Prosecutors questioned two key witnesses as part of ongoing investigations into Ulsan mayoral election meddling scandal, allegedly involving President Moon Jae-in's secretaries and police, in Seoul on Monday.Im Dong-ho, a former senior member of the ruling Democratic Party, and former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon were summoned to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in the afternoon for questioning about the allegations that Song Byung-gi, Ulsan's vice mayor for economic affairs, conspired

Social Affairs Dec. 30, 2019

CJ ENM, the operator of K-pop-oriented music channel Mnet, on Monday issued an apology for the vote-fixing scandal of its high-profile idol competition show and vowed to financially compensate K-pop trainees victimized in the case."We will absolutely take responsibility to compensate trainees who sustained damage from the vote fixing of Mnet's audition shows, including the 'Produce' series," CEO Heo Min-heoi of CJ ENM said in a press conference.  "(CJ ENM) will take necessary

Performance Dec. 30, 2019

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday called for a "mold-breaking" diplomatic strategy to navigate the convoluted global politics marked by growing uncertainty from an intensifying Sino-US rivalry.Kang made the call during the Strategic Coordination Meeting on Foreign Affairs, a gathering of government officials and scholars that was launched in July to discuss policy strategies amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, maritime security and other issues.Stressing &q

Foreign Affairs Dec. 30, 2019

The National Assembly is set to vote on a contentious bill to set up a separate unit to probe corruption by high-ranking public officials Monday, amid protests from lawmakers of the main opposition party.A plenary session for a parliamentary vote is scheduled at 6 p.m.The vote comes about eight months after the ruling party-led bloc placed related prosecution reform bills on a legislative fast track in late April, along with an electoral reform bill.The establishment of the proposed corruption p

Politics Dec. 30, 2019

South Korea will not have the services of a pair of Europe-based players for the upcoming Olympic men's football qualifying tournament.The Korea Football Association announced Monday that Valencia CF midfielder Lee Kang-in and SV Darmstadt 98 midfielder Paik Seung-ho will not be available for the under-23 national team for the 2020 Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, which will run from Jan. 8-26 in Thailand. This event will also serve as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2020

Soccer Dec. 30, 2019

그룹 동방신기 멤버 최강창민(본명 심창민·31)이 비연예인 여성과 교제 중이다. 소속사 SM엔터테인먼트는 30일 이런 내용의 한 언론 보도를 확인하면서 "최강창민이 비연예인과 만나고 있다"고 밝혔다.최강창민은 유노윤호와 2인조 동방신기로 활동 중이다. 이들은 최근 일본 데뷔 15주년을 기념해 일본 네 번째 5대 돔 투어 '동방신기 라이브 투어 2019 ~XV~'(東方神起 LIVE TOUR 2019 ~XV~)를 하고 있다. (연합뉴스)

한국어판 Dec. 30, 2019

South Korean men who refuse to fulfill their mandatory military service due to religious or personal beliefs will be allowed to serve three years of alternative duty at local correctional facilities starting next year, the defense ministry said Monday.By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out military service for about two years in a country that faces North Korea across one of the world's most heavily fortified borders.Violators are punished with prison terms. On Friday, the Natio

Defense Dec. 30, 2019

The government on Monday said it will grant special pardons to 5,174 people, including conscientious objectors, minor offenders and activists, ahead of the new year.The move, set to go into effect Tuesday, includes 1,879 conscientious objectors, 267 who have been convicted for breaching the election law, as well as three political and labor activists, the justice ministry said in a press release. The government said the special pardon is aimed at relieving the burden of convicts whose livelihood

Social Affairs Dec. 30, 2019

South Korean singer-songwriter Younha will release a new album next week that includes a track featuring RM, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, her management agency said Monday. The five-track album, "Unstable Mindset," is set to hit major online music stores next Monday, C9 Entertainment said.  Of the five tracks, the first, "Winter Flower," is a collaborating song, featuring RM, according to C9.The second, "Black Cloud," is the lead track of "Unstable Mind

