Concerns over bedbugs are rising among pet owners in Korea following the recent string of reports of the pest spreading here. "I usually enjoy camping with my dog, but lately, with news of bedbugs being found everywhere, I'm refraining from outdoor activities," said Kim, an office worker in his 30s. He expressed concerns about camping with his dog, fearing bedbugs might transfer in such environments. Online forums also reflect pet owners seeking advice on the likelihood of bedbug

Social Affairs Dec. 2, 2023

"I always drink iced Americano, even in winter," said Kim, an office worker in her 30s who identifies as an "eoljukah" person. Eoljukah is a portmanteau of the words for "Even if I freeze to death, iced Americano!" It refers to people who are die-hards for the espresso topped off with water and ice, no matter how cold the weather is. The eoljukah trend has steadily grown among Korea's office workers, as iced Americanos are now ubiquitous in cafes and convenienc

Consumer Nov. 27, 2023

“He was a polite and delicate student who shed tears even when scolded by the teacher,” a statement by the attorney of a 15-year-old middle school student said, asking for leniency despite admitting that the student had committed a serious crime deserving severe punishment. The prosecution sought imprisonment for a student who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman in her 40s during her late-night commute, robbing her of cash before escaping. The Nonsan branch under the Daejeon Dis

Social Affairs Nov. 25, 2023

A note left by an owner who abandoned their dog has sparked angry reactions. Nonprofit organization Band for Animals in Asan shared the story of an abandoned dog named Bonbon on social media. According to the organization, Bonbon had been left tied up in a garage at the time of its rescue. The dog's owner left a note saying, "Please take good care of my dear one due to the move," along with a drawing of a heart pierced by an arrow at the end. Public reactions criticized the owner&

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2023

The 2023 League of Legends World Championship tickets for the final round are being sold on online resale platforms for more than 10 times their face value. The annual championship, held annually since 2011, brings together the top teams from leagues worldwide to determine the best team of the year, making it the largest global esports event. The final round of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship will take place on Nov. 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, featuring Korea's T1, led by

Social Affairs Nov. 17, 2023

The case of a woman in her 20s, accused of stalking BTS member V has had her case transferred to the prosecution, according to the police. On Nov. 8, the woman was referred for investigation on charges including violating the Anti-Stalking Act and trespassing. The woman allegedly waited in front of V's residence, followed him into the apartment parking lot, and accosted him in the elevator on Oct. 26. She initiated a conversation with V and declared her intention to marry him. After the enc

K-pop Nov. 17, 2023

When almost half a million students nationwide take the annual college entrance exam on Thursday, a small group of young offenders housed in a juvenile detention center will also be able to take the exam in a special testing room inside the center. At Mandela Boy's School within Seoul's Nambu Correctional Institution, a dedicated exam room has been set up for the 2024 Suneung, South Korea’s college entrance exam. This special exam room is for juvenile detainees aged 15 to 17 wh

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2023

"When my son was in middle and high school, I used to communicate with his teachers via KakaoTalk messages. Is it any different with professors? Did I make a mistake in how I tried to help my son?" These questions form the gist of a story posted by a mother in an online forum, who tried to find her son's professor's contact information after he missed his midterm exam. The post, containing simple questions from a mother who appears to be genuinely unaware of any problems on h

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2023

NewJeans is set to make history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at one of the three major US music awards, the Billboard Music Awards. The official announcement came as the BBMAs revealed the performer lineup for this year's ceremony on their social media platforms. NewJeans will showcase "Super Shy" and "OMG," both of which entered the Billboard Hot 100 this year. Notably, BTS has been the only K-pop group to perform at the Grammy Awards, American Music Award

K-pop Nov. 9, 2023

Despite winter being just weeks away, a number of people living in Seoul have been complaining about mosquitoes still bothering their daily life. Kim, a Seoul housewife in her 50s, has had trouble sleeping recently due to persistent mosquitoes, even as the cool autumn weather sets in. "I thought I had caught them all and tried to go to sleep, but another mosquito started buzzing around my head," she complained. "I get bitten by mosquitoes immediately when I go for an evening walk

Social Affairs Nov. 2, 2023

On Thursday, the Korea Airports Corporation opened a pet-exclusive resting area called Pet Park at Gimpo International Airport for the first time in a domestic airport in South Korea. Pet Park is an 8,000 square-meter facility located on the eastern side of the domestic terminal at Gimpo Airport in Seoul's Gangseo-gu. It offers various pet amenities, including a dedicated walking path, large dog-shaped sculptures, a photo zone, and a small dog playground. The small dog playground features d

Social Affairs Oct. 28, 2023

A drunk, undressed man in his 40s was apprehended by police for threatening a restaurant owner. On Tuesday at around 10:25 p.m., the man allegedly entered a restaurant in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, wielding scissors and a bottle of soju, demanding a knife from the restaurant owner. He was completely undressed, revealing tattoos on his lower body, and reportedly caused a disturbance in the restaurant. Upon arriving at the