Young civil servants dislike treating seniors to meals: survey

Nearly 70 percent of government workers dislike a long-standing custom in their workplaces that encourages lower-level officials to occasionally treat their superiors to a meal. Some 75.7 percent of respondents said they were aware of the tradition, according to a survey of 12,526 government officials across the country conducted by Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Nearly half -- 44 percent -- had experienced the custom within the past year. But the survey sh

Social AffairsOct. 7, 2024

One dead, three injured in wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on Gyeongin Expressway

One person was killed and three others were injured in a multi-vehicle collision caused by a driver going the wrong way on the Gyeongin Expressway early Monday morning. According to the Incheon Metropolitan Police and Incheon Fire Department, the crash occurred at 5:20 a.m. at the Bupyeong Interchange in Incheon, when a Chinese woman in her 40s drove her compact car onto the exit ramp in the wrong direction and collided with a van while attempting to merge onto the main highway. The collision ca

Social AffairsOct. 7, 2024

Yoon, Marcos agree to upgrade military, infrastructure, nuclear ties

MANILA, Philippines -- President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed on South Korea's greater participation in the Southeast Asian country's bid to boost military readiness, build infrastructure and introduce nuclear energy, according to Yoon's office on Monday. During the bilateral meeting of Yoon and Marcos, Seoul and Manila elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership. The declaration will "open a new chapter of our partnership,"

PoliticsOct. 7, 2024

38 Koreans murdered in Philippines since 2015: report

More South Koreans were murdered in the Philippines than in any other Asia-Pacific nation from 2015 to June, according to government data released Monday. A total of 86 South Koreans were murdered in the region -- excluding Korea -- according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs data submitted to Rep. Kim Yeong-bae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Thirty-eight Koreans were killed in the Philippines, far surpassing the second-highest count of 13 that were murdered in Japan. China

Social AffairsOct. 7, 2024

What divorcees want in new marriage: money and 'vigor in life'

The primary goals for South Korean divorcees when they remarry include economic stability and a chance to revitalize their lives, a recent survey by a local matchmaker showed. Only-You, a matchmaking firm dealing exclusively with divorcees, conducted a survey of 258 men and 258 women to find out what they are looking for most in starting a life with a new spouse. Of the women, 35.3 percent said they hoped to improve their financial situation, while 25.2 percent said they were looking for stabi

Social AffairsOct. 7, 2024

NK resumes trash balloon campaign, 25th launch this year

North Korea sent yet another fleet of garbage-filled balloons southward early Monday, marking the 25th such provocation this year and potentially adding to the property damage and injuries the balloons have caused already. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the balloons, presumed to be filled with trash, are projected to move toward the greater Seoul area, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. The JCS advised citizens not to approach the balloons and warned of potential danger when they fall to the gr

North KoreaOct. 7, 2024

Ex-president's daughter investigated for drunk driving accident

The daughter of previous President Moon Jae-in has come under investigation by police concerning a drunk driving accident, which has sparked criticism from the conservative bloc against the liberal president that had called driving under the influence of alcohol "an action that amounts to murder." Seoul Yongsan Police Station said that 40-year-old Moon Da-hye drove her car into a taxi at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday in Itaewon-dong, Seoul, while driving drunk. Moon's blood alcohol co

Social AffairsOct. 7, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Protecting small retailers, boosting recycling

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Income Tax Act Proposed by Rep. Lim Kwang-hyun (Democratic Party of Korea) ● To prevent a contraction in the domestic stock market with the implementation of the financial investment income tax in 2025, this amendment proposes increasing the basic deduction for financial investment income tax from 50 million won ($37,200) to 100 million won. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act Proposed by Rep. Oh Sae-hee (Democra

PoliticsOct. 7, 2024

Yoon's approval rating remains below 30% for 2nd straight week: Realmeter poll

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating inched up to 27.9 percent from a week earlier but remained below the 30 percent mark for the second consecutive week, a survey showed Monday. According to the survey by Realmeter and commissioned by a local news outlet, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance rose 2.1 percentage points from the previous week, when it recorded the lowest level in Realmeter surveys since he took office in 2022. The negative assessment of Yoon fell 2.7 perce

PoliticsOct. 7, 2024

N. Korea decries NATO's condemnation of its military cooperation with Russia

North Korea has denounced the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's condemnation of military cooperation between the North and Russia, warning that the entity could face "tragic consequences" if it continues to pursue an anti-North Korea stance. NATO issued a statement last week that condemns North Korea and Iran for "fueling" Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine with their direct military support to Moscow. North Korea's foreign ministry on Sunday denounc

