Yoon absence cuts first hearing short, court to fully start trial Thursday

Court dismisses request from Yoon's lawyers to exclude Justice Jung Gye-seon from trial The Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday began President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial with its first formal hearing, which concluded in just four minutes due to Yoon’s absence. “Due to the absence of the defendant, we will not proceed with the hearing in accordance with Article 52 of the Constitutional Court Act. The next hearing will be on the 16th at 2 p.m., and based on Clause 2 of Article 52, the

Jan. 14, 2025

Emergency alerts available in 19 languages from August

Situations requiring emergency response to be shared with local authorities; drones to be deployed for effective safety response The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that alerts sent through the Emergency Ready App will soon be available in 19 languages from August 2025, as part of the ministry’s key policy plans to make emergency information more accessible. The Emergency Ready App is run by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, which provides multilingual support for 36 emergen

Jan. 14, 2025

Black ice leads to over 10 vehicle pileups, at least 14 injured

A series of car accidents were reported across Seoul and its surrounding roads on Tuesday morning, which traffic authorities suspect were caused by black ice, a thin layer of ice on the road surface. At least 14 people were injured in two major accidents, involving 44 and 43 vehicles, respectively. At 5:16 a.m. on Tuesday, the 44-vehicle pile-up occurred near the Gusan Interchange on Jayuro-ro motorway in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province heading toward Paju. The Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Head

Jan. 14, 2025

Fake claims about Son Heung-min's nightclub visit lead to defamation charges

Five nightclub employees in Gangnam, Seoul, are facing prosecution for spreading false rumors about South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min. The employees claimed on social media that Son had visited their club with Bayern Munich players after a match last year and spent 30 million won ($20,490) on drinks. According to police and Son’s management agency, these claims were entirely fabricated, and the Tottenham Hotspur forward did not visit the club or pay for any drinks. The case has now been han

Jan. 14, 2025

[Graphic News] Higher pay tops Korean workers’ 2025 wishlist

Higher wages are the top priority for Korean employees in the new year, according to a report by Embrain Public. The survey, which polled 1,000 salaried employees over the age of 19, was commissioned by Workplace Gapjil 119, a group of labor experts and lawyers focused on protecting employees’ rights and eliminating workplace abuse. The report reveals that 77.7 percent of respondents prioritized higher pay, followed by 25.8 percent who desired less intense work or reduced work hours. Additionall

Jan. 14, 2025

To boost births, try Gangnam style?

Gangnam, known among locals for its hefty home prices and among foreigners for Psy’s famous tune, shows a remarkable uptick in births among Seoul’s 25 districts Amid grim forecasts of South Korea's self-extinction due to low birth rates, Seoul stands at the epicenter of the crisis, with a fertility rate of just 0.52. This means that, on average, a woman in Seoul is projected to have only 0.52 children in her lifetime. Yet, one particular Seoul district is showing remarkable progress in boosting

Jan. 13, 2025

Why are Jeju Air crash victims' families targeted by online hate?

A disturbing pattern of online hate speech and misinformation has emerged in the wake of the tragic Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport, targeting the victims and their grieving families. Since the crash on Dec. 29, social media platforms and online communities have been inundated with hateful comments and false narratives about the victims and their families. Among the most notable instances was a derogatory post suggesting that the victims' families were "delighted" about receiv

Jan. 13, 2025

CIO warns of legal consequences for presidential bodyguards for blocking investigators

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials announced Monday that it sent the official documents to both the Presidential Security Service and the Ministry of National Defense on Sunday, officially requesting their cooperation in enforcing the warrant to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. According to the CIO, it sent the documents to a total of six PSS guards, including the head of the Bodyguard Division, Lee Kwang-woo, warning them of the legal consequences that PSS e

Jan. 13, 2025

Scooter-free zones coming to Hongdae and Banpo this March

Starting in March, e-scooters will be banned in two major areas of Seoul: the bustling "Red Road" in the Hongdae area in Mapo-gu and the Banpo hagwon hub in Seocho-gu. These locations will serve as the city’s first-ever “electric scooter-free zones,” part of a broader effort to address safety concerns and growing complaints about scooter misuse. The enforcement will follow a monthlong educational period in February to help residents and visitors adjust to the new rules. By March, violators can e

Jan. 13, 2025

Court holds 1st hearing in PM Han Duck-soo’s impeachment trial

The Constitutional Court held the first preparatory hearing for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment trial on Monday. Presided over by Justices Kim Hyeong-du and Kim Bok-hyeong, the preparatory hearing was attended by Han’s legal representatives from the law firm Apex. Prior to the hearing, the attorneys submitted a statement some 80 pages long, accompanied by reference materials on Jan. 6. According to news reports, Han's team argued that Han's refusal to appoint court justices nominated w

Jan. 13, 2025

Overweight people at less risk of suicide: study

Koreans who are obese or overweight are less likely to kill themselves than those who are of average weight or under, a study by local endocrinologists showed Monday. Researchers from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Catholic Univ. of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital analyzed the data of 4.04 million adults from 2009 to Dec. 31 of 2021, using the database of the National Health Insurance Service. They analyzed the subjects based on body mass index, record of mental and chroni

Jan. 13, 2025

Strengthening chip industry, general sharesholder protection

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act Proposed by Rep. Yoon Han-hong (People Power Party) ●The current act imposes disclosure obligations on certain business groups and the person with de facto control over the group. This amendment clarifies the scope of subjects liable under the act, excluding companies managed by outside directors of affiliates or executive officers of nonprofit corporations from the definition of “business group.” Propsed Bill: Partia

Jan. 13, 2025

How to apply for a digital foreign resident ID card

Starting last Friday, foreign national residents in South Korea can apply for digital ID cards through the Mobile IDentification App, available for both iPhone and Android devices. Foreign residents aged 14 and over who own a smartphone under their name can get the mobile ID card. The digital card carries the same legal validity as the physical card and can be used in places such as public institutions, hospitals and convenience stores to verify one’s identity. Here are two ways one can apply fo

Jan. 13, 2025

Political turmoil leads to surge in news app use

The ongoing political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law led to a significant jump in the use of mobile news apps in December, a report by a data analysis firm showed Sunday. According to the IGA Works Mobile Index, mobile news apps were newly installed on phones by local users about 310,000 times in the month of December 2024, marking an 63.15 percent increase compared to new incidences of users installing news apps in December 2023. By month, it marke

Jan. 12, 2025

Police officers, 'hero' motorists chase down drunk driver

A drunk driver who fled after causing multiple collisions in Incheon was caught by police officers, with the help of two civilians who assisted in chasing down the suspect and blocked his path to stop him from escaping. The National Police Agency on Friday posted a video of an Oct. 1, 2024, altercation in Bupyeong-gu Incheon, in which officers from Incheon Bupyeong Police Station were attempting to apprehend a suspected drunk driver. The suspect fled the scene, colliding with two cars, injuring

Jan. 12, 2025