Verbal sexual harassment in the workplace may soon be subject to criminal charges, Seoul announced Monday as part of its anti-sexual violence plan proposed in response to the #MeToo movement.Unlike rape and other physical sexual assaults, verbal sexual harassment is currently not recognized as a crime in South Korea. It is classed only as a civil offence and subject to a penalty of up to 10 million won ($9,300). According to the proposals, the Ministry of Labor will consider a revision to the Cr

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his hope for talks between his country and North Korea during his phone conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, according to Seoul officials. In their 45-minute conversation on Friday, the two leaders agreed that relations between Japan and North Korea should improve to help resolve North Korea issues."Peace on the Korean Peninsula is not possible only with a South-North summit," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom quoted Moon as telli

Since the 1990s, there has been a change in how Koreans view death, with more preferring cremation after death, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.The cremation rate stood at 20.5 percent in 1994, but rose to 82.7 percent last year. As of last year, 86 percent of Koreans said they would like to be cremated after death. “Many find it too troublesome to maintain grave sites, which require regularly cutting weeds and grass,” said an official from the ministry.

About 10 days after an allegation of multiple rapes was made public against former South Chungcheong Province Gov. An Hee-jung, a second alleged victim filed a legal complaint against him for sexual assault on Wednesday.　The woman says she was sexually assaulted by An seven times over the course of more than a year, from October 2015 until January last year. Of the seven assaults, the victim alleges she was raped on three occasions. 　The woman worked for a think tank founded by An. In the most r

Ex-President Lee Myung-bak’s wife Kim Yoon-ok received a bribe from former Woori Financial CEO Lee Pal-seung during her husband’s term in office, Kim’s son-in-law reportedly told prosecutors in a recent questioning session. 　Kim’s son-in-law, Lee Sang-joo, a senior executive at Samsung Electronics, told prosecutors he received 1.45 billion won ($1.36 million) from the former Woori chief and passed on part of the money to Kim. The money was given sometime during Lee Myung-bak’s term as president,

When ex-President Roh Moo-hyun took his own life in 2009, many blamed the country’s then-President Lee Myung-bak for the death of his predecessor.Roh, who was in office from 2003-2008, was alleged to have received $6 million from a businessman while in office. Formerly a human-rights lawyer who fought against authoritarian regimes and corrupt politics, the allegations severely damaged Roh’s “clean” image.About a month before his death, Roh was grilled for more than 10 hours by prosecutors. At th

Former President Lee Myung-bak, who has been summoned by the prosecution to be questioned over some 20 charges, remains a highly controversial figure five years after leaving the Blue House. 　Nicknamed “bulldozer,” the 76-year-old was once praised for his single-minded approach and perseverance as a successful businessman before becoming the nation’s president, despite his questionable ethics.　A former head of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and ex-Seoul mayor, Lee became the first business

With actor Jo Min-ki’s abrupt death on Friday amid accusations he had sexually assaulted eight women, the #MeToo movement faces yet another challenge: dealing with those who blame the campaign for Jo’s apparent suicide and the “damages suffered” by other accused men.　　Jo, who was due to be questioned by police Monday, was found dead in the basement of the residential and office building in Seoul where he lived. Prior to his death, he was fired from his position as a drama professor at Cheongju U

 In 2011, Ko Un, Korea’s most celebrated poet and a perennial Novel prize hopeful, published a collection of poems. 　Ko, 84, dedicated the book “Poems for Sang Wha -- Planetary Love” to his wife, Lee Sang-wha, who was a Chung-Ang University professor at the time. The collection consisted of some 120 poems -- all featuring his love and appreciation for his wife of 30 years. 　“When revolving around my wife, I shine,” said one poem in the collection. He also wrote in the book’s introduction, “I lit

Former South Chungcheong Province Gov. An Hee-jung, was a prominent liberal politician, often cited as the ruling Democratic Party’s next presidential candidate.But everything changed Monday night after his former secretary accused him of raping her in an interview with a television news program. The 52-year-old has stepped down from his post as governor and faces expulsion from his party. An is now an accused rapist facing an investigation.　On Monday, Kim Ji-eun, the alleged victim, claimed in

