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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Professor faces only 3-month suspension over verbal abuse

By Lee Kyung-min Criticism is mounting over the punishment sought for a professor at the University of Seoul in Dongdaemun-gu, eastern Seoul, who engaged in misogynistic verbal abuse.The university disciplinary committee submitted a letter to the university chairman, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Thursday, recommending a three-month suspension of duty for the environmental science professor only identified by his surname Kim.The alleged abusive behavior was made public last December when one of the students in his class put up a poster on the school campus.According to the poster Kim, 54, frequently made offensive remarks during class.His comments included “Women over 30 do not get married thinking they are still new and fresh.”During class, Kim randomly asked one of the female students “How many babies do you plan to have?” and said “Women watching too much television and spending too much time looking at smartphones won’t give birth to boys.”Kim casually used derogatory, vulgar words to his students. To those who gave the wrong answers to

Jun 8, 2017

Three strikes and OUT: Korean cabbie loses license for overcharging foreigners

Under the law, a taxi driver caught overcharging foreign passengers three times is banned. / Korea Times fileBy Lee Han-sooA taxi driver has lost his license for habitually overcharging foreign passengers. The cabbie will be unable to regain the license for a year.He was the first South Korean taxi driver to have his license revoked in violation of the “three-strikes-out” rule adopted in February. Under the law, a taxi driver caught overcharging foreign passengers three times is banned.According to Seoul City, the driver took three Chinese women from Myeongdong to Apgujeong in Seoul in May. He charged them 30,000 won, although 10,000 won is the right fare. The passengers reported the case to Seoul City, which is responsible for punishing overcharging taxi drivers. It was found that the driver was punished twice last year for overcharging.Taxi fare rip-offs have been a long-running problem in South Korea.They ranked second to shopping in 2014-16 foreign tourist complaints, according to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).The KTO said it receives over 113 reports a month a

Jun 8, 2017
Three strikes and OUT: Korean cabbie loses license for overcharging foreigners
  • Seoul taxis offer smartphone recharge service
  • Seoul's 'international taxis' running on empty
  • Taxi driver jailed over 297 false accusations, failing to pay karaoke bill
  • Phone app helps taxi drivers communicate with foreign customers

Ex-health minister sentenced to 30 months in prison for helping Samsung's controversial merger

A former health minister was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail Thursday on charges of abuse of power in connection with a massive corruption scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from office.The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence to Moon Hyung-pyo, who served as health minister from 2013-2015, on charges of pressuring the National Pension Service (NPS) to approve a controversial merger between two units of Samsung Group in 2015.The merger was designed to ensure a smooth transfer of management to Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is standing trial on charges of bribing Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil, and in effect the then president, according to prosecutors."(Moon) faces high chances of censure as he exercised pressure (on the NPS) through public servants of the health ministry and severely damaged the independence of the NPS," Judge Cho Eui-yeon said in the ruling.The former minister was also convicted of lying under oath when he denied the charge against him during a parliamentary hearing in November.Separately, the court sentenced Hong Wan-sun, then

Jun 8, 2017
Ex-health minister sentenced to 30 months in prison for helping Samsung's controversial merger

BIGBANG's T.O.P still in intensive care

T.O.P, a K-pop star who has been hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose, was receiving intensive care for the third day Thursday, his agency YG said.The company apologized for the singer's marijuana scandal that sent a shock wave through fans."We deeply apologize to everyone who was let down and hurt by the string of disgraceful incidents involving T.O.P," YG said in a statement.The 29-year-old singer-rapper, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, was hospitalized Tuesday from an apparent overdose of benzodiazepine, a day after he was indicted without detention on charges of smoking marijuana.T.O.P is suspected of smoking the banned substance four times with a 21-year-old would-be singer, only identified by her surname Han, at his home in Seoul in October last year.After being sent to an emergency room, he is receiving intensive treatment for the third day in an intensive care unit, YG said."For not being able to rise up to your expectations, we will gravely acknowledge any blame," YG said, adding that it will do its best to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.Cho

Jun 8, 2017
BIGBANG's T.O.P still in intensive care
  • BIGBANG T.O.P indicted for smoking marijuana
  • Drug overdose puts BIGBANG's T.O.P in hospital intensive care

Sewol owner's daughter denies allegations

Yoo Som-na, 51, the daughter of the late Yoo Byung-eun, the owner of Cheoghaejin Marine that operated the ill-fated ferry Sewol, enters the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, Wednesday, following her extradition from France. Yonhap--Yoo Som-na extradited three years after ferry disaster-- By Lee Kyung-minThe daughter of a late businessman whose negligence is believed to have contributed to the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol was extradited to Korea, Wednesday, ending a three-year stay as a fugitive in France.Yoo Som-na, 51, the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, then Semo Group chairman and de facto owner of its affiliate Cheonghaejin Marine, arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 3 p.m. She is the first person to have been returned to Korea since an extradition treaty between the two countries took effect in 2008.With a piece of a black cloth covering her handcuffs, Yoo, wearing a white pants suit and khaki jacket, denied all allegations against her in front of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office where she was taken for questioning.“The embezzlemen

