Will Korean seafood be safe after Japan dumps Fukushima wastewater?

Concerns are growing among South Koreans over the safety of seafood ahead of Japan's release of wastewater from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean over the course of 30 years, despite “scientific” assessments which indicate that seafood consumed by Koreans has been, and will continue to be, safe. Some consumers have already started to hoard goods like sea salt out of fear that clean marine products might no longer be available, upon news that the contami

June 19, 2023

Over half of thefts at staffless stores committed by teens: data

Along with the increasing number of self-service stores, related crimes, including theft and vandalism, have become rampant in recent years with the majority of cases involving teenagers, a report showed Monday. According to a report titled “A Study on Crimes at Unmanned Stores and Countermeasures,” published by the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, a total of 1,640 shoplifting incidents took place in Seoul from September 2020 to January 2022, which indicates that 96 cases

June 19, 2023

Online secondhand market scam uncovers web of illegal activity

The bust of a routine scam on a popular secondhand marketplace platform in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province has led to the additional arrest of a previous unlawful user of cannabis, and uncovered in the process a complex web of illegal activity. On March 9, a fraud report was first made at Cheonan's Seobuk Police Station. In the report, a buyer claimed they were defrauded after trying to purchase vouchers for Seoul Pay — a mobile payment service run by the Seoul Metropolitan Govern

June 19, 2023

Police nab more than 60 foreigners on drug, illegal stay charges

More than 60 foreigners have been nabbed in North Gyeongsang Province on charges related to drug abuse and illegally staying in the country, local police said Sunday. The police agency in the southeastern province said they carried out a special crackdown on neighborhoods with large numbers of foreign workers and apprehended 68 people, including 27 who were arrested on charges of distributing and using drugs. The suspects include 43 Thai nationals and two South Korean nationals, who are suspecte

June 18, 2023

Seoul gets first heat wave advisory this year

The hot weather is expected to begin in earnest, with Korea's weather forecaster on Sunday issuing the first heat wave advisory of the year throughout Seoul and eastern Gyeonggi Province. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heat wave advisory for all parts of Seoul and eastern Gyeonggi Province on 11 a.m. on Sunday. The warning is issued when the daily maximum sensory temperature is expected to be over 33 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days. The Seoul Metropolita

June 18, 2023

Chinese authorities arrest S. Korea midfielder Son Jun-ho

Chinese public security authorities have placed South Korean midfielder Son Jun-ho under formal arrest on suspicion of having taken a bribe, following the expiration of his detention period, local media outlets reported on Sunday, citing a source familiar with the case. The midfielder, who played at last year’s FIFA World Cup, and plays for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League, has been detained in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning since mid-May on bribery charges. &q

June 18, 2023

Youth unemployment soars as young opt for break instead of job seeking

The number of young people taking time off without seeking jobs or studying is on the rise, official statistics showed Sunday, as Korea struggles to tackle the world's lowest birth rate and a rapidly aging society. The number of employed people in their 20s declined 63,000 year-on-year in May to reach 3.83 million, marking a consecutive seven-month slump since November last year, according to Statistics Korea. The number of unemployed individuals also decreased by 67,000 compared to the p

June 18, 2023

Daegu mayor blasts police chief over Pride parade

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has urged for the dismissal of the city's top police official for what he labeled giving "unlawful" permission to the city's Pride parade, where some 1,500 participants celebrated in the city's downtown on Saturday and advocated for the rights and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. "Permission to assemble does not translate into permission to violate others' rights," Hong, the conservative m

June 18, 2023

Private education for infants, preschoolers surges in South Korea

In South Korea, which is renowned for its fervent pursuit of education, the number of parents opting for private education for their infants and preschool children is rapidly increasing, data showed Sunday. According to the Korea Institute of Child Care & Education, a survey conducted last year among parents of 2,393 infants and preschool children aged 0 to 6, revealed that 21.9 percent of respondents provided private education to their children within the past three months. This figure re

June 18, 2023

Daegu's police, government authorities clash over annual queer festival

Police officers and local government officials engaged in an unprecedented clash just hours before an annual queer festival in the southeastern city of Daegu on Saturday. The tension between the two sides was palpable as they converged upon the bustling shopping district of Dongseongno early in the morning, with one side attempting to prevent the festival organizers from illegally occupying roads, while the other worked to ensure the safety of the "legitimate" rally. A massive contin

