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Ex-vice justice minister to be summoned next week over sex bribery case

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 23:08

SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui has been asked to appear for questioning by police sometime next week on suspicions that he received sexual favors from a local contractor in return for business favors, according to an officer Saturday. The sex bribery scandal centers around allegations that a number of high-profile figures, such as former and incumbent high-ranking government officials including Kim and the head of a hospital, received sexual services from about a dozen women hired by the 52-year-old construction contractor, surnamed Yoon.

Park-Indonesian envoy

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 06:15

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with a special envoy of the Indonesian president Friday and expressed hope for establishing stronger economic and other ties between the two countries, her office said. Chairul Tanjung, the chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Committee, was in Seoul as a special envoy of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose letter he delivered to Park at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, the office said in a statement.

Woori Finance-new head nominee

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 03:45

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- The board of Woori Finance Holdings Co. on Friday approved the government-led motion to cut the three-year stint of its new head nominee in half, sources said, reflecting the government's will to expedite the sale of the group. Lee Soon-woo, the incumbent head of the state-invested group's banking unit, was nominated as the group's new chief on Thursday, paving the way for the government to accelerate the privatization of South Korea's top banking group.

CJ Group-prosecution probe

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 03:15

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors are tracing overseas bank accounts of CJ Group with help from the banks to secure evidence to allegations that the local food and entertainment conglomerate amassed a massive slush fund offshore, sources close to the investigation said Friday.

middle powers-conference

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 02:30

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean state-run think tank will host an international meeting of middle-power countries to discuss new global governance institutions and development cooperation, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. The Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security was chosen last week to host the upcoming 4th Constructive Powers Initiative (CPI) meeting due in November, according to the ministry.

NK-loan repayment

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 01:32

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea again called on North Korea Friday to repay millions of dollars in loans provided in the form of food since 2000, the Unification Ministry said. The impoverished North missed the June 7, 2012 deadline to repay South Korea US$5.83 million in the first installment of the $724 million food loan extended to the North in rice and corn. The latest call is the South's fifth demand made on the North to repay its debt.

civil servants-asset disclosure

Yonhap News AgencyMay 24, 2013 01:31

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- The average wealth of the new government's 27 highest-ranking officials, who are obliged to regularly report their personal assets, was tallied at 1.86 billion won (US$1.64 million), data showed Friday. The 27 officials are all civil servants ranking above the first grade, including President Park Geun-hye, Cabinet members and ranking presidential aides. President Park has assets worth 2.56 billion won and Prime Minister Chung Hong-won holds 1.87 billion won, the data compiled by the Government Public Ethic Committee showed.

foreign entrepreneurs-support

Yonhap News AgencyMay 23, 2013 23:00

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to expand support for foreigners who establish a business here as part of efforts to attract more foreign talent into the country and thus help boost its economy, government officials said Friday. Under the plan that focuses on better working and living environments for foreigners here, the government will set up a start-up assistant program where up to 70 percent of the cost for starting technology-based establishments will be subsidized.

civil servants-asset disclosure

Yonhap News AgencyMay 23, 2013 20:46

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- The average wealth of the new government's 27 highest-ranking officials, obliged to regularly report their personal assets, was tallied at 1.83 billion won (US$1.63 million), data showed Friday. The 27 officials are all civil servants ranking above the first grade, including President Park Geun-hye, Cabinet members and ranking presidential aides. President Park has assets worth 2.56 billion won and Prime Minister Chung Hong-won holds 1.87 billion won, the data compiled by the Government Public Ethic Committee showed.

Korea ambassador-departure

Yonhap News AgencyMay 23, 2013 16:45

By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, May 23 (Yonhap) -- As Choi Young-jin, South Korea's ambassador to the U.S., wraps up 41 years of public service next week, he has a new goal -- having a chance to contribute to bringing peace to a conflict-ridden area. "I would like to take some rest for the time being. And if given an opportunity, I hope to do peacekeeping activity once again in a region in need," Choi told reporters. He was responding to a question about what he plans to do after he quits next Thursday.