Latest news with #SupremeProsecutors'Office
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
South Korea launches joint probe to revisit deadly 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox More than 150 people were killed in the 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district. SEOUL - South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office on July 30 decided to launch a joint investigation team comprising the prosecution and police to probe the Itaewon crowd crush . The decision came two weeks after President Lee Jae Myung pledged to the bereaved families of victims in the Itaewon tragedy that he would form a separate task force to investigate the disaster , which claimed 159 lives during Halloween festivities in 2022. The joint investigation team is set to revisit the overall circumstances regarding the incident, including its causes, rescue efforts and authorities' responses, and probe additional cases involving secondary damage for survivors and bereaved families. Some 20 personnel will be assigned to the investigation team, according to Yonhap News. The team will be led by the criminal affairs department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office spokesperson stated that thorough and swift measures are needed as the victims and bereaved families suffered for a long time, according to reports. 'The Itaewon tragedy is a matter of significant national concern regarding the facts and accountability. It is necessary to uncover the truth to resolve the ongoing social controversy and prevent further abuse against families of tragedy victims,' said the spokesperson. The team will also review any shortcomings in the country's disaster response system. Though a special independent investigation committee on the Itaewon crowd crush was formed in September, it struggled with a lack of investigative authority. 'Much of the information has not been provided to the National Commission for the Investigation of 10.29 Itaewon Disaster,' a representative of the bereaved families said during a meeting with Mr Lee held at the Blue House in Seoul on July 16. 'All records from the day of the tragedy, including communications between the relevant ministries, on-site instructions and more, must be disclosed by the government. Uncovering the truth is the very least we can do to honour the memory and dignity of the children who were lost in the incident.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Joint probe to revisit Itaewon tragedy
South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday decided to launch a joint investigation team comprising the prosecution and police to probe the Itaewon crowd crush. The decision came two weeks after President Lee Jae Myung pledged to the bereaved families of victims in the Itaewon tragedy that he would form a separate task force to thoroughly look into the crowd crush that claimed 159 lives during Halloween festivities in 2022. The joint investigation team is set to revisit the overall circumstances regarding the incident, ranging from its causes, rescue efforts, authorities' response and probe additional cases, involving secondary damage for survivors and bereaved families. Some 20 personnel will be assigned to the investigation team, according to Yonhap News. The team will be led by the criminal affairs department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office spokesperson stated that thorough and swift measures are needed as the victims and bereaved families suffered for a long time, according to reports. 'The Itaewon tragedy is a matter of significant national concern regarding the facts and accountability. It is necessary to uncover the truth to resolve the ongoing social controversy and prevent further abuse against families of tragedy victims,' said the spokesperson. The team will also review any shortcomings in the country's disaster response system. Though a special independent investigation committee on the Itaewon crowd crush was formed in September, it faced criticisms due to a lack of investigative authority, limiting its capability to determine the facts of the case. 'Much of the information has not been provided to the National Commission for the Investigation of 10.29 Itaewon Disaster. All records from the day of the tragedy, including communications between the relevant ministries, on-site instructions and more, must be disclosed by the government. Uncovering the truth is the very least we can do to honor the memory and dignity of the children who were lost in the incident,' a representative of the bereaved families said during the meeting with Lee held at Cheong Wa Dae on July 16.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Korea may be more 'lenient' toward child-killers than parent-killers: report
Recent court rulings gave far heavier punishments to those who killed their ascendants than to those who killed their descendants South Korean courts tend to give lighter sentences to those who killed their offspring than those who killed their parents or grandparents, an analysis of court data by a local media outlet indicated on Sunday. Yonhap News Agency said it analyzed court rulings involving 85 individuals convicted of related charges from 2022 to January of this year, finding that those who killed their ascendants -- individuals directly above them in the family tree, such as parents or grandparents -- were sentenced to an average of 15.7 years in prison. In contrast, those who killed their descendants, such as children or grandchildren, received an average of 7.7 years. The Criminal Act's Article 250 stipulates that those convicted of murder must be punished with at least five years in prison and permits the death penalty. The second clause of the act states that those who killed an ascendant can also receive capital punishment, but the minimum is seven years in prison. No separate legal clause exists for the killing of a descendant. The Yonhap report showed that all of the 53 people convicted of killing an ascendant received a prison term, half of them jailed for at least 15 years, while two were given life sentences. In comparison, four of the 32 convicted of murdering a descendant were given suspended sentences, while a majority of those charged (22 or 68.8 percent) were jailed for three to nine years. An overwhelming majority of the victims in the descendant murder cases, 23 people, or 79.3 percent, were minors. But only one person was sentenced to life in prison -- a man convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife and two teenage sons for "looking down on him." No sympathy for murdered children? Few countries apply different charges for the murder of relatives, and it is extremely rare for the law to treat the murder of a parent and that of a child differently. In Italy, murder of a family member can be regarded as "aggravated homicide," but that distinction is not applied solely to ascendents or descendants as it is in Korea. Official statistics compiled by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office have categories for murders of ascendants, death resulting from