Articles by Kim Da-sol
Kim Da-sol
ddd@heraldcorp.com-
Anti-corruption rules watered down
South Korea’s controversial anti-corruption law that cut deep into the country’s time-honored gift-giving tradition is set to get watered down, about 15 months after taking effect. YonhapThe Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on Monday approved a revision proposal for the enforcement ordinance of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act to change price ceilings on the value of gifts, free meals and condolence or congratulatory money that public servants and others can receive.The revisi
Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2017
-
Additional Korean sex slaves from Chuuk Islands discovered
Dozens of Koreans held on the Chuuk Islands are presumed to have been sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II, Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday, a new discovery that researchers say supports existing evidence and testimony of Japan’s brutal trafficking of women to front-line brothels.The Chuuk Islands, previously known as the Truk Islands, comprised Japan’s main base in the South Pacific from 1939 to 1945. Truk was a heavily fortified base for Japanese operations against Alli
Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2017
-
Police raid Seoul tax office over Samsung slush funds
Police raided the Seoul headquarters of the National Tax Service on Friday after a Samsung official said that he had reported to the office in 2011 secret bank accounts created for Samsung Group under borrowed names. Nine investigators from the National Policy Agency’s special investigative team descended on the Seoul Regional Tax Office at around 9:30 a.m. looking for evidence to verify the official’s testimony. (Yonhap)Police suspect that these bank accounts, if confirmed to be existing, may b
Social Affairs Dec. 8, 2017
-
Korea-France Association appoints new president
The Korea-France Association said Wednesday that it had appointed Sohn Woo-hyun as the new president.Sohh, a visiting professor at Hallym University, was elected as the president during the association’s board meeting held Tuesday, the association said. Sohn Woo-hyun. Korea-France AssociationA journalist-turned diplomat, Sohn served as a presidential foreign press secretary and minister for cultural affairs at the Korean Embassy in Paris. In 2014, he was named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et de
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2017
-
Seoul least crowded in 30 years
Seoul is less crowded now than any other time in the past three decades, the latest data shows. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday, as of the end of 2016, Seoul’s population marked 10.2 million, including non-Korean residents, down 93,081 from a year earlier. YonhapPopulation density similarly decreased to 16,861 per square kilometer of land, also the lowest in the past three decades. The number of non-ethnic Korean residents registered in Seoul was 273,000, or 2.7 perce
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2017
-
Anti-corruption agency seeks again to revise anti-graft law
The country’s anti-corruption watchdog said Wednesday that it will try again next week to revise an anti-graft regulation to change price ceilings on the value of gifts, free meals and condolence or congratulatory money that public servants and others can receive. YonhapThe Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said during a press briefing Wednesday that a proposed revision is aimed at raising the upper limit when the gifts are local agricultural, livestock and fisheries products. The com
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2017
-
Over 4 billion receive ineffective social protection: ILO
Only 45 percent of the global population are effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, while the remaining 55 percent or as many as 4 billion people are left unprotected, according to a report released by the International Labor Organization.ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2017-19 said that the lack of social protection left people vulnerable to ill-health, poverty, inequality and social exclusion throughout their lifecycle. International Labor OrganizationILO estimate
Social Affairs Dec. 5, 2017
-
“Korea should adopt plain packaging to lower smoking rate"
Korea’s continuous efforts to discourage smoking by introducing graphic warnings on cigarette packages and levying higher tobacco taxes are laudable but it is time to consider an even stronger measure such as plain packaging, a World Health Organization medical officer said. “Loopholes exist when it comes to measures to effectively control the tobacco industry’s promotion of their products. That’s why a stronger initiative, such as introducing plain packaging should be considered now,” Kerstin S
Social Affairs Dec. 4, 2017
-
13 dead, 2 missing in fishing vessel collision
A fishing vessel carrying 22 people capsized off the coast of Incheon early Sunday morning, leaving 13 dead and two missing.According to the coast guard, the 9.77-ton boat carrying two crew members and 20 passengers collided with a 336-ton tanker near Yeongheung Bridge while trying to pass a narrow channel at around 6 a.m.Rescue operation for the capsized fishing vessel. YonhapThe Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said 20 of the 22 people had been located, with 13 of them dead. The seven others w
Social Affairs Dec. 3, 2017
-
KIS to nurture students’ artistic creativity, visual thinking skills
Korea International School said Thursday it will continue to expand its education to develop students’ artistic creativity and visual communication skills.KIS focuses on nurturing well-rounded students who challenge themselves to think critically and communicate visually. Korea International School students pose for a photo during its art creativity event at school. KISThe school held a fall art exhibition last month, comprised of creative pieces by students in pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Un
Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2017
-
[From the Scene] Decades-old oil depot reborn as new cultural complex in Seoul
Mapo Oil Depot, an oil storage facility set up in the 1970s, has been given a new lease of life, with its massive tanks transformed into venues for exhibitions, concerts and cultural events. Located at the foot of Maebongsan in Mapo-gu, west of Seoul, the former oil storage facility -- now called Mapo Cultural Depot Park -- consists of six large tanks. The Korean government constructed five large oil storage tanks for national energy security amid an oil crisis in the 1970s. The place was abando
Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2017
-
[Newsmaker] Park’s key aide Woo grilled over NIS scandal
Prosecutors on Wednesday summoned Woo Byung-woo, one of ex-President Park Geun-hye’s close aides, over his possible involvement in the national spy agency’s alleged illegal spying on civilians under the Park administration. Woo Byung-woo is surrounded by reporters as he stands in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday. YonhapWoo, who served as senior presidential secretary for judicial affairs from 2015-2016, is suspected to have exerted influence on the National In
Social Affairs Nov. 29, 2017
-
Seoul Rotary Club celebrates 90th anniversary
Seoul Rotary Club, a local chapter of the global network of volunteers dedicated to humanitarian goals, marked its 90th anniversary and vowed to continue with its local and international service projects. Rotarians pose for a photo at Seoul Rotary Club’s 90th anniverary event. Seoul Rotary Club.Seoul is home to the first Rotary club established in Korea, chartered in 1927. Today, Korea has the fourth largest Rotary club with 1,616 sub-clubs and 19 district clubs, with over 62,300 Rotarians in K
Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2017
-
Key Korean suspect in 2011 Atlanta murder arrested in Seoul
Police said Monday that a 31-year-old Korean man was arrested on a charge of murder, which he allegedly committed in 2011 in Duluth, Georgia, near the US state’s capital Atlanta. YonhapThe Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s international criminal investigation department said the suspect, identified here only by his surname Park, has been on Interpol’s wanted list and was nabbed at Seoul Station on Monday.Park is accused of stabbing a 32-year-old victim in December 2011 in a parking lot just bef
Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2017
-
Park Geun-hye's trial hearing deferred to Tuesday
The trial of former President Park Geun-hye, who was indicted for corruption involving her confidante Choi Soon-sil, was delayed to Tuesday, following her absence. Park Geun-hye. YonhapPark refused to appear at the court citing her back pain, according to the Seoul Central District Court and correctional authorities. The trial will resume Tuesday. According to the Seoul Central District Court, a hearing was to begin at 10 a.m. Monday, but Park did not attend the hearing.Justice authorities resc
Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2017
Most Popular
-
1
Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
-
2
Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
-
3
[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
-
4
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
5
S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
-
6
Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
-
7
[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
-
8
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
9
Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
-
10
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?