153 indicted in gaming scandal

Korea Herald Feb. 23, 2007 ‘Sea Story’ scandal nabs 153 Prosecutors said today they have arrested 45 people and indicted 108 without detention in connection with an illegal arcade gaming scandal that erupted last year. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office today announced the results of its six-month probe into the “Sea Story” scandal, involving lawmakers, high-ranking government officials, gang members, arcade businesspeople and gift certificate issuers. A popular video slot game, “The Sea Story” was outlawed last year because arcades were found to be rigging the

February 23, 2007 Sean Hayes

Lobbying to Be Legalized

Korea Times Feb. 23, 2007 By Kim RahnStaff Reporter In an effort to root out bribery, the government is considering revising the law on lobbying. Lobbying is currently illegal in Korea because it is associated with bribes. According to the plan proposed in a report submitted by Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho to President Roh Moo-hyun, lobbyists will be asked to register and to report their activities to the government. “Legalizing lobbyists is a part of efforts to boost trust and transparency in the policymaking process, as lobbying

February 22, 2007 Sean Hayes

FTC expands price-fixing probe in education market

Korea Herald Feb. 22, 2007 The Fair Trade Commission is expanding an investigation into the education sector amidst speculation over possible cartels and abuses of market dominance to raise prices of textbooks, school uniforms and tuition fees. In addition to its examination of high-priced textbooks sold by the state-funded Educational Broadcasting System last year, the antitrust watchdog is probing a suspected cartel of school uniform suppliers. The FTC is currently discussing whether the alleged textbook overpricing is a case of misusing market dominance. “We cannot say whether

February 22, 2007 Sean Hayes

Former Aide Accuses Ex-Mayor of Bribery

Korea Times Feb. 22, 2007 By Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Kim Yoo-chan A former secretary of Lee Myung-bak, a strong presidential hopeful of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and a former Seoul mayor, Wednesday detailed a case of bribery. In a press conference, Kim Yoo-chan said Lee is not entitled to become president and that made him come forward to present evidence of illegal actions. “Lee Kwang-chol, a former secretary to Lee, gave me a total amount of 125 million won for perjury,” Kim said.

February 22, 2007 Sean Hayes

Sexual Violence on Children Rises 33%

Korea Times Feb. 22, 2007 By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Child molestation is becoming a serious social problem with the number of cases of sexual violence on children under 13 increasing every year. In 2006, the number of victims under 13 was 980 or 6.4 percent of the total of 15,326 reported cases of sexual violence, according to the National Police Agency. This represents a significant rise from 738 or 5.5 percent of 13,446 cases in 2005 and 721 or 5.1 percent of 14,089 cases in 2004.

February 22, 2007 Sean Hayes

Bill Sought to Limit FDI in Key Sectors

Korea Times Feb. 22, 2007 By Kim Yon-seStaff ReporterA group of lawmakers and policymakers are moving to legislate a law aimed at placing restrictions on foreign investment in some key industries. The move is aimed at blocking takeover attempts in the weapons, energy and steel sectors and other high technology areas that have some comparative advantages.The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) is reviewing the bill in consideration of national security concerns. Last year, Rep. Lee Sang-kyeong of the governing Uri Party came up with the

February 21, 2007 Sean Hayes

Judge Urges Chief Justice to Resign

Donga Ilbo Feb. 21, 2007 A presiding judge called for an explanation from Supreme Court chief justice Lee Yong-hoon, questioning his morality. He blames the chief justice for distrust in legal community, most recently proven in crossbow attack on a senior high-court judge. Jung Young-jin, presiding judge at the Seoul Central District Court, posted a paper on the court’s local area network (LAN) titled, “Urge the Chief Justice to Explain His Course of Action with respect to the Crossbow Attack.” In the paper, he said, “His unscrupulous

February 21, 2007 Sean Hayes

Rules to Change for Entertainment Spending

Chosun Ilbo Feb. 21, 2007The existing government regulation that requires a receipt for corporate entertainment spending exceeding 50,000 won will be tightened. Entertainment spending which will require a receipt will be lowered to 30,000 won in 2008 and 10,000 won in 2009. In response, businesses are expressing their anger against the government’s measure, saying it will increase the tax burden and add more work for them. They also argued that the government’s excessive intervention may lead to contraction of business activities. The government which held a Cabinet

February 21, 2007 Sean Hayes

Ten Petrochemical Companies Fined For Price Fixing

Chosun Ilbo Editorial Feb 21, 2007 Price Fixing Is a Serious Crime. The Fair Trade Commission has fined 10 petrochemical companies W105.1 billion (US$1=W939) for price rigging between 1994 and 2005. The firms including SK Corp., LG Chemicals and Samsung Petrochemicals were found to have held monthly executive meetings to set standard sales prices and “monitored” each other to make sure nobody undercut them. The FTC estimates the price-fixing cost consumers an estimated W1.56 trillion due to steady increases in prices of vinyl and plastic products. Price

February 21, 2007 Sean Hayes

Court rules against ‘Lolita’ defense in pedophilia case

Korea Herald Feb. 20, 2007 Court rules against ‘Lolita’ defense in pedophilia case The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a mental illness involving sexual obsession with children cannot be an excuse for lessened punishment for sexual violence against children.The top court returned a molestation case to an appellant court for a retrial. The appellant court had reduced a life sentence imprisonment penalty to 15 years after recognizing the offender had so-called Lolita syndrome, or sexual attraction to prepubescent children. The 39-year-old defendant, identified as Lee, was accused

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