‘Hangang River,’ not 'Han River': Seoul city

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated on Tuesday that the correct English name for the river running through the capital city, commonly referred to as the “Han River,” is the “Hangang River.” The recent announcement comes as the city government aims to address the ongoing confusion caused by the mixed usage of both terms. Known as Hangang in Korean -- "gang" meaning "river" -- the 508-kilometer-long waterway is a major national landmark and a popula

Nov. 19, 2024

Seoul Metro union to strike on Dec. 6

The main labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates subway Line Nos. 1 through 8 said Tuesday that it will launch a full-scale strike on Dec. 6 if a deal with the company cannot be reached. The move comes after more than 70 percent of the Seoul Transit Corp. Labor Union members, the union representing about 60 percent of the Seoul Metro workforce, voted this month in favor of a strike to demand better working conditions, including a wage increase of more than 2.5 percent. The unionized workers,

Nov. 19, 2024

[Out of the Shadows] Drug addiction is illness, not moral failing, experts say

Drug addiction is a thorny public health issue in South Korea that should be seen as an illness rather than a moral failing, according to experts, calling for a more supportive environment that helps those rebuilding their lives from substance use disorder. Referring to drug addiction as a "chronic disease," Kwak Young-sook, the president of the National Center for Mental Health, stressed that drug-related issues are a growing public health challenge that affects the entire community

Nov. 19, 2024

Man gets jail term for stalking ex-girlfriend, sending over 300 messages in 2 days

A Seoul court on Monday sentenced a man to a one-year prison term for stalking his former girlfriend by leaving hundreds of unwanted messages and calls and visiting the victim's home and work. The Seoul Central District Court found the defendant guilty of violating the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking, which punishes stalking with up to three years in jail or a 30 million won ($21,500) fine. The defendant contacted the victim regularly against her wishes after they broke up in April

Nov. 19, 2024

Model claims she was forced to take drugs; police say she hasn't told them

South Korean model who has confessed drug use recently claimed that she was forced to take drugs by an unidentified businessperson, but police said she made no such claims during the investigation. Kim Na-jung, who recently returned from the Philippines after admitting online to having used drugs, posted on her Instagram page Monday a statement made by her lawyer. She claimed that a "young businessman born in 1995" met with her in the Philippines, tied her up and blindfolded her and fo

Nov. 19, 2024

8.3% of middle school students in Hwaseong used drugs: survey

Some 8.3 percent of middle school students in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province have used drugs, a survey by the state-run drug addiction center showed Monday. The Hwaseong Community Addiction Management Center conducted a survey between Aug. 28 and Sept. 27 of 2,450 middle school students in the city south of Seoul, which showed that 204 students of them said they have used substances defined as illegal drugs by the Narcotics Control Act. South Korea defines narcotics, cannabis and psychotropic subst

Nov. 19, 2024

Traveler endures invasive search at Daegu Airport after drug scanner error

A traveler was forced to undergo an invasive body search, including the removal of her sanitary pad, after a drug detection scanner at Daegu Airport falsely flagged her for carrying drugs. On Oct. 8, a woman in her 30s was traveling from the Philippines through Daegu Airport when an ion scanner at the checkpoint detected a high level of narcotics in her suitcase, which contained e-liquid for an electronic cigarette, according to Daegu Regional Customs on Monday. She told the customs officials th

Nov. 19, 2024

Ambulance employee fined for causing death of terminally ill patient

An employee of a privately run ambulance service has been fined for dropping a terminally ill patient and causing an injury to the head that ended up killing the patient. Seoul Central District Court found the 29-year-old employee guilty of death by negligence, for the death of the 85-year-old cancer patient in February. The patient, who had been given three months to live, was being taken home from a local hospital. The patient was dropped while being moved from the ambulance, resulting in ce

Nov. 19, 2024

DP leader indicted again over alleged misuse of public funds

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was indicted without detention Tuesday on charges of misappropriating funds when he was the governor of Gyeonggi Province including alleged misuse of corporate cards for personal benefit, the Suwon District Prosecutors Office said. The chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party was indicted, along with his former chief secretary, identified only by his surname Chung and another former Gyeonggi Province official Bae, all on charges of breach of trust. Lee is

Nov. 19, 2024

Telegram designates child protection officer to respond to sexually exploitative materials: S. Korean regulator

Telegram designates child protection officer to respond to sexually exploitative materials: S. Korean regulator The global messaging service Telegram has designated an officer in charge of protecting underage users from illicit content amid criticism over its passive response against sexually exploitative materials circulating on the platform, South Korea's media regulator said Tuesday. The Korea Communications Commission said Telegram made the designation and set up an email account as a h

