Police gain powers, face mounting demands under justice overhaul

Police took on broader investigative powers Friday as Korea’s new criminal justice system expanded their responsibility for both initial investigations and follow-up work previously handled by prosecutors. “Public expectations are high, but so are concerns, and our responsibility has become that much greater,” Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Ko Beom-seok told commanders and investigative department heads at a meeting Friday. Police activated an emergency response system for the tra

2026-10-02 16:49:09:00

For foreigners in Korea, getting hired is only the start

Twenty-five companies were interviewing job seekers at a Seoul job fair Thursday, but Jin Hong Yu first wanted to know which jobs were within her reach. “I'm here to find out what jobs are available for me as a foreigner,” said Jin, a Chinese national in her late 30s married to a Korean. “It's not easy to find one when my Korean isn't at a native level.” The Cheonhajeil Job Fair, hosted by the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office, brought together employers including Emart, McDonald’s Korea and Coupang Fulfil

2026-10-02 15:26:56:00

Herald's Global Biz Forum kicks off 10th edition

The Global Business Forum, hosted by The Korea Herald and Herald Business, held an opening ceremony for its 10th edition in Seoul on Wednesday at the Ambassador Seoul — A Pullman Hotel. Launched in 2021, the biannual forum involves executive networking and lecture programs that bring together business leaders, experts and diplomats for sessions spanning business, technology, culture and global affairs. During the opening ceremony, Sejong City Mayor Cho Sang-ho introduced the city and its role as

2026-10-01 15:02:09:00

‘Today's ruling has killed our family once more’

The family of a teenage girl killed in Gwangju expressed anguish Wednesday after a court sentenced her killer to life imprisonment, rejecting their calls for the death penalty. “Today's ruling has killed our family once more,” a family member of victim Lee Chae-won told reporters after the sentence was handed down. The Gwangju District Court found Jang Yoon-gi, 23, guilty of all charges in the killing of Lee, 16, during an attempted sexual assault in May. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty

2026-09-30 18:07:31:00

Jang Yoon-gi sentenced to life for murder of Gwangju student

Jang Yoon-gi, 23, was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for killing a 16-year-old high school student in Gwangju. The Gwangju District Court found him guilty of all charges, including murder in connection with attempted rape under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The court also ordered 30 years of electronic monitoring and barred him from working at institutions serving children, adolescents and people with disabilities for 10 years. “The defendant is foun

2026-09-30 15:34:13:00

Health Ministry to expand health insurance coverage for rare cancer treatments

Patients with rare or neglected cancers in Korea will face lower drug costs and gain greater access to treatment from Friday, as national health insurance coverage expands, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday. The expansion covers Retevmo for rare cancers caused by genetic alterations, Vyloy for unresectable advanced or metastatic stomach cancer, and a first-line combination of Padcev and Keytruda, two cancer drugs from different pharmaceutical companies, for urothelial cancer. The

2026-09-30 12:54:48:00

Seoul's new blind date program to take place at night market

Seoul’s next city-run matchmaking event will take singles on dates through a night market and the restaurants of Sangbong Food Alley. The second round of “Seolleim in Seoul” is to be held at the Moonlight Night Market in Jungnang-gu on Oct. 23, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The city will select 50 men and 50 women, all of whom must be unmarried and aged 25 to 45. Participants will visit restaurants chosen to suit their tastes, go on double dates at th

2026-09-29 16:04:04:00

Uzbek national on trial in Korea over alleged funding of Syria-based terrorist group

An Uzbek national who entered South Korea on a language-training visa is awaiting a court ruling on charges that he sent money to a UN-designated terrorist group based in Syria. The man was indicted while in custody in June on charges including a violation of South Korea’s Counter-Terrorism Act, according to legal sources. The Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on Oct. 21. He entered Korea in April 2021 on a D-4-1 visa, which allows foreigners to study at university-

2026-09-29 14:32:33:00

Police to seek warrants for four Chinese suspects in ‘Xi Jinping’ restaurant vandalism

Police said Monday they plan to seek arrest warrants for four Chinese nationals suspected of vandalizing a restaurant in Seongnam named after Chinese President Xi Jinping. All four left South Korea for China on the day of the incident. An official at the National Office of Investigation said at a regular briefing that police planned to apply for the warrants later Monday. “The suspects have left for China, so we will work closely with Chinese authorities through our international cooperation bur

2026-09-28 17:21:06:00

Teen accused of stabbing ex-girlfriend after 84 contact attempts in 4 days

A teenager accused of stabbing his former girlfriend in western Seoul tried to contact her 84 times in the four days after she ended their relationship, according to an indictment reported by Kyunghyang Shinmun on Monday. The woman, also a teenager, told him on July 19 that she wanted to break up and did not want further contact of any kind, the newspaper reported, citing the indictment obtained through Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Dong-ah. Prosecutors allege that the man repeatedly called

2026-09-28 15:54:28:00