SEOUL: Samsung Electronics has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit after 2.8 million "exploding" washing machines recalled in the US, the South Korean company said Tuesday (Feb 12). The washing machines in question have long been off the market, according to Samsung AFP/Jung Yeon-je The faulty appliances were recalled in 2016 after reports that the top "can unexpectedly detach from the washing machine chassis during use, posing a risk of injury from impact", according to The US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The lawsuit claimed some of the washers were "exploding". "Samsung has chosen to settle class-action lawsuits involving top-load washing machines that were subject to a voluntary recall," Samsung said in a statement, adding the decision was reached to "avoid distraction and expense of litigation". The washing machines in question have long been off the market, Samsung added. Those covered by the settlement may receive benefits ranging from a "rebate, … [Read more...] about Samsung reaches settlement over “exploding” washing machines in US
South korean president park geun hye
South Korea ex president Lee appeals 15 year jail term
Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will appeal a court verdict that last week sentenced him to 15 years in prison for corruption, his lawyer said Friday (Oct 12). Lee is the latest of South Korea's former leaders to be jailed after leaving office. (Photo: AFP/Jung Yeon-je) Lee was found guilty of bribery and embezzlement charges - becoming the latest of the country's former leaders to be jailed after leaving office. The conservative politician, who helmed Hyundai Construction before his election to the presidency, was separately ordered to pay a fine of 13 billion won (US$11.5 million) by the Seoul Central District Court. The court found that Lee, 76, was the de-facto owner of DAS - a controversial auto parts company which he claimed belonged to his brother - which he used to create a slush fund worth around 24 billion won. He was also found guilty of accepting nearly six billion won from Samsung Electronics in return for a presidential pardon for its chairman, who … [Read more...] about South Korea ex president Lee appeals 15 year jail term
South Korea jails former president Lee for 15 years on corruption charges
By Reuters  October 5, 2018 | 03:29 pm GMT+7 Former South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak appears for his first trial at the Seoul Central District Court on May 23, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via Reuters A Seoul court on Friday jailed former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for 15 years for corruption. Lee, in office from 2008 to 2013, is the fourth former South Korean president to be jailed, with his successor Park Geun-hye imprisoned for her role in a separate corruption scandal that toppled her from power in early 2017 and also led to jail time for Samsung Group heir Jay Y. Lee. Lee Myung-bak faced charges that he accepted around $10 million in illegal funds from institutions like Samsung and his own intelligence service, fuelling ongoing concerns over the cozy ties between government and business leaders. The Seoul Central District Court found Lee guilty of embezzlement of about 24.6 billion won ($21.77 million) from a … [Read more...] about South Korea jails former president Lee for 15 years on corruption charges
South Korean court raises ex-president Park’s jail term to 25 years
South Korean court raises ex-president Park's jail term to 25 yearsThe Saigon Times Daily South Korean ousted leader Park Geun-hye arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, August 25, 2017 – PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL (REUTERS) - A South Korean appeals court sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to 25 years in jail on Friday in a case arising from a far-reaching corruption scandal that toppled her from power in 2017. Park became South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office when the Constitutional Court removed her over a scandal that landed the heads of two conglomerates in jail. The Seoul High Court found that Park colluded with her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates to help Choi’s family and fund non-profit foundations owned by her, according to the court documents. “Such unethical dealings between political power and financial power harms the essence of democracy and distorts … [Read more...] about South Korean court raises ex-president Park’s jail term to 25 years
South Korean court sentences president Park to another eight years in jail
South Korean court sentences president Park to another eight years in jailThe Saigon Times Daily South Korean ousted leader Park Geun-hye arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, August 25, 2017 - PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL (REUTERS) - A South Korean court sentenced former president Park Geun-hye to eight more years in prison on Friday after finding her guilty on charges of causing loss of government funds and interfering in a 2016 parliamentary election. Park has already been sentenced to 24 years in jail after she was found guilty by a lower court in April of separate charges including bribery, abuse of power and coercion. All sentences must be served consecutively if they are upheld, a court spokeswoman said. Park became South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office last year when the Constitutional Court ordered her out over a scandal that exposed a web of corruption between political leaders and the country’s powerful conglomerates, or … [Read more...] about South Korean court sentences president Park to another eight years in jail
