The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is set to determine early this week whether to request an arrest warrant for former President Lee Myung-bak who was questioned last week on charges of bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion.  Former President Lee Myung-bak leaves the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office late night on Wednesday after he was questioned by prosecutors on charges of bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion. YonhapLee faces allegations that he ran a slush fund amountin

Social Affairs March 18, 2018

The summoning of former President Lee Myung-bak by the prosecution on Wednesday drew mixed responses from the political arena, with liberals and conservatives taking contrasting positions. Former President Lee Myung-bak stands in the photo line at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office early in the morning for questioning Wednesday. YonhapLee, who faces alegations of corruption, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office early in the morning for questioning. The ruling De

Social Affairs March 14, 2018

One person died and two were injured in a fire that broke out near Hwajeong Station on Monday in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.  YonhapAccording to officials, the fire started in an eight-story multi-complex building at around 3:57 p.m. One female victim in her 50s jumped from the seventh-floor window and was hospitalized, but later died from injuries. Two people were treated for smoke inhalation at a nearby hospital. Twenty-two fire engines rushed to the scene in response to the report of the fire.

Social Affairs March 12, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited US President Donald Trump for talks and Trump has agreed. So the question is: Where will they meet for the talks that could mark a potential breakthrough in the standoff surrounding the North‘s nuclear program? Kim’s invitation arrived Thursday at the US White House delivered by South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong in a stunning development following months of mutual bellicose rhetoric.Chung led a special envoy of South Korean President Mo

North Korea March 9, 2018

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was awarded an honorary citizenship by Seoul City for his role in forming a unified women’s ice hockey team from North and South Korea.  International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon. YonhapThe honorary citizenship was awarded Thursday at Seoul City Hall by the city’s Mayor Park Won-soon who invited Bach for the awarding ceremony. “I sincerely thank IOC President Thomas Bach for his deep interest in

Social Affairs March 8, 2018

A nurse working at Seoul National University Hospital, one of the largest and most prestigious hospitals in Korea, quit her job after the hospital’s medical professor allegedly sexually assaulted her, according to colleagues of the professor who revealed such a claim to the media Thursday. The claim was made by 12 professors of Seoul National University’s Medical College who said their colleague “committed inappropriate sexual acts against the university’s medical students and hospital staff” an

Social Affairs March 8, 2018

When the Seoul Station overpass was closed to traffic in November 2015, many had no doubt it was time. After failing its vehicle assessment, the overpass was transformed into Seoullo 7017 -- a reference to original construction year of 1970 and its 2017 transformation -- where people can walk high above the maddening traffic below, enjoying a panoramic view of the city.Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon talks in an interview with The Korea Herald on Feb. 23 at his office at Seoul City Hall. Park Hyun-koo

Social Affairs March 7, 2018

Foreign-invested companies in Seoul that contributed to creating new jobs can receive city subsidies of up to 1 million won ($930) per newly hired employee, the city government said Tuesday.  Seoul City Hall. YonhapAccording to a press release by Seoul Metropolitan Government, the subsidies are given to Seoul-based foreign-invested companies, which must be in the city’s eight strategic sectors, including IT convergence and digital content, and should have hired more than 10 new employees in 2017

Social Affairs March 6, 2018

A senior secretary at the National Assembly who allegedly sexually assaulted a female secretary was removed from office Tuesday as the #MeToo movement began to spread to the political circle. People’s Party lawmaker Chae Yi-bai. YonhapPeople’s Party lawmaker Chae Yi-bai said in a press release that she decided to remove her senior secretary and that he is “sorry that my senior secretary was involved in such a disgraceful event.” The removal of the alleged offender, whose name has not been reveal

Politics March 6, 2018

Seoul announced plans Monday to make the city a regional startup hub, backed by an investment of 1.2 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in the next five years and by doubling programs that support startups.  Seoul Startup Hub. YonhapThe Innovative Growth Fund will be funded through public and private sectors by 2022 to help grow promising Korean startups across a broad range of established and emerging industries including the “fourth industrial revolution,” health care, robotics and cultural content.I

Social Affairs March 5, 2018

In a country where renewable energy accounts for around 1 percent of total electricity generated, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is pushing to increase the number of “energy self-reliant villages” to up to 100 by the end of 2018 to curb reliance on coal and nuclear energy. Solar panels are set up outside apartment buildings in Seoul as part of efforts to reduce energy consumption. YonhapSeoul, where more than half of the country’s 50 million population resides, offers opportunities to partici

Social Affairs March 5, 2018

Prosecutors looking into sweeping allegations of financial fraud involving former President Lee Myung-bak are set to complete their investigation as early as this week and likely to summon Lee for questioning soon. Former President Lee Myung-bak. YonhapIf Lee is summoned by the prosecution, he would be the fourth president of South Korea to be questioned by investigators following detained ex-leader Park Geun-hye. Although no charges have been filed yet, Lee faces allegations that he ran a 12 bi

Social Affairs March 4, 2018

POHANG, North Gyeongsang Province -- On the afternoon of Nov. 15, 2017, Lee Sun-mi was in class at Heunghae Middle School in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, when the building began to sway. At around 2:05 p.m. that day, a 5.4 magnitude-earthquake, South Korea’s second-strongest earthquake in decades, rattled the southeastern port city. There were no quake-related deaths but over ##1,500## residents were left homeless, forced to take shelter at a local gymnasium. Since then, fear has become pa

Social Affairs March 2, 2018

Tens of thousands of conservative civic groups gathered near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on Thursday afternoon and marched during a rally to mark the 99th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919. While they commemorated the 1919 movement that declared independence against the Japanese colonizers, anti-government rallies, dubbed “Taegeukgi rallies,” mostly chanted calls for a strong South Korea-US alliance, a pre-emptive strike against North Korea and the immediate release of impe

Social Affairs March 1, 2018

Mostly cloudy and wet weather is in place for Wednesday with rain expected to fall in South Jeolla Province and Jeju in the morning and later across the country.Up to 120 millimeters of rain is forecast to fall in southern regions and mountain areas of Jeju, while up to 15 centimeters of snow is expected overnight in mountain areas of Gangwon Province, according to the Korean Meteorological Agency.  (Yonhap)In Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, up to 20 millimeters of rain is expected.Morning lows wil

Social Affairs Feb. 28, 2018