US service member injured in stabbing, police searching for suspect

A US service member stationed in South Korea was stabbed during a scuffle at a local bar, and police are searching for a suspect who is presumed to also be an American soldier, officers said Sunday. The 21-year-old service member was stabbed in his stomach late Saturday at the bar in the city of Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, during a fight, according to Pyeongtaek Police Station. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and has received treatment, the officers said, adding t

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

Embattled senior prosecutor questioned in ex-vice minister travel ban case

SUWON -- Prosecutors have questioned the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office over alleged abuse of power in connection with an illegal travel ban imposed against a scandal-ridden senior official two years ago, officials said Sunday. Lee Sung-yoon was questioned at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office as a suspect on Saturday over allegations that he exercised undue influence in 2019 to bring an end to an investigation into the alleged illegal exit ban imposed on former vice

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

[Herald Interview] Opening up gates in the COVID-19 era

Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Eric Teo recently received the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (First Class) Gwanghwa Medal from the Korean government in appreciation of his service promoting Korea-Singapore ties. It has been nearly two years since he arrived in Seoul, and a lot has changed in that time, owing to the virus pandemic affecting the world since early 2020. Though the gateways between Korea and Singapore remain mostly closed for now due to the travel restrictions brought on by

InternationalApril 18, 2021

Kerry backs Japan’s wastewater release, rules out US intervention

US climate envoy John Kerry reaffirmed Washington’s backing for Japan’s recent decision to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, while ruling out the possibility of stepping into the related process, amid Seoul’s call for Washington’s cooperation in ensuring Tokyo’s transparency. 　 “The US is confident that the government of Japan has had full consultation with IAEA, that IAEA has set up a rigorous process,” Kerry sai

Foreign AffairsApril 18, 2021

[News Focus] Widening wage gap seen between nonregular, regular jobs

SEJONG -- The wage gap between regular and nonregular workers in South Korea has continued to grow over the past decade, state data showed. According to Statistics Korea, the average monthly wage for regular workers came to 2.29 million won ($2,050) in 2010, which posted a gap of 1.03 million won, compared to 1.26 million won for nonregular workers. In 2015, the gap between the two widened to 1.23 million won by 2.7 million won vs. 1.47 million won for nonregular employees. The state-run agen

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

New ASEAN-Korea Center chief begins role

Kim Hae-yong, a former South Korean ambassador to Myanmar and New Zealand, officially started his term Friday as the fifth secretary-general of the ASEAN-Korea Center, the organization announced Sunday. The 64-year-old career diplomat replaces Lee Hyuk for a single three-year term to 2024. His appointment was confirmed during the 13th meeting of the center’s council, held online on Feb. 9. The secretary-general is a retired career diplomat who served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign AffairsApril 18, 2021

NK propaganda outlet denounces S. Korea's weapons purchase plans

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Sunday denounced South Korea's weapons purchase plans as an attempt to accelerate preparations to invade the country. Tongil Voice made the accusations, referring to Seoul's decision to import 36 large combat choppers by 2028 in a project in which the country has already deployed 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters. "The South Korea military is further stepping up plots to develop and introduce advanced arms equipment for northward invasion at a time wh

North KoreaApril 18, 2021

N. Korea slams Japan despite Suga's willingness to meet leader Kim

North Korea's main newspaper on Sunday kept up criticism of Japan over its history of aggression toward the Korean Peninsula, after the Japanese prime minister expressed a willingness to meet with the North's leader to resolve bilateral issues. The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, carried an article that criticized Japan for "occupying the Korean Peninsula during the first half of the 20th century and engaging in a barbaric policy to annihilate the people.&quo

North KoreaApril 18, 2021

S. Korea to start vaccinations of care workers, airline crews

South Korea will start giving AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers and airline crews this week to speed up the vaccination drive against the pandemic, the health authority said Sunday. Health authorities will administer AstraZeneca vaccines to health care workers for the disabled, seniors and veterans as well as airline crews starting from Monday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Those under age 30 will be excluded from the list on concerns over rar

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

New virus cases in 600s for 4th day as sporadic infections continue

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the fourth consecutive day Sunday as sporadic infections continue to pop up across the nation, complicating antivirus efforts against the fourth wave of the pandemic. The country reported 672 more COVID-19 cases, including 649 local infections, raising the total caseload to 114,115, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It added three more deaths, raising the total to 1,797. The average daily number of loc

