Articles by Yoon Min-sik
Yoon Min-sik
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com-
Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
The South Korean government downgraded the COVID-19 crisis level to the lowest level on May 1, but a recent report indicates that the years of the pandemic have nonetheless left a lasting mark on people here in the form of depression. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's report on depression in South Korea, 7.3 percent of the adult population experienced depression in 2023. The study was conducted on 230,000 adults across the country, and defined depression as &quo
Social Affairs May 5, 2024
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Underage gamblers getting younger, increasing in number: police
South Korea has seen a continued decrease in the average age of teenagers caught gambling in the past five years, reaching 16.1 years old in 2023, according to the National Police Agency. The country also saw a substantial on-year increase in the number of those aged between 14-18 years who were subject to criminal investigation for gambling, which more than doubled from 74 in 2022 to 171 in 2023. The figure does not include those who were caught but received a summary trial or a warning from po
Social Affairs May 4, 2024
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
South Korea has been seeking to curb an increasing number of false emergency reports that hinder police duties, with a law revision for stricter measures set to take effect in July. The recently revised law on 112 emergency call services passed last year will kick in on July 3, allowing the court to hand out an administrative fine of up to 5 million won ($3,600) for false reports to the police, even to first-time offenders. Prank calls to the police had previously been dealt with mostly under th
Social Affairs May 4, 2024
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S. Korean children, teens grow taller, mature faster than before: study
Children and teenagers in South Korea have not only gotten taller compared to 10 years ago but also tend to mature at an earlier age, a recent report from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed. The ministry-affiliated Korean Agency for Technology and Standards conducted research on the body measurements of 1,118 South Koreans aged between 7 and 19, the results of which were presented at Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul on Thursday. The report showed growth among all age groups and
Social Affairs May 3, 2024
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City council member who proposed during assembly meeting to get married
Gwangyang City Council Member Park Chul-soo, who made headlines in March by publicly proposing to his girlfriend during a general assembly meeting, will get married next month. According to the council in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, the 46-year-old council member is set to tie the knot with 41-year-old city official Song Eun-seon on May 25 at a church in Gwangyang. Park, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, made the surprise proposal to his girlfriend when he took to
People April 30, 2024
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Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
A former South Korean baseball player who beat his debtor to death with a baseball bat recently appealed the 15-year prison term he was sentenced by the court on Thursday, challenging the fairness of the punishment. The prosecution, which initially requested a 20-year prison term, also appealed the ruling, contending the punishment was too lenient. It said that given the brutal nature of the murder and the bereaved family's demands of a strict punishment, the court should issue the defendan
Social Affairs April 30, 2024
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Med school professor convicted for fake COVID-19 'vaccine card'
A medical professor was recently handed a suspended prison term for making and distributing cards, falsely claiming that they would function as a vaccine to prevent and even cure COVID-19. Seoul Central District Court sentenced the defendant surnamed Kim to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Medical Devices Act. "It was necessary to punish (the defendant) as his actions presented risks for the public health, endangering the people's lives and safety,&quo
Social Affairs April 29, 2024
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Over half a million S. Koreans hold multiple jobs: data
The number of South Koreans working multiple jobs surpassed 500,000 in the first quarter of this year, with older people taking up a large proportion of such workers. A total of 552,000 people here had at least one additional job while working full time in the first quarter, according to Statistics Korea data. This marked a 22.4 percent increase compared to the 451,000 tallied in the same period in 2023. While the overwhelming majority of the working population still only has one job, the perc
Economy April 29, 2024
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Police investigating 10 men after suspected gang fight near Haeundae Beach
Police in Busan on Monday said they are investigating 10 men in their 30s in connection to a violent incident that took place near Haeundae Beach last week. Police suspect the men are members of a local gang. According to the Busan Haeundae Police Station, a fight broke out between two men in the entertainment district near the beach on April 24. The situation escalated as the two men called for back up and more men joined in the brawl about 90 minutes later. The men reportedly fought in group
Social Affairs April 29, 2024
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'Moon of Seoul' balloon ride prepares to take flight in June
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it has commenced preparations for installing the "Moon of Seoul" tethered helium balloon ride at Yeouido Hangang Park, with operation set to start in June. Basic landscaping will precede the installation of the moon-shaped balloon, which is currently under construction in France. The balloon will then be brought to Seoul to undergo safety inspections following the Aviation Safety Act. "Safety is our priority in installing (Moon of
Travel April 29, 2024
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
A 23-year-old woman received a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, for injuring her boyfriend who assaulted her, a court said Sunday. The Chuncheon District Court found the defendant guilty of inflicting special bodily injury on another but took into consideration the fact that the woman had no previous criminal record and that the victim asked for her not to be punished. The defendant is accused of injuring the victim during a fight in February. The defendant's boyfriend had ac
Social Affairs April 28, 2024
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
A South Korean rapper recently received a one-year prison sentence following a public fight with another rapper, as well as for posting a video of a forced apology and drug use. The Seoul Western District Court found the 26-year-old defendant guilty of coercion by collective force, defamation and marijuana use. It also ordered him to participate in an 80-hour drug treatment program. The defendant got into an argument on Instagram with a 21-year-old rapper last year, which led to them schedulin
Social Affairs April 28, 2024
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After bitter defeat, S. Korean soccer coach blames himself, calls for overhaul
Hwang Sun-hong, the head coach of the South Korean Olympic men's soccer team, said he shoulders the biggest share of the blame for the team's bitter defeat Friday at the hands of underdog Indonesia. The 55-year-old also urged for an overhaul of the U-23 national team system, speaking at a press conference after returning home at Incheon Airport on Saturday. Hwang stressed the need for a four-year plan for the youth squad without the pressure of midterm reviews after South Korea was kno
Soccer April 28, 2024
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Cost of eating up, particularly in Seoul: data
The prices of dishes at local eateries have been on the rise in South Korea, following the rising prices of agricultural, fishery and livestock products reported last week. According to the Korea Consumer Agency, an affiliate of the Korea Fair Trade Commission, the average prices for eight major dining options have all gone up in Seoul in March, compared to March of last year. In a bid to provide a general understanding of the dining costs in South Korea, the agency discloses the monthly average
Consumer April 28, 2024
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More eateries went out of business in 2023 than pandemic years
Roughly 1 out of 5 businesses in the food service industry here went out of business in 2023 -- a higher rate than during the years of economic slump sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic -- according to figures disclosed by a local data analysis firm. According to Finda, 176,258 restaurants, takeout joints and food delivery locations across the country shut down for good last year, accounting for 21.5 percent of the 818,867 eateries in total. It implied that the food service industry had a worse yea
Industry April 28, 2024
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