An Hee-jung, a heavyweight politician and governor of South Chungcheong Province, said Tuesday he would quit after his female secretary claimed that he had sexually assaulted her several times.An said in his Facebook account that I am going to resign from the governor and to stop all his political activities, admitting his sexual misconduct."It is all my fault. I seek forgiveness for my foolish act," he wrote.An has been accused by his former female secretary of sexual assault and rape.Kim Ji-eu

Korean parents with young children spend an average of 200,000 won per month on child care, despite the state-allowance program that was launched back in 2013 to make child care cost-free for all parents in the country.According to a study released by Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, which surveyed some 1,119 households with young children, a parent on average spent 198,000 won monthly on their children’s education and care cost. Notably, only 11.8 percent of all surveyed households

An independent team of prosecutors is to investigate Rep. Choi Gyo-il, a prosecutor-turned-lawmaker who has been accused of blocking an internal probe into a sexual harassment case involving prosecutors while he was working for the Justice Ministry back in 2010.　The high-profile case, made public by female prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun in January when she disclosed the sexual harassment she experienced in 2010 in a television news program, has ignited the #MeToo movement in Korea. 　Many other women, es

Following a 4.8-magnitude earthquake detected near the coastal city of Pohang last month, experts are again voicing concerns that the Korean Peninsula may no longer be safe from strong shock waves.The earthquake was an aftershock of the 5.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the same city in November last year. While no lives were lost in the November earthquake, some 1,500 residents in the area were left homeless. The quake is creating concerns as experts have repeatedly predicted the likeli

In the wake of the global #MeToo movement, currently one of the most talked about issues here, South Korea’s controversial defamation law has been also brought into the spotlight. 　　A number of lawmakers and political parties recently announced that they would push for a revision of the law, which does not acknowledge truth as defense against defamation charges.　　Women’s activists and some lawmakers criticized the defamation law as one of the biggest challenges that sexual violence victims here

Asked if she believed the women who have accused US President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct during a recent TV interview, Ivanka Trump, the US first daughter, said she “believes” her father’s denials.　　“I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters,” she said in an interview that was aired on Monday. 　　“I believe my father, I know my father. So I think I have that right as a daughter to believe my father.”　　In the wake of the global #MeToo movement, and whether or not sh

After South Korean speedskater Kim Bo-reum finished second in the women’s mass start final event Saturday, she gave a deep bow on her knees to the crowd from the ice. 　　Many Korean athletes have done the same in the past at the Olympics as a way to show gratitude. But for Kim, who had been labeled a “bully” after leaving a teammate behind during the women’s team pursuit preliminary event on Feb. 19, it was a way to show her remorse -- an apology.　　“I didn’t think about winning medals during this

The PyeongChang Games is almost over, and this week it certainly hasn’t been just about the sports. Debates on South Koreans’ practice of consuming dog meat, the country’s 2014 tragic Sewol ferry disaster, racism and an unfortunate injury involving Dutch skaters have made headlines at PyeongChang.　　Here is what’s behind the ongoing issues, including those involved and why they are being talked about.　　　Dutch skater under fire over ‘dog meat’ remarks A Dutch skater’s public remarks on South Korea

At a press conference that was abruptly arranged on Tuesday evening, Kim Bo-reum, South Korea’s speed skater, offered her public apology while tears rolled down her face. 　“I apologize to those who have been hurt or affected by my TV interview (regarding teammate Noh Seon-yeong),” the 25-year-old said, looking visibly shaken.　Her apology came shortly after hundreds of thousands of angry South Korean fans, believing Kim guilty of bullying her teammate, had filed a petition with the country’s pres

There was something odd about the way the South Korean female skaters performed in the 500-meter team pursuit quarterfinals event at PyeongChang on Monday. 　　The three-member team -- Kim Bo-reum, Noh Seon-yeong and Park Ji-woo -- looked almost as if they were competing in an individual race, not a team pursuit. When Noh Seon-yeong, one of the team members, fell a long way behind during the race, the remaining two skaters -- Park and Kim -- left her behind and crossed the finish line without her.