South Korea - The Korea Times

Korean dies after setting car on fire in front of Japanese embassy

Firefighters extinguish a car fire in front of an office building in which the Japanese embassy is located, early Friday. YonhapBy Park Si-sooA Korean man in his 70s died after setting his car on fire in front of a building in Jongno, Seoul, in which the Japanese embassy is located, police said Friday.He set the car on fire at 3:24 a.m. Friday and the flames were extinguished in 10 minutes. The man, 78, surnamed Kim, suffered serious burns and died at around noon. The embassy was undamaged. The car, registered in the name of the man's friend, was loaded with flammable agents such as bottled gas and gasoline. The incident took place at 3:24 a.m. Friday and the flames were extinguished in 10 minutes. YonhapThe man, 78, surnamed Kim, died after being rescued. YonhapPolice confirmed the man had expressed a grudge against Japan in a phone call with a friend a day before the incident. But they said there was no clear evidence the incident was motivated by the ongoing Seoul-Tokyo trade conflict. The victim's father-in-law was a victim of forced labor under 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of

Jul 19, 2019

Korean dies after setting car on fire in front of Japanese embassy

Korea-Japan dispute spreads to security

Actor sent to prosecution for sexual assault allegion

Actor Kang Ji-hwan is taken from Bundang Police Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, as he is being referred to the prosecution on suspicion of sexual assault. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunPolice referred actor Kang Ji-hwan to the prosecution, Thursday, eight days after he was detained for alleged sex crimes against two women. He first denied the allegations, but admitted to them later during police questioning. Investigators are also looking into whether he took illegal drugs at the time of the incidents.Kang, 42, was transferred from a detention center in Gwangju Police Station, Gyeonggi Province, to the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.Kang, wearing a face mask and cap, refused to answer reporters' questions as he was being taken into the prosecution's building.He is suspected of raping one woman and molesting another after drinking with them at his home in Gwangju, July 9. The two women were staff members of a subcontractor working for the entertainment company representing Kang. The three were drinking with other staff at his house, and the two wo

Jul 18, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Actor sent to prosecution for sexual assault allegion

37 arrested in Malaysia for running illicit gambling websites

Police have arrested 37 Koreans in Malaysia on suspicion of running illegal gambling websites. / gettyimagesbankBy Kang Seung-wooThirty-seven Koreans have been arrested on suspicion of operating illegal gambling websites in Malaysia, with stakes worth hundreds of billions of won, the police said, Thursday.The 37, from two illegal gambling rings, are being questioned by police after being extradited from the Southeast Asian country from July 9 through Wednesday.This marks the largest number of Koreans ever caught overseas for running illegal gambling websites.According to police, one group, comprised of nine members led by a 41-year-old man surnamed Lee, is suspected of running an illicit website in Kuala Lumpur since March 2015, raking in illegal profits of 19.2 billion won ($16.2 million). Police estimate transactions on the site totaled more than 384 billion won. The other ring, led by a 38-year-old man identified as Roh, is alleged to have operated similar illegal gambling websites in the Malaysian capital since April 2017. The massive arrests came after the Korean National Police

Jul 18, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

37 arrested in Malaysia for running illicit gambling websites

Gov't to crack down on spy cams during beach season

People enjoy Haeundae Beach in Busan, May 26. / Korea Times photo by Jeon Hye-wonBy Kim Jae-heunWith summer vacationers ready to flock to beaches across the country, the government said it will carry out crackdowns on spy cams in the areas.The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Wednesday it will cooperate with police to prevent and crack down on such crimes at Haeundae Beach in Busan, Daecheon Beach in South Chungcheong Province and Gyeongpodae Beach in Gangwon Province through the end of August. The crackdown will focus on the secret photographing or filming of other holidaymakers' bodies. The ministry will also work together with local governments to check public toilets and dressing rooms for hidden cameras.It asks people to report to nearby police stations or call 112 if they see someone secretly taking a picture of another person on the beach. People secretly taking photos or filming the bodies of others are subject to up to five years in prison or 30 million won in fines. The criminal's personal information can also be made public if the crime is serious and the person

Jul 17, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Gov't to crack down on spy cams during beach season

Ban on intrusive job interview questions comes into force

Questions such as "what does your father do?" are no longer allowed during job interviews. GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoA new law banning companies from asking jobseekers for unnecessary personal information came into force Wednesday.According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the law bans companies from requiring job applicants to submit sensitive information, such as their regions of birth and other family members' profiles, and asking such questions during job interviews.Other information that should not be asked includes their wealth, marital status and physical condition such as weight, height and whether they have a “decent appearance.” However, if such information is essential to evaluate applicants' suitability for positions such as modeling, employers can demand it.A company that violates the law can be fined 3 million won ($2,600) for a first offense, 4 million won for a second violation and 5 million for a third.Korean companies have long been notorious for intrusive and discriminatory hiring practices that require job applicants to submit all sorts of p

