Most Popular
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
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Top prosecutor orders speedy investigation into first lady's alleged acceptance of luxury handbag
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Defense chiefs of US, Australia, Japan decry NK-Russia military cooperation
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry disaster reveals dark side of Korea’s ‘compassionate’ culture
This is the fourth in a series of articles that examine Korean’s preparedness for disasters and social risks in light of the recent Sewol tragedy. ― Ed.Compassion is a virtue valued highly in Korean life. It has been credited with bringing Koreans together for its rapid economic rise and helped maintain social cohesion to create a more inclusive culture.But the recent ferry disaster has brought to the fore compassion’s dark side. Analysts say that “compassionate” officials in charge of the socia
Social AffairsMay 22, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Arrest warrant issued for Sewol ferry owner
The prosecution has rolled up its sleeves in its efforts to seize the de facto owner of the ill-fated ferry Sewol after it failed to capture him despite a raid by investigators on his religious compound a day before.Investigators are expected to conduct a full-fledged search for Yoo Byung-eun as the Incheon District Court on Thursday approved the arrest warrant for the ex-Semo Group chief, who is suspected of engaging in a variety of business malpractices.In its unveiling of the background for i
Social AffairsMay 22, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Ferry owner’s hideout raided
A group of investigators dispatched by the prosecution forced their way into Geumsuwon, a religious compound in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, in a bid to arrest the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol at around 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday.The compound is owned by the Salvation Sect, which is allegedly led by former Semo Group chief Yoo Byung-eon, who is suspected of engaging a variety of misconducts since late 1990s when his group allegedly intentionally declared insolvency for a dubious purpose.
Social AffairsMay 21, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Sewol owner may have fled church compound
Prosecutors on Tuesday raised the possibility that Yoo Byung-eon, the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, is hiding out at a residence of a member of the Evangelical Baptist Church, dubbed the Salvation Sect, which is allegedly led by the former chief of the now-defunct Semo Group. The prosecution said that Yoo appears to have already escaped from Geumsuwon, the sect‘s headquarters in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, in a low-key manner. It alleged that he is residing at a follower’s house in S
Social AffairsMay 20, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Police blasted for surveillance on ferry victims’ families
Senior police officials apologized publicly after two detectives from the Ansan Danwon Police Station on Monday night were caught shadowing the families of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster.Choi Dong-hae, the chief of the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, offered an immediate public apology, claiming the officers were following the families because of “safety concerns.”Despite Choi’s prompt statement, authorities failed to explain why they did not apprise the families of their actions before
Social AffairsMay 20, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Transfer of coastal patrol mission faces hurdles
The Defense Ministry’s plan to transfer the Army’s land-based coastal defense mission to the maritime police by 2021 is facing hurdles as the government has decided to disband the Coast Guard under intense criticism for its failed response to the ferry disaster last month.“There is a possibility that the plan could face some delays as the mission will have to be transferred to the new institution replacing the maritime police. We also can’t rule out the possibility that the plan could get bogged
DefenseMay 20, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Candidate’s son sued over Sewol remark
Seoul mayoral candidate Chung Mong-joon continues to be dogged by his youngest son’s comments on the Sewol ferry disaster as he gears up for the 13-day campaign period that kicks off Thursday. On Monday, a family member of one of the victims identified by the surname Oh filed a complaint against Chung’s son, Chung Ye-sun, for defamation. Oh claims that the younger Chung’s comment was directed at the families of the victims as they were the only ones present at the scene. Oh also said that he fil
PoliticsMay 20, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Death toll from sunken ferry rises to 287
One more body was recovered from the sunken ferry Sewol on Monday, raising the death toll to 287 and lowering the number of those missing to 17, more than a month after the ship sank off South Korea's southwest coast.A joint team of government and civilian divers retrieved the body of a woman wearing a blue long-sleeved hooded shirt and khaki sweatpants from a kitchen on the third deck, officials said.Search operations were halted earlier in the day after a wire connecting an anchor chain to a b
Social AffairsMay 19, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Death toll from sunken ferry rises to 286
Rescue divers retrieved one more body early Sunday morning from a ferry that sank off South Korea's southwest coast last month, bringing the confirmed death toll to 286, officials said. The body of a woman was recovered from the crew's cafeteria on the third-floor dock at around 5 a.m., the government emergency response team said. The number of those still unaccounted for dropped to 18 as the search and rescue operation entered the 33rd day. The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol carrying an estimated 476 pa
Social AffairsMay 18, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Arrest warrant sought for ferry firm owner
Prosecutors on Friday requested a preliminary arrest warrant for Yoo Byung-eon, the de facto owner of the Sewol, on the charges of embezzlement, negligence and tax evasion after he disobeyed the summons for questioning. Yoo and his family are suspected of illegally pocketing billions of won in company funds from several of their affiliates.The Incheon District Court said that it would review the prosecution’s request on Tuesday.Yoo’s eldest son Dae-gyun, is currently on the run from the prosecut
