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Tag: South Korea

  • Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung is planning to invest $230 billion to build the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing “mega cluster.”

    As semiconductors become more important across industries, the chip supply chain is increasingly becoming an area of national security concern for countries around the world. According to ABC News, Samsung’s plan is part of a South Korean national project to help establish the country as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturing site.

    The plan includes Samsung building the world’s single biggest chip-building base, and will take some 20 years to fully realize. Once the “mega cluster” is complete, in 2042, it will build a wide range of high-end chips, including both computer memory and logic chips.

    “(South Korea) has world-class manufacturing capabilities and technologies in various high-tech industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and displays, but (government) support and regulatory conditions have been insufficient,” the Trade Ministry said in a statement.

    Samsung is already one of the world’s leading chipmakers. This expansion is sure to help it strengthen its position.

  • South Korea Fines Tesla $2.2 Million for Short-Changing EV Ranges

    South Korea Fines Tesla $2.2 Million for Short-Changing EV Ranges

    Tesla has been fined $2.2 million for not disclosing conditions in which the range of Tesla EVs may be less than advertised.

    According to Reuters, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has leveled the fine against Tesla for exaggerating the “driving ranges of its cars on a single charge, their fuel cost-effectiveness compared to gasoline vehicles as well as the performance of its Superchargers.”

    In particular, the KFTC says Tesla EVs’ range can drop by 50.5% in cold weather, something that was not disclosed in the company’s advertising.

    The fine is the latest setback for the US-based EV company, amid falling stock prices over concerns about Musk’s leadership.

  • Apps in South Korea Can Now Bypass the App Store’s Payment System

    Apps in South Korea Can Now Bypass the App Store’s Payment System

    Developers in South Korea can now use the payment system of their choice rather than being locked into Apple’s method.

    South Korea passed a law requiring Apple to open up the App Store to allow developers to use a payment method of their choosing. Despite Apple’s objection, the law has gone into effect, and Apple has complied. Apple has informed developers of the change in a developer update:

    The Telecommunications Business Act in South Korea was recently amended to mandate that apps distributed by app market operators in South Korea be allowed to offer an alternative payment processing option within their apps. To comply with this law, developers can use the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement. This entitlement allows apps distributed on the App Store solely in South Korea the ability to provide an alternative in-app payment processing option. Developers who want to continue using Apple’s in-app purchase system may do so and no further action is needed.

    At the same time, Apple says some features will not work if developers opt to use a different payment method:

    The Telecommunications Business Act in South Korea was recently amended to mandate that apps distributed by app market operators in South Korea be allowed to offer an alternative payment processing option within their apps. To comply with this law, developers can use the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement. This entitlement allows apps distributed on the App Store solely in South Korea the ability to provide an alternative in-app payment processing option. Developers who want to continue using Apple’s in-app purchase system may do so and no further action is needed.

    Other jurisdictions have been increasingly working to pry open Apple’s grip on the App Store, but South Korea has managed to make the most progress so far. It’s a safe bet it won’t be the last.

  • Samsung CEO Bows in Apology Over App Throttling

    Samsung CEO Bows in Apology Over App Throttling

    Samsung Experience Division CEO JH Han literally bowed in apology to shareholders over the company throttling apps on its phones.

    News broke in early March that Samsung was throttling game performance on its phones, including its latest flagship S22. Despite the company’s denials, reports seemed to indicate it was also throttling a slew of non-game apps, including some of the most popular ones on the market. The company quickly promised a fix.

    According to ZDNet, at a recent shareholders meeting, JH Han bowed before shareholders in an effort to apologize for the fiasco. Despite Han’s apology, the CEO still defended the Game Optimization Service (GOS) software responsible for the throttling.

    In addition to claiming GOS optimizes smartphone performance, Han denied claims the software was designed to make up for flaws in the S22’s design. Some had said the software was compensating for Samsung not using hardware that could better dissipate heat, by reducing performance and thereby lowering heat levels.

