A recent sighting of an Asiatic black bear on the Jirisan trail has raised safety concerns. However, the government has moved to reassure the public, noting that the possibility of bear attacks on humans is low due to their gentle and cautious nature. Currently, a total of 89 Asiatic black bears, including four cubs, reside around Jirisan, according to the Korea National Park Service under the Environment Ministry. These bears move between Jirisan and the nearby Deogyusan areas, rarely enc

Social Affairs June 2, 2024

A petition calling for the return of a giant panda, which was sent to China after being born and raised in South Korea, has resurfaced here amid lingering concerns over the beloved bear’s wellbeing in China. The petition, titled "Return Fu Bao to Korea” and submitted by a petitioner surnamed Koh, emerged Wednesday on the National Assembly’s online petition platform. It has met the initial requirement of gathering 100 consents and now awaits a review for it to be made pub

Social Affairs May 30, 2024

The effects of illegal drug use are difficult to grasp in their full scope, but it leaves traces behind in the environment. Drug residuals enter the wastewater system through human urine. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s annual analysis of sewage has found residuals of methamphetamine in all samples collected nationwide last year, although its concentration level was down from previous years. Cocaine, which had so far been detected in limited metropolitan locations only, showed a c

Social Affairs May 29, 2024

Kim Dae-gun’s day starts very early. At the break of dawn, he collects the packages that need to be delivered that day. He sorts and loads them in his truck, arranging them in a way that matches his itinerary for the next several hours: items meant for the nearest locations in the front, with the farthest destinations in the back. “Once I get to my delivery area, it is a race against time,” Kim said. He needs to move quickly, efficiently and without mistakes to deliver near

Hashtag Korea May 29, 2024

Taiwo Victoria Anuoluwapo recalled a scene from her favorite K-drama, “Shooting Stars,” which aired in 2022. It depicted a protagonist leaving for Africa to help dying children and provide clean water. Whenever similar scenes appear in K-dramas and movies, Taiwo cannot hide her bewilderment. “We love K-culture a lot in Nigeria, and it’s always painful when we see stuff like that,” said Taiwo, 28, a Nigerian studying in Chungnam National University in Daejeon. &ldquo

Social Affairs May 28, 2024

The story of two students who found a lost credit card and returned it to its owner in a creative way has gone viral. According to a report by a local TV network Jeju International Broadcasting System, on the evening of April 19, a Jeju resident surnamed Han received a text message informing him of a charge of 300 won ($0.2) at a convenience store made with his lost credit card. At that point, he did not even know that it was missing. The next day, he called the card company to report the mi

Social Affairs May 27, 2024

Models and organizers pose for a photograph holding banners with messages supporting diversity and protecting the environment after the 2024 SWG&IWIK ESG Fashion Show, held at Sebitseom cultural space, Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul on Sunday. The event, organized by local civic group International World In Korea, emphasized social responsibility for diversity and environmental protection alongside the development of the tourism industry, its officials said. (IWIK)

Social Affairs May 27, 2024

Six out of 10 Koreans do not have plans to have babies, data showed on Friday, as the nation has had the lowest fertility rates for years. According to a survey conducted by research firm PMI on 1,800 Koreans between the ages of 20 and 50, 63.4 percent of the respondents said they do not have plans to have babies. The 1,800 respondents, however, include 530 parents who already have children. The biggest reason for not planning to have babies was economic instability (25.2 percent). This was foll

Social Affairs May 24, 2024

The Sunfull Foundation will inaugurate "K-Respect Day" on Thursday, aiming to foster respect and understanding among people of diverse cultural backgrounds. "Korea is a multicultural country with 2.5 million foreigners. Despite their contributions, they still face prejudice and discrimination. This ceremony will promote understanding and respect for people from different cultures,” explained Min Byoung-chul, founder and chairman of the Sunfull Foundation. The ceremony will

Social Affairs May 20, 2024

The Supreme Court recently ruled that files from a “spy app” for illegally recording voice files cannot be used as evidence of adultery as it violates a communications-related law. In 2022, a woman sought compensation from her ex-husband’s mistress based on calls recorded between her ex-husband and his mistress as evidence. The woman collected the evidence using a spy app she had secretly installed on her husband’s phone. Two lower courts admitted the evidence, ruling t

Social Affairs May 19, 2024

It was only 3:40 p.m. on a Tuesday, but at Anna’s House, dinner was ready. The meal of the day -- braised half-dried pollack, seasoned bean sprout salad, kimchi, kimchi soup and rice -- was neatly arranged in big containers. Father Kim Ha-jong gathered around with a group of volunteers and they all recited a prayer in unison. “We are grateful to serve those in need … happier when giving than receiving.” After the prayer, priest Kim, who was born in Italy as Vincenzo

Hashtag Korea May 18, 2024

When opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck in a failed assassination attempt in January, the South Korean public remained in the dark about the assailant’s identity, including his name and occupation, until the New York Times disclosed the information. In April, when a Korean NASA engineer was charged in the US with a series of rapes, his name, age and photos were disseminated in US media. But in local media, the Korean suspect was cloaked in anonymity, with his photos

Social Affairs May 16, 2024

The police announced Friday that they will begin a service to verify gun permit licenses online in cooperation with Naver, the nation's largest search engine, starting this month. The service enables the online verification of licenses certified by the police for the possession of guns, swords, gas sprayers and electric shock devices, allowing for easy checks on Naver. Previously, license holders were required to carry plastic card-type licenses issued by the police station when possess

Social Affairs May 10, 2024

Find the answer at the bottom. The Three Kingdoms period (57 BC-AD 668) was a fascinating era in the Korean Peninsula's early history, marked by rivalry and exchanges among three distinctively different kingdoms, each possessing its own charm and history. The distinctive appeals of the three kingdoms -- Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla -- along with their evolving dynamics, leading to their eventual unification under one conqueror, make this period one of Korean history's most studied ti

Hashtag Korea May 8, 2024

On a Saturday evening in March, Hong Kee-cheon brought his prized telescope out to a park in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul. He pulled a cart laden with his astronomy gear, weighing over 60 kilograms in total, to the heart of the park, where two people had already set up their more compact telescopes. “Tonight, Jupiter and its moons grace us," Hong, 52, said, his eyes scanning the skies above, before he began assembling what he affectionately calls his "scope." By the time he was

Hashtag Korea May 8, 2024