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Firefighters struggle to contain mountain fire in Gangwon Province
Firefighters are struggling to contain a fire that broke out in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, Wednesday evening.According to regional forest service and fire agencies, the blaze started around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday at the seventh ridge of Baekseoksan and spread slowly to the surrounding area.About 110 firefighters and seven fire helicopters have been mobilized to contain the fire.Although the fire is not likely to spread further, firefighters are having difficulties in putting out the fire d
[Exclusive] Corrupt prosecutors unheard of in Germany: Berlin anti-graft chief
In South Korea, the heated debate on the introduction of prosecutorial reform bills continues to rage on, leaving the National Assembly paralyzed over how to pass the billsThe reform proposals have been prompted by the prosecution’s abuse of power and its history of failing to dig deep into corruption allegations involving prosecutors, among other misconducts.The bills mandate the establishment of an independent anti-corruption body to investigate corruption allegations involving senior ra
Dec 11, 2019
Seoul to set 50 kph speed limit on roads with bus-only lanes
The speed limit on Seoul roads with bus-only lanes will be adjusted to 50 kilometers per hour starting late this month as part of efforts to reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians, the city government said Wednesday.The new speed limit will apply to 14 roads in Seoul with median bus-only lanes, starting Dec. 20. Violators face up to 170,000 won ($142) in fines. Other major roads -- including Hannamdaero and Gyeonginro -- connected to roads with bus-only lanes will have the 50 kph speed l
Capital area choked by thick fine dust for second straight day
The Seoul metropolitan area was shrouded by heavy fine dust concentrations for the second straight day on Wednesday, forcing local governments to issue a fine dust advisory and take emergency emission reduction measures, such as a mandatory alternate no-driving system for public vehicles and road ban for old diesel cars.A constant influx of Chinese smog into the stagnant local air has led to a spike in ultrafine dust figures to bad levels in almost all parts of South Korea, excluding Jeju Island
Man suspected of killing 1, injuring 2 turns self in
A man thought to have stabbed three people at a restaurant in Daejeon on Tuesday surrendered himself to the local police five hours after the incident.A 46-year-old woman, who was the owner of the restaurant, was killed in the attack while her husband and son sustained severe injuries, Daejeon Dongbu Police Station said. Investigations showed the killer entered the restaurant around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday and spoke with the victims for few minutes. The man then attacked them, and quickly fled t
[Newsmaker] Singer Kim Gun-mo to be investigated on sexual assault allegation
A sexual assault allegation against singer Kim Gun-mo will be investigated by the Gangnam Police Station, according to the prosecutors’ office Tuesday.Lawyer Kang Yong-seok filed a case Monday at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on behalf of a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by the singer. In the complaint, Kang accused Kim of raping his client. Kim’s agency denied the sexual assault allegation and said it would take legal action for defamati
Govt. to grant smaller firms 1-year grace period for 52-hour workweek implementation
South Korea plans to give a one-year grace period to the country's small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting the 52-hour workweek system, the labor ministry said Wednesday, reflecting financial concerns for the smaller firms amid an economic slowdown.The 52-hour policy was initially devised to cap the average working hours at 52 on a weekly basis in Asia's fourth-largest economy, known for long working hours compared with other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development members.A
[News Brief] Assault case involving S. Korean and Chinese students ends without prosecution
The South Korean and Chinese students booked for hitting each other were released without prosecution, the Seodaemun Police Station said Tuesday. Neither student sought punishment of the other.The police said they closed the assault case last month.On Nov. 19, the two Myeongji University students were reported to the police for getting into a physical fight over putting up posters concerning pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The Korean student had tried to stop the Chinese student from coveri
Dec 10, 2019
Ultrafine dust chokes Korea, cold spell expected late Wednesday
South Korea was blanketed by a high level of particulate pollution Tuesday, prompting emergency dust reduction measures for the first time this winter and an ultrafine dust advisory issued in the afternoon. The implementation of emergency measures was extended into Wednesday with the high level of PM 2.5 -- ultrafine particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter -- expected to continue across the country due to the stagnant air over the peninsula and the inflow of particles from abroad.Se
‘Unchecked prosecution a threat to democracy’
A prosecution with only the power to indict is what we see in developed countries, Hwang Un-hah, the commissioner of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, said Monday.“Besides indicting, our prosecutors go on investigating numerous cases they either shouldn’t or needn’t,” Hwang said at an event marking the release of his book, which explores the much-debated matter of prosecutorial reform.Hwang stressed that checks and balances guarantee transparency and accountability,
Korea to bolster protection for foreigners on ‘entertainment visas’
South Korea will introduce measures to protect foreign workers in the entertainment industry starting next year, the Ministry of Justice said Tuesday. The ministry said the new measures will apply to foreigners holding the E-6 visa, a long-term work visa for the culture and entertainment sectors, effective from Jan. 1, 2020. Proxy applications will no longer be allowed for stay permit evaluations, the duration of visits will be shortened from a year to six months, and confirmation of health insu
[News brief] Man booked on attempted murder charges for stabbing woman in shop
Incheon police said Tuesday they have tracked down a man accused of fleeing after stabbing a woman believed to be his onetime girlfriend with intent to kill her.Incheon Seobu Police Station has booked the man on charges of attempted murder. On Dec. 3, the man allegedly stabbed the woman, 43, inside her shop in Seo-gu, Incheon, after she tried to report him to police for assault. The man allegedly used a knife he had prepared in advance and ran from the site. Police said the woman is being treate
[News brief] Foreign worker in Pocheon found dead, stabbed in neck
Police found the body of a foreign worker in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday, with stab wounds to the neck.The body of the 30-year-old Nepalese man was found around 7:30 p.m. on Monday in front of a dormitory inside an industrial complex in the city, according to Pocheon Police Station. A colleague discovered the man bleeding on the floor and reported to the police. Security camera footage showed the man stabbing himself several times in the neck, police said. While there was no sign of fo
Hankook Tire CEO indicted on charges of bribery, embezzlement
Cho Hyun-bum, chief executive of Hankook Tire & Technology, South Korea's largest tire maker by sales, was indicted for taking bribes and embezzling corporate funds, prosecutors said Monday.Cho is suspected of receiving kickbacks worth around 600 million won (US$503,778) from subcontractors and siphoning off some 200 million won from Hankook's affiliated companies, according to the prosecutors' office. In January, the Seoul office of the National Tax Service filed a complaint with the prosec
Dec 9, 2019
PPP forum on exporting smart transport infra to be held
A forum on public-private partnerships for the export of smart technology-based public transport infrastructure is set to be held in Seoul on Thursday, the Seoul City government said Monday. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the forum will look at emerging trends in smart transport systems, Seoul’s smart transport policies and the municipality’s support for private companies looking to break into the overseas transport industry. It will also discuss strategies for ex