Jun 7, 2017
Sewol owner's daughter denies allegations

Prosecutor-impersonating scammers detained for fraud

 By Lee Kyung-min   Nine individuals were detained for impersonating prosecutors in order to swindle nine people out of 360 million won ($320,000) in a voice phishing scam, police said, Wednesday.According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency, the nine suspects called nine victims between April and May asking them to withdraw all the cash in their bank accounts and give it to a man who they convinced the victims was an official from the Financial Supervisory Service.The group led the victims to visit a fake prosecutors’ office website which, after they entered their respective residence registration numbers, targeted them for personal data theft.When the victims handed the cash to one of the group members in person, the group member used a fake name. The swindlers’ fingerprints were untraceable as they had earlier applied a special substance to their fingertips that covers up their fingerprints.Most of the victims were women in their early 20s who the criminal group deemed naive, police added, and all victims did exactly as they were told without quest

Jun 7, 2017

High-level officials face dismissal over 'cash envelope dinner'

By Kim Bo-eunLee Young-ryeol (left), Ahn Tae-geunThe team inspecting dubious cash exchanges between officials of the prosecution and justice ministry has filed for the dismissals of two top officials _ former chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Lee Young-ryeol and former Justice Ministry Criminal Affairs Deputy Minister Ahn Tae-geun.The team also requested the prosecution investigate Lee over charges of violating the anti-graft law.“We have filed for dismissals to the justice ministry as punitive measures for Lee and Ahn,” a ministry official who headed the inspection said in a briefing at the Gwacheon Government Complex, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday.The announcement came 20 days after a 22-member team was drawn up to inspect the case.The Ministry of Justice will open a prosecutor disciplinary action committee meeting to decide on the final measures to be taken against Lee and Ahn.They were among 10 officials present at a dinner on April 21 at which the cash exchanges were made.Seven senior-level prosecutors of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office&r

Jun 7, 2017
High-level officials face dismissal over 'cash envelope dinner'

Owner puts bite on vet clinic that euthanized wrong dog

A veterinary clinic accidentally euthanized the dog, above, and tried to cover it up by giving the owner a different dog. / Screen captured from Instagram By Lee Han-sooA veterinary clinic euthanized the wrong dog and then tried to hide the mistake by handing over a different animal.The distressed pet owner, surnamed Kim, left the dog at the clinic on May 31 while she and her family vacationed on Jeju Island, according to TV network MBC.When she returned, she was given a different dog.“The veterinarian handed me the puppy, but it was a male puppy,” Kim said. “Then the veterinarian told me that my dog must have escaped during cleaning.”Kim said she believed the veterinarian and posted flyers looking for her dog but without luck.However, it turned out that the clinic euthanized Kim’s dog by mistake.“We accidentally euthanized your dog after mistaking it for another dog that was due for euthanizing,” the clinic said in a text to Kim. “We are terribly sorry for causing great grievance for our mistake.”Kim was taken to an eme

Jun 7, 2017
Owner puts bite on vet clinic that euthanized wrong dog

'You are f---ing crazy' not defamatory: court

By Ko Dong-hwanKorea’s Constitutional Court has ruled that saying “You are f---ing crazy” in English may be derogatory but not defamatory.The ruling came after two men from an apartment building in Gyeonggi Province argued in May last year over the watering of flowers at a nearby garden. Lee, 62, and his neighbor, 43, sued each other for physical violence and false accusation.The pair clashed again days later, after the neighbor failed to address Lee respectfully ― a social norm in Korea when there is a large age difference.But when an apartment warden approached, the neighbor changed his tone and used honorifics to address Lee. The neighbor’s sudden change frustrated Lee and he said to himself: “You are f---ing crazy.”The neighbor heard it and sued Lee for defamation. But prosecutors rejected the filing because, while admitting Lee’s criminality, it was hard to indict him based on the circumstances.The issue was then referred to the Constitutional Court.The court ruled unanimously, saying:“‘F--ing’ elaborates ‘cr

Jun 7, 2017
'You are f---ing crazy' not defamatory: court

Drug overdose puts BIGBANG's T.O.P in hospital intensive care

By Ko Dong-hwanChoi Seung-hyun leaves Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on June 5 after his mandatory military service as a conscripted policeman was put on hold following a drug charge. / YonhapK-pop singer and actor T.O.P has been hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose, only a day after he was indicted for taking an illegal drug.The star, 29, whose name is Choi Seung-hyun, is receiving treatment in a Seoul hospital’s intensive care unit, according to his agency YG Entertainment.  The agency first reported that Choi was found unconscious, but police said he was not in a critical condition.A police official said that an examination showed Choi had no serious problems and was reacting to stimulus. The official said Choi did not need a stretcher and was helped into the hospital.Police said Choi appeared to have overdosed on prescribed tranquilizers. He took the pills about 10 p.m. Monday but did not wake up by noon the next day. Worried friends took him to hospital.“Choi isn't in a critical condition, and he is just sleeping right now since the medication he took con

Jun 7, 2017
Drug overdose puts BIGBANG's T.O.P in hospital intensive care
  • BIGBANG's T.O.P still in intensive care
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