    In the meantime, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission is investigating the issue. Given the precedent that has already been set by Apple losing legal challenges to its own iPhone throttling, it’s a safe bet Samsung’s GOS legal issues are just beginning.

  • South Korea Wants Apple and Google to Ban Play-to-Earn (P2E) Games

    South Korea Wants Apple and Google to Ban Play-to-Earn (P2E) Games

    South Korea is pressuring Apple and Google to ban existing and future play-to-earn (P2E) games, in another move against the app economy.

    South Korea has been a vocal critic of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, passing a law that would force both companies to allow third-party payment options in apps.

    The country is now asking both companies to remove P2E games, and asking them to block future games in that category, according to Naver, via Tech In Asia.

    The Game Management Committee in the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism asked the companies to ban such games, since money gained could qualify as prizes, which are legally limited to $8.50 at a time.

    There has been no reported response from either Apple or Google, but it’s unlikely either company will voluntarily grant the request.

  • South Korea Passes Bill Aimed at Apple and Google App Stores

    South Korea Passes Bill Aimed at Apple and Google App Stores

    South Korea has passed its “Anti-Google Law,” aimed at prohibiting Apple and Google from forcing developers to use their payment systems.

    Apple and Google are both under fire for their app stores, and what is increasingly being viewed as an abusive monopoly. In particular, both companies force developers and users to use their payment systems, providing a steady revenue stream.

    Apple recently settled a class action lawsuit with developers, agreeing to allow them to notify customers — using external methods, such as email — of alternative payment methods. These measures were not enough, however, to stop South Korea from passing its new law.

    The new bill passed with 180 out of 188 votes in favor of the Telecommunications Business Act — the bill’s official name. In addition to mandating both companies allow alternative payment methods, the bill would impose a fine of up to 3% of a company’s total in-country revenue.

    “We hope that the passage of this bill will ensure the rights of creators and developers, and create a fair app ecosystem, where users can enjoy diverse contents at lower prices,” said the Korea Internet Corporations Association, according to Reuters.

  • Coronavirus: Microsoft Encourages Employees to Telecommute

    Coronavirus: Microsoft Encourages Employees to Telecommute

    Microsoft is joining the ranks of companies urging its employees to work from home in an effort to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

    In an internal memo The Verge acquired, Microsoft says that “multiple sites” in China are open for business, but undergoing temperature screenings. Telecommuting is already optional in China, as a result of the virus, and mandatory in South Kora. Now, however, Microsoft is expanding optional telecommuting to its San Francisco and Seattle offices.

    According to The Verge, “Microsoft is also recommending that those who are feeling sick, have a compromised immune system, or have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus) should work from home.”

    With Seattle being one of the prime areas where the virus is spreading within the U.S., it’s likely Microsoft will continue to make additional adjustments moving forward.

  • Netflix Is Launching In These Countries In Early 2016

    Netflix Is Launching In These Countries In Early 2016

    Netflix announced that it will launch in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in early 2016. The news follows a September 2 launch in Japan, which was the company’s first launch in Asia.

    The company reaffirmed its plans to complete a global rollout by the end of next year.

    “The combination of increasing Internet speeds and ubiquity of connected devices provides consumers with the anytime, anywhere ability to enjoy their favorite TV shows and movies on the Netflix service,” said CEO Reed Hastings. “These four markets well represent those trends.”

    “Netflix will be available at launch on smart TVs, tablets and smartphones, computers and a range of Internet-capable game consoles and set-top boxes,” the company says. “Additional details on pricing, programming and supported devices will be available at a later date.”

    Netflix is poised to launch in Portugal, Italy, and Spain next month. Earlier this year, it launched in Cuba, New Zealand, and Australia.

    Image via Netflix

  • North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Into Sea

    North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Into Sea

    On the day before the 61st anniversary of the Korean War armistice, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast.

