[Bridge to Africa] South Africa seeks to diversify exports to Korea: ambassador

South Africa intends to broaden its export horizons with South Korea to include value-added products, a strategic shift deemed by the country essential for enhancing the economic partnership between the two countries, the South African ambassador to South Korea said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Ambassador Zenani Mandela-Dlamini said the bilateral trade relationship spans a diverse range of products, from minerals and semi-finished goods to high-tech electronic products. South Africa fe

Foreign AffairsMay 29, 2024

UAE becomes 1st Arab country to sign free trade pact with S. Korea

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday officially signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement aimed at enhancing trade openness, expanding market access and fostering investment during the first state visit of the UAE president to South Korea. The UAE is the first Arab country to sign such an agreement with South Korea. Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-Geun and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, attend the signing ceremony hel

Foreign AffairsMay 29, 2024

Kim Jong-un says South's use of force as 'very dangerous provocation'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un slammed South Korea's show of force against Pyongyang's attempted spy satellite launch as a "very dangerous provocation" that cannot be overlooked, the Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. Kim also said that a spy satellite is needed to safeguard the country's sovereignty, adding that South Korea had "shown hysterical madness" over its satellite launch attempt despite having complied with international regulations by no

North KoreaMay 29, 2024

Garbage, dung cross DMZ as NK responds with balloons of its own

More than 150 balloons distributed by North Korea carrying apparent propaganda leaflets as well as trash and excrement were detected across South Korea, Seoul's military said Wednesday. Earlier this week, North Korea vowed "tit for tat action" after human rights activists launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongang pamphlets and USB flash drives filled with South Korean pop culture content into the North. The balloons crossed the border since Tuesday night, landing in locations acros

North KoreaMay 29, 2024

Yoon called ex-minister over marine's death: report

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup had multiple phone calls with President Yoon Suk Yeol on the day that an internal investigation over a marine corporal's death was transferred to and returned from civilian police in August last year, communication records show. Yoon called Lee directly three times on Aug. 2 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. soon after the internal report by a Marine investigator was sent to the police in the morning, according to the records obtained by Yonhap News Agency. T

Social AffairsMay 29, 2024

Which day would you take off in a four-day workweek?

If your company were to adapt a four-day workweek, which day would you prefer to be the new day off: Monday or Friday to lengthen your weekend, or Wednesday to split the workweek in half? A recent online survey of South Korea's workers showed that Wednesday was preferred by the largest share of respondents. According to the poll, conducted by local portal site Nate, which is operated by SK Communications, 40 percent of the 11,120 respondents, or 4,528 individuals, chose to take a day off in

Social AffairsMay 29, 2024

Med school expansion needed to tackle ER shortage: ministry

A total of 3,752 patients have died between 2017 and 2023 after emergency rooms refused to admit them due to lack of doctors, the Health Ministry said Wednesday, stressing the need for medical school expansion to address the shortage of doctors in ER. Kang Joon, who heads the health care reform task force at the Health Ministry, said that most of the patients had died because there were no doctors who could treat them, adding that the country's critical care is in "extreme trouble.&quo

Social AffairsMay 29, 2024

Popular bakery may pull out of Daejeon Station due to rent dispute

Sungsimdang, a renowned bakery that has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in Daejeon, recently said it may close its Daejeon Station branch over a rent dispute with the station operator. Korail has rented out a space to the bakery since 2012, with a five-year contract inked in 2019 due to expire in October. Sungsimdang currently pays 100 million won ($73,300) a month for the space, but Korail is reportedly requesting around 440 million won for the next contract, which would be arou

Social AffairsMay 29, 2024

Govt. to enact Sewol ferry victim support act, request veto on contentious bills

The government has decided to accept and promulgate an opposition-led bill extending support for victims of the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol, while asking President Yoon Suk Yeol to veto four other contentious bills, sources said Wednesday. The legislation on the Sewol disaster was one of five bills that the main opposition Democratic Party and other minor opposition parties unilaterally passed through the National Assembly on Tuesday despite objections from the ruling People Power Party. The

PoliticsMay 29, 2024

US restates need for China's 'productive' role in addressing N. Korean threats

A US State Department spokesperson reiterated the need Tuesday for China to play a "productive" role in countering North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, after South Korea, China and Japan did not include the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as a shared goal in their joint summit statement. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, made the remarks during a press briefing in response to a question regarding the outcome of the rare trilateral summit that Sout

