South Korea - The Korea Times

Actresses suffer post-Burning Sun fallout

From left are actresses Go Joon-hee, Han Hyo-joo, Gim Go-eun and Jung Eun-chae. Korea Times fileGo Jun-hee sues rumormongers; three others deny drug-involved party By Jung Hae-myoung The Burning Sun scandal, which cut K-pop singer Seungri's career short, has been rekindled after an investigative TV report on Saturday raised a fresh allegation about an actress in her 30s. According to the report, the unnamed actress took drugs at a drug-involved party at the nightclub on the day a man identified by his last name Kim was assaulted.Several actresses took action amid the allegations. Actress Go Joon-hee filed a libel suit against 12 rumormongers who spread rumors about her regarding the Burning Sun scandal and Han Hyo-joo denied attending the party the SBS program brought to light. Two others, Jung Eun-chae and Kim Ko-eun, also denied they were part of the drug-related party the SBS program raised. Actress Go Joon-hee took a stern measure on Saturday. She filed a libel suit against internet users who raised and spread rumors about Go possibly being one of the unnamed actresses mentioned

May 5, 2019

Actresses suffer post-Burning Sun fallout

Teenage diver dies during training

A 14-year old girl dies in a fatal diving accident in Incheon. YonhapBy Lee Min-youngA teenage diver died on Saturday after hitting her head on a springboard while training at the Park Tae-hwan Literature Pool in Incheon, police said Sunday. The girl, 14, was dead on arrival at a hospital.Police are looking into the exact cause of the accident.

May 5, 2019By Lee Min-young

Man dies after drinking poison from soju bottle

A man dies from poisoning after drinking coolant from the Soju bottle in the coastal city of Busan, according to the police, Friday. GettyimagesbankBy Lee Gyu-leeA 70-year old man died after drinking a chemical he apparently thought to be soju in the coastal city of Busan, according to the police, Friday. The victim's live-in companion, 78, found him unconscious after getting home from work and called 119 at around 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.His coworker reported to the police that the victim threw up several times after drinking at work. The police found coolant inside the soju bottle in the victim's car.The police believed that he drank ethylene glycol, the chemical substance in the coolant.

May 4, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee

Man dies after drinking poison from soju bottle

123 foreigners caught for drug offenses

Korean police said 123 foreigners were caught in two months for drug use and dealing. gettyimagesbankBy Dong Sun-hwaPolice announced Wednesday they have caught 123 foreigners for drug-related offenses during the two-month crackdown following the Burning Sun scandal. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said 68 of them or 55.3 percent were drug users, while the remaining 55 or 44.7 percent, were dealers. Of the total, 75 were arrested.The crackdown started on Feb. 25, after the drug scandal implicating Seungri, former member of K-pop group BIGBANG, erupted.Burning Sun, a club in Gangnam affiliated with Seungri, proved to be a “hotbed of crime” where drugs and prostitution was rampant. According to police, psychotomimetic agents, such as methamphetamine or crystal meth, and ecstasy were most commonly used, followed by marijuana.The drugs were smuggled via international mail, and were hidden inside boxes that contained coffee or snacks. The distribution was then organized via Internet or social media. Most of the time, the dealers hid the narcotics in a public location a

May 3, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa

Beggar nabbed for beating, robbing woman who fed him

Cheongju Heungdeok police have caught a man who allegedly assaulted and robbed a woman who fed him in central North Chungcheong Province. Hankook IlboBy Lee Gyu-leePolice have arrested a man who allegedly assaulted and robbed an elderly woman in central North Chungcheong Province who fed him, after she refused to comply with his demand for cash.Cheongju Heungdeok police on Thursday revealed that the man, 62, was in custody after being caught a week ago, following a three-month hunt. Security footage and testimony from the victim, 81, played a key role in his apprehension, they said. The victim invited the suspect into her house after he begged her to feed him about 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 24. After having a meal, he demanded money for traveling but bashed her when she refused. He ransacked the house to find 250,000 won ($214) and fled.

