Most Popular
-
1
[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
-
2
Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
-
3
Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
-
4
Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
-
5
Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
-
6
Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
-
7
[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
-
8
N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise
-
9
[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
-
10
[Herald Interview] K-pop’s 'best years are ahead of us': Spotify’s general manager for Asia Pacific
-
[Newsmaker] Death of 16-month-old causes public outcry
The death of a 16-month-old girl has caused public outrage in South Korea. The girl reportedly died from violent child abuse that took place over nine months by her adoptive parents. When the girl died in the emergency room at a hospital in western Seoul on Oct. 13, she had fractures across her body and her organs had suffered severe damage, including extensive damage to the pancreas and internal bleeding. The adoptive parents are set to face trial on Jan. 13. The prosecution has indi
Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korea in talks with US to cover wages of Korean workers at USFK: official
South Korea is in talks with the United States to cover the wages of Korean employees at the US Forces Korea (USFK), an official said Monday, in an apparent move to avoid another furlough amid the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations. The prolonged deadlock in the talks determining Seoul's share of the costs to keep American troops here potentially puts thousands of Korean workers at USFK at risk of being forced to take unpaid leave again this year. About 4,000 of them were furloughed for
DefenseJan. 4, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] Shattering prejudice about cultural heritage
Imagine learning about Korean cultural heritage and history with K-pop stars while reading a webtoon or watching a short movie, instead of reading dry textbooks. The Cultural Heritage Administration is working to break the perception that learning about history and culture is boring, while also trying to appeal to young people. Last September, the CHA rolled out an eight-episode short documentary series starring boy band Monsta X on YouTube. The documentary videos, which broadcaster JTBC al
CultureJan. 3, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korean population falls for 1st time on record low births
South Korea's population fell year-on-year for the first time in 2020, census data showed Sunday, with a record low number of births getting surpassed by deaths to cause a natural decrease. According to the latest census figures released by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, South Korea had 51,829,023 people as of Dec. 31, 2020, down 20,838 from the end of 2019. The population had increased in each of the previous 10 years, though the growth rate had been steadily falling -- from 1.49 percen
Social AffairsJan. 3, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] Medical students who boycotted licensing exam get second chance
The government will allow fourth-year medical students to retake a state medical licensing exam they boycotted, a reversal of its previous position, as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic threatens to cause a shortage of doctors. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said during a press briefing Thursday that the government will administer the practical test again in January as a precaution, to address the anticipated shortage of medical personnel next year. “We are dee
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] COVID-19 cases top 60,000 in S. Korea amid worst wave of pandemic
South Korea's total COVID-19 caseload broke the 60,000 mark on Thursday as new cases have been rising at an alarming pace despite tougher virus curbs put in place ahead of the year-end holiday season. New cases stood at 967 earlier in the day to raise the total to 60,740, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), surpassing the threshold 11 months after the nation's first confirmed case on Jan. 20. A total of 900 people have died from the highly infectious virus. It
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] N. Korea to set new policies at key party meeting soon
North Korea said Wednesday it will open a party congress in early January where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to set fresh economic and foreign policies. “At a politburo meeting Kim chaired Tuesday, matters that will top the agenda at the congress were discussed,” the Korean Central News Agency said, without revealing exactly what the agenda will be or when the congress will convene. North Korea watchers speculate Kim will launch new economic plans in the face of worsening food
North KoreaDec. 30, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korea decides to allow troops, citizens working for USFK to get COVID-19 vaccinations
The defense ministry decided Wednesday to allow South Korean soldiers and civilian workers affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK) to get COVID-19 vaccinations with doses shipped from the US for its service members stationed here, officials said. The South Korean troops affiliated with the Korean Augmentation to the US Army, known as KATUSA, as well as civilians working for USFK, are eligible for the inoculation according to the US government's vaccination plan, and USFK and Seoul's def
DefenseDec. 30, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Search under way for crew members from capsized fishing boat near Jeju
JEJU ISLAND -- Search operations were under way off the coast of Jeju Island on Tuesday night for the crew members of a capsized fishing boat, authorities said. The coast guard said it received a report that the 39-ton vessel overturned at around 7:44 p.m. in waters some 2.6 kilometers northwest of the Port of Jeju, which is located near the middle of the island's north coast. Seven crew members were presumed to be aboard the vessel. Rescue workers found the vessel at the site and are attempti
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Court order takes effect, allowing seizure of assets to pay victims of Japanese wartime forced labor
Diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan are likely to worsen after a court order took effect Tuesday, mandating that the local assets of a Japanese firm be sold off to compensate victims of forced labor. At the start of Tuesday, a public notice issued by the Daejeon District Court went into effect authorizing the seizure of assets held in South Korea by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This would fulfill a November 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court ordering the company to provide between
Foreign AffairsDec. 29, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korea further ups guard against ASF as cases from wild boars continue to swell
South Korea's agricultural ministry said Tuesday it has further beefed up measures against African swine fever (ASF), including installing more fences, as infections among wild boars could lead to another wave of the pandemic at pig farms. South Korea has so far identified 898 cases of ASF from wild boars from the inter-Korean border areas since October last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. "Recently, infected wild boars have been found outside of t
Social AffairsDec. 29, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Delivery Hero to sell Yogiyo under watchdog’s antitrust policy
Germany-based Delivery Hero will concede its food delivery services Yogiyo as a cost of acquiring Woowa Brothers, the operator of market champion app Baemin, officials said Monday. The apparently reluctant decision came after South Korea’s antitrust watchdog disapproved the monopolistic merger of the top two apps in the fast-growing food delivery market. “We request that the Fair Trade Commission send the final notice in the first quarter next year,” the company posted on
IndustryDec. 28, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] USFK to begin COVID-19 vaccination Tuesday
US Forces Korea (USFK) will start administering its initial doses of a COVID-19 vaccine this week, beginning with health care workers, officials said Monday. USFK received the first shipment of Moderna's vaccine on Friday as Camp Humphreys was chosen by the US government as one of four sites outside the continental US that will receive the initial vaccination. "USFK has received its initial shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and will begin inoculations tomorrow at US Army Garrison Camp
DefenseDec. 28, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] N. Korean exports to China down to $2,400 last month
North Korea’s exports to China slumped to just $2,382 last month, as the reclusive regime’s all-out push to stave off COVID-19 outbreak on its soil has brought trade with its largest economic partner to a halt. In November, North Korean shipments to China totaled $2,382, the Voice of America reported Saturday, based on data from China’s General Administration of Customs. This figure excludes $1.123 million of electricity exports. The VOA does not count this as expo
North KoreaDec. 27, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korea issues nationwide standstill order on poultry farms amid bird flu cases
South Korea issued a 24-hour standstill order on Sunday on all poultry farms across the country following a series of highly pathogenic bird flu cases. Until Sunday, all poultry farms and livestock production facilities, including their vehicles and personnel, will be subject to the movement ban, with disinfection work to be carried out during the period, authorities said. It was the second time this month that a nationwide standstill order was issued over bird flu cases. On Dec. 12, a 48-hour
Social AffairsDec. 27, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Coupang offers streaming for premium subscribers
South Korea’s major e-commerce platform operator Coupang said Thursday that it has launched Coupang Play, an over-the-top service that provides unlimited streaming to premium membership holders. Vying with global players such as Netflix and incoming Disney Plus, as well as a number of domestic rivals, Coupang Play will tap the video content market by bundling it with their Rocket Wow Club service at the existing price of 2,900 won ($2.63) per month. The application for Android mobile ph
IndustryDec. 24, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Star lecturer Seol takes responsibility for misinformation
Star lecturer Seol Min-seok said he would take sole responsibility for the controversy surrounding misinformation during the second episode of popular tvN entertainment show “Seol Min-seok’s Naked World History.” The apology posted on YouTube on Tuesday followed the announcement the producers made on the program website the previous day, apologizing for the misinformation in the second episode on Saturday. Archaeologist Kwack Min-soo, one of the advisers for the program, poi
TelevisionDec. 23, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Moon Joon-yong, President Moon’s son, criticized for receiving artist relief fund
Criticism is rising over President Moon Jae-in’s son Moon Joon-yong, who was selected as a recipient of 14 million won ($12,600) in relief funding for artists who have been hit by the pandemic. The fund is operated by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, under the Seoul Metropolitan Government. On Dec. 17, Moon Joon-yong’s solo exhibition kicked off at Keumsan Gallery in Seoul, reportedly with the city funding received earlier in the year. The exhibition runs until Wednesday.
Arts & DesignDec. 22, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] K-pop band BTOB's rapper under probe on alleged marijuana use
K-pop band BTOB's rapper Jung Il-hoon was apprehended by the police earlier this year for allegedly smoking marijuana on multiple occasions, according to law enforcement authorities. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday they referred the 26-year-old rapper, together with accomplices, to the prosecution in July, with recommendations to indict him for violating the Narcotics Control Act. Jung is accused of repeatedly using marijuana he bought secondhand through his acquaintance. He w
Social AffairsDec. 22, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Concerns mount over COVID-19 outbreak at detention center
A massive coronavirus outbreak has been discovered at a detention center in southeastern Seoul, with the source of infection remaining unknown. As of Monday morning, a total of 215 people -- including 185 inmates -- tested positive for the virus at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, according to health authorities, after some 3,557 inmates and staff members underwent testing on Friday. District courts in Seoul are on alert as many of the inmates from the detention center are said to have att
Social AffairsDec. 21, 2020