1 killed, 9 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion

One person has been killed and nine others injured in an explosion at a refinery run by South Korean oil refiner S-Oil Corp. in the country's southwest, firefighters said Friday. The deceased was a subcontractor who was among the 10 others doing repair work at the alkylation processing line in the refinery in Ulsan, about 415 kilometers southwest of Seoul, when the blast occurred at 8:52 p.m. Thursday. The nine others sustained injuries, mostly severe or minor burns. They were all sent to a

May 20, 2022

Ministry to work on new deposit system for single-use cups

The Ministry of Environment said Thursday it will announce more details on the new deposit refund scheme for single-use cups to ease the burden on small-business owners. From June 10, franchise cafes, bakeries and fast-food franchises with more than 100 branches have to charge a 300 won (24 cent) deposit per single-use cup to customers. The ministry said it would help businesses adapt to the new rules, after some franchisees complained about it being a burden. “We empathize with th

May 19, 2022

[H.Eco Forum] ‘Rising sea levels can bring biggest displacement of mankind’

In the past decades, global warming has gained much awareness, prompting the international society to look for solutions, but rising sea levels, one of the consequences, has often been overlooked, renowned photojournalist Kadir van Lohuizen said. People should understand the seriousness of rising sea levels around the world and act fast, as it could bring “the biggest displacement of mankind in history,” van Lohuizen said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “(Rising sea l

May 19, 2022

Mother under investigation for drowning newborn baby in toilet

A mother who has been accused of drowning her newborn baby in a toilet has been referred to public prosecution. Pyeongtaek Police Station in Gyeonggi Province handed over the case to the prosecution, with the woman in her 20s as a suspect of murder and abandonment of the body. She was suspected of killing a baby she gave birth to at her house in Pyeongtaek on May 11. It is suspected that the woman drowned the infant in the toilet and then buried the body in a nearby mountain. The crim

May 19, 2022

7 in 10 job seekers willing to work at startup: survey

Over 70 percent of job seekers in South Korea said they were willing to get a position at a startup company, a survey showed Thursday. According to online recruiting platform JobKorea’s survey of 1,063 workers and job seekers, the most-selected reason for expressing a willingness to work at a startup was their growth potential, with 52.9 percent. Respondents could pick more than one reason, and 35 percent said they believed working at a startup would provide many learning opportunities,

May 19, 2022

This is what balconies are for

A typical Korean apartment unit comes with an enclosed balcony that is attached to the living room or the master’s room.  This semi-outdoor space serves many purposes. It can be a laundry yard, a storage space for all your odds and ends, as well as a fire escape. However, it is often the most underused area in a Korean home and many households choose to get rid of it for extended indoor space.  In the past few years, as a deadly virus forced many to stay indoors, a new tre

May 19, 2022

New COVID-19 cases fall to 28,000s as omicron wave ebbs

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to around 28,000 on Thursday, continuing the modest decline as the omicron spread has been slowing for weeks. The country added 28,130 new COVID-19 infections, including 15 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,889,849, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Thursday's tally marks a further fall from 31,352 and 35,117 counted for Tuesday and Monday, respectively. Daily infection numbers have stayed in the 10,0

May 19, 2022

Patients fear losing COVID-19 coverage with emergency about to end

Patients in South Korea may soon lose government coverage for medical bills, with the “trial period” for a Moon Jae-in-era change in COVID-19’s legal status due to expire at the end of this week. On April 25, the Moon administration downgraded COVID-19’s level of public health hazard within Korea’s classification of infectious diseases, thereby removing the legal framework for the government to cover medical costs while a patient is under isolation. Families of

May 18, 2022

S. Korea to decide whether to lift 7-day quarantine mandate on Friday

The South Korean government announced Wednesday that it would decide whether to end the country’s seven-day quarantine mandate for COVID-19 patients on Friday, which would mark another major step towards the next phase of its post-pandemic plan. If the mandate is lifted, people who are infected with COVID-19 would no longer have to quarantine. COVID-19 patients will also be responsible for their own medical costs treating COVID-19. “South Korea is stepping towards normal,”

May 18, 2022

[H.Eco Forum] Protecting the oceans and tackling climate change ‘go hand in hand’

Protecting the ocean environment is more important than people usually think, according to Nam Sung-hyun, a School of Earth and Environmental Sciences professor at Seoul National University.　 Nam said the oceans work as massive carbon sinks and also absorb most of the solar energy reaching the Earth. Protecting the oceans and marine ecosystems is thus intimately involved in maintaining the Earth’s climate change resilience, Nam said in an email interview with The Korea Herald. “Mo

May 18, 2022

[Newsmaker] Cryptocurrency crashes take a mental toll on young investors

“Where did all the posts about Luna go? Have you guys all gone to Han River?” This anonymous comment on the Bitcoin section of online community DCinside captures the depressing mood of online cryptocurrency communities in recent days. The crash of Korean-made cryptocurrency terraUSD, also known as UST, and its sister token luna, has made headlines around the world as its impact was felt in the global cryptocurrency market. “Going to Han River” – a rather dark p

May 18, 2022

More global efforts are needed for sustainable water, Henk Ovink says

Henk Ovink, a flood expert and special envoy from the Netherlands to the United Nations, says investment in water projects must be scaled up, as population growth and economic development adds to water-related challenges. “No matter where in the world, water is life -- it helps build a better future and inform sustainable actions, and it helps bring us together,” Ovink said in a written interview with The Korea Herald. Ovink said three water-related challenges - scarcity, pollu

May 18, 2022

Korea Quiz (3) Spoon theory

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.  Answer: b Spoon theory is a euphemism used to describe a person’s family background, usually related to financial situation and social influence, by comparing it to spoons made of different materials. The phrase is derived from the English expression “born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth,” and the most common use is referring to a person of a wealthy

May 18, 2022

My homework is your work: Students seeking shortcut

* From waking up a dozing student to tidying up graves, online advertisements with unusual but real job descriptions offer a peek into the Korean society. The Korea Herald looks at some of these unusual ads. The following is the third installment. –- Ed. A job ad that still exists on the hyperlocal community app Karrot Market is from a person searching for someone to do his or her homework assignment about “algorithm in computer engineering.” “I think I’ll be ask

May 18, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases above 30,000 for 2nd day amid omicron slowdown

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases stayed above 30,000 for the second straight day Wednesday on a continued omicron slowdown as officials weigh a further easing of virus curbs toward returning to pre-pandemic normalcy. The country reported 31,352 new COVID-19 infections, including 35 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,861,744, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Wednesday's tally is down from the 35,117 reported the previous day. South Korea has pos

May 18, 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

May 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

May 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

May 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

May 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

May 17, 2022