Abuse hotline opens to flood of reports from migrant workers

Reports of human rights abuses involving migrant workers in South Korea increased more than sixfold in the first month after the government opened a dedicated multilingual hotline, the Justice Ministry said Sunday. The ministry said 142 reports were filed through the new channel at the 1345 Immigration Contact Center in its first month of operation, compared with a previous monthly average of 22. The hotline, launched May 27, allows foreign workers to report unpaid wages, sexual harassment or as

2026-07-05 16:38:44:00

After mild June, Korea braces for heat dome

South Korea’s summer has felt less oppressive than usual so far, thanks to a delayed monsoon and lower humidity. But that brief relief may not last. Weather experts say the country could face stronger heat after the rainy season ends, as two high-pressure systems may expand over the Korean Peninsula and trap hot air near the ground. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Seoul’s average humidity in June was 61 percent, lower than last year’s 70 percent and the long-term average of

2026-07-05 13:55:44:00

Lovebugs fade, but biting katydids spread in Seoul area

As lovebug numbers fall, another insect is drawing complaints from residents in Seoul and nearby cities. Brown katydids, known scientifically as Paratlanticus ussuriensis, have recently been reported in large numbers around Mount Buram and Mount Surak in northeastern Seoul, as well as in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Residents have posted online that the insects are appearing on hiking trails, apartment walls, pipes and even inside homes. Brown katydids are native to Korea and grow to about 3 to

2026-07-05 13:07:56:00

Woman jailed for extortion after threatening to falsely accuse boyfriend of rape

A woman in her 30s has been sentenced to one year in prison for falsely accusing her boyfriend of rape and using the claim to extort money from him, a court said Sunday. The Jeonju District Court convicted the 35-year-old woman of false accusation and extortion, finding that she threatened to file a sexual assault complaint against her boyfriend, a civil servant, unless he paid her tens of millions of won. According to the ruling, the woman demanded money from the man after he tried to end their

2026-07-05 10:37:46:00

Body of man killed by partner found in river after six-month search

A body believed to be that of a man killed by his live-in partner in northern Seoul earlier this year was found in the Namhan River in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, authorities said. Police and fire officials said a driver reported seeing what appeared to be a mannequin floating near a bridge in Yangpyeong County on Wednesday evening. Rescue workers recovered the body between the seventh and eighth pillars of Yongdam Bridge and handed it over to police. Police believe the body is that of a man

2026-07-02 10:27:29:00

Korea extends tax deadlines after local system outage

South Korea extended deadlines for local tax payments after a system failure disrupted online and offline tax services nationwide, affecting municipal offices, automated kiosks and major government platforms. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Wednesday that a malfunction in the local tax system began at around 9 a.m., delaying services including tax filings, applications, payments and issuance of certificates through municipal civil service counters, automated kiosks, Wetax and Jeongb

2026-07-01 11:32:55:00

Korea shares women’s entrepreneurship policy model with Egypt

South Korea is using its official development assistance program to export policy experience in women’s entrepreneurship to Egypt, as Cairo seeks to expand women’s participation in the labor market and small business sector. The International Women and Family Foundation, in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, is hosting a 14-day training program from Sunday to July 11 for 15 mid- to senior-level officials from Egypt’s National Council for Women, the foundation said. The

2026-06-29 18:06:31:00

Korean father, son missing after Hawaii hike

A South Korean father and his teenage son were still missing in Hawaii on Thursday, two days after they left their Waikiki hotel for a hike near Hanauma Bay and did not return. The 49-year-old man and his 16-year-old son left the hotel at around 7 a.m. Tuesday to hike the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail on the eastern side of Oahu, according to the US Coast Guard and local media reports. Their names have not been released. The search has since expanded across land, sea and air, with the Honolulu F

2026-06-26 15:11:37:00

Gwanghwamun office worker stabbed; former co-worker sought

Police are searching for a man in his 70s after a former co-worker was stabbed with a weapon resembling a sickle at an office building near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Friday morning, according to a report from Herald Business. The attack took place at around 7:47 a.m. at the Ilmin Museum of Art building near the Sejong-daero intersection in Jongno-gu, close to Gwanghwamun Square. The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered a serious arm injury but was not in life-threatening condition, according

2026-06-26 15:04:30:00

Seoul offers couples up to W3m for public-venue weddings

Seoul will offer up to 3 million won ($1,940) to couples who hold weddings at selected public venues, as the city seeks to ease competition for conventional wedding halls and help alleviate the financial burden on newlyweds. “We hope this event will help more couples discover the appeal of different urban spaces,” Ma Chae-sook, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Affairs Office, said Friday. “Seoul will continue to find more venues suitable for weddings to ease bo

2026-06-26 14:53:44:00