    The missile was fired from the country’s southwest Hwanghae province on Saturday evening, and traveled roughly 310 miles over land before touching down in the Sea of Japan. North Korea routinely test-fires missiles as a means to display its military prowess, though Great Successor Kim Jong-un has been firing an uncharacteristically high amount of smaller, short-range ammunition this year. His father, Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, had preferred to sporadically launch longer-range warheads and conduct nuclear tests, in attempts to force concessions from the rest of the world.

    North Korea demands that South Korea tone down their joint military drills with the U.S. troops stationed in the region, because the exercises look similar to a rehearsal for invasion, from the vantage of Pyongyang. The DPNK would also like Seoul to stop with all of the slander, and the South Koreans would like a more serious stance on nuclear disarmament from Kim Jong-un’s regime.

    What was transpiring when this photo was taken actually happened, in real life:

    Kim Jong-un’s style is different from that of his late father, perhaps due to his age, as well as possible hard feelings over being a sort of walking internet meme. Recently, Pyongyang had asked China to attempt to control the viral spread of a YouTube clip featuring the Great Successor dancing through a series of absurd situations.

    Also, video game developer Moneyhorse is set to release Glorious Leader!, an old-school shoot-’em-up which features scenarios that describe Kim’s life-facts generated by the propaganda machine of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

    Here is the trailer for Glorious Leader!:

    Image via YouTube

  • Can These Ceiling Fans Kill You in Your Sleep?

    Many folks have ceiling fans in their homes. They are great for circulating air in both summer and winter months. But did you know that millions of people believe that ceiling fans can kill you?

    The belief, which is widely held in South Korea, is called “fan death”. It technically applies to any electric fan, including ceiling fans, that are in the room with a sleeping person. The belief has no basis in science, but that does not stop people from coming up with pseudo-scientific ideas about what may “cause” it.

    The urban legends about fan death are as old as the technology itself. When electric fans were first introduced to Korea, stories of asphyxiation and facial paralysis in sleeping people started circulating.

    Some say that hypothermia is the culprit, that the fan lowers the room temperature too much. But fans do not lower room temperature. They comply circulate the air that is there. The cooling effect you feel is due to the fan blowing away your own radiant body heat, which only lowers the body temp a couple of degrees.

    This is why ceiling fans have no benefit unless a person is in the room where one is blowing. Engineers commonly tell homeowners looking for energy savings to turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room. They are doing nothing but wasting energy.

    Scientific argument does not stop people from repeating these stories. Even the media runs with them every summer in South Korea, such as this story in the Korea Herald in 2011.

    A man reportedly died on Monday morning after sleeping with an electric fan running. The 59 years-old victim, only known by his surname Min, was found dead with the fan fixed directly at him.

    The South Korean government even warns about fan death as a “summer hazard”. It lists “asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners” as among the Top Five causes of death in summer.

    Some say that the belief was intentionally started by the South Korean government decades ago as a way to get people to conserve energy by turning off their electric fans at night.

    Researchers have spoken out against the myth, insisting that someone “is not going to die from hypothermia because their body temperature drops two or three degrees overnight; it would have to drop eight to ten degrees.” They say that these deaths that have been attributed to fans were likely caused by some other undiagnosed or unfound condition, but the forensics investigators on the scene saw a fan and jumped to an erroneous conclusion.

    Dr. Lee Yoon-song, a professor at Seoul National University’s medical school, says there is a reason these “fan deaths” seem to happen a lot in Korea. It is the media.

    “Korean reporters are constantly writing inaccurate articles about death by fan, describing these deaths as being caused by the fan. That’s why it seems that fan deaths only happen in Korea, when in reality these types of deaths are quite rare. They should have reported the victim’s original defects, such as heart or lung disease, which are the main cause of death in these cases.”

    Here is an actual Korean news report that attributed a death to leaving a fan on the sleeper.

    Image via YouTube

  • South Korea Ferry Incident: Owner Missing, Crew Members Indicted

    The tragedy of the Sewol sinking has angered many South Koreans and observers from around the world.

