Typhoon Mitag, the seventh typhoon to hit the Korean Peninsula this year, brought strong winds and heavy rain on Wednesday as it made landfall on the southwestern coast. The typhoon was traveling at about 30 kilometers per hour from waters 190 kilometers southwest of the port city of Mokpo in South Jeolla Province as of 4 p.m. and was expected to make landfall near Mokpo at around 10 p.m. Wednesday.It was then expected to exit to the East Sea on Thursday morning and turn eastward from water

Social Affairs Oct. 2, 2019

The prosecution said Tuesday that it will abolish special investigation divisions under prosecutors’ offices across the country and improve investigation practices in line with the Moon Jae-in administration’s drive to reform the country’s powerful law enforcement body.  Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl ordered the abolition of special investigation divisions -- elite squads of experienced prosecutors charged with investigating high-profile corruption cases -- around the

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2019

In Korea, understanding those born in the 1990s is all the rage now, as they enter the workforce and emerge as a powerful new voting bloc. 　 Shelves at major bookstores are filled with new hardbacks on the ‘90s-born -- an attempt to define and understand what they are like as voters, employees and consumers. 　 Even President Moon Jae-in recently presented Blue House staff with the bestselling book “‘90s Generation is Coming,” by Lim Hong-teak, saying, “We

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2019

A national anti-fine dust body suggested Monday that the government enforce stronger measures to curb hazardous particulate pollution, such as by shutting down coal power plants and restricting old diesel vehicles from December to March next year. 　The National Council on Climate and Air Quality suggested a seasonal dust management system, under which a crackdown on illegal emissions is toughened, up to 27 coal power plants are shut down in spring and over 1 million aged diesel vehicles are rest

Social Affairs Sept. 30, 2019

Justice Minister Cho Kuk reiterated his determination to reform the prosecution as a new 16-member prosecution reform committee tasked with drawing up measures to overhaul the powerful law enforcement body was launched Monday. Mentioning the candlelight vigil held Saturday supporting Cho and the reform of the prosecution, he said that the public’s aspirations for reforming the judiciary is stronger than ever. “Koreans are questioning who are the owners of this country once again by c

Social Affairs Sept. 30, 2019

Some 500 students on Friday took to the streets in central Seoul to demand bolder measures to mitigate climate change, joining the global movement triggered by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg.Some of the students skipped classes and others came with their classmates, teachers and parents. They called for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as scrapping plans to build new coal fired power plants in Korea and abroad by 2020, and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 205

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2019

Corruption allegations involving embattled Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family engulfed a parliamentary interpellation session Thursday, with the opposition bloc calling for his impeachment.Making an appearance before lawmakers at the National Assembly for the first time as a new Cabinet member, Cho vowed utmost efforts to reform the prosecution and innovate the Justice Ministry seeking cooperation for bills related to judicial reforms. The session, however, was dominated by a new revel

Social Affairs Sept. 26, 2019

A two-day symposium on green growth organized by the World Bank Group Korea Green Growth Trust Fund opened in Seoul on Thursday, bringing together more than 150 government officials, industry leaders and experts.The KGGTF -- a partnership between South Korea and the World Bank -- held the “Korea Green Innovation Days” event for the world’s leading experts in the environmental and development sectors to discuss the KGGTF’s projects and share their knowledge, strategies and

Social Affairs Sept. 26, 2019

Special deals, discounts and free souvenirs will be offered at hotels, shops and restaurants in Seoul from Friday to Oct. 6 as part of a 10-day event for foreign tourists. Under the theme of “Eat and Stay,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host Seoul Welcome Week 2019, targeting Chinese tourists traveling abroad during China’s Golden Week from Tuesday to Oct. 7.  Discounts -- up to 50 percent for musical tickets and up to 20 percent for shopping and food -- and

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2019

There are many exotic buildings in the heart of Seoul that combine Western architectural elements and traditional Korean materials, providing a glimpse into the country’s history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Located right next to Deoksugung in central Seoul is a plot of land belonging to the UK, which British Deputy Ambassador to Korea Nik Mehta proudly said was the most beautiful diplomatic compound here. Walking to the back of Aston Hall, the main hall inside the office bui

Social Affairs Sept. 23, 2019

A professor at a prestigious university in Seoul has come under fire for reportedly likening Korean victims of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement to prostitutes, triggering calls for his expulsion from the political circle and his alumni. During a lecture, Ryu Seok-chun, a sociology professor at Yonsei University, said that the victims of Japan’s sexual slavery sold sex because they needed to earn a living, and dismissed a civic organization advocating on behalf of them as

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2019

Typhoon Tapah battered Jeju Island and the southern region of Korea on Sunday with strong winds and heavy rain, leaving at least one person dead and seven injured. The typhoon, packing wind gusts of 126 kilometers per hour with an atmospheric pressure of 970 hectopascals at its center, was traveling northeastward from Jeju Island at a speed of about 35 kilometers per hour as of 3 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. A two-story house collapsed at 10:25 p.m. Saturday in Bus

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2019

Thousands of people took to the streets in central Seoul on Saturday to call for immediate action to tackle climate change, joining millions of protesters around the world in the global movement.　An estimated 4,000 people gathered in Daehakro in central Seoul to criticize the government for its lukewarm response to climate change and to call for more drastic change in energy policies -- such as shutting down coal-fired power plants, shifting to renewable energy and cutting other emissions.　&ldqu

Social Affairs Sept. 21, 2019

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday its plan to restructure Gwanghwamun Square would be put on hold to gather public opinion in the wake of opposition from the relevant ministry and some civic groups. However, the government still plans to restructure the current square, which has been compared to an isolated, gigantic traffic island, but it will revisit the current blueprint and take more time to draw up a final scheme to reflect public opinion, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said.&ldquo

Social Affairs Sept. 19, 2019

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will ban vehicles from sections of the two main boulevards in southern Seoul as part of its efforts to make the capital city more pedestrian-friendly, city authorities said Wednesday. A 1-kilometer-long stretch of Banpo-daero and a 600-meter-long stretch of Yeongdong-daero will be closed off to vehicles Sept. 21 and Sept. 29. Daehangno in central Seoul, which stretches 960 meters, will go pedestrian-only on Oct. 13. During the car-free periods, a host of cu

Social Affairs Sept. 18, 2019