Second Gimpo civil servant found dead, after apologizing for not finishing work

A second public official from Gimpo City Hall was found to have died by suicide, police said Thursday. Police received an emergency call Thursday morning from a civil servant at Gimpo City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, who was unable to reach his colleague, a man in his 40s. He said he had received a text message from his colleague the previous evening saying, “I am sorry I couldn't finish my work first before going.” Within 30 minutes of the call, police found the man dead in hi

Social AffairsApril 26, 2024

DP leader says he will meet Yoon without conditions

Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said Friday he will meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol without preconditions, after the two sides struggled unsuccessfully to set the agenda for what would be their first-ever talks since Yoon came into office. Yoon proposed a meeting in a phone call with Lee last Friday, after the ruling People Power Party was routed in the April 10 parliamentary elections, leaving the National Assembly under the control of Lee's Democratic Party. Details of the meeting,

PoliticsApril 26, 2024

Ship linked to NK arms shipments to Russia is moored in China: State Dept.

A Russian vessel, reportedly implicated in North Korea's arms transfers to Russia, is moored in China, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday, adding to speculation about Beijing's support for Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine. The spokesperson made the remarks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in China, where he plans to discuss with senior Beijing officials a range of regional and global issues, including the war in Ukraine and North Korean threats. Citing B

North KoreaApril 26, 2024

Aides fail to coordinate agenda for Yoon-Lee meeting

Aides to President Yoon Suk Yeol and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung held their second meeting Thursday to coordinate the agenda for what would be the first-ever meeting between Yoon and Lee, but failed to reach an agreement, both sides said. Yoon proposed the meeting in a phone call with Lee last Friday, after the ruling People Power Party was routed in the April 10 parliamentary elections, leaving the National Assembly under the control of Lee's Democratic Party (DP). Thursday's prep

PoliticsApril 25, 2024

Overdue wages for migrant workers average 6.63 mln won: survey

Overdue wages for migrant workers averaged 6.63 million won ($4,825), a survey conducted by the state human rights watchdog showed Thursday. The survey, which was conducted on 379 migrant workers who are currently working in the country or have worked here for over a year, also showed the average number of times wages were overdue was 1.09, according to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. By amount, 34.4 percent of the respondents said they were due between 1 million won and 3 million

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

[Bridge to Africa] Africa, new gateway for Korean trade: envoys

Africa's economic potential, driven by a youthful population and a growing awareness of South Korean products, makes the continent a new gateway for the trade expansion of Asia's fourth-largest economy, said South Korean envoys to African countries in Seoul on Thursday, highlighting that the continent also holds significance as a platform for South Korea's diplomatic ambition to become a globally pivotal state. "Africa is not just a choice for us but a must-do," South Ko

Foreign AffairsApril 25, 2024

Lee Jun-seok hints at presidential run

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the minor conservative New Reform Party, hinted on Thursday at a future run for president of South Korea, though “he has a lot to learn before he gets there.” The 39-year-old politician, who was elected in the April 10 parliamentary elections to represent a constituency in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, did not rule out the possibility when asked whether he has plans to run for president during a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Clu

PoliticsApril 25, 2024

Seoul to promote luxurious side of the city

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that the city is now setting its sights on the global luxury tourism market and is preparing strategies to become one of the world's best luxury holiday destinations. Luxury, or high-end, tourism refers to a style of travel associated with top-quality service throughout the trip. It is about more than just luxury hotels and first-class air travel. It now means visiting extraordinary destinations and enjoying authentic and unique experienc

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

S. Korea-US alliance won’t be swayed by US election outcomes: envoy

Cho Hyun-dong, South Korea's ambassador to the United States, said on Thursday that the current trajectory of the South Korea-US alliance, which has grown increasingly institutionalized, will not be swayed by US presidential election results. "One thing I can say for certain is that the axis of the Korea-US alliance is stronger than ever before, unparalleled by any previous period," Cho said during a press briefing held in Seoul. Cho underscored that the alliance "has already

Foreign AffairsApril 25, 2024

Doctor gets suspended term for administering propofol to Yoo Ah-in

A doctor accused of illegally administering propofol for disgraced actor Yoo Ah-in and himself was sentenced to a prison term of one year and two months, suspended for two years, by a local court on Thursday. The Seoul Central District Court found the defendant surnamed Shin guilty of violating the Narcotics Control Act. It also ordered that he forfeit 270,000 won ($200) and undergo a 40-hour drug treatment program. The defendant is accused of administering propofol for Yoo on 17 occasions from

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Girl picks up pile of cash, helps return it to owner

