Warmer, wetter winter expected: weather agency

This winter is expected to be warmer and wetter than usual, due to global warming and El Nino, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Thursday. Temperatures from December to February next year are likely to be higher than the average years by a 61 to 67 percent chance, the weather agency said in a briefing on its three-month climate forecast. On a monthly basis, there is a 40 percent probability that the temperatures in those three months will be similar to or higher than the average year

Nov. 23, 2023

[Korean History] In 2008, Korea's National Treasure No. 1 went down in flames

South Korea stopped assigning numbers to its national treasures a few years ago, but for many, the expression National Treasure No. 1 still remains synonymous with Namdaemun, or Sungnyemun by its official name. So when this gate from the 14th century burned down one night in 2008, the shock was indescribable, akin to what the French people might have gone through during the 2019 blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral. Koreans watched helplessly on TV as the wooden pagoda atop the arch-shaped stone gate b

Nov. 23, 2023

6 pct of executives in S. Korea's top 100 firms women: data

The proportion of females in executive positions at the top 100 companies in South Korea reached the 6 percent mark for the first time ever this year, data showed Thursday. According to data of top 100 companies in terms of sales compiled by global headhunter UnicoSearch Inc., 439, or 6 percent, of the total of 7,345 executives were females as of the first half of this year. The executives included executive directors, members of the owner families and unregistered directors, but not outside dir

Nov. 23, 2023

[Graphic News] Drugs smuggled in through Incheon Airport surge after 2022: lawmaker

The amount of drugs smuggled into South Korea through the country’s main gateway has risen since international travel increased following the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions, an opposition lawmaker said. The amount of narcotics smuggled into South Korea through Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, rose from 129,362 grams in 2020 to 538,241 grams in 2022, Rep. Maeng Sung-kyu of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said, citing data from the Korea Customs Service. F

Nov. 23, 2023

'I’m a precious daughter': High school video fans public furor

A video showing a quarrel between a female student and a male teacher has sparked online controversy. The video shows a female student, believed to be a high schooler, arguing loudly in the hallway with a middle-aged male teacher. The quarrel between the two begins when the teacher loudly instructs the student to go inside the classroom. The student argues back, saying “Why are you yelling at me? Don’t you think I’m a precious daughter of our family?” The teacher looked f

Nov. 22, 2023

Phone-distracted driving kills four friends on weekend outing

A bus driver who caused a tunnel accident that killed four people last month was found to have been using a phone behind the wheel, which resulted in a delayed response to the changing traffic conditions, police authorities said Tuesday. According to Boeun Police Station, the 59-year-old man, who had been receiving treatment for injuries at a hospital, admitted to checking text messages on his phone when the accident occurred. On Oct. 21, a tourist bus rear-ended a 15-seat van inside Suriti Tu

Nov. 22, 2023

Seoul announces year-end winter festivals

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a set of plans to launch Seoul Winter Festa, a large-scale network of winter festivals that takes place across the capital in December. On Wednesday, the city government stated that Seoul Winter Festa will take place from Dec. 15 to Jan. 21 at seven locations in Seoul -- at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul and Gwanghwamun Square, Yeolrin Songhyeon, Cheonggyecheon and Seoul Plaza in central Seoul. While winter-themed events were held at thes

Nov. 22, 2023

30-year jail term sought for JMS leader for multiple sexual crimes

Prosecutors at Daejeon District Court sought a 30-year prison sentence for the leader of the religious movement organization Jesus Morning Star, Jeong Myeong-seok, Tuesday. Jeong is accused of raping and sexually assaulting three female followers from February 2018 to September 2021. “The defendant, who is the leader of a religious organization, posed as the Messiah and used the JMS church to commit sexual crimes against female followers, which can be considered a grave crime,” said

Nov. 22, 2023

Coliform bacteria found in Echire butter

South Korea's food and drug safety authorities said Wednesday that they have ordered Echire butter imported from France to be discarded after they found a high level of coliforms in several samples, some strains of which could cause diarrhea and food poisoning. “Echire butter 'Doux' 250g produced in France and imported by Maeil Dairies has been found to contain coliforms beyond the permissible level and ordered to be discarded,” the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety sai

Nov. 22, 2023

Klinsmann stands by S. Korean intl. Hwang Ui-jo amid police probe on filming accusation

With the South Korean international Hwang Ui-jo under police investigation for alleged illegal filming of a sexual act, national football team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is standing by the player. Hours before South Korea played China in a World Cup qualifying match in Shenzhen on Tuesday night, Seoul police said they had seized Hwang's mobile phone as part of their probe into accusations that he had filmed his ex-girlfriend during sex without her consent. In a statement released by her at