    In an attempt to bring justice and closure to the situation, South Korean prosecutors are moving forward with plans to severely punish anyone connected with possibly causing the South Korean ferry disaster.

    All crew members responsible for the ship’s steering had been detained weeks ago on charges of negligence and violation of maritime laws.

    Now it is being reported that four of the ship’s crew members have been charged with manslaughter through gross negligence.

    The surviving crew members abandoned ship, leaving more than 300 people to drown as the vessel turned on its side and sank beneath the South Korean waters.

    If found guilty, these persons could face a penalty as severe as death. Though some feel this measure is unlikely, the emotions surrounding the sinking of the Sewol remain high. This could factor into the rulings.

    In addition to the crew members being charged, South Korean law enforcement officials are also working to bring the owners of the ferry to justice.

    Billionaire Yoo Byung-un, the head of the family which owned the Sewol, is a fugitive at present.

    A few days ago, dozens of prosecutors accompanied police officers dressed in riot gear as they stormed a church retreat. They believed the billionaire was there hiding from law enforcement.

    Unfortunately officials found that Yoo was not there. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

    Authorities are offering a a 500 million won ($490,000) reward for any information that leads to Yoo’s capture.

    The former ferry owner and businessman is wanted on charges that include negligence, tax evasion, and embezzlement.

    Yoo’s daughter was recently apprehended in Paris. Meanwhile, Yoo’s sons remain at large.

    South Korean officials believe they are hiding out somewhere in the United States.

    Even as authorities are working to bring these fugitives to justice, the effort to recover bodies from the ferry continues. 16 individuals remain unaccounted for.

    Image via YouTube

  • North Korea’s State Owned News: “Obama is a monkey”

    Propaganda is usually more eloquent, combined with images of gallantry and false promises through meaningless slogans; a rhetoric that allows for no free thought or discussion – ‘you’re either with us or against us.’

    North Korea spares no elegance when it tries to make a point, whether it’s a myriad of empty threats, execution by flamethrower, or bombardments from its state-run media front; Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), currently threw out some bigoted comments describing President Barack Obama as a “wicked black monkey.”

    “Divine punishment to the world’s one and only delinquent Obama”, published in Korean on May 2nd, came just in time with Obama’s state visit to South Korea. The article is composed of essays penned by four different people, despite the style being indistinguishable. If it wasn’t labeled a government publication, it’d pass as satire:

    “You can also tell this by his appearance and behavior, and while it may be because he is a crossbreed, one cannot help thinking the more one sees him that he has escaped from a monkey’s body,” it stated.

    The written diatribe lists Obama as a monkey four times, as well as calling him a “clown”, “dirty fellow” and somebody who “does not even have the basic appearance of a human being”; it geared towards the United States as “paper tiger” – its strength as a nation being largely a “myth.”

    “It would be better for him to live with other monkeys at a wild animal park in Africa … and licking bread crumbs thrown by onlookers,” wrote steel worker Kang Hyok at Chollima Steel Complex, author of one of the four essays.

    Another author, a military officer named Han Jin-Sung, wrote with more madness:

    “These Yankees have no idea who they are dealing with, and we will teach them the true taste of fire and war. Our nuclear strikes of justice and our powerful baptism by fire will decimate America, that devil’s den, without a trace — that is our resolution.”

    The articles have drawn criticism from the White House’s National Security Council, which said they were “particularly ugly and disrespectful.”

    State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Thursday that the North Korean dispatch was “offensive and ridiculous and absurd.”

    “I don’t know how many words I can use up here to describe the rhetoric … It’s disgusting,” Harf told reporters at the Foreign Press Center in Washington.

    Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor of North Korea studies at Korea University in South Korea said that North Korea is trying to garner attention by publicizing such controversy, and that the government will distance themselves from it, attributing the remarks to their citizens who ultimately penned the piece.