Jul 17, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Ban on intrusive job interview questions comes into force

Justice for migrant women

Women's rights groups call for the adoption of a comprehensive anti-discrimination act that would better protect migrant women's rights, in front of Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. They also called for more effective measures to prevent domestic violence against migrant women and enhanced immigration regulations that make it easier for abused migrant wives to lead independent lives in Korea without the need for assistance from their husbands. / Yonhap

Jul 15, 2019

English-language driver's license to be issued in September

The draft designs of a new driver's license with English information printed on the back / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooDrivers here will be able to operate vehicles with a Korea-issued driver's license in at least 35 countries as early as September as new licenses will carry English information, the road traffic authority said, Monday.According to KoRoad, people can get a driver's license with their information such as name, address and gender printed in English on the back of the license if they want.“We plan to issue such licenses from September to provide convenience for Koreans who drive in countries accepting our local driving permits,” a KoRoad official said. The 35 countries include Britain, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Turkey, Peru and Finland.Currently, when Koreans plan to drive overseas, they have to get an international driving permit from driver's license test sites across the nation, police stations or the issuing center at Incheon International Airport. The international license is valid for one year from the date of issuance, and costs 8,500 won ($7.20) per ap

Jul 15, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

English-language driver's license to be issued in September

Japanese man booked for filming FINA athletes secretly

By Bahk Eun-jiA Japanese man has been caught for secretly filming female water polo players at the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019, Gwangsan Police Station said Monday.The police booked the man, 37, without physical detention, and will refer the case to the prosecution and request it to indict him on charges of violating acts regarding sex crimes. He has also been banned from leaving Korea.A 37-year-old Japanese man was caught for secretly filming water polo players at the FINA World Championships Gwangju. /GettyimagesbankThe man allegedly sneaked into the restricted area of the water polo venue at Nambu University, Sunday, and recorded lower body parts of the female athletes, who were warming up before the game, with his camera for about 10 minutes, police said.He was caught after a visitor reported to police that a man was behaving suspiciously.The man insisted he merely wanted to record the players' performance without any intention of sexual harassment, police said.The man was scheduled to leave Korea on Monday morning and tried to take a plane back to Japan, but failed to

Jul 15, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Japanese man booked for filming FINA athletes secretly

Revered folk dancer falls from grace

Korean folk dancer Ha Yong-bu, right / Korea Times fileIntangible cultural asset holder Ha Yong-bu to be stripped of title By Kang Hyun-kyungRevered Korean folk dancer Ha Yong-bu, who has been designated as a holder of the important intangible cultural heritage title since 2001, will be stripped of the honor.The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) made the announcement Friday, over a year after Ha's fall from grace in February last year after he was accused of sexual misconduct.Ha founded the Milyang Theater Village in the southeastern city of Miryang in 1981 and had since served as its head until last year. Some former troupe members alleged he sexually harassed and assaulted them when they worked together in the village. Ha was subsequently removed from the position. Ha, 64, who was once lauded as a pioneer who played a critical role in modernizing and globalizing Korean folk dance, was indicted for sexually assaulting several former troupe members and his trial will start this week at Changwon Court. The CHA said members of the intangible cultural asset committee held a meeting

Jul 14, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Animal rights groups slam lawmakers for not banning dog meat trade

Hollywood actress Kim Basinger, right, holds up a life-size model of an electrocuted dog with other animal rights activists in front of the National Assembly, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulHollywood actress Kim Basinger shows up to support local animal rights groupsBy Lee Suh-yoonAnimal rights groups have called on lawmakers to pass an amended Animal Protection Act banning dog meat consumption here.During a rally in front of the National Assembly, Friday, protesters set up a symbolic altar piled with life-size replicas of electrocuted dogs at farms. One activist held up the actual remains of a puppy that had died from poor conditions at a dog farm.A dog rescued from a dog farm in South Gyeongsang Province at an animal rights rally / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThe rally took place on “chobok,” a day marking the beginning of the hottest days of summer on the Korean lunar calendar. On this day, Koreans traditionally consume hot meaty soup dishes ― most commonly samgyetang, or chicken ginseng soup ― to regain lost stamina from the heat. Though declining

Jul 12, 2019

Law & Crime