Former South Korean president Park jailed 24 years for corruption
The ruling is seen as a blow to South Korean ousted leader Park Geun-Hye, who has been separately standing trial after being impeached in March and indicted on 18 charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power (AFP Photo/JUNG YEON-JE) She was found guilty on charges of bribery, coercion and abuse of power, and ordered to pay a fine of 18 billion won (US$17 million). "The amount of bribery the accused received or demanded in collaboration with Choi amounts to more than 23 billion won," Judge Kim Se-Yoon said, referring to Park's secret confidante and long-time friend Choi Soon-sil. "I sentence the accused to 24 years in prison and 18 billion won in fines." Park, 66, had boycotted most of the trial in protest at being held in custody. She was not present in court for Friday's judgement which, in a rare move, was broadcast live on television. Prosecutors were seeking a 30-year sentence and a 118.5 billion won fine for Park, after indicting her on charges that included bribery, … [Read more...] about Former South Korean president Park jailed 24 years for corruption
South Korea’s Park jailed for 24 years for corruption
South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye was jailed for 24 years Friday for corruption, closing out a dramatic fall from grace for the country's first woman leader who became a figure of public fury and ridicule. A trial which lasted more than 10 months ended with Park being found guilty on multiple criminal charges, including bribery and abuse of power. Park's successor described the sentencing as a "heartbreaking event" for both the nation and the ex-leader herself. "The accused abused the power bestowed by the people - the true ruler of this country - to cause chaos in national administration," said Judge Kim Se-yoon. "Despite all these crimes the accused denied all the charges against her, displayed no remorse and showed an incomprehensible attitude by blaming Choi and other ... officials," he said, referring to Park's secret confidante and long-time friend Choi Soon-sil. Park, 66, was convicted of receiving or demanding more than $20 million from conglomerates, … [Read more...] about South Korea’s Park jailed for 24 years for corruption
Secret confidante of S. Korea’s Park jailed for 20 years over scandal
The secret confidante of ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye was convicted Tuesday and jailed for 20 years for her key role in the scandal that brought down the head of state. Choi Soon-sil -- who became close to Park through her father, a shadowy religious figure -- was vilified during the massive nationwide protests that rocked Asia's fourth-largest economy and culminated in Park's impeachment last year. The Seoul Central District Court found Choi guilty of abuse of power, bribery and interfering in government business. The verdict is a potential pointer to the decision in Park's separate trial, since 15 of the 18 charges Choi faced mirror counts on the ex-president's own indictment. Judge Kim Se-yoon told a packed courtroom that Choi took advantage of "long private ties" with Park to force companies to donate funds to foundations she controlled and used for personal gain. She accepted more than 14 billion won ($13 million) from telecommunications giant Samsung and … [Read more...] about Secret confidante of S. Korea’s Park jailed for 20 years over scandal
Top North Korean official to visit South for Winter Olympics
North Korea's ceremonial head of state will visit the South this week and attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony as the divided peninsula witnesses a rare thaw after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Kim Yong-Nam will technically be the most senior official from the North ever to travel to the other side of the Demilitarized Zone that has for decades divided the two Koreas. His trip will be the diplomatic high point of the rapprochement between the two Koreas triggered by the Pyeongchang Olympics in the South, which have their opening ceremony on Friday - although analysts warn that their newly warmed relations may not last long beyond the Games. Tensions spiralled last year as the North carried out multiple weapons tests, including intercontinental ballistic missiles it says are capable of reaching the mainland United States, and its most powerful nuclear blast to date. For months Pyongyang ignored Seoul's entreaties to take part in a "peace … [Read more...] about Top North Korean official to visit South for Winter Olympics
Japan, China talks end with friendship vows but no breakthrough
Japan's foreign minister met China's top leadership on Sunday for rare diplomatic talks that ended with mutual vows to improve their chilly ties but little in the way of concrete proposals. The world's second and third largest economies have a fraught relationship, held back by longstanding disputes over maritime claims and Japan's wartime legacy. Taro Kono's visit to China was the first by a Japanese foreign minister in nearly two years and comes as Tokyo pushes for a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping. Japan's top envoy met with his counterpart Wang Yi, top diplomat Yang Jiechi and Premier Li Keqiang. But on a range of issues - from developing a military hotline to easing tensions around disputed islands in the East China Sea and to a state visit - Kono came away with little more than vague promises. In statements and remarks after the talks both Japan and China said they would move towards setting up a military hotline to avoid clashes in the East China Sea and would aim … [Read more...] about Japan, China talks end with friendship vows but no breakthrough