korea times

Coalition threatens general strike May 17 if president does not veto bill
Warning of a solidarity general strike on 17 May if the president does not exercise his veto

By Jun Ji-hye

A group of doctors and other medical workers ― except professional nurses ― will begin a collective action on Wednesday in protest of the controversial introduction last Thursday of the Nursing Act by the National Assembly controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.
Last Thursday, doctors and medical workers, excluding professional nurses, will begin a group action to abolish the National Assembly’s Nursing Act, which is being pushed by the Democratic Party and is at the center of controversy, from Wednesday.

A coalition of 13 medical workers’ organizations including the Korea Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Licensed Practical Nurses Association announced Tuesday that its collective actions will begin with shortening consultation and practicing hours, and holding rallies across the country.
On Tuesday, the Conservation Welfare Medical Solidarity (Medical Solidarity), an alliance of 13 medical organizations, including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Nursing Association, announced that they would take collective actions, starting with shortening treatment hours and holding national rallies.

In Seoul, a rally will be held at 5:30 p.m. near the National Assembly.
In Seoul, a rally is held at 5:30 p.m. near the National Assembly.

The coalition led by the KMA ― comprised of doctors ― said another partial strike will be held on May 11.
The Medical Coalition, led by the Medical Association of doctors, said another partial strike would take place on May 11.

The coalition threatened its 4 million members will go on a general strike on May 17 if President Yoon Suk Yeol does not exercise his veto power against the bill.
The medical solidarity warned that if President Yoon Seok-yeol does not exercise his veto, 4 million members of the union will go on a solidarity general strike on May 17.

The partial strike may have minimal impact as the medical workers are planning to work normally in the morning and join the strike in the late afternoon “to minimize any inconvenience to patients.”
The impact of a partial strike may be minimal, as medical staff plan to go on strike in the late afternoon after working normally in the morning to “minimize discomfort to patients.”

But, as the coalition is comprised of radiology technicians, dentists, emergency medical technicians and care workers, as well as doctors and nursing assistants, its general strike could paralyze medical services for the public.
However, since the medical solidarity consists not only of doctors and assistant nurses, but also radiologists, dentists, paramedics, and caregivers, there is a possibility that the national medical service will be paralyzed by a general strike.

Bracing for possible chaos in the country’s health care system, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has shifted into emergency mode, asking the coalition to refrain from collective actions.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare requested the medical solidarity to refrain from collective action in preparation for chaos in the medical world, and went into an emergency system.

“The Nursing Act is a bad law as it privileges only nurses and discriminates against other medical workers,” Park Myung-ha, a senior member of the KMA, said during press conference.
“The Nursing Act is an evil law that gives preferential treatment only to nurses and discriminates against other medical workers,” said Park Myeong-ha, head of the medical cooperative’s emergency response committee, at a press conference.

“According to the KMA survey, more than 80 percent of the medical workers agreed with the need to take collective actions against such a bad law.”
“According to a KMA survey, more than 80% of healthcare workers agreed that collective action should be taken against these evil laws,” he said.

Park noted the coalition is paying keen attention to whether President Yoon will veto the bill.
Chairman Park emphasized that President Yoon is keeping a keen eye on whether to exercise his veto.

KEY WORDS
■ collective action
■ controversial Controversial
■ coalition (particularly political)
■ rally
■ veto power veto power
■ bill (submitted to the National Assembly)
■ strike strike
■ be comprised of
■ paralyze
■ refrain from refrain from
■ privilege Give privilege

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By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop girl group LE SSERFIM denied, Monday, accusations that it plagiarized the music and concepts of popular Spanish singer-songwriter, Rosalia.
On Monday, K-pop girl group Le Seraphim denied allegations that they plagiarized the music and concept of famous Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalia.

The quintet denied them at a press event held at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, to celebrate the release of its first full-length album, “UNFORGIVEN.”
The five-member group dismissed the plagiarism controversy at a showcase commemorating the release of their first full-length album, “Unforgiven,” held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul.

