North Korean tour including Pyongyang Marathon offered by China-based company

A China-based tourism agency recently started taking bookings for a Pyeongyang package tour that includes participation of North Korea's Pyongyang International Marathon, as the totalitarian state has resumed tourism to Western visitors after a five-year hiatus amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Koryo Tours posted a promotion on its homepage for a five-night package in Pyongyang April 5-10, which includes running the marathon and visiting the North Korean capital for 2,195 euros ($2,301) per person

March 4, 2025

12-year-old victim of house fire to donate organs

A 12-year-old who suffered critical injuries in a fire while home alone died Monday, and the bereaved family has decided to donate her organs. According to the Seo-gu district office of Incheon Metropolitan Government, the girl died Monday morning. She had been pronounced brain-dead after sustaining second-degree burns and suffering cardiac arrest in a fire that broke out around 10:43 a.m. on Feb. 26. She had been alone at her home at the time; her mother was at work, and her father was at a hos

March 4, 2025

Number of surviving victims of Japan's forced labor falls below 700

Only seven victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery are still alive, after recent passing of former ‘comfort woman’ Gil Won-ok Thousands, possibly millions, of Koreans were victimized by Japan's forced labor during its 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula, but recent government data showed that most of them have passed away due to old age. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 640 victims of Japan's forced labor —574 men and 66 women — had received subsidies from the g

March 1, 2025

Royal signboard revealed to public after being lost for century

The signboard that hung on the now-gone royal Seonwonjeon Hall was unveiled to the public Thursday after the authorities brought the 19th-century historical artifact back to Gyungbokgung. The Korea Heritage Service and the government-affiliated Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation revealed the signboard at 10 a.m. at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, located inside the main Joseon-era palace. The current location of the museum — where the signboard will be

March 1, 2025

61% of major firms have no hiring plans for H1: survey

The ongoing economic slump appears to have shrunk the job market in South Korea even further, as a recent survey showed that 61 percent of the largest companies here either have no plans or are undecided about hiring new employees during the first half of this year. Of the top 500 companies by sales here, 20 percent will not hire anyone during H1 and 41 percent said they were undecided as of yet, according to the Feb. 4-13 poll conducted by Research & Research and commissioned by the Federation

March 1, 2025

Public intimidation to be punished by up to 5 years in prison

The South Korean parliament on Thursday passed a law revision that would allow criminal punishment for those issuing threats of murder or violence against the general public. The revision of the Criminal Act introduces a clause stipulating the "public intimidation law," defined as "an act of announcing indiscriminate acts of crime against unspecified people." Those found guilty can face up to five years in prison or a 20 million won ($13,700) fine, and repeat offenders will receive up to seven y

Feb. 28, 2025

Appellate court halves serial child rapist's sentence, despite 2 previous offenses

A child rapist sentenced originally to six years in prison for sexual assault on two girls had his sentenced halved by the appellate court, as the court said the defendant cannot definitively be assumed to be a habitual offender. Seoul High Court recently overturned the lower court ruling that sentenced the defendant surnamed Oh to six years in prison for his 2006 attack against young girls, instead handing him three years in prison. It also overturned the earlier court decision to have the defe

Feb. 28, 2025

Scores of martial law soldiers now need psychological help: report

Seventy-one soldiers mobilized for President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law plot on Dec. 3 now need psychological counseling, a report by local media outlet JTBC said Thursday. According to the local broadcaster, the Ministry of National Defense recently conducted a psychological evaluation of soldiers dispatched during the night of martial law. It was found that 71 now are in need of treatment for mental health issues. The military evaluation categorizes the subjects into three categories:

Feb. 28, 2025

Son of ruling party lawmaker faces drug charges

The son of a prominent current ruling party lawmaker in the National Assembly is being investigated on suspicion of attempting to acquire drugs, Seoul police said Friday. According to the Seocho Police Station, the suspect in his 30s is suspected of being involved in a cannabis sale in October via the drop-off method, in which a drug dealer hides drugs in a predetermined location and the buyer retrieves them from there later. He was witnessed looking for the drugs with two acquaintances in a flo

Feb. 28, 2025

YouTubers investigated for deepfake video of presidential couple

South Korean police said Thursday they are investigating two YouTubers accused of producing and displaying a fake video of President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee using deepfake technology. The two are suspected of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment Etc. of Sexual Crimes, specifically Article 14-2 on the distribution of fabricated video materials, according to the cybercrime investigation unit of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency. The video in question

Feb. 27, 2025