11 Vietnamese feared dead in Korean boat sinking

A South Korean trawler sank in icy waters off Antarctica Monday

Photo: Reuters

Five fishermen were dead and 17 missing after a South Korean trawler with 42 crew members including 11 Vietnamese on board sank in icy waters off Antarctica Monday, Maritime New Zealand said.

A nearby ship plucked 20 survivors from the ocean shortly after the deep-sea fishing boat sank about 6:30 am (1730 Sunday GMT), but survival times without proper immersion suits were only 10 minutes, the rescue agency said.

Maritime NZ said the trawler Number One Insung went down about 1,000 nautical miles north of the McMurdo Antarctic base with no warning in apparently calm conditions.

"We had no distress signal, at this stage we don't know what caused the vessel to sink," Maritime NZ spokesman Ross Henderson said.

He said New Zealand's rescue coordination centre was not informed of the accident until 1:00pm, about six-and-a-half hours after it occurred.

The waters around Antarctica are notoriously rough but Henderson said conditions Monday consisted of light 10 knot winds and a one meter (3.3 foot swell.

Henderson said five fishing vessels were assisting the search under direction from New Zealand authorities, who have responsibility for rescue missions in the area.

He said the 20 survivors and bodies were on another South Korean fishing vessel, Number 707 Hongjin.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force long-range Orion plane may also set off for the disaster site but would take at least eight hours to reach it, Henderson said.

A coastguard spokesman in the southern South Korean port of Busan, where the ship is based, told AFP there were eight Koreans, eight Chinese, 11 Indonesians, 11 Vietnamese, three Filipinos and one Russian on board.

Another South Korean fishing boat was involved in the rescue after reporting the accident to its home port, the spokesman said, and it also asked for help from New Zealand.

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South Korean firms employ 5,000 VN workers this year

HA NOI — The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) announced that more than 5,000 Vietnamese workers had been hired by South Korean employers to work in Korea since the beginning of the year.

While there are only half as many workers employed in South Korea as there were in 2008, ministry officials believe it is a positive sign that the overseas job market is improving despite the global economic downturn.

Pham Van Minh, director of the Overseas Employment Centre under MoLISA's Overseas Employment Management Department, said that the increasing demand for work in South Korea had prompted the ministry to organise two Korean language tests, instead of one as usual, for candidates this year.

"Only candidates that passed the language exam are qualified to apply for jobs in Korea," said Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, head of the Overseas Employment Management Department.

The multiple-choice Korean language test was organised in four cities and provinces including Ha Noi, Nghe An, Da Nang and HCM City earlier this month. More than 27,000 candidates were qualified to take the test. Most candidates applied for industrial jobs, construction work and agricultural positions.

Quynh said the test results would be provided by Korean officials in early November.

Jung Ill Sung, head of Korea's Migrant Workers Management Department, said about 80 per cent of the people who passed the exam would be hired by Korean employers.

The Overseas Employment Office reported that since August 2004, 47,533 people have been sent to work in South Korea. — VNS

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Korean bride murderer gets 12 years in jail

The mentally deranged South Korean husband who admitted to murdering his Vietnamese wife in July was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday by a Korean court.

Prosecutors last month suggested life-in-prison for Jang Do Hyo as he committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. Prosecutors argued that Hyo posed a future risk to society.

But the judge determined that Hyo was mentally ill during the murder and has showed regret afterward, local news website VnExpress said Friday, citing an AFP report.

The 47-year-old requires mental treatment in jail and will have to wear an electronic monitoring device for ten years after his release, according to an announcement made at the trial.

Hyo stabbed his 20-year-old wife Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They wed early this year through a marriage brokerage firm.

He told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, Hyo has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Hyo was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

Following the case, South Korea pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures released by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City showed that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan.

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Korean bride murderer gets 12 years in jail

The mentally deranged South Korean husband who admitted to murdering his Vietnamese wife in July was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday by a Korean court.

