South Korea - The Korea Times

INTERVIEW US soldier relieved by Korean's recovery from Grand Canyon fall

Park Joon-hyuk, a Korean tourist who fell down a cliff at the Grand Canyon on Dec. 30 is being airlifted. Courtesy of Marcos OsunaBy Dong Sun-hwaMarcos Osuna, a U.S. Army master sergeant, contacted The Korea Times on Jan. 5 to inquire about the condition of Park Joon-hyuk, who fell off a cliff at the Grand Canyon a week earlier and had been hospitalized and remained unconscious. Osuna administered first aid to the Korean youth. Each of his emails to The Korea Times conveyed a sense of concern. Then, the Army veteran expressed relief in his short but emotional letter on Feb. 14, on hearing that Park had regained consciousness. “That means a lot to me and my family,” he said. “My family has been praying for his speedy recovery ― I wish to meet the Park family one day.”Park, 25, has been in Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, for a month, not being able to eat on his own or speak. According to Osuna's email, he and his cousin Joe Arellano saw Park fall in the canyon on Dec. 30 while on a family visit. The pair were going down to the main lookout point

Feb 20, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa

[INTERVIEW] US soldier relieved by Korean's recovery from Grand Canyon fall

Travel ban imposed on ex-environment minister

Probe into 'blacklist' of ministry-affiliated organizations expandingBy Kang Seung-wooA former environment minister has been banned from traveling abroad amid an escalating “blacklist” allegation that the ministry pushed chiefs of its affiliated organizations appointed by previous administrations to step down. Former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyungAccording to the prosecution, Tuesday, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office has issued a travel ban on former Minister Kim Eun-kyung after its investigators found documents backing up the accusation in its search of ministry offices, last month. Kim led the ministry from July 2017 to November 2018. It has been alleged that the Kim-led ministry drew up a list of 24 senior officials at eight affiliated organizations for replacement. The opposition parties claim the ministry authored the list to pressure the officials, appointed by the previous Park Geun-hye administration, to quit so the posts could be filled with people close to the current government.The documents, obtained from the prosecution's Jan. 14 raid, revea

Feb 19, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Travel ban imposed on ex-environment minister

2 killed, 70 injured in Daegu sauna fire

Fire authorities rescue people from fire at a sauna on the fourth floor of a seven-story building in Daegu, Tuesday. The fire killed two and injured about 50. / YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoungTwo people died and more than 70 were injured in a fire at a sauna in Daegu, Tuesday morning.According to Daegu Fire and Safety Department, the fire started in a sauna on the fourth floor of a seven-story building at around 7 a.m. More than 50 fire trucks with 145 firefighters were mobilized to contain the fire within 20 minutes. “We are currently investigating the exact cause of the fire, scale of the damage, and identifying the dead based on sources and witnesses,” an official of the fire authority said. Two people ― presumably in their 60s ― were found dead in the men's bath in the sauna and about 70 others who were in the building also inhaled toxic chemicals from the smoke. The injured people were transferred to Kyungpook National University Hospital and Daegu Fatima Hospital for treatment, including three who sustained serious burns.The fire authorities figure the fire started at the

Feb 19, 2019

2 killed, 70 injured in Daegu sauna fire

YouTuber finds body while exploring abandoned hospital

By Park Si-sooA YouTuber who specializes in exploring off-the-beaten spots has found the partially decomposed body of a man at an abandoned hospital in Gwangju, police said Monday. The YouTuber, 30, identified only by his surname Park, found the body inside a recovery room on the second floor of the three-story building on Saturday night, according to police. The body, in long johns, was lying in a corner along with blankets and clothes. Police are working to identify the body. The YouTuber told police he sneaked into the hospital after climbing over its barbed-wire fence. Police reportedly found no signs of foul play. An investigation is under way.

Feb 18, 2019

YouTuber finds body while exploring abandoned hospital

Labor authorities begins inspection on Hanhwa factory explosion

Investigators from the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency enter the agency building, carrying seized articles from a Hanwha factory in Daejeon, Friday, a day after an explosion killed three workers at the factory./ YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoungThe regional labor office in Daejeon launched a special inspection, Monday, of an ammunition factory owned by Hanhwa, where an explosion killed three workers last Thursday. Inspectors from the office and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency are examining the facility, especially the rocket propellant manufacturing process where the accident took place, to find the exact cause of the explosion and check safety measures there.The labor office ordered the factory to stop operations immediately after the incident. Even after the inspection, resuming operations will only be possible only when the factory owner sets up safety plans, and inspectors from the regional labor office give approval after confirming their effectiveness.However, reopening the factory is expected to take a considerable amount of time, as the inspectors are struggling to

