[Bills in Focus] Streamlining construction, promoting ESG compliance

Proposed Bill: Act on Special Cases Concerning the Promotion of Reconstruction and Redevelopment Projects Proposed by Rep. Kim Eun-hye (People Power Party) ● Rising construction costs and complex authorization procedures have caused delays in housing provision. To accelerate the completion of reconstruction and redevelopment projects and accommodate the growing demand for housing in city centers, this bill streamlines approval procedures, offers mediation support for construction cost disputes,

PoliticsSept. 18, 2024

15% of unmarried people won't disclose assets to future spouses: survey

Some unmarried South Koreans do not plan on revealing their entire fortune to their soon-to-be spouses, a recent survey by a matchmaking firm showed Tuesday. According to the survey by Gayeon conducted on 250 unmarried men and 250 unmarried women between 25-39 years of age, 15 percent of respondents said they would not disclose 100 percent of their assets. The most popular reason (49.3 percent) was "even spouses need some secrets," followed by "I might need emergency funds only fo

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

W624b spent on corporate cards for 'lavish entertainment' in S.Korea

South Korea’s high-end entertainment industry marked 624 billion won ($469 million) in sales with corporate credit cards last year, with over half spent in hostess clubs. The sales, supposedly generated for entertainment in business dealings, increased by 61 billion won from the previous year’s 563 billion won and accounted for 0.4 percent of total corporate credit card expenditure, according to the South Korean National Tax Service data submitted to Rep. Park Seong-hoon of the rulin

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

S.Korea to mandate in-vehicle breathalyzers for repeat DUI offenders

In a bid to combat the persistent problem of drunk driving, South Korea is rolling out a new policy that will require repeat offenders to blow into a breathalyzer every time they start their car, authorities told local media on Tuesday. The policy, set to take effect on Oct. 25, applies to anyone caught driving under the influence more than twice in the past five years. Under the mandate, offenders will be responsible for installing the breathalyzer-like device -- referred to as the ignition int

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

Immigration crackdown catches more delivery workers

The number of foreign nationals illegally working as delivery workers in South Korea has surged by 50 percent since the Ministry of Justice initiated a crackdown on illegal employment practices in the industry in 2023. According to the Justice Ministry, 171 cases of foreign nationals being illegally employed in food delivery services and parcel services were detected as of July 2024, up from 117 cases detected in the whole of 2023. If this trend continues, the ministry expects numbers to double

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

High temperatures may worsen mental health conditions: study

Amid the prolonged summer in South Korea, research revealed Wednesday shows that rising temperatures can cause not just heat-related illnesses but also increase the risk of obtaining mental illnesses such as depression. According to joint research conducted by the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul National University and Pusan National University with 219,187 respondents of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Community Health Survey, for every increase in average annual t

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

Lawmaker flags low detention rate in the child porn cases

Over the past three years and seven months, more than 4,000 individuals were apprehended for child pornography offenses, including production and distribution, yet only 261 of them were referred to prosecutors while in detention, according to the official data. Data released Wednesday by Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, based on information from the National Police Agency, highlighted the extent of child exploitation offenses and the relatively low rate of dete

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

Disruptions in medical services continue during Chuseok

Disruptions in health care services continued nationwide during the five-day Chuseok holiday, as the medical standoff over the government’s medical school quota hike plan showed no signs of abating. While there is no official data to assess the scope and size of the disturbances, independent reports emerged of patients being denied admission to multiple emergency care units during the Saturday-Wednesday holiday. On Saturday, when the nation entered the crest of holiday cheer, a woman whose

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

N. Korea launches missiles in latest show of military, nuclear strength

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles Wednesday in its latest show of force, just days after an unprecedented public release of photos showing its uranium enrichment facilities capable of producing nuclear weapons material. The missile launches came on the heels of last week's launches which marked the end of a more than two-month pause in Pyongyang's missile provocations. The South Korean military detected North Korea launching several short-range ballistic missiles northea

North KoreaSept. 18, 2024

Main opposition to railroad multiple contentious bills after Chuseok

South Korea’s political climate post-Chuseok is likely to revert to a familiarly confrontational one, with the powerful opposition party poised to railroad several contentious bills, including those targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee with special counsel investigations. At the National Assembly’s plenary session scheduled for Thursday, the liberal opposition Democratic Party of Korea plans to present three high-profile bills, Rep. Yoon Jong-kun, the party&r

