The&nbsp;Saudi-led&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;fighting the Iran-aligned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/houthis-deceptive-over-najran-attack-claims-saudi-led-coalition-252901">Houthi movement </a>in Yemen said on Monday the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;had&nbsp;seized a vessel towing a South Korean drilling rig at the southern end of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-yemen-crisis-spills-over-into-the-red-sea-156287">Red&nbsp;Sea</a>.

The vessel was&nbsp;seized late on Sunday by armed&nbsp;Houthis,&nbsp;Coalition&nbsp;spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said in a statement carried by&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;state media. He did not say how many crew members were onboard the&nbsp;ship.

South Korea said two of its vessels were captured, a tug boat and a sand dredger, each of which had one South Korean national was on board.

Four other crew members of unknown nationalities were also on board, the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

Both vessels were owned by South Korean builder Woongjin Development, a company official told Reuters.

Another 10 foreign nationals were onboard a towing vessel that belongs to&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia which was&nbsp;seized along with the two South Korean vessels, the South Korean ministry said.

A South Korean navy&nbsp;ship&nbsp;that has been conducting anti-piracy operations in the Arabian&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;near Oman has been ordered&nbsp;to deploy to the area where the vessels were&nbsp;seized, the ministry said.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior Houthi official told Reuters the group's forces had&nbsp;seized a "suspect vessel" in the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and said the crew were being treated well.

"Yemeni coast guards ... are checking to see whether (the&nbsp;ship) belongs to the countries of aggression or to South Korea, in which case it will be released after completing legal procedures," he said.

The&nbsp;Houthis' Al-Masirah TV said three&nbsp;ships had been&nbsp;seized near Uqban island, including one belongs to&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, and taken to the Yemeni port of Salif.

The&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;spokesman said the seizure of the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;was a "terrorist operation" that posed a threat to the freedom of international navigation and world trade.

The&nbsp;Saudi-led&nbsp;alliance intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;after the group ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa.

Houthi forces have been driven away from most of&nbsp;Yemen's&nbsp;coast over the course of the conflict but still hold Hodeidah, the country's biggest&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;port and base of the group's navy.

The&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;have in the past targeted vessels off Yemen, which lies on one side of the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the southern mouth of the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea, one of the world's most heavily travelled&nbsp;oil tanker routes.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday the Houthis had seized a vessel towing a South Korean drilling rig at the southern end of the Red Sea.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday the Houthis had seized a vessel towing a South Korean drilling rig at the southern end of the Red Sea. The vessel was seized late on Sunday by armed Houthis, Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said in a statement carried by Saudi state media. He did not say how many crew members were onboard the ship. South Korea said two of its vessels were captured, a tug boat and a sand dredger, each of which had one South Korean national was on board. Four other crew members of unknown nationalities were also on board, the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement. Both vessels were owned by South Korean builder Woongjin Development, a company official told Reuters. Another 10 foreign nationals were onboard a towing vessel that belongs to Saudi Arabia which was seized along with the two South Korean vessels, the South Korean ministry said. A South Korean navy ship that has been conducting anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea near Oman has been ordered to deploy to the area where the vessels were seized, the ministry said. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior Houthi official told Reuters the group's forces had seized a "suspect vessel" in the Red Sea and said the crew were being treated well. "Yemeni coast guards ... are checking to see whether (the ship) belongs to the countries of aggression or to South Korea, in which case it will be released after completing legal procedures," he said. The Houthis' Al-Masirah TV said three ships had been seized near Uqban island, including one belongs to Saudi Arabia, and taken to the Yemeni port of Salif. The coalition spokesman said the seizure of the ship was a "terrorist operation" that posed a threat to the freedom of international navigation and world trade. The Saudi-led alliance intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis after the group ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa. Houthi forces have been driven away from most of Yemen's coast over the course of the conflict but still hold Hodeidah, the country's biggest Red Sea port and base of the group's navy. The Houthis have in the past targeted vessels off Yemen, which lies on one side of the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the southern mouth of the Red Sea, one of the world's most heavily travelled oil tanker routes.

