More than one third of the tracks of Seoul’s four oldest subway lines are not earthquake-safe, escalating concerns over public safety following a recent subway crash, a report showed Tuesday. According to a report released by ruling Saenuri Party Rep. Lee No-keun, 36 percent of Seoul’s Subway lines 1 to 4 are not built with an earthquake-resistant design. The combined distance of the tracks amounts to 147 kilometers. The rest can endure possible earthquakes, he added. About 87 percent of the tra

Social Affairs May 13, 2014

A door of a Seoul subway train temporarily went out of order, apparently because of a piece of trash, causing inconvenience for passengers during rush hour on Tuesday, officials said. One of the doors of a southbound train at Gireum Station on Line 4 failed to close at around 8:20 a.m., forcing more than 500 passengers to get off and take the next train. The exact cause is unknown but a piece of trash stuck in the door is suspected to have prevented it from closing, officials said. Subway operat

Social Affairs May 13, 2014

The South Korean government legally recognized Monday three ferry victims who risked their lives to save others in the Sewol ferry that sank off the southern coast of the country on April 16.The legal recognition is granted to those who go beyond the call of duty in saving others, the Health and Welfare Ministry said. Once recognized, the bodies of the victims are allowed to be buried in the national cemetery. The bereaved families become eligible for compensation and additional health and educa

Social Affairs May 12, 2014

A former Seoul official who was cleared of charges of spying in a high profile espionage case last month was indicted again on charges of sending money to North Korea with other defectors.Yoo Woo-seong, 34, was booked without detention for violating the currency exchange law and obstruction of justice, prosecutors said on Sunday.The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office indicted him for allegations that he illegally sent about 2.7 billion won ($2.6 million) to North Korea between 2005 and 2

Social Affairs May 11, 2014

The government said on Sunday it will exclude dual citizenship holders who live abroad for more than 60 days a year from the basic pension program that starts in July.The Health and Welfare Ministry is set to provide a monthly allowance of between 100,000 won and 200,000 won ($97 to $195) to the poorest 70 percent of Koreans aged 65 or older. In its previous plan, the ministry said it would not give the welfare benefits to seniors who hold dual citizenships and live less than six months per year

Social Affairs May 11, 2014

Seoul City released Thursday a five-year support plan for foreign residents as part of efforts to better protect their human rights and boost their quality of life here. As of this year, some 395,000 foreigners reside in the capital, accounting for 3.9 percent of the city’s population. To secure human rights more effectively, the city established a special human rights team specifically for foreign residents in February, which is the first started by the municipal government in the country. The

Social Affairs May 8, 2014

South Korean authorities said Wednesday that they would summon two subway officials as part of the investigation into the train crash in Seoul that left hundreds injured last week. An eastbound train rear-ended another at Sangwangsimni Station on Line 2 on Friday allegedly due to a traffic signal error, injuring more than 240 passengers, with seven in serious condition. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will question two Seoul Metro traffic signal managers over whether they accurately reporte

Social Affairs May 7, 2014

The South Korean government said it would reduce the medical fees for choice-based treatment starting from August as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on patients, officials said Thursday. Under the choice-based treatment system, patients can opt for certain experienced doctors, with more than 10 years of experience. In return, patients seeking higher quality treatment pay 20 to 100 percent more in additional charges, which are not covered by the national health insurance. Under the

Social Affairs May 1, 2014

Working over 13 hours a day may double the risk of having a brain hemorrhage, a research paper published in the International Journal of Stroke showed Wednesday. According to a study conducted by neurology professor Kim Beom-joon at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, those who worked for more than 13 hours a day had a 94 percent higher chance of having a cerebral hemorrhage than those working for four hours a day.Kim analyzed the occupational types, workin

Social Affairs April 30, 2014