    “If it was to publish such a report in the voice of the authorities it would entrap them, whereas reporting the story under some ordinary citizen’s name will give them leeway,” said Yoo.

    The published pieces are particularly a response towards President Obama’s recent visit to South Korea, where he and South Korean President Park Geun-hye held a summit in Seoul last month. During his visit, Obama said at a joint news conference with Park that he’s considering further sanctions against North Korea, and that the U.S. will not hesitate to engage in military action to defend its allies.

    Politics explode.

    Images via Wikimedia Commons (1), (2)

  • S. Korea Ferry Disaster: Survivor Count Lowered

    Nearly a month has passed since the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry. As the nation of South Korea continues to mourn, it has been learned that government officials were wrong about the number of survivors.

    This has lead to the lowering of the survivor count.

    Coast guard chief Kim Suk-kyoon has said that the true number of survivors following the tragedy is 172. Prior to the statement, it had been reported that there were 174 survivors.

    The survivor count error is blamed on two different mistakes: A surviving passenger had their name listed twice and incorrect information was given by one of the other passengers.

    The lowering of the survivor count has been distressing to Koreans. A growing number of citizens are heavily criticizing the Korean government for their handling of the ferry’s sinking.

    The anger led prime minister Chung Hong-won to resign. Though his resignation has been accepted by President Park Geun-hye, Chung has been asked to stay on for the time being.

    This is the second time that government officials made erroneous claims regarding the number of persons saved from the disaster.

    Within hours of Sewol’s sinking, officials claimed that 368 persons had been successfully rescued. The high number suggested that there would be few fatalities, raising the hopes of many distressed family members.

    It has since been determined that 304 people are likely deceased as a result of the sinking. 269 bodies have been recovered thus far with 35 bodies unaccounted for. One diver was killed during the recovery process.

    The recovery mission has been very difficult as factors that include bad weather, strong currents, and debris have interfered with the process.

    Thus far all 15 crew members responsible for the ferry’s navigation have been arrested. Four persons that worked for the ship’s company and were responsible for loading cargo have also been arrested.

    It’s believed that the ferry may have been overloaded on its final journey and that the additional cargo may have contributed to the ship’s sinking.

    Image via Youtube

  • S. Korea Ferry Sewol Frequently Exceeded Cargo Limit

    As the investigation into the sinking of the Sewol continues, it becomes clear that there is more to the ship’s sinking than an inept captain and crew.

    Hundreds of people are now dead or missing because of a gross violation of maritime law that may have started with the ship’s owners.

    A major factor in the sinking of the South Korean ferry is that it was carrying far too much cargo. Startlingly, it was no accident.

    Reports indicate that the vessel was overloaded on nearly every trip it made in the thirteen months prior to sinking.

    Ship owner Chonghaejin Marine Co. Ltd. had the ship redesigned in 2013. Since then, the ship had made nearly 200 trips back and forth between the Incheon port near Seoul and Jeju Island.

    Of the 394 individual voyages to a single destination, it has been determined that the ship was overloaded on 246 separate occasions.

    Despite the 987 ton cargo limit, the Sewol at times carried cargo in excess of 2000 tons. Chonghaejin claimed that the ship could carry a total of 3,963 tons of cargo, a number to which the ship had gotten close on a dozen times.

    The ship needed 2000 tons of water to stay balanced. The imposed limit was meant to make sure the ship was always balanced and able to travel safely through the water.

    The tragic sinking of the Sewol has exposed the failure of the maritime system in South Korea to accurately and efficiently enforce safety laws.

    Chonghaejin was never required to report the ship’s readjusted cargo limits to either the South Korean coast guard or Korean Shipping Association. This loophole may have contributed to the company’s constantly allowing the ship to be overloaded.

    The lack of regulation may also have contributed to the tragic events that occurred a few weeks ago.

