South Korea - The Korea Times

Korean consul jailed for selling visas to Chinese workers

By Park Si-sooA South Korean consul has been convicted of selling working visas to unqualified Chinese people.The Seoul High Court upheld a lower court’s guilty verdict, sentencing the consul, surnamed Lee, 53, to two years in prison. He also was fined 23 million won ($20,060) and forfeited ill-gotten gains of 22 million won.Lee was accused of issuing working visas to 369 unqualified Chinese people between April and September last year in return for money from a leather company here. He was also accused of leaking confidential state information. The consul is believed to have tipped off the company about the immigration office moving to investigate the case and helped it destroy evidence.“He committed a grave violation of immigration law,” Judge Chung Sun-jae said. “He severely ignored his duty of fulfilling his work in a fair and transparent manner.” 

Oct 5, 2017

Korean consul jailed for selling visas to Chinese workers

Korean judge-lawyer couple accused of child abuse in Guam

By Park Si-soo/ Captured from local media A South Korean judge-lawyer couple has been accused in Guam of child abuse. They reportedly went shopping on Monday with their two children locked in a car in sweltering weather.U.S. law punishes parents who leave minors unattended inside a car as child abuse.The children, aged six and one, were found “slumped forward” in the car parked near a shopping center Monday afternoon. The engine was off and the windows closed.Two people noticed the children and called police after failing to find their parents. Police rescued the children who had “sweat streaming down their foreheads and the sides of their faces.” They are now recovering, according to local media.Video footage shows the couple rushing to the car but police blocking their access to the children.The two were released from jail after posting bail of $2000 each. They will stand trial on Oct. 25. / Captured from local media 

Oct 5, 2017

Korean judge-lawyer couple accused of child abuse in Guam

Judge warned for leaving children alone in car in Guam

Authorities seize more than 8,500 human-flesh pills

Pills made from baby flesh / YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiMore than 8,500 pills made from baby flesh have been found over the past three years, a main opposition party lawmaker said Tuesday.The pills, allegedly made from the flesh of aborted or stillborn babies, were mostly smuggled from China in the false belief they are good for health.According to data obtained by Rep. Park Myung-jae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, 8,511 capsules were found from 2014 to June this year.In 2014, 6,694 pills were found, 251 in 2015 and 476 last year.Rep. Park said most of the pills were smuggled by international mail.More than 900 pills were smuggled by mail in 2015, but this year, they were mainly carried by travelers due to tougher checks.“We have to root out the smuggling of human flesh pills, and make people aware it is a crime against humanity,” Park said.“It is a misconception that human flesh enhances stamina _ it is actually dangerous to health.” 

Oct 3, 2017

Authorities seize more than 8,500 human-flesh pills

Court backs educator over 'dogs and pigs' remarks

Na Hyang-wook / YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Seoul Administrative Court on Friday ruled in favor of a senior educator who was dismissed after referring to the public as “dogs and pigs”Na Hyang-wook, a former director general of Ministry of Education policy planning bureau, sued the ministry in June, claiming his dismissal was unfair.Na made the controversial remarks at dinner meeting with editors and reporters from a progressive newspaper in July 2016. During the meeting, Na described the public as nothing but “dogs and pigs,”and said society needed to consolidate the class system because people were not “born equal.”The ministry asked the Central Disciplinary Committee to review the dismissal request. T request was accepted given the intensive public uproar.The court heard that Na had passed the civil service examination, served as the education minister’s secretary and as a Cheong Wa Dae official.

Sep 29, 2017

Court backs educator over 'dogs and pigs' remarks

Another mysterious gunshot death in inter-Korean border county

The mysterious shooting death of a Korean soldier in Cheorwon County, in Gangwon Province, on Sep. 26 is the latest fatal incident involving soldiers stationed in the county near the inter-Korean border. / Graphic by Cho Sang-wonBy Ko Dong-hwanA Korean soldier stationed in the inter-Korean border county of Cheorwon, in Gangwon Province, died of a mysterious gunshot to his head on Tuesday, the latest in a series of fatal incidents there.The victim, 22, whose name was not released, was returning to his platoon with about 20 soldiers and their commander after working when the bullet hit him. Who fired the bullet and where it came from are unknown.The incident occurred about 4:10 p.m. The soldier was taken to hospital but died at 5:20 p.m.The bullet most likely came from a military shooting range within 400 meters of the incident site, media reports said.But a netizen who claimed to be a family member of the victim said the commander was responsible for the death. The family member, who was with the victim’s body at the Armed Forces Medical Command in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, s

