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Policy Watch: Han Dong-hoon vows to create 5 megacities
People Power Party presidential contender Han Dong-hoon pledged to use deregulation and tax exemptions to create five megacities nationwide to reduce the concentration of infrastructure and capital in Seoul. He did not say where the cities would be. Unveiling his plan at the National Assembly, Han criticized past regional development efforts as ineffective, and proposed what he called a pragmatic approach. Key policies include industry-friendly “zero-regulation zones,” tax incentives, elite educ
April 22, 2025 -
Young borrowers in Korea crushed by illegal loan rings charging over 15,000% interest
A growing wave of illegal high-interest lending in South Korea is leaving young borrowers trapped in cycles of debt and fear. A recent investigation by a coalition of civic groups reveals that some underground lenders charge borrowers effective annual interest rates of over 15,000 percent, using anonymous chat apps and blackmail tactics to keep victims paying indefinitely. The findings were presented this week by Financial Consumer Solidarity, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and
April 22, 2025 -
70% of office workers use ChatGPT for work almost every day: survey
More than 7 out of 10 office workers in South Korea are using the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT for work on a near-daily basis, a recent report showed Tuesday. Local job-search and recruiting platform Job Planet asked 762 Korean workers their views on using the AI-powered program at work. It was found that 93.7 percent of the respondents said using ChatGPT for work was acceptable, of which 82.7 percent said they do not hide their use of the chatbot. When asked how frequently they use C
April 22, 2025 -
Bus driver fined for road rage
A South Korean court said Tuesday that a 70-year-old bus driver has been fined 3 million won ($2,100) for intimidation using a vehicle and of assault on another motorist, after the victim cut in front of him on the road. The Wonju Branch of the Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon Province found the defendant guilty of violence and special intimidation -- latter being stipulated as intimidation involving collective force or a dangerous weapon -- in this case, the bus. "(The defendant) is to be co
April 22, 2025 -
Gwangmyeong subway construction site already had structural damage before collapse: report
The collapsed subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province showed signs of structural damage before the ground subsided, a local news outlet reported Tuesday. According to broadcaster YTN, construction company POSCO E&C had installed gauges at five spots inside the tunnel at around 2 a.m. of April 11, about 14 hours before the incident that killed one and injured three. The gauges reportedly showed that the archways of the tunnel were progressively lowering over time, subsiding by
April 22, 2025 -
Police express regret for 'misunderstanding' over Tzuyang stalking case
The Korean National Police Agency on Monday addressed the recent reassignment of investigators handling allegations made by YouTuber Tzuyang that she is being stalked by an independent journalist, saying there had been a misunderstanding on the part of the alleged victim. Tzuyang, whose real name is Park Jeong-won, recently accused police of unfairly conducting the stalking investigation of Kim Se-eui, the operator of the far-right YouTube channel Hoverlab who has made multiple unconfirmed claim
April 22, 2025 -
Disability activists forced out of Seoul subway station
Disability rights activists were forcibly taken out of a Seoul subway station on Tuesday before staging a "subway-riding" protest for the second consecutive day. The activists who belong to the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) planned to launch their protest from 8 a.m. at Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4, demanding an increased budget for disabled people and their mobility rights. But Seoul Metro blocked the activists, citing the railway safety law, and requested them to leave
April 22, 2025 -
2 Chinese nationals cleared of suspected illegal filming near Osan Air Base
Two Chinese nationals were apprehended Monday on suspicion of illegally filming fighter jets near Osan Air Base, which is used by the US Air Force, but police later dropped the investigation, citing no suspected espionage. The two were suspected of illegally taking photos of the base and fighter jets around Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 63 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday morning, although it was unclear which specific facilities or equipment were captured in the images. The Gyeonggi Nambu Pr
April 21, 2025 -
Dispute unfolds at Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial over order to 'drag out' lawmakers from Assembly
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal representatives and a senior military official waged a war of nerves over the controversial military order to arrest politicians inside the National Assembly on Dec. 3, 2024, during the second hearing of Yoon's criminal trial held Monday. Yoon's appearance was made public for the first time since being removed from office on April 4, after the court allowed the press to photograph and film the opening of the session due to the "historical significance of th
April 21, 2025 -
Suspected arsonist found dead at scene of Seoul apartment fire
The suspected arsonist behind a fatal fire that broke out at an apartment in Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, southern Seoul, on Monday morning was found dead at the site, police said Monday. The scorched body of a man in his 60s, the prime suspect, was found on the fourth floor of the 21-story apartment building, authorities said, after the fire was extinguished at around 10 a.m. which left one dead and six injured. Police said fingerprints of the man and the suspected arsonist matched, based on thei
April 21, 2025 -
Romanization rules not mandatory for names on passports: court
Names on South Korean passports do not have to follow the government's official romanization rules, according to a recent court ruling. In its ruling unveiled Monday, the Seoul Administrative Court sided with the plaintiff in a case against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overturning administrative procedures that denied a name change based on government romanization standards. According to the Passport Act, romanization of Korean names on Korean passports should follow the Ministry of Culture’
April 21, 2025 -
Can Korea clean up its streets by electrifying old motorcycles? Government study begins
South Korea is exploring whether gas-powered motorbikes — widely used for delivery services — can be converted to electric models as a cleaner, quieter alternative for its cities. The Ministry of Environment announced earlier this month it is funding a new eight-month research project to evaluate the practicality of retrofitting existing motorbikes with electric motors. “The project is not a new policy rollout, but rather a groundwork effort to understand if such conversions could make environme
April 21, 2025 -
Disability activists' subway-riding protest disrupts morning commute
A disability rights advocacy group on Monday staged a surprise "subway-riding" protest at one of Seoul's busiest subway stations for the first time in over a year. The protest by members of Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination began at Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4 at 8 a.m., disrupting train operations during the morning rush hours. During the protest, wheelchair using activists repeatedly board and disembark trains, or deliberately board trains slowly. Seoul Metro employees attem
April 21, 2025 -
S. Korean tourist killed in robbery in Philippines
A South Korean national visiting the Philippines has been fatally shot by a robber in the city of Angeles, according to officials Monday. The South Korean tourist was attacked by an assailant on a motorcycle on Sunday afternoon and was fatally shot while resisting. The person was transferred to a hospital but later pronounced dead. South Korea's foreign ministry has urged local police authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the case. (Yonhap)
April 21, 2025 -
PPP contenders clash over legality of Yoon's martial law
The second group of the conservative People Power Party’s eight candidates vying for the party’s presidential nomination continued a war of words over the legality of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law during a televised debate Sunday. Former party leader Han Dong-hoon argued that Yoon's declaration of martial law was "illegal," despite being a decision by "the president from our party." "I took the lead to block it and I put our people first," Han said. Former Daegu Mayor
April 20, 2025