Yemen's Houthis seize ship in Red Sea: Saudi-led coalition

The leader of South Korea's main opposition party shaved his head in Seoul to show dissent over South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Justice Minister Cho Kuk.

South Korean opposition leader shaves head publicly in protest against govt

South Korean girlband GFRIEND was in Hong Kong on Saturday (3 AUGUST 2019) for their Asia tour at AsiaWorld-Expo, a convention and exhibition center.

South Korean girlband GFRIEND pulls off concert despite injury

Facebook has sued South Korean data analytics company, Rankwave, for allegedly misusing data in its advertising and marketing services, the social media giant said in a statement.

Rankwave ran applications on the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-under-pressure-to-censor-hate-speech-217637"> Facebook platform</a> which have since been suspended by the social media company.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in a court in California, US, Jessica Romero, the director of litigation and compliance of the platform said in a statement.

"Facebook was investigating Rankwave’s data practices in relation to its advertising and marketing services. Rankwave failed to cooperate with our efforts to verify their compliance with our policies, which we require of all developers using our platform," Romero said.

The American company suspects that Rankwave could have used user data collected through its applications for its own commercial purposes.

"By filing the lawsuit, we are sending a message to developers that Facebook is serious about enforcing our policies, including requiring developers to cooperate with us during an investigation," Romero added.

So far, Rankwave has not commented on the lawsuit.&nbsp;

The case could again tarnish the image of the social network and its security measures on the processing of personal data after data from millions of users was compromised by British data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica for political purposes.

What appeared to be an inoffensive fun app in the form of a personality quiz encouraged millions of users to share data about themselves.

Facebook alleges that Rankwave was slurping up user data based on Facebook activity that was then sold on to advertising clients of the South Korean data handling company.&nbsp;

Facebook's demand against Rankwave was presented the same day that the president and co-founder of the American company, Mark Zuckerberg, met in Paris with French <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-rejects-co-founder-call-for-breakup-senator-urges-us-antitrust-probe-217697">President Emmanuel Macron</a>, at a time when France is preparing to toughen its legislation on social networks.

Facebook has sued South Korean data analytics company, Rankwave, for allegedly misusing data in its advertising and marketing services, the social media giant said in a statement.

Facebook has sued South Korean data analytics company, Rankwave, for allegedly misusing data in its advertising and marketing services, the social media giant said in a statement. Rankwave ran applications on the Facebook platform which have since been suspended by the social media company. The lawsuit was filed Friday in a court in California, US, Jessica Romero, the director of litigation and compliance of the platform said in a statement. "Facebook was investigating Rankwave’s data practices in relation to its advertising and marketing services. Rankwave failed to cooperate with our efforts to verify their compliance with our policies, which we require of all developers using our platform," Romero said. The American company suspects that Rankwave could have used user data collected through its applications for its own commercial purposes. "By filing the lawsuit, we are sending a message to developers that Facebook is serious about enforcing our policies, including requiring developers to cooperate with us during an investigation," Romero added. So far, Rankwave has not commented on the lawsuit. The case could again tarnish the image of the social network and its security measures on the processing of personal data after data from millions of users was compromised by British data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica for political purposes. What appeared to be an inoffensive fun app in the form of a personality quiz encouraged millions of users to share data about themselves. Facebook alleges that Rankwave was slurping up user data based on Facebook activity that was then sold on to advertising clients of the South Korean data handling company. Facebook's demand against Rankwave was presented the same day that the president and co-founder of the American company, Mark Zuckerberg, met in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, at a time when France is preparing to toughen its legislation on social networks.

Facebook sues South Korean analytics firm for misuse of data

A South Korean ship has been detained for six months on suspicion of violating UN sanctions against the nuclear-armed North, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Pyongyang is sanctioned over its weapons programme under multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which include curbs on shipments of oil and fuel to the isolated regime.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/s-korea-to-launch-worlds-first-national-5g-networks-207652">Also read:&nbsp;South Korea to launch </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/s-korea-to-launch-worlds-first-national-5g-networks-207652">world's</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/s-korea-to-launch-worlds-first-national-5g-networks-207652"> first national 5G network</a>

But the North has been seeking to get around the measures, with a recent UN report saying that Pyongyang was securing deliveries of fuel through ship-to-ship transfers in international waters.

