Justice Minister returns from study trip on European immigration policies

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon returned to South Korea on Wednesday from his weeklong trip to France, the Netherlands and Germany to learn about their immigration policies aimed at multicultural integration. The justice ministry, which oversees immigration-related policies and tasks in Korea, will put great effort into preparing new immigration policies based on the discussions the minister had with representatives of these European immigration authorities. Han told his counterparts, "No

March 15, 2023

Middle schoolers indicted for livestreamed sexual abuse of classmate

Two middle school students were on Wednesday indicted for assault and sexual abuse of another middle school student in an incident that they livestreamed. Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday indicted a 16-year-old and a 15-year old, both of whom were in the ninth grade. The 16-year old boy, who is thought to have played the lead role in the incident, has been detained by authorities. The victim was reportedly sexually abused, with the suspects forcing him to undress and then sp

March 15, 2023

Language, safety education upgraded for people on E-9 visas

The Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday said it would improve provisions for foreign workers arriving on E-9 visas to help them settle in the country, including not only vocational training but also safety, language and cultural education. The E-9 visa category is for foreigners workers in "non-professional" jobs such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock industries. In addition to the current short-term vocational training, which takes about three days, t

March 15, 2023

[New Neighbors] S. Korea needs anti-discrimination law to be an open community for immigrants

This is the second installment of a series of features, analysis and interviews exploring the challenges faced by Koreans and foreigners in creating a more diverse society in South Korea rapidly shifting away from its homogenous past. – Ed. Immigrants are the only solution for South Korea’s looming demographic cliff, as the country faces an ultra-low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. But to turn this homogeneous society into an open community for immigrants, there must

March 15, 2023

Korea to get extra day off if Buddha's Birthday, Christmas fall on weekend

South Korean workers will enjoy an extra day off if either Buddha's Birthday or Christmas overlaps with a Saturday or Sunday following a law revision, the Ministry of Personnel Management announced Wednesday. A new revision of the "Regulations on Public Holidays of Government Offices" will be presented to the public Thursday, allowing for alternative public holidays following Buddha's Birthday or Christmas for the first time. Koreans celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Apri

March 15, 2023

[Newsmaker] Ex-president Chun Doo-hwan's grandson slams his family

A grandson of the late former President Chun Doo-hwan alleged that his family was living on illicit funds, has committed crimes and called his grandfather a “slaughterer,” in a shocking Instagram disclosure Tuesday. Chun Woo-won, the second son of the ex-president’s son, Jae-yong, uploaded video clips and posts on his Instagram account, in which he introduced himself as such and confessed the purported wrongdoings of his family. The posts included photos of his family, the in

March 15, 2023

Helicopter crashes in Gangwon Province

A civilian helicopter crashed on a hillside in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, at 7:46 a.m. on Wednesday. A pilot in his 60s and a power tower construction official in his 50s were on board, and both of them were found in a state of cardiac arrest. They were immediately sent to hospital, but did not survive. The helicopter reportedly took off from Gimpo International Airport Wednesday morning and was carrying materials for the construction of a transmission tower. Police presume that the helicopter

March 15, 2023

Korea to lift mask mandate for public transport Monday

South Korea will lift the mask mandate for public transportation from Monday, ending the COVID-19 preventative measure imposed since 2020, the government announced Wednesday. "The government will lift the mask mandate starting on March 20 additionally on public transportation, including the bus and subway," Vice Interior Minister Han Chang-seob said during a government COVID-19 response meeting. The types of public transportation where people are no longer required to wear masks incl

March 15, 2023

[Graphic News] Costs to eat out surge 10.8%

As the costs of eating out have continued to soar, the average prices of bibimbap and cold noodles have both exceeded 10,000 won ($7.70). In January this year, the average price of eight representative restaurant menu items in Seoul rose 10.8 percent compared to during the same period last year, according to the Korea Consumer Agency. In particular, jajangmyeon rose 13.9 percent from 5,769 won during the same month last year to 6,569 won, while bibimbap rose 8.8 percent to 10,000 won and naengmy

March 15, 2023

Major labor union raided, accused of espionage

Amid mounting controversy over the alleged connection between one of Korea's major national labor union umbrella organizations -- the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions -- and North Korea, police investigating illegal activities at construction sites raided three chapter offices that are under the umbrella organization, Tuesday. At around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police sent investigators to three local chapter offices of the KCTU's construction union, the Korean Con

