Partner conflicts can endanger families and others, study finds

Conflicts between spouses or romantic partners can escalate into deliberate attacks on family members and others outside the relationship, a study found. At least 157 victims outside intimate relationships were identified in the study, which examined 80 selected court cases involving attacks committed between 1973 and 2021. Of them, 144 were killed and 13 survived attacks involving attempted homicide, serious assault, confinement and sexual violence. In 51 cases, or 63.8 percent, perpetrators at

2026-10-16 15:39:35:00

Incheon Queer Culture Festival wins first approval to use City Hall plaza

The Incheon Queer Culture Festival will be held Saturday at Incheon Aetteul, the plaza outside City Hall, after the city approved the venue for the first time since the event began in 2018. The ninth edition is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. under the theme “A Rainbow by Your Side.” About 1,900 people are expected to attend the festival and parade, police said Thursday. The city approved the venue subject to certain conditions, including a ban on tents and other long-term structures on t

2026-10-16 12:12:45:00

Beyond blood and marriage, who counts as family?

President Lee Jae Myung’s recent call for a broader discussion of family diversity has touched off talks over growing diversity in South Korea's housholds, and how the social perception and legal protections are still mostly focused on the traditional form of the family. Speaking Wednesday at an event unveiling the government’s population strategy, Lee questioned the practice of describing families formed through marriage between a man and a woman as "normal." He called for discussion of how far

2026-10-15 15:34:50:00

Beyond ‘Gangnam Style,’ mayor bets on AI and K-culture to remake district

Gangnam-gu Mayor Kim Hyeon-ki likens his first three months in office to Forrest Gump’s long run. He said he began running alone, but district officials and residents have since joined him in pursuing what he calls a “major transformation of Gangnam.” “I’ve gained considerable confidence. I now believe we can make it happen,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Herald at his office Tuesday. His priority is to prepare the district for the future rather than rest on its past success. “If we re

2026-10-14 15:38:09:00

[Exclusive] Gangnam goes all out to attract AMD AI research center to Suseo Station

Mayor Kim Hyeon-ki says he is prepared to “stake his life” on Gangnam-gu's push to attract an AI research center planned by US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices. The district is pitching its schools, residential amenities and growing robotics cluster as assets in attracting the hundreds of researchers AMD plans to hire to Korea. AMD CEO Lisa Su said on Oct. 7 that the company plans to establish an AI Center of Excellence in Korea by year-end and hire hundreds of researchers. The center is expecte

2026-10-14 15:38:02:00

Deaths before pension age spur calls for earlier benefits for disabled people

More than 6,000 people with disabilities died before reaching the age to claim an old-age pension, despite meeting the minimum contribution requirement, a lawmaker said Tuesday, calling for earlier access for people with severe or developmental disabilities. A total of 13,263 people with disabilities died before reaching pension age over the past five years, according to data released by Rep. So Byeong-hun of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare C

2026-10-13 14:51:47:00

As births rise, parents still struggle to get daycare spots

A 35-year-old father of two, ages 2 and 4, has waited 18 months for a place for his younger child at a public daycare center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. “My child is No. 285 on the waiting list. Most of the parents waiting for places have children aged 0 to 2,” said the father, who asked not to be named. “My wife works part time to care for our children, so our household income has fallen.” He filed a complaint with the Gwangjin District Office, questioning why it had not anticipated child care deman

2026-10-12 15:22:14:00

Korea’s daycare center count falls 41% over a decade

South Korea’s daycare center network has shrunk by 41 percent since peaking in 2013, amid persistently low birth rates. The number fell for the 12th consecutive year in 2025, dropping to 26,064 from the 2013 peak of 43,770. The 2025 figure also marked a 4.8 percent drop from 2024, according to Ministry of Health and Welfare data released by the Korean Statistical Information Service. Enrollment fell to 887,764 children last year from 941,303 in 2024. Among children aged 0 to 6, 48.1 percent atte

2026-10-11 17:59:44:00

Yongsan Electronics Market begins reinvention as AI hub

Seoul's decades-old mecca for electronic devices is set to become a specialized district for artificial intelligence and information and communications technology in central Seoul. The first construction phase of the Yongsan Electronics Market overhaul is scheduled to begin this month, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday. The project marks the first construction work since the city announced a redevelopment strategy in June 2023 aimed at market transformation and stronger ties to the n

2026-10-11 15:27:20:00

Seoul mayor outlines vision for better quality of life

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon defended his innocence and pressed his housing agenda Wednesday, weeks before an appellate ruling that could put his hold on office at risk. Speaking at a press conference marking the first 100 days of his latest term following his reelection in June, Oh expressed regret over the trial. “A substantial amount of new evidence that did not emerge at the first trial has been submitted on appeal,” he said. “I am awaiting the outcome with humility. The truth always comes to ligh

2026-10-07 15:44:16:00