The Korea Herald

[Newsmaker] Over 65% of S. Koreans support Moon's decision not to visit Japan: survey

PoliticsJul 21, 2021

The majority of South Koreans support President Moon Jae-in's decision not to visit Japan for the opening of the Tokyo Olympics and summit talks, a poll showed Tuesday. In the R&Search survey of 1,0...
[Newsmaker] The worst of heat yet to come

Social affairsJul 20, 2021

With heat wave warnings issued nationwide Tuesday, Korea is likely to see temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius this week, and possibly a return of the record-breaking heat in 2018 due to a “heat dome...
[Newsmaker] Fingerless Korean goes missing after climbing all 14 Himalayan peaks

Social affairsJul 20, 2021

A fingerless South Korean mountaineer went missing after achieving the record-breaking feat of climbing all of the world's 14 highest peaks in the Himalayas, officials here said Monday. "I received ...
[Newsmaker] ‘Fingerless’ Kim Hong-bin, 1st disabled person to climb world’s 14 highest peaks

Social affairsJul 19, 2021

South Korean mountaineer Kim Hong-bin has become the first disabled person to successfully climb the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world -- without the use of his fingers. According to local alpi...
[Newsmaker] Justice ministry seeks to grant legal status to animals to enhance their welfare

Social affairsJul 19, 2021

The Ministry of Justice on Monday gave advance notice of a revision to the civil law that would grant animals legal status as individuals with lives that deserve to be protected. The ministry said i...
[Newsmaker] Outbreak forces anti-piracy unit to return home from African coast

DefenseJul 18, 2021

South Korea’s anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit is returning home this week after 68 seamen tested positive for the coronavirus aboard a warship off the coast of Africa, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunda...
[Newsmaker] ‘COVID relief to 80% of households is too much’

PoliticsJul 16, 2021

Former legislator and opposition presidential contender Yoo Seong-min criticized the ongoing political argument over whether to hand out another round of COVID-19 relief grants to all Koreans or to o...
[Newsmaker] Buddha's Birthday, Christmas to be excluded from alternative holidays

PoliticsJul 16, 2021

The alternative holiday bill passed by the National Assembly last month will be newly applied only to national holidays, the government said Friday. Public holidays, like Buddha's Birthday and Chris...
[Newsmaker] Overseas anti-piracy unit suffers COVID outbreak

DefenseJul 15, 2021

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday instructed the military to dispatch medical staff and supplies to forces abroad with members who have tested positive for the coronavirus and to take stronger steps ...
[Newsmaker] Support rating for ex-top prosecutor Yoon dips below 30% for 1st time in 4 months: poll

PoliticsJul 15, 2021

The support rating for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the front-running presidential contender, dived below the 30 percent level for the first time in four months over a series of allegati...
[Newsmaker] Yoon jittery over falling poll ratings

PoliticsJul 14, 2021

A weekly presidential preference poll that showed higher support ratings for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl compared with other surveys was stopped this week, prompting Yoon to blame politi...
[Newsmaker] Air Force legal affairs chief booked for investigation over death of Air Force sexual abuse victim

DefenseJul 14, 2021

The Air Force's chief legal affairs officer has been booked for investigation over allegations he failed to properly oversee an initial probe into sexual abuse of a female noncommissioned officer tha...
[Newsmaker] Govt. plan on 'Lee Kun-hee museum' draws debate on location, purpose

Arts&DesignJul 14, 2021

The government's plan to build a museum dedicated to late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's massive art collection has stirred a debate among art circles as well as local governments that were vying to ...
[Newsmaker] Yoon unlikely to join opposition party soon

PoliticsJul 13, 2021

Ex-chief prosecutor and presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl appears more focused on bringing together centrists than joining the main opposition People Power Party, while former chief state auditor...
[Newsmaker] Both employers and hard-line labor groups disgruntled with new minimum wage

Social affairsJul 13, 2021

The Minimum Wage Commission's decision on Monday to raise next year's minimum hourly wage 5.1 percent to 9,160 won ($7.98) drew heavy criticism from employers' and hard-line labor groups. Officials ...