March 14, 2023

Seoul City to build aerial gondola across Han River

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city government would build an aerial cable car connecting major leisure attractions and cultural sites on the banks of the Han River, while visiting London on Monday. Oh made the remark after touring the IFS Cloud cable car, which offers 360-degree views of London across the River Thames. Oh visited London as part of his 10-day trip to Europe, which aimed to look for policy ideas and to discuss ways to enhance international cooperation. Taking inspiration from Lo

March 14, 2023

Korea to reconsider proposals to extend workweek at peak season

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered Tuesday to reexamine a proposed plan to reform the 52-hour workweek, amid criticisms that the proposed revision has stopped short of reflecting the voices of younger generations. "Yoon ordered (the government) to reexamine the proposal itself and its communication with the public to seek improvements," Yoon's office said in a statement. The presidential office also ordered the government to take various employees’ opinions, especially among millenn

March 14, 2023

S. Korea sees dramatic surge in food poisoning cases this winter

The number of food poisoning cases involving raw oysters has surged dramatically this winter compared to last year. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday, a total of 524 cases of food poisoning due to raw oysters were reported between November 2022 and February 2023. This figure is an eightfold increase compared to the same period between 2021 and 2022, which only had 68 cases. Oysters are rich in minerals and vitamins but can be one of the main sources of the norovirus, w

March 14, 2023

[Herald Interview] Human interaction, relationships at the core of adult sex education: professor

A course called “Gender and Culture” at Sejong University has been attracting public interest for its mandatory dating assignment in which students are randomly paired with a classmate of the opposite sex to spend at least four hours together. The course came on the public radar when its teacher, professor Bae Jeong-weon of the humanities department, talked about the course on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block" in February. The course covers various theories on lo

March 14, 2023

W38m for 2 weeks: postpartum care prices in Korea surge

The number of postpartum care centers where new mothers are treated right after childbirth dropped sharply amid falling birth rates, but the cost of getting such care surged across the country, particularly in Seoul, data showed on Monday. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea had a total of 475 postpartum centers as of the first half of last year, a 20.5 percent decrease from 2017. However, the average cost rose 27.4 percent to 3.07 million won ($2,300) fr

March 13, 2023

137 indicted in probe of military evasion

South Korean prosecutors said Monday that they had indicted 137 people on charges of attempting to evade the country’s mandatory military service, including charges for those aiding such offenses, vowing it will beef up efforts to prevent these crimes from happening in future. Among those indicted were the sons of lawyers and doctors, musicians, actors, professional athletes, an entertainment agency chief, as well as a number of local military brokers who helped men attempt draft evasion,

March 13, 2023

‘No major difficulties’ in lifting mask rule on public transport, says top COVID official

There will be "no major difficulties” in lifting the rule to wear face masks on public transportation in the country, and a decision is likely after Wednesday, Jung Ki-suck, chief of the country’s COVID-19 response team said Monday. Speaking at a briefing Monday, Jung said that the matter of changing the mask mandate for public transportation into an “advisory” had been brought to the advisory board, and that most of the experts on the board agreed with the idea. &ld

March 13, 2023

Angry drunk indicted over police station, luxury car rampage

A man in his 50s has been indicted under detention on charges of damaging private and and public property. According to the Busan prosecutors’ office, the man used a hammer to damage windows and doors at a police outpost in Busan on Feb. 28. The suspect is reported to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time, and cited discord with the local police for his actions. The suspect, who has a history of causing public disturbance under the influence of alcohol, is also reported to h

March 13, 2023

[Newsmaker] Korean parents turn to foreign schools as alternative to 'Daechi hell'

Like many parents, the ultimate goal that Cho Mi-jin, a 47-year-old mother in Seoul, has in mind is for her children to enter a prestigious university. But she does not want her children to endure the intense competition and grueling years they would have to go through in public schools and private cram schools -- locally known as hagwon -- for that one common goal: admission to top universities through a high score on the Suneung, Korea's college entrance test. Instead, she has come up with her

March 13, 2023

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases fall to around 4,200 amid overall downtrend

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to around 4,200 on Monday amid the overall downturn of the infections, as the government is mulling further easing antivirus restrictions. The country reported 4,198 new coronavirus cases, including 12 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 30,638,929, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. It marked a decline from 9,342 cases reported Sunday and also a fall from the previous week's 4,295 cases. The country reported 12 deaths

March 13, 2023