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Experts, officials to discuss 'smart city' legislation in Seoul

Visitors view digital panels showcasing Busan's smart city project set up Busan City Hall in this July photo. Participants of this year's Asian Legislative Experts Symposium will discuss legislative issues of their smart city projects. / Korea Times fileBy Lee Suh-yoonLegal experts and public officials from around Asia will come to Korea for the annual Asian Legislative Experts Symposium (ALES), held at The Plaza Seoul hotel on Oct. 30, to discuss legislative issues in “smart city” projects, according to the Ministry of Government Legislation, Sunday.Co-hosted by the ministry and the Korea Legislation Research Institute, the conference provides a platform for Asian countries to share their legislative expertise and experience.This year, under the theme of “Legislative Modification Strategies for Smart City Development,” about 350 participants from some 30 countries will discuss common interests relating to the various urban problems they are experiencing, such as population concentration.Smart city technology requires a regulation sandbox to be tested. Last ye

Oct 27, 2019
Experts, officials to discuss 'smart city' legislation in Seoul

Ex-chairman of DB Group arrested over alleged sexual assault

A Seoul court on Saturday approved an arrest warrant for Kim Jun-ki, former chairman of DB Group, over alleged sexual assaults.The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant, saying among other things that the charges are significant and there is a possibility of Kim attempting to destroy evidence.Kim, 74, is suspected of sexually assaulting his personal secretary multiple times between February and July in 2017. She filed a complaint later that year.He was also accused in early 2018 of raping a housemaid in his vacation home multiple times between February 2016 and January 2017.Kim resigned as DB chairman in September just after news media reported the 2017 complaint. DB is the nation's 43rd-largest conglomerate, and its businesses range from construction and steel to finance.Kim left for the United States in July 2017 and had stayed there -- for medical treatment, according to him -- ignoring the police's summoning. He returned home on Wednesday, three months after police requested that the Ministry of Justice seek his extradition from the U.S. (Yonhap)

Oct 26, 2019

Bribery retrial of Samsung scion begins

Reporters question Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, center, before he attended the first hearing of a bribery retrial at the Seoul High Court, Friday. In August, the Supreme Court ordered the appellate court to review its suspended jail sentence for Lee over bribing a confidant of ousted President Park Geun-hye.  Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kim Hyun-binSamsung heir Lee Jae-yong appeared at the Seoul High Court, Friday, for his bribery retrial on issues that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.It was the Samsung Electronics vice chairman's first return to the court since February last year, 627 days earlier, when he was given a suspended sentence on appeal. “I feel very sorry for causing concern to many people,” Lee said after arriving at court at 9:29 a.m., 40 minutes before the hearing. In August, the Supreme Court ordered the Seoul High Court to review Lee's suspended jail sentence because the highest court deemed that there could be more bribery charges, mainly in relation to donations and gifts sent to Park's close

Oct 25, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin
Bribery retrial of Samsung scion begins

Corruption investigation zeros in on ex-minister

Chung Kyung-sim, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, comes out of the Seoul Central District Court, Wednesday, after the court review on whether to issue an arrest warrant for her over 11 charges including obstruction of business, forgery and destruction of evidence. The court issued the warrant early Thursday morning. YonhapBy Kim Hyun-binFormer Justice Minister Cho Kuk is in the hot seat after his wife Chung Kyung-sim, a Donyang University professor, was arrested early Thursday morning over the ongoing corruption scandal involving the family.While Chung was charged with 11 counts including obstruction of business, forgery, embezzlement and destruction of evidence, prosecutors believe Cho himself was an accomplice in some of the cases, or at least was aware of them.As Chung's arrest is expected to accelerate the investigation, prosecutors are likely to summon Cho for questioning soon. The opposition parties are also urging the prosecution to conduct a thorough probe into the former minister, claiming several of the alleged crimes could not have been committed without his kn

Oct 24, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin
Corruption investigation zeros in on ex-minister

CJ Group heir-apparent gets suspended jail term for drug smuggling

By Kim Jae-heunLee Sun-hoLee Sun-ho, CJ Group heir-apparent and the eldest son of group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, was freed from detention, Thursday, after a local court gave him a three-year prison term suspended for four years after finding him guilty of drug smuggling.The Incheon District Court did not order him to undergo probation or take an anti-drug education program.“Drugs, including marijuana, are highly psychedelic and addictive, and smuggling them is a serious crime as it can lead to prevalence of illegal substances and other criminal activities,” the court said in the ruling. “However, we decided to not imprison Lee as he has no criminal record and fully regrets his mistake.”On Sept. 1, Lee was caught at Incheon International Airport while attempting to smuggle dozens of e-cigarette cartridges filled with highly enriched liquid marijuana from the United States. A customs screening also found Lee was carrying 167 edible marijuana products in his backpack. Lee said he had purchased them in Los Angeles where their use is legal. The chaebol scion also tes

