Whichever candidate wins the upcoming presidential election, South Korea is likely to ease up on its tough refugee policy. When it comes to migrant workers, however, leading candidates diverge on what to do. According to Amnesty International’s Korea office, the five mainstream party-backed candidates have all promised some “progress” in asylum seeker policy, vowing to prevent human rights violations and improve the refugee status determination system. The global rights watchdog has asked each o

Social Affairs May 1, 2017

The North Korean state media on Sunday made its first mention of a US aircraft carrier that has taken part in a joint exercise here with the South Korean Navy.The Korean Central News Agency reported that USS Carl Vinson was "hurled into the saber-rattling" exercise between the United States and South Korea in the East Sea on Saturday. USS Carl Vinson (center), a US aircraft carrier, leads the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels during a joint exercise. (US Navy)The nuclear-powered supercar

North Korea April 30, 2017

Most of the major presidential candidates have referred to themselves as “feminists” and have made big promises to tackle gender discrimination and violence. However, questions linger over whether they can deliver, as some of the contenders are mired in controversy for using language critics say shows their subconscious gender stereotypes. Often compared to US President Donald Trump for his outspoken rhetoric, Hong Joon-pyo, the firebrand flag-bearer of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, has

Social Affairs April 27, 2017

A group of South Korean gay rights activists were apprehended Wednesday while staging a protest at the National Assembly against presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in over his remarks against homosexuality. A total of 13 people were taken to police stations for investigation after they tried to approach Moon, demanded his apology and chanted slogans while the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea was addressing his supporters on a podium. Protesters hold a surprise demonstration in

Social Affairs April 26, 2017

With only two weeks to go before the May 9 presidential election, candidates are busy wooing voters of various ages, backgrounds and religions. But there is one particular group that they are not competing to win over -- sexual minorities.While homosexuality is not a crime in South Korea, LGBT people -- lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender -- live largely on the fringes of society as the majority of Koreans remain either indifferent to or intolerant of homosexuality.Knowing this, most candidat

Social Affairs April 26, 2017

Foreign residents who have unpaid local taxes will be denied an extension of their visas starting in May, the government said Monday. Under an information sharing pact of the Justice Ministry, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service, immigration offices nationwide will check the tax payment history of every foreigner who applies for a visa extension and reject the request if the person has a tax default. The program will start with 16 immigration offices on May 1, gradually expand

Social Affairs April 24, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye sold her home in downtown Seoul for 6.7 billion won ($5.9 million) and purchased a new one in a quieter neighborhood on the southern edge of the capital, local media reported Friday. “The old house was too shabby and caused inconveniences to neighbors. (The area) was too crowded, so she decided to move to a quieter neighborhood,” Park’s confidant told Yonhap News Agency.(Yonhap)After Park moved to her old home in Samseong-dong, two days after being ousted from powe

Social Affairs April 21, 2017

The trial of former President Park Geun-hye will begin on May 2, a week before the nation elects a new president. The first preparatory hearing, in which Park and prosecutors are asked to explain their stances on the case, has been set for 10 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, sources at the court said Friday.Former President Park Geun-hye (Yonhap)Park, in custody since late last month, faces a total of 18 charges, including bribery, abuse of power and leak of government secrets. She was

Social Affairs April 21, 2017

The Justice Ministry is considering establishing an independent body to screen refugee applications as the number of asylum seekers in the country grows, it said Wednesday. “We have commissioned a study for an entity specializing in deliberating on appeals of those rejected a refugee status,” an official from the ministry told The Korea Herald.“The research is not yet done, so it is difficult to discuss when it will be established and what form it will take,” the official said.The Ministry of Ju

Social Affairs April 20, 2017

In recent months, the world witnessed South Koreans take to the streets weekend after weekend intent on ousting President Park Geun-hye from power. 　　The demonstrations were hailed as a sign of a maturing democracy, but the country’s rallies have not always been peaceful. They have at times been marred by clashes between police and protesters, triggering debate over who is to blame for the eruptions of violence. 　Protesters supporting ousted President Park Geun-hye attempt to march towards the C

Social Affairs April 19, 2017

Police said Wednesday they are investigating a swimming instructor for suspected abuse of a 7-year-old boy in a swimming pool in Busan. CCTV footage revealed by a local media outlet shows the suspect grabbing the boy’s foot and throwing him into the swimming pool for adults twice at Saha-gu Sports Training Center.  (Captured from CCTV footage)The swimming instructor also left the boy on the top of the pool’s 1.8-meter-high lookout tower to punish him during a 45-minute lesson in early April.“Aft

Social Affairs April 19, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye received 59.2 billion won ($52.1 million) in bribes, South Korean prosecutors said Monday, indicting the leader on a total of 18 charges. With the indictment, the prosecutors ended a six-month, multifaceted probe into the corruption scandal that forced Park out of office last month. They also indicted Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin -- without physical detention -- for bribery, while clearing SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Woo Byung-woo, who was Park’s key aide

Social Affairs April 17, 2017

SEOUL/ANSAN, Gyeonggi Province -- For many South Koreans, facing April 16 does not get any easier. The day brings back traumatic memories of watching on TV a giant passenger ferry sink slowly in a calm sea and realizing a few hours later that what they had watched was the scene of nearly 300 being drowned to death. It is even more difficult for victims’ grieving families, as they still search for the truth behind what caused the Sewol ferry to sink and why the government failed to save so many. 

Social Affairs April 16, 2017