child abuse, and infanticide, but not a category for the killing of one's own children or grandchildren. As legal experts have noted over the years, many countries hand out aggravated punishments for the murder of minors. An academic journal article published in 2022 by the Justice Development Foundation found that 26 of the 50 US states issue harsher punishments for the murder of minors. Not only does South Korean law have no legal category for such cases, some cases suggest that courts do not impose aggravated punishments on parents for the murder of young children. A mother who killed her 12-year-old son and severely injured her nine-year-old daughter was jailed for seven years by the Daejeon District Court last year because she was "deeply remorseful and would likely live the rest of her life in guilt and regret." The Yonhap report noted that the "guilt" of the defendant was mentioned in 16 rulings related to the killing of descendants, suggesting the courts were relatively sympathetic toward those who killed their offspring. But most of the rulings on murders of ascendants mentioned the phrases "anti-social (38 times)," "humanity (33 times)" and "deprivation of humanity (12 times)." Just a week ago, a 62-year-old man killed his 34-year-old son over what he claimed was a lack of financial support, although the bereaved family denied this claim and said both the victim and the suspect's long-divorced wife had given him money. The man is currently under investigation, but he will be charged in court with ordinary murder, as no separate legal clause on killing one's own offspring exists in Korea. There is an ongoing debate about the murder of children, with some saying it should be added to the Criminal Act as a crime separate from murder while others say the provision regarding the murder of an ascendant should be removed. Multiple attempts to legislate punishment for the murder of one's children were made in the previous National Assembly, all of which were discarded or have yet to be deliberated.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
S. Korean YouTuber indicted with murder over abortion video, baby allegedly born alive and placed in freezer
SEOUL: A South Korean YouTuber who posted a video detailing what she said was an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and the doctors who performed it, have been indicted for murder. South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office said on Thursday (July 24) that it has indicted three on murder charges in connection with the death of the baby: a hospital director surnamed Yoon, a surgeon surnamed Shim and the YouTuber surnamed Kwon. Two brokers who introduced patients to the hospital were charged with violating the Medical Service Act. According to the prosecutors, the baby was allegedly born alive through a Caesarean operation and later placed in a freezer. 'We will do our utmost to ensure that all profits obtained through this crime are fully confiscated, to send a strong message against such inhumane acts driven by financial gain and a disregard for life,' the prosecutors said in a statement. The case came to public attention in June 2024 when Kwon uploaded the video saying she had received an abortion at 36 weeks, considered full-term under medical guidelines. The South Korean police found that the baby was still alive when it was removed, and the hospital director and surgeon then allegedly placed the newborn under a surgical drape and put it into a freezer, where it died. Prosecutors said hospital staff attempted to conceal the incident by falsifying Kwon's medical records. They allegedly recorded symptoms such as abdominal pain and bleeding to make it look like a stillbirth. A false diagnosis was also allegedly issued. The investigation also uncovered a wider illegal abortion scheme. From August 2022 to July 2023, the hospital allegedly performed over 500 illegal abortions arranged through brokers, earning nearly 1.5 billion won (US$1 million) in total. Abortion remains in a legal grey area in South Korea. In April 2019, South Korea's Constitutional Court ruled the country's criminalisation of all abortions unconstitutional. However, the South Korean National Assembly has yet to enact a new law governing abortions to legalise it. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
South Korean YouTuber indicted with murder over late-term abortion video
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Kwon uploaded the video saying she had received an abortion at 36 weeks, considered full-term under medical guidelines. A South Korean YouTuber who posted a video detailing what she said was an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy , and the doctors who performed it, have been indicted for murder. South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office said on July 24 that it has indicted three on murder charges in connection with the death of the baby: a hospital director surnamed Yoon, a surgeon surnamed Shim and the YouTuber surnamed Kwon. Two brokers who introduced patients to the hospital were charged with violating the Medical Service Act. According to the prosecutors, the baby was allegedly born alive through a caesarean operation and later placed in a freezer. 'We will do our utmost to ensure that all profits obtained through this crime are fully confiscated, to send a strong message against such inhumane acts driven by financial gain and a disregard for life,' the prosecutors said in a statement. The case came to public attention in June 2024 when Kwon uploaded the video saying she had received an abortion at 36 weeks, considered full-term under medical guidelines. The South Korean police found that the baby was still alive when it was removed, and the hospital director and surgeon then allegedly placed the newborn under a surgical drape and put it into a freezer, where it died. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thai-Cambodia border clash Asia At least 2 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh Business New tie-up offers insurance savings for SMEs committed to workers' health and well-being Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then-boyfriend of $220k Asia South Korea police raid offices of BTS' agency Hybe over share probe Prosecutors said hospital staff attempted to conceal the incident by falsifying Kwon's medical records. They allegedly recorded symptoms such as abdominal pain and bleeding to make it look like a stillbirth. A false diagnosis was also allegedly issued. The investigation also uncovered a wider illegal abortion scheme. From August 2022 to July 2023, the hospital allegedly performed over 500 illegal abortions arranged through brokers, earning nearly 1.5 billion won (S$1.40 million) in total. Abortion remains in a legal grey area in South Korea. In April 2019, South Korea's Constitutional Court ruled the country's criminalisation of all abortions unconstitutional. However, the South Korean National Assembly has yet to enact a new law governing abortions to legalise it. THE KOREAN HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