“Our songs and concepts feature our own stories and messages,” leader Kim Chae-won said. “We would appreciate it if you could see them as our original creations.”
Leader Kim Chae-won said, “Our songs and concepts contain our stories and messages,” and “I would be grateful if you view this album as Le Seraphim’s unique creation.”

Shortly before Le Sserafim’s comeback, some internet users claimed that the members’ singing styles remind them of Rosalia and that the certain elements of their songs ― such as rhythms ― share similarities with those of the Spanish star.
Right before Le Seraphim’s comeback, some netizens claimed that the members’ singing style reminded them of Rosalia, and that certain elements of Le Seraphim’s songs, such as the rhythm, were similar to the Spanish singer.

The plagiarism controversy has been a hotly debated topic online, but Le Sserafim’s management company, Source Music, has not issued an official statement concerning it.
The plagiarism controversy has become a hot topic online, but Le Seraphim’s agency, Source Music, has yet to make an official statement.

It has taken about seven months for Le Sserafim to return after rolling out “ANTIFRAGILE” last October. Anticipation has been palpable ahead of the release of “UNFORGIVEN,” as evidenced by the number of pre-orders.
After releasing ‘ANTIFRAGILE’ in October of last year, Le Seraphim took about 7 months to make a comeback. As can be seen from the number of pre-orders, expectations are rising ahead of the release of ‘Unforgiven’.

As of Friday, the album has surpassed 1.38 million pre-orders ― more than a two-fold increase from “ANTIFRAGILE.” Given this figure, “UNFORGIVEN” is expected to sell more than 1 million copies just like “ANTIFRAGILE.
As of Friday, the number of pre-orders for this album exceeded 1.38 million, more than twice that of ‘Antifragile’. Considering these figures, ‘Unforgiven’ is expected to sell more than 1 million copies, as did ‘Antifragile’.

“‘UNFORGIVEN’ shows our determination that we will pioneer our own path without following the standard set by the world,” Kim explained during the press event.
Kim Chae-won said at the showcase, “‘Unforgiven’ shows our determination to carve out our own path without following the standards set by the world.”

Kazuha elaborated“We offer the tunes of diverse genres ranging from hip-hop to Latin pop, so people can enjoy our album without getting bored.”
Kazuha added, “We put music of various genres from hip-hop to Latin pop so that people can enjoy our album without getting bored.”

KEY WORDS
■ accusation charges (filed)
■ plagiarize plagiarize
■ quintet 5 members
■ claim (that ~ is true) claim
■ similarity
■ roll out (new product)
■ palpable perceptible, palpable
■ pioneer pioneer[선구자]
■ Elaborate in more detail
■ diverse

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Lotte E&C CEO Park Hyun-chul / Korea Times file

By Lee Kyung-min

A total of 55 workers died in accidents at construction sites in Korea during the first three months of this year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Monday. Seven of those fatalities occurred at construction sites overseen by the top 100 builders, down from 14 a year earlier.

Lotte E&C, the construction affiliate of Lotte Group, reported one worker fatality at one of its construction sites in the first quarter of this year. The death is a blow to not only the Lotte affiliate, but also its parent company, following a group-wide liquidity crunch in the fourth quarter of last year. The construction affiliate failed to roll over 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in asset-backed commercial papers (ABCP) related to the default of Legoland Korea. Its borrowing exceeded 4.46 trillion won last year, compared to 2 trillion won in previous years.

Deaths reported at sites that had construction orders from state-run entities came to 14 in the same period, up by three from the year before.

The ministry said a special inspection team will be dispatched without prior notice to the construction sites where the deaths occurred.

“The government will take strict disciplinary and punitive measures against construction firms and their officials for violations,” the ministry said in a statement.

Their subcontractors will also be closely monitored for possible violations of related safety laws.

The Lotte worker died at a construction site in southern Seoul’s Seocho District, after being struck by a falling object.

A worker at a construction site run by Seohee E&C in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, died of suffocation, while a Jungheung E&C worker at a construction site in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, died after a structural collapse.

“We will continue efforts to prevent further accidents,” a Lotte E&C official said.