Medical standoff puts Korea's COVID-19 response to test

South Korea's health system, which for years worked to shield the nation from the deadly threat of COVID-19, finds itself under renewed pressure from a virus resurgence amid the prolonged standoff between medical professionals and the government, putting its capacity to the test. The virus is likely to peak later this month at a time when the country's health care has for six months been stretched beyond its capacity, after intern and resident doctors resigned en masse in mid-February

Aug. 21, 2024

Prosecutors drop luxury bag charges against first lady

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has decided to drop the anticorruption charges against first lady Kim Keon Hee, closing its investigation into allegations that she received a luxury Christian Dior handbag and other expensive gifts in exchange for favors. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, which is in charge of the first lady's case, has recently decided not to press charges and report its decision to Prosecutor General Lee One-seok, according to legal circle

Aug. 21, 2024

Woman gets suspended jail term for attacking 2 people she claimed were stalkers

A 49-year-old woman has been given a one-year jail term, suspended for two years, for attacking a man and a woman under the false belief they were stalking her, court officials said Wednesday. In a recent ruling from the Seoul Northern District Court, the suspect was found guilty of violence and special bodily injury on another in two attacks, against a 44-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man with mental disabilities She was also ordered to be on probation. On Sept. 16 last year the defendant at

Aug. 21, 2024

Man robs store after making false bomb report

A man in his 20s was arrested for making a fake bomb report and robbing a convenience store, South Korean police said Wednesday. The suspect called the police via 112 at around 7 a.m. Tuesday from Pyeongnae-dong, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, and said he installed an explosive device inside the nearby PyeongnaeHopyeong station. He then went into a convenience store and threatened a store clerk with a weapon, stealing 90,000 won ($67) in cash. Police officers searched the station, but did not f

Aug. 21, 2024

Coastal cities extend lifeguard availability, as beach visits continue

South Korea's east coastal cities recently extended the availability of lifeguards at official beaches, in light of people continuing to visit them even after they officially closed following the summer vacation period. The city governments of Gangneung and Donghae said they will continue to have lifeguards posted to some beaches for visitors, even after they have closed for this year's summer vacation season. Regional governments operate "haesuyokjang" -- referring to seasid

Aug. 21, 2024

[Graphic News] No. of foreign doctors in S. Korea on rise amid medical walkout

The number of foreign medical doctors in South Korea has been on a steady increase, data showed, amid a prolonged walkout by doctors and trainee doctors here over a government-proposed spike in the medical school quota. The report comes amid plans by the Health Ministry to allow foreign medical doctors to practice medicine in the country without obtaining a local license. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party, the n

Aug. 21, 2024

Typhoon Jongdari passes by waters off Jeju; no reports of damage

Typhoon Jongdari passed by waters west of Jeju Island on Tuesday, the state weather agency said, with no damage reported as of yet. As of 6 p.m., a typhoon warning was changed to an advisory for southern waters far off Jeju as the typhoon traveled northward at 33 kilometers per hour about 100 km southwest of the island's southern city of Seogwipo, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Jeju received up to 99 millimeters of rain, while the maximum instantaneous wind spee

Aug. 20, 2024

Seoul designates mpox as infectious disease subject to border screening

Starting Wednesday, South Korean health authorities will classify mpox as an infectious disease subject to border screening and require passengers flying from eight African nations with mpox symptoms to report to officials, health authorities here said Tuesday afternoon. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said the decision comes after the World Health Organization declared mpox a "public health emergency of international concern" last week. Under the strengthened surveilla

Aug. 20, 2024

Moon crater honors Joseon-era astronomer

In a groundbreaking moment for Korean astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has named a lunar crater after 19th-century Joseon-era polymath Nam Byeong-cheol, marking the first time a Korean name has been assigned to a feature on the moon's surface. The Danuri Magnetic Field Payload Research Team from the Department of Space Exploration at Kyung Hee University said Monday that a crater on the far side of the moon, discovered through international collaborative research, has been na

Aug. 20, 2024

Jeju on typhoon alert

A typhoon warning has been issued across Jeju Island as of 2 p.m., Tuesday, as the Korea Meteorological Administration expects Typhoon Jongdari to get close to the western coast of the island around 6 p.m. the same day. The KMA forecast heavy rain, ranging from 30 to 50 millimeters per hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, to fall on Jeju Island from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. Until Wednesday, the island can expect to see up to 30 to 80 mm of rain, while heavily hit areas such as

