More than 8 out of 10 people who died last year were cremated, government data showed Friday. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 82.7 percent of the deceased in 2016 were cremated, surging fourfold compared to 1994. This is a 1.9 percentage point rise over last year.  (Yonhap)The percentage of cremation after funeral has consecutively increased over the past few years. The figure surpassed 70 and 80 percent, respectively, in 2010 and 2015.By age group, 95.3 percent of those below t

Social Affairs Dec. 8, 2017

Students of Hanyang University and local residents are locked in a dispute over the university’s plan to build a dormitory. The City Planning Commission of Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that it approved the university’s plan to construct a new dormitory. The student union welcomed the decision, saying that it is a “rightful choice.” According to the union, the current dormitory can house only 11.5 percent of the students. It costs around 600,000 won ($500) per month to pay ren

Social Affairs Dec. 7, 2017

Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that it plans to build an affordable public dormitory in Sinchon area, a university neighborhood in Seoul, by 2020. The city government plans to work with six other local administrations in sharing the cost of the dormitory and the right to recommend students for admission.  (Yonhap)The dormitory will accommodate 120 students and will be located near the Gwangheungchang Station, Mapo-gu. Costing around 110,000 won ($100) per month, it will also b

Social Affairs Dec. 7, 2017

영국 BBC 야생 다큐멘터리 ‘블루 플래닛’이 예고 영상을 공개했다. 약 4분 길이의 영상에서는 곰치와 문어가 ‘갈라파고스붉은게 (Sally Lightfoot crab)’의 뒤를 쫓는다. 그렇지만, 게가 맹렬한 속도로 달아나, 흥미진진한 추격전을 만들어낸다. (사진=유튜브 영상 캡쳐)게가 천적들로부터 도망치고자 바위 위에서 뜀박질하고, 물 위에서 전력으로 헤엄치는 모습이 굉장하다. 알려진 바에 따르면, 갈라파고스붉은게는 옆이 아닌 앞뒤로도 걸을 수 있으며 헤엄 실력도 상당하다. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Dec. 7, 2017

A Korean professional “StarCraft” gamer got the upper foot, as it were, over his Chinese rival at a recent competition. Lim Hong-gyu, better known by his moniker “Larva,” battled Luo Xian on Monday in the final match of the Zotac Cup Masters playing “StarCraft Remastered” in Los Angeles, California. In the first game of the series, Lim purposely took one of his own characters out of the competition by making it dance, putting himself at a significant disadvantage. In the next game, he rested his

Culture Dec. 7, 2017

The Jeonju Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that a corporation has requested a permit to build an animal funeral hall in the city, with cremation facilities. The city in North Jeolla Province will hold committee meetings to discuss the issue later this month, before giving a permit to start the construction. It is predicted that the plan will face some opposition from the residents around the site.  (Yonhap)Currently, many animal corpses are put in standard plastic garbage bags, as th

Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2017

 최근 온라인 커뮤니티에는 1938년도에 찍힌 수중사진들이 인기를 끌고 있다. 현재는 많이 알려진 개념이긴 하지만, 지금으로부터 약 80년 전인 당시는 수중 촬영이라는 개념이 처음 도입된 시기였다. 다음 사진들은 사진작가 브루스 모저트가 미국 플로리다 바닷속에서 촬영한 사진들이다. ‘진짜가 맞나’ 하는 생각이 들 정도로 모델들이 안정된 자세로 포즈를 취한다. 특히 바비큐를 즐기는 사진이 압권이다.  (사진=핀터레스트) (사진=핀터레스트) (사진=핀터레스트)(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Dec. 6, 2017

중국의 샤오리엔(22)는 지난 2012년 교통사고로 코를 크게 다쳤다. 코의 연골이 소실됐지만, 비싼 수술비용 때문에 치료를 받지 못하고 있었다. 지역의 한 대학병원 의료진은 샤오리엔의 안타까운 소식을 듣고, 코를 새로 배양해보자는 제안을 했다. 의료진의 계획은 갈비뼈 연골로 인공 코를 만들어, 코의 구조와 가장 흡사한 이마에 붙여 배양하겠다는 것이다. 배양이 성공적으로 마무리되면, 원래 코의 자리로 이식할 생각이다. 샤오리엔은 수술에 동의하며 “없는 것보다 낫다”는 반응을 보였다. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Dec. 6, 2017

