Residents in western Seoul and Goyang were advised to stay indoors and keep their windows closed Sunday as a massive blaze that erupted at a large oil storage facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, was reported to be releasing toxic fumes. 　A text message warning of toxic fumes was sent to Seoul residents at about 6:30 p.m. The blaze was so large that those who live outside of Goyang, including those who live in Seoul and Gimpo, could see thick, black smoke in the sky during the day.　Experts say

Social Affairs Oct. 7, 2018

When Kim Myung-ji became pregnant at age 19, she was told by many -- including her close friends -- that her life was “virtually over.” She hadn’t finished high school, had never been married, and her family did not have much money -- she chose to keep the baby, regardless.　“In spite of all this, I didn’t think having this baby meant my life was practically over. I never felt sorry for myself,” Kim, now 20, said at a recent public event in central Seoul. 　“It was rather disheartening to see how

Social Affairs Oct. 7, 2018

Typhoon Kong-rey, which hit the country Friday and Saturday, caused two deaths and left some 470 people homeless, according to the weather authorities. One person remained missing as of Sunday morning.　A 66-year-old man was killed while crossing a bridge in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.　In Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, an 83-year-old man was found dead after he went missing while trying to flee flood wa

Social Affairs Oct. 7, 2018

Commonly known as the Seoul Fortress, the Hanyangdoseong is a series of walls built during the Joseon era (1392-1910) to protect the kingdom’s capital -- today’s Seoul -- against invaders. 　Completed in 1396, the 18.6-kilometer wall remains a significant historical monument in South Korea today. Originally built along the ridges of Seoul’s four inner mountains -- Baekgaksan, Namsan, Naksan and Inwangsan -- the fortress has undergone a number of reconstruction projects to be in today’s form. 　An

Culture Oct. 4, 2018

Unionized workers in South Korea’s service and retail sectors -- mainly those who work at department stores and duty-free shops -- are fighting for their “right to sit down” at work, saying many of them suffer health conditions that result from having to stand in high heels for more than seven hours daily.　Since late September, the union members have been sitting at work when there are no customers around as a way to protest. 　“It’s been 10 years since chairs have been placed at department store

Social Affairs Oct. 4, 2018

Chloe Choi, a Korean-British living in London, says she fears visiting her native South Korea because of something she cannot bear: odor from the sewers.　The 29-year-old, who lived in Seoul from 2009-2010, said the distinctive smell on the streets often made her sick. 　“I would cover my nose and run away from (the smell) as far as possible. I would literally run,” she told The Korea Herald. 　“Being constantly exposed to it was definitely not right. I was shocked that this was the reaction I was

Social Affairs Oct. 3, 2018

Residents in two districts in Seoul -- Songpa and Gangdong -- are protesting the government’s latest home supply plan, which includes building a new residential town in a former prison site in Songpa, saying they were not consulted before the Ministry of Land announcement.　Last month, the central government announced that it would supply some 300,000 public housing units starting from 2021, in an effort to stabilize the overheated housing market. 　Under the plan, 11 areas in Seoul, including the

Social Affairs Oct. 2, 2018

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday went ahead with the appointment of Rep. Yoo Eun-hae of the ruling Democratic Party as the new education minister, in spite of objections from opposition lawmakers over her apparent ethical lapses -- including falsifying her home address so she could enroll her daughter in a prestigious elementary school in central Seoul.　　“We are aware that there is opposition to Yoo in the parliament, mainly among opposition lawmakers,” said Kim Eui-kyeom, a Cheong Wa Dae spokes

Social Affairs Oct. 2, 2018

South Korea on Monday said it will invest an additional 97.7 billion won ($87 million) in public health, part of an effort to tackle the country’s regional health care disparities.　The investment plan includes a proposal to establish a state-run medical school dedicated to the training of medical professionals specializing in public health, among other policies. 　The decision followed a government study released earlier this year, which showed the country’s amenable mortality rate -- defined as

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2018

Some 60 Mongolian infants have received heart surgery operations free of charge over the past six years through a charity program funded by Rotary Korea, the organizers said. Korean medical professionals pose for a photo in Mongolia, where they have performed some 60 free heart surgery operations for local children over the past six years. Rotary KoreaThe Seoul bureau of Rotary International, a global service organization dedicated to bringing professional leaders and businesses together to prov

People Sept. 30, 2018

　Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it will push to revise the relevant rules to allow all middle and high school students to dye or perm their hair -- a practice which is largely banned in Seoul schools -- starting next year.　　“(The right to dye or perm one’s hair is) part of one’s basic rights,” said Cho Hee-yeon, the superintendent of SMOE. “We would like to create a learning environment where one enjoys both a sense of freedom and the values of democracy.”　　According to a study by a

Social Affairs Sept. 28, 2018

Breezy, sunny and cool, fall is arguably the best season to explore Seoul -- the capital filled with tradition, history and a flair for fun.　As the fall weather is ideal for outdoor activities, the city is offering an array of festival and events -- from traditional music festival to those that feature international cuisine in Itaewon.　For those who would like to get a taste of Korea’s traditional music and dance, Seoul Arirang Festival, which is taking place at the Gwanghwamun Plaza in central

Culture Sept. 27, 2018

Some 16,802 Koreans were arrested for spy-cam-related crimes over the last four years, and 97 percent, or 16,375, of the suspects were male, a lawmaker’s office revealed on Wednesday.　According to Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party, among the male suspects, 15.7 percent were known to their alleged victims, often as neighbors or work colleagues. 　The biggest proportion of the suspects who had known the victims before committing the crime turned out to be the women victims‘ ex-romant

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2018

Fourteen newborns have been infected with rotavirus -- a highly contagious disease common among infants -- at a Daegu hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.The outbreak was reported after newborn twins, who were discharged on Monday, were diagnosed with the disease on the same day and readmitted at the hospital. At another medical facility, the twins underwent tests required for admission to a postpartum care center. There they were diagnosed with rotavirus infe

Social Affairs Sept. 26, 2018

Seoul Metropolitan Government is to supply some 5,000 public rental housing -- almost double the amount of the current 2,500 -- annually, in its effort to tackle the ongoing housing crisis in the South Korean capital.　　The public rental housing refer to small-size studios and houses that have been purchased by the city government to be rented out to the general public at lower-than market rates. 　　Earlier this month, the central government also said it would supply 300,000 public homes starting

Social Affairs Sept. 26, 2018