Aug. 20, 2024

Korea to strengthen e-scooter regulations

With regulations and laws regarding e-scooters still in their infancy despite growing popularity and accidents, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that the public and private sectors are working together to strengthen safety management measures to prevent further accidents. The announcement comes after the government signed a business agreement with related organizations in July, including ten major personal mobility rental companies; the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure a

Aug. 20, 2024

Man arrested for stabbing coworker to death

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his coworker, police said Tuesday. The suspect, who was identified as a Thai national in his 30s, is believed to have stabbed a fellow Thai coworker in his 60s in the neck in a foundry dormitory in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province around 10:40 p.m. on Monday. The two workers were found to be living and working in South Korea unregistered. The victim was fatally stabbed in the neck and died while receiving emergency medical treatment at a near

Aug. 20, 2024

Seoul to turn Gwanghwamun into space for peace, democracy

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will turn Gwanghwamun Square into a nationally symbolic space that represents free democracy and world peace, based on opinions and ideas submitted by civil society and experts. The city government’s recent announcement comes after its initial announcement on building a nationally symbolic space raised criticism and controversy two months ago. In late June, Oh made an announcement during a meeting with veterans of the 1950-53 Korean Wa

Aug. 20, 2024

Dementia twice as likely in middle-aged women with depression: study

Women with depression between the ages of 40 and 60 are twice as likely to develop young-onset dementia, largely driven by declining estrogen levels and female sex hormones as they experience menopause, a recent study showed Tuesday. Young-onset dementia is when a person develops any form of dementia before the age of 65. The likelihood of developing dementia at an early stage was 2.5 to 2.7 times higher for women in their middle adulthood diagnosed with depression when compared to their peers w

Aug. 20, 2024

Supreme Court grants custody of dog to owner, not person who raised dog for years

A year-long custody battle for a golden retriever ended with South Korea's top court ruling in favor of the woman who purchased the dog, not the woman who raised the dog for several years. In the civic case involving the transfer of corporeal movable -- a legal term for assets other than immovable ones like real estate -- a woman challenged her son's former girlfriend for custody of the dog. Despite the ex-girlfriend having legal ownership, she claimed ownership on the grounds that s

Aug. 20, 2024

Police probe online sex crime at Incheon university

Incheon police said Tuesday they are investigating a recent case of pornographic content created using deepfake technology being shared in a mobile group chat, involving an as-yet-unspecified number of college students. In the case, pornographic images of at least 30 former and current students of the Incheon-based Inha University were created using deepfake technology, and the images were shared in a Telegram group chat. The group chat is said to have operated since 2020, and have about 1,200 m

Aug. 20, 2024

Autopsy shows woman died of heat after getting trapped in empty police car

The death of a woman found in the back of a police vehicle in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday was likely due to heatstroke from being in the hot car for up to 36 hours, police said Tuesday. The Hadong Police Station unveiled initial autopsy results from the National Forensic Service that suggested a high likelihood that the woman’s death was related to hyperthermia -- a life-threatening condition caused by an excessively high body temperature. The woman in her 40s was foun

Aug. 20, 2024

Jeju to come under direct influence of Typhoon Jongdari Tuesday afternoon

The southern island of Jeju is expected to come under the direct influence of Typhoon Jongdari on Tuesday afternoon, the state weather agency said, cautioning against strong winds and heavy rains. A typhoon advisory was issued for waters far off Jeju as of 4 a.m., while preliminary advisories were issued for the island and waters off the country's south coast, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Five of the seven hiking trails at Jeju's Mount Halla have been restricte

Aug. 20, 2024

PM urges proactive measures as typhoon approaches Korean Peninsula

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday instructed officials to closely monitor Typhoon Jongdari, which is anticipated to begin impacting the Korean Peninsula starting the next day. He urged officials to conduct thorough inspections, and proactively secure seashores and other vulnerable areas to "prevent any casualties." Additionally, he instructed them to take measures to protect fishing infrastructure, buildings and other structures from strong winds. He also highlighted the importance

Aug. 19, 2024

Ministry extends labor protections to YouTube production staff injured during shoot

South Korea's Ministry of Labor and Employment has recognized a YouTube production staff member injured during a video shoot as an "employee" and thus eligible for industrial accident insurance coverage, in a decision that could potentially pave the way for extended labor protections for gig workers in the content industry. According to local reports Monday, the ministry's decision came on Aug. 8 with regard to the case filed by Lim Dong-seok, a man in his 20s who had worked

Aug. 19, 2024