Govt. unveils measures to address consumer complaints in wedding industry

The government unveiled a package of measures aimed at addressing long-standing consumer complaints in the wedding industry Thursday, which has often been cited as a significant factor driving up the high costs of marriage. The measures were introduced at an economic ministers' meeting in Seoul, led by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as the deputy prime minister for economic affairs. "The high costs of wedding services have become a financial burden for young people, an

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Yoon set to depart for Peru to attend APEC summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to depart for Peru on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, with an eye on a possible meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump during the South America trip. Yoon will travel to Peru from Thursday to Friday for the APEC summit and head to Brazil on Sunday for the Group of 20 (G20) summit slated for the next two days. He plans to use the diplomatic stage to pledge South Korea's active role in global issues and call for internation

PoliticsNov. 14, 2024

Another Korean American wins seat in US Congress

Another Korean American won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a news report said Wednesday, an election that will add to a steadily growing list of Korean American lawmakers in Congress. State Sen. Dave Min, a Democrat, has defeated his Republican rival, Scott Baugh, by a slim margin in the race in California's 47th Congressional District, according to NBC News. It marks his first election to the lower chamber of Congress. "I know many of us are anxious about the future of o

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Trump officially taps Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state

US President-elect Donald Trump officially nominated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state on Wednesday, calling him a "strong advocate for our nation" and a "true friend to our allies." Trump issued a statement on the nomination of Rubio, known for his hawkish stance on China and Iran, as America's next top diplomat is to face a full plate of foreign policy challenges, including an intensifying rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine and North Kore

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Biden, Trump meet in White House, call for smooth transition

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met at the White House on Wednesday for the first time since last week's presidential election, with both calling for a smooth transition of power. In the Oval Office, Biden shook hands with Trump and congratulated him on his victory -- a resumption of a post-election tradition that paused in 2020 when Trump refused to concede the election results and did not invite Biden to the presidential office. "Congratulations," Biden said

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Biden to voice 'deep concern' over NK troop dispatch to Russia in summit with Xi this week: senior US official

US President Joe Biden is expected to express "deep concern" over North Korea's troop deployment to Russia during a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to take place on the margins of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru this week, a senior US administration official said Wednesday. Biden and Xi are set to meet in Lima on Saturday for what could be their last in-person summit as presidents. The meeting will come as both Seoul and Washington have confirmed

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Yoon to hold trilateral summit with Biden, Ishiba on sidelines of APEC in Peru

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru this week, according to Yoon's office and the White House. Yoon is set to depart for Lima on Thursday with the trilateral meeting scheduled for Friday, his office said. The three countries have pushed for the leaders' meeting to build on the progress in three-way cooperation sinc

PoliticsNov. 14, 2024

[Graphic News] Tainan predicted top destination for South Koreans in 2025

Travel app Skyscanner has unveiled its Travel Trends 2025 report, capturing tourism insights based on a survey of 20,000 travelers worldwide. According to the report, next year’s key travel theme is predicted to be “shared experiences with others,” in which people will pursue experiences that can be shared with others who have similar interests. Among the survey participants, 1,000 South Koreans shared their preferred travel destinations, favoring shorter flights. Taiwan&rsqu

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2024

Police mobilize over 10,000 officers for 2025 Suneung

To ensure the secure administration of the annual national college entrance exam, more than 10,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide, officials said Wednesday. For the Suneung, short for the College Scholastic Ability Test in Korean, set to be held on Thursday, a total of 10,256 officers will manage various tasks, including transporting exam papers, maintaining order at test site entrances, controlling traffic, patrolling nearby areas and ensuring the safe delivery of answer sheets aft

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

China nominates vice UN representative as ambassador to S. Korea: sources

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dai Bing has been nominated as the country's new ambassador to South Korea, diplomatic sources said Wednesday. Beijing is conducting its final review of Dai for the ambassador post, with the official announcement expected as early as this week, followed by the procedure to seek consent, or "agrement," from South Korea, the diplomatic sources said. The post has been vacant since former Chinese Ambassador to South Ko

