South Korea's top court upheld a lower court ruling that sentenced defendants in a high-profile drug scam -- in which drug-laced drinks were deceptively distributed to students, followed by the blackmail of their parents -- to prison terms of up to 18 years, the court announced on Friday. The Supreme Court confirmed the lower court’s verdict, sentencing individuals identified by the surnames Gil, Kim, Park and Lee to prison terms of 18, 10, 10 and seven years, respectively. They were found

Social Affairs Sept. 6, 2024

Victims of Japan's wartime military sexual slavery and their bereaved families filed a legal request with the court on Friday to verify the details of assets owned by the Japanese government in South Korea, in a bid to secure compensation following their civil lawsuit victory last November. Justice for the Comfort Women, a Seoul-based civic group advocating for Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, announced that the victims and their families had submitted the request unde

Social Affairs Sept. 6, 2024

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the rebranding of its "Safety Income" scheme as the "Seoul Stepping Stone Income," in order to promote its program as a model welfare program for other regions. The city's signature welfare program was rebranded through a public competition held last month, which garnered 12,580 name suggestions, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. From the five finalists, the city selected "Stepping Stone Income" -- &qu

Social Affairs Sept. 5, 2024

Among foreign nationals in South Korea, approximately 1 in 6 -- 15.8 percent -- is here illegally, according to government data from the end of June. Out of the country's total foreign population of 2.61 million -- including tourists and other nonresidents --- 414,730 are in the country without permission, according to Justice Ministry statistics for June. That is down from the record high of 430,389 in October last year. The proportion is also down from 20 percent at the end of 2021, as th

Social Affairs Sept. 4, 2024

A total of 100 Filipina domestic workers began providing services on Tuesday for 142 families across Seoul, following the introduction of detailed job guidelines designed to clarify their role, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have been advancing a project to introduce foreign caregivers in response to the declining number of local domestic workers, amid an aging population and the rising costs of child care. The start o

Social Affairs Sept. 3, 2024

Yangcheon-gu, a densely populated residential area in southwestern Seoul, is home to Mok-dong, one of the city's largest hagwon districts. This area is known for its thriving private education industry, with many children aspiring to gain admission to prestigious colleges. According to district Mayor Lee Ki-jae, Yangcheon aims to expand its presence in the education sector by transforming into a comprehensive educational hub that caters to all learning needs, from toddlers to seniors. "

Social Affairs Sept. 3, 2024

Mongolia hopes for a bilateral summit with South Korea with the leaders of the two countries paving the way to improve ties for the future, according to Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, Chief of Staff to the Mongolian President. During a breakfast meeting at the 2nd Korea-Mongolia Vision Strategy Forum, hosted by Herald Corp. — publisher of The Korea Herald and Herald Business — and the Ahnsei Foundation at the Novotel in Ulaanbaatar on Aug. 27, Zandanshatar stated, "We planned two su

Social Affairs Sept. 2, 2024

Prosecutors have identified former President Moon Jae-in a suspect in a bribery case, alleging that his former son-in-law received preferential treatment in securing a job with an airline in return for arranging a key government appointment for the politician who founded the airline, according to legal sources on Sunday. The Criminal Division 3 of the Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation into Moon's potential involvement, as detailed in a search warrant e

Politics Sept. 1, 2024

South Korea's carbon neutrality law does not conform with the Constitution because the absence of post-2030 targets violates the basic rights of the people, the Constitutional Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the court ruled that first paragraph of Article 8 of the country's Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping with Climate Crisis is unconstitutional. This marks the first court decision in Asia to recognize an inadequate climate respo

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2024

The chief executive of lithium battery manufacturer Aricell and his son, who oversees factory operations, have been arrested over the deadly fire at the company’s Hwaseong plant that claimed the lives of 23 -- 17 Chinese nationals, five Korean nationals and one Laotian national. The incident marks the first time a company head has been formally arrested under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which came into effect in January 2022. The law mandates a minimum prison sentence of one year

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2024

The government has proposed new guidelines for state and municipal offices when writing the names of foreign nationals in South Korea on administrative documents, to improve the convenience of identity verification, the Ministry of Interior and Safety said Wednesday. Under the new standards, the government proposes that foreigners' names in the Latin alphabet be written as surname followed by given name, in uppercase, with a space between each. If a name in the Latin alphabet is already lis

Social Affairs Aug. 28, 2024

Gwanak-gu, home to South Korea's most prestigious university Seoul National University, has been a key incubator for the nation's top elites for decades. Located in the southwestern part of Seoul and nestled within Gwanaksan, the district is home to numerous cram schools, small residential units, and affordable eateries. These support those preparing for South Korea’s notoriously competitive civil service exams, which facilitate significant social mobility and early career advanc

Social Affairs Aug. 28, 2024

As Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun reaches the midpoint of his term, he reflects on both the progress he has made and his ambitious plans for the city's future. "On Jan. 1, 2025, Hwaseong is set to debut as South Korea's fifth special city officially, ‘Hwaseong Special City,’" Jeong told The Korea Herald. "We are fully preparing to make it more livable, work-friendly, and enjoyable." Achieving special city status requires surpassing a population of 1 mi

Social Affairs Aug. 28, 2024

The proximity of a mattress to the source of last week's deadly fire at a hotel in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, appears to have significantly contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze, authorities investigating the case said Monday. The preliminary investigation suggests an electrical fault in the air conditioning unit as the likely cause, with sparks igniting the nearby sofa and the mattress. Fire authorities suspect that overheating or dust in the aging device precipitated the fault. Ca

Social Affairs Aug. 26, 2024

The largest marina in Seoul is planned to be constructed at Jamsil Hangang Park in Songpa-gu, in the southeastern portion of the capital. The new facility is to accommodate 220 vessels, including yachts, as part of the city’s initiative to expand water leisure amenities. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Friday that it had signed an agreement with private company Hangang Marina to carry out the project. Construction is slated to begin early next year, with completion and openin

Social Affairs Aug. 23, 2024