Articles by Choi Jeong-yoon
Choi Jeong-yoon
jychoi@heraldcorp.com-
Dog attack reignites calls for stronger measures
A woman who was severely injured after being attacked by an unleashed large dog has been causing outrage on social media. A video posted on a community forum of website Bobaedream on Monday shows a large white dog walking with a little child without a leash. The dog suddenly attacks an unidentified woman. The child tries to stop the dog initially, but then freezes, seemingly in a panic. A passerby kicks the dog but the dog doesn't stop, biting the woman's leg and her neck. The person w
Social Affairs April 11, 2023
-
Strong winds hamper wildfire response in Gangneung
With strong wind warnings in effect across half of the nation, a wildfire broke out in Gangneung, Gangwon Province at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Strong winds of up to 30 meters per second in the area have grounded helicopters, impeding response efforts to a Level 3 wildfire that has broken out. Level 3 is the second-highest level in the four-notch system. The fire agency issued a Stage 3 response, the highest possible. This is the first time this year that such a response has been issued for a wi
Social Affairs April 11, 2023
-
Police probe possible narcotics scheme targeting students
A woman in her 40s was arrested for offering high school students drug-infused drinks claiming that they would increase their ability to concentrate, sparking a wider police investigation. On Monday, the suspect, with three more accomplices, had approached students on the street in Seoul's Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, the country's premier district for private education, feigning a promotional event for a new drink. Contained in a bottle with a sign that reads, "Mega ADHD," the f
Social Affairs April 5, 2023
-
Former K-pop boy band member charged with sexual assault of fellow member
A former member of a six-person K-pop boy band was indicted on charges of forcibly molesting and sexually assaulting a fellow group member over the course of four years, a local media outlet reported Monday. The former group member was referred to trial in January. He is accused of sexually assaulting the victim at least three times from 2017 to 2021 in their dorms and practice room. The charges against the suspect include "imitative rape," which under Korean law is defined as insert
Social Affairs April 4, 2023
-
Rare white roe deer spotted
A rare white roe deer has been spotted on a hill in Wonju, Gangwon Province. Considered a mystical creature here, it's known to be a once-in-a-decade discovery. The deer was first observed by residents in the neighborhood last week. The hill it was spotted on is reported to be close to the city area, surrounded by roads and buildings. White deer hold a special place in many cultures’ traditions. Appearing in a tale that dates back to 37 BC during the Goguryeo era, Koreans consider a w
Social Affairs March 30, 2023
-
A man arrested for unprovoked attacks on children
A man in his 50s has been indicted for unprovoked attacks on elementary school children he had no connection with. After being on the wanted list for 18 months, the 52-year-old man was charged with assault and child abuse, said the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office on Thursday. The prosecution requested he be detained at a psychological treatment facility following the decision that he has a very high risk of recidivism if not treated medically. The suspect is alleged to have attacked a
Social Affairs March 30, 2023
-
Two Kazakh nationals arrested for illegal entry
The illegal entry of two male Kazakh nationals came to an end on Wednesday, as one suspect who absconded from Incheon Airport turned himself in earlier this morning. This comes three days after the police apprehended another fugitive, a man in his 20s, in Daejeon on Sunday. The two, aged 21 and 18, had broken a terminal window and climbed over a fence near a runway of the airport at around 4:20 a.m Sunday while waiting for a repatriation flight. They had been denied entry into Korea, as the purp
Social Affairs March 29, 2023
-
One Kazakhstani who fled airport arrested
One of two Kazakhstanis who fled Incheon Airport after being denied entry into South Korea was apprehended Sunday afternoon in Daejeon, nearly 200 km away. A 21-year-old man was captured at around 9:42 p.m. at a convenience store in Daejeon, where he had gone to meet an acquaintance, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency said. The police are currently checking security footage to track down another individual aged 18 who is still on the run. The two Kazakhstani nationals had broken a termin
Social Affairs March 27, 2023