Performance Dec. 30, 2019

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake hit the country's southeastern region early Monday in the seventh-strongest quake to occur on the Korean Peninsula this year, the weather agency saidThe quake occurred shortly after midnight at 00:32 a.m. at some 15 kilometers northeast of Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province, with a depth of 20 km, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.Tremors were felt across the province, but there were no reported damages. The local fire office received 26 calls on w

Social Affairs Dec. 30, 2019

경희대 의과대학 1학년 남학생들이 단체 카카오톡 대화방에서 성희롱 발언을 일삼은 것으로 확인됐다고 학내 자치기구가 29일 밝혔다.경희대 의대 내 학생 자치기구인 '인권침해사건대응위원회'(대응위)는 단체대화방에 가입된 남학생 1명의 '양심 제보'로 지난 9월부터 해당 사건을 조사한 뒤 최근 사건보고서를 발표했다.보고서에 따르면 해당 대화방에는 같은 동아리에서 활동하는 남학생 8명이 속해 있었으며, 이 중 3명이 동기나 선배 여학생들을 대상으로 성희롱 및 모욕적 발언을 한 것으로 확인됐다. 대응위는 가해자 중 1명이 조사 과정에서 혐의를 대부분 부인하고 문제 될 내용을 다 같이 삭제하자는 발언을 하기도 했다며 "본인의 행동을 반성하기보다 사건을 무마시키려 했다"고 지적했다.대응위 측은 지난달 29일 가해 학생 3명에 대해 공개 사과문 작성, 동아리 회원 자격정지, 학사운영위원회 및 교학간담회에 해당 안건 상정 등을 포함해 징계를 의결했다.또 가해 학생들과 같은 학번으로

한국어판 Dec. 30, 2019

시청률 MBC＞SBS＞KBS…'슈돌' 등 비연예인 강세 지속2019년 연예대상에는 큰 이변이 없었다. 예능가가 안정적으로 흘러갔지만 큰 새로움은 없었다는 뜻으로도 해석된다.KBS는 '슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다'의 아빠들에게 대상을 안기며 비연예인 관찰 예능이 여전한 트렌드임을 증명했다. KBS는 연말 복귀한 '1박2일' 외에 '슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다'이 가장 좋은 시청률을 냈기에 선택 폭이 넓지 않았다.MBC는 장수 예능에 속하는 '나 혼자 산다'에 대상 등 여러 부문 상을 안겼고, SBS도 '런닝맨' 등 오랜 프로그램에 가점을 줬다.그래도 올해 특기할 만한 점을 꼽아본다면 유재석의 부활과 여풍(女風)이다. 유재석은 올해 SBS 연예대상을 받으며 국민MC의 화려한 귀환, 제2의 전성기를 공식화했다. 그가 지상파에서 대상을 받기는 2016년 MBC 연예대상 이후 3년 만이며, 통산 13관왕이다.유재석은 연초까지만 해도 부침을 겪었다. 13년을 끈 MBC TV 간판 예능 '무한도전'이 지

한국어판 Dec. 30, 2019

WASHINGTON -- US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien warned North Korea Sunday that the United States has many "tools in its toolkit" to respond to any major provocation and will use them to demonstrate its disappointment.Brien made the comments in an interview with ABC amid concerns North Korea could be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile to express its frustration over stalled denuclearization talks with the US.North Korea's regime has set the end of the ye

North Korea Dec. 30, 2019

North Korea has discussed "offensive measures" to ensure the country's sovereignty and security during the second-day session of a major party meeting, state media reported, amid concern Pyongyang could ditch negotiations with the United States and restart major weapons tests.In Washington, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien warned the North against any provocations, saying the US will be "extraordinarily disappointed" in such cases and will demonstrate its disappointme

North Korea Dec. 30, 2019

South Korea's industrial output growth accelerated in November, supported by a modest gain in the service sector, data showed Monday. The November industrial output rose 0.4 percent from a year earlier, rebounding from a 0.4 percent decline in October, with both retail sales and facility investment growing from a month earlier in November, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. The data showed the production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries declined

Economy Dec. 30, 2019