$70m to be injected into AI-powered public education

The South Korean government said Tuesday that it would inject 96.3 billion won ($70 million) into improving digital infrastructure and developing digital textbooks at public schools in a bid to kickstart teaching and learning powered by artificial intelligence. Initiating the project for third and fourth-graders at elementary schools and first-grade students at middle and high schools, the government aims to alleviate the burden placed on schools and teachers for administrating and managing digi

Social AffairsMay 14, 2024

Controversy brews over shakeup of prosecutors amid probe of first lady

The latest surprise reshuffle of senior prosecutors announced by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration sparked fierce debate among the main rival parties Tuesday with the opposition calling the move an attempt to hinder the ongoing probe into the luxury Dior bag scandal involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. On Monday, the Justice Ministry named Lee Chang-soo, head of the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, who is viewed as a close aide to Yoon, as the new chief of the Seoul Central District Prose

PoliticsMay 14, 2024

[News Analysis] Is momentum building to ease South Korea-China strain?

A four-hour meeting Monday between the top diplomats of South Korea and China has ignited new momentum in kickstarting strained high-level dialogue, essential for laying the groundwork to create a conducive environment for the resumption of long-stalled cooperation and exchanges at all levels. Experts noted that the development is especially significant as it sets the stage for a mood of cooperation and dialogue, paving the way for the upcoming long-awaited trilateral summit with Japan, the firs

Foreign AffairsMay 14, 2024

Yoon proposes new law for gig, freelance workers

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday his government has proposed a law to protect the rights of what he called "underprivileged workers" in South Korea. Yoon referred to gig workers, independent contractors and freelancers who are often temporarily employed and do not have the job security, standard four basic insurances, paid annual leave or severance guaranteed to regular employees under the country's Labor Standards Act. The proposed legislation will protect the rights of such

PoliticsMay 14, 2024

Kazakhstan needs drones with Korean expertise: vice minister

Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Azamat Beispekov showed keenness to integrate Korean expertise into his country's drone industry during an interview with The Korea Herald on May 9. “Cooperation with Korea in the field of drones is very important,” said Beispekov, highlighting the technology’s role in shaping Kazakhstan’s future in oil and gas, agriculture, and road safety. A reciprocal arrangement in drone production has the potential t

Foreign AffairsMay 14, 2024

[Bridge to Africa] Korean NGO vows $10m medical donation to Sudan

Global Life Sharing, a Korean non-governmental organization, has decided to support Sudan's humanitarian efforts by pledging to donate essential medicines and relief supplies worth $10 million for the next five years, Sudan Embassy in Seoul said Friday. During a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, Sudanese ambassador to Korea Amira Agarib expressed her gratitude to the NGO and reaffirmed the African country's commitment to deepen its partnership with the organization for urge

Foreign AffairsMay 14, 2024

S. Korea to stage drills against large-scale aerial attack

The military will stage an air exercise Tuesday aimed at defending against a large-scale aerial attack amid renewed attention to air defense capabilities in the wake of Iran's massive drone and missile attack on Israel. The drills will be led by the Air Force Operations Command and joined by Army, Navy and Marine Corps units across the country, according to the Air Force. Some 30 aircraft, including F-35A fighters, as well as various air defense assets, including the Patriot and Cheongung m

DefenseMay 14, 2024

Ex-Marine division chief returns home after 22-hr questioning over conscript's death

A former division commander of the Marine Corps returned home Tuesday following 22 hours of police questioning in connection with the death of a young Marine conscript during a search operation for downpour victims in July last year. Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, is the highest-ranking Marine official questioned as part of the investigation into the death of a Marine conscript, surnamed Chae, who was swept away by a torrent during a search for missing flood v

DefenseMay 14, 2024

Key S. Korean, USFK special operations officials to hold rare meeting amid NK threats

The military is planning to hold a rare meeting between major South Korean and US Forces Korea special operations officials later this month to discuss ways to improve special warfare capabilities amid North Korea's threats, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday. South Korea operates special forces units separately under the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps, and regularly stages combined drills with US Special Operations Command Korea troops, but holding a meeting between all o

DefenseMay 14, 2024

N. Korean science, technology delegation leaves for Russia

A North Korean science and technology delegation has departed for Russia, state media said Tuesday, as the two countries are deepening their bilateral ties following the summit of their leaders in September. The delegation led by Ri Chung-gil, chairman of the State Commission of Science and Technology, left for Moscow on Monday to attend the eighth meeting of a government committee on trade and economy as well as science and technology cooperation between the two nations, according to the Korean

