A Supreme Court trial is to be streamed online for the first time in Korea to enhance public trust and transparency in the court proceedings. Korean courts sometimes came under fire for what is perceived as its opaque and unfair judgments. Scheduled for next Thursday, the trial will be presided over by the chief justice, and at least two-thirds of the 13 Supreme Court justices will be seated.This kind of trial is held when the cases are important enough to set a precedent for other cases down th

The government vowed Thursday to strengthen measures to prevent school bullying, including more extensive use of surveillance cameras and security personnel, in the wake of the recent death of a 15-year-old student.The teenager from Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province took his own life on Monday, leaving behind a note detailing repeated bullying by his peers. It was the 14th bullying-related death in the Daegu region since December 2011.The government plans to introduce a series of new measures

Police said on Wednesday they raided the home of a man who installed hidden cameras in the women’s bathroom at his work.“The suspect confessed that his obsession with a specific body part of women was the reason for the crime,” said an official at Anseong Police Station. The 28-year old man allegedly bought small cameras online and installed them in the bathroom to film female colleagues at his workplace, a manufacturer located in Anseong, Gyeonggi province.The suspect is accused of recording im

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to unveil region-specific medical tourism programs reserved for foreigners as part of efforts to meet growing demand for such programs and further spur the industry, officials said Wednesday.The municipal government is devising tour programs that integrate the medical services that certain city districts are well-known for along with famous tourist attractions, and is planning to start them as early as next month, according to the officials.The city has be

Four female celebrities, including top TV actress Park Si-yeon, have been indicted on charges of illegally taking the psychotropic drug propofol, prosecutors said Wednesday.The celebrities allegedly took the prescription drug for reasons other than its intended purpose up to 100 times at several plastic surgery and dermatology hospitals in the Gangnam district in Seoul, they said.Park and two others ― Jang Mi-inae and Lee Seung-yeon ― will stand trial without physical detention for allegedly rec

The Korean Medical Association vowed legal action against a Korean pharmaceutical company that allegedly gave kickbacks to some 1,300 physicians.Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. admitted most of its wrongdoings in its first court hearing Tuesday. The company was indicted on the charge of offering illegal rebates worth some 4.8 billion won ($4.3 million) to 1,400 hospitals and medical clinics. But the firm defended its actions by saying it was following regular practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of groping pedestrians while riding his motorcycle, police said Wednesday.According to Seoul Gangseo police, the suspect had randomly molested pedestrians at least 13 times over the last three months. The suspect allegedly approached young women on his motorcycle, touched them inappropriately and fled. He mainly preyed on young women wearing skirts, although police added a middle school student was among his victims. The suspect is believed to have com

A revised law on public indecency approved by the Cabinet on Monday has caused an instant stir with citizens denouncing the act, saying it restricts freedom of expression.The enforcement ordinance listed a number of misdemeanors including stalking, public indecency and concealing weapons. It also set the amount of fines, including a 50,000 won penalty for flashers and 80,000 won for stalkers caught for the first time.However, some say that the regulation reminds them of police crackdowns on mini

A sitting senior judge on Tuesday publicly opposed the appointment of President Park Geun-hye’s defense chief nominee through a social networking site, raising questions over his moral standards.Choi Eun-bae of the Seoul Eastern District Court said on his Facebook page that it would be best not to name Kim Byung-kwan, who has been accused of various ethical lapses, as the country’s next minister of defense.“An honorable person should be appointed as the head (of the military) to inspire respect

A Seoul court has imposed 8 million won ($7,300) in fines on a chief of local broadcaster MBC for not attending parliamentary audits, court officials said Tuesday.The Seoul Southern District Court found Kim Jae-chul, the chief of the major broadcaster, guilty of not responding to the government’s call to appear at the hearings and audits of the National Assembly in October of last year, they said.The audits were held as part of the government’s drive to probe into a six-month strike by hundreds

Prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a seven-year prison term for a South Korean man suspected of spying for North Korea.The 59-year-old suspect, identified only by his surname Jang, is accused of voluntarily receiving spy training from a North Korean agent and handing over military secrets."Severe punishment is necessary because (the suspect) voluntarily handed over military secrets to a North Korean spy but denies the crime and does not repent," prosecutors said during a hearing at the Suwon Distri

Seoul City plans to form a public fund to compensate foreign travelers overcharged by stores and taxi drivers beginning as early as June, city officials said Tuesday. The city government is studying detailed rules including the amount, criteria and method of payment. The city is considering raising funds of 200 million won ($183,000) to 300 million won in cooperation with tourism organizations.Mayor Park Won-soon recently directed city officials to come up with measures to prevent rip-off practi