Another subway maintenance worker died in an accident over the weekend while repairing subway facilities, rekindling concerns regarding the safety management of subway operator Seoul Metro.According to Gwangjin Fire Station, 28-year-old employee surnamed Park fell down below the railroad bridge during maintenance operations near subway line No. 2 Seongsu Station at 1:12 p.m. on Saturday. The accident was reported to the rescue center immediately, but Park was found dead in the waters below the b

Social Affairs Sept. 4, 2016

Despite the different drinking cultures around the world, there is one universal truth that no one can escape from after a night of heavy drinking: the hangover.As studies technically show, the only way to avoid the dreaded hangover is to drink less, but there are other tactics people use to reduce the pain and suffering that come having one too many. While the go-to cure for many people is to drink plenty of water in the morning, different countries have their own designated hangover food, comp

Social Affairs Sept. 2, 2016

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Wednesday denounced the central government’s overlapping plan to utilize the land in Yongsan following the scheduled relocation of the US troops next year. He said the city will continue to draw up detailed plans to create an urban park upholding the historical value of the site.After several rounds of talks stretching decades, South Korea and the US agreed in 2004 to relocate the US military headquarters in Yongsan to an expanded military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeongg

Social Affairs Aug. 31, 2016

Citizens are perhaps the most important factor in defining public art, said Ahn Kyu-chul, a formative arts professor at Korea National University of Arts. “Citizens can call hanging love locks at N Seoul Tower in Namsan public art if they like, why not?” said Ahn during a lecture to a hundred participants who had gathered at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Saturday for Seoul City’s project to uncover public art. Ahn, 61, is a Korean sculpture and installation artist, writer and teacher who has been l

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2016

“자전거를 타러 한강을 오가면서 설치된 공공미술 동상을 지나치면서 알고 보면 가치 있는 예술작품일텐데 하는 생각에 안타까웠죠.”중랑구에서 거주하는 이영란 (53) 씨는 지난 27일 서울 도심 속 무심코 지나치고 있는 공공미술 작품의 진정한 가치를 발굴하고 알리는 시민발굴단 발대식에 참가한 100명 중 한 명이다.9월부터 2개월 간 활동하게 될 서울시 공공미술 시민발굴단은 여고생부터 70대 어르신까지 외국인을 포함한 서울시민 100명으로 다양하게 구성되어 있다.이 씨는 “한강 근처의 벤치나 공공 시설물들만 보아도 공공미술로써의 가치가 있는 것 같다”며 “마포대교의 자살 방지 다리처럼 사람들이 함께 공유하고 같이 의미를 되새길 수 있는 미술은 멀리 있지 않은 것 같다”고 말하며 2달 간의 여정에 대한 기대감을 밝혔다.10개 그룹으로 나눠 그룹별 주제에 맞는 공공미술작품을 찾아내고, 페이스북, 인스타그램, 트위터 등 SNS를 통해 시민에게 알리는 활동을 맞게 된 시민발굴단은 그룹별로 시민

한국어판 Aug. 29, 2016

서울시는 지난 27일 서울 도심 속 무심코 지나치고 있는 공공미술 작품의 진정한 가치를 발굴하고 알리는 시민발굴단 발대식을 동대문디자인플라자(DDP) 나눔관에서 열었다.현장은 여고생부터 70대 어르신까지 외국인을 포함한 서울시민 100명으로 가득 차 있었다. 10개 그룹으로 나눠 그룹별 주제에 맞는 공공미술작품을 찾아내고, 페이스북, 인스타그램, 트위터 등 SNS를 통해 시민에게 알리는 활동을 맞게 된 시민발굴단은 그룹별로 시민 10인과 전문가 1인이 함께 공공미술 작품과 한 팀을 이뤘다. 서울시 시민발굴단 발대식이 지난 27일 동대문디자인플라자(DDP) 나눔관에서 열렸다. (코리아헤럴드/김다솔 기자)변태순 서울시 디자인정책과장은 “한 도시에서 시민들을 대상으로 이런 공공미술 프로젝트를 진행하는 것은 전세계 처음”이라며 “이번 프로젝트가 앞으로 시민과 소통하는 공공미술의 초석이 될 것으로 기대한다”고 말했다. “디자인 거버넌스 사업은 시민이 제안하고 시민이 함께 해결해가는 사업인만큼

