Man calls 119, found dead 1 week later because officials went to wrong place

A Busan man living by himself was recently found dead in his home, after the emergency workers he had called for failed to track him down due to an error in their GPS system. According to local media reports Monday, the victim in his 50s called the 119 emergency hotline on Sept. 8 to report that he was experiencing severe health issues. He notified the operators of his specific address, including the name of the residential-commercial building he was in and the unit number. But the rescue work

Social AffairsOct. 1, 2024

Fights, complaints, stalker fans among reasons passengers exit planes before takeoff

While passengers getting off an airplane before takeoff is uncommon, government data showed Tuesday that such cases have occurred 2,985 times between 2019 and August of this year. The passengers got off the plane on their own account in 2,548 cases, and a simple change of heart by passengers was responsible for 389 of these cases, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport data submitted to Rep. Yeom Tae-yeong of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. In the 417 re

Social AffairsOct. 1, 2024

Posco chief stresses innovation for survival at CEO forum

Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa underscored the urgent need for a "future-oriented strategy," during his address to executives at the 2024 Posco Forum, which took place at the Posco Global R&D Center in Songdo-dong, Incheon on Tuesday. Now in its sixth year, the theme of this year’s forum is "Navigating Crisis, Innovating for Future." Some 100 executives from the group's affiliated companies will convene for two days to gain insights from external experts and

IndustryOct. 1, 2024

10,000 won pass to palace festival to go on sale

Tickets will go on sale for five days next week for Seoul’s annual palace festival, which will include interactive programs and performances across the city’s five palaces as well as the shrine Jongmyo. The tickets to the K-Royal Culture Festival are 10,000 won and will be sold from Oct. 9-13, through Ticketlink, according to the Korea Heritage Service. Tickets for the five-day event that starts Oct. 9 will allow unlimited access to Jongmyo shrine and palaces from the Joseon era (139

CultureOct. 1, 2024

This year’s Hangeul Week packed with events

A competition, a music festival, lectures and a forum will take place for a week from Friday, celebrating the annual Hangeul Week to raise awareness of the Korean writing system. Hours ahead of officially starting the weeklong event, a Hangeul contest will be held at Gyeongbokgung -- one of the five Josen-era (1392-1910) palaces in Seoul -- drawing 120 Koreans who survived regional finals and 130 foreign nationals selected for the competition. Open lectures by book writers will follow on Friday

Arts & DesignOct. 1, 2024

[KH Explains] Korea pursues ‘fire-free’ batteries amid EV fears

Ever since a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle burst into flames in Incheon in August, an “EV phobia” has gripped drivers here. Less than two weeks from the massive fire, Hyundai Motor Group, the nation’s largest carmaker, preemptively disclosed the list of its EV battery manufacturers, prompting its foreign rivals to hustle to reveal their respective battery origins. A series of safety measures have also been unveiled from a new battery certification system to EV charger upgrades

MobilityOct. 1, 2024

SK Innovation develops low-cost membrane for carbon capture

SK Innovation, with its subsidiary SK IE Technology and researchers from Yonsei University, has developed a next-generation technology designed to capture carbon emissions more efficiently and at a lower cost. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the biggest carbon-emitting industries, such as power plants, steel mills and cement factories. The research, a collaboration between the SK Innovation Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, SKIET’s R&D Center,

IndustryOct. 1, 2024

Civilian heroes save person attempting suicide

A couple who saved someone who appeared to be attempting suicide in a car was commended by police, officials of Seoul Gwanak Police Station said Monday. Bae So-dam, 33, and Kim Du-hyeon, 41, saw smoke coming out of a vehicle as they were taking a walk a park in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu in Seoul on Sept. 22. They found a person sitting in the driver's seat, pulled them out and reported the case to the authorities. Officials presented a certificate of appreciation to Bae and Kim, along with A

PeopleOct. 1, 2024

'Smart pill'? ADHD treatment prescriptions spike this year

Known as the "smart pill," or "study pill" in South Korea, the number of patients prescribed methylphenidate, an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment, has seen a dramatic increase in the first half of this year, a new report found. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of people prescribed this ADHD treatment during the first half of this year -- some 257,000 -- reaches nearly the same number of prescriptions for the drug made all of last