May 3, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee

Beggar nabbed for beating, robbing woman who fed him

Park Yoo-chun apologizes for lying about drug use

Former JYJ member Park Yoo-chun speaks to reporters in front of Nambu Police Agency in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, before being sent to prosecutors for his alleged illegal drug use. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiFormer K-pop boy band JYJ member Park Yoo-chun has admitted to using illegal drugs a number of times since last summer, police said Friday. He also apologized to the public for lying about the allegation, about three weeks after he claimed his innocence in a press conference.“I wanted to apologize to many people for lying,” Park told reporters as he left Nambu Police Agency in Suwon to be transferred to a prosecution detention center for further questioning.“I'm willing to receive punishment for what I did, and will live my life in regret,” Park told reporters when he came out of the police station.The 33-year-old is accused of having purchased 1.5 grams of methamphetamine over three times with his ex-fiancee Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, and using the drug with her at her home on a number of occasions between Feb

May 3, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Park Yoo-chun apologizes for lying about drug use

Prosecutor-general opposes fast-tracked judiciary reform bill

Top prosecutor virtually disobeys President, likely to quitBy Kang Seung-wooProsecutor-General Moon Moo-il has openly criticized a fast-tracked bill on expanding the independent investigative authority of the police, describing it as “running counter to the democratic principles of checks and balances.”Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-ilThe prosecutor general's opposition to this is seen as representing the view of his subordinates, and indicates the prosecution's resistance to judiciary reform, one of President Moon Jae-in's election promises. “As prosecutor-general, I am concerned about the ongoing discussions about our criminal justice system at the National Assembly,” Moon Moo-il, who is on a four-country trip, said in a press statement released Wednesday. His opposition was mainly aimed at the content of a specific reform measure, rather than the fast-tracking of this and two other bills.“I cannot agree to giving a specific organization [the police] exclusive powers of unhampered preliminary investigative rights and intelligence gathering,” Moon sa

May 2, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Prosecutor-general opposes fast-tracked judiciary reform bill

Man dies while evacuating grandfather in fire

Residents watch in the aftermath of the fatal apartment fire in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeA man, 25, died while trying to extinguish a fire in an apartment in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Monday morning.Police said 92 people inhaled smoke and 41 were taken to hospital after the blaze consumed three floors in a 25-story apartment building. The victim was visiting his grandfather, who told police that when he woke up because of a noise he found his grandson fighting the fire. The grandfather said his grandson told him to flee while insisting on staying behind to put out the blaze. Firefighters took 40 minutes to extinguish the fire. The cause remains unknown, but police ruled out arson. Police have requested an autopsy on the man.

May 2, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee

Man dies while evacuating grandfather in fire

Prosecutors search YouTuber's home for threatening liberal officials

By Kim Hyun-bin Prosecutors searched the home and broadcasting studio of a conservative YouTuber, surnamed Kim, Thursday, as the online broadcaster has repeatedly threatened key judiciary officials and liberal politicians demanding the release of former President Park Geun-hye. They secured computer hard drives and broadcasting materials at his home in southern Seoul and studio in central Seoul. After examining the seized materials, the prosecution will decide whether to indict or even arrest him.Since January, the 49-year-old filmed himself over 16 times visiting the residences of judiciary officials, liberal politicians and journalists, whilst expressing his hateful sentiments to viewers on YouTube. He visited Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's home three times and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Woo Won-shik's home and office four times.Late last month ahead of a decision by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on whether to temporarily suspend the prison term of former President Park Geun-hye for treatment of back pain, Kim visited the home of the office ch

May 2, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Prosecutors search YouTuber's home for threatening liberal officials

Ex-KT chief arrested over hiring irregularities

By Kang Seung-wooLee Suk-chae, a former chairman of KT, was arrested Tuesday night over allegations that he was involved in the company's illegal hiring of conglomerate scions and relatives of high-profile figures during his tenure.Former KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae arrives at the Seoul Southern District Court, Tuesday, for a court review on whether to issue an arrest warrant for him over his suspected involvement in the company's hiring scandal. The warrant was issued later in the day. / YonhapWith Lee's arrest, the prosecution's probe into the hiring scandal is expected to get a boost, making it more likely that Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and others who allegedly sought Lee's influence in the hiring process will be questioned. The scandal came to light after suspicions arose that the former opposition floor leader's daughter received preferential treatment in the hiring process in 2012.The Seoul Southern District Court issued an arrest warrant for the 73-year-old, saying he was likely to destroy evidence.Lee, who served as KT chairman from 2009

May 1, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Law & Crime