Seoul City on Wednesday announced a plan to build nine new light rail transit routes over the next 10 years to reduce blind spots in its subway and bus networks.Officials said the new passenger train corridors on a combined 85.41 kilometers of routes will help improve public transport and reduce citizens’ reliance on roads.“Sticking to the rail-centered public transport policy, the city will restructure the system over the next 10 years, allowing citizens to get to any subway station within 10 m

Social Affairs July 24, 2013

Retired police officers and former public servants are likely to join police to protect foreign visitors in Seoul’s major tourist spots, a city official said Monday. Seoul Police Agency plans to launch a 100-member police corps by October to crack down on abuses against tourists by illegal taxi vans, unauthorized guides and others. Seoul City is considering deploying 12 former officials with local knowledge as “tourist sheriffs” to assist police in the most popular tourist areas, such as Myeongd

Social Affairs July 22, 2013

Police on Thursday referred former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui and other key figures in a sex-for-favor scandal to the prosecution on multiple charges, including rape and drug use. The National Police Agency announced the result of its four-month investigation, recommending that prosecutors indict the 18 people involved. They were booked without physical detention.Investigators confirmed that Yoon Joong-cheon, a 52-year-old local construction contractor, provided some high-profile figures w

Social Affairs July 18, 2013

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon apologized Wednesday for a deadly accident at a water supply reservoir and vowed to carry out a thorough investigation into alleged violation of safety protocol.“I feel responsible and offer my apology for failing to protect citizens’ lives and safety,” he said during a visit to the construction site where seven workers were swept away in a flood Monday. Two were confirmed dead as of Wednesday afternoon.He said the city government would thoroughly investigate the incide

Social Affairs July 17, 2013

Nine conglomerates have pledged to invest 2.8 trillion won ($2.4 billion) by 2015 in industries to prevent toxic leaks as part of joint measures to prevent environmental disasters at factories, the government said Friday.Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and others will be injecting the funds to improve old facilities, enhance safety installations and build up toxic gas monitoring systems. All industries will be required to adopt the leak detection and repair system, which currently only appli

Social Affairs July 15, 2013

Seoul City said Wednesday it is to provide job training and entrepreneurship programs for marriage migrant women.The one- to three-month courses on beauty care, hotel room assistance and SNS marketing will be run in seven women career centers in various districts, including Jungnang, Gwanak and Seongdong.A government survey showed that 41.5 percent of migrant women in the country were unemployed last year. Applications will be received through each center starting Thursday. (rene@heraldcorp.com)

Social Affairs July 10, 2013

Nearly half of “super supermarkets” and convenience stores in Seoul are illegally selling alcohol to teenagers, a survey by the city government showed Tuesday.The city government announced the result of its one-month undercover inspection of retail stores, in which 40 teenage volunteers and college students participated.A total of 43.5 percent of 200 SSMs and 55.2 percent of 1,000 convenience stores violated the Juvenile Protection Act that prohibits the sale of alcohol to those under 19.They us

Social Affairs July 9, 2013

Seoul City councilors are pushing for the dismissal of Sejong Center CEO Bagh Inbae, a close associate of Mayor Park Won-soon, for mismanagement and feuds with staff. It is the first attempt by city representatives to remove a chief of the public performing arts center in its 35-year history. Bagh was appointed by the mayor in January last year. He has been under pressure to resign for causing discordance with the art team, increasing the budget deficit and disregarding the budget enforcement pr

Social Affairs July 7, 2013

Seoul City and Twitter Korea are working together to establish an online disaster information system using the city’s various accounts on the micro-blog service. Twitter Lifeline will provide real-time alerts, guidance and up-to-date news and information to citizens during an emergency, and people can also post notifications of their whereabouts and status through their smartphones, the city said. The two sides signed an agreement for the project on Wednesday.It will help authorities’ response a

Social Affairs July 7, 2013

The prosecution questioned former spy agency chief Won Sei-hoon on Thursday over allegations that he received bribes from a local construction company in exchange of business favors. In a separate case, Won was indicted last month on charges of masterminding an online smear campaign against the opposition candidate to sway public opinion ahead of presidential election late last year.He served as head of the National Intelligence Service under former President Lee Myung-bak. He is suspected of ta

Social Affairs July 4, 2013

The Justice Ministry has tightened visa regulations for foreign language teachers to ensure they are paid at least 1.5 million won ($1,324) per month. The ministry said the new guideline was designed to improve their working conditions and the quality of language education. Under the rule, effective as of Monday, the E-2 teaching visa will be issued only if employers guarantee foreign teachers the minimum monthly rate. Its survey in March found that some lecturers are paid less than 1 million wo

Social Affairs July 2, 2013