South Korean prosecutors looking into controversial auto parts maker DAS, which many suspect of belonging to former President Lee Myung-bak for the purpose of embezzlement, are seeking to bring in a former aide to Lee for questioning, according to sources. The aide Kim Jae-soo served under the Lee administration as Los Angeles consul general and currently works as a lawyer in the US. Former Los Angeles Consul General Kim Jae-soo. YonhapKim, who has permanent residence in the US, allegedly meddle

Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2018

South Korea’s environmental quality, particularly air quality, is among the worst in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to its latest report. Seoul’s Namsan Tower is blanketed in thick smoke. (Yonhap)The report, titled “How’s Life,” pinpoints that Korea’s long-term unemployment rate also marks the lowest in the OECD, while labor market insecurity is also low. The country’s life expectancy at birth is high, at 82 years, but barely a third of people consider their

Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2018

A blast of arctic air hit parts of eastern Gangwon Province on Thursday, extending the extreme cold weather alert issued Tuesday to the southern inland area of the province.  YonhapThe temperature in Cheorwon plunged to minus 13.9 degrees Celsius in the morning. Inje recorded minus 13.4 C, while Hongcheon recorded minus 13.3 C and Gangneung minus 4.1 C, according to the Gangwon Meteorological Administration. As of 9 a.m., the extreme cold weather alert remained for some parts of Gangwon Province

Social Affairs Jan. 4, 2018

A fire broke out at a construction site in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul, at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. After heavy smoke rose from the scene, 24 fire trucks and around 80 firefighters were dispached to the fire at around 3:15 p.m., according to an official from the Mapo Fire Station.(Yonhap)“No casualties were reported by the fire authorities as of yet. The fire was extinguished at 3:56 p.m.” the official told The Korea HeraldThe exact cause of the fire is still being investigated, according to the off

Social Affairs Jan. 3, 2018

With just over a month until the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, organizers in Gangwon Province are in the final stage of preparations for the event. Venues for the PyeongChang Olympics are located across three cities in the province -- PyeongChang, Gangneung and Jeongseon.With heavy snow fall and freezing temperatures expected throughout the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the province’s interagency task force is prepared for snow-removal operations on roads in cooperation with local city and pr

Olympic Games Jan. 3, 2018

South Korea’s Winter Olympic Games organizing committee on Monday said they “welcome” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s proposal to send a delegation to the upcoming Olympics set to be held in PyeongChang next month. A torchbearer holds up the Olympic torch during a relay for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games on Monday at Homigot Sunrise Square, North Gyeongsang Province. YonhapLee Hee-beom, president and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee, said that the committee “welcomes the No

Olympic Games Jan. 1, 2018

South Korean prosecutors are set to file an additional charge early this month against former President Park Geun-hye, who is standing trial on multiple charges, including bribery and abuse of power. Former President Park Geun-hye. YonhapThe ousted leader faces a new allegation that she received bribes from the National Intelligence Service while in office. Park has been detained at a correctional facility since she was arrested on March 31 and indicted on April 17 last year. Prosecutors suspect

Social Affairs Jan. 1, 2018

The North Korean soldier who fled to South Korea via the Demilitarized Zone on Nov. 13 officially expressed his intention to stay here during a recent government joint interrogation, local news outlet Dong-A Ilbo reported Thursday. As a defector, Oh Cheng-seong, 24, is eligible for medical benefits as stated in the North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement Support Act, according to the Ministry of Unification. Oh Cheng-seong, a North Korean defector, is evacuated to Ajou University Hospita

North Korea Dec. 28, 2017

Mobile devices have become far more abundant in recent years, and so have a series of stress injuries on the neck and spine. A prolonged duration of the stress and lack of preventive measures can lead to other serious medical conditions, says Kim Dong-yeon, a spinal manipulation therapist and head of Well 206 Clinics in Seoul. Well 206 Clinics“A typical adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones, while joints form the connections between the bones. Any damage to the joints or muscle around them

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2017

Since Korea International School opened in August 2000, the school’s mission has been to ensure students represent the promise that youths of today contribute to the future.  Korea International SchoolKIS emphasizes the development of intellectual inquisitiveness, critical thinking, creative expression, physical well-being and respect for others. “Our purpose-driven philosophy toward education helps students create meaning and retain their lessons, experiences, course content, and skill developm

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2017

Dental reshaping, a procedure to change a tooth‘s length, shape or surface, is common especially among celebrities to improve the appearance of their smile. However, nowadays, dental veneer treatment is much preferred for aesthetic purposes since the conventional orthodontic treatment, which involves braces and wires, takes an average of one year or more to complete. Sesigan Dental Clinic’s Sun Jong-yeonDental veneers are a thin porcelain shells that are used to cover the front of the teeth. The

People Dec. 27, 2017

South Korean police looking into the deadly fire that killed 29 people at a fitness center in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, are set to request an arrest warrant Tuesday morning for the building’s managers, who allegedly violated fire safety rules, according to a police official on Monday.Visitors pay their respects to the 29 victims of Thursday’s fire in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, at a memorial set up in Jecheon Gymnasium on Sunday. YonhapEarlier Monday, police raided the homes

Social Affairs Dec. 25, 2017

Nearly 67 percent of South Koreans in their 30s have experience drinking above World Health Organization’s recommended level of alcohol consumption, the highest tally among other age groups here, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.  Bottles of soju are displayed at a store. YonhapFor women, the average daily alcohol consumption was 4.7 shots for soju and 4.1 glasses for beer, which were all above the WHO’s recommended consumption level, which is 2.9 shots and

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2017

[Herald Interview] From writing speeding tickets to arresting criminal suspects to calming a knife-wielding drunken man, police officers deal with almost every emergency situation imaginable.YonhapThese everyday heroes, however, often end up with mental health problems as they serve and protect the public. In the past five years, as many as 100 law enforcement officers have killed themselves, 27 percent more than the 79 who died while on duty during the same period. Last year alone, 26 took thei

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2017

South Korea’s special counsel sought six to seven years in jail for former President Park Geun-hye’s chief of staff and culture minister for secretly blacklisting and discriminating against artists critical of the Park administration.  Former chief of staff Kim Ki-choon. YonhapIn the appeals trial at the Seoul High Court on Tuesday, Special Counsel Park Young-soo demanded a seven-year imprisonment for Kim Ki-choon and six years for Cho Yoon-sun, who were indicted in February over allegations the

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2017