Seoul's foreign ministry said a South Korean ship and three others had been detained in the country, &nbsp;suspected of undermining the economic measures against the North.

"This is the first time a South Korean vessel has been detained for allegedly violating UN sanctions," a ministry official told AFP.

The ship -- held in the southern port of Busan since last October -- is suspected of carrying out an illicit ship-to-ship transfer of oil to a North Korean tanker, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

If it is found to have made the transfer, the South Korean vessel would likely be blacklisted by the UN, Yonhap reported.

The foreign ministry official did not explain the delay in the authorities making the detention public.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has sought to engage the North to bring it to the negotiating table, dangling economic carrots before it in the form of inter-Korean projects -- many of which would violate the current sanctions rules if implemented.

Questions were also raised over whether it had undermined the measures by providing supplies to set up an inter-Korean liaison office north of the border.

Last year three South Korean firms were caught importing millions of dollars worth of coal and iron from the North in 2017.

Immediate sanctions relief was a key demand of the cash-strapped North when leader Kim Jong Un met with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi in February for a second summit that ultimately broke down.

The US has since imposed sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies for doing business with North Korea, urging the maritime industry to do more to end Pyongyang's "illicit shipping practices".

A UN report issued last month highlighted the North's sanctions-evading tactics at sea and recommended member countries keep a closer watch over vessels in their own waters.

A South Korean ship has been detained for six months on suspicion of violating UN sanctions against the nuclear-armed North, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

A South Korean ship has been detained for six months on suspicion of violating UN sanctions against the nuclear-armed North, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. Pyongyang is sanctioned over its weapons programme under multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which include curbs on shipments of oil and fuel to the isolated regime. Also read: South Korea to launch world's first national 5G network But the North has been seeking to get around the measures, with a recent UN report saying that Pyongyang was securing deliveries of fuel through ship-to-ship transfers in international waters. Seoul's foreign ministry said a South Korean ship and three others had been detained in the country, suspected of undermining the economic measures against the North. "This is the first time a South Korean vessel has been detained for allegedly violating UN sanctions," a ministry official told AFP. The ship -- held in the southern port of Busan since last October -- is suspected of carrying out an illicit ship-to-ship transfer of oil to a North Korean tanker, according to the Yonhap News Agency. If it is found to have made the transfer, the South Korean vessel would likely be blacklisted by the UN, Yonhap reported. The foreign ministry official did not explain the delay in the authorities making the detention public. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has sought to engage the North to bring it to the negotiating table, dangling economic carrots before it in the form of inter-Korean projects -- many of which would violate the current sanctions rules if implemented. Questions were also raised over whether it had undermined the measures by providing supplies to set up an inter-Korean liaison office north of the border. Last year three South Korean firms were caught importing millions of dollars worth of coal and iron from the North in 2017. Immediate sanctions relief was a key demand of the cash-strapped North when leader Kim Jong Un met with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi in February for a second summit that ultimately broke down. The US has since imposed sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies for doing business with North Korea, urging the maritime industry to do more to end Pyongyang's "illicit shipping practices". A UN report issued last month highlighted the North's sanctions-evading tactics at sea and recommended member countries keep a closer watch over vessels in their own waters.

South Korean ship detained for violating UN sanctions: Foreign ministry

A former South Korean provincial governor who once ran for the presidential nomination was jailed for three and a half years on Friday for molesting an aide after his earlier acquittal was overturned in one of the country's most high-profile #MeToo cases.

An Hee-Jung had been a rising star in South Korea’s ruling party before he quit in March 2018, hours after the aide accused him of repeated sexual assault.

Seoul High Court overturned his acquittal on molestation charges.

"Former governor An's the position of power over the victim was sufficient to dominate her free will," the court said. "An appears to have seen the victim in the context of a superior-subordinate relationship and used it to commit adultery."