Sep 28, 2017

Another mysterious gunshot death in inter-Korean border county

Koreans' patience with bullies running out

More people stand up against 'gapjil'By Kang Hyun-kyungHuman rights activist Oh Chang-ik encountered an awkward moment during his visit to the National Assembly on Feb. 22 for a seminar about reforming the law enforcement agencies. When he dropped by the restroom during a break that afternoon, an assistant of then Deputy Police Commissioner Kim Gui-chan was there waiting for his boss with toilet paper in his hand.Soon, Oh figured out what was going on. As Kim came out of the toilet and washed his hands, his assistant handed him tissues from the roll. His assistant was there to help his boss dry out his wet hands. Kim, who appeared to take his assistant’s help for granted, took the toilet paper and used it to dry his hands.Oh was in disbelief at what he saw. After returning to the seminar room, Oh asked Jang Sin-joong, a retired senior superintendent, if it’s common for a senior-level police official like Kim to have their assistant attend to them even in the restroom.“It’s a shame such a trash-like outdated practice is still festering in the police organizatio

Sep 28, 2017

Koreans' patience with bullies running out

Widow accused of withholding daughter's death for money

Kim Kwang-bok, the older brother of the late folk singer Kim Kwang-seok, appears at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Wednesday, to give statements for a recently reopened investigation into the death of Kim Seo-yeon, the daughter of Kim Kwang-seok and his ex-wife Seoh Hai-soon. YonhapBrother of legendary singer gives statements to policeBy Lee Kyung-minKim Kwang-bok, the older brother of the late folk singer Kim Kwang-seok, said Wednesday that the truth will be uncovered surrounding his brother’s sudden, shocking death. Kim died in what policed concluded was a suicide at age 32 in 1996.“Much of what my former sister-in-law, Seoh Hai-soon, is saying is not true. Most of the circumstances surrounding the death of my brother remain unclear. I urge this case to be reinvestigated thoroughly.” he said.Kim appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to give a statement in the recently reopened investigation into the death of Kim Seo-yeon, the daughter of Kim Kwang-seok and his ex-wife Seoh. The investigation followed a complaint filed last week by former MBC

Sep 27, 2017

Widow accused of withholding daughter's death for money

소방관 2명, 모텔서 미성년자 성추행

경찰은 지적장애 여성과 미성년자를 상대로 성범죄를 저지른 혐의를 받는 소방관 2명을 기소의견으로 검찰에 송치했다.  27일 전남지방경찰청에 따르면 전남 모 소방서 A 소방사와 B 소방사는 채팅 앱으로 만난 여성들을 추행한 혐의(강제추행)로 불구속 기소의견으로 검찰에 송치됐다고 밝혔다.   지난 7월 29일 밤 A 소방사 등은 전남 목포 시내의 한 모텔에서 지적장애 2급인 20대 여성과 10대 후반 여고생을 강제추행한 혐의를 받고 있다.    이들은 스마트폰 채팅 앱으로 알게 된 피해 여성들과 이날 처음으로 만나 모텔에서 술을 마시며 신체 접촉을 한 것으로 조사됐다.    이들 소방관은 여성들과 말다툼을 하고 한 시간여 만에 모텔을 떠났고 여성들은 112 경찰종합상황실에 피해 신고를 했다.    A 소방사 등은 "술을 마시고 토하길래 도와준 것"이라거나 "강제로 신체 접촉을 한 것이 아니"라며 혐의를 부인한 것으로 알려졌다.    또 여성들이 지적장애가 있거나 미성년인 줄도 몰랐다고 주장했다고 연합뉴스는 전했다.    전남도 소방본부는 사건을 통보받은 직후인 지난달 초 이들 소방사를 직위해제했다.   

