Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday threw his hat in the race to be the next president of South Korea, saying “his mind is made up.”“This year will be a pivotal time for South Korea. We need to build a new country through political, economic and social innovations,” Park wrote via Facebook. “I have decided to follow the call of the time and devote myself to the innovation of South Korea.”A civil rights lawyer-turned-activist-turned administrator, Park has been the mayor of Seoul since 2011, a po

Social Affairs Jan. 2, 2017

The government's plan to foster mega-sized investment banks (IBs) will likely be hampered by a controversial rule that restricts their investments in the real estate sector, industry observers said Friday.Under the government's plan, IBs with 4 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) or more in equity capital will be eligible for short-term corporate lending, such as the issuance of commercial papers.Securities firms with equity capital of 8 trillion won or more will be able to launch investment managemen

Industry Dec. 30, 2016

The special investigative team led by independent counsel Park young-soo suspects that another unauthorized figure may have been involved in President Park Geun-hye’s medical treatment.  According to sources and local reports, the team has secured text messages exchanged between two of Park’s secretaries in May 2013 regarding visits by the “injection lady” to Cheong Wa Dae, allegedly without proper security clearance.  According to the five text messages that have been restored through digital f

Social Affairs Dec. 29, 2016

The Ministry of Environment announced Tuesday a revised law to strengthen control over breaches of vehicle authentication here, in a bid to prevent another Volkswagen’s emissions-rigging scandal.  Audi Volkswagen Korea headquarterAccording to the revision bill of the current Clean Air Conservation Act, automobile makers that breach vehicle authentication measures in Korea will receive a penalty of up to 5 percent of the total sales amount and can be fined up to 50 billion won ($41 million) per v

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2016

With at least 70,000 people involved in the mass culling of poultry at bird flu-hit areas recently, concerns of human infections of the virus are rising due to the workers‘ exposure, a lawmaker said Tuesday. “Since workers participating in culling and burying infected poultry in rural areas are directly exposed to the virus, they carry a higher likelihood of getting infected,” said main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Hyun-kwon, adding the government should come up with stricter qu

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2016

South Koreans gathered in central Seoul on Christmas Eve, braving the cold to protest against President Park Geun-hye and demand the Constitutional Court promptly carry out her impeachment trial.Saturday’s rally, the ninth of its kind since October, had a festive mood, with some protesters dressing up as Santa Claus.(Yonhap)Before the main part of the rally, which was a march toward the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae at 6 p.m., there were events such as a Korean traditional percussion perform

Social Affairs Dec. 24, 2016

Starting Friday, graphic warnings about the harmful effects of smoking will be attached to cigarette packs sold in South Korea. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, all cigarette packs sold here, including those sold at duty-free shops, must carry one of 10 designated full-color and disturbing photos with warnings on the adverse effects of smoking.Some of the photos depict the body parts of smokers suffering from fatal diseases such as lung cancer, oral cancer, heart attack and strok

Social Affairs Dec. 22, 2016

For Kim Su-yeon, a 36-year-old self-proclaimed germophobe, Seoul at this time of a year is a nightmare.  Before stepping outside, she always makes sure she has a sufficient supply of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers in her bag. But such precautions still seem inadequate in keeping her germ-free, especially when strangers near her start to cough without covering their mouth. “I saw a lady who clearly had a contagious cold, coughing, sneezing and wiping her nose with her hand in the subway.

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2016

The cancer occurrence rate among South Koreans has fallen for three consecutive years, government data showed Tuesday.According to data tallied by the Korea Central Cancer Registry, 217,057 patients were diagnosed with cancer in 2014 -- 289.1 cases per 100,000 people -- down 4.5 percent from the 227,188 patients in 2013. The KCCR began collecting data on the occurrence rate of cancer in 1999. It peaked in 2012 with 323.3 cases per 100,000 people, but has since been on a gradual decline. By type

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2016

The government on Tuesday mapped out plans to tighten controls to prevent humans from being infected with a highly pathogenic bird flu strain, a week after it elevated its watch level from “alert” to “serious,” the highest level in the country’s disease control system.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday it has dispatched quarantine officials to monitor human infections and cull infected poultry at 42 sites across the nation.Officials will also provide residents with 15,300 doses of a

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2016