PoliticsSept. 18, 2024

YouTuber receives backlash for choosing company of actress Lee Na-eun

Travel YouTuber Kwak Joon-bin, better known as KwakTube, touched a nerve with the public concerning bullying when he posted his latest video featuring Lee Na-eun, a singer-turned-actress who was accused of bullying her former bandmate in the now-disbanded K-pop group April. Kwak on Monday posted a video of his travels in Italy during which he met Lee. He told Lee about how he misunderstood her because of now-disproven allegations of school violence. Police launched an investigation into the al

Social AffairsSept. 18, 2024

Biden, Harris offer congratulatory messages at first-ever White House Chuseok reception

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated Chuseok, the Korean autumn harvest celebration, in a message stressing Korean Americans' cultural heritage and contributions to the United States, as the first-ever White House Chuseok reception took place Tuesday. Some 100 Korean Americans, US officials and others gathered at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for the event that was made possible under an initiative led largely by former and current Korean American White

Foreign AffairsSept. 18, 2024

Yoon to visit Czech Republic with focus on nuclear energy cooperation

President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to visit the Czech Republic this week to solidify South Korea's bid to win a major nuclear energy project and deepen economic ties with the European nation. Yoon will embark on a four-day trip on Thursday for talks with Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, trade, investment, technology and other areas. The visit comes two months after a consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was selected a

PoliticsSept. 18, 2024

USFK commander nominee calls NK threat 'single greatest' challenge, pledges 'constant' readiness

The US Forces Korea commander nominee on Tuesday described North Korea's "rapid" advancement of its nuclear and missile capabilities as the "single greatest" challenge facing the Korea-based command, vowing to maintain a "constant" state of readiness if confirmed. During a confirmation hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lieut. Gen. Xavier Brunson, currently the commander of First Corps, also voiced concerns over growing military exchanges between P

Foreign AffairsSept. 18, 2024

N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles: JCS

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in a northeastern direction on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, further ratcheting up tensions already heightened by its rare disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility last week. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launches at about 6:50 a.m. from the North's Kaechon area in South Phyongan Province, north of Pyongyang, and the missiles flew about 400 kilometers. It did not provide further details, such as the

North KoreaSept. 18, 2024

No dialogue without govt. change of attitude first: doctors

The medical community Friday said it will not be participating in any multilateral dialogue with political parties and the government, amid the ongoing standoff against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's plan to hike the medical school admissions quota. Choi Anna, a spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association, said, "We believe that it is premature to participate in the bipartisan consultative body at this point in time since there has been no change in the government's atti

Social AffairsSept. 17, 2024

Seoul-bound traffic clogged on 4th day of Chuseok holiday

Seoul-bound traffic on major expressways is clogged on Tuesday, the fourth day of the extended Chuseok holiday, with traffic jams expected to be eased the following day, according to the expressway operator. This year's Chuseok, the Korean fall harvest celebration, falls on Tuesday, and the extended holiday runs from Saturday until Wednesday. As of 8 a.m., the estimated travel time from the southwestern city of Mokpo to Seoul was seven hours and 50 minutes, six hours and 30 minutes from the

Social AffairsSept. 17, 2024

[Special] Ansan aims to become South Korea's multicultural hub, heart of immigration policy

Located southwest of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, Ansan is notable for its cultural diversity. As South Korea's first planned industrial city, it features large complexes like the Banwol National Industrial Complex, which offer numerous job opportunities and attract foreign workers. With 14 percent of its population originating from 118 countries, Ansan boasts the highest proportion of foreign residents in the country, contributing to a culturally diverse community, according to its Mayor Le

Social AffairsSept. 17, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Breaking app market monopoly, strengthening AI content rules

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act Proposed by Rep. Lee Jeong-heon (Democratic Party of Korea) ● To regulate app market monopolization and ensure the consumers’ right to choice, this amendment requires market-dominant app store operators, such as Google and Apple, to permit third-party payment options outside their app stores, such as via web browsers.   Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Restriction of Special Taxation Act Proposed by Rep. Ki

PoliticsSept. 17, 2024

North Korea sends top envoy to Russia as it girds for friction with Seoul

North Korea sent its foreign minister to Russia for her second trip in less than a year to the major backer of Kim Jong-un’s regime. The move comes as Pyongyang readies for a parliamentary meeting that will likely approve measures that raise tensions with South Korea. Choe Son-hui led a delegation taking part in women’s conferences, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday in a two-sentence dispatch. The foreign minister who rarely travels abroad last went to Moscow i

North KoreaSept. 17, 2024