Social AffairsOct. 1, 2024

Uttar Pradesh hosts trade show to boost $1tr economy goal

NOIDA, India -- Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, showcased production capabilities and diversity at the second edition of the five-day UP International Trade Show held from September 25 to 29. The show, inaugurated by Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, attracted over 2,500 exhibitors and foreign buyers from more than 60 countries, showcasing traditional handicrafts, technology, organic agricultural items, AI solutions, robotics, and foo

Foreign AffairsOct. 1, 2024

Yena's new single ‘Nemo Nemo' presents clever metaphor for love

Yena is back with her third single album, “Nemo Nemo,” eight months after releasing “Good Morning” in January. The title Nemo Nemo, derived from the Korean word for "square," serves as a metaphor for love’s complex emotions. “Everyone defines or expresses love differently, and this album represents that feeling using a square as a metaphor,” Yena said during a press conference held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Monday. The title track, also called &

K-popOct. 1, 2024

Hyundai partners with Saudi's Misk to nurture youth talent

Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Misk Foundation to develop young local talent and explore collaboration in smart city development. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, with the agreement formalized by Lee Jae-yong, head of smart city development at Hyundai’s Global Strategy Office, and Badr Hamoud Albadr, CEO of the Misk Foundation. The Misk Foundation, established in 2011 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamme

CompaniesOct. 1, 2024

81-year-old model awarded ‘best dressed’ in Miss Universe Korea

An 81-year-old contestant was chosen as the best dressed in this year’s Miss Universe Korea competition on Monday, after reaching the finals as the oldest contestant in the competition. Choi Soon-hwa, who turned 81 this month, fell short of the ultimate crown in the event in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. But her admirable efforts won her the consolation prize of “best dressed” in the contest. Han Ariel, 22, a fashion school student, took the top prize and will represent the count

PeopleOct. 1, 2024

NK defector nabbed trying to drive stolen bus across border

Police said Tuesday they had nabbed a North Korean defector for allegedly stealing a village bus in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and attempting to ram the bus northward through the militarized border between the two Koreas, in an apparent bid to return to North Korea. Police in Paju caught a man in his 30s at the Unification Bridge on Tuesday at around 1:30 a.m., as the bus he was driving hit a road blocker on the Imjin River's heavily guarded bridge that leads to the truce village Panmunjom in

PoliticsOct. 1, 2024

Gig workers rise by 2.3m in 5 years, especially among younger, older workers

The number of gig workers -- including platform workers, freelancers and independent contractors -- surged by over 2.3 million in the last five years, with the highest increases seen among younger and older people, a lawmaker said Tuesday. According to Rep. Choi Ki-sang of the Democratic Party of Korea, citing data from the National Tax Service, the number of gig workers increased from 6 million in 2018 to 8.3 million in 2022, marking a rise of 2.33 million -- a jump of 38.6 percent. Gig worker

Social AffairsOct. 1, 2024

Blackpink's Jennie to release new single ‘Mantra’

Jennie, a member of the renowned K-pop girl group Blackpink who is also a successful solo artist, is making her highly anticipated return with a new single, “Mantra,” on Oct. 11. This comeback comes for the first time in a year since her last solo digital single, “You & Me,” which was released in October 2023, according to her agency, OA Entertainment. Jennie shared the news on Tuesday on her official website and provided links for fans to presave the upcoming track o

K-popOct. 1, 2024

Exports extend gains to 12th straight month in Sept. on robust chip demand

South Korea's exports extended on-year gains to the 12th straight month in September, data showed Tuesday, on the back of robust shipments of chips. Outbound shipments rose 7.5 percent on-year to $58.7 billion last month, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports added 2.2 percent on-year to $52.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $6.66 billion. South Korea has maintained a trade surplus for 16 consecutive months. By sector, exports of semicond

EconomyOct. 1, 2024