New police team talks teen out of suicide

Two police officers managed to talk a teen out of jumping to his death from an apartment building, officials said Wednesday. According to Seoul Seocho Police Station, the officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul after receiving a report at around 8:30 p.m. on Monday that a 16-year-old boy was about to jump from the rooftop of an apartment building. He had climbed over the railing on the roof of the 24-story building and was found crouching on a ledge, appea

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Korea's weapons in war against suicides

How can a nation fight a suicide crisis? On this question, South Korea, known for having one of the world’s highest suicide rates, may become a compelling case study. Here, as of the end of 2021, one person dies by suicide every 40 minutes. While addressing the root causes of the crisis remains daunting, demanding a comprehensive approach to mental health and a stronger social safety net, critical work is being carried out on the frontlines of suicide prevention. These initiatives, some of

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

High-ranking NK defector being considered for vice-ministerial post: report

Tae Yong-ho, a former high-ranking North Korean official who defected to South Korea and later became a lawmaker for the conservative ruling People Power Party, could potentially become the first North Korean diplomat-turned-defector to ascend to a vice-ministerial post in South Korea's history, according to a report in local daily Dong-a Ilbo. Tae, 62, is reportedly being considered as one of the candidates for the position of secretary-general of the presidential Peaceful Unification Advi

PoliticsJuly 17, 2024

Climate Clock to drop below 5-year mark for 1st time on Monday

Starting Monday, the Climate Clock will show less than five years remaining until the Earth exceeds the 1.5 degrees Celcius global warming limit, highlighting the rapid global temperature rise due to carbon emissions. The Climate Clock counts down to the 1.5 C deadline according to data presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is known for its 80-foot digital clock face in New York City’s Union Square, as well as its other clocks located worldwide in cities such as Se

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Seoul's Gyeonghuigung area to become massive historical park

Gyeonghuigung, a palace from the late Joseon era (1392-1910), and its surrounding area will be transformed into an expanded historical and cultural park in a gradual project running until 2035, the Seoul city government said Wednesday. The new park, covering approximately 136,000 square meters, will be 10 times the size of Seoul Plaza. The project aims to shine a light on Gyeonghuigung, a lesser-known palace, which has attracted fewer visitors compared to the nearby Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for Kakao founder over suspected stock manipulation

Prosecutors on Wednesday requested an arrest warrant for Kim Beom-su, the founder of Kakao Corp., on charges of involvement in suspected illegal stock manipulation during the tech giant’s acquisition of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment last year. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office filed a warrant for Kim over allegations of violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. The move comes a week after prosecutors grilled Kim for about five hours on suspicions

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Heavy rain hits Seoul, Gyeonggi

South Korea remained on high alert for torrential downpours Wednesday as heavy rains hit the Seoul metropolitan area and parts of northern Gyeonggi Province, causing rush-hour traffic disruptions and home evacuations. Heavy rains of 100.9 millimeters per hour had battered Munsan in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, for an hour until 7:03 a.m., while Singok-dong in Uijeongbu, just north of Seoul, received 103.5 mm of rain for an hour from 6:22 a.m. Also, nearly 300 reports regarding heavy rains were repor

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Ex-CIA official indicted on suspicion of working with S. Korean spy agency

Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA official and renowned expert on Korean Peninsula issues, has been indicted on charges of acting as an unregistered agent for the South Korean government since at least 2013 and receiving bribes that included luxury handbags and financial support. Terry "advocated ROK policy positions, including published articles and during media appearances, disclosed nonpublic US government information to ROK intelligence officers, and facilitated access for ROK government offic

Foreign AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Horseracing authority takes down 'sexual' YouTube content after controversy

The government-affiliated horse racing authority recently deleted a YouTube video depicting its horses as anime-style woman, after complaints that the content was sexually-suggestive. Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea confirmed Tuesday that the Korea Racing Authority has deleted the video introducing its racehorses. The video featuring horses illustrated as anime-style women wearing skimpy outfits, is thought to be inspired by a mobile game that also depicted

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Violence mars ruling party’s leadership race

The ruling conservative party’s leadership race has been plagued by violence, as supporters of different candidates clashed during a joint campaign speech event held early this week. Videos of the speech event held Monday in the central city of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, showed apparent supporters of former People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon and ex-Land Minister Won Hee-ryong embroiled in a physical altercation. A YouTuber, who is an apparent supporter of Won, yelled

