President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday named a women’s rights expert to head the National Human Rights Commission, amid growing calls to better protect the rights of women and minorities. 　Choi Young-ae, chief of the human rights commission of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has been tapped as the new chief of the National Human Rights Commission, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom announced at a press briefing.　If appointed, the 67-year-old will become the first female chief of the human rights

South Korea's military intelligence agency masterminded the controversial defection of a dozen North Korean restaurant workers based in China, an informed source said Tuesday.The Defense Intelligence Command, affiliated with the defense ministry, led the 2014 operation supported by the National Intelligence Service, according to the source privy to North Korea issues.The 12 waitresses working at the Ryugyong Korean Restaurant in Ningpo, a city in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, defected to the

Hundreds of protesters held a rally for and against dog meat consumption near Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun on Sunday ahead of chobok, a day when Koreans traditionally eat “stamina food.” Koreans commonly eat hot bowls of supposedly stamina-boosting soups on the three “bok” days of summer. The days are referred to as chobok, jungbok and malbok and fall on July 17, July 27 and Aug. 16, respectively.Some of these soups involve commonplace meats such as chicken, but others have d

Labor unions of Korean Air, Asiana Airlines hold first-ever sit-in protest to pressure respective managements

For Belgium and England, the third-place match at the World Cup was more like a dress rehearsal for future finals.At least they hope.The Belgians earned their best World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 on Saturday in a match both saw as the start of a push for the European Championship title in 2020 or the World Cup in 2022."With this winning mentality you can win trophies," said Eden Hazard, who scored Belgium's second goal. "In two years, in four years, we will be better. We have young playe

The latest sexual assault trial session of former South Chungcheong Provincial Gov. An Hee-jung, accused of raping his secretary, was filled with testimonies in favor of the now-disgraced politician.One after another, the witnesses testified that An and the plaintiff had a “seemingly equal” working relationship, and that it was unlikely for An to have abused his professional authority to sexually exploit her.Among those who testified at Wednesday’s trial session were An’s former driver whose las

A Seoul court on Thursday handed down prison terms of 18 months to 2 1/2 years for two of the closest aides to former President Park Geun-hye and suspended the sentence for another on charges they took illicit funds from the spy agency and delivered them to Park. The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Lee Jae-man, former presidential secretary for general affairs, to 18 months in prison and Ahn Bong-geun, Park's former secretary for public relations, to 2 1/2 years. Jeong Ho-seong, another e

The body of a man who apparently committed suicide amid a probe into alleged sexual abuse of a YouTube celebrity has been found in a river east of Seoul, police said Thursday. A search has been underway since Monday for the 42-year-old man who worked at a local photography studio, after police received a report earlier that day from a witness saying he saw a person jump into the Bukhan River northwest of Seoul. (Yonhap)The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was under police investigation ove

Yemini asylum seekers who have arrived on Jeju Island this year will start receiving the results of their refugee status applications in two weeks’ time.Amid much public debate over how to deal with the sudden increase of refugees from the Arab state, the Jeju immigration office began reviewing applications from 486 Yemeni asylum seekers late last month. Seven immigration officers are screening between 12 and 18 applications per day, and the first results are expected in the third week of this m

The Supreme Court said Wednesday it has allowed a man detained for refusing the mandatory military service for religious beliefs to walk free on bail, the first such case following the latest Constitutional Court ruling that partially upheld the right to object to the mandate. The court granted the bail last Friday for the 23-year-old defendant, identified by his surname Kim, it said in a statement. Kim was being held pending an appellate decision on the charge of disobeying the state order to s

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea on Tuesday called on the South Korean government to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the defection of North Korean restaurant workers in 2016, saying some of the workers were “victims” of a scam. 　The government should hold accountable those responsible for what he said could constitute a “crime” and allow the workers to decide whether to remain in South Korea or return to North Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana said at a pre

Police have wrapped up their investigation into the wife of Korean Air Lines Co.'s chief on assault allegations and sent the case to the prosecution suggesting she be indicted, officials said Tuesday. Lee Myung-hee, wife of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, has been under investigation since late April on suspicion that she routinely assaulted and bullied employees at Hanjin affiliates and others under her influence for years. (Yonhap)She allegedly hurled a pair of pruning shears at a security

With representatives of South Korean broadcaster JTBC beginning their trip to North Korea on Monday to discuss possible establishment of a Pyongyang bureau, speculations are rampant on how both sides will reach a consensus, with the existing gap on the role of the media. Last week, the South’s Ministry of Unification approved JTBC’s application to send an eight-person team to North Korea from Monday to Thursday to discuss cooperation on the media sector and the possible launch of a Pyongyang bur

South Korea's Kim Sei-young has claimed her seventh career LPGA title with a 72-hole scoring record on the tour. Kim won the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic by nine strokes over Spain's Carlota Ciganda at Thornberry Creek at Oneida in Oneida, Wisconsin, on Sunday (local time). She fired a 7-under 65 in the final round for a four-day total of 31-under 257. Kim broke the 72-hole scoring mark on the LPGA Tour that was previously held by her and Annika Sorenstam. Kim had a four-day score of 27-under a

The summer vacation season is traditionally a boon for the airline industry. But South Korea’s major airline companies are far from cruising, as their stocks have been plunging along with their brand power due to personal and business irregularities allegedly committed by the owner families.　Asiana Airlines, one of Korea’s two major air carriers run by the Kumho Asiana Group, has seen its shares plummet since the recent “no-meal” fiasco erupted, jeopardizing the firm’s standing and igniting prot