Foreign AffairsNov. 13, 2024

N. Korean troops dispatched to Russia already engaging in combat: spy agency

North Korean troops dispatched to Russia have moved to the frontline region of Kursk and are "already engaging in combat" against Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency said Wednesday. "North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia have moved to the Kursk region over the past two weeks and their deployment to battlefields has been completed," the National Intelligence Service said. It said work is underway to gather and analyze additional intelligence, without providing further

North KoreaNov. 13, 2024

Govt. cracks down on wedding industry

Amid prolonged controversy over excessive fees and a lack of transparency in the wedding industry, the South Korean government said it has mandated changes to contract terms at 18 major wedding planning firms. The Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday said it identified six types of unfair clauses in service agreements across 18 wedding planning companies that received the most consumer complaints over three months. These companies offer package weddings -- popular bundles consisting of pre-wedding s

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

[KH Explains] Why Yoon golfing is so controversial

When reports surfaced that President Yoon Suk Yeol had played golf at a course in northeastern Seoul on Saturday, opposition politicians saw it as an opportunity to pounce. Playing golf has become close to a taboo for politicians in Korea. The exclusive and expensive nature of the sport here means that it is seen as an elite indulgence, rather than a way to unwind or a pastime for ordinary people. As such, public officials who golf are often accused of being out of touch with the general public

PoliticsNov. 13, 2024

Only half of Koreans believe marriage is essential: study

Just over half of South Koreans believe getting married is essential, a recent government study showed Wednesday, and a growing proportion of people say it's alright for couples simply to live together without tying the knot. According to Statistics Korea's annual study on Korean society, 52.5 percent of Koreans say people should get married, while 41.5 percent say it is a matter of choice and 3.3 percent say they should remain single. The percentage of those who believe people must

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

Suneung for all: Opportunity, redemption and the right to dream

On Thursday, more than half a million people across South Korea will converge at test sites to take what many view as a life-defining exam. This is the Suneung -- the nation’s college scholastic ability test. Held just once a year, the nine-hour marathon determines the universities students will be able to attend, and from there, their career opportunities, future earnings and even relationships, as education holds an especially revered place in Korean society. In November each year, South

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

Elevator, escalator accidents spike among over-65s

The annual number of accidents involving senior citizens on automated transportation devices including elevators, escalators and moving walkways has been increasing since 2020, a report by the state-run consumer protection agency showed Wednesday. A total of 1,507 such accidents involving the over-65s were registered at the Consumer Injury Surveillance System from 2020 to September of this year, according to the Korea Consumer Agency. The yearly figure for these accidents of the elderly increa

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

Korean model admits drug use, seeks help from embassy in Manila: report

A South Korean media outlet on Wednesday reported that TV announcer-turned-model Kim Na-jung had reached out to the South Korean Embassy in the Philippines for help leaving the country, after confessing to officials there that she had used drugs. According to Edaily, the 32-year-old contacted the embassy on Tuesday for help citing an unspecified danger, and received assistance going to the airport from her hotel and onto the plane from Manila to Incheon. The embassy did not elaborate on what typ

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Korea, don't repeat Hong Kong's mistakes on foreign caregivers'

Fifty-one years ago, during Hong Kong's "golden era" of social reform, then-Gov. Murray MacLehose established a framework to bring in low-wage foreign workers for domestic and care work. This policy aimed to encourage educated, upper- and middle-class local women to enter the workforce — a rationale similar to that of the Seoul city government's foreign caregiver pilot program today. Though now facing different socioeconomic conditions, some South Korean politicians and

PoliticsNov. 13, 2024

Police investigate mutilated body of kitten found in Incheon

Incheon police said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into possible animal cruelty case, after the body of a beheaded kitten was found the previous day. Officials at the Incheon Gyeyang Police Station received the report of the kitten at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Police said it will investigate the surveillance footage of the area around the lot, to determine whether this is a case of animal cruelty or if the kitten had been killed by another animal. Another potential animal cruelty

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2024

Court decides against live broadcast of Lee's sentencing trial

A court on Wednesday decided not to permit a live broadcast for the upcoming sentencing trial of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung in his alleged election law violation case. The Seoul Central District Court said it will not allow real-time filming or broadcast of Lee's sentencing trial, slated for Friday, "in comprehensive consideration of the relevant legal interests." The court is set to make its judgment on Lee's charges of violating the election law by making false stateme

PoliticsNov. 13, 2024