Social AffairsMay 16, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Apologetic Park vows drastic safety reform
President Park Geun-hye on Friday apologized to the families of the ferry disaster victims for the “insufficient” government response to the tragedy and vowed to conduct a complete revamp of the country’s social safety system.“I believe that in order not to let the sacrifices of the victims be in vain, the government should shore up the foundation of the social safety system, and carry out reform to the extent that it can be seen as a complete overhaul of the entire national system,” she said.“A
PoliticsMay 16, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Recovery work continues for 20 victims
Search efforts for the ferry victims resumed Friday, following a half-day suspension due to strong winds and high currents.As of Friday, the death toll from the April 16 ferry disaster rose to 284 with 20 still unaccounted for. Most of the victims were students from a high school who were on a school trip. Divers reentered the water in the afternoon to search the third and fourth decks of the ship. This is the second round of full search operations following the completion of the first round tha
Social AffairsMay 16, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Sewol could sway voter sentiment
The government’s poor handling of the recent ferry disaster is expected to affect voter sentiment with the local elections less than three weeks away.Observers raised the possibility that voters would use the elections to express their frustration over the flawed state response to the country’s worst maritime disaster in two decades, which left more than 300 people dead or missing.Particularly, mothers in their 40s and 50s could vote against the candidates of the ruling Saenuri Party as they are
PoliticsMay 16, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Safety fears spread to school grounds
This is the second in a series of articles that examine Korean’s preparedness for disasters and social risks in light of the recent Sewol tragedy. ― Ed.A seven-story building at Hwanil Middle and High School stands precariously on the edge of a hill in Jung-gu, central Seoul. Tons of dirt and rocks that once covered the building’s support structures have been cleared away, leaving the foundations struggling to support the immense weight of the building and hundreds of students.When the construct
Social AffairsMay 15, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Sewol sailors indicted on homicide charges
The captain of the Sewol and three other key crew members were charged with manslaughter Thursday. The 11 other sailors were indicted on less serious charges of negligence. The four key sailors ― the captain, chief mate, second mate and chief engineer ― were charged with homicide out of willful negligence. All crewmen are accused of violating the rescue rule and of negligence resulting in death. “(The investigation team) charged the captain with homicide because he did not take any measures in t
Social AffairsMay 15, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Death toll from sunken ferry rises to 281
Five more bodies were recovered from the sunken ferry Sewol on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 281 and lowering the number of those missing to 23, four weeks after the ship sank off South Korea's southwest coast.A joint team of government and civilian divers retrieved the five bodies shortly after it resumed search operations in the afternoon, officials said.Divers searched the sunken ferry for about an hour overnight, but no bodies were found then. In the morning, strong currents prevented
Social AffairsMay 14, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Park to soon issue statement to nation over ferry disaster
President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday she will soon issue a statement to the nation about how the government will upgrade the country's safety and emergency response system in the wake of the deadly sinking of the ferry Sewol.Park made the remark as she opened a Cabinet meeting aimed at discussing key issues to be included in the statement she plans to make to apologize for the government mishandling the ferry's sinking and to announce reform measures for the country's safety system."I hope inten
Social AffairsMay 13, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Brother, aide of ferry firm owner grilled over corruption
Yoo Byung-il, the older brother of Semo Group chairman Yoo Byung-eon, arrives Sunday at the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office in Nam-gu, Incheon, for questioning. (Yonhap)Incheon prosecutors on Sunday questioned a brother and close aide of Yoo Byung-eon, de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, tightening the net around the scandals involving the owner family.Yoo Byung-il, the older brother of the former Semo Group chairman, was to be investigated for allegedly embezzling funds from the ferr
Social AffairsMay 11, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Search for victims of ferry sinking on hold due to bad weather
The search for victims of the Sewol ferry sinking has been put on hold due to unfavorable weather near Jindo island, authorities said Saturday.Officials in charge of finding victims and determining the cause of the tragic accident said high wind and wave alerts issued for the area are making it impossible to send divers to the sunken ship after two more bodies were recovered the previous day."Waves are rising to the point that they are wetting the deck of the barge that is being used as the stag
Social AffairsMay 10, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Funeral services for three Danwon High School students held in Ansan
Funeral services for three Danwon High School students lost in the sinking of the Sewol ferry last month were held Saturday, as the official death toll stands at 274, with 30 still missing.The service for the students took place at two hospitals in Ansan, located 42 kilometers southwest of Seoul.Representatives of families who lost their loved ones said that over 462,000 people have visited various memorial altars since April 23. They added that 99,000 condolence messages have been received.The
Social AffairsMay 10, 2014