Fire at multi-unit home in Gwangju kills 1 man

A fire broke out early Tuesday morning in Gwangju, killing one man, local fire authorities said. According to the Gwangsan Fire Station, flames engulfed a multi-unit residential building around 4:32 a.m. The victim in his 50s was unable to escape and was found dead after the firefighters extinguished the fire at around 5:13 a.m. The victim was a resident of a first-floor unit of the building. A couple in their 60s inhaled smoke during the evacuation, but did not suffer any major injuries. The

Oct. 8, 2024

Prosecutors raid home of Namyang Dairy's ex-chairperson over alleged embezzlement

Prosecutors on Monday raided the residence of Namyang Dairy Products Co.'s former chairperson and the company's headquarters as part of an ongoing investigation into embezzlement allegations. Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office raided more than 10 locations, including former Chairman Hong Won-sik's home. In August, the company filed a complaint against Hong and three other former company officials, accusing them of allegedly embezzling company funds of

Oct. 7, 2024

Man killed by fellow hunter who mistook him for wild boar

A hunter in his 40s was shot and killed after being mistaken for a boar by another hunter in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, police said Monday. According to Yeoncheon Police, at 11:35 p.m. on Sunday, a man, who is also in his 40s, fired a rifle at what he thought was a wild boar. But the bullet struck the head of a fellow hunter, who was assisting as a spotter at the time. The victim was critically injured and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The two were part of a three-man huntin

Oct. 7, 2024

20 minors registered as CEOs making over 100 million won

Over the past five years, 20 minors have earned more than 100 million won ($74,119) a year as CEOs in South Korea, including a child under the age of five, government data showed Monday, highlighting concerns over possible inheritance tax loopholes. According to data from the National Health Insurance Service submitted to Rep. Jin Sun-mee of the main opposition Democratic Party Korea, there are 360 business owners that are under the age of 19 as of August 2024. The data covers only those registe

Oct. 7, 2024

No. of teens on 10 or more medications nearly triples in 4 years: data

The number of Korean teenagers taking 10 or more prescription medications for chronic conditions has more than tripled during the last four and half years, National Health Insurance Service data showed Monday. A total of 241 teenagers were found to be taking 10 or more types of medication for chronic conditions for at least 60 days during the first half of this year, according to the data cited by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party. This marks a 239.4 percent increase from 2019 wh

Oct. 7, 2024

Even elite professions split into haves and have-nots

Many young South Koreans dream of becoming lawyers, doctors or accountants, seeing the professions as a way to guarantee financial security and prestige. However, recent data from the National Tax Service reveals that the career prospects in these fields may not be as rosy as they seem. There are significant income disparities within these coveted professions, with the top 10 percent raking in up to 80 percent of the total income in certain fields. According to the data, made public Monday by Re

Oct. 7, 2024

Seoul’s income initiative boosts welfare exits, earned income

More people are leaving the city's welfare rolls while continuing recipients are earning higher incomes under the Seoul city government's Stepping Stone Income welfare initiative, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday. The city government hosted an international forum titled “Solutions for Alleviating Poverty and Income Disparity” on Monday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, bringing together experts in economics, social welfare and sociology to discuss the city

Oct. 7, 2024

Mutts strut alongside dog-loving Seoulites

Finding a moment of respite from their busy lives in the bustling city, some 2,500 pet owners and their 500 canine companions flocked to Sebitseom Banpo Han River in southern Seoul on Sunday to participate in the Slow Marathon with Pets. The marathon -- held under the inaugural Wellness Seoul 2024 event hosted by Herald Media Group, the publisher of The Korea Herald and Herald Business -- invited participants and their dogs to walk or jog leisurely side by side along the Han River. The event,

Oct. 7, 2024

Young civil servants dislike treating seniors to meals: survey

Nearly 70 percent of government workers dislike a long-standing custom in their workplaces that encourages lower-level officials to occasionally treat their superiors to a meal. Some 75.7 percent of respondents said they were aware of the tradition, according to a survey of 12,526 government officials across the country conducted by Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Nearly half -- 44 percent -- had experienced the custom within the past year. But the survey sh

Oct. 7, 2024

One dead, three injured in wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on Gyeongin Expressway

One person was killed and three others were injured in a multi-vehicle collision caused by a driver going the wrong way on the Gyeongin Expressway early Monday morning. According to the Incheon Metropolitan Police and Incheon Fire Department, the crash occurred at 5:20 a.m. at the Bupyeong Interchange in Incheon, when a Chinese woman in her 40s drove her compact car onto the exit ramp in the wrong direction and collided with a van while attempting to merge onto the main highway. The collision ca