Foreign AffairsMay 29, 2024

S. Korean military vets presumed N.Korean propaganda leaflets

South Korea's military said Tuesday it is vetting objects assumed to be propaganda leaflets distributed by North Korea. "The military is taking measures after unidentified objects assumed to be North Korean propaganda leaflets were found in border areas in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a notice sent to the press. The JCS advised residents in the areas to refrain from accessing the objects and report to nearby military or police authorities in

North KoreaMay 29, 2024

Yoon, UAE president stroll through palace, have dinner

President Yoon Suk Yeol and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan bonded over dinner and a stroll through an ancient palace as the UAE leader embarks on a state visit to South Korea on Tuesday, Yoon's office said. The two leaders visited the Huwon Secret Garden at Changdeok Palace in Seoul and discussed various topics, including South Korean culture, while taking a walk through the palace grounds, the presidential office said. First lady Kim Keon Hee joined the two. Als

PoliticsMay 28, 2024

Former SK hynix worker on trial for selling stolen chip tech to Huawei

A Chinese national who worked for South Korean chipmaker SK hynix is on trial accused of smuggling technology to reduce semiconductor defects to the company's Chinese rival Huawei, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said Tuesday. According to police officials, the ex-employee in her 30s was arrested under the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology in April. She was indicted by prosecutors earlier in the month and is currently standing trial at Suwon Dis

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

S. Korea seeks educational support for N. Korean defectors' children born abroad

The unification ministry said Tuesday it will push to provide educational support for North Korean defectors' children who were born in third countries in an effort to tackle the blind spot in the welfare system. The move is part of the fourth three-year basic plan to support the resettlement of North Korean defectors. The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs held a pan-government meeting earlier in the day to review and approve the 2024-2026 plan. Under the blueprint, the government

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

Spate of Army deaths sparks safety concerns

Recent casualties in the South Korean military, including the deaths of two Army conscripts at boot camps, have prompted calls for a reevaluation of the safety of soldiers in a country where all able-bodied men are required to serve. On Tuesday, two military officers were referred to the police in connection with the death of a trainee soldier last week who collapsed while being disciplined at a boot camp in Inje, Gangwon Province. According to Gangwon police and local reports, the victim, who

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

Mosquitoes increase due to climate change

South Korea is expected to see more mosquitoes this summer as the acceleration in climate change is amplifying mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria across the nation. "The weather agency predicts this year's summer to be hotter than usual. ... Extremely hot weather leads to a surge in mosquito activity. This means that people will notice more mosquito bites this summer, and thus be more uncomfortable," Lee Hee-il, the head of the division of vectors and parasitic diseases at th

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

Special counsel bill on death of Marine fails to pass in Assembly revote

A bill mandating a special counsel probe into the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s response to the death of a young marine last year failed to pass in a revote held during the final plenary session of the 21st National Assembly on Tuesday. The bill was scrapped after failing to win two-thirds of approval from lawmakers physically present in the parliamentary vote, which is required to override the presidential veto under current law. Of the 294 Assembly members that participated in the revot

PoliticsMay 28, 2024

Seoul to open world's first hotel on bridge in July

Seoul will open the first-ever hotel built on a bridge, connecting the northern and southern parts of the city, the city government announced Tuesday. Named Sky Suite, the hotel is located on the northern end of the Hangang Bridge, where scenic views of the Han River can be enjoyed all day. The hotel is set to open to the public in July. “With the opening of Sky Suite Hangang Bridge, the city is looking forward to sharing the charms of the Han River and Seoul with the world," said

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

May 23 declared as K-Respect Day in Seoul

Lawmakers and diplomats were among those attending the declaration ceremony for K-Respect Day and No Hate Comments Day at the National Assembly in Seoul, on March 23. The event was organized by the Sunfull Foundation to raise awareness and promote understanding and respect for people of different cultures and backgrounds and to root out the toxic cultures of cyberbullying and hate speech, according to Min Byoung-chul, founder and chairman of the Sunfull Foundation. Launched in March last year, t

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024

[Feature] Ignorance about Africa still rampant in Korea

Taiwo Victoria Anuoluwapo recalled a scene from her favorite K-drama, “Shooting Stars,” which aired in 2022. It depicted a protagonist leaving for Africa to help dying children and provide clean water. Whenever similar scenes appear in K-dramas and movies, Taiwo cannot hide her bewilderment. “We love K-culture a lot in Nigeria, and it’s always painful when we see stuff like that,” said Taiwo, 28, a Nigerian studying in Chungnam National University in Daejeon. &ldquo

Social AffairsMay 28, 2024