Inspired by the splendor of green hues of the trees as the streetlights shone in the city's avenues during summer nights, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it has chosen "green aurora" as the city's color for next year. As the municipal government expands its color palette every year to roll out the city's identity for the coming year, officials explained that the new soft-tone color aims to offer comfort and support to citizens fatigued from their everyday

Social Affairs Nov. 28, 2024

Donning red bandanas, launching hunger strikes, raising banners and posters in chants by the crowd in the streets or holding candlelight vigils have long been go-to options for those advocating for change. But South Korea has noticed a slight change in how protests work: they now use funeral wreaths wrapped with sharp words to draw attention to their cause. The term "funeral wreath protest" first appeared in news reports in 2006, when residents who opposed the development of a lake p

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

Cancer was a journey Kang Min-ji never thought she would take during her early 30s. She was physically active, a non-smoker and didn't drink that often. But her world shattered in July 2022 after she was found to have thyroid cancer and a brain tumor when she underwent a health checkup. "Little did I know that I would have cancer because I was young and had a relatively healthy lifestyle, although I did have an exhausting work pattern where I stayed up until late at night and early mor

Social Affairs Nov. 26, 2024

Starting Monday afternoon, heavy rain is expected to fall on Jeju Island and the Honam region, which includes Gwangju and South and North Jeolla provinces, and later spread across the country, according to the weather agency. Rain in the southern parts of the country and Jeju Island will mostly stop by Tuesday morning, but it will continue in the central regions until later in the day. The Korea Meteorological Administration added that low-pressure troughs could turn rain into snow in the moun

Social Affairs Nov. 25, 2024

진행자: 박준희, Devin Whiting What is South Korea’s 4B movement? 기사 요약: 여성 생식권 문제가 화두였던 미국 대선에서 트럼프 전 대통령이 승리하자 유권자들 사이에서 한국의 비 연애, 결혼, 출산 성관계 운동이 주목받고 있다. [1] Emerging around 2018, the "4B" movement is a voluntary female celibacy movement, encouraging women to refuse heterosexual marriage, childbirth, dating or sex with men. The term "4B" comes from bihon (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyeonae (no dating) and bisekseu (no sex), with "bi," or "B,&q

Podcast Nov. 25, 2024

South Korean police apprehended nearly 300 doctors for drug-related offenses this year, government data showed Sunday, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring of medical professionals who have access to controlled substances. A total of 294 doctors were caught for drug-related offenses in the first 10 months of this year, according to the Korean National Police Agency's data submitted to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the main opposition Democratic Party. Drug offenders here are those involved

Social Affairs Nov. 24, 2024

Concerns are rising over Wegovy being available at pharmacies without proper prescription, as some people are grappling with side effects. Wegovy is a popular weight-loss drug known to be used by celebrities like Elon Musk and Rebel Wilson. Recently, users of the weight-loss injection have taken to social media to share their reviews of Wegovy, with many of them experiencing headaches, itching and skin rashes due to allergic reactions, as well as stomach issues. "The most unpleasant side ef

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2024

진행자: 박준희, Devin Whiting Student backlash erupts as Dongduk Women's University weighs coed future 기사 요약: 최근 동덕여대 교무위원회가 남녀공학 전환을 논의한다는 사실이 알려지면서 여자대학의 존치 필요성에 대한 찬반 논쟁이 다시 불 붙었다. [1] Dongduk Women's University, one of South Korea’s seven remaining women’s colleges, is weighing a possible shift to coeducation, a move igniting opposition among students who warn it could erode the institution’s mission of championing women’s empowerment and diminish women’

Podcast Nov. 21, 2024

The Supreme Court on Wednesday finalized a 10-year prison term for a hit-and-run driver who killed a pedestrian by driving his Rolls-Royce onto a sidewalk while under the influence of drugs. The accident happened in near Apgujeong Station in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul in August 2023. The victim, aged 27, was on her way home after working a part-time job. She died in November last year. He then left the scene without taking any measures to deal with the accident. The 28-year-old driver, identif

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2024

South Korean gamer Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok advised youth not to fear failure, noting that the journey is crucial to success. "Success is equated with being the best and winning in the professional world, so I always strived to win," Lee, a five-time winner of the League of Legends World Championship, said during a keynote speech during the 2024 Future Dialogue for Global Innovation event held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. However, Lee said failure taught h

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2024

The main labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates subway Line Nos. 1 through 8 said Tuesday that it will launch a full-scale strike on Dec. 6 if a deal with the company cannot be reached. The move comes after more than 70 percent of the Seoul Transit Corp. Labor Union members, the union representing about 60 percent of the Seoul Metro workforce, voted this month in favor of a strike to demand better working conditions, including a wage increase of more than 2.5 percent. The unionized workers,

Social Affairs Nov. 19, 2024

Drug addiction is a thorny public health issue in South Korea that should be seen as an illness rather than a moral failing, according to experts, calling for a more supportive environment that helps those rebuilding their lives from substance use disorder. Referring to drug addiction as a "chronic disease," Kwak Young-sook, the president of the National Center for Mental Health, stressed that drug-related issues are a growing public health challenge that affects the entire community

Social Affairs Nov. 19, 2024

Passengers in the capital region face potential disruptions on their commute, as unionized railroad workers begin a partial "work-to-rule" protest Monday, warning of a potential indefinite strike from next month. On the same day, the main labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates subway Line Nos. 1 through 8, said it had voted in favor of staging a strike to demand better working conditions, a move that could plague transport services in the capital area. The work-to-rule protest --

Social Affairs Nov. 18, 2024

A week after a leadership change at Korea's largest doctors group, eyes are on whether the newly elected chief can break through a yearlong impasse and make progress in producing tangible results with the government, after the incoming leader pledged to respect junior doctors' and students' voices in handling the standoff. Drawing a line between himself and his controversy-ridden predecessor, who he says failed to protect the interests of the medical circle, Park Hyung-wook, who

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2024

A second Donald Trump administration is expected to bring a slew of uncertainties to the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, which calls for Seoul to bolster its alliance with Washington and find a key role in the US’ potential policy shifts, experts pointed out Wednesday. During a panel discussion at the Korea Herald Security Forum titled "Alliance After US Election 2024: A Seoul Perspective" held at the National Assembly in Seoul, four experts addressed looming concerns

Foreign Affairs Nov. 14, 2024