Independent lawmaker Kang Yong-seok on Monday filed a complaint to the prosecution against software entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo, claiming that he embezzled company funds and evaded taxes. This is the third time the serial-complainant has accused Ahn, who is frequently spoken of as a potential candidate for president in December. Kang filed the complaint with the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, saying that he acquired a total of 1.46 million bonds with warrant of AhnLab, the co

A growing number of students are dropping out school because they cannot adjust to campus life, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Monday.According to a report by the ministry and the Korean Educational Development Institute, 38,887 high school students, or 2 percent of all students, have quit or taken a break from school. The largest portion, or 45.1 percent, cited failure to adapt to campus life as their main reason why, followed by moves abroad, family issues, health probl

A Seoul court sentenced a former aide to President Lee Myung-bak to a total of 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, on Monday for receiving bribes and illegal political funds.Kim Hae-soo, now president of state-run Korea Construction Management, was convicted of having received 20 million won ($17,798) from a Busan Savings Bank lobbyist in 2010 in return for using his influence to help the now-suspended bank secure a construction project. He was sentenced to eight months behind bars,

The police began analyzing the results of the Education Ministry’s school violence survey and plan to open investigations where necessary.According to the Korean National Police Agency, the ministry’s survey of all 5.58 million students was completed on Sunday. The police have completed analyzing 120,000 surveys. So far 3.6 percent of the students answered that they had been exposed to school violence to varying degrees, the police said.The police said they plan to open investigations regarding

Prosecutors to grill Kim Hyo-jae over alleged vote-buying in 2008 ruling party leadership electionProsecutors plan to question on Wednesday a former aide to President Lee Myung-bak who is accused of being deeply involved in alleged vote-buying during a 2008 leadership election for the ruling party. “He has been summoned to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday,” a prosecution official said Sunday, referring to Kim Hyo-jae. The 60-year-old Kim resigned Fr

A pastor and his wife were detained Sunday on suspicions of assaulting and starving their three children to death, police said. The three children ― aged five, eight and 10 ― were found dead in their home attached to the church where their father works in Boseong, 398 kilometers south of Seoul. “It is presumed that their deaths were caused by assault and starvation at the hands of their parents,” said an officer at the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency. He said the parents kept their bodies

The police on Sunday decided to place more officers in Itaewon, Daelim and Garibong-dong of Seoul and Wongok-dong of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, where the foreign population is dense and relevant crimes are reportedly rampant. All police officers in the areas will join patrols and other security measures to stem violent crimes and prevent any terrorism that could take place ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit slated for March 26-27 in the capital. Police units will be placed around-the-clock to s

Teachers avoid extra responsibilities after bullying prompts police actionA middle school in Gyeonggi Province has recently fallen short of homeroom teachers. Despite repeated urges from the headmaster, few have stepped forward to take on the responsibility. The school had to fill the open positions with irregular contract-based teachers who conventionally have limited duties as specialized subject teachers.The teachers are reluctant because the government has placed more responsibility on homer

The government of Jeju Island is drawing criticism for having racked up a 21.2 billion won ($18.8 million) phone bill in the voting for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.Last year the southern island was named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The new wonders were chosen by e-mail and telephone voting conducted via the Internet and phone calls from July 2009 through Nov. 11 last year.On Thursday the Jeju government report to the provincial council revealed that the telephone voting process r