June 17, 2023

[Weekender] A guide to surviving ‘jangma’ this summer

South Korea is expected to see more precipitation this summer. With “jangma,” or the monsoon season, just around the corner, concerns have been growing fast not just because of the possibility of heavy rainfall ruining the hard-earned summer holidays but because of lessons learned from last year. The country was deluged with severely heavy rains last year, leaving nine dead, hundreds in Seoul displaced and over 2,800 buildings damaged. This year, experts advise not to panic, even if

June 17, 2023

Power outage causes train delays around Seoul

Operations of some trains, including KTX bullet trains, were being delayed due to an electricity outage on a railway line connecting Seoul with satellite cities north of the capital, according to reports quoting authorities on Friday afternoon. The electricity supply on the Seoul-bound track was abruptly cut off at 12:35 p.m., according to the Korea Railroad Corp. As the train operator blocked the affected track, the schedules of some KTX and regular trains that depart from Goyang, Gyeonggi Prov

June 16, 2023

More than 70 middle school students injured on way back from school trip

More than 70 middle school students on four buses were injured in a rear-end collision as they were returning from a school trip in Gangwon Province on Friday, according to reports. After the accident, those who sustained serious injuries were taken to nearby hospitals. The buses were involved in a collision with three trucks and a sedan on an interchange in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, police said. The police said the driver of one of the school buses was falling asleep while driving.

June 16, 2023

Gator sighting jolts idyllic town; search continues for 3rd day

The search continues for a purported alligator in an otherwise idyllic village in the southern city of Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, after five people reported sightings of the reptile in a slow-moving stream that encircles the rural town. Despite having found no trace of a reptile, the city is not letting its guard down as of Friday, with four officials dispatched to monitor the vicinity of the purported sighting. It also plans to conduct a drone search of the area, officials said. &ldquo

June 16, 2023

Seoul on high alert as some 300,000 expected at BTS Festa on Saturday

Prime Minister Han Duk-soo ordered thorough safety measures to prevent possible accidents as a massive gathering is expected in the heart of the city on Saturday evening to celebrate the 10 anniversary of popular K-pop boy group BTS. The event, which is set to be held at the Han River Park in Yeouido, celebrates the debut of the global sensation 10 years ago, as part of a two-week-long city-wide event. "The event is expected to see a large number of people gathering at the same time, and th

June 16, 2023

Mother sentenced to 7 1/2 yrs for concealing dead infant in container

A woman indicted for keeping the body of her dead infant daughter in a plastic container for three years to hide her death with the help of her former husband was given a prison sentence of seven years and six months by a court, Thursday. The Uijeongbu District Court in Uijeongbu, just north of Seoul, also sentenced the former husband, surnamed Choi, 30, to an imprisonment of two years and four months. The 35-year-old woman, surnamed Seo, and Choi were arrested late last year for abandoning and

June 15, 2023

FSS chief vows to speed up probe into alleged stock manipulation case

The financial watchdog will speed up its investigation into the alleged stock manipulation case amid investors' cry over unfair trading. Shares in five companies -- Dongil Industries Co., Manho Rope & Wire Ltd., Pangrim Co., Taihan Textile Co. and Dongil Metal Co. -- plunged by a daily-permissible 30 percent Wednesday, prompting the country's bourse operator, the Korea Exchange, to suspend their trading starting Thursday. The stock plunge came amid investors' woes over stock m

June 15, 2023

Visually impaired lawmaker's passionate speech unites National Assembly

South Korea’s National Assembly erupted in an applause in a rare, unifying moment on Wednesday, as a visually impaired lawmaker, accompanied by her guide dog, gave a passionate speech on disability rights. Rep. Kim Yea-ji of the ruling People Power Party took the podium on the last day of the government interpellation session, with Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon in attendance to answer her questions. She said crimes against the disabled are not properly dealt with in Korea’s justice

June 15, 2023

Woman gets 2 1/2 years prison for bomb threat

A local court sentenced a woman in her 40s to 2 1/2 years in prison for making false reports that she had planted a bomb at a court office building. The Cheongju District Court convicted the woman on Thursday, finding her guilty of obstruction of justice and attempted fraud. According to the court, the woman made the report in 2022, claiming that she had installed an explosive device at the court office building. According to reports, as a result of her false claim over 400 court employees and c

June 15, 2023

Seoul starts daily press briefings to address Fukushima fears

A daily briefing by the Seoul government on Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea will be held to address fears over the toxicity and impact to marine life, officials said Thursday. Government officials held their first briefing on Thursday over some 1.3 million cubic meters of water set to be released from the wrecked Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. The briefing, also attended by independent experts, will take place on weekdays for the time being. A spokesperson dec

June 15, 2023