Most Popular
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Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
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Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
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[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
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Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
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Medical reform committee kicks off despite boycott from doctors
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Hybe's multilabel system tested amid conflict with Ador
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SNU profs to suspend treatment for one day
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Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
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Over-50s, men, single-person households take up majority of those filing for bankruptcy
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SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry owner’s family deny embezzlement
Runaway Yoo Byung-eun’s wife and brother-in-law denied charges that they pocketed funds of sister firms of Chonghaejin Marine Co., the operator of the capsized ferry Sewol.The Incheon District Court on Monday held the first trial hearing on three family members of Yoo, the owner of the sunken ferry.The attorney for his wife, Kwon Yoon-ja, dismissed the charges issued by the prosecution that Kwon embezzled 29.7 billion won in company funds ($29.1 million) in February 2010.Kwon’s attorney also arg
Social AffairsJuly 21, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry owner pocketed funds at Salvation Sect: ex-devotee
The fugitive Yoo Byung-eun, owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, reportedly instigated competition among devotees of the Salvation Sect to make them give as much as possible, a former follower said on a TV program.The individual, surnamed Lee, who identified himself as an ex-devotee of the sect, told a TV news outlet that Yoo’s close aides pressured the devotees to offer more funds and made known how much they gave.Raising the allegation that Yoo and his family could have pocketed most of the funds,
Social AffairsJune 27, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Prosecution pressures Yoo to turn himself in
Investigators are reportedly pressuring fugitive Yoo Byung-eun to give himself up to police by sending message from law enforcement to the de facto Sewol owner via his brother-in-law, Gabriel Oh.According to investigative insiders, the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office is making low-key contact with Gabriel Oh, a younger brother-in-law of Yoo, who served as the Korean Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2010-2013.Though the prosecution had brought in Oh and his wife for colluding with Yoo i
Social AffairsJune 26, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry owner still at large 2 months after sinking
The prosecution has yet to arrest the fugitive Yoo Byung-eun though it has been more than two months since the law enforcement agency barred the Sewol owner from leaving the nation on April 21.It has been more than one month since the prosecution initially raided Geumsuwon, a compound of the Salvation Sect south of Seoul, which is led by the 73-year-old fugitive. Investigators forced their way into Geumsuwon twice: on May 21 and June 11.Further, Yoo’s second son, Hyuk-gi, fled abroad right befor
Social AffairsJune 25, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry owner’s in-law indicted for embezzlement
The prosecution on Tuesday indicted a brother-in-law of Yoo Byung-eun, de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, on charges of shady intra-group deals as the head of a unit of Chonghaejin Marine Co., the operator of the ill-fated vessel.According to the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, the suspect Kwon Oh-kyun allegedly pocketed company funds to illicitly transfer to the fugitive Yoo and his children.This marked the first time that a family member or relative of Yoo was handed over to the c
Social AffairsJune 24, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Parliament still split on hearings schedule
Families of victims of the Sewol sinking are blocked by staff members of Daejeon District Court in Daejeon, as they try to enter the property to speak with Cho In-ho, the president of the court, about a court officer’s remark about the victims, Tuesday. (Yonhap)Parliament’s panel investigating the Sewol accident remained stalled on Tuesday, as lawmakers wrangled over the scheduling of hearings for government agencies that could be responsible for the blundered rescue operations on April 16.Commi
PoliticsJune 24, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] JYP Entertainment probed over Sewol
While some TV celebrities are suspected of having cozy relations with fugitive Yoo Byung-eun, owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, a major entertainment company has also come under the spotlight in the wake of the prosecution taking into custody his younger brother, Byung-ho.Following the detainment of the runaway’s older brother Byung-il, investigators arrested Yoo Byung-ho late Sunday. He is the father-in-law of singer-songwriter Park Jin-young, CEO of JYP Entertainment.The capture of Park’s fathe
Social AffairsJune 23, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Police nab brother of ferry owner Yoo
Police on Friday arrested the older brother of the fugitive owner of the sunken ferry Sewol as part of a large-scale raid on a church retreat south of Seoul. Police arrested Yoo Byung-il, 75, in Anseong earlier in the day on charges that had been filed earlier, not in relation to the current Sewol investigations. He had been accused of embezzlement and violating real estate laws.Yoo is the elder brother of Yoo Byung-eun, 73, who is believed to own Chonghaejin Marine Co., the operator of the ferr