Foreign AffairsOct. 7, 2024

Parliamentary inspection of govt., state agencies to kick off for 26-day run

The National Assembly is set to kick off its annual inspection of the government and state agencies Monday for a 26-day run. On the first day of the audit, 10 of the Assembly's 17 standing committees will hold inspection hearings to scrutinize the management of the central and regional governments as well as their agencies. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee will be among the 10 committe

PoliticsOct. 7, 2024

Yoon honors veterans of Korean War in trip to Philippines

President Yoon Suk Yeol began his state visit to the Philippines on Sunday by honoring fallen soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War and meeting with Korean nationals in the nation. Yoon visited the Korean War Memorial Pylon at the Heroes' Cemetery in Manila with first lady Kim Keon Hee on the first day of his two-day trip focused on strengthening economic and security ties. "South Korea and the Philippines have maintained close, friendly relations, and the Philippines was the first

PoliticsOct. 7, 2024

Govt. to grant conditional leave for medical students protesting medical school quota hike

The education ministry said on Sunday it will temporarily allow medical students to take a leave of absence on condition that they return to school next year. The decision follows Seoul National University's move late last month to approve leave of absence requests submitted en masse in protest of the government's medical reform plans, which include increasing medical school quotas. While reaffirming its stance that taking leave to show solidarity is not a valid reason, the ministry sa

Social AffairsOct. 6, 2024

First lady’s Dior bag scandal to be at center of Assembly audit

The wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol could once again take center stage during the yearly National Assembly audit over high-profile allegations that first surfaced late last year that she received a Dior bag during an encounter with a pastor in late 2022. The Democratic Party of Korea has warned it would make “the Dior bag scandal” and other allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee the main theme of its audit efforts. The main opposition floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said in a

PoliticsOct. 6, 2024

[Exclusive] Korea’s defense acquisition agency fails to meet legal standard for women representation

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration is falling behind legal standards for gender equality in all of its policy committees, according to agency data seen by The Korea Herald. According to the data submitted to Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Boo Seung-chan’s office, two of the agency’s three committees -- the committees for defense acquisition program promotion and airworthiness certificate review -- had no women in 2023. In the same year, the committee for d

DefenseOct. 6, 2024

Seoul Fireworks Festival ends smoothly, but leaves piles of trash

The Seoul Fireworks Festival, which organizers said attracted around 1 million people, concluded without major disruptions Saturday night. However, the large amounts of trash left behind by visitors cast a shadow over the event. Yeouido Hangang Park was packed with families, friends and couples from early morning as they secured prime spots for the fireworks show, which began at 7 p.m. There were no significant incidents during the festival or while people left afterward. Fire authorities report

Social AffairsOct. 6, 2024

Yoon set for talks with Marcos in Philippines

MANILA, The Philippines -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday arrived in the Philippines for a state visit, as part of a weeklong trip to three Southeast Asian countries that will culminate in the ASEAN summit later this week. Yoon is the first South Korean leader to make a state visit to the Philippines in 13 years. Upon arrival at Manila, the Philippine capital, Yoon attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon at the Heroes' Cemetery in Manila, in memory of the 112 F

PoliticsOct. 6, 2024

Seoul revises pilot program for Filipina domestic workers after initial trial

Seoul revises pilot program for Filipina domestic workers after initial trial The Seoul city government said Sunday it has revised its pilot program for providing Filipina domestic workers to households, following about a month of the program's implementation. The revisions, made during meetings between the labor ministry and other relevant parties, will take effect this month to address issues that arose during the initial phase of the program, such as some workers leaving their workplaces

Social AffairsOct. 6, 2024

N. Korea to hold parliamentary meeting to amend constitution, remove unification provisions

North Korea is set to convene a key parliamentary meeting on Monday, where it is expected to revise its constitution by removing unification-related clauses and clarifying the nation's territorial boundaries, including the maritime border. The 11th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) is anticipated to address these revisions, nine months after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un redefined inter-Korean relations as being between "two hostile states" and vowed to no

North KoreaOct. 6, 2024

N. Korea's Kim, China's Xi exchange messages marking 75 years of relations

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to further develop relations between the two countries as they exchanged messages marking the 75th anniversary of relations, state media reported Sunday. Kim said in the message to Xi that it aligns "with the fundamental interests of the two countries to invariably carry forward and develop the DPRK-China friendship with a long history and good traditions," according to the Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands

North KoreaOct. 6, 2024