Opposition leader questioned again over suspected illegal remittance to N. Korea

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was grilled by prosecutors again Tuesday over allegations of his involvement in a company's illegal remittance to North Korea in 2019. Lee, chair of the main opposition Democratic Party, left the Suwon District Prosecutors Office after around five hours of questioning on charges of third-party bribery, three days after he underwent the first round of questioning on Saturday. "I don't know why (investigators) called me again, as they again failed to

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate expresses concern about Kim-Putin summit

The upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is poised to present a significant challenge to the universal values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said Tuesday. Kim arrived in Russia on Tuesday for a rare summit with Putin, raising speculation they may discuss the North's supply of ammunition and weaponry to support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The

Foreign AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Seoul plans more tourist-friendly landscape by 2026

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday announced a set of plans to turn Seoul into a more tourist-friendly city by adding various attractions and increasing its convenience for travelers. During the “Seoul Tourism Future Vision Proclamation Ceremony” held on Sebitseom in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon unveiled the city's vision for what he calls the “3-3-7-7 Tourism Era.” As part of this plan, which the city aims to achieve by 2026, Seoul hop

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

UN rights expert pins hopes on NK’s border easing

North Korea’s recent decision to slowly lift border shutdowns could help the isolated country re-engage with United Nations bodies on human rights, a UN rights expert said Monday on the last day of her trip to Seoul that started Monday last week. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the North had kept its borders sealed, expelling rights and aid groups. Pyongyang last month approved the return of its citizens overseas. “I hope that the DPRK will restart its engagem

North KoreaSept. 12, 2023

Entry-level teachers’ wages below OECD average

South Korean entry-level public school teachers earn less money than their counterparts in most member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Education Ministry said Tuesday. According to the latest edition of the OECD report “Education at a Glance,” released and analyzed by the Ministry of Education and the Korean Educational Development Institute, the average gross salary of entry-level teachers was $33,615 for elementary teachers and $33,67

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Kim Jong-un takes mysterious family train to Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was spotted Monday traveling by his family train on his way to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The third-generation Kim diverged from his famously flight-phobic father in his past summit trips, in June 2018 flying Air China to get to Singapore for the landmark meeting with then-US President Donald Trump. This time he chose to travel 20 hours on the train that is speculated to be bulletproof and multifunctional, with luxurious decors. Rep. Tae Yong-

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

Man arrested for hurling bricks from Seoul building

Pedestrians in Eunpyeong-gu, northern Seoul, were sent scrambling for cover Monday morning as concrete bricks and wood, some weighing up to 3 kilograms apiece, were hurled from the rooftop of a nearby seven-story building onto the sidewalk and road below. The chaos unfolded at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, as people were busy heading to work. One of the falling objects struck a moving car. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Police responded to the scene and arrested a man in

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Over 10,000 nabbed for illegal drug use in H1

South Korea apprehended over 10,000 suspected of illegal drug use during the first half of the year as part of the government initiative to stamp out drug-related crimes in what was once considered a drug-free country. The number of suspects caught by law enforcement surged to 10,252, up nearly 20 percent compared with the previous year, according to government data unveiled Tuesday. Throughout 2022, 18,395 were nabbed by law enforcement, hitting an all-time high. The amount of drugs confiscated

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

[Housing Talk] Damages for interference to the quality of housing

  Have you ever had your sunlight blocked or your view blocked by huge skyscrapers in front of your house? Such quality of life interests are also considered a protected right under Korean law. A typical quality of life impairment includes sunlight and view obstructions, both of which the court recognizes as specific rights and therefore prescribes specific remedies. First, let's talk about obstruction of sunlight. In order for an obstruction of sunlight to be considered illegal and liable,

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

A year after Sindang murder, stalking crimes persist, bills pending

A year has passed since the Sindang Station murder, in which a female Seoul Metro employee was killed after being stalked by her ex-colleague, but most bills proposed since to beef up protection for stalking victims remain pending in parliament. Korea's anti-stalking law was revised to punish perpetrators without the consent of stalking victims and a law to support stalking victims was enacted in the wake of the murder case last year. Despite the revision, the scope defining stalking as a c

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Kim Jong-un flanked by military cadre enters Russia amid US warning

