suspend drafting soldiers from Daegu

Watchdog to target operator, sellers in hedge fund probe

Korea Times fileSouth Korea's financial watchdog will likely focus its first on-site probe into a major hedge fund fiasco on its operator and three major sales agents, industry sources said Tuesday.The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is scheduled to launch the inspection into South Korea's largest hedge fund Lime Asset Management Co.'s suspension of fund redemption early next month.Citing a cash crunch, Lime froze withdrawals from a trade financing fund worth an estimated 244 billion won (US$206 million) in October, sparking an outcry from angry investors.The Lime scandal began to unfold in July last year when the FSS began probing Lime's suspected irregularities, forcing spooked investors to scramble to withdraw their money.The watchdog's upcoming inquiry is widely expected to center on suspected fraud and misselling by Lime and Shinhan Investment Corp., a major sales agent. Lime, the top hedge fund by assets under management, is suspected of having concealed investment losses and inflated investment returns in a bid to keep its customer base.In addition, the hedge fund was alle

Feb 18, 2020
Watchdog to target operator, sellers in hedge fund probe

Prosecutor General lashes out at Choo over proposal

Yoon Seok-youl, right, prosecutor general greets his colleagues as he arrives at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office in Busan, Thursday./ YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongProsecutor General Yoon Seok-youl lashed out at Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's recent proposal to separate prosecutors into two groups ― one in charge of investigations and the other in charge of reviewing the investigation and delivering indictments ― behind closed doors with his colleagues, a local newspaper reported Sunday.During a meeting with fellow prosecutors from Busan's High and District Prosecutors' offices last Thursday, Yoon made the case for the prosecution's responsibility, according to the Joongang Ilbo.“An investigation is not just about putting together a report. An investigation also means indicting the accused and getting ready for trial. That's the job of prosecutors. An indictment is a part of the investigation,” Yoon was quoted as saying. “If a judge tries a case, they have to reach a verdict. The same goes for prosecutors. It's right to say that prosecutors who investigate the case have th

Feb 16, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Fire at steel plant contained, no casualties reported

Firefighters worked to extinguish a fire at a steel processing plant south of Seoul, authorities said Saturday. The 119 Rescue Center received a report of a fire at the plant operated by KG Dongbu Steel in Dangjin, 123 kilometers south of Seoul, on Saturday afternoon and firefighters put out the fire in 27 minutes, according to a local fire station. No casualties have been reported, it said. (Yonhap)

Feb 15, 2020

Nightclub homicide: Suspects deny intent to kill

YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThree taekwondo athletes in the infamous Seoul nightclub murder case claimed at Thursday's court hearing that they did not intend to kill the victim, who was trying to protect his girlfriend.The suspects ― all 21-year-olds majoring in taekwondo at college ― were indicted earlier this month on charges of murdering the man in his 20s after he took issue with them for taking his girlfriend by the wrist at a nightclub in Seoul's Gwangjin district on Jan. 1.Media reports that the suspects ate ice cream after brutally beating the man to death have infuriated many people. One petition calling for justice on the Cheong Wa Dae website has garnered more than 52,000 signatures.At the first court hearing, the suspects' lawyers claimed they should have been charged with manslaughter, not murder.“They should have been charged with manslaughter,” one lawyer said.But prosecutors argued that the suspects knew of the risks of their actions and willfully ignored these risks.“All of them are fourth-degree black belt holders and they knew how precise and powerful the

Feb 14, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Nightclub homicide: Suspects deny intent to kill
  • Three taekwondo athletes jailed for beating man to death

Two Peruvians held in Spain for stealing cash from Korean casino

Kangwon Land / Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoTwo Peruvians have been detained in Spain after allegedly stealing 24 million won ($20,000) in cash from a casino in Korea.Jeongseon Police Station said Thursday that the suspects ― a man, 45, and a woman, 32 ― were expected to be extradited soon, after allegedly opening a slot machine cash box to steal the money at Kangwon Land on Feb. 7. It is unclear how this was done.Their alleged accomplice ― a Hong Kong man in his 30s ― is still on the run.The three entered Korea on Feb. 6 with fake passports. Only a few hours after the alleged theft, the two Peruvians boarded a flight to Bangkok. They then took another flight that made a stopover at Doha, Qatar, before arriving in Madrid, where they were detained. Police said that by then they had asked Interpol to issue a red note detention order for the suspects.

Feb 14, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Two Peruvians held in Spain for stealing cash from Korean casino

Customs agency busts attempts to illegally export 730,000 masks

Hundreds of thousands of face masks are displayed at the Korea Customs Service's office at Incheon. Customs officials have scuttled attempts to illegally ship out 730,000 face masks over the past week. YonhapCustoms authorities have scuttled attempts to illegally ship out about 730,000 face masks over the past week, the government said Thursday, stepping up its efforts to ease the supply shortage of masks caused by the spread of the new coronavirus.The Korea Customs Service (KCS) said it intercepted exports of 100,000 masks in 62 cases and put 630,000 masks in 10 shipments under an investigation during its intensive crackdown from last Thursday to Wednesday.The 730,000 masks detected by the KCS are worth about 1.4 billion won (US$1.18 million).South Korea last Wednesday announced tougher penalties for the hoarding of protective masks and hand sanitizer after the coronavirus outbreak sparked a sharp rise in demand. Hoarders of such products can face a prison sentence of up to two years or a maximum fine of 50 million won.Under the toughened regulations, shipments of more than 300 mask

Feb 13, 2020
Customs agency busts attempts to illegally export 730,000 masks
  • Gov't to support Chinese students amid coronavirus scare
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