An, who ran for the presidential nomination in 2017, had denied wrongdoing.

"I thank the bench that adjudicated exactly according to the truth," Kim Ji-Eun, the aide who had gone on national TV to accuse him of sexually harassing and repeatedly assaulting her, said in a statement.

South Korea's #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault has ensnared a number of high-profile political, entertainment, religious and sports figures.

Two-time Olympic speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee, 21, accused her former coach of assault in December in a case that triggered national outrage.

The accused, Cho Jae-Beom, who has denied the charges, is under police investigation while having been jailed on separate charges of hitting Shim. 
&nbsp;

A former South Korean provincial governor who once ran for the presidential nomination was jailed for three and a half years on Friday for molesting an aide after his earlier acquittal was overturned in one of the country's most high-profile #MeToo cases.

A former South Korean provincial governor who once ran for the presidential nomination was jailed for three and a half years on Friday for molesting an aide after his earlier acquittal was overturned in one of the country's most high-profile #MeToo cases. An Hee-Jung had been a rising star in South Korea’s ruling party before he quit in March 2018, hours after the aide accused him of repeated sexual assault. Seoul High Court overturned his acquittal on molestation charges. "Former governor An's the position of power over the victim was sufficient to dominate her free will," the court said. "An appears to have seen the victim in the context of a superior-subordinate relationship and used it to commit adultery." An, who ran for the presidential nomination in 2017, had denied wrongdoing. "I thank the bench that adjudicated exactly according to the truth," Kim Ji-Eun, the aide who had gone on national TV to accuse him of sexually harassing and repeatedly assaulting her, said in a statement. South Korea's #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault has ensnared a number of high-profile political, entertainment, religious and sports figures. Two-time Olympic speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee, 21, accused her former coach of assault in December in a case that triggered national outrage. The accused, Cho Jae-Beom, who has denied the charges, is under police investigation while having been jailed on separate charges of hitting Shim.

One-time presidential candidate, South Korean governor jailed in #MeToo scandal

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook arrived in Ayodhya Tuesday to attend Diwali festivities in the holy city and began her tour by offering tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial.

Kim visited the site, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and attended a ground-breaking ceremony for upgrade and beautification of the memorial dedicated to the legendary princess of Ayodhya who went to Korea.

Later she went to the banks of the Saryu river to welcome artists donning the avatar of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, who arrived at Ram Katha Park in a ceremonial chopper as part of 'Ram Durbar'.

Kim garlanded 'Sita' as they descended from the helicopter and Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Adityanath welcomed Lord Ram and Laxman by garlanding them.

Union Minister V K Singh also attended the grand event in Ayodhya. 
Kim's stand-alone visit to India, which began on November 4, has rekindled interest in the legendary princess who married a Korean king.

According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and married King Kim-Suro.

A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok.

"The legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok binds the two countries together culturally, and her visit will further promote our people-to-people ties," a senior official at the cultural wing of the South Korean Embassy in India told PTI.

Huge hoardings, bearing message -- 'South Korean First lady Kim Jung-sook - Welcome to Ayodhya ' and her picture, have been put up across the city.

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South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook arrives at Queen Hau Park in Ayodhya <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diwali?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Diwali</a> <a href="https://t.co/MvelaHJian">pic.twitter.com/MvelaHJian</a>
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An agreement regarding the Queen Suriratna Memorial Project was signed to facilitate upgrade and expansion of the existing monument commemorating Princess Suriratna (Queen Hur Hwang-ok).

In July, the two countries signed the agreement for expansion of the Suriratna memorial project.

Uttam Das, a seer from Ayodhya, told PTI, "It was a matter of honour for Ayodhya that she was visiting Ayodhya."

"A princess of Ayodhya had gone there around 2,000 years ago, and now the First Lady is visiting Ayodhya, life has sort of come full circle," he said.

Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon, South Korean envoy Shin Bongkil also took part in the celebrations.

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook arrived in Ayodhya Tuesday to attend Diwali festivities in the holy city and began her tour by offering tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial.

