South Korea - The Korea Times

Questions arising over role of women in police force

A policewoman, second from right, fails to contain a drunken man in front of a bar in Daelim-dong, western Seoul, in this video footage shot on May 13. / Courtesy of Guro Police Station By Kim Hyun-binThe government's move to increase the number of female police officers has been called into question, after a short video of a female officer struggling to contain a violent drunk went viral. Frustrated by her “inability,” a petition was posted on the presidential office's website, calling for an end to the recruitment of female law enforcement officers.The Moon Jae-in administration aims to increase the proportion of women on the police force to 15 percent by 2022.“We don't need a police officer that requests help from citizens when they are making an arrest,” the petitioner said. “There should not be sexual discrimination, but there is a physical difference. The female officers should take the same physical tests as men or be placed in a safer and more comfortable po

May 19, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Questions arising over role of women in police force

Seungri admits having sex with prostitutes

Former BIGBANG member Seungri leaves Seoul Central District Court on May 14 after a hearing on his arrest warrant. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoFormer BIGBANG member Seungri has admitted having sex with prostitutes.Broadcaster Channel A reported Saturday that Seungri, 28, made the admission during a hearing on his arrest warrant at Seoul Central District Court on May 14.“It is correct that I paid for having sex with an employee of an adult establishment. I regret it … As a celebrity, it was hard for me to admit that charge previously,” he was quoted as saying.It is unclear how many times he received illicit sex services.But Seungri denied allegations of more serious offenses, including procuring prostitutes for foreign investors in his club “Burning Sun” and embezzling 500 million won ($420,000) from company accounts.A person found guilty of procuring prostitutes could face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 70 million won ($59,000).

May 19, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Seungri admits having sex with prostitutes

Ex-vice justice minister arrested for alleged bribery

Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui remains silent as reporters question him about bribery allegations, at the Seoul Central District Court, Thursday. The court reviewed whether to issue an arrest warrant for him, and issued one later the same day. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiFormer Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui, 63, was arrested, late Thursday night, over his alleged acceptance of bribes and involvement in a sex scandal. The arrest came six years after the allegations first emerged in March 2013. The third investigation unveiled fresh allegations of bribery and he was arrested, fueling suspicions that two previous investigations in 2013 and 2014, which cleared him of all suspicions, were poorly conducted and probably interfered with by Cheong Wa Dae, that supported Kim at the time.The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for him, saying he was a flight risk and was likely to destroy evidence.Kim is accused of receiving around 130 million won ($109,080) in kickbacks between 2006 and 2008 and sexual services over 100 times paid for by building contractor Yoon Jung-cheo

May 17, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Ex-vice justice minister arrested for alleged bribery

'Not again,' women's groups say after Burning Sun probe fails to bring justice

Women's rights groups hold a press conference in front of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Friday, condemning the recent results of the police's investigation into the Burning Sun nightclub which failed to discover alleged cozy ties between police and club operators. YonhapBy Lee Suh-yoonThree months after police launched an investigation into alleged rapes and drug use at the nightclub Burning Sun and the cozy ties between police officers and the club owners, justice is still far from reach, women's groups said Friday.None of the key players in what the groups refer to as the country's “rape business cartel” were held accountable in results announced Wednesday. Exceptions were K-pop star Jung Joon-young, who left clear digital evidence of illicit sex video sharing in mobile chatrooms, and a couple of Burning Sun staff members who were involved in a physical assault on a male customer who first raised suspicions of the collusive links with police.The results of the investigation ― which was conducted by 152 officers and on which the police chief said he would risk the po

May 17, 2019

'Not again,' women's groups say after Burning Sun probe fails to bring justice

Man gets 25 years in jail for killing doctor

Park, who was charged with murdering psychiatrist Lim Se-won, is escorted to the Seoul Central District Court to attend a court review of a request for an arrest warrant for him in this January file photo. Korea Times fileBy Kim RahnA man was sentenced to 25 years in jail, Friday, for killing a psychiatrist at a Seoul hospital last year. The Seoul Central District Court imposed the prison term on the man, surnamed Park, 31, for stabbing doctor Lim Se-won at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital to death Dec. 31 during a consultation.Prosecutors earlier sought a life sentence, but the court did not accept this, saying his psychiatric condition was an underlying cause of the crime, and he needed treatment for this.Calling Lim a respected psychiatrist, the court said he sustained the attack after accepting Park's request for a consultation although he had not made an appointment. “Park's crime gave unspeakable pain and shock to the bereaved family members, who have to suffer from the pain for the rest of their lives,” the court said. “Park claims he murdered the victim in self-defe

