The Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that the country’s decades-old abortion ban runs counter to the Constitution, paving the way for a revision of the criminal code 66 years after it was established. 　Pro-choice activists cheer in front of the Constituional Court, Thursday, following the ruling that ordered a revision of the current abortion ban. (Yonhap)In a landmark decision that overturned its 2012 ruling, the court ruled 7-2 that criminalizing all abortions -- even in the early stages of

Social Affairs April 11, 2019

지난 3월 29일 밤 11시 서울 마포구 홍대 인근의 한 유명클럽 앞. 주말을 맞아 클럽을 찾은 션 피켓(25)씨가 보안요원과 실랑이를 벌였다. 그가 알고 있는 클럽 입장료는 1만5000원인데, 보안요원이 그에게 입장료로 2만원을 내라고 하면서다. 피켓 씨는 “나도 한국인인데 왜 5000원을 더 내야 하느냐” 물었다. 겉모습은 백인이지만 그는 한국인 어머니, 미국인 아버지 사이에서 태어난 혼혈인이다. 하지만 그에게 돌아온 대답은 “그냥 가라” 였다. 그의 여자친구가 다시 찾아와 따지자 클럽 측이 “백인들은 문제를 일으키기 때문에 입장을 안 시킨다”고 했다. 피켓 씨는 “한국어로 말했지만 아무 소용이 없었다. 그들은 내 피부색깔만 봤다”며 인종차별을 당했다고 주장했다.프랑스 국적의 30대 남성 A씨가 겪은 차별은 더 심했다. 피켓 씨가 갔던 바로 그 클럽이었다. “백인은 문제를 일으킨다“며 출입 자체를 거부당했다는 게 그의 주장이다. 작년 가을에는 한국인 동료들과 함께 찾았던 이태원의

한국어판 April 10, 2019

The Constitutional Court is set to rule on the validity of the current abortion ban Thursday for the second time in seven years, amid a growing feminist movement and public support for scrapping the law.  Women's rights activists and pro-life activists hold rallies to voice their demands in front of the Constitutional Court.(Yonhap)Since a court deadlock de facto found the abortion ban constitutional in a 4-4 decision in 2012, debate on women’s right to choose and a fetus’ right to life has cont

Social Affairs April 10, 2019

For Sean Pickett, it was supposed to be a fun night out with his girlfriend and friends in Hongdae, a popular nightlife district. That night, however, he faced discrimination at a major club because he looked “white,” he says.　Pickett, whose mother is South Korean and whose father is a white American, was charged 20,000 won for being a “white man,” he said, even though Korean men were charged 15,000 won and Korean women were charged 10,000 won. 　When Pickett asked the bouncer why he had to pay m

Social Affairs April 9, 2019

Police said Tuesday they had questioned two police officers about allegations that Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of a major South Korean dairy company, avoided a probe into drug use in 2015. (Yonhap)The two officers had investigated cases involving Hwang, 31, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products founder Hong Du-yeong, who was suspected of having sold and used methamphetamine in 2015. She faces fresh allegations she used illegal drugs last April.　In 2015, Hwang was booked o

Social Affairs April 9, 2019

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and United Arab Emirates’ Khalifa University of Science and Technology opened the KAIST-KU Joint Research Center in Abu Dhabi, as part of their efforts to enhance cooperation in the wake of “Industry 4.0,” KAIST said Tuesday. 　KAIST President Shin Sung-chul (left) and Arif Al Hammadi, executive vice president of the Khalifa University of Science Technology, shake hands during the KAIST-KU Joint Research Center opening ceremony held in Abu Dhabi,

Social Affairs April 9, 2019

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday that it will establish a new body under Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to fight worsening particulate pollution in the nation’s capital. 　Under Park’s direct supervision, a body encompassing 11 departments and four state-run agencies under the municipality, as well as 25 district offices in Seoul, will be in charge of drawing up and implementing countermeasures to reduce dust pollution.(Yonhap)The control tower will go into operation at 4 p.m. on days whe

Social Affairs April 7, 2019

Police are expanding an investigation on drug use to celebrities, as Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of a major South Korean dairy producer, has revealed she took illegal substances on the recommendation of a celebrity acquaintance. (Yonhap)Hwang, 31, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products’ founder Hong Du-yeong, was arrested Saturday for suspected of drug trading and use. She is accused of selling methamphetamine and using it herself in 2015. Separately, she is suspected of h

Social Affairs April 7, 2019

An Angolan family who had been stranded for more than three months in Incheon Airport’s transit zone after being denied entry to the country, testified in court Thursday to fight the immigration office’s decision not to accept their refugee applications. Nkuka Lulendo, his wife and four children aged under 10, who arrived to South Korea on a tourist visa on Dec. 28, explained that how he had been asked to sign a document accepting the rejection without proper explanation at the third hearing in

Social Affairs April 4, 2019

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology placed fourth in industry, innovation and infrastructure in the 2019 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, KAIST said Thursday.  Participants attend the 2019 KAIST-THE Innovation & Impact summit held at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s main campus in Daejeon. (KAIST)KAIST earned a nearly perfect score in patent, dissertation and research funding -- one of the specific indicators to measure its impact on s

Social Affairs April 4, 2019

Operation hours for bus services running past Yeouido Hangang Park and more trains will be deployed on Line. 9 subway this weekend for an upcoming April 5-11 Cherry Blossom Festival, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. A total of 27 bus services -- including No. 162 and No. 463 -- will be running until 1:20 a.m. the next day from April 5-6 to help citizens enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival.  (Yonhap)The Line 9 subway, which stops at National Assembly Station, will run 56 more servi

Social Affairs April 3, 2019

The police have booked a number of third-generation scions of South Korean family-owned conglomerates on suspicions they bought and used illegal substances even as the investigation into more drug dealers and buyers widens. A grandson of SK Group founder Chey Jong-gun was apprehended Monday for allegedly buying liquid marijuana, the police said Monday. He is suspected of buying the drug, which is illegal in Korea, on 15 occasions and smoking it between March and May last year. (Yonhap)He tested

Social Affairs April 2, 2019

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Times Higher Education are jointly holding a three-day conference in South Korea on the changing roles of universities in the era of the “fourth industrial revolution,” KAIST said Monday.2019 KAIST-THE Innovation & Impact summit poster(KAIST)The 2019 KAIST-THE Innovation & Impact summit is being held from Tuesday to Thursday at KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon, bringing together some 300 leaders from 25 countries in the fields of education

Social Affairs April 1, 2019

Sweden stands ready to assume a discreet facilitating role in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea to contribute to building peace on the Korean Peninsula, Swedish Ambassador to Korea Jakob Hallgren stressed at a meeting hosted by Seoul Cyber University last week. Swedish Ambassador to Korea Jakob Hallgren (Seoul Cyber University)“We have played a role as a facilitator in relations with North Korea and we are happy to continue in that role,” said Hallgren, citing north European countries’ history

Foreign Affairs April 1, 2019

When Hong Seung-hee, 28, discovered she was pregnant, she felt her world was falling apart. She decided to terminate the unwanted pregnancy, even though it meant she would have to live as a criminal. Going through an abortion was painful enough, but the stigma was worse, she said. A group of women’s rights organizations hold a rally demanding the abolition of the abortion ban in central Seoul on Saturday. (Yonhap)“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say to those around me,” said Hong

Social Affairs March 31, 2019