Sep 27, 2017

송선미 남편 청부살해?

송선미 / Korea Times file배우 송선미씨의 남편을 흉기로 찔러 숨지게 한 혐의로 재판에 넘겨진 20대가 범행 직전 청부살인 방법을 알아본 정황이 발견돼 검찰이 수사하고 있다고 연합뉴스가 전했다.27일 서울중앙지검 형사3부(이진동 부장검사)에 따르면 지난 18일 송씨의 남편을 살해한 혐의를 받는 조모(28)씨를 구속기소 하면서 조씨가 흥신소 등에 청부살인 방법을 알아본 적이 있다는 부분을 공소 사실과 관련한 내용으로 포함했다.    조씨는 지난 8월 21일 서울 서초동의 한 법무법인 사무실에서 송씨의 남편인 영화 미술감독 고모씨를 살해한 혐의를 받고있다.    고씨는 재일교포 1세로 거액의 자산가인 외할아버지 곽모(99)씨와 재산 상속 문제를 두고 이종사촌인 곽모씨와 갈등을 빚어 왔고, 조씨는 곽씨와 얼마 전까지 함께 살며 막역한 사이였던 것으로 전해졌다.    검찰은 조씨가 고씨에게 의도적으로 접근한 것으로 보고 있다.    아울러 검찰은 조씨가 곽씨로부터 '고씨를 살해할 방법을 알아봐 달라'는 부탁을 받고 흥신소 등에 청부살인 방법 등을 알아본 정황을 포착했다.    다만 조씨는 이런 정황에 대해 묵비권을 행사하거나 '농담을 주고받은 것'이라고 주장하는 것으로 알려졌다.    검찰 관계자는 "여러 가능성을 열어두고 수사하고 있다"고 연합뉴스는 전했다. 

Sep 27, 2017

야탑역 '벤츠남' 만취해 버스정류장 돌진

사고가 일어난 분당 야탑역 인근 버스정류장 / 사진출처=온라인커뮤니티(코리아타임스=박은지 기자)  성남시 분당구 야탑역 인근 버스정류장에 만취한 30대 남성이 벤츠 자동차를 몰고 덮쳐 시민 6명이 다치는 사건이 일어났다.경기 분당 경찰서에 따르면 26일 밤 11시 39분께 정모(38)씨가 야탑역 3번 출구 앞 버스정류장으로 자동차를 몰고 돌진해 버스를 기다리던 시민 1명이 중상을 입고 3명은 경상을 당해 인근 병원으로 옮겨졌다.정씨는 야탑역 인근의 한 술집에서 음주를 한 후 주차장에서 차를 빼다 다른 차를 훼손해, 정씨를 막아서는 피해 차주인을 치고 달아났다. 편도 5차로 중 1차로를 달리던 정씨는 택시가 끼어들자 이를 피하지 못하고 택시를 들이받은 뒤 버스정류장으로 그대로 돌진했다고 경찰은 전했다.사고가 일어난 분당 야탑역 인근 버스정류장 / 사진출처=온라인커뮤니티사고 직후 달아나던 정씨를 시민과 경찰이 추격해 사고 지점에서 1.5km 가량 떨어진 막다른 골목에서 체포했다.음주 측정 결과 정씨의 혈중 알코올농도는 면허 취소 수준인 0.161%였다.경찰은 정씨에 대해 “현재 조사가 불가능 할 정도로 만취 해 있으며, 자세한 조사 후 구속영장을 신청할 계획”이라고 전했다. 

Sep 27, 2017

Law & Crime

Law & Crime

Korean consul jailed for selling visas to Chinese workers

Korean judge-lawyer couple accused of child abuse in Guam

Authorities seize more than 8,500 human-flesh pills

Court backs educator over 'dogs and pigs' remarks

Another mysterious gunshot death in inter-Korean border county

Koreans' patience with bullies running out

Widow accused of withholding daughter's death for money

소방관 2명, 모텔서 미성년자 성추행

송선미 남편 청부살해?

야탑역 '벤츠남' 만취해 버스정류장 돌진

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