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2 sex scandals expand to power abuse allegations

Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum, left, and Justice Minister Park Sang-ki speak during a briefing in Seoul, Tuesday. /YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiTwo sex-related scandals are re-emerging and expanding to allegations of abuse of power, after new findings imply the investigations into the cases were interfered with by people in power who had links to law enforcement.One case which surfaced in 2013 alleged that former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui received “sexual services” paid for by a construction company chief in exchange for business favors in 2009. The other involved the 2009 suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon who alleged she was coerced into having sex with business and media heavyweights.A “truth panel” under the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was launched in February last year to investigate the two cases, but produced little in the way of results even though its investigations were extended three times. However, with the latest extension nearing an end, new suspicions regarding power abuse have emerged amid a growing public groundswell for the truth to b

Mar 19, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji
2 sex scandals expand to power abuse allegations

No way out of show biz drug scandal

Stuck in systematic failure, show business mired in drug scandalBy Jung Hae-myoung Celebrities in Korea are no strangers to drug problems. Since 1975 when a new draw law was first enforced on a group of stars for marijuana use, drugs have long been part of Korea's show business. Even before the recent K-pop scandal that showed the systematic drug abuse at Burning Sun nightclub in southern Seoul, Psy, who rose to global stardom for his “Gangnam Style” music video, was also once accused of smoking marijuana in 2001. Several other stars, including singers, actors and even comedians, have been prosecuted in relation to prohibited drugs. Despite crackdowns, show business' ties with prohibited drugs have continued. Experts say the authorities' systematic failure to stop drug dealing and cruel competition in show business are two leading causes behind stars' chronic reliance on prohibited drugs to find comfort. “Being a celebrity is much more stressful than one may think” said Kim Hyeong-geun, the head of Seoul Addiction Institute of Psychology. “Many of them a

Mar 19, 2019
No way out of show biz drug scandal

Two stars pressed to break silence over actress' death

Actress and model Yoon Ji-oh, center, and women's rights activists protest in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul last Friday, to urge the government to reinvestigate the death of fellow actress Jang Ja-yeon. / YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungTwo actresses, Lee Mi-sook and Song Seon-mi, are pressured to break their silence on Tuesday, a day after President Moon Jae-in singled out actress Jang Ja-yeon's death as one of three cases that need thorough reinvestigation to unearth the truth and bring justice. “There are cases where the truth was buried as investigators intentionally covered them up or didn't do their job properly. The public believes suspicions remain and there are numerous questions unanswered,” Moon said on Monday. “Those cases have two things in common ― influential people are involved and the prosecution and the police intentionally didn't dig out the truth.” Moon mentioned two cold cases ― actress Jang's death and the 2013 sex scandal involving former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui ― plus the scandal around K-pop star

Mar 19, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung
Two stars pressed to break silence over actress' death

New lead in double murder: stolen W500m from Bugatti sale proceeds

A Bugatti Veyron, the model once owned by an imprisoned stock analyst whose parents were recently murdered. From Bugatti.comBy Oh Young-jinThe 500 million won or $442,000 stolen during the murder of the parents of imprisoned infamous stock dealer Lee Hee-jin was part of 1.5 billion won that Lee's younger brother received for the sale of a Bugatti Veyron that belonged to Lee's fleet of supercars, reports said Tuesday.The French luxury car comes in three models ranging in price from $1.7 million to $3 million.Police also were looking for two more accomplices ― Koreans ― as well as three Chinese. The primary suspect in the murders is taken in for questioning, Monday. Korea TimesThe younger brother Hee-mun handed over the sum in cash and checks to his parents, who were ambushed by the main suspect, identified as Kim, and the three accomplices. The bag containing the money ― checks, each worth 1 million won, and bundles of banknotes of 50,000 won ― were taken before the parents were killed.Kim was with three Chinese accomplices, recruited for security jobs via the internet. The Chinese al

Mar 19, 2019By Oh Young-jin
New lead in double murder: stolen W500m from Bugatti sale proceeds

Actress Jang Ja-yeon's suicide case reopened

The late actress Jang Ja-yeonThe suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon in 2009 is drawing fresh media attention after President Moon Jae-in ordered prosecutors to conduct a thorough fact-finding into the case.Jang, then a 30-year-old rookie actress, committed suicide in March 2009 after leaving a suicide note that accused her agent of forcing her to attend drinking parties and to provide sexual favors to 31 high-profile entertainment figures and journalists. She hanged herself at her house in Bundang, south of Seoul.The agent, identified only as Kim, was arrested in July of the same year on charges of assaulting, threatening and coercing Jang to serve men at drinking parties and have sex with them. He drew a one-year jail term.Some of the 31 figures were also investigated by police in 2009 but were all acquitted.According to more than 50 letters allegedly written by Jang before her death and sent to her acquaintances, she claimed to have been forced to attend roughly 100 drinking parties for and offer sexual favors to 31 individuals, including heads of private enterprises and officials of

