South Korea - The Korea Times

Man charged with stealing and selling painting by Kim Whan-ki

By Bahk Eun-jiA man has been arrested and indicted for stealing a painting by the late Korean abstract master Kim Whan-ki from his former university professor and selling it for 4 billion won ($3.35 million).Korean abstract master Kim Whan-ki /Korea Times fileAccording to Seoul Dongbu Police Station, Wednesday, the man in his 60s, surnamed Kim, allegedly sold the painting “10-Ⅴ-73 #314 (echo among the hills),” owned by the professor, to an art dealer after the professor died, without the knowledge of the bereaved family. Kim sold the painting for 4 billion won, and spent 3 billion won of it to purchase an apartment and pay off his debts, police said. After the professor's death, the family discovered the painting, which he had kept for over 40 years, was missing. The family made it known that they were interested in buying the painting, and when a dealer contacted them, they confirmed the painting was the stolen one and contacted police.Kim insisted the professor gave him the painting. But officers confirmed, through the deceased professor's friends, that he had only aske

Dec 11, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Man charged with stealing and selling painting by Kim Whan-ki

Migrant workers paid in paper coupons by farm employer

Paper coupons given to migrant workers in place of wages at farms in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Migrant Workers Solidarity GroupBy Lee Suh-yoonDozens of migrant workers at farms in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, have been cheated out of their wages by their employer with fake cash coupons since last year, according to a local migrant workers' rights group. The Daegu and North Gyeongsang Migrant Workers Solidarity Group filed a petition against the employer, Tuesday, claiming some 200 migrant workers were affected by the scam. According to the workers, the employer handed out the coupons and claimed the homemade paper slips could be easily exchanged for cash at the end of the month, taking advantage of their lack of familiarity with local laws.The workers, who worked for nine hours a day in the field, were promised around 6,300 won an hour, less than the minimum wage of 8,350 won. By paying the workers in coupons ― only exchanged for cash when the workers confronted the employer with imminent hospital, rent or tax bills ― the

Dec 11, 2019

Migrant workers paid in paper coupons by farm employer

Voluntary departure: Re-entry to be allowed for illegal aliens who leave Korea by June

The government said it will permit illegal aliens to re-enter Korea if they voluntarily leave the country by next June. GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Justice said Tuesday it will allow illegal aliens to re-enter Korea if they voluntarily leave the country by next June.In an effort to tackle the rapid increase in foreigners who stay here illegally, the ministry also said it will toughen punishment for those hiring people who do not have the proper visas.From July, people who are caught staying here illegally will be fined and may not be able to re-enter the country for years, the ministry said.Departure can be delayed under certain circumstances, including recent births, pregnancy or other health conditions, it said.

Dec 11, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Voluntary departure: Re-entry to be allowed for illegal aliens who leave Korea by June

Daughter of Herald ex-head gets suspended jail term for drug use

By Kim RahnA daughter of former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook leaves Incheon Detention Center, Sept. 30, after an arrest warrant for her on illegal drug smuggling charges was rejected. / YonhapA local court handed down a two-and-a-half-year prison term suspended for three years to a daughter of Hong Jung-wook, a former chairman of Herald Corp. and former lawmaker of the Grand National Party, the precursor of the Liberty Korea Party, Tuesday, after finding her guilty of drug smuggling.In late September, the junior Hong, 18, was detained at Incheon International Airport after flying in from Honolulu, Hawaii, for attempting to bring in a variety of illegal drugs, including liquid marijuana cartridges, LSD and Adderall, in her pockets and luggage. “She used marijuana multiple times and smuggled illegal drugs here. Stern punishment is required for narcotics use, but we considered that she admitted her crime, had no previous criminal record and was a minor,” the court said in the ruling.It asked her to make efforts not to repeat the wrongdoings, saying she was young but the amount of

Dec 10, 2019By Kim Rahn

Daughter of Herald ex-head gets suspended jail term for drug use

Probe into alleged bribery cover-up expanding to Moon's aides

Cho Kuk, the disgraced former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs and ex-justice minister, is expected to be summoned by prosecutors for his role in Cheong Wa Dae allegedly ending a corruption investigation into former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo for alleged bribery. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwonBy Kim Hyun-binThe investigation into alleged abuse of power at Cheong Wa Dae in the closing down of' an investigation into a former Busan vice mayor is expanding to key aides of President Moon Jae-in.The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office said Monday, it had recently questioned Yun Kun-young, a presidential secretary for state affairs; South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo; and Cheon Kyeong-deuk, a senior presidential aide for administrative affairs regarding the case. The prosecution did not make the questioning public before it took place as per new regulations governing conduct.The questioning was part of the prosecution's probe into the allegation that a 2017 investigation by a special team under Cheong Wa Dae's civic affairs office into corruption c