Oct. 7, 2024

38 Koreans murdered in Philippines since 2015: report

More South Koreans were murdered in the Philippines than in any other Asia-Pacific nation from 2015 to June, according to government data released Monday. A total of 86 South Koreans were murdered in the region -- excluding Korea -- according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs data submitted to Rep. Kim Yeong-bae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Thirty-eight Koreans were killed in the Philippines, far surpassing the second-highest count of 13 that were murdered in Japan. China

Oct. 7, 2024

What divorcees want in new marriage: money and 'vigor in life'

The primary goals for South Korean divorcees when they remarry include economic stability and a chance to revitalize their lives, a recent survey by a local matchmaker showed. Only-You, a matchmaking firm dealing exclusively with divorcees, conducted a survey of 258 men and 258 women to find out what they are looking for most in starting a life with a new spouse. Of the women, 35.3 percent said they hoped to improve their financial situation, while 25.2 percent said they were looking for stabi

Oct. 7, 2024

Ex-president's daughter investigated for drunk driving accident

The daughter of previous President Moon Jae-in has come under investigation by police concerning a drunk driving accident, which has sparked criticism from the conservative bloc against the liberal president that had called driving under the influence of alcohol "an action that amounts to murder." Seoul Yongsan Police Station said that 40-year-old Moon Da-hye drove her car into a taxi at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday in Itaewon-dong, Seoul, while driving drunk. Moon's blood alcohol co

Oct. 7, 2024

Govt. to grant conditional leave for medical students protesting medical school quota hike

The education ministry said on Sunday it will temporarily allow medical students to take a leave of absence on condition that they return to school next year. The decision follows Seoul National University's move late last month to approve leave of absence requests submitted en masse in protest of the government's medical reform plans, which include increasing medical school quotas. While reaffirming its stance that taking leave to show solidarity is not a valid reason, the ministry sa

Oct. 6, 2024

Seoul Fireworks Festival ends smoothly, but leaves piles of trash

The Seoul Fireworks Festival, which organizers said attracted around 1 million people, concluded without major disruptions Saturday night. However, the large amounts of trash left behind by visitors cast a shadow over the event. Yeouido Hangang Park was packed with families, friends and couples from early morning as they secured prime spots for the fireworks show, which began at 7 p.m. There were no significant incidents during the festival or while people left afterward. Fire authorities report

Oct. 6, 2024

Seoul revises pilot program for Filipina domestic workers after initial trial

Seoul revises pilot program for Filipina domestic workers after initial trial The Seoul city government said Sunday it has revised its pilot program for providing Filipina domestic workers to households, following about a month of the program's implementation. The revisions, made during meetings between the labor ministry and other relevant parties, will take effect this month to address issues that arose during the initial phase of the program, such as some workers leaving their workplaces

Oct. 6, 2024

Firefighters’ 3,000 won meals spark nutrition concerns

The average budget for firefighters' meals has been found to be as low as 3,100 won ($2.33), sparking concerns over the quality and nutritional adequacy of their food. Data from the National Fire Agency, provided to Rep. Han Byung-do of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Friday, showed significant discrepancies in meal budgets across the country’s fire stations. In some areas, fire stations are left without the support of nutritionists, prompting further concerns about w

Oct. 5, 2024

60% of rain forecasts wrong during Seoul's rainy season

Nearly two-thirds of South Korea's weather agency's forecasts for Seoul during the rainy season this year were incorrect, data showed Thursday. Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the ruling People Power Party analyzed Korea Meteorological Administration's rain forecast for Seoul from June 29 to July 27, and compared it to the actual weather in the South Korean capital. The KMA predicted rain for 27 of the 29 days. Lim found that of the 27 days it was supposed to rain, forecasts for 16 of these

Oct. 5, 2024

Nearly 2 in 3 mothers give birth via cesarean section

Nearly two-thirds of Korean women who gave birth last year did so via cesarean section, data shows. According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, obtained and released Thursday by the ruling People Power Party Rep. Kim Mi-ae, the proportion of women undergoing surgical delivery stood at 64.2 percent last year. The data highlights a consistent rise in C-section deliveries over the past five years, from 51.1 percent in 2019 to 61.6 percent in 2022. The upward incline continued in

Oct. 5, 2024

'Will AI steal my job?' Koreans among nationalities feeling most threatened by AI

Local researchers conducted an analysis on a recent international survey about various social challenges, and found that South Koreans are among the people who are the most likely to feel that AI technology could threaten their jobs. Scholars of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs studied the data provided by the study "Societal Challenges, Public Opinion and Public Policies in 10 Countries," a survey of 10 countries conducted by the Digital Futures at Work Research Cente

Oct. 5, 2024