UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is unlikely to join the ruling Saenuri Party after he returns to South Korea in mid-January, local media reported Thursday based on a purported dialogue between Ban’s affiliate and an opposition politician. “I heard (from a person close to Ban) that even if Ban runs in the next presidential election, he will not work with pro-Park lawmakers or join the Saenuri Party,” former Rep. Jeong Dae-chul of the People’s Party was quoted as saying. The 71-year-old veteran d

Politics Dec. 1, 2016

A fire broke out in the southern city of Daegu early Wednesday, gutting over 800 stores in the city’s biggest street market. No casualties were reported. According to local authorities, the blaze started at around 2 a.m. in a section of Seomun Market where 839 stores -- mostly selling clothes -- are located. The stores suffered severe damage, but the estimated financial damage is not yet known. Two firefighters were injured and two people were rescued from the blaze. No major injuries were repor

Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2016

Opposition parties on Tuesday said that the Education Ministry should be abolished if it pushes ahead with the planned introduction of the controversial state-authored history textbook. Calling it the “Park Geun-hye textbook” after the incumbent president who initiated the drive to mandate state-authored history textbooks, they called for a complete abolishment of the plan. “The textbooks are not just partly wrong, but need to be retracted as a whole,” said Rep. Yoo Sung-yeob of the People’s Par

Social Affairs Nov. 29, 2016

Some 70 professors from Seoul National University joined the rally on Saturday calling for President Park Geun-hye to step down. This was the first time that the university professors participated in any kind of protest as a group since the massive democratic uprising in 1960.“Professors have been taking part in the previous protests individually. This time, we decided to bring a stronger voice as a group,” Professor Yoo Yong-tae from the university told The Korea Herald.He, who came with his wi

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2016

The nation’s weather agency has forecast rain for Saturday, when another massive candlelight vigil will be held to turn up the pressure on President Park Geun-hye to step down from her post. Rally organizers expect up to 2 million citizens to take to the streets of central Seoul, more than the turnout of 1 million two weeks ago. The scandal involving Park’s confidante Choi Soon-sil broke out more than a month ago and this Saturday will mark the fifth anti-Park rally to take place. It will be a t

Social Affairs Nov. 24, 2016

South Korea’s opposition parties are scrambling to get as many ruling party lawmakers as possible to support its upcoming campaign to impeach President Park Geun-hye. The three parties -- the Democratic Party of Korea, People’s Party and Justice Party -- have decided to present a parliamentary motion to remove Park from office. At least 29 votes from across the aisle are required for it to be passed. “As soon as we meet the quorum, we will present the impeachment motion,” floor leader Rep. Woo S

Politics Nov. 22, 2016

Former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan closed out his Asian Swimming Championships in Tokyo with a bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay event on Sunday. At Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Park anchored South Korea to the time of 3 minutes, 18.80 seconds for the bronze medal, sharing it with teammates Yang June-hyeok, Lee Ho-joon and Kim Jae-woo. China won the event with a new championship record of 3:16.37, followed by Japan at 3:17.25. Park, the gold medalist at

More Sports Nov. 20, 2016

PUKHRAYAN, India (AP) -- At least 104 people were killed when 14 coaches of an overnight passenger train rolled off the track in northern India on Sunday, with rescue workers using cutting torches to try to pull out survivors, police said.　 Daljeet Chaudhary, a director general of police, said the death toll was likely to rise because rescue workers had yet to gain access to one of the worst-damaged coaches. About 150 people were injured, he said.　 The train derailed at around 3:10 a.m., jolting

World News Nov. 20, 2016

 As rallies flared up all over the country Saturday to demand President Park Geun-hye’s resignation, teenagers took to the streets to express their anger and frustration at the scandal involving Park and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. Many middle and high school students are disappointed at how Choi’s daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, was illegally admitted to a top university and received special treatment there. “She did not study or make the appropriate effort but had the privilege of going to the unive

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2016

Migratory birds visit South Korea from around October as the air begins to grow cool, heralding the change in season. These winged guests come annually from Russia, China and Mongolia, flying without rest for 15 hours per day to spend a “warmer” winter on the peninsula and nurture new life.Their arrival here makes winter prime time for bird-watching, with several spots that are especially popular. These sites are usually near river basins and deltas, where rivers meet the sea.  A flock of migrat

Social Affairs Nov. 18, 2016

About 600,000 high school students will take the national college entrance exam Thursday and some of them plan to express their anger at the Choi Soon-sil scandal at a rally later in the evening. High school seniors from a teen organization have registered to hold a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. on Thursday in front of the Bosingak Bell next to Jonggak Station in Seoul. “Many high school seniors wanted to join last Saturday’s rally, but they could not because the exam was so close,” Choi Seo-hyun,

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2016

South Korea’s main opposition party leader has come under fire for proposing Monday a one-on-one talk with President Park Geun-hye and changing her mind later that day. Her conservative rivals called the quick change in stance a typical case of the opposition camp’s recklessness and lack of responsibility. “I am sorry for causing confusion to the citizens and party members. I am also regretful to the two other opposition parties,” Rep. Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Korea, sai

Politics Nov. 15, 2016

Factional strife continued to escalate in the ruling Saenuri Party on Monday, with members critical of President Park Geun-hye demanding the resignation of party leaders loyal to the embattled president. Five party officials began a hunger strike Monday, demanding party chief Rep. Lee Jung-hyun step down immediately. Other members even mooted the need for the party’s dissolution in order to win back voters’ support amid a devastating scandal engulfing the conservative president and ruling camp.

Politics Nov. 14, 2016

Opposition parties voiced criticism Monday over the planned meeting between President Park Geun-hye and chairwoman of the main opposition party Choo Mi-ae that any talk with Park now will give the embattled president a chance to salvage her “virtually dead” presidency.Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and presidential hopeful, called Choo’s proposal for the talk an “obvious misjudgment” of the situation. “I am afraid the talk would do Cheong Wa Dae (the preside

Politics Nov. 14, 2016

People from all walks of life came to central Seoul to participate in Saturday's protest against Park Geun-hye's presidency, from unionized workers to religious leaders, high-school students and parents with children. Here is what they told The Korea Herald about why they came to protest, and how they felt about the Choi Soon-sil scandal. -- Ed.High school students hold hand signs reading, "Step down, President" and "Searching for the lost seven hours" in Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul on Sat

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2016