(Shot by Park Ju-young / Edited by Park Ju-young)The sharing economy is all the rage across the globe, and of everything that is being be shared, bikes are of particular interest for city officials seeking to make their cities more sustainable with public transportation. Seoul, with an eye on becoming a green city and upgrading its mass transit system, rolled out a citywide bike rental system in 2015. Seoul Public Bike, or “Ttareungyi” in Korean from the sound of a bike bell ringing, was launche

Social Affairs Nov. 19, 2017

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Cambodia's Supreme Court ordered the main opposition party to be dissolved on Thursday, dealing a crushing blow to democratic aspirations in the increasingly oppressive Southeast Asian state. The decision clears the way for the nation's authoritarian leader to remain in power for years to come. Opposition party Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Kem Sokha greets. YonhapThe verdict, which was widely expected, comes amid a growing push by the administration o

World News Nov. 16, 2017

South Korean earthquake experts warned that more aftershocks and even bigger quakes may occur for the next few months following Wednesday’s 5.4 magnitude quake in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. YonhapWednesday’s quake took place at 2:29 p.m. At least 62 people were hurt, but no casualties were reported, according to authorities. The quake comes 14 months after a 5.8 magnitute quake hit Gyeongju, the strongest since the country began to collate seismic records in 1978. Experts voiced concerns

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2017

Wednesday’s 5.4 magnitude quake in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, did not just shake the Earth. It shattered many South Koreans’ belief that their country is safe from devastating quakes.  People shared photos and videos of buildings shaking, books falling from shelves and frames falling off walls. (From online cafe)It has been only 14 months since the long-held notion was first challenged by a rare -- so far the strongest -- 5.8 magnitude quake originating from Gyeongju. “The front door of

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2017

The state-run audit agency said Wednesday that Seoul National University Hospital should have handled without delay issues surrounding the death of an activist farmer who died last year, months after being hit by a police water cannon at an anti-government rally. Controversy over the cause of his death ended this June, when the hospital made a rare correction in Baek Nam-gi’s death certificate to say that the activist had died due to an external force, not an illness as it had previously stated.

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2017

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission kicked off a three-day conference Wednesday in an effort to nurture a culture of compliance and transparency in the Asia-Pacific region. Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Pak Un-jong delivers her opening remarks at a three-day Regional Anti-Corruption Conference of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific at Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel on Wednesday. ACRCInitiated in the joint effort by Asia Dev

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2017

The ongoing investigation into the National Intelligence Service is offering a hint of how the nation’s spy agency may have been serving those in power. YonhapFrom shady deals to secret surveillance of political opponents and a cyber campaign to sway voter sentiment ahead of elections, here are some things that South Korea’s intelligence service is accused of doing. Writing internet posts to sway voters It was revealed that the intelligence body’s domestic division had operated a number of cyber

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2017

Online shopping has long been the norm in South Korea -- from food and plants to furniture, almost everything you need can be delivered to your doorstep with just a few clicks on the internet. In 2016, over 2 billion parcels were handled by local courier companies, as the parcel service market grew to 4.7 trillion won ($4.2 billion), quadrupling from 1.3 trillion won in 2005, according to data from the Korea Integrated Logistics Association and corporate credit appraiser Korea Ratings. The conve

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2017

Families of five passengers still missing from the Sewol ferry sinking in 2014 will stop waiting for the return of their loved ones and hold a joint funeral for them Friday.  YonhapAccording to families of the five -- two Danwon High School students, a teacher and a father-son duo -- they will hold a press conference Tuesday on their plan to leave Mokpo Port and tell the authorities it is OK to cease the search now. The families have stayed in makeshift container homes at Mokpo Port since April

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2017

A local court on Monday handed down four-month jail terms to two British men in their 20s who had vandalized subway trains here.   In an appeal trial, the Seoul Eastern District Court upheld the lower court’s conviction of the graffiti vandals for trespassing and property damage. The duo, who are members of a Manchester-based graffiti gang called SMT, sprayed the English letters “SMTS” and “SMT,” measuring 1.1 meters high and 12 meters long, on subway trains, on July 11 and 12.The trains were ta

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2017

Former President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday blasted the prosecutorial probe into the alleged political meddling of the National Intelligence Service during his term, saying the investigation is driven by old grudges of the liberal administration now in power.  Former President Lee Myung-bak speaks to the media before boarding a plane for Bahrain at Incheon Airport, Sunday. YonhapBefore boarding a plan for Bahrain at Incheon Airport, Lee told the media that the liberal Moon Jae-in government’s push

Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2017

A funeral was held Saturday for a high school teacher who died in the Sewol ferry sinking in 2014 that claimed more than 300 lives.  A man pays homage to the teacher Ko Chang-suk in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, Saturday. YonhapThe memorial service for Ko Chang-suk was held in the southwestern city of Mokpo in South Jeolla Province and was attended by bereaved families, government officials, survivors of the disaster and students. Ko went missing while trying to rescue his students as the Sewol

Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2017

With the popularity of book clubs and independent bookstores here, libraries and stores are offering seminars, lectures and even drinks inspired by novels, taking the literary experience to a new level. Here are some of the best spots for bookworms to explore the literary world in Korea. Starfield LibraryLocated inside Starfield Coex Mall in GangnamThe 2,800-square-meter library, which opened in May, features some 50,000 books on towering two-story bookshelves. It is located at the center of the

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2017

When it comes to books and reading culture, South Korea has many reasons for pessimism: Book consumption is at a 10-year low and only 35 percent of Korean adults finish a single title a year. But this does not mean that there are no avid readers here. On the contrary, a trend is emerging among local bookworms, with book clubs and community-oriented independent bookstores connecting readers. Trevari is at the heart of this trend. The venture organizes and manages book clubs for a four-month fee o

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2017

This year’s first cold wave watch was issued early Thursday, with temperatures in inland regions dipping below zero, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.YonhapSeoul marked 3.9 degrees Celsius at 11 a.m. on Thursday, down 10 degrees from the previous day’s morning low. For the first time this year, a cold wave watch was issued in the early hours Thursday for Hwacheon and Cheolwon in Gangwon Province and Yeoju and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province. A cold wave watch is issued if the morning low

Social Affairs Nov. 9, 2017