As South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in signals his strong determination to overhaul the state prosecution, eyes are on whether a new investigation entity devoted to probing corruption cases involving senior public servants will finally be established. The creation of the body with independent power to investigate and indict high-ranking officials in the judiciary and civil service as well as their family members is the core of Moon’s pledges to reform the prosecution. His reform plan has rec

Politics May 14, 2017

South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in vowed to unite a divided nation and become a president for everyone as he took his oath of office Wednesday. “I will become a president who communicates with people at all times. I will yield the president’s imperial power to people as much as possible,” he said in his inauguration speech. President Moon Jae-in takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 10, 2017. (Yonhap)The oath-taking ceremony was h

Politics May 10, 2017

Thousands of supporters for South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in gathered in central Seoul on Tuesday night to celebrate the liberal candidate’s landslide victory.With some smiling and shedding tears of joy, South Koreans flocked to Gwanghwamun Square with their families and friends to watch the election results come in on big outdoor screens and celebrate Moon’s win together. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)“I came here to celebrate Moon’s victory because I think it is really a historic mome

Social Affairs May 10, 2017

As South Koreans head to polls to fill the top office’s vacancy left by ousted President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday, some wonder whether Park herself cast voted. Park, who was removed from power over a series of corruption allegations in March, has remained in detention since her arrest three weeks after falling from power. She is now on trial for abusing her power and receiving bribes from local firms to help her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil’s business interests.(Yonhap)According to local news r

Social Affairs May 9, 2017

With the nation more politically engaged than ever after months of turmoil, South Koreans turned out in droves to elect their new president Tuesday, pushing voter turnout to the highest level in recent decades. 　At 3 p.m., nine hours after polls opened and with five hours left to vote, turnout had reached 63.7 percent, according to the National Election Commission. 　“We are expecting the final turnout to be around or over 80 percent, with record-high turnouts from previous overseas and early vot

Social Affairs May 9, 2017

As two-day early voting marked a record high turnout Friday, voters of all ages flooded social media with the latest trend -- taking selfies to celebrate their participation in democracy. It has become fashionable among tech-savvy young voters to share “voting selfies” -- photos of themselves posing in front of the polling booth or of hands or other body parts bearing ballot stamp marks. “I took a selfie and shared it online because I am proud that I had voted. Also, I wanted to encourage others

Social Affairs May 5, 2017

In this year’s presidential election, there is good news for pet lovers. Presidential hopefuls may differ on their political ideologies, but they have all promised a better life for animals. All major candidates have incorporated animal welfare issues -- from tougher punishment for animal abuse to a cut in medical costs -- into their official platform to woo the growing number of animal lovers in the country. According to government data, 21.8 percent of the South Korean households -- about 10 m

Social Affairs May 5, 2017

INCHEON/ SEOUL -- As the two-day early voting kicked off Thursday, millions of South Koreans flocked to polling stations across the nation to elect their next president. Instead of voting on the scheduled election day of Tuesday, many chose to cast ballots earlier as they have to work or have other plans, such as a trip to vacation hot spots.People wait in line at Incheon International Airport on May 4, 2017, for early voting for the May 9 presidential election. (Yonhap)When The Korea Herald vis

Social Affairs May 4, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye maintained her claim of innocence via attorneys at the first hearing of her trial Tuesday, signaling a tough battle against the corruption charges that brought an end to her presidency in March. The Seoul Central District Court held the preliminary hearing and set May 23 as the start date for a formal trial that Park, who has remained in custody since late March, must attend. She did not appear this time as her attendance was not mandatory. During the hearing, Park

Social Affairs May 2, 2017

More than half of Korean men have paid for sex at least once in their life, a government report showed Monday.According to the poll of 1,050 men by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 50.7 percent said they had purchased sex, 6 percentage points down from 2013. Nearly 26 percent of them had engaged prostitutes in the past year and did so 8.46 times per year on average.The majority of men who had paid for sex, or 53.8 percent, first did so when they were aged between 20 and 24, followed b

Social Affairs May 1, 2017