Oct 24, 2019By Kim Jae-heun
CJ Group heir-apparent gets suspended jail term for drug smuggling

'Too powerful, too political': reining back prosecutorial power

The flag of the prosecution and the Korean national flag are hoisted side by side in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul. / Korea Times fileDebates rise over new investigative body for high-profile casesBy Lee Suh-yoonThe promise of prosecutorial reform has been made by almost every Korean presidential candidate. However, few had the political will or courage to try once elected. None have come this close. The prosecution's investigation into allegations surrounding short-lived former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's family has reignited the debate over the political neutrality of what is essentially a non-elected office of civil servants, sparking public support and attention to fast-tracked bills aimed at curbing the agency's extensive powers. One prominent idea is setting up a separate investigative body for crimes of high-ranking public officials.Korean prosecutors have powers that are not granted to their counterparts in other developed nations. They have the exclusive right to criminally charge someone, except some minor crimes left to the police

Oct 24, 2019
'Too powerful, too political': reining back prosecutorial power

Wife of ex-justice minister arrested in corruption probe

Chung Kyung-sim, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, appears at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday to attend a hearing that will decide on her arrest. She faces eleven charges including obstruction of business, forgery, violation of the capital market law and destruction of evidence. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulA Seoul court on Thursday approved an arrest warrant for Chung Kyung-sim, wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, in a move that is expected to add traction to the prosecution's probe over charges related to her daughter's college admission and a private equity fund (PEF) investment.Following a hearing on Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court approved the prosecution's request, which was filed on Monday, saying the charges are justified and there is the possibility of Chung attempting to destroy evidence, among other reasons.Chung, a Dongyang University professor, appeared at the court in southern Seoul at around 10:10 a.m. Wednesday for the hearing."I will faithfully (explain everything) at the court hearing," Chung told reporters upon arriva

Oct 24, 2019
Wife of ex-justice minister arrested in corruption probe

DB Group ex-chairman comes home to face sexual violence allegations

DB Group’s former Chairman Kim Jun-ki is taken by police officers to be questioned about allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment, upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday, after more than two years of staying in the U.S. to avoid an investigation. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunDB Group's former Chairman Kim Jun-ki returned to Korea, Wednesday, after staying in the U.S. for two years, to face the police investigation into his alleged rape of his housekeeper and sexual harassment of his secretary.Kim was detained by the police upon arrival at Incheon International Airport from New York early in the morning, and was immediately transferred to the Suseo Police Station in Seoul.He had notified the police of his arrival date and time through his lawyer, and the police obtained a detention warrant from a local court before his arrival.Kim appeared in the arrival hall at 3:47 a.m., covering his handcuffed hands with a cloth, and stayed silent when reporters asked whether he admitted to the crimes and why he had been avoiding the police investigation. As the que

Oct 23, 2019By Kim Jae-heun
DB Group ex-chairman comes home to face sexual violence allegations

Ex-minister's wife at court

Chung Kyung-sim, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, enters the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Wednesday, to attend the court's review on whether to issue an arrest warrant for her over corruption allegations related to her daughter's college admissions and an investment in a private equity fund. It was her first public appearance since the scandal broke about two months ago. She told reporters, “I'll faithfully explain in court.” / Yonhap

Oct 23, 2019By Kim Jae-heun
Ex-minister's wife at court

Court to decide on arrest of ex-justice minister's wife

Chung Kyung-sim, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, appears at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday to attend a hearing that will decide on her arrest. She faces eleven charges including obstruction of business, forgery, violation of the capital market law and destruction of evidence. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThe wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk attended a court hearing Wednesday that will decide whether an arrest warrant will be issued for her over charges related to her daughter's college admission and an investment in a private equity fund (PEF).Chung Kyung-sim, a Dongyang University professor, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul at around 10:10 a.m. for the hearing.For roughly two months, the prosecution has been looking into Cho's family over allegations regarding the forgery of a college presidential citation, a dubious financial investment and academic favors."I will faithfully (explain everything) at the court hearing," Chung told reporters upon arrival at the court amid flashes of cameras by the press.The prosecu

Oct 23, 2019
Court to decide on arrest of ex-justice minister's wife
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