In another piece of grim news underscoring South Korea's looming demographic crisis, the number of marriages in 2023 fell by 40 percent compared to the level recorded a decade ago, government statistics revealed Sunday. According to Statistics Korea, an estimated 193,673 couples tied the knot last year, a drop of 40 percent compared to the 322,807 couples who got married in 2013. From a year ago, however, the 2023 figure marks a 1 percent increase, or 1,983 more marriages. In 2022, marria

Social Affairs March 3, 2024

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- At a secluded temple tucked away on a snow-covered mountain, a Buddhist monk stood before a wooden altar, praying for a departed soul. On the altar, next to a spirit table, there was a framed photo of the deceased: a dog named after the temple itself, Hyundeok. “Hyundeok passed away recently,” said Venerable Hyunjong, the temple's founder and chief monk. “He was 8 years old.” In honor of the departed pup, which was one of two who live

Hashtag Korea March 2, 2024

A hacker managed to steal 100,000 won ($75) from a local bank by exploiting the online banking verification system which confirms a person’s identity through deposits of 1 won. The suspect is accused of making 100,000 verification requests over the course of a week, swindling 1 won with each request. According to a report from local media outlet Edaily, the suspect, whose identity is being withheld, appeared to have employed an automated program, given the substantial number of ID verifi

Social Affairs Feb. 29, 2024

Bar owners who are misled into selling alcohol to minors with fake IDs may soon have a way to prove their innocence using surveillance camera footage under a proposed rule change. The Ministry of Government Legislation announced a public notice Tuesday for the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Food Sanitation Act, which contains new clauses that exempt those who unknowingly sell alcohol to customers under the age of 19 from punishment if video evidence is provided. For 20 days until Mar

Social Affairs Feb. 27, 2024

Many parts of Gangwon Province have recorded substantial snowfall, with some eastern mountainous regions setting new records, according to a weather agency Friday. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that its weather station on Hyangro Mountain in Goseong reached its snow measurement limit of 160 centimeters for the first time. By 11 p.m. on Wednesday, the station had recorded 146.4 centimeters of snow. The accumulation of snow is impeding access to the gauge used to measure th

Social Affairs Feb. 23, 2024

South Korean balladeer Sung Si-kyung has launched a Korean rice wine under his new liquor brand Kyung on Thursday. According to his agency SKJaewon the makgeolli rice wine is the first product the singer developed in collaboration with the startup brewery J1. Renowned for his appreciation of refined spirits, Sung engaged in every stage of crafting and perfecting the rice wine, an official from the agency said. Named "Kyungtakju," this traditional fermented drink is crafted from ingre

K-pop Feb. 22, 2024

The oldest female elephant in South Korea passed away Tuesday at a zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, at the age of 59, zoo officials said Thursday. The female elephant, named Sakura, had suffered from deteriorating health since November last year, primarily caused by ascites and subcutaneous edema. Born in February 1965 in Thailand, she was in her 90s in human years. Sakura spent her early years as a circus performer at a Japanese amusement park, Takarazuka Family Land, from when she was 7 m

Social Affairs Feb. 15, 2024

In 2021, after seven years of service as a narcotics detection dog, Parang retired from her duties. Now, three years into retirement, the female black Labrador retriever has found a loving home in a Songpa-gu, Seoul apartment complex, fully embracing her new role as a beloved family pet. In the love and care of the Hur family, the former customs dog has now blossomed into the darling of her community, winning the hearts of everyone through her clumsy yet genuine devotion and patient, kind deme

Hashtag Korea Feb. 14, 2024

At Korea's busy eateries, diners lingering after eating often get disapproving looks from restaurant owners or those still waiting for a table. While this tension between leisurely dining and the demand for tables exists elsewhere, it can be highly pronounced in South Korea, where meals typically don’t include a dessert course and the focus of diners is often more on the eating itself, rather than on conversation. In online discussion forum Nate Pann last December, an anonymous post

Hashtag Korea Feb. 11, 2024

An endangered Amur leopard from the UK has found a new home at a zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on Thursday. The arrival of the female leopard, born in 2014, at Seoul Grand Park is a significant addition to the zoo's existing pair of only male cats, born in 2016. Zoo officials said they plan to initiate a breeding program for these leopards. The public will have the opportunity to meet the new leopard in the second half of the year. The Amur leopard, scientifically known as Panthera par

Social Affairs Feb. 9, 2024

An individual charged with illegal drug possession and use is now facing a another trial for filing what he claimed was a petition containing a character reference letter from the head of a local sports association, but which was allegedly forged by the suspect's friend using ChatGPT, arguing for leniency from the court, state prosecutors said Thursday. He was subsequently indicted for document forgery. The letter, submitted to the prosecution during the man’s first trial on drug char

Social Affairs Feb. 8, 2024

"Would you like to come and see my cat?" has become a trendy pickup line among young Koreans today, akin to "Want to Netflix and chill?" It also hints at cats' elevated status in South Korea. In the past, felines were shunned for their association with bad luck and superstitions, with many finding their infant-like cries and eyes particularly unsettling, but now cats enjoy a positive image in both the literal and figurative senses. Cats not only grace households with

Hashtag Korea Feb. 6, 2024

Visitors to Myeong-dong's street stalls will soon have the option to make payments via cards, along with improved hygiene measures such as the food vendors wearing gloves, masks and caps. These are some of the voluntary efforts of the area’s merchants, announced by Seoul’s Jung-gu district office on Monday, to bolster their reputation among tourists and enhance the overall visitor experience. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Seoul, Myeong-dong’s image ha

Social Affairs Feb. 5, 2024

Seoul plans to overhaul its street stands, city officials said Sunday, saying the existing ones were aging and poorly managed. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city will conduct monthly inspections on street sales facilities and shops for enhanced safety and design management. As of 2022, the city hosted 613 street newsstands and 830 shoe repair stands, most of which have been in operation for over a decade. There are a total of 5,443 other street vendor stalls, such as thos

Social Affairs Feb. 4, 2024

The days of flagging down busy servers are almost becoming rare here. At many Korean restaurants, diners are now being asked to order -- and often pay up front -- via a digital device installed at each table, or at standalone kiosks. Digitalization’s reach is not only limited to ordering systems, as at some venues, reserving and waiting for a table have been moved online. And there is a small but growing number of server robots being deployed. Using digital devices to order and pay purpo

Hashtag Korea Jan. 31, 2024