The Korea Herald

Two guilty of killing stepdaughters

Apr 11, 2014

Justice minister vows to get tough on child abuse amid soaring public anger
‘Child abuse deaths higher than reported’

Apr 11, 2014

The official number of deaths caused by child abuse in the past decade is estimated at about 100, but the South Korean government said Friday the actual count might be much higher than the reported figure.A total of 97 children died from child abuse from 2001-2012, according to the National Child Protection Agency, affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. “The actual number of children who died from abuse is likely to be much higher than the data (compiled) on child abuse deaths by ye
Seoul pushes for regulation on noise pollution

Apr 11, 2014

The environment and land ministries on Friday put on public notice a bill to reduce conflict among neighbors over noise traveling between apartment floors, officials said. When the guideline goes into effect on May 14, it will be used for both legal and residential disputes to mediate noise-related problems in multiplex housing. The new regulation shows that shock-associated noise and airborne noise levels will be measured separately, while the sound of running water and toilet flushes will be e
AIDS patient found dead after years of disappearance

Apr 11, 2014

A South Korean AIDS patient who went missing six years ago was found dead in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, local officials said Friday.The 37-year-old woman died from AIDS-related pneumonia on Tuesday, according to local authorities.Korea regularly monitors AIDS patients, but the woman fell out of the checkup system after she disappeared, her whereabouts unknown.The woman used to live in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where she found she was infected with the HIV virus in 1998. The Andong Cit
Laborers demand 28.6% increase in minimum wage

Apr 11, 2014

Labor unions on Friday demanded a 28.6 percent increase in the minimum wage next year, from the current 5,210 won ($5.03) per hour, officials said.The Minimum Wage Council, which consists of representatives of the government, labor unions and business, held the first meeting on Friday to set new minimum wage standard by June 29. The Ministry of Labor is scheduled to confirm next year’s minimum wage on Aug. 5.Labor-side delegates said in the meeting that they sought to increase the minimum wage t
Justice minister vows to get tough on child abuse

Apr 11, 2014

The justice minister vowed Friday to get tough on child abuse and come up with preventative measures amid escalating public anger over a woman who beat her 8-year-old stepdaughter to death."The government will sternly punish child abusers, work out various countermeasures and do all it can to better protect children," Hwang Kyo-ahn said during a policy consultation meeting at the National Assembly between the government and the ruling Saenuri Party.He said the justice ministry will make full pre
Woman sentenced to 10 yrs for murdering stepdaughter

Apr 11, 2014

A South Korean woman was sentenced to a 10-year prison term on Friday for allegedly beating her 8-year-old stepdaughter to death.The 36-year-old woman, surnamed Lim, is accused of punching and kicking the young girl multiple times in August 2013. The girl died from peritonitis two days after the incident took place. The Daegu District Court also handed down a three-year jail term to the girl’s father, identified by his last name Kim, for abusing his child. By Suk Gee-hyun(monicasuk@heraldcorp.co
Supreme Court rejects smokers’ damages suit

Apr 10, 2014

Health insurance agency to go ahead with suit against tobacco makers
Korea to strengthen child abuse penalties

Apr 10, 2014

The South Korean government will toughen penalties for child abuse as public outrage escalated over the death of an 8-year-old girl caused by her stepmother, officials said Thursday. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, penalties for fatal child abuse will be increased to five years or more in prison. The government will also disallow suspended sentences for such cases without specific mitigating factors. Under the current child welfare law, the maximum prison term for child abuse is
Judge accused of taking bribe from loan shark

Apr 10, 2014

The prosecution said Thursday that it has launched an internal investigation into a judge involved in a suspicious money transaction with a loan shark.The judge, who works at a district court in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, is suspected of borrowing 600 million won ($577,000) from a private money lender surnamed Choi. It is unknown how the deal was carried out and whether the money was transferred to the judge in exchange for favors. The probe was launched after the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office obta
Plastic surgeons vow to stamp out malpractice

Apr 10, 2014

The nation’s largest group of plastic surgeons vowed Thursday to stamp out illegal medical practices following a string of lethal cosmetic surgery accidents. “A recent series of plastic surgery accidents were caused by some doctors’ unethical and illegal acts, largely prompted by over-competition and commercialization of medical institutions,” said the Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons in a press conference. “(The association) feels responsible for such situations that threaten people’s hea
(Photo News) Spring cleaning

Apr 10, 2014
Dutch-educated designers, architects to hold exhibition

Apr 10, 2014

Designers and architects who have been educated in the Netherlands will host an exhibition of their work in Seoul next week, Holland’s education support office in Korea said Thursday.According to Nuffic Neso Korea, “Dutch Creative Code” will feature works by Dutch-educated designers and architects. Willemijn van Os, the director of Nuffic Neso Korea, said she hoped to promote the competence and creativity of Dutch design and architecture through this exhibition. She also expressed the hope that
Top court turns down appeals against tobacco giant

Apr 10, 2014

In a landmark ruling, the nation’s top court on Thursday turned down smokers seeking compensation from the country’s largest tobacco firm for causing cancer.Thirty-six cancer patients and family members of smokers who died from cancer filed compensation lawsuits against the government and tobacco and ginseng products maker KT&G Corp. in 1999. Ending a 15-year-long prolonged fight on two rare tobacco lawsuits in Korea, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that there is lac
Personal data leaked from banks used for phishing

Apr 9, 2014

Police on Wednesday said that 10 people fell victim to phishing scams after their personal information was stolen through a massive data leak at banks last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested four members of a voice phishing ring for extorting a total of 37 million won ($35,500) from the victims in two weeks from March 18. Among the suspects is a general manager surnamed Lee, 42, who orchestrated the large-scale scam.The data of up to 16,000 customers of Citibank was leaked in Ap