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook arrived in Ayodhya Tuesday to attend Diwali festivities in the holy city and began her tour by offering tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial. Kim visited the site, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and attended a ground-breaking ceremony for upgrade and beautification of the memorial dedicated to the legendary princess of Ayodhya who went to Korea. Later she went to the banks of the Saryu river to welcome artists donning the avatar of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, who arrived at Ram Katha Park in a ceremonial chopper as part of 'Ram Durbar'. Kim garlanded 'Sita' as they descended from the helicopter and Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Adityanath welcomed Lord Ram and Laxman by garlanding them. Union Minister V K Singh also attended the grand event in Ayodhya. Kim's stand-alone visit to India, which began on November 4, has rekindled interest in the legendary princess who married a Korean king. According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok. "The legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok binds the two countries together culturally, and her visit will further promote our people-to-people ties," a senior official at the cultural wing of the South Korean Embassy in India told PTI. Huge hoardings, bearing message -- 'South Korean First lady Kim Jung-sook - Welcome to Ayodhya ' and her picture, have been put up across the city. South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook arrives at Queen Hau Park in Ayodhya #Diwali pic.twitter.com/MvelaHJian — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 6, 2018 × South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook arrives at Queen Hau Park in Ayodhya #Diwali pic.twitter.com/MvelaHJian — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 6, 2018 × South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook arrives at Queen Hau Park in Ayodhya #Diwali pic.twitter.com/MvelaHJian — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 6, 2018 × An agreement regarding the Queen Suriratna Memorial Project was signed to facilitate upgrade and expansion of the existing monument commemorating Princess Suriratna (Queen Hur Hwang-ok). In July, the two countries signed the agreement for expansion of the Suriratna memorial project. Uttam Das, a seer from Ayodhya, told PTI, "It was a matter of honour for Ayodhya that she was visiting Ayodhya." "A princess of Ayodhya had gone there around 2,000 years ago, and now the First Lady is visiting Ayodhya, life has sort of come full circle," he said. Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon, South Korean envoy Shin Bongkil also took part in the celebrations.

South Korean first lady visits Queen Heo Memorial in Ayodhya, welcomes 'Ram Durbar' 

South&nbsp;Korean President Moon Jae-in met North&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday to discuss Kim's possible upcoming summit with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, the South&nbsp;said in the second inter-Korean summit in as many months.

Moon and Kim met just north of the heavily militarised border in the afternoon to exchange views to pave way for a summit between North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's presidential office said.

The Blue House, South Korea's presidential office, said the two leaders held talks for two hours in the truce village of Panmunjom, where they had met last month and made a declaration vowing to improve ties.

"They exchanged views and discussed ways to implement the Panmunjom Declaration and to ensure a successful US North Korea summit," the Blue House said in a statement, adding further details would be released Sunday morning.

South Korea on Saturday welcomed the renewed prospect of a summit between the United States and North Korea after President Trump cancelled talks with Kim Jong Un only to suggest they might still take place.

"We find it fortunate that the embers of the North Korea-US talks are reignited. We are watching developments carefully," Presidential Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-Gyeom said.

Trump's cancellation of the summit blindsided treaty ally South Korea, which had brokered the remarkable detente between Washington and Pyongyang.

President Moon Jae-in had to scramble his national security team when news of Trump's decision first reached Seoul late Thursday evening as he called Washington's U-turn "shocking and very regrettable".