Nov. 22, 2023

S. Korea, Britain vow closer ties in nuclear energy sector

South Korea and Britain agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, including the construction of new power plants, the industry ministry said Tuesday. The two countries signed nine memoranda of understanding centered on building a cooperative relationship spanning the entire lifecycle of nuclear power plants, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu met his British counterpart, Claire Coutinho, and agreed to hold technical

Nov. 21, 2023

NIS seeking to form Asian cooperative body to counter drug crimes

South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday it is preparing to form a cooperative body with Asian countries next year to help crack down on growing drug-related crimes in the region. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said discussions are still ongoing with five countries, including Thailand, with the aim of launching the body next February. The names of the countries have not been released yet. "Drug-related crimes in South Korea have been on the rise and international drug rings in th

Nov. 21, 2023

Prosecutors seek 30-yr prison term for cult leader for sex assault

DAEJEON -- Prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a 30-year prison term for the leader of a controversial religious group charged with sexual assault. Jeong Myeong-seok, who leads the Jesus Morning Star (JMS) group, is accused of raping and sexually assaulting two female followers of foreign nationality on multiple occasions from February 2018 to September 2021, as well as sexually molesting a South Korean female follower. In the final hearing at the Daejeon District Court, prosecutors also demanded he

Nov. 21, 2023

G-Dragon tests negative in nail drug testing

G-Dragon of K-pop group Big Bang tested negative in a detailed narcotics analysis on his nail sample conducted by the National Forensic Service, police officers said Tuesday. The National Forensic Service recently notified the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency of the negative drug test result on the singer's fingernails and toenails, according to the police. G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, was booked on Oct. 25 over allegations of illegal drug use and later banned from leaving t

Nov. 21, 2023

Man arrested for stabbing restaurant owner in Paju

A man was arrested after stabbing a restaurant owner in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, police said Tuesday. The suspect was arrested by police at around 3:30 p.m. near Gupabal station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, about 30 kilometers south of the restaurant. The suspect, believed to be in his late 30s and a former employee of the restaurant, stabbed the restaurant owner in his 60s at around 2:30 p.m. in Paju. The victim remains unconscious as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. The suspect's motive for the crime ha

Nov. 21, 2023

More Korean youth prone to online gambling addiction

Teenagers in South Korea are increasingly being exposed to online gambling, and the government and police are working to prevent a further rise in teen gambling addictions. However, a shortfall in medical support to prevent or treat teenagers' addiction has come under the limelight as the National Center for Youth Internet Addiction Treatment serves as the only facility that runs rehab programs for online gambling addictions in Korea. When one is admitted to the state-run rehab camp, they m

Nov. 21, 2023

'Dancing woman' on Seoul street arrested for meth use

In yet another stark reminder of South Korea's escalating drug problem, Seoul Bangbae Police arrested a woman in her 40s on Nov. 2 for drug use -- under rather unusual circumstances caught on police camera. The incident began as a minor traffic mishap in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The woman, driving a white vehicle, was involved in what initially appeared to be a routine fender bender. Her behavior at the scene quickly raised suspicions, however. Footage from the patrol car's dashcam shows the

Nov. 21, 2023

All residents with disabilities to get personal doctor

All South Korean residents with disabilities will have their health condition monitored and checked by a personal doctor, according to a plan approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Upon approval, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will launch the fourth-stage and last pilot project in February next year, ahead of the planned rollout of the personal health care system nationwide, ministry officials said. Aimed at providing access to personalized medical attention for individuals with disabilitie

Nov. 21, 2023

What phrase do you want to hear most from your partner?

What phrases would you like to hear more frequently from your partner? An online survey of divorced singles reveals that it's words of encouragement or appreciation for their efforts that they longed for most when they were married. According to the survey, conducted by South Korean matchmaking agencies Only U and Bien-Aller on 514 individuals, the top answer from male respondents (31.1 percent) was the empowering phrase, "You're the best." The top choice among female respond

Nov. 21, 2023

Suneung might not see perfect scorer for first time in 13 years

Controversy over the difficulty of the Suneung, South Korea’s college entrance exam, is likely to persist as this year’s exam has so far not seen a perfect score in tentative grading, giving an inkling that the test might not see a single perfect scorer for the first time in 13 years. While test-takers are to receive notice of their scores on Dec. 8, none of the high school senior students who took the test received full marks after tentative grading of their answers, according to th

Nov. 21, 2023