A local government is considering changing a reward system for hunting harmful wild animals due to growing criticism the current system is unethical and against animal welfare. As part of efforts to control the number of wild animals that cause harm to crop fields and villagers, authorities have been providing since 2014 cash rewards to hunters based on the number of animals captured. The problem is the hunters were asked to submit evidence -- for instance, a tail of a wild pig or an ear of an e

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2016

In the early 90s, Yoon Ho-seob was at the peak of his career as an advertisement designer. At the very front of the money-spinning marketing world, he designed logos for global companies like Pepsi Co. and international events such as 1988 Summer Olympics. Then one day, a thought struck him that he may be on a train running at full speed toward the edge of the cliff. Civilization, consuming resources at an ever-accelerating pace, had reached a point of no turning back, he thought. “I couldn’t li

Social Affairs Oct. 28, 2016

This year marks the 110th anniversary of the establishment of Dongguk University. In 1906, Buddhist pioneers founded Myungjin School, the root of Dongguk University, in an aim to contribute to the country through education and fostering talented students. In order to remember the origin of the school, in 1956, architect Song Min-gu designed and constructed Myungjin Building. It was the first building to be built among campus buildings at Dongguk University, after it was relocated to Pil-dong in

Social Affairs Oct. 27, 2016

Fifteen Seoul City Council members are moving to ban city workers from sending work requests via mobile messenger apps after office hours, it was announced Thursday.Kim Gwang-su, a Seoul City Council member, said they proposed a revision to the Ordinance of Seoul City Public Servants bill last week. “Although public servants need to serve citizens 24/7, their fundamental rights to rest are often ignored due to excessive workload,” Kim said.“The Seoul mayor should protect public servants and try

Social Affairs Oct. 27, 2016

[Herald Interview]One way to solve social challenges such as poverty and housing problems is to spread the concept of social innovation, said an international expert on public administration.  “Social innovation is a new idea which often leads to changes in human behaviors or shifts how resources flow. Ideally, social innovation helps us to tackle the root cause of the problems, instead of just to mitigate symptoms,” said Tim Draimin, the executive director of Social Innovation Generation based

Social Affairs Oct. 26, 2016

　서울시 에너지 복지사로 활동하고 있는 김미향 씨의 하루는 걷는 것으로 시작한다. 　서울시에서 기초생활수급자로 선정된 약 14만여 가구를 직접 발로 뛰며 일일이 방문하여 기초생활수급자 가정의 상황과 환경을 확인해야 하기 때문이다. 　서울 내 안 가본 동네와 골목이 없다고 자부하는 김 씨의 반복적인 하루에도 새로운 변화가 찾아왔다.　서울시민을 대상으로 하는 서울시 공공미술 시민발굴단으로 선발되어 2달 간의 ‘숨은 미술 찾기’ 프로젝트에 참여하게 된 것이다. 　 서울시 공공미술 시민발굴단에 참여하는 시민들이 모여 회의를 하고 있다. (서울시 제공)서울시는 지난 8월 10명의 현직 큐레이터들과 100여명의 서울시민을 대상으로 서울시 공공미술 시민 발굴단을 선발, 공공미술의 가장 큰 주체이자 향유자인 시민들의 참여를 유도하는 2달간의 프로젝트를 시작했다. 　10개 그룹으로 나눠 주제에 맞는 서울시 내 공공미술작품을 찾아낸 뒤, 페이스북, 인스타그램, 트위터 등 SNS를 통해 시민에게 알리는

한국어판 Oct. 26, 2016

Kim Mi-hyang, a contracted social worker at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, found a way to make her work day much more interesting. While her work takes her in to the far corners and back alleys of Seoul to inspect the living conditions of those that receive a monthly stipend, she is now part of a select few Seoul citizens dedicated to uncovering public street art. In August Kim become one of the 100 participants in the “Art on Seoul’s streets found by citizens” project, a two-month municipal

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2016

Henrik Fisker, a Danish-born automotive designer, is known as the man who turns dreams into reality.For over a decade, he has been engaged throughout the entire process of creating automobiles -- from the early stages of design to giving the finishing touches to iconic luxury cars, such as the Fisker Karma, BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9.According to the luxury concept car designer, who will be speaking about automobile design innovation at the Herald Design Forum 2016 on Nov. 8, there is always ro

Arts & Design Oct. 25, 2016

A rare gunfight in Seoul on Wednesday night has caused concern among the public, revealing a loophole in the country’s strict gun control policy: homemade guns. Public criticism and worries are mounting over the authority’s lax control over privately manufactured weapons, after a police officer was shot dead in what appears to be a premeditated attack using a self-made gun. The policeman was shot in the back by a criminal suspect, who was armed with homemade guns and was wearing a bulletproof ve

Social Affairs Oct. 20, 2016

Samcheonggak, a 43-year-old Korean traditional restaurant at the foot of Seoul’s Inwangsan, will turn into a Korean food and cultural complex by 2018.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it plans to select a private operator for the 2017-2019 period, in an aim to refurbish the area as Seoul’s new landmark. It is currently run by the Seoul City’s Sejong Center for Performing Arts.The city government also plans to spend 10 billion won ($8 million) to renovate by the end of next year the

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2016

When Samsung Electronics launched a washing machine named “Addwash” in September last year, it immediately became a hit with consumers for its unprecedented design: The front-loading washing machine featured a smaller door, in addition to the main door, that could be used to put in additional laundry after the wash cycle had begun.While Samsung’s Addwash was designed to address a common laundry problem, Alberto Alessi, CEO of Italian houseware brand Alessi designed a spider-like citrus squeezer

Arts & Design Oct. 18, 2016

Unlike worries here over a possible Chinese economic retaliation on Korean businesses over a defense issue, Chinese venture capitalists wish to see more active business cooperation between the two countries, market insiders said at the inaugural Seoul China Investment Week in Seoul on Tuesday. David Chen, a 10-year veteran venture capitalist and co-founder of Shanghai-based AngelVest venture capital firm, said Korea has “interesting assets” to attract more overseas investors.“There are various t

Social Affairs Oct. 18, 2016