On Friday, Trump turned on his heels again, saying the meeting with Kim could go ahead after all -- and would "likely" happen on the originally scheduled date of June 12 in Singapore.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Blue House, South Korea's presidential office, said the two leaders held talks for two hours in the truce village of Panmunjom, where they had met last month and made a declaration vowing to improve ties

South Korean President Moon Jae-in met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday to discuss Kim's possible upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, the South said in the second inter-Korean summit in as many months. Moon and Kim met just north of the heavily militarised border in the afternoon to exchange views to pave way for a summit between North Korea and the United States, South Korea's presidential office said. The Blue House, South Korea's presidential office, said the two leaders held talks for two hours in the truce village of Panmunjom, where they had met last month and made a declaration vowing to improve ties. "They exchanged views and discussed ways to implement the Panmunjom Declaration and to ensure a successful US North Korea summit," the Blue House said in a statement, adding further details would be released Sunday morning. South Korea on Saturday welcomed the renewed prospect of a summit between the United States and North Korea after President Trump cancelled talks with Kim Jong Un only to suggest they might still take place. "We find it fortunate that the embers of the North Korea-US talks are reignited. We are watching developments carefully," Presidential Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-Gyeom said. Trump's cancellation of the summit blindsided treaty ally South Korea, which had brokered the remarkable detente between Washington and Pyongyang. President Moon Jae-in had to scramble his national security team when news of Trump's decision first reached Seoul late Thursday evening as he called Washington's U-turn "shocking and very regrettable". On Friday, Trump turned on his heels again, saying the meeting with Kim could go ahead after all -- and would "likely" happen on the originally scheduled date of June 12 in Singapore. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean president met North Korea's Kim Jong-un Saturday: Seoul

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month&#39;s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul&#39;s ski association said Thursday.

Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of &quot;physically and sexually abusing female athletes&quot; at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP.&nbsp;

After an investigation, he said, &quot;we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently&quot;, adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad.

The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men.

The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita.

They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused.

The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea.

He reached the men&#39;s moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying.&nbsp;

Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.&nbsp;

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul's ski association said Thursday. Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of "physically and sexually abusing female athletes" at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP. After an investigation, he said, "we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently", adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad. The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men. The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita. They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused. The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea. He reached the men's moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying. Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.

Two South Korean skiers banned for life for sexual abuse

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record, but the guidance fell short of market expectations as the strong won and year-end bonuses dented profits.&nbsp;

The global memory chip leader and Apple Inc smartphone rival said its October-December profit was likely 15.1 trillion won ($14.1 billion), compared with a 15.9 trillion won average estimate from 17 analysts surveyed in a Thomson Reuters poll.&nbsp;

Based on the guidance, Samsung&#39;s 2017 operating profit is likely 53.6 trillion won, compared to the previous year&#39;s 29.2 trillion won, putting the South Korean tech giant on course for a record annual profit as strong DRAM memory chip prices continued to fatten margins.&nbsp;

Revenue was estimated to have increased 24 percent to 66 trillion won, versus the analysts&#39;&nbsp;average forecast of 66.8 trillion won.&nbsp;

Samsung did not elaborate on its October-December performance and will disclose detailed results at the end of January.&nbsp;

The continued rise in the price of DRAM chips, in especially hot demand for data centre servers, more than made up for a drop in NAND chip prices and a stronger won, analysts said.&nbsp;

But the outlook for semiconductors in 2018 is mixed, and Samsung shares have fallen 9.6 percent from their all-time high in early November as some investors bet on an end to the memory chip boom.

NAND flash memory chips, used in things like digital cameras and USB drives, have entered a down-cycle and some analysts say DRAM market conditions also will soften later this year.&nbsp;

Others, however, expect DRAM supply to remain tight throughout 2018 as Google, Amazon and Facebook expand data centres used for cloud storage and computing.&nbsp;

The outlook for smartphones and other mobile devices, which analysts expect to contribute about 17 percent to Samsung&#39;s fourth-quarter earnings, is also uncertain due to competition from Chinese rivals in markets like Europe and Asia, analysts said.

Tom Kang, research director at data provider Counterpoint, said Samsung&#39;s mobile division should show &quot;moderate&quot; shipment growth of about 1-2 percent in 2018.&nbsp;

Analysts expect Samsung&#39;s display profits to grow this year thanks to sales of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for Apple iPhones as well as Samsung`s own handsets.