PoliticsJuly 17, 2024

Suspect of 16-year-old unsolved robbery-murder apprehended

A man in his 40s has confessed to a 2008 robbery and murder case in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, local police said Wednesday. The suspect told investigators that he had been the one who stabbed a supermarket owner on Dec. 9, 2008 in Siheung, 26 kilometers southwest of Seoul. "I stabbed him. I'm sorry," was what he said, according to Siheung Police Station. The suspect has not elaborated on his motive for the crime. Authorities have been questioning the suspect since apprehending

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Perpetrator in Miryang gang rape case apologizes after info made public

One of the alleged perpetrators in the notorious 2004 Miryang gang rape case recently posted a video apologizing to the victim, continuing controversy surrounding the 20-year-old case. Forty-four male high school students were accused of subjecting a middle school girl to months of sexual and physical assault. "I want to say I am so sorry to the victim, who would have been living in unimaginable pain since 2004. ... I know no apology would absolve me, but I sincerely would like to apologi

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Yoon delays regional trip amid heavy rain

President Yoon Suk Yeol postponed his planned trip to the southern region Wednesday due to heavy rain, sources said. Yoon was scheduled to attend a meeting on regional cooperation in South Chungcheong Province, but the presidential office, mayors and governors agreed to delay the schedule to focus on measures against the heavy downpour, sources said. "The president is receiving real-time reports on damage across the nation and has urged the heads of each local government to concentrate reco

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Heavy rain watch issued across northern Gyeonggi Province

A heavy rain watch was issued across parts of northern Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, with 100 millimeters of rain per hour pouring in the border city of Paju, the state weather agency said. As of 7 a.m., heavy downpours of 100.9 mm per hour had been pounding Munsan, a town in Paju, 37 kilometers northwest of Seoul, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The accumulated precipitation was recorded at 342.5 mm in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom, 202 mm in Namyangju, 18

Social AffairsJuly 17, 2024

S. Korea taking administrative steps against Saudi airline over flight suspension

The government is taking administrative action against Saudi Arabian airline Saudia for suspending its direct flights to South Korea without permission from aviation authorities, according to officials Wednesday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued a prior notice of administrative measure to Saudia on Monday. Saudia has been asked to submit their reasons for the suspension and their future plans by July 30. The ministry will convene an administrative review committee to dis

Foreign AffairsJuly 17, 2024

Ex-Trump official voices hope for S. Korea to make 'big' contribution for defense

A former US national security advisor said Tuesday he is looking forward to a "big" contribution by South Korea in reference to ongoing negotiations between Seoul and Washington over the cost sharing for stationing the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. Robert O'Brien, who served as national security advisor for then President Donald Trump from 2019-2021, made the remarks as the allies have been engaging in negotiations over a new cost-sharing deal, called the Special Measures Agreeme

Foreign AffairsJuly 17, 2024

FM Cho expresses hope for cooperation between S. Korea's new space agency, NASA

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Pamela Melroy, the deputy chief of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, on Tuesday to discuss space cooperation between the two countries, according to the foreign ministry. During the meeting in Seoul, Cho expressed hope for active cooperation between the national space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, or KASA, and NASA. KASA was launched in Sacheon, approximately 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 27. "Space cooperation

Foreign AffairsJuly 16, 2024

Yoon orders emergency response posture against heavy downpours

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday ordered an increased emergency response posture against the ongoing heavy downpours, giving instructions for a thorough evacuation of affected residents, according to his office. The order was issued following briefings on the forecast of heavy concentrated rainfall, including in the wider Seoul area, said Jeong Hye-jeon, a presidential spokesperson, in a written press briefing. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also instructed relevant ministries

Social AffairsJuly 16, 2024

Lawyer confirms first lady's bag return instruction

A lawyer for first lady Kim Keon Hee said Tuesday it is true that Kim ordered her aide to return a Dior bag she received as a gift from a pastor on the same day it was given, asking media to refrain from "excessive speculation" on the matter. Lawyer Choi Ji-woo released a press release, expressing hope that the media will refrain from "excessively speculative and malicious articles" on the first lady. The scandal centers on allegations that Kim illegally received a Dior handb

PoliticsJuly 16, 2024

Soonchunhyang Hospital ER in Cheonan to close during nighttime

Amid monthslong medical disruptions, Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan said Tuesday that its ER would run at minimum capacity this week as several emergency medicine professors have tendered their resignations. The medical institution said that four out of eight professors, who juggle as senior doctors at the hospital, had left their posts. Emergency room operations will be suspended for 24 hours until Wednesday at 8 a.m., while nighttime emergency services at the ER will be halted fr

Social AffairsJuly 16, 2024