한국어판 Aug. 29, 2016

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that it has confirmed this country’s second case of cholera in Geoje, South Gyeongsang province.The confirmation comes two days after the discovery of South Korea’s first case of cholera in 15 years.According to the health authorities, a 73-year-old woman was confirmed to have been infected with cholera after she ate defrosted raw Spanish mackerel for lunch on Aug. 14.The woman reportedly told health care officials that she share

Social Affairs Aug. 25, 2016

The National Health Insurance Service, a public corporation managing health care here, is reaching out abroad with South Korea’s health insurance models to share its expertise and accomplishments. For decades, the NHIS has provided low-cost access to quality health care for citizens and its health insurance system has also gained recognition as one of the most efficient in the world.It attracts an average of 250 health policy officials from 30 countries each year, providing them with customized

Social Affairs Aug. 24, 2016

This is the second installment of a three-part series on Seoul's battle against three types of urban pollution: smell, noise, and light. --Ed.Bustling with talented young buskers, Seoul’s Daehangno and Hongdae streets turn into vibrant stages at night.After sunset, diverse buskers flock to the popular areas to show off their skills ranging from rapping, dancing and even putting on magic shows, attracting swarms of passersby.But for the residents in nearby areas, the artistic outlet is more like

Social Affairs Aug. 24, 2016

South Korean health authorities said Tuesday that it has confirmed the first case of cholera in 15 years in Gwangju. It is the first time that a local citizen has been infected with the disease without having traveled overseas.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a 58-year-old man was infected with cholera in the southern city of Gwangju, after he started suffering from diarrhea on Aug. 10.Eight days after he was hospitalized at a regional medical center, he was reporte

Social Affairs Aug. 23, 2016

The Korea Meteorological Administration’s error in reporting that the abnormal heat wave would soon end has led to questions over its ability to forecast the weather.The KMA said last week that heat would subside over the weekend and the tropical night phenomena will also diminish.However, the daytime high hit 36.5 degrees Celsius in Seoul on Monday, while a heat wave warning and advisory were announced for cities across the nation throughout most of last week.As of Monday, Seoul saw 23 days wit

Social Affairs Aug. 22, 2016

Some of the victims and members of civic group have dismissed the government’s additional confirmation of 37 victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants, arguing the state’s categorization process is flawed.Based on the third round of victims’ damage reports collected last December, the Environment Ministry conducted the verification process on 165 out of 752 applications for recognition as victims, based on personal clinical results, diagnostic images and the level of exposure.Among them, 35, inc

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2016

Some of the victims and members of civic group have dismissed the government’s additional confirmation of 37 victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants, arguing the state’s categorization process is flawed.Based on the third round of victims’ damage reports collected last December, the Environment Ministry conducted the verification process on 165 out of 752 applications for recognition as victims, based on personal clinical results, diagnostic images and the level of exposure.Among them, 35, inc

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2016

This is the first installment of a three-part series on Seoul’s battle against three types of urban pollution: smell, noise and light. --Ed.For Kim Ok-jin, 56, summer is the season of the year when her anxiety peaks, especially when she tries to open her windows. Her main concern is not the scorching weather, but the food smell that wafts over to her house from a “galbi” (Korean barbequed ribs) restaurant across the street.Kim has been living in Seoul’s southeastern town Jamsil in Songpa-gu for

Social Affairs Aug. 18, 2016

South Korea’s abnormal heat wave that has been ongoing since July will come to an end this weekend, the state weather agency said Thursday. The Korea Meteorological Administration said that the heat will subside at the end of the week and the tropical night phenomena will also diminish.The temperatures are expected to cool off as sporadic rain is set to hit central regions such as Gangwon Province, with some parts of the peninsula expected to get as much as 50 millimeters of precipitation over t

Social Affairs Aug. 18, 2016