Social AffairsJune 13, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Sewol owner’s retreat raided
A group of investigators again forced their way into Geumsuwon, a religious compound in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday in a bid to arrest key aides of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol.Police arrested several people suspected of helping Yoo evade police and providing him places to hide. The compound is owned by the Salvation Sect, which is led by the 73-year-old fugitive.As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, five devotees in the sect were captured for allegedly colluding wi
Social AffairsJune 11, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Court holds first Sewol trial
The prosecution has embarked on the process of proving that the captain and several crew members of the sunken ferry Sewol abandoned the vessel without any attempt to evacuate passengers.While more than 10 victims of the April 16 tragedy are still missing, the Gwangju District Court on Tuesday held the first trial hearing on the case, for which the prosecution indicted Sewol ferry captain Lee Joon-seok and three other sailors on charges of homicide due to willful negligence in mid-May.Eleven oth
Social AffairsJune 10, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Two new bodies found, raising Sewol toll to 292
The death toll from the April 16 sinking of the ferry Sewol rose to 292, after two bodies, including that of a teacher, were found in the capsized ship on Sunday. A total of 12 remain missing.Following the discovery of the bodies, the families of victims on Monday submitted a petition to the courts to preserve the video footage taken by the Coast Guard on the day of the disaster. President Park Geun-hye announced last month she would disband the government organization because of its poor handli
Social AffairsJune 9, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] City strives to move on after Sewol
This is the seventh installment in series of articles on the upcoming local elections, exploring key issues and candidates in major cities. ― Ed. Ansan, paralyzed by the Sewol’s sinking last month, is slowly recovering.City buses full of half-asleep office-goers rushed along their routes during morning traffic hours on Wednesday. Cars honked. Secondary school students in uniforms walking to school joked and laughed amongst themselves. College students at Hanyang University’s Ansan campus prepare
PoliticsMay 29, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] FSS seeks to freeze Sewol cash flows
South Korean investigators are paying attention to the coming decision of the French court as to whether the country’s judicial authority will approve repatriation of the eldest daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol.While Korean law enforcement authorities are pinning their hopes on the possibility that the overseas court will soon lock up Yoo Seom-na, who was arrested near the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Tuesday, a key issue in the coming days will be whether th
Social AffairsMay 28, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Sewol records not released
The Korean government’s decision not to disclose most of its documents related to the Sewol ferry disaster is setting off speculation that it might try to withhold some damaging information from the public. According to data released Monday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries set aside about 480 documents related to the tragedy for internal use. The ministry, however, has made public only 135 of those records, keeping over 70 percent of the content hidden from public scrutiny.In contrast, acco
Social AffairsMay 26, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Reward for Yoo raised 10-fold
Four followers of ex-Semo Group chief Yoo Byung-eun were detained over the weekend on suspicion of helping the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol to flee.The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office said Sunday that it was questioning four members of the Salvation Sect, which is allegedly led by Yoo. Prosecutors think they are part of a group of key devotees of the sect who reportedly orchestrated Yoo’s getaway.The prosecution verified their identities by reviewing CCTV footage seized during a
Social AffairsMay 25, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Protests intensify over Sewol failures
Despite President Park Geun-hye’s repeated apologies and drastic reform proposals, a growing number of people are participating in protests against the government’s failures during the Sewol ferry disaster.Students, parents with small children and even foreign nationals took part in massive demonstrations in central Seoul on Saturday to commemorate the victims of the sunken ferry and to urge Cheong Wa Dae to take responsibility for its failed operation to save those onboard the sunken ferry Sewo
Social AffairsMay 25, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Unfavorable weather expected to disrupt search for missing in ferry sinking
Unfavorable weather conditions are likely to further disrupt the search for the 16 people still missing from a deadly ferry sinking off the country's southwest coast, government officials said on Sunday.About 100 divers are standing by, but fast tidal currents in the area, along with foggy and windy conditions, may prevent them from doing so, the officials said.The joint search team of civilian and military divers last retrieved a body on Wednesday, and the death toll stands at 288. A total of 4
Social AffairsMay 25, 2014