    Prior to the final voyage of the Sewol, Captain Lee Joon-seok recorded there were 150 cars and 657 tons of cargo. That number was incorrect; the coast guard identified 180 cars in the water.

    It’s likely that the horrible incident will force an update in policies that prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future.

    Image via YouTube

  • Seung-Yul Noh: 22-Year-Old South Korean Wins Zurich Classic On PGA Tour

    On Sunday, Seung-Yul Noh won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. At 22 years old, the South Korean native is the fourth player under the age of 25 to win on the PGA tour. He worked his way towards a two-stroke victory with a one-under-par 71.

    During the event, Noh wore black and yellow ribbons on his hat as a tribute to the missing persons from a ferry accident in the waters of South Korea. He also said that he wanted to win in order to lift the spirits of his fellow South Koreans.

    In 2010, English golfer Oliver Wilson tweeted that he played with Noh and said, “Keep an eye out for him. One of the best ball strikers in the world.” The tweet was posted just after Wilson lost to Noh.

    At just 17 years old, Noh won the Asian Tour. At 18, he became the second youngest victor in European Tour history when he won the Maybank Malaysian Open. A year later, he was ranked 61st in the world.

    At Sunday’s event, Ko said that he “needed to get close” and give himself a “birdie chance” amidst the loud applause at the 18th hole. Noh is the 7th first time PGA winner of the event in the last decade. He finished 19-under 269 and won a prize of $1,224,000.

    Robert Streb and Andre Svoboda tied for second with Streb shooting a 70 and Svoboda finishing with a 69.

    What’s next in line for Noh? As a native of South Korea, he will have to serve two years in the Korean military. However, he has postponed his service after the Olympic Games in 2016 where he is hoping to compete for Korea, as winning a medal will permit him to waive his mandatory service to the military.

    If Sunday was an indication of what’s to come for Noh, then his chances of skipping military service would be good.

    Image via YouTube

  • South Korea Ferry Disaster: Prime Minister Resigns

    The prime minister of South Korea resigned on Sunday.

    The act comes amid a growing wave of criticism heaved at the Korean government over its handling of the Sewol incident and subsequent rescue efforts.

    Former Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said in a statement that the rising tide of “sadness and resentment of the public” played a major role in his decision to step down.

    When Chung attempted to visit a shelter housing the family members of the ferry victims, he found himself heckled by a number of bystanders. The negative reception left a lasting impression on the government official.

    “…I saw grieving families suffering with the pain of losing their loved one,” said Chung.

    He felt that he should “take all responsibility as prime minister” for his role in the government’s reportedly insufficient rescue efforts.

    Chung also blamed societal issues for the ongoing tragedy, saying that he hoped “these deep-rooted evils” would be removed from South Korean society and that this “kind of accident never happens again.”

    Because the majority of political power in South Korea resides with the president, it seems that the decision of the prime minister to resign is largely symbolic in nature. Min Kyung-woo, who is the presidential spokesman, was reported as saying President Park Geun-hye will likely accept Chung’s resignation.

    It is not known at this time when Chung will leave office.

    In the aftermath of the Sewol ferry sinking, heartbroken friends and family members of those who died or are still missing have become increasingly angered at the government’s response to the disaster.

    Thus far divers have retrieved 188 bodies from the waters surrounding the Sewol or directly from vessel. 114 persons are still missing. There are only 174 survivors at this time, and it’s unlikely any more will be recovered from the sunken ferry.

    All 15 crew members involved in the sinking of the ship have been taken into custody and formally arrested. They stand accused of negligence and failing to help passengers in need.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • South Korea Ferry Disaster: Over One Hundred Dead

    It has been nearly one week since the Sewol sank into waters off the southern coast of South Korea.

    In recent days, the death toll has risen sharply. Over a hundred bodies have been recovered thus far with many more expected to be located as search efforts continue.

    A wall of Korean policemen acted as a cordon as bodies were carefully laid inside of a tent. At this time only close family members will be made aware of who the deceased are as the identification process continues.