Feb 18, 2019

Labor authorities begins inspection on Hanhwa factory explosion

JTBC chief questioned over alleged violence against freelance journalist

JTBC head and news presenter Sohn Suk-hee answers reporters' questions at Mapo Police Station in western Seoul, early Sunday morning, after undergoing 19 hours of questioning over his alleged assault of a freelance journalist. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonBy Kim RahnSohn Suk-hee, the head of cable channel JTBC and news presenter, was questioned, Saturday, over his alleged assault of a freelance journalist.He was accused of punching the journalist, surnamed Kim, several times during a dinner meeting in Seoul on Jan. 10.The interrogation continued for about 19 hours and Sohn returned home around 3 a.m. on Sunday. After the questioning, he told reporters, “The truth will be revealed.” Kim claimed he was preparing to report on a car accident caused by Sohn several years ago, and the JTBC chief offered him a job at the broadcaster in return for not reporting it. He said he rejected the offer and then Sohn attacked him.Sohn denied the accusation, claiming Kim demanded a JTBC job by threatening him with the car accident issue. Kim got angry as he rejected the demand, and t

Feb 17, 2019By Kim Rahn

JTBC chief questioned over alleged violence against freelance journalist

Burning Sun probe expands to all Gangnam clubs

Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency leave Burning Sun nightclub in southern Seoul, Thursday, with materials seized in a search over drug use allegations. / YonhapPolice officer says drug crackdown at clubs not easyBy Kim Jae-heunA Chinese staffer at Burning Sun enters the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's drug investigation unit office in eastern Seoul, Saturday, to be questioned over her alleged selling of drugs at the club. / YonhapThe police are expanding their investigation into alleged drug use at the Burning Sun nightclub to all clubs in Gangnam, an entertainment district in southern Seoul.Officers from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, Sunday, they are looking into all drug-related allegations at all Gangnam clubs.This is because club “merchandisers,” colloquially known as MDs, wgi “advertise” the facilities, take reservations from guests, and receive commissions from the clubs, do not belong to one venue but work for many facilities, they said.The investigation began earlier this month after a customer posted a petition on

Feb 17, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Nightclubs in Gangnam under police drug probe

Police said Sunday they are expanding a probe into suspected drug trafficking at clubs in Seoul's posh Gangnam district following a scandal involving allegations of drug use, sexual assault and violence at a prominent nightclub.A Chinese woman who worked at Burning Sun, a nightclub in the bustling Gangnam Station area, was under police probe on suspicion of illegally providing drugs VIP customers at the club."We are looking into alleged drug trafficking at other clubs in Gangnam areas on top of Burning Sun," a police officer said.Prosecutors also filed for a warrant to arrest another employee at the club last week over suspected use of drugs.Burning Sun stands at the center of a scandal involving drug trafficking, sexual assault, violence against customers and alleged collusion with police.The scandal broke after the club's security staff beat up a 28-year-old man, only identified by his surname Kim, in late November.The man claimed that he tried to protect a woman who was manhandled by a club employee, but he was beaten by the club's officials and police officers as an attacker.The

Feb 17, 2019

Nightclubs in Gangnam under police drug probe

BIGBANG's Seungri apologizes over 'Burning Sun' scandal

Constitutional Court to rule on abortion on April 4

The Constitutional Court is expected to come up with a final decision on the constitutionality of anti-abortion law in April after a two-year review of the legislation. / GettyimagesbankBy Kim Jae-heunThe Constitutional Court is expected to come up with a final decision on the constitutionality of the nation's 66-year-old anti-abortion law in April after a two-year review of the legislation.Last time the abortion ban was challenged in 2012, the court ruled in favor of it, but this time, there are growing whispers that it may be found unconstitutional given ideas that the anti-abortion law banning abortion during all periods of time from conception to birth is too harsh.The current law does not distinguish a legal period for abortion and if the court decides abortion is illegal, then the National Assembly has to revise the law. “The court did not give a verdict on constitutionality of the law on abortion on March 28 so it has decided to make a judgment on April 11, a week before two judges retire on April 18,” the Constitutional Court official said. “A trial related

Feb 15, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Constitutional Court to rule on abortion on April 4

Controversies brewing over abortion following gov't survey

Former Taekwang Group chief gets 3-year jail term for embezzlement

Former Taekwang Group Chairman Lee Ho-jin enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul, Feb. 15. YonhapA Seoul appellate court on Friday sentenced former Taekwang Group Chairman Lee Ho-jin to three years in prison for embezzlement.Chances are high that Lee's sentence will be confirmed by the top court later. In October last year, the Supreme Court ordered the case to be reviewed citing procedural errors regarding some of the tax evasion charges.Lee was accused of siphoning off 20.6 billion won (US$18.2 million) of company funds by doctoring output figures in Taekwang's textile business. He was also charged for allegedly evading 560 million won in taxes. Regarding the tax evasion charges, the Seoul High Court sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He was originally sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. But he was freed in May 2011 after only serving two months in jail as the court approved his bail request on grounds of health problems and suspended his confinement. But speculation mounted last year that he might have lied to the

Feb 15, 2019

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