The Korea Herald

Farm school opens for homeless

Seoul Metropolitan Government has opened a farm school for the homeless to help them stand on their own as farmers or farm hands. The Seoul Farm School, opened on Monday, is expected to offer agricultural education so that the homeless can support themselves and break free from life on the streets. “I want to start a new life at the farming school. I’ve been living on the streets and eat at homeless shelters, but I want to earn money that can support me in the future,” said Ki Un-chan, 52, one o

Social Affairs April 2, 2012

Bulimia 19 times more common in women than men, ...survey finds

There were about 19 times more cases of bulimia in women as in men over the past five years, a survey has found.Bulimia is a type of eating disorder that involves eating large amounts of food and getting rid of the calories in an unhealthy way, such as vomiting or excessive exercise. According to a survey by the National Health Insurance Corp., released on Sunday, women bulimia patients outnumbered men 2,002 to 100 in 2007, 1,711 to 91 in 2008, 1,939 to 93 in 2009, 2,150 to 112 in 2010, and 2,12

Social Affairs April 1, 2012

Honorary Ph.D. for Vietnam P.M.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received an honorary doctoral degree from Korea University on Wednesday, the school said.He was in Korea for the Nuclear Security Summit, which ended its two-day run in Seoul on Tuesday.Korea University conferred the honorary doctoral degree in economics to Dung in recognition of his achievements in the economic development of Vietnam. “Prime Minister Dung is a leader who has devoted his life to developing the country and raising its international status

Social Affairs March 29, 2012

Age discrimination rife in Korea despite legislation

Women in 50s most likely to experience age discrimination in employmentWhen one 50-year-old housewife asked staff at one of the country’s biggest supermarket chains what qualifications were needed for her to be a cashier, she got a nasty surprise. The first thing cashiers told her was that she needed to be under 50. She was told thatunless she has a special qualification or is highly recommended by someone, age matters the most. Women in their 50s often seek employment out of a need to become th

Social Affairs March 27, 2012

Age discrimination rife in Korea despite legislation

Scaffolding collapse injures workers, cause one death at power plant

A scaffolding collapse at the nation’s biggest thermal power plant caused one death on Tuesday morning. Thirteen workers fell from a height of about 10 meters when a scaffold set up to assist their maintenance work inside a Boryeong thermal power plant broke down.Ten workers escaped or were rescued by 119 rescue workers right after the accident, and several hours later, three more were rescued, according to a local news report. One worker was reported to have died during treatment at a hospital.

Social Affairs March 27, 2012

Travel assistance offered for student and elderly groups

Group tour organizers that attract students or elderly people to Seoul will receive financial assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.The city government said Monday that it will provide up to 4 million won ($3,500) per group made up of more than 20 persons and up to 500,000 won ($440) for elderly groups. The support will be given for events such as welcoming dinners or cultural performances.“We expect more student or elderly groups to visit Korea. We will develop tour programs customi

Social Affairs March 26, 2012

Thai P.M. pushes for education exchanges

Shinawatra highlights women’s power as driving force for developmentThai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra hoped her visit to one of the world’s largest women’s universities would boost exchanges between her country and South Korea in enhancing women’s rights and education, She also said that women were driving national development. “Women’s power will bring a sustainable development to a country’s economy,” Shinawatra said in a lecture to Ewha Womans University students on Monday. “I also hope

Social Affairs March 26, 2012

Thai P.M. pushes for education exchanges

First schools open in Sejong City

The first schools in Sejong City opened on Friday, as the new city under construction in South Chungcheong Province for numerous government ministries and agencies prepares for a population influx.The four schools are Chamsaem Kindergarten, Chamsaem Elementary School, Hansol Middle School and Hansol High School. They are equipped with state-of-art education facilities, according to the Education Ministry.Education ministry officials said the schools, though surrounded by apartment buildings unde

Social Affairs March 23, 2012

Sookmyung board fires school president

The foundation board of Sookmyung Women’s University has dismissed school president Han Young-sil, who has been in the conflict with the board over the latter’s alleged “laundering” of donation money. The decision was made at a hastily-called board meeting on Tuesday and took effect on Thursday, a local news outlet reported on Thursday. But the school administration called the board’s decision invalid because it violated the procedural rule which calls for the board to announce the agenda of its

Social Affairs March 22, 2012

Seoul City temps to gain permanent status

Decision to benefit 1,000 employees; cost expected to reach 6.2 billion wonThe Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday they would make city staff on temporary contracts permanent hires as part of efforts to improve job security and secure access to employment benefits.A total of 1,054 staff on temporary contract who have worked for the past two years or longer will be granted permanent status in May, according to officials. Their contracts will have unlimited duration and include benefi

Social Affairs March 22, 2012

John Linton wins Korean citizenship for medical contribution

John Linton, director of Severance Hospital International Health Care Center, received Korean citizenship from the Justice Ministry Wednesday. Ministry officials said that citizenship was granted in recognition of his medical contributions here and about a hundred years of outstanding achievements by his ancestors in the country.Linton, 53, now holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Korea under the revised law, which allows foreigners to have dual nationalities even if they obtain Korean citizen

People March 21, 2012

John Linton wins Korean citizenship for medical contribution

Sookmyung foundation chief, five auditors face dismissal

The Education Ministry said Tuesday they had notified a foundation chairman and five auditors at one of the nation’s prestigious women’s universities of their potential terminations for misappropriation of school donations. The Sookmyung Women’s University foundation board was accused of placing donations addressed to the school administration in its account, and then sending the money to the school’s management as though it were the foundation’s required financial contribution to the university

Social Affairs March 20, 2012

Herald Media, Yonsei sign MOU to nurture global-minded talent

Herald Media signed a memorandum of understanding with Yonsei Lifelong Learning Center on Monday on future cooperation on joint efforts to nurture global-minded individuals Hong Sung-A, director of English education business division of Herald Media and Lee Jong-soo, director of YLLC, signed the MOU at YLLC in Seoul on Monday.The two institutions is expected to develop curricula for nurturing global talent, conduct further research on methods for advanced education and find areas where they can

Social Affairs March 20, 2012

Herald Media, Yonsei sign MOU to nurture global-minded talent

Cartoonist named chair professor of Deoksung Women’s University

Rhie Won-bok, a famous cartoonist and author, has been named a chair professor of Deoksung Women’s University, where he has taught visual design for 27 years, the school said Monday. Rhie’s tenure ended in February, but the school said they wanted Rhie to stay because of his contribution to the school, especially in promoting it globally through student and academic exchanges with schools overseas. “Professor Rhie has made a great contribution to the development of the university and its student

People March 20, 2012

Cartoonist named chair professor of Deoksung Women’s University

Seoulites rate hospitals high; roads, sports facilities low in city service survey

City hospitals have received the highest marks while road maintenance and sports facilities scored low in a citizen satisfaction survey for city services, city officials said Monday. According to the annual poll by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, city hospitals received the highest score of 86.1, thanks to staff kindness, clean facilities and convenience. Road and sports facility maintenance scored 57.5 and 56.6 points for lack of safety and accessibility, respetively. Most of the sports faci

Social Affairs March 19, 2012

Articles by Lee Woo-young