Prosecutors last month suggested life-in-prison for Jang Do Hyo as he committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. Prosecutors argued that Hyo posed a future risk to society.

But the judge determined that Hyo was mentally ill during the murder and has showed regret afterward, local news website VnExpress said Friday, citing an AFP report.

The 47-year-old requires mental treatment in jail and will have to wear an electronic monitoring device for ten years after his release, according to an announcement made at the trial.

Hyo stabbed his 20-year-old wife Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They wed early this year through a marriage brokerage firm.

He told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, Hyo has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Hyo was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

Following the case, South Korea pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures released by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City showed that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan.

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S.Korean given jail term for killing Vietnamese bride

A picture taken on June 2010 shows a man browsing through a matchmaker agency website to find an Asian woman life partner

Photo: AFP

A mentally disturbed South Korean who murdered his new Vietnamese bride was Friday jailed for 12 years, in a case that prompted curbs on international matchmaking agencies.

The man from the southern city of Busan fatally stabbed the 20-year-old eight days after she arrived in the country to live with him.

They had married in Vietnam in January after meeting through an international matchmaking agency, which failed to check his past history of mental illness.

The 47-year-old, identified only as Jang, said at the time he heard a ghost's voice telling him to kill his wife during a quarrel.

Prosecutors had demanded a life sentence. But a Busan court judge quoted by Yonhap news agency said the sentence took into consideration the fact that Jang was mentally ill and had expressed deep regret.

The court also ruled that Jang should receive treatment in prison and wear an electronic tracking device for 10 years after his release.

Jang had admitted the charge, saying he committed the crime after stopping his medication. Police have said Jang had been treated 57 times for schizophrenia since July 2005.

After the killing the government announced plans to set up a task force to reform the international matchmaking business.

It will discuss measures ranging from changing how such marriage brokerages are run to helping foreign spouses settle in Korea.

Seoul paid 30 million won (25,000 dollars) to the family of victim Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, media reports said.

More than a third of South Korean fishermen and farmers who married last year chose immigrant brides, some because they were unable to find local women happy to lead a rural lifestyle.

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Prosecutors ask for life in prison for Korean bride murderer

On Thursday, South Korean prosecutors asked a judge to consider life-in-prison for the mentally deranged husband who admitted to killing his 20-year-old Vietnamese wife in July, local news website VnExpress reported.

During a hearings in Busan, prosecutors said Jang Do Hyo committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. The prosecutors said there’s a risk that Jang would repeat the crime.

The 47-year-old stabbed Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They got married early this year via a marriage brokerage firm.

Jang told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, he has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Jang was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

The final verdict will be announced in an upcoming trial.

Following the case, South Korean pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program. Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers. 

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Prosecutors ask for life in prison for Korean bride murderer

On Thursday, South Korean prosecutors asked a judge to consider life-in-prison for the mentally deranged husband who admitted to killing his 20-year-old Vietnamese wife in July, local news website VnExpress reported.

During a hearings in Busan, prosecutors said Jang Do Hyo committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. The prosecutors said there’s a risk that Jang would repeat the crime.

The 47-year-old stabbed Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They got married early this year via a marriage brokerage firm.

Jang told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, he has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Jang was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

The final verdict will be announced in an upcoming trial.

Following the case, South Korean pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program. Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers. 

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More girls paraded for Taiwanese men

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday found 13 women, most at their twenties, being paraded as future brides in front of two Taiwanese men.

The Taiwanese were checking closely the body of each woman, with help of the Vietnamese broker and the translator, when the police busted in.

According to initial investigations, Phung Quang Quang, 31, a city resident, has over the past six years successfully brokered more than 100 marriages for Taiwanese and South Korean men with Vietnamese women.

Quang brought the girls from poor families in the Mekong Delta, and made them wait in Ho Chi Minh City to be paraded.

He reportedly earns around VND10 million (US$513) every month for gathering the girls and parading them for Korean and Taiwanese men.

