Former colleague of pilot on ill-fated Jeju Air flight pays tribute, says he was 'always kind'

A flight attendant who had worked with the captain on the Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 has posted a handwritten note for the victims of Sunday's deadly crash, saying the captain was a kindhearted spirit who was always nice to his co-workers. "You always impressed me for being so kind and looking out for your colleagues. ... It pained me greatly to hear of the accident," said the writer, identifying him or herself as a flight attendant who accompanied the deceased during a layover at Jeju Island. "We

Jan. 2, 2025

Police raid Muan airport over deadly Jeju Air plane crash

Police on Thursday raided Muan International Airport, the office of Jeju Air and other locations over the airline's deadly crash that killed 179 people. The Jeonnam Provincial Police conducted search and seizure operations into the airport in southwest South Korea, the Seoul office of Jeju Air and the Muan office of the Busan Regional Office of Aviation, officials said. The search warrant was issued on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, officials said. On Sunday, the Jeju Air

Jan. 2, 2025

Fire breaks out at psychiatric hospital; 1 injured

A fire broke out at a psychiatric hospital in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of 227 people and injuring one. According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the fire broke out at around 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday in Jangheung-myeon, located within the city of Yangju. The fire reportedly originated at an employee cafeteria while workers were preparing a meal. A female employee in her 50s sustained a first-degree burn to her hands, but no additional casualties were

Jan. 2, 2025

Funerals begin for 179 victims of deadly plane crash

Funerals of those who passed away in the Jeju Air crash in Muan, South Jeolla Province, have begun, as the authorities completed identification process for all 179 victims the previous day. The final part of the funeral for one of the victims took place Thursday morning. It was the first funeral to be completed, having begun relatively early, on Monday, as the body was less damaged than others. The funeral for a 45-year-old Thai victim will also be completed Thursday afternoon. As of Thursday mo

Jan. 2, 2025

[Graphic News] Year of the Blue Snake

The year 2025 is recognized as the Year of the Blue Snake in the Chinese zodiac. Each year, one of the 12 zodiac animals is paired with an element from the Chinese Five Elements theory (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). For 2025, the associated element is wood, which is traditionally linked to the color blue. This connection is why 2025 is referred to as the Year of the Blue Snake.

Jan. 2, 2025

Policies in 2025 bring positive changes

From universal device chargers to increased parental benefits: 313 changes in the new year The South Korean government recently published the latest edition of its biannual guide to new government policies, detailing 313 changes across the 39 bodies of the government that are being enacted in the new year. The changes include policies to tackle the country's record-low birthrate, raising the hourly minimum wage above 10,000 won ($6.80) mark for the first time, and instituting mandatory child-pro

Jan. 1, 2025

Shattered dreams of Thai victims of Jeju Air crash

The two Thai nationals who tragically lost their lives in a tragic plane crash on Sunday were a promising college student and a proud mother of two. The victims, identified as Sirinthorn Ja-ue, a 22-year-old from Chiang Rai's Mae Suai district, and Boonchuay Duangmanee, a 45-year-old from Udon Thani province, were among the 181 passengers aboard the ill-fated flight. Ja-ue was traveling to South Korea to celebrate the New Year with her mother, who had married a Korean man. It was to be her secon

Jan. 1, 2025

Damaged flight data recorder to be analyzed in US

Identities of 179 victims of Muan plane crash confirmed Three days after the deadly plane crash in Muan, South Jeolla Province, killed all but two of the 181 people on board, authorities are focusing fully on investigations into the cause of the accident, as all the victims' identities have been confirmed. The flight data recorder, a crucial component in determining the cause of the Jeju Air crash, will be sent to the United States for analysis due to damage sustained during the accident. Meanwh

Jan. 1, 2025

Your guide to 2025's long weekends

Be strategic in holiday planning to maximize more days off with early, smart arrangements As the new year begins, many South Koreans are already planning how to make the most of 2025’s holidays. With a total of 119 days off, including weekends and public holidays, there are six opportunities for long weekends lasting three days or more. Notably, October offers a rare seven-day holiday stretch -- the longest of the year. Here's a breakdown of the key holiday periods and how to maximize your time

Jan. 1, 2025

2 new justices add momentum to Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment trial

With South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok appointing two new justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday, the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to speed up, despite one vacancy remaining on the nine-seat court. The appointments give the court greater legitimacy in ruling on Yoon's case, while also eliminating perhaps the biggest obstacle to Yoon's impeachment, namely that with only six justices, to remove Yoon from office would require a unanimous ruling. W

Jan. 1, 2025

Bird-enthusiast YouTuber faces backlash after air disaster

In a bizarre cat vs. bird debate, cat lovers claim, 'At least cats don't cause planes to crash' With a bird strike the subject of public speculation as one of the possible causes of the Jeju Air crash on Dec. 29 that claimed 179 lives, a YouTuber specializing in bird-related content has found himself in hot water. The channel with 490,000 subscribers, "Bird Enthusiast," has seen a deluge of anti-bird comments, including "Birds caused people to die.” While experts are skeptical that the bird stri

Jan. 1, 2025

All victims of deadly plane crash identified

All 179 victims of the deadly plane crash last Sunday have been identified as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. The officials early in the day confirmed the identity of five victims, the last to be identified from the fatal accident. The identification process took nearly four days, as many of the bodies were severely damaged in the explosion and fire that followed the crash. Officials are discussing details with the bereaved families

Jan. 1, 2025

Two more US investigators join on-site probe of Jeju Air crash in Muan

Two additional investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board have joined the on-site probe into the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport, government sources said Wednesday. With these additions, the number of the US team members increased to 10, including five from NTSB and four from aviation manufacturer Boeing Co. According to the sources, the US team expanded its presence to ensure a thorough examination of the accident. The US team arrived in South Korea on Monday an

Jan. 1, 2025

At least 8 injured in car crash at Seoul market

At least eight people were injured Tuesday when a car driven by a man in his 70s plowed into a group of people at a traditional market in Seoul, police said. The incident occurred around 4:18 p.m. at Mokdong Kkaebi Market in southwestern Seoul. No deaths have been reported so far, police said. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash and working to assess the extent of the damage. (Yonhap)

Dec. 31, 2024

3 in 10 Gyeonggi residents have used legal or illegal psychoactive drugs: survey

Three out of 10 Gyeonggi Province residents say they have used either prescribed or illegal psychoactive drugs, officials reported Tuesday. A survey by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly of 1,591 residents found that 30.7 percent of respondents reported having used such substances, primarily prescription medications. The most commonly used substances included propofol, reported by 16 percent of respondents; sedatives such as diazepam and zolpidem, used by 7.7 percent, and antitussive medications l

Dec. 31, 2024