Dec 9, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Probe into alleged bribery cover-up expanding to Moon's aides

Korea is no longer 'drug free' country

Marijuana products including edibles and an e-cigarette cartridge in the customs office at Incheon International Airport. Illegal drugs have become more accessible to people here. / YonhapInternet helps drug dealers prosperBy Kim Jae-heunWith the image surrounding illegal drugs in Korea becoming slightly more relaxed, and an increasing number of young Koreans encounter them abroad, domestic demand for such substances has increased. As the supply has increased to meet demand, and with the internet making it easier to trade illegal substances, drugs have become more accessible to a wider range of people. Many young Koreans say they had their first experience of illegal drugs when studying overseas. In particular, Korean students staying in the United States say they have easy access to drugs that are illegal here on their university campuses. “My first experience was taking marijuana in America,” a 31-year-old businessman told The Korea Times, asking to be identified only as Kim. “I was a freshman and it was really easy to get marijuana there. At first, you try edible

Dec 9, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

LKP chief asks President to explain Cheong Wa Dae's alleged election intervention

Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), speaks during a seminar held at the National Assembly, Friday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonMain opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn urged President Moon Jae-in to address suspicions that the presidential office intervened in last year's local elections for Ulsan city mayor. Hwang also pledged to form a special committee to call for a special counsel and a parliamentary investigation into the suspicions amid escalating tension between Cheong Wa Dae and the prosecution. “It has become more obvious that Cheong Wa Dae was involved in the election for Ulsan city mayor… The LKP will form a special committee on the corruption scandal to call for a special counsel and a parliamentary investigation and start rallies against the government,” Hwang said during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Monday.“Cheong Wa Dae and an investigative agency pressured a candidate of the opposition party and rigged public opinion using every possible method. This is something that shou

Dec 9, 2019By Park Ji-won

LKP chief asks President to explain Cheong Wa Dae's alleged election intervention

Korean tourist injured in unprovoked knife attack in Thailand

The Korean tourist was attacked in front of a hotel in Bangkok. gettyimagesbank By Dong Sun-hwa, Park Si-soo A South Korean tourist was slashed in the face by another foreigner in an unprovoked knife attack in Thailand on Thursday. The victim ― a woman in her 60s ― is in stable condition after emergency surgery, according to the South Korean embassy in Bangkok.The attack happened at 9:50 a.m. on Thursday in front of a hotel in Bangkok. The offender fled after the attack and was caught three hours later. Embassy officials said the two did not know each other. The attacker came from a “third country” but further details were not available. An investigation is under way. The victim was touring the Southeast Asian country with her nephew.

Dec 8, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa

Korean tourist injured in unprovoked knife attack in Thailand

Prosecution searches Ulsan vice mayor's office, home

Investigators enter Ulsan Vice Mayor Song Byung-gi's office in Ulsan Metropolitan City headquarter in Ulsan, Friday, to carry out a seach and seizure on allegation related to Cheong Wa Dae's election meddling row. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe prosecution is widening its investigation into alleged election-meddling involving Cheong Wa Dae as it carried out a search and seizure on the office and residence of Ulsan Vice Mayor Song Byung-gi and summoned him for questioning, Friday. Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office arrived at Ulsan City Hall at 8:50 a.m. to confiscate Song's computers and documents as evidence. They also searched his car. Song was not present at his office as he took the day off. The search comes after Song was found to have tipped off a Cheong Wa Dae official regarding bribery allegations involving former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon's aides to help Song Cheol-ho win the local elections last year. Song is a close friend of President Moon Jae-in.The case blew up into a massive investigation after Kim publicly claimed that the Ulsan Metropolitan

Dec 6, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Prosecution searches Ulsan vice mayor's office, home

Ulsan vice mayor summoned in election-meddling probe

Song Byung-giAn Ulsan vice mayor was questioned by prosecutors Friday as part of their widening probe into an alleged election-meddling row involving officials at the presidential office.Song Byung-gi, the city's vice mayor in charge of economic affairs, attended a questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul. He was reportedly summoned to testify as a witness.Song told journalists that he came to the prosecution office in the morning and that the probe "has no relation whatsoever to Cheong Wa Dae," adding he has never visited the presidential office in relation to the allegations.The summoning came on the same day investigators were dispatched to Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to search the vice mayor's office, car and residence after he was found to have tipped off a Cheong Wa Dae official on bribery allegations involving former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon's confidants.Kim, who was then seeking reelection as mayor in the June 2018 elections as a candidate of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, lost the race to current mayor, Song Cheol

Dec 6, 2019

Law & Crime