South Korean exporters like Samsung will be keeping a close eye on the won in 2018. The currency traded as high as 1,058.8 against the dollar on Monday, its highest in more than three years.&nbsp;

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record, but the guidance fell short of market expectations as the strong won and year-end bonuses dented profits. The global memory chip leader and Apple Inc smartphone rival said its October-December profit was likely 15.1 trillion won ($14.1 billion), compared with a 15.9 trillion won average estimate from 17 analysts surveyed in a Thomson Reuters poll. Based on the guidance, Samsung's 2017 operating profit is likely 53.6 trillion won, compared to the previous year's 29.2 trillion won, putting the South Korean tech giant on course for a record annual profit as strong DRAM memory chip prices continued to fatten margins. Revenue was estimated to have increased 24 percent to 66 trillion won, versus the analysts' average forecast of 66.8 trillion won. Samsung did not elaborate on its October-December performance and will disclose detailed results at the end of January. The continued rise in the price of DRAM chips, in especially hot demand for data centre servers, more than made up for a drop in NAND chip prices and a stronger won, analysts said. But the outlook for semiconductors in 2018 is mixed, and Samsung shares have fallen 9.6 percent from their all-time high in early November as some investors bet on an end to the memory chip boom. NAND flash memory chips, used in things like digital cameras and USB drives, have entered a down-cycle and some analysts say DRAM market conditions also will soften later this year. Others, however, expect DRAM supply to remain tight throughout 2018 as Google, Amazon and Facebook expand data centres used for cloud storage and computing. The outlook for smartphones and other mobile devices, which analysts expect to contribute about 17 percent to Samsung's fourth-quarter earnings, is also uncertain due to competition from Chinese rivals in markets like Europe and Asia, analysts said. Tom Kang, research director at data provider Counterpoint, said Samsung's mobile division should show "moderate" shipment growth of about 1-2 percent in 2018. Analysts expect Samsung's display profits to grow this year thanks to sales of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for Apple iPhones as well as Samsung`s own handsets. South Korean exporters like Samsung will be keeping a close eye on the won in 2018. The currency traded as high as 1,058.8 against the dollar on Monday, its highest in more than three years.

Samsung Electronics tips record fourth-quarter profit misses expectations on strong won

South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday sought a 12-year jail term for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee on appeal after a lower court sentenced him to five years in August for bribery in a case that rocked the country.

The Seoul High Court is expected to rule on the case in late January. Lee, the 49-year-old heir to one of the world`s biggest corporate empires, has been detained since February on charges of corruption.&nbsp;

The 49-year-old Lee, who heads the largest conglomerate in the country, received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas, Yonhap news agency reported. 
 
He was found guilty of providing $8.19 million in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend and confidante of former President Park Geun-hye. 
 
Four former top Samsung executives -- Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung`s now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; his former deputy Chang Choong-ki; Park Sang-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics; and another former President Hwang Sung-soo -- were also convicted of similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison or suspended terms. They have all appealed the rulings.

Lee received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas

South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday sought a 12-year jail term for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee on appeal after a lower court sentenced him to five years in August for bribery in a case that rocked the country. The Seoul High Court is expected to rule on the case in late January. Lee, the 49-year-old heir to one of the world`s biggest corporate empires, has been detained since February on charges of corruption. The 49-year-old Lee, who heads the largest conglomerate in the country, received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas, Yonhap news agency reported. He was found guilty of providing $8.19 million in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend and confidante of former President Park Geun-hye. Four former top Samsung executives -- Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung`s now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; his former deputy Chang Choong-ki; Park Sang-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics; and another former President Hwang Sung-soo -- were also convicted of similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison or suspended terms. They have all appealed the rulings.

South Korean prosecutors seek 12-year jail term for Samsung heir Lee

The North Korean soldier who dramatically defected through the demilitarised zone has been captivated by American crime dramas and sci-fi thrillers since he woke up in a South Korean hospital, his doctor said Wednesday.

The 24-year-old soldier, identified only by his surname, Oh, has watched Hollywood hits like robot action flick &quot;Transformers&quot; and forensic whodunnit &quot;CSI&quot;, and can&#39;t get enough of K-Pop.