-
Video reveals escaped zebra in Seoul lost parents
A zebra that escaped from a Seoul zoo Thursday had begun acting out earlier this year after its parents died, a video revealed. Two-year-old Sero was captured alive after having roamed around a Seoul residential neighborhood for roughly three hours, and was seen galloping through busy traffic and sniffing the garbage bags in the area. Sero reportedly broke free from Seoul Children's Grand Park's zoo by damaging a wooden deck installed around its pen. Early this year, Sero had become ag
Social Affairs March 24, 2023
-
Soldier fined for asking women to 'spit on him'
A soldier was fined for sexual harassment, asking random women on the street to spit on him. The soldier was fined 150,000 won ($115) by the military court under violation of the Minor Offense Law on Monday. In October, the soldier approached a 27-year-old woman in a residential area in Busan, inquiring as to whether she was a smoker and then asking her to spit on him. Then he is reported to had said, "Can you spit on me? If that's too much, could I have the cigarette end when you are
Social Affairs March 22, 2023
-
Animals found dead after being sent to animal shelter
The police are after suspects who absconded with money they collected from operating a temporary animal shelter in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, leaving several animals abandoned, abused and even dead. Arrest warrants have been issued for three suspects on the run for violating animal protection law. They face charges of allegedly receiving about 1 million won ($765) per animal "to take care of them" and then vanishing, neglecting or abusing the dogs and cats, said police on Tuesday. The
Social Affairs March 21, 2023
-
New 'maid cafe' stirs up debate
A new Japanese-style "maid cafe" opened in Seoul on Wednesday, sparking controversy, with some raising concerns that the cafe's costumes and theme of female servers being dressed as anime-style "maids" could be degrading and commercializing sex. Located in Mapo-gu, the so-called "maid cafe" welcomes customers with overly accommodating waitresses dressed in ruffled miniskirts and fishnet stockings. A total of 28 workers or "maids" serve food and drinks whil
Social Affairs March 16, 2023
-
S. Korea sees dramatic surge in food poisoning cases this winter
The number of food poisoning cases involving raw oysters has surged dramatically this winter compared to last year. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday, a total of 524 cases of food poisoning due to raw oysters were reported between November 2022 and February 2023. This figure is an eightfold increase compared to the same period between 2021 and 2022, which only had 68 cases. Oysters are rich in minerals and vitamins but can be one of the main sources of the norovirus, w
Social Affairs March 14, 2023
-
Suspected animal fat sprayed in front of mosque construction site in Daegu
White liquid suspected to be animal fat has been found sprayed near a mosque construction site in Daegu amid continued discord between an anti-mosque committee and the Muslim community. CCTV footage revealed by Muaz Razaq, a representative of Muslim community members who support the mosque, shows two people throwing unknown white waste on the street several times at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The footage also shows one person holding an umbrella, apparently to hide his or her face from being
Social Affairs March 9, 2023
-
[Photo News] Starting university in post pandemic
Many universities in South Korea held commencement ceremonies on Friday, filling the air with the excitement of new beginnings. With the coronavirus' spread slowing down in recent months, some schools held in-person ceremonies for the first time in four years. Freshmen of Sungkyunkwan University took part in a Confucian ritual for their commencement ceremony. The ritual, called "goyurye," traces back to the Joseon era (1392-1910). Cadets marched in file during a commencement cerem
Social Affairs Feb. 24, 2023
Most Popular
-
1
Seoul chastises predatory pricing claims over Czech nuclear export deal
-
2
3 suspects apprehended for selling celebrity deepfake porn: police
-
3
Bank of Korea eyes rate cut after US Fed's historic pivot
-
4
Xiaomi takes 2nd spot after Samsung in August smartphone sales
-
5
[Herald Interview] Kim Woo-bin grew to appreciate ‘unseen’ heroes with ‘Officer Black Belt’
-
6
Hybe acquires US PR agency
-
7
Hyundai Motor officially becomes KT’s largest shareholder
-
8
Heavy rain, strong winds to lash Korea this weekend
-
9
Car crashes into restaurant; 1 dead, 5 injured
-
10
'Music Bank' team demands apology from Real Madrid for cancellation of Madrid concert