Could Moon act as special envoy to North Korea?

US President Joe Biden’s plans to meet former South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his visit to Seoul this weekend, have raised eyebrows, as Moon no longer holds office. The schedule has prompted observers to speculate on the purpose of the meeting, with the possibility that Seoul and Washington are considering asking Moon to serve as an intermediary to North Korea among the most widely held expectations. Former Unification Minister Chung Se-hyun said Biden was meeting Moon for a

North KoreaMay 17, 2022

Bizarre poetry for ‘freedom of sexual harrassment’ by presidential secretary sparks furor

Presidential secretary Yoon Jae-soon has come under fire for poems he published in the past, including segments that seemingly romanticize sexual harassment. Yoon, secretary for administrative affairs for President Yoon Suk-yeol, published a poem 20 years ago titled “Inside a Subway Car” that said the subway was a place “where freedom of mischievous boys was guaranteed” and where “(boys) could push or touch voluptuous girls’ bodies.” The subheading is

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

‘Too late for vaccines to save North Korea’

The ongoing wave of omicron infections in North Korea could cause tens of thousands of deaths in the unvaccinated country, according to Dr. Oh Myoung-don, who heads the National Medical Center’s committee for clinical management of emerging infectious diseases. Speaking at a virtual forum organized by Seoul National University’s Institute for Health and Unification Studies on Monday, Oh estimated that the omicron death toll in North Korea could reach around 34,000 at the end of the

North KoreaMay 17, 2022

El Salvador and Korea should seek enhanced cooperation in digital ecosystem

El Salvador and South Korea should enhance cooperation in a digital ecosystem and prepare for the future, the Salvadoran ambassador and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young said in a meeting on Monday. During a visit to The Korea Herald on Monday, El Salvador Ambassador to South Korea Jaime Jose Lopez Badia, The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young and The Korea Herald Vice President Shin Yong-bae exchanged views on the need for developing businesses, a safety framework, a decentralized media pl

Diplomatic CircuitMay 17, 2022

Viral TikTok sparks debate about racism at nightclubs

A viral TikTok showing a physical altercation outside a Seoul club has sparked a debate over racism and xenophobia that some foreign nationals experience at nightlife venues in Korea. In the clip filmed and uploaded Sunday, Patrick Ramos -- an influencer also known as The Expat Pat -- is seen arguing with a bouncer outside the OWL Lounge club in Itaewon before the situation turned physical. “I was walking around looking for a snack and showing my TikTok audience. Then I passed an infamou

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

Seoul Mayor candidate Oh Se-hoon reveals his ambition for fifth term

Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul Mayor candidate of the ruling People Power Party, on Tuesday expressed hopes to win the upcoming mayoral election and extend his term further in four years time. Oh is currently seeking his fourth mayoral term. If elected in the June 1 local elections, Oh will become the first mayor of Seoul to serve a fourth term, and become the city’s longest-serving mayor. “The mayor position of Seoul is perhaps as equally important as a presidential term,” Oh said d

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

Yoon forges ahead with justice minister appointment against resistance

President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Han Dong-hoon as justice minister alongside former lawmaker Kim Hyun-sook as gender equality minister on Tuesday, forging ahead despite fierce resistance from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. The approval provoked an immediate backlash from opposition parties, heralding a bumpy road for the approval of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo, which requires a vote in the plenary session of the National Assembly. Shortly after the announcement, t

PoliticsMay 17, 2022

Poland ready to accommodate more Korean investments: charge d’affaires

Poland-Korea cooperation is flourishing and Poland is ready to accommodate more Korean investments, Polish Charge d’Affaires Arletta Brzozowska said during her opening remarks at the second edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on May 11 in Seoul. The forum, a 13-week event held every Wednesday, is aimed at sharing and enhancing knowledge of the international community, and for exploring overseas investment opportunities and expanding business networks. “Poland

Diplomatic CircuitMay 17, 2022

Quirks of Korean dating explained (2) Twinning outfits

They say love is universal, but when it comes to dating culture, Korea has a different love language, according to five international couples that The Korea Herald interviewed. From love ‘confessions’ to matching outfits, here are some dating norms that set Korea apart. The following is the second installment. – Ed.  In Korea, many young couples express their love through fashion -- by wearing matching outfits in public.  A search on Instagram with the hashtag &l

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

Tough road ahead for Yoon’s 59.4 trillion won extra budget plan

The National Assembly has started reviewing the 59.4 trillion won ($46.5 billion) supplementary budget proposal from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, with ruling and main opposition parties clashing over how much of the budget should be used to assist pandemic-hit small-business owners as promised. The debate between the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea comes down to whether the 9 trillion won proposed to pay back treasury bonds should be approved as