The National Weather Service reported that several waterspouts were seen at waters off Jeju Island Tuesday morning.  (Yonhap)Waterspouts, simply tornadoes that form over water, are often spotted off the shores of Jeju Island and Ulleung Island.  (Yonhap)The phenomenon is dubbed “Yongoreum” in Korean, which means that a dragon is coming up. It was once said that waterspouts form when a dragon escalates to the sky.By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)

Social Affairs Dec. 5, 2017

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to draw up guidelines on the use of personal mobility devices, or PMDs. The guidelines will restrict where people could use their devices and put a limit on the maximum speed.  (Yonhap)Some Korean users ride the transport devices on public roads, while being exposed to traffic accidents. Others ride at a high speed on bike roads and sidewalks, posing risks to cyclists and pedestrians. The Seoul City said the guidelines will also require users to obtain a

Social Affairs Dec. 5, 2017

Chinese actress Fan Bing-bing’s younger brother is training to be a K-pop idol.  (Fan Bing-bing`s Instagram)A local news media outlet reported Tuesday that Fan Cheng-cheng, 17, has been training at the Yeuhua Entertainment, a multinational management agency based in Korea, for over a year. The agency officially admitted that the star’s brother is its trainee. “He really likes Korea and is training hard for debut,” the company said. By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@herladcorp.com)

Performance Dec. 5, 2017

<뉴욕 타임즈>는 4일 자 지면을 통해 가상통화가 한국에서 얻고 있는 인기에 대해 상세히 보도했다. 매체의 보도에 따르면, 한국의 가상통화 시장은 빠르고 크게 성장해 가고 있다. “다른 국가에서는 가상화폐 시장이 지난 몇 년간 꾸준히 성장해왔지만, 한국에서의 성장은 대체로 일 년 내의 것으로 급작스럽다”고 매체는 평했다.  (사진=연합뉴스)또한, 매체는 “가상화폐에 대해 잘 모르면서 투자하는 사람들이 많다”며 우려를 표했다. 취재진은 자신들이 만난 투자자들의 일화를 풀며, 이들이 충분한 고민과 사전 조사 없이 투자를 하는 것에 대해 걱정을 드러냈다. 특히 한 투자자가 비트코인(가상화폐의 한 종류)에 뒤늦게 투자하는 것에 관해 “이미 버스를 놓치긴 했지만, 그렇다고 다음 버스마저 놓칠 수는 없지 않느냐”고 답하는 대목이 눈길을 끌었다. 실제로 한국의 가상통화 시장은 걷잡을 수 없는 속도로 몸집을 키우고 있다. 이에 ‘묻지마 투기’ 등과 관련한 지적이 이어졌고, 국회 정무위원회는 금일

한국어판 Dec. 4, 2017

A man in his 80s jumped in front a subway train in an apparent suicide and was killed Monday.  (Yonhap)The incident took place Monday morning at Joongang Station of Subway Line No. 4 in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Police are investigating the case. Many people have called for the installation of platform gates at the station, as two similar incidents took place earlier this year in August.By Im Eun-byel (silvertstar@heraldcorp.com)

Social Affairs Dec. 4, 2017

A shaman indicted for sexually harassing a woman was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, Sunday. According to the Busan District Court, the victim, in her 20s, had been sick without a specific reason. She met with the shaman, or “mudang” in Korean, thought to be able to communicate with the spirit world.The victim and shaman performed a ritual involving dancing and screaming. During the ritual, the shaman suddenly undressed the victim, ripping her clothes with a special k

Social Affairs Dec. 3, 2017

Jenny Kim, 24, won the title of Miss Supranational 2017 on Friday in Poland, marking the first time a Korean has won the major international pageant.  (Supranational Webpage)Kim is a student of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, where she is pursuing a double major. In January, she represented Korea in the Miss Universe pageant 2017.  (Instagram) (Instagram) (Instagram)By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)

People Dec. 3, 2017