His sister worked as the translator for the men.

All the Vietnamese and Taiwanese caught in the latest raid were taken to the nearby police station.

This is the second illegal marriage brokerage busted in a week in the city. The earlier one was on August 27 when 17 Vietnamese girls were paraded in front of a Korean groom-to-be.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers. 

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More girls paraded for Taiwanese men

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday found 13 women, most at their twenties, being paraded as future brides in front of two Taiwanese men.

The Taiwanese were checking closely the body of each woman, with help of the Vietnamese broker and the translator, when the police busted in.

According to initial investigations, Phung Quang Quang, 31, a city resident, has over the past six years successfully brokered more than 100 marriages for Taiwanese and South Korean men with Vietnamese women.

Quang brought the girls from poor families in the Mekong Delta, and made them wait in Ho Chi Minh City to be paraded.

He reportedly earns around VND10 million (US$513) every month for gathering the girls and parading them for Korean and Taiwanese men.

His sister worked as the translator for the men.

All the Vietnamese and Taiwanese caught in the latest raid were taken to the nearby police station.

This is the second illegal marriage brokerage busted in a week in the city. The earlier one was on August 27 when 17 Vietnamese girls were paraded in front of a Korean groom-to-be.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers. 

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Vietnam, South Korea extend MoU on labor export

Vietnam and South Korea have extended the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on supplying and receiving Vietnamese guest workers under the employment permit system (EPS) program.

At the signing ceremony in Seoul on Sunday, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa emphasized that the extension of the MoU for two more years and the MoU on cooperation in vocational training, social insurance and labor safety that has been extended since late May 2009 are legal foundations and create conditions for a large number of Vietnamese workers to work in South Korea, thus further boosting the two countries’ labor cooperation.

Hoa said the ministry highly evaluated South Korea’s labor market, considering it an important market for Vietnamese workers.

According to the deputy minister, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has decided to set up a vocational training school for Vietnamese workers before sending to South Korea.

He said Vietnam hoped that the South Korean government and its Labor Ministry would join in training Vietnamese workers to help them get familiar with the lifestyle and daily activities in South Korea.

South Korean Deputy Labor Minister Lee Chae Pil said that Vietnam now tops of the list of 15 nations in South Korea’s EPS program.

Vietnamese workers are hardworking and skillful, he said, adding that there are more than 55,000 Vietnamese workers are working at over 1,500 South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to promoting the development of business activities of South Korean enterprises and its economy at large.

He went on to stress that his government is not only exerting efforts to protect the Vietnamese workers’ benefits at the country’s workshops but also paying attention to improving the living conditions for Vietnamese workers.

Lee highlighted the job festival that took place in Vietnam last October where South Korean businesses and Vietnamese workers met one another.

He confirmed that South Korea would do its utmost to help train Vietnamese workers before entering the country.

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South Korean criminal arrested in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City police on Wednesday handed over a 44-year-old wanted South Korean man to Korean police.

Cha Je Kiy was arrested by HCMC police one day earlier. According to Korean police, Cha and his accomplice Nam Kuk Heon swindled 139 people in South Korea for US$678,000 in 2006.

After these frauds, both fled to Vietnam and established a business to conceal their identity.

In July 2009 due to visa expiry, they returned to South Korea and continued with their frauds before flying back to Vietnam in February 2010.

In April 2010, South Korean Interpol sent an official letter to ask the Vietnamese police to help arrest the criminals. Short after, Cha’s accomplice, Nam Kuk Heon, was also arrested in HCMC.

After fleeing to Vietnam, Cha was reported to live with a woman in Phuoc Long A Ward, District 9 in HCMC and have a four-year-old child out of wedlock. He always changed his residence in Districts 2, 4 and 9 to avoid the police’s watch.

Representatives from South Korean Consulate General in HCMC expressed their thanks for assistance from Vietnamese police in arresting the criminals.

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