PoliticsMay 17, 2022

Kenya and Korea can engage in energy sector cooperation: Kenyan minister

Highlighting successful engineering, procurement and construction projects involving Korean firms in Kenya, Kenyan Energy Minister Monica Juma suggested more projects could follow in an interview with The Korea Herald on May 8. “I am here to explore experiences and lessons from Korea that will help Kenya’s path to ongoing energy reform,” said Juma, who oversees the Kenyan Energy Ministry’s efforts to provide sustainable and affordable services. Juma said Kenya Power -&

Diplomatic CircuitMay 17, 2022

Acting PM presides over Cabinet meeting

Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho presided over a Cabinet meeting Tuesday amid lingering uncertainties over the National Assembly's confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo. The opposition-controlled parliament has yet to endorse Han for the job of prime minister. In South Korea, the prime minister is the only Cabinet post that requires parliamentary approval. A parliamentary confirmation hearing committee of the DP has declared Han "unqualified,"

PoliticsMay 17, 2022

Police launch 1st forensic entomology lab to better harness insect science in criminal probes

South Korea's first forensic entomology lab opened Tuesday to better harness insect science in criminal investigations, police said. The Korea Forensic Entomology Lab began operations at the Korean Police Investigation Academy in Asan, about 87 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the police. Forensic entomology is the study of the application of insect science in criminal investigations, increasingly being used in determining the time of a victim's death in criminal cases. Based on

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

Biden considers DMZ trip during upcoming visit to S. Korea: sources

US President Joe Biden may visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas during his trip here later this week, as the allies are in consultations on his specific itinerary, informed sources said Tuesday. Biden is set to arrive in Seoul on Friday, the eve of his first summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol. The DMZ, the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, is among the key sites that Biden could visit during his three-day stay, according to the sources. The visit to the DMZ, if real

DefenseMay 17, 2022

Yoon says undecided on whether to appoint health minister nominee

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday he will continue to review whether to appoint Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young, who is accused of using his position to get his children into a medical school. Chung is one of the Cabinet nominees that have not been formally appointed, along with Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo, Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon and Gender Minister nominee Kim Hyun-sook, as the main opposition Democratic Party has objected to their appointments. Asked whether h

PoliticsMay 17, 2022

New COVID-19 cases around 35,000; govt .weighs further easing of virus curbs

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit a little over 35,000 on Tuesday, the lowest Tuesday tally in more than three months, reflecting the slowing virus trend amid efforts to restore pre-pandemic normalcy. The country reported 35,117 new COVID-19 infections, including 26 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,830,429, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest figure is a big jump from the previous day's 13,296, but daily numbers tend to fall over the weekend

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

S. Korea identifies remains of another Korean War soldier

South Korea has identified the remains of a South Korean soldier killed during the 1950-53 Korean War after their excavation from a battle site a decade ago, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The ministry's excavation team found the remains of Pfc. Kim Jong-sul in Pohang, 374 kilometers south of Seoul, in 2012. They were identified as his thanks to a DNA sample that his son had registered with the government. Born in Gimcheon, 234 kilometers south of Seoul, in 1926, Kim served in the Army&

DefenseMay 17, 2022

[Graphic News] Nearly 1 in 5 children in S. Korea ‘unhappy’: survey

　Nearly 1 in 5 children in South Korea said they are unhappy, citing pressure to do well at school as the biggest reason, a survey showed. 　According to the poll conducted by the Health Ministry and the National Center for the Rights of the Child, 81.4 percent of those surveyed said they are either “somewhat happy” or “very happy,” while 18.6 percent said they are “not very happy” or “not at all happy.” 　Of the children who said they are unhappy

NationalMay 17, 2022

These creators barely speak Korean. But they make money out of it.

Seven African men with muscular torsos wearing blue sweatpants stand facing the camera. In unison, they say, “Happy birthday, Ye-jin” in Korean.  In front of them, two men, also sporting the same look, hold a chalkboard with the same Korean line written on it.  After the birthday shout out, they all start dancing along to “GANADARA,” a song by Korean singer Jay Park.  This video message, posted on YouTube channel “World Surprise Video” last

Social AffairsMay 17, 2022

IPEF will help enhance economic ties with Indo-Pacific countries: White House

WASHINGTON -- The US-proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) will help further enhance the country's economic relations with countries in the region, a White House spokesperson said Monday. Karine Jean-Pierre also said the new economic framework will promote investment in green economy, which she said in turn will help level the playing field for workers and businesses here at home and in the Indo-Pacific region. The remarks come as President Joe Biden is set to travel to the region

Foreign AffairsMay 17, 2022