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

Digital sex crimes against children increased nearly 20% in 2019

Digital sex crimes against underage people rose nearly 20 percent in 2019 from a year earlier, a government report showed Sunday. The number of criminals convicted of digital sex crimes reached 266 in 2019, up 19.3 percent from 223 previous year, according to the report published by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Digital sex crimes refer to the sending of online sexual online messages to children, filming and producing sexual videos and photos of minors, or threatening to disclose

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

Civic groups decry Japan's plan to discharge Fukushima nuke plant water

South Korean civic groups held a press conference Saturday to denounce Japan's recent decision to discharge into the ocean contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. Eight groups, including the Global Econet, lambasted the plan to release the radioactive water as an "irresponsible" act and demanded the cancellation of the decision, during the conference at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. On Tuesday, Japan finalized the decision to start discharging the t

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

FM Chung, US envoy hold dinner talks on climate change cooperation

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Saturday hosted a dinner meeting with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry in Seoul to discuss bilateral cooperation to fight climate change. The meeting came hours after Kerry arrived in Seoul following his four-day stay in Shanghai where he discussed cooperation with Chinese officials on the climate issue ahead of the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate to be hosted by US President Joe Biden next week. Chung and Kerry agreed to co

Foreign AffairsApril 18, 2021

[Photo News] Remembering the Sewol ferry tragedy, seven years later

Seven years ago, more than 300 lives were lost as the Sewol ferry sank deep into the sea. Most were teenagers attending high school. Seven years after the disaster, the nation still mourns that day as if it were yesterday. People all over the nation observed a moment of silence to remember the victims. At a memorial space in Gwanghwamun Square, a citizen can be seen paying his respects.  The bereaved families grieve their loss as they throw flowers into the sea at a ceremony commemorating

Social AffairsApril 17, 2021

US, Japan committed to complete denuclearization of N. Korea: leaders

US President Joe Biden said Friday he and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reaffirmed their commitment to jointly face challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including China and nuclear-armed North Korea. Suga said they are also committed to the complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction in North Korea. "We committed to working together to take on the challenges from China and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China Sea, as well

North KoreaApril 17, 2021

40 percent of deaths from industrial accidents among people 60 or older: ministry

Four out of 10 people who died last year from industrial accidents were aged 60 or older, according to the labor ministry. A total of 882 people died in industrial accidents last year, marking an increase of 27, or 3.2 percent, from 2019, according to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Of the total, people aged 60 or above accounted for 347 (39.3 percent), followed by those in their 50s (292), 40s (137), 30s (64) and between 18-29 (42). "Deaths from industri

Social AffairsApril 17, 2021

Return of Chung Sye-kyun to set off race to win DP's ticket for presidential election

The imminent return of Chung Sye-kyun to the political realm, following his resignation as prime minister earlier this week, is expected to set off in earnest a high-stakes race to win the ruling Democratic Party's (DP) ticket to run in next year's presidential election.  Chung stepped down from the public office Friday after serving a 15-month stint, mainly preoccupied with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  The 71-year-old former six-term lawmaker has yet to officially decla

PoliticsApril 17, 2021

New virus cases in 600s for 3rd day amid rising concerns over new virus wave

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the third consecutive day Saturday as health authorities ramp up their vigilance amid growing concerns over a looming fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country reported 658 more COVID-19 cases, including 630 local infections, raising the total caseload to 113,444, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It added four more deaths, raising the total to 1,794. Saturday's daily caseload was down from 673

Social AffairsApril 17, 2021

Korea gives 500,000 AstraZeneca shots with potentially faulty syringes

At least 500,000 people in South Korea were given AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine with potentially faulty syringes, a Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency official told The Korea Herald Friday. The official said the agency had ordered a recall of some 700,000 special syringes -- designed to squeeze extra doses out of a vaccine vial -- after reports of contamination and erroneous scale markings.  These so-called low dead space syringes for AstraZeneca vac

Social AffairsApril 16, 2021

[Video] Memorial institute commemorates Sewol ferry sinking

April 16, 2014, left an unforgettable scar in the hearts of many South Koreans. On that day the Sewol ferry sank off the country’s southwestern coast, taking the lives of more than 300 people. Most were teenage students from Danwon High School on a field trip. It was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the country’s history. As the nation commemorates the seventh anniversary of the tragedy on Friday, the April 16 Institute of Democratic Citizenship Education has opened in

Social AffairsApril 16, 2021