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6 dam gates open for 30 days

Gates of the Changnyeong-Haman Dam on the Nakdong River in Gyeongsang Province are seen open Thursday. Gates of five other dams on the country’s four major rivers were also opened. YonhapBy Lee Kyung-min The government opened the gates of six out of 16 new dams built under the former President Lee Myung-bak administration for his Four Major Rivers Refurbishment Project, Thursday.This follows instructions from President Moon Jae-in who pledged an overhaul of what he called an “anti-environment plan.”The Ministry of Environment said the opening of the gates will lower water levels by up to 1 meter, with the process expected to take up to 10 hours.The six dams to remain open for the next 30 days are the Gangjeong-Goryeong, Dalseong, Hapcheon-Changnyeong and Changnyeong-Haman dams on the Nakdong River, the Gongju Dam on the Geum River and the Joonsan Dam on the Youngsan River.The order to let the stored water flow reflected criticism both from the public and environmentalists that stagnant water inside the dams was the main cause of algal blooming, sarcastically re

Jun 1, 2017
6 dam gates open for 30 days

BIGBANG T.O.P indicted for smoking marijuana

BIGBANG’s T.O.P By Ko Dong-hwanT.O.P from world-renowned K-pop band BIGBANG has been indicted for breaking Korean narcotics laws.The rapper, 29, was charged with smoking liquid marijuana ― in an electronic cigarette vaporizer ― in October, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said Thursday.The charge surfaced after an analysis of T.O.P’s hair sample earlier this year proved positive to the drug.The National Police Agency’s narcotics investigation team booked him without arrest and sent the case to prosecutors.“Choi will be punished as soon as the prosecutor’s investigation is through,” Gangnam police said.The star, whose name is Choi Seung-hyun, entered the SMPA in February to serve his mandatory public service. He was placed in the PR Bureau and stationed with Gangnam police.The star allegedly smoked the illegal drug three times with a woman in her 20s at his home in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in October, according to local daily Money Today.Police were tipped off in March. They confronted Choi in April ― while he was involved in a drill

Jun 1, 2017
BIGBANG T.O.P indicted for smoking marijuana

Senior BOK officials disciplined over alleged sexual harassment

By Park Si-sooTwo senior Bank of Korea (BOK) officials have been disciplined for the alleged sexual harassment of a young female colleague over nearly two years.They were stripped of their roles and official titles on Thursday. The central bank will organize a disciplinary committee to discuss the matter.“It’s inappropriate to leave them working as team leaders because their acts were considered sexual harassment,” a BOK official said.The scandal erupted last month after a female official about 20 filed a complaint with the bank’s discipline team, claiming the senior officials sexually harassed her for nearly two years.The alleged victim said she had repeatedly been told: “Women are good at peeling fruit, and men are good at taking off women’s clothes.” She claimed she had frequently heard “sexually humiliating” comments in the office or at meetings outside the office.The central bank held an emergency meeting on May 18, during which judges determined that the comments were “sexually abusive” and the two should be disc

Jun 1, 2017
Senior BOK officials disciplined over alleged sexual harassment

Seven years sought for Choi Soon-sil

Choi Soon-silBy Kim Se-jeong Prosecutors sought a seven year prison term for Choi Soon-sil, former President Park Geun-hye’s confidant, Wednesday, on charges of influence-peddling for her daughter to receive favors in admissions and gradings at Ewha Womans University.The prosecution’s call came on the same day her daughter Chung Yoo-ra arrived in Korea, ending her 150-day stay in Denmark.During the last hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, the prosecution criticized Choi’s unrepentant behavior and insisted the court consider this.She was indicted Nov. 20 last year on a number of charges, including abusing her power for the daughter. It’s unclear when a ruling will be given, but normally it takes between two to three weeks.In the court room Wednesday, Choi stated that her daughter was not guilty of any crime and asked the prosecution to leave her alone.She previously complained about the prosecution using her daughter as a bargaining chip. Her lawyer said she grew extremely anxious as Chung was returning.Choi allegedly pushed Ewah Womans University

May 31, 2017
Seven years sought for Choi Soon-sil

On-duty Seoul cop busted over sex with teenager

By Ko Dong-hwanA Seoul policeman was arrested Monday for allegedly having sex with a teenage girl while on duty.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency officer was caught leaving a building in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul ― where the couple allegedly had sexual intercourse – about 4 p.m. Monday.  He was identified by the surname Choi, aged 38.Seoul Seobu Police said Tuesday that Choi met the high school student through a chatting app and they had sex at the girl’s friend’s house.Police discovered the two agreeing to meet while monitoring the app. Officers then staked out the building.Choi was arrested for infringing laws that protect adolescents from sexual acts.Police said he admitted the charge, saying he paid her 200,000 won ($178), but denied he knew she was a teenager.

May 31, 2017

Chung Yoo-ra returns home

By Lee Kyung-minChung Yoo-ra, 21, the most-wanted fugitive in the corruption scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from office returned home, Wednesday, 150 days after she was arrested in Denmark while in hiding.Chung, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, Park’s longtime friend and the central figure in the scandal, arrived at Incheon International Airport at 2:39 p.m.At the airport, she said she did not know Samsung Group’s financial support for her dressage practice was a favor for the alleged collusion between the business group and her mother.The former dressage competitor said she was not aware that she was the primary beneficiary of Samsung Group’s support, switching responsibility to her mother.“I did not particularly think the support was for me alone. I was told (by my mother) that I was one of six dressage competitors Samsung sponsored, and I believed that,” she told reporters.The prosecution arrested following her arrival on a flight from Amsterdam where she transferred after leaving Denmark, and is expected to seek a warrant to put he

May 31, 2017
Chung Yoo-ra returns home

Corpse shock: Internet broadcaster finds beach body during live streaming

A screen capture of the corpse Ome Kim found on Dadaeopo Beach, Busan. / Screen captured from YouTubeBy Lee Han-sooA one-man internet broadcaster found a corpse washed up on a beach during his live stream Wednesday.Video jockey Kim Seung-hyun, known as Ome Kim on internet broadcaster Afreeca TV, found the body while live-streaming his beach stroll with two friends at 3:20 a.m. on Dadaeopo Beach, Busan.Although the video has been erased, viewers have spread copies and screen-captured pictures across the internet.In the video, Kim initially believes the body is an abandoned dummy. But he and his friends run away when they realize it is real.The video ended with Kim reporting the find to police.Police said the body is that of a man surnamed Seo, 24.“The corpse was not decomposed and wearing all his clothes,” a police official said. “We found no suicide note on the body.”Police are investigating the cause of Seo’s death 

May 31, 2017
Corpse shock: Internet broadcaster finds beach body during live streaming

Choi Soon-sil's daughter returns home after 150-day hide-and-seek

Chung Yoo-ra arrives at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. / Joint press corpsThe daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's close friend involved in a corruption scandal returned to South Korea on Wednesday, after she was extradited from Denmark where she was in custody for five months.Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of Choi Soon-sil, arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 2:40 p.m. She was arrested by local authorities on a flight from Amsterdam where she transferred.Chung had been held at a detention center in Aalborg, Denmark, since early January as she was on Interpol's wanted list following South Korean authorities' request. She repeatedly declined to respond to their summons.Her extradition was accepted by a Danish court in April. She appealed the decision but then withdrew it last week.She will be taken to a prosecutors' office in Seoul for questioning on suspicions of receiving academic favors at Ewha Womans University and irregular funding for equestrian training from Samsung Group. She could also be questioned about her family's

May 31, 2017
Choi Soon-sil's daughter returns home after 150-day hide-and-seek

Choi Soon-sil's daughter arrested on plane to Korea

The daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's close friend was arrested on a plane to South Korea on Wednesday in connection with a massive corruption scandal.Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of Choi Soon-sil, was arrested by prosecutors on the flight from Amsterdam to Seoul after being extradited from Denmark a day earlier.Chung had been held at a detention center in Aalborg, Denmark, since January. But South Korean prosecutors demanded she be extradited to face questioning on corruption allegations involving her mother and Park. The former president was removed from office in March.South Korean prosecution officials took over the extradition process at a Copenhagen airport Tuesday.Chung is scheduled to arrive at Seoul's Incheon International Airport in the afternoon.Her extradition was accepted by a Danish court in April, after which she appealed the decision but then withdrew it last week.Upon arrival, she is to be taken in for questioning on suspicions of receiving admission and grading favors at Ewha Womans University, as well as irregular funding for her equestrian tra

May 31, 2017
Choi Soon-sil's daughter arrested on plane to Korea
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