    It has only just begun to dawn on horrified Koreans that the rescue mission is quickly returning into a recovery mission.

    Since divers found a way into the submerged vessel over the weekend, the death toll has only continued to rise. No survivors have been located yet.

    Even as an increasing number family members are being called forward to identify the remains of loved ones, It is still hoped against hope that somehow living survivors will be found.

    Some family members have even written desperate pleas to the Korean government to provide greater aid in the recovery process.

    In the aftermath of the sinking of the Sewol ferry, Captain Lee Joon-seok has been arrested along with two of the ship’s crew members.

    Four other crew members have been detained by authorities, but no other arrests have been made at this time.

    Lee and the other arrested crew members stand accused of negligence and abandoning people in need. Despite captaining the ferry, Lee was reportedly one of the first persons to reach safety. He left behind hundreds of people who were unable to escape the ferry before it sank.

    Lee continues to maintain his innocence in the matter, saying he did everything he could prior to the disaster.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sunken South Korean Ferry’s Captain Arrested

    A South Korean ferry sank off the country’s southern coast on Wednesday.

    Lee Joon-seok, who captained the Sewol during the tragic incident, was taken into police custody on Saturday along with two other crew members.

    Lee faces five separate charges, including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.

    The 68-year-old man has four decades of experience as a ferry captain, however he was revealed to not be the boat’s main captain. According to a crew member, Lee captains the vessel at most ten days per month.

    Said Lee, “I am sorry to the people of South Korea for causing a disturbance and I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims.” He gave the statement ahead of departing the Mokpo Branch of Gwangju District Court to jail.

    Prior to his arrest, Lee came under heavy public scrutiny for his decision delay evacuation procedures. He was actually thought to have gotten off the ship well ahead of many passengers.

    “At the time, the current was very strong [and the] ocean water was cold,” said Lee “I thought that if people left the ferry without wearing a life jacket […] they would drift away and face many other difficulties.”

    Lee continues to justify his decision even as the delay is blamed for the heavy casualties suffered.

    Because of the delay in evacuation, authorities believe that many passengers were unable to escape the ship due to the steep angle of the sinking ferry.

    The prosecutors will have ten days to decide whether or not to indict Lee and the other crew members. It’s possible the prosecution may ask for an extension.

    Of the 476 people aboard the Sewol, 36 have been confirmed dead. 266 people are still missing. South Korean officials fear that many of the passengers are still trapped in the sunken vessel.

    Hundreds of military, government, and civilian divers are said to be involved in the ongoing rescue effort.

    The ferry incident is considered by many South Koreans to be one of the worst tragedies in recent history. Condolences are being sent to grieving family members from around the world.

    Meanwhile many relatives and friends of still missing passengers desperately await news.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ferry Sinks in South Korea Leaving Hundreds Missing

    A passenger ferry sank off the coast of South Korea on Wednesday morning, leaving hundreds missing and at least six people dead. The ship flipped flipped while sinking, possibly trapping hundreds of passengers inside.

    According to a report from The Korea Herald, the ferry sank off the coast of South Korea’s Jindo Island south of the country’s mainland. The incident took place just before 9 am.

    The ferry was reportedly carrying 462 passengers at the time of the incident. As many as 324 of those passengers were students from Danwon High School that had traveled to Jejudo Island as part of a school field trip.

    Six of those passengers, including a young woman, a high school student, and a ferry company worker, have died. According to the Herald, 281 of the passengers are still unaccounted for as of 1 am local time on Thursday.

    According to the Herald, South Korean President Park Geun-hye personally visited the central response center in charge of rescue operations. In a statement the President said that a thorough search of the ship will be conducted to ensure no passengers are left inside.

    The South Korean Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Army all coordinated rescue efforts at the scene of the sinking. Helicopters and divers are now being used to search the ship for passengers. A U.S. Navy ship has also joined the South Korean rescue efforts, which were initially difficult due to strong currents in the area.

