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Both employers, employees unsatisfied with new industrial accident law

Lawmakers attend a plenary session at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. They later voted to pass a bill aimed at preventing deadly industrial accidents. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooBoth business owners and their employees have expressed dissatisfaction with a new law aimed at preventing serious accidents at workplaces that imposes tougher punishments on company managers found to be responsible for dangerous breaches of safety requirements. Initiated by the minor opposition Justice Party, a severe industrial accident law was passed at the National Assembly in a plenary session, Friday.The law is aimed at preventing serious injury or death at workplaces resulting from a lax implementation of safety measures and is intended to push companies to fundamentally ensure a safer working environment by holding CEOs and business owners responsible for any incident.It was sought following several fatal industrial accidents resulting from insufficient safety measures, including the death of Kim Yong-gyun, a 24-year-old worker of a subcontractor to Korea Western Power, at a power plant in T

Jan 8, 2021By Yi Whan-woo

Both employers, employees unsatisfied with new industrial accident law

Troubled lawmakers leave parties to evade responsibilities

Rep. Kim Byong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party, right, speaks to the media at the National Assembly, Seoul, Dec. 30. He left the party, Thursday, following allegations of rape. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keunBy Kim RahnIn just nine months since the 21st National Assembly was inaugurated, six of the 300 elected lawmakers have left their parties or been expelled following allegations of criminal activity or unethical behavior. Public criticism is growing as decisions to leave or being expelled from their respective parties allow such lawmakers to evade criticism while maintaining the perks of their position as independents. Their respective former parties are also being denounced for allowing these troublesome lawmakers to leave or kicking them out without making the effort to sufficiently investigate allegations of impropriety, which also allows the parties to avoid responsibility.Rep. Kim Byong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) left the party, Thursday, after a rape allegation was raised against him.His departure came a day after YouTubers operating

Jan 8, 2021By Kim Rahn

Troubled lawmakers leave parties to evade responsibilities

New Year greetings

President Moon Jae-in speaks from Cheong Wa Dae during an online meeting with leaders of society Thursday to mark the New Year. He called 2021 “a year of unity” and also described it as the “year of recovery” from COVID-19. The President was joined by 50 leaders from politics, business and other fields and eight individuals recognized for their service to society. Yonhap

Jan 7, 2021By Yi Whan-woo

Talk on another round of disaster relief funds raises debate

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Some DPK members have recently brought up the issue of an additional round of relief funding to help revive the country's economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. YonhapBy Jung Da-minDebate has begun in political circles over the introduction of another round of emergency disaster relief handouts to revive the economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with several ruling bloc heavyweights talking about the need for across-the-board relief funds to ensure all people receive help.To date, the government has provided relief funds twice, to all citizens in the first round in May and in the form of “selective” support for those hit hard directly by the virus outbreak such as small business owners and freelancers in the second round in September. A third round will be delivered this month, with those eligible set to receive the money starting next Monday. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon said

Jan 7, 2021

Talk on another round of disaster relief funds raises debate

Adoption agency takes heat after death of 16-month-old adoptee

Children's rights activists hold a protest near Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday, urging the government to investigate the role of Holt Children's Services in the death of a 16-month-old adoptee. YonhapChildren's rights activists on Thursday urged the health ministry to look into the role, if any, of a major adoption agency in the death of a 16-month-old adoptee.At a press conference near Cheong Wa Dae, the activists, including those who advocated for the rights of adoptees and single-parent households, urged the ministry to check whether there were any lapses in the agency's work to protect the child.They also demanded Holt Children's Services, the country's biggest adoption agency, reveal the detailed circumstances of the adoption of the dead girl, named Jung-in, and the parents' motives in adopting her. "The government should find out whether Holt had detected signs of abuse even before it was informed of the abuse ... and how the agency responded to each of the three abuse reports," it said. Jung-in was adopted in February and died in October of severe abdominal injuries and inte

Jan 7, 2021

Adoption agency takes heat after death of 16-month-old adoptee

Moon's disapproval rate surpasses 60% for 1st time

By Kim RahnPresident Moon Jae-in / YonhapMore than 60 percent of people showed dissatisfaction with President Moon Jae-in's job performance, a poll showed Thursday. A total of 61.2 percent of people expressed their discontent, marking the first time the President's disapproval rating has surpassed 60 percent since his inauguration in May 2017 in polls conducted by Realmeter.His job approval rating, which has been declining for weeks, stood at 35.1 percent, also the lowest so far, a drop of 1.5 percentage points from a week ago.Realmeter said many negative situations surrounding the government have taken place, while there were no immediate factors that could turn public opinion around.One such issue was ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) head Rep. Lee Nak-yon's remark on the need to pardon former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye who have been in prison following their respective convictions for corruption. The remark drew an immediate backlash, especially from those in the liberal bloc and even within the DPK itself, which led Lee to back off later.Other negative factor

