Incheon sign language sculpture covered up after residents call it 'offensive'

A sculpture depicting sign language along the waterfront in Incheon’s Songdo International City has drawn mounting complaints, with some residents wrongly identifying its finger positions with offensive gestures, news reports said Monday. Standing 4 to 5 meters tall and about 3 meters wide, the sculpture takes the form of a hand with the middle and ring fingers folded down and the other fingers extended — the American Sign Language gesture for "I love you." The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authori

2026-09-21 11:28:19:00

'W70b for this?' Yeosu's world island expo blasted over performance, food

Criticism is mounting over the 2026 World Island Fair Yeosu Korea, a 70 billion won ($50 million) event that opened in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju, over the quality of its exhibits, food and overall content. At the center of the controversy was a performance of "Baennorae Folk Song," staged at an outdoor venue Tuesday, reenacting a traditional song sung by fishermen on Geomundo while out at sea. The performance featured a 1-ton truck covered with fabric as a substitute for a boat. Performers stood on

2026-09-17 13:42:27:00

Murder scene before ‘Teenieping’ film? Ratings board steps up review of trailers for young audiences

After a violent movie trailer frightened children at a screening of "Teenieping: Legend of the Whale Heartstone" in Seoul last month, South Korea's film-rating authority is taking steps to prevent age-inappropriate trailers from being shown before children's films. According to local media reports Wednesday, the Korea Media Rating Board plans to separately identify trailers requiring extra caution and share the information with theater operators. The decision came after the board held talks with

2026-09-16 12:04:33:00

23 years on, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ brings Shin Hyun-joon fresh fame in South America

At 57, Shin Hyun-joon is making headlines for his K-pop idol-like following in South America, drawing huge crowds at airports while touring the region for meet-and-greets. Nowhere has the excitement been more intense than in Peru. When Shin arrived at Jorge Chavez Airport Saturday, scores of fans carrying gifts and letters rushed to greet him. With the crowd swelling around the actor, security personnel were deployed to keep the scene under control, according to local news reports Tuesday. "Than

2026-09-15 14:01:31:00

Seoul metro worker files defamation complaint against American influencer

A Seoul Metro station worker is taking legal action against an American influencer who allegedly filmed and criticized him online after her companions were caught attempting fare evasion. The Allbaleun Union, Seoul Metro’s third-largest union representing younger employees, told The Korea Herald that it helped the worker file a complaint with Korean authorities against Victoria Prince on charges including insult and defamation. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Myeong-dong St

2026-09-14 13:25:29:00

When dancing breaks the law: Korea’s live music venues caught in regulatory limbo

At a party in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Saturday night, there was one unusual rule: Dance all you want, but only for 10 minutes. Pounding electronic beats pulsed through a small performance space near Jeonju Hanok Village, where partygoers danced beneath a spinning mirror ball with their hands in the air, following the DJ’s every cue. Then a message suddenly appeared on the giant screen telling them to stop dancing. Those who failed to stop were given a warning sticker. Anyone caught dan

2026-09-13 09:00:00:00

Korail’s Chuseok train ticket booking rate reaches 84%

Korea Railroad Corp. sold 1.8 million train tickets during seven days of Chuseok reservations that began Sept. 3, recording a booking rate of 84 percent, news reports said Friday. Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, runs from Sept. 24-27 this year. The figure was up 21.3 percentage points from 62.7 percent last year and was also significantly higher than the roughly 60 percent recorded for major holiday periods over the past three years, officials said. Among major routes, the Gyeong

2026-09-11 21:12:52:00

What’s in your malatang? Some mushrooms recalled over pesticide residue

Imported wood ear and white wood ear mushrooms, staples in spicy dishes like malatang and jjambbong, are being recalled after pesticide residue was found to exceed permitted levels, news reports said Friday. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recently ordered two Chinese imports off the market: Wood ear mushrooms brought in by Taeyang Trading in Guro-gu, Seoul, and white wood ear mushrooms by Seongmin Trading in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Lab tests showed carbendazim levels in Taeyang Trading's

2026-09-11 19:56:08:00

Student injured after officer accidentally fires Taser during demonstration

A middle school student in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, was injured after a police officer accidentally fired a Taser while trying to show the device to a group of students, news reports said Friday. The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday in a vacant lot in Daeso-eup. About 10 middle school students asked the officer to show them how the Taser worked, and he tried to use its stun gun function, which delivers an electric shock without firing the probes. However, the officer w

2026-09-11 19:37:12:00

Two Seoul maid cafes booked over illegal live shows

Two maid cafes in Mapo-gu, Seoul, were booked for staging illegal live performances in which young female workers sang and danced to song requests, Seoul’s Mapo Police Station said Friday. Each performance lasted 30 minutes to an hour and reportedly cost between 15,000 won and 20,000 won ($11-$15). These performances violate the Food Sanitation Act, which prohibits employees at general restaurants from providing entertainment services such as singing and dancing. Most of the 29 maid cafes curren

2026-09-11 15:07:12:00