&quot;We began turning on the television and playing music for him since yesterday&quot; to help with his recovery, doctor Lee Cook-Jong told reporters.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/n-korean-soldier-defector-regains-consciousness-report-24773" target="_blank">Also read: North Korean soldier who defected regains consciousness, asks to watch TV</a>

The television remains fixed on a 24-hour movie channel as the local news could upset the patient, Lee said, and added: &quot;He enjoys movies and American TV series like &#39;CSI&#39;.&quot;

Oh made his dash over the border at the Panmunjom truce village on November 13.

Footage that emerged Wednesday showed his former comrades opening fire at him as he raced on foot over the painted line that divides the two countries.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-cctv-footage-of-north-korean-soldier-crossing-to-south-korea-24788" target="_blank">Watch: CCTV footage of North Korean soldier crossing to South Korea</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/parasites-found-inside-injured-north-korean-defector-24437" target="_blank">Also read: Enormous parasitic worms found in North Korean defector</a>

He was shot at least four times in his daring bid and was found by South Korean troops slumped in a pile of leaves just south of the border.

After being dragged to safety, he was airlifted to hospital, where he underwent two rounds of emergency surgery.

Lee said he has so far avoided asking his patient personal questions, but glimpses of life in the hermit state emerged as they watched &quot;Transformers&quot; together.

&quot;When he saw Jason Statham drive really fast, he told me that he used to drive,&quot; Lee said, suggesting it may have been connected to his role in the North Korean military.

Movies and pop music dominate their conversations, Lee said, stressing that his patient &quot;really likes girl bands&quot;.&nbsp;

He has listened to the song &quot;Gee&quot; by South Korean girl group Girls&#39; Generation.

Although Oh shares some interests with his counterparts in the wealthy, capitalist South, there are key differences, said Lee.

&quot;His skin is quite different from South Korean males who are the same age. When I shook his hand, the skin was as hard as a washing board,&quot; Lee said.

Oh is currently drinking only water, but is recovering well, the doctor said, adding he expects his patient to leave intensive care this weekend.

The 24-year-old soldier, identified only by his surname Oh, has also watched 'Transformers' and 'CSI'

The North Korean soldier who dramatically defected through the demilitarised zone has been captivated by American crime dramas and sci-fi thrillers since he woke up in a South Korean hospital, his doctor said Wednesday. The 24-year-old soldier, identified only by his surname, Oh, has watched Hollywood hits like robot action flick "Transformers" and forensic whodunnit "CSI", and can't get enough of K-Pop. "We began turning on the television and playing music for him since yesterday" to help with his recovery, doctor Lee Cook-Jong told reporters. Also read: North Korean soldier who defected regains consciousness, asks to watch TV The television remains fixed on a 24-hour movie channel as the local news could upset the patient, Lee said, and added: "He enjoys movies and American TV series like 'CSI'." Oh made his dash over the border at the Panmunjom truce village on November 13. Footage that emerged Wednesday showed his former comrades opening fire at him as he raced on foot over the painted line that divides the two countries. Watch: CCTV footage of North Korean soldier crossing to South Korea Also read: Enormous parasitic worms found in North Korean defector He was shot at least four times in his daring bid and was found by South Korean troops slumped in a pile of leaves just south of the border. After being dragged to safety, he was airlifted to hospital, where he underwent two rounds of emergency surgery. Lee said he has so far avoided asking his patient personal questions, but glimpses of life in the hermit state emerged as they watched "Transformers" together. "When he saw Jason Statham drive really fast, he told me that he used to drive," Lee said, suggesting it may have been connected to his role in the North Korean military. Movies and pop music dominate their conversations, Lee said, stressing that his patient "really likes girl bands". He has listened to the song "Gee" by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. Although Oh shares some interests with his counterparts in the wealthy, capitalist South, there are key differences, said Lee. "His skin is quite different from South Korean males who are the same age. When I shook his hand, the skin was as hard as a washing board," Lee said. Oh is currently drinking only water, but is recovering well, the doctor said, adding he expects his patient to leave intensive care this weekend.

North Korean defector can't get enough of K-Pop

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