Nov. 19, 2024

[Graphic News] Most firms favor raising retirement age

A recent survey by online recruiter Saramin showed that 8 out of 10 companies favor raising companies' retirement age. Conducted among 461 firms, 79.8 percent of respondents were in favor of raising the retirement age, with an average ideal age of 65.7 years. Over half of those surveyed, 57.9 percent, saw age 65 as optimal retirement age, citing the value of retaining experienced employees. Furthermore, 52.9 percent indicated openness to hiring workers in their 50s and 60s, to benefit fro

Nov. 19, 2024

S. Korea reports season's 3rd avian influenza case

South Korea has confirmed the season's third case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm west of Seoul, a provincial government said Monday. The case was reported at the chicken farm in Incheon's Ganghwa County, 51 kilometers west of Seoul. Authorities culled over 15,000 chickens at the farm, and plan to slaughter an additional 17,000 chickens raised at nearby farms. The latest case follows Korea's confirmation of the season's second highly pathogenic AI case

Nov. 18, 2024

Oh Hee-ok, last female Korean independence fighter, dies at 98

At South Korea's 72nd annual national liberation day ceremony on Aug. 15, 2017, the usual formalities of the occasion gave way to an unexpected moment. As the then-President Moon Jae-in and other officials rose for the national anthem, a small, elderly woman took the stage alone. In a voice that was thin and trembling but remarkably clear, she began to sing Korea's national anthem to the melody of "Auld Lang Syne." Her rendition echoed the defiant spirit of the colonial era,

Nov. 18, 2024

Korean man caught in Peru airport carrying 320 tarantulas

A 28-year-old Korean man was apprehended at Jorge Chavez International Airport near Lima during an apparent attempt to smuggle out hundreds of arthropods, including 320 tarantulas, on Nov. 8. According to Peru’s nature protection agency, the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), the man was carrying 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants, some of which were protected species. All of the creatures were native species of the Peruvian Amazon and were confirmed to have

Nov. 18, 2024

Korean livestreamer arrested in Thailand for attacking massage shop owner

A South Korean man was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand for allegedly assaulting a massage shop owner who objected to him livestreaming his visit, according to local media. The Bangkok Post reported on Thursday that the incident occurred earlier the same day at 12:36 a.m. at a massage shop in Bang Lamung district. The man had reportedly visited the shop several times and livestreamed without permission. The shop owner, 43, initially tolerated the man’s behavior, considering he was a tourist.

Nov. 18, 2024

Police persuade man not to jump off Han River bridge

A man in his 20s was talked out of jumping off a Han River bridge by Seoul police officers, Saturday, police said Monday. Seoul's Seocho Police Station at 8:50 p.m. on Saturday received a report from the man's friend that he appeared to have gone to the Han River alone after getting drunk. The police tracked his cell phone to find him standing near the southern end of the Banpo Bridge, and requested rescue authorities to install an air mattress beneath the concrete floors of the river

Nov. 18, 2024

Smart city expo calls for climate resilience in urban development

BARCELONA, Spain — Scholars, industry leaders and government officials gathered in Barcelona earlier this month to pursue a shared vision of sustainable urban development. The annual Smart City Expo World Congress, in its 14th edition, commenced its three-day run on Nov. 5. Hosted by the city of Barcelona and Fira Barcelona, the congress serves as a global hub for urban development that connects people and companies working to build better cities. Under the theme "Live Better," t

Nov. 18, 2024

Seoul mulls hiring foreign nationals as local bus drivers

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Monday that it is pushing to hire foreign nationals as bus drivers on local community routes as the city struggles to deal with a chronic manpower shortage in the transportation sector. The city government requested last month that the Office for Government Policy Coordination expand the E-9 visa program to include the transportation sector and to extend the employment period for E-9 visa holders from three to five years. Currently, E-9 visas are is

Nov. 18, 2024

Cold wave alerts issued, below-zero temperatures through Wed.

Most regions were issued cold wave alerts Monday as South Korea saw a 10-degree drop in average temperatures compared to the previous day, with the cold expected to continue into Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, most parts of Korea saw temperatures dip below freezing, with average morning temperatures reaching as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures ranging between 6 C to 13 C, which is 1 C to 3 C lower than previous years. With Seoul seeing mor

Nov. 18, 2024

Traffic delays expected as railway workers stage slowdown

Passengers in the capital region face potential disruptions on their commute, as unionized railroad workers begin a partial "work-to-rule" protest Monday, warning of a potential indefinite strike from next month. On the same day, the main labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates subway Line Nos. 1 through 8, said it had voted in favor of staging a strike to demand better working conditions, a move that could plague transport services in the capital area. The work-to-rule protest --

Nov. 18, 2024