May 17, 2019By Kim Rahn

Man gets 25 years in jail for killing doctor

Building superintendent accused of sexually harassing foreign residents

A man has been booked over allegations of sexually harassing foreign residents of a building where he works as superintendent in northwestern Seoul. GettyimagesbankBy Lee Gyu-leeA building superintendent has been booked for allegedly sexually harassing foreign residents in Seodaemun, northwestern Seoul, Seodaemun police said. The suspect, in his 40s, allegedly verbally and physically harassed foreign women, most of whom are studying or on a temporary stay in Korea. The building is used as a dormitory for foreign students of a nearby university. Police began their investigation after one of the alleged victims complained.Police allege the suspect has been harassing foreign residents for a long time. The victims said they did not know how to deal with it.“He tried to kiss me twice and grab my butt,” one victim told a local news outlet. “He would also ask me to sleep with him.” The victims said the suspect would approach them when they were alone and knock on their apartment door in the middle of the night. Police will look into whether there are other victims. T

May 17, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee

Building superintendent accused of sexually harassing foreign residents

'Libel suit against Chun needed to bring justice to Gwangju citizens'

Cho Young-dae, a Catholic priest who is suing former dictator Chun Doo-hwan for libel in a case involving his uncle, the deceased Father Cho Bi-oh, speaks outside Gwangju District Court, Jan. 7. Chun called Father Cho Bi-oh, an eyewitness who testified about soldiers firing machine guns from military helicopters in the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, a “liar” and “Satan” in his 2017 memoir. YonhapBy Lee Suh-yoonFor Father Cho Young-dae, the ongoing libel suit against a former dictator has more at stake than just his uncle's honor. “The things Chun said about Father Cho Bi-oh (Cho's uncle) in his memoir, it's defamation not just against Cho but also the clergy and the people of Gwangju,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday, days before the 39th anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.In a controversial memoir published in 2017, former President Chun Doo-hwan called Cho's uncle “a shameless liar” for his testimony of aerial machine gun attacks on Gwangju residents during the uprising. Hundreds of people were beaten, stabbed

May 17, 2019

'Libel suit against Chun needed to bring justice to Gwangju citizens'

Ex-chairman of Gimpo council detained for killing wife

By Kim Jae-heunYou Seung-hyunPolice detained former Gimpo City Council Chairman You Seung-hyun, Wednesday, for allegedly killing his wife in a repeated assault committed while he was intoxicated. According to the Gimpo Police Station, You called an emergency services center at 4:57 p.m. to report that his wife had “fainted” at their home in Yangchon, Gyeonggi Province, and was not breathing.When emergency personnel arrived at his house in an ambulance, his wife was found to be unresponsive.Police officers, who arrived at the scene following a report by the emergency staff, found the wife's body to be covered in bruises with her face and head swollen. They also found a bloodstained golf club and three empty liquor bottles nearby, one of them broken.You, 55, admitted to killing his wife, saying he was drunk at the time and “accidentally” hit and kicked her while they were arguing. He claimed that he used his fists and feet to punch and kick her, but did not hit her with the golf club or the bottles.Police immediately detained You and are questioning him about th

May 16, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Ex-chairman of Gimpo council detained for killing wife

Top prosecutor shows clear opposition to investigative power reform

Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il speaks during a press conference at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe nation's top prosecutor once again made it clear Thursday that his organization opposes the government's plan to expand the independent investigative authority of the police, saying this went against democratic principles.But, this time, he unveiled a plan to overhaul the prosecution, highlighted by a reduction in the number of direct investigations it conducts and “redistributing” the right to start probes. “Within any investigative organization, its power should not be expanded if it is not under the control of checks and balances,” Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il said during a press conference at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul.“The judiciary reform bill, currently on a fast track at the National Assembly, does not abide by the democratic principles of the criminal justice system, and raises concerns over possible failures to protect basic rights.” The press conference came amid escalating te

May 16, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Top prosecutor shows clear opposition to investigative power reform

Gyeonggi governor cleared of all charges

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung leaves the Seongnam branch of Suwon District Court, Seongnam, Thursday, after being cleared of charges of power abuse and Election Law violations. / YonhapBy Lee Suh-yoonA Suwon court cleared Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung of charges of abuse of power and violating the Election Law, Thursday, saying the governor's actions to commit his brother to a mental health facility could not be seen as an abuse of his authority. The Seongnam branch of Suwon District Court ruled Lee not guilty of the four charges brought against him ― one alleging abuse of power, and three claiming he gave false information during election campaigns. Last year, prosecutors indicted Lee on charges of abusing his power as mayor of Seongnam in 2012 to order a regional health center head and a mental health doctor to prepare documents that could forcibly commit his elder brother to a mental health facility. Lee denied the charges, saying what he was trying to do was not “forcible hospitalization” but a “forcible checkup.” Lee's brother, a far

May 16, 2019

Law & Crime