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Why so many police used in raid of Korean church?

By WTOP Staff

BY HYUNG-JIN KIM
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Several thousand police officers — 6,000 on Wednesday and 3,000 on Thursday — were mobilized to raid a sprawling South Korean church compound near Seoul to hunt for Yoo Byung-eun, a fugitive billionaire businessman and member of the church wanted in relation to the deadly ferry sinking in April. Authorities believe Yoo owns the ship and that alleged corruption may have contributed to its sinking. The government is offering a $500,000 reward for tips about his whereabouts.

Here are some questions and answers about raid and background factors.

WHY SO MANY POLICE?

Police said the sheer size of the compound — about 30 football fields, including a fish farm, cow ranch and a 5,000-seat auditorium — required several thousand officers. Some were deployed outside the complex, the headquarters of the Evangelical Baptist Church, to block possible escape routes while a police helicopter hovered overhead on both days. Dozens of prosecution investigators were also involved.

Police were also worried about potential clashes with church members, some of whom had reportedly threatened to die as martyrs when they refused to open the compound last month. About 200 members who gathered to protest outside the compound Wednesday sang hymns and chanted slogans while pumping their fists in the air.

So far, there have been no reports of violence.

IS THIS UNUSUAL?

In South Korea, it’s common to see thousands of police at occasional labor and anti-government protests — often outnumbering the demonstrators. Law enforcement officials say they typically send two or three times as many police as the number of expected protesters to keep order and rein in those who don’t follow police instructions.

Protesters have been known to get violent, some of which experts say reflects a deep sensitivity toward government power, a legacy of decades of authoritarian rule of military-backed dictatorships through the 1980s that cracked down harshly on any criticism of the government.

WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO FIND YOO?

Yoo is head of the now-defunct predecessor of the ferry’s current operator, Chonghaejin. Authorities believe he still controls the company through a complex web of holding companies in which his children and close associates are large shareholders.

Yoo faces allegations of tax evasion, embezzlement and professional negligence. Officials suspect the sinking may have happened because Chonghaejin illicitly funneled profits to his family, and failed to spend enough money on safety and personnel.

President Park Geun-hye, whose approval ratings have been hit by the accident, is clearly frustrated that Yoo has not been found. “It makes no sense” that police and prosecutors haven’t caught him, she said earlier this week.

In addition to the bounty on Yoo, authorities are offering $100,000 for clues about his eldest son, and one of his daughters was arrested in France late last month.

WHAT HAVE POLICE FOUND?

Police have confiscated computers, memory sticks, security cameras, documents and automobile navigation systems in a bid to gather clues about Yoo’s whereabouts. They also used sniffer dogs and detection devices to detect any possible underground hideout.

They arrested five church members on Wednesday for allegedly providing shelters for Yoo or helping him flee and another one for allegedly trying to obstruct the raid.

WHAT’S THE STATUS OF THE FERRY CREW?

The sinking of the Sewol left 304 people dead or missing, most of them high school students. The tragedy caused an outpouring of national grief and soul-searching about public safety.

All 15 crew members tasked with navigating the ship have been charged with negligence and failing to do their duty to protect passengers. Four, including the captain, face homicide charges, which could carry the death penalty. The crew members appeared in court for the first time earlier this week as hostile spectators cursed, shouted and wept behind them. Five employees at Chonghaejin have also been indicted.

The captain and other crew members have been widely criticized for failing to issue orders for passengers to vacate the ship as it listed severely to one side.

Divers are still searching for 12 missing bodies.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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