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, publicly flanked by a cadre of key military officers, has entered Russia via his armored private train following a lengthy journey from Pyongyang for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far East. Putin's announcement on Tuesday that he will visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in the region also suggests that the location is the likely venue for the meeting. The move strongly signals that the focus of the i

North KoreaSept. 12, 2023

Defense minister expresses intent to resign

South Korea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup reportedly expressed his intention to resign on Tuesday, amid increasing demands from the opposition to remove him, citing allegations of his interference in a probe into the death of a Marine. Lee, a 63-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has served as the defense minister since President Yoon Suk Yeol's inauguration in May 2022, expressed his intent during a Cabinet meeting at Yoon's office on Tuesday, according to news report

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

Yoon pledges to revitalize 3-way summit with China, Japan

President Yoon Suk Yeol affirmed his commitment to reinvigorating diplomatic relations by actively promoting a trilateral summit with Japan and China this year, noting that the leaders of both nations have also expressed support for resuming talks. During a livestreamed Cabinet meeting Tuesday morning, Yoon spoke about the outcomes of his recent visits to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and the G-20 summit. The president returned home Monday after a seven-day trip to Indonesia

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

3-meter sinkhole discovered in Gangnam, no casualties reported

A sinkhole has opened up in the middle of a road in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Tuesday, according to authorities. At around 10:45 a.m., a sinkhole was found near Eonju Station. A man called the police to report that one of his wheels was stuck in the ground due to the sinkhole, which is estimated to be 3 meters deep and 1 meter in diameter, according to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station. Although four lanes from Kyobo Tower to the Cha Medical Center Gangnam are currently closed to prevent further accid

Social AffairsSept. 12, 2023

The Korea Herald, Pakistan's the Nation agree to boost media cooperation

The Korea Herald and the Nation, a Pakistani daily founded in 1984, agreed to boost media cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed in Seoul on Monday. A signing ceremony was held at The Korea Herald headquarters in Seoul, with Pakistan Ambassador to Korea Nabeel Munir, The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young, Nawaiwaqt Group Managing Director Rameeza Majid Nizami, and The Korea Herald Vice President Shin Yong-bae in attendance. The agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journa

Foreign AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Colombian delegates discuss energy partnership with S. Korea

Delegates discussed Colombia's ambitious goals and opportunities for Korean companies in the energy sector at the Colombia-Korea Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Strategic Partnership Seminar co-hosted by the Colombian Embassy in Seoul, ProColombia Korea and the Andi-Naturgas Hydrogen Chamber in Seoul on Tuesday. The event, aimed at fostering clean energy solutions and advancing hydrogen technologies between Colombia and Korea, was attended by delegates from Colombia's top 10 energy compa

Foreign AffairsSept. 12, 2023

Anti-corruption agency to launch 90-day special probe into lawmakers' virtual assets

The state anti-corruption agency said Tuesday it will look into virtual asset holdings of all lawmakers to see if any irregularities are involved, after suspicions arose earlier this year over a lawmaker's once-massive cryptocurrency assets. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said it will conduct a 90-day inspection starting next Monday at the request of the National Assembly and a special team of 30 investigators will be mobilized for the inspection. Earlier this year, the rul

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

Gov't, PPP to seek legal revisions to protect teachers in child abuse cases

The government and the ruling People Power Party decided Tuesday to push for a set of legal revisions aimed at safeguarding teachers' rights during child abuse investigations. The move comes after a series of suicide deaths of teachers sparked massive demands for the protection of teacher rights. Some argue the current child abuse crimes act could hold teachers accountable for child abuse allegations stemming from what they consider necessary disciplinary actions. The proposed revisions wou

PoliticsSept. 12, 2023

N. Korea may test fire SLBM following launch of tactical nuclear submarine: Beyond Parallel

North Korea may test fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile to show the effectiveness of its new tactical nuclear submarine launched earlier this month, a US monitor said Monday. Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, also noted that Pyongyang may request submarine or SLBM-requested technology from Russia during leader Kim Jong-un's high-profile trip to Russia. "The logical next step for North Korea is a missile launch fr

North KoreaSept. 12, 2023

White House urges N. Korea not to provide weapons to Russia

The White House called on North Korea not to provide any weapons to Russia on Monday, ahead of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's widely anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, underscored that the two countries will likely continue discussing a potential arms deal during Kim's ongoing trip to Russia. "As we have warned publicly, arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected

North KoreaSept. 12, 2023