North KoreaMay 14, 2024

[Graphic News] Only 34% of S. Korean elites favor nuclear arms

About a third of South Korean academics, experts and other elites support nuclearization of their country, a US think tank poll showed, a finding that contrasts with greater support shown in surveys of the general public. The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report on the outcome of the poll conducted with over 1,000 “strategic elites” in South Korea from Jan. 15 to March 17. The report, titled “Breaking Bad, South Korea’s Nuclear Option,”

DefenseMay 14, 2024

Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy

South Korea and Cuba have officially kicked off discussions on opening a Cuban diplomatic mission in Seoul, the foreign ministry said Monday. Mario Alzugaray Rodriguez, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Cuba in China, arrived in Seoul the previous day to discuss with officials at the ministry the process and support needed in opening the diplomatic mission. "The two countries will continue to communicate and cooperate to ensure the process of opening the embassies runs smoothly,"

Foreign AffairsMay 13, 2024

Wang voices hope to develop bilateral ties with S. Korea 'without interference'

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed hope Monday that bilateral relations with South Korea will develop further "without interference," saying the current difficulties in the ties do not serve the common interest of the two countries. Wang made the remarks at the beginning of talks with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, in Beijing, apparently referring to the incidents that sent the bilateral ties to a low point, such as the comments by President Yoon Suk Yeol about main

Foreign AffairsMay 13, 2024

Ministry, doctors clash over decision process of expansion plan

The government and doctors continued their fight Monday over whether the expansion plan to have 2,000 more students starting next year has been determined through appropriate procedures ahead of a court's ruling set for this week. The medical community lashed out at the document presented by the government, claiming it shows the decision was made "arbitrarily without logical justification." The document showed that Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong proposed having 2,000 more medical s

Social AffairsMay 13, 2024

Seoul vows action over Naver's Line, Yahoo dispute

President Yoon Suk Yeol's office vowed Monday to pull out all the stops to address the cybersecurity problems surrounding internet giant Naver, which jointly controls the Japanese firm operating messenger app Line and web portal Yahoo. The remark from the presidential office came amid mounting pressure on Naver by Japanese authorities to divest its stake in the company that exercises control over leading internet services in Japan. "The interests of South Korean citizens and companies

PoliticsMay 13, 2024

[New faces of Assembly] Trump factor sets mood for South Korea to cultivate its ‘nuclear potential’: lawmaker-elect

In this series, The Korea Herald sits down with newcomers chosen by South Koreans to serve on the National Assembly for the next four years, to talk about their visions and takes on issues in Seoul and beyond. -- Ed. The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House may prompt South Korea to consider bolstering its security beyond the protection of its alliance with the US, according to ruling People Power Party lawmaker-elect, Yu Yong-weon. Speaking to The Korea Herald on Friday, Yu

PoliticsMay 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] S. Korea, EU embrace 'great opportunities' for advancing climate action: envoy

South Korea and the European Union share great opportunities for further cooperation in addressing climate change and its impacts not only on a bilateral level but also across the broader Indo-Pacific region and beyond, EU Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez said. "For the EU, the Republic of Korea is one of the key like-minded partners in the context of climate and environment, with the shared values and common goals against the climate crisis," Castillo Fernandez sai

Social AffairsMay 13, 2024

Suspect behind murder of Korean tourist in Pattaya arrested

Police in South Korea arrested a man under suspicion of involvement in the murder of a Korean tourist in Pattaya, Thailand, according to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency on Monday. According to police officials, a Korean man in his 20s was apprehended at his home in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, on Sunday evening and placed under emergency arrest for allegedly murdering a man and abandoning his body. The police had been tracking the suspect’s whereabouts after learning that he had

Social AffairsMay 13, 2024

Seoul Metro seeks solutions to scare away pigeons

Seoul Metro has installed spikes to keep pigeons from roosting in its stations and will introduce more such measures, it said Monday. The operator of Seoul subway lines No. 1 through 8 announced that it has introduced spikes and would soon adopt other measures to deter pigeons and other birds, including nets, bird repellent gel and ultrasonic bird repellers. These measures have come as complaints about birds have increased. Seoul Metro said it received 131 total complaints about pigeons specific

Social AffairsMay 13, 2024

Prosecutors summon pastor involved in Dior bag scandal

A Korean American pastor accused of gifting a luxury Christian Dior handbag valued at 3 million won ($2,210) to first lady Kim Keon Hee in September 2022 was summoned and questioned by prosecutors for the first time Monday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sought to investigate the motive behind Choi Jae-young’s decision to hand the luxury bag to Kim, while using a spy cam to secretly film the meeting, according to officials. Whether Choi violated the nation’s Improper S

PoliticsMay 13, 2024