Mar 19, 2019
Actress Jang Ja-yeon's suicide case reopened

Prosecutors to probe sex crime involving ex-vice minister

Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui / Korea Times filePresident Moon Jae-in's special ordering of a thorough reinvestigation this week has cast a fresh spotlight on a 2013 sex scandal possibly involving influential figures from government, politics and business circles.The scandal is centered on former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui, who retired from public service in March 2013 amid allegations that he attended a sex party hosted by local contractor Yoon Jung-cheon at his villa in Wonju, 120 km east of Seoul.The scandal became known to the public after a video clip that was leaked during an adultery probe against Yoon showed a drunken orgy at the remote Wonju villa in which a group of men, including one believed to be Kim, were having a sex party with about 30 women.Kim was forced to resign only six days after he was appointed to the No. 2 post at the Ministry of Justice, as police and prosecutors launched their investigations into the scandal.Yoon was suspected of seeking business favors by providing officials and other influential figures sex services, and investigators also

Mar 19, 2019
Prosecutors to probe sex crime involving ex-vice minister

Chinese hitmen behind murder of stock swindler's parents: police

Three Chinese hitmen allegedly took part in killing the parents of a notorious stock swindler. The people in the photo are unrelated to the story. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe primary suspect in the double murder is escorted into a police station in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. YonhapThe man suspected of killing a notorious stock swindler's parents hired three Chinese hitmen for the crime, according to police Monday.Anyang Dongan Police Station said it confirmed that the Chinese fled to Qingdao on Feb. 25, hours after allegedly killing the parents of Lee Hee-jin, 33, who is serving a five-year jail term for swindling investors out of 20 billion won ($18 million) between 2014 and 2016.Police said they would soon request an Interpol red notice to find the three.The primary suspect, surnamed Kim, 34, allegedly hired the Chinese through the internet. It is unclear what he gave them in return.According to police, the four people allegedly killed Lee's father, 62, and mother, 58, at their apartment in Anyang around 3:50 p.m. The Chinese left the place around 6:10 p.m. and boarded

Mar 19, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Chinese hitmen behind murder of stock swindler's parents: police

Police crack down on false rumors about Jung's videos

By Kim Hyun-binPolice have launched a special crackdown on people spreading false rumors on social media about K-pop singer Jung Joon-young's illicit sex videos with at least 10 partners, as the issue has become a hot topic of gossip and rumors have been on the rise on who his celebrity victims were.Jung illicitly filmed his sexual encounters and shared the videos with his celebrity friends via a mobile messenger, and the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for him to a court, which will review the request soon. Jung Joon-young“Recently through social media, there has been a drastic surge in false rumors regarding people suspected of being involved in the illegal footage,” the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said, Tuesday. “To prevent extra harm to the victims, we ordered all police stations to conduct a special crackdown on people spreading false rumors online.”Ever since Jung's crime became known to the public, there have been endless speculations on his victims. The agencies of the rumored female celebrities said the speculations are groundless and

Mar 19, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Two killed in underground parking lot accident

Police investigators look at the wreckage of an SUV involved in a car accident in an Uiwang, Gyeonggi, apartment garage, Sunday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeTwo people were killed in a car accident at an underground parking garage of an apartment building in Uiwang, Gyeonggi province, Sunday afternoon, police said Monday. The driver of the car that caused the accident claimed her car suddenly accelerated and kept on going, even though she applied the brakes. The son of the driver, who was in the front passenger seat, was killed.The driver hit a car, ran over a janitor and crashed into a pillar of the garage.“I tried to stop after hitting a car but the brakes didn't work,” said Lee when she was questioned by police. She said her Kia SUV Sorento 2018, which was involved in the accident, was bought last year.The police will send the wreckage of her vehicle to the National Forensic Service. “We are checking the 'black box' surveillance camera inside the vehicle,” said a police investigator.

Mar 18, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Two killed in underground parking lot accident

W500 mil. heist? Double murder of parents of infamous swindler

The primary suspect of the double murder of parents of an infamous stock swindler is escorted into a police station in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. YonhapBy Oh Young-jin The primary suspect of the double murder of parents of a notorious stock swindler stored the bodies in a refrigerator and a cabinet after killing them and ran away with 500 million won or $442,000, police said in a briefing Monday.Gyeonggi police allege that the suspect, identified as a Kim, 34, had killed them in their house in Anyang with the help of three accomplices on Feb. 25-26. The three were recruited by Kim through the internet and acted as couriers. It was not determined whether they were involved in the actual act of murder. The deceased were parents of Lee Hee-jin, 33, once known as the upscale Gangnam's "Cheongdam-dong's rich stock man." He is now serving a five-year prison term for illegal stock deals, having appeared as a stock expert in TV programs and pretended to be a wealthy business man by showing off supercars and relations with top stars on his SNS. He has been ordered to pay 33 billion wo

Mar 18, 2019By Oh Young-jin
W500 mil. heist? Double murder of parents of infamous swindler
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