The National Police Agency on Wednesday shared on its official YouTube page a video of a teenage girl who came across a pile of cash and helped return it to the owner. In the surveillance camera footage, a man was shown dropping 1.22 million won ($890) in cash while riding a bicycle in Hadong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, on Feb. 27. A few moments later, a young girl came by and stopped in her tracks. She took out a phone to take a photo of the money, after which she picked up the bills. The

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Over 1,000 teens arrested for online gambling

More than 1,000 teenagers, including two elementary school children, were arrested during a six-month crackdown on online gambling among young people, officials said Thursday. The National Office of Investigation announced that it had apprehended 2,925 individuals, including 1,035 teenagers, in a bust initiated in September last year. Among them, 75 adults were formally arrested while 566 teens have been sent to counseling centers. During the crackdown, 61.9 billion won ($45 million) was confisc

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Medical reform committee kicks off despite boycott from doctors

A pan-national consultative group was launched Thursday to open a dialogue for South Korea’s medical reform but without doctors attending as they protest the government’s plan to expand the medical student quota by 2,000. The chair of the special presidential committee Noh Yun-hong who heads the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, said the newly launched group will focus on long-term tasks such as improving working conditions for junior doctors and physicia

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Drone light shows over Han River in Seoul to begin Saturday

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that the Hangang Drone Light Show 2024 along the Han River would begin on Saturday. Five such shows have been planned for the first half of this year, following those held last year. In the second half of this year, five drone shows will be held from September to October, according to the city government. The drone light show will take place at the waterfront stage in Jamsil Hangang Park for 15 minutes at 8 p.m., starting April 27 and during Seoul

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

S. Korean patrol vessel to be transferred to Ecuador

The Korea Coast Guard announced that it will transfer a 3,000-ton patrol vessel to Ecuador after signing a memorandum of understanding with its defense minister on Thursday. According to the Coast Guard, Ecuadorian Defense Minister Giancarlo Loffredo signed the memorandum with the KCG to transfer the decommissioned patrol vessel -- the KCG3001 -- and visited the vessel mounted in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, to review the handover process. The KCG3001 was the first 3,000-ton patrol vessel used

Foreign AffairsApril 25, 2024

Over 9,000 hotline calls made by stalking victims in 2023

The number of calls made by stalking victims to the state-run women's counseling hotline jumped more than three-fold over the past three years, government data showed. A total of 9,017 cases of over-the-phone counseling were provided by the 1366 emergency counseling service, according to a joint report by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the ministry-affiliated Women's Human Rights Institute of Korea. The figure has increased exponentially, having recorded 2,710 in 2021. The emerge

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Man who stabbed fiance 191 times to death gets 23 years in jail

A 23-year prison term has been confirmed for a South Korean man who killed his fiance by stabbing her 191 times, after the defendant did not appeal until the deadline Wednesday. The sentence was issued by the Chuncheon branch of the Seoul High Court last week. The 28-year-old defendant, surnamed Ryu, had until Wednesday to file an appeal. The prosecution, which initially requested a 25-year prison term for Ryu, did not appeal either, resulting in the sentence being confirmed. Ryu was convicted o

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

Yoon deserves Nobel Peace Prize for resolving historical issues with Japan: Campbell

Kurt Campbell, deputy secretary of state for the United States, lauded President Yoon Suk Yeol's effort to settle the historical conflicts with Japan and mend bilateral ties, which paved the way for the three-way relationship of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo as enshrined in the Camp David summit in August. Campbell, formerly the White House's top Asia aide in the Joe Biden administration, stressed the role of Yoon and Kishida in overcoming the plight of Japan's atrocities toward Sou

PoliticsApril 25, 2024

H.eco Forum 2024

Herald Corp., proudly presents the anticipated H.eco Forum 2024, slated to take place on May 22 at Seoul’s Some Sevit. The forum convenes under the theme “The Transition: Blue, Clean, and Green,” aiming to foster discussions on energy transition for sustainable growth. Maria Castillo Fernandez, ambassador of the EU to the Republic of Korea, will focus on the EU’s clean energy transition toward climate neutrality and global partnership. Nobuo Tanaka, executive director eme

Social AffairsApril 25, 2024

N. Korea warns of 'practical actions' over US seeking new mechanism to monitor sanctions

North Korea on Thursday decried the United States over efforts to build a new mechanism for the monitoring of sanctions enforcement against the North and warned of "powerful practical actions" to build up its military strength. The US has pledged to work with South Korea and other countries to establish an alternative with the mandate of a UN expert panel monitoring sanctions enforcement that's set to expire at the end of April following Russia's veto to extend it last month.

North KoreaApril 25, 2024