    A rescue worker quoted by the Herald has stated that passengers still inside the ship are “unlikely” to have survived due to a combination of cold water temperatures, the current depth of the ship, and the time that has passed since the sinking.

    The tragedy has mobilized an outpouring of grief over social media networks. The hashtag #PrayForSouthKorea is now trending worldwide on Twitter.

    Image via NDN

  • South Korean Ship Sinks Into Freezing Waters

    A South Korean passenger ferry sunk into the freezing waters off the nation’s southwest coast on Wednesday, according to CNN.

    The ferry Sewol sent out a distress signal at 9 A.M. local time. Four hundred and seventy four people were aboard when the ship began to sink. One survivor reported hearing “a loud bump” though the cause of the wreck is currently unknown. The vessel is now completely submerged.

    So far, 368 passengers have been saved.

    Sadly, South Korean authorities report that two people have been confirmed dead.

    The remaining 104 passengers are still missing.

    Rescue vessels took to the water immediately to rescue passengers who had jumped from the sinking ship.

    Three hundred and twenty of the ship’s passengers were high school students and teachers taking a trip to the island of Jeju. Fortunately, many of the students were able to jump from the ship and swim to rescue vessels. South Korean media reports that all of the students have been saved, but this has not been confirmed by authorities yet.

    One student, Lim Hyung Min, detailed the harrowing experience.

    “The water was so cold and I wanted to live. I think most of the students are now rescued. I have 20 other students with me and many of us suffered from hypothermia but now we are OK because we got blankets.”

    Since the freezing water Lim Hyung Min swam through was cold enough to cause hypothermia, time was of the essence in the rescue effort. South Korean President Park Geun-hye took swift action, ordering all available ships to assist in the rescue efforts.

    Passenger Kim Seung Mok told YTN, a South Korean affiliate to CNN, about his efforts to save fellow passengers from the disaster.

    “I stayed till the last to rescue people at the hall. But the water was coming in so fast [that] some didn’t make it out.”

    Twitter is currently swamped with updates on the ship’s status and support for the passengers and their families.

    Image via Youtube

  • North Korea Drone Found on Island “a Toy”

    A suspected North Korean drone was found on a border island between North and South Korea after a series of dual competing military drills. The two countries fired around two hundred shells into empty waters Monday. The Associated Press reported that the tests were conducted as a way of showing dominance in a dispute over the countries’ sea border. There were no injuries.

    “An unmanned aerial vehicle from an unknown nation crashed on Baengnyeong Island at around 4 p.m. on March 31,” a South Korean army source told the Korea Joong Daily, “We collected the vehicle and are in the middle of a probe.”

    “It is like a toy.” Professor Kim Hyoung-joong of Korea University in Seoul told Reuters. But Hyoung-joong was quick to point out the use of such a device “for surveillance purposes”. The professor added “it doesn’t have to be a high-tech, top-notch military product like Predators or Global Hawk drones. This type of toy-like equipment can find a blind spot.”

    Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., an intelligence contractor, told NBC that “North Korea has had drones for a number of years now.” When showed a picture of the drone he said it “looks like it has had a modified fuselage and been fitted with a camera – imagine a model airplane with a camera. It seems to have some of the characteristics of other North Korean drones we know about.”

    NBC also interviewed Paul Schulte, research fellow of London’s Kings College, who agreed about the drone’s origins: “The aircraft is so small that it looks as though it could not have flown from anywhere else [other than North Korea] – that is unless it is from South Korea and they haven’t identified it, but that is less likely.”

    As far as China is concerned, it “opposes actions that undermine peace and stability of the Peninsula and urge all parties to keep calm, exercise restraint, be discreet in words and deeds, prevent the progressive escalation of the tension and jointly safeguard peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday. The United States put the blame North, as Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said: “North Koreans have, once again, engaged in [provocation], is dangerous and it — and it needs to stop.”

    Image via ARIRANG NEWS, YouTube