A sexual assault claim against former South Chungcheong Gov. An Hee-jung is causing a major uproar in the political circle and the public, prompting quick actions from the ruling party to minimize the fallout from its prominent figure as it faces local elections in June.The governor’s secretary Kim Ji-eun on Monday revealed that she was sexually assaulted by the provincial governor, who was a former presidential contender for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in a televised news interview wi

Politics March 6, 2018

The Education Ministry began a three-day investigation of a college in Seoul on Monday, following students’ sexual harassment claims against all of its male professors in the theater and visual arts department.Police are also looking into the sexual misconduct of the former dean of the department at Myongji College, Park Joong-hyeon.A petition by 37 students from the department revealed that Park had made sexually inappropriate orders to female students, and used violence against male students.

Social Affairs March 5, 2018

The installation of a “comfort women” statue in front of a university in Seoul was thwarted right before the unveiling ceremony on Thursday, as the university and students protested its installation.Seoul’s Mapo District Council planned to place a comfort women statue in front of Hongik University on the 99th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919, but they failed after students and faculty members from the school stopped the forklift truck carrying the statue from proceeding f

Social Affairs March 2, 2018

While the PyeongChang Winter Olympics ended with praise for its contribution to a thaw in inter-Korean relations, the friction between conservatives and liberals in South Korea is intensifying over the government’s approval of the visit of a North Korean delegation led by a high-ranking general accused of masterminding provocations against the South.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Monday held an outdoor rally in Cheonggye Square in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, denouncing the liberal Mo

Politics Feb. 26, 2018

A high-level delegation from North Korea, which arrived at a checkpoint in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, at 9:53 a.m. Sunday, took a detour to reach its accommodation at the northeastern edge of Seoul, avoiding direct confrontation with protesters on the Unification Bridge -- the official land route connecting the two Koreas. Lawmakers from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party held an overnight protest on the southern end of a border bridge to North Korea starting Saturday in an attempt to block t

Politics Feb. 25, 2018

Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump's daughter and a senior adviser to the White House arrived in South Korea on Friday, for a four-day visit to lead the US delegation to the closing ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. Here are some of the photos showing Ivanka's first two days here. Trump arrived at around 4 p.m. here on Friday, and participated in a dinner meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at Sangchunjae, traditional Korean house inside the presidential office.The Blue

Foreign Affairs Feb. 24, 2018

Former presidential aide Woo Byung-woo was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on Thursday for dereliction of duty, abuse of power and perjury linked to the massive corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye.In handing down the sentence, the Seoul Central Court said Woo abused his authority and neglected his duty to look into wrongdoings by Park’s confidante Choi Soon-sil. The prosecution had demanded eight years in prison. The ruling came 311 days after Woo was i

Social Affairs Feb. 22, 2018

The government will review plans to hire more native-speaking English teachers and introduce video teaching, in a bid to strengthen language education in elementary schools. The Ministry of Education also announced Tuesday the launch of a 19-member consultative body, composed of school teachers, parents and professors, to work with Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation in reviewing such plans and coming up with an improvement proposal by the end of the year.  (Yonhap)While the ministry w

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2018

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was elected on Tuesday to chair the executive organ of the Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute, the Foreign Ministry said. Twenty-eight member countries of GGGI, whose mandate is to recommend eco-friendly development solutions for developing countries, elected Ban president of the Assembly and chair of the Council for GGGI. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Yonhap)His began the two-year term immediately, replacing Gemedo Dalle, who

Foreign Affairs Feb. 20, 2018

The weather will be warm and clear Tuesday, with high atmospheric pressure moving southeast from the northern part of China, according to the Korean Meteorological Agency. The morning temperatures will be higher than the average of last year, with Seoul to see a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius and a daytime high of 6 C.  (Yonhap)The morning lows will be minus 6 C for Chuncheon, minus 4 C for Suwon and Daejeon, minus 1 C in Daegu and Gwangju, 4 C for Busan and 6 C for Jeju Island. The daytime high

Social Affairs Feb. 20, 2018

Nearly 6 out of 10 South Korean parents favor their children having high-paying professions such as law or medicine, a report showed Monday. Jobs in art, athletes, media, teachers and technicians follow. According to a report on the private education of infants by Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, 58.7 percent of the 316 mothers and fathers with 2- to 5-year-old children in Seoul surveyed said they preferred their children to enter elite professions.  (Yonhap)The survey showed 10.9 pe

Social Affairs Feb. 19, 2018

When Silvia, not her real name, finally mustered up the courage to report sexual harassment by her work senior to her company, she expected the problem to be resolved, even if there was some awkwardness. But after a long battle, it was she who quit at STX. As for Katharina, who was a member of a church choir, it was not “insane” to ask her choir director to stop making sexual remarks. But when she raised the issue with Myeongdong Cathedral, it was her who faced opprobrium, for making a big deal

Social Affairs Feb. 19, 2018

The prosecution’s special investigation team is likely to summon a former Justice Ministry official suspected of sexual misconduct after the Lunar New Year’s holiday, as it speeds up fact-finding efforts into the sexual harassment scandal revealed by a female prosecutor. According to the prosecution Wednesday, the team is looking into data seized in a rare raid at the Justice Ministry conducted the day before. Senior prosecutor and the head of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor's Office Cho Hee-j

Social Affairs Feb. 14, 2018

Choi Soon-sil, former President Park Geun-hye’s confidante accused of meddling in state affairs, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday. Seoul Central District Court also ordered Choi to pay a fine of 18 billion won ($16.6 million) and the forfeiture of 7.3 billion won. The ruling came 450 days after she was indicted in 2016. Choi Soon-sil (Yonhap)The court also sentenced Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin to 2 1/2 years in prison and the forfeiture of 7 billion won for giving bribes in exchange

Social Affairs Feb. 13, 2018