Jan 7, 2021By Kim Rahn

Moon's disapproval rate surpasses 60% for 1st time

Moon asks lawmakers to hold hearings on minister nominees

President Moon Jae-in speaks at the start of a weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae , Tuesday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in has formally requested that the National Assembly hold confirmation hearings on his nominees to lead the justice and environment ministries, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.Moon signed the relevant documents, which were later submitted to the Assembly at around 5 p.m., according to presidential office spokesman Kang Min-seok.The President tapped Park Beom-kye, a three-term ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, as the new justice minister and Han Jeoung-ae, the party's policy chief, as the environment minister in a small-scale Cabinet reshuffle late last year. Park is a former judge, and Han, also a three-term lawmaker, used to be a labor activist. (Yonhap)

Jan 6, 2021

Moon asks lawmakers to hold hearings on minister nominees

SKT named top carrier for customer satisfaction for 23rd straight year

A model promotes SK Telecom's speaking AI customer service. Courtesy of SK TelecomBy Nam Hyun-wooSK Telecom has consolidated its status as the top mobile communication firm, leading the pack in an annual index gauging customer satisfaction, for the 23rd straight year.According to the Korea Productivity Center (KPC), SK Telecom scored 79 in the 2020 National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI), up 2 points from 77 the carrier logged last year. SK Telecom has been named the top player among mobile communications firms on the index since 1998, when the KPC began compiling the NCSI. The company attributed the feat to its efforts to apply artificial intelligence and other advanced information technologies to its telecommunications business, which helped the firm provide contactless services to customers and see growth in its NCSI amid the COVID-19 pandemic. SK Telecom let its staffers at customer service centers work from home in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading quickly in Korea, marking the first case among carriers here. In doing so, the company gave more than 2,000 servic

Jan 6, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

SKT named top carrier for customer satisfaction for 23rd straight year

Ruling party lawmaker pressured to step down over leak of ex-mayor's sexual harassment lawsuit

Female lawmakers with the main opposition People Power Party hold a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, to call for the resignation of Rep. Nam In-soon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea over allegations that she leaked information on a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon last July. YonhapBy Jung Da-minA women's rights activist-turned-lawmaker with the ruling party has come under fire for allegedly leaking information on the planned sexual harassment lawsuit against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to an official at Park's office last July.Park, learning in advance that he might face a lawsuit over the sexual harassment allegations, committed suicide the day after he received the information from the official.According to the prosecution's investigative findings announced late last month, the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center received a help request from the lawyer of the victim, and the center consulted with another organization, the Korean Women's Associations United. Then Kim Young-soon, the standing representa

Jan 6, 2021

Ruling party lawmaker pressured to step down over leak of ex-mayor's sexual harassment lawsuit

Moon prioritizes virus control, housing market stabilization in 2021 policy tasks

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in stressed the urgency Tuesday of containing COVID-19, stabilizing the housing market and recovering the economy in 2021."(We) start the new year with a heavy sense of responsibility," he said at the outset of the first Cabinet meeting of 2021.South Korea's top priority this year is "to get out of the long tunnel of the coronavirus as soon as possible," he emphasized.He described the country as standing at another watershed in its antivirus fight before the supply of vaccines begins in February."Housing market stability is also a crucial policy task for people's lives," the president pointed out.The government won't hesitate to map out additional measures to curb hikes in home prices and rent, especially with a focus on exploring "innovative and various" ways to expand supply, he added.Many agree that Moon's falling job approval ratings in recent months are mainly attributable to a resurgence in coronavirus cases and a failure to stabilize the home market.Moon said the nation s

Jan 5, 2021

Politics

Politics

Both employers, employees unsatisfied with new industrial accident law

Troubled lawmakers leave parties to evade responsibilities

New Year greetings

Talk on another round of disaster relief funds raises debate

Adoption agency takes heat after death of 16-month-old adoptee

Moon's disapproval rate surpasses 60% for 1st time

Moon asks lawmakers to hold hearings on minister nominees

SKT named top carrier for customer satisfaction for 23rd straight year

Ruling party lawmaker pressured to step down over leak of ex-mayor's sexual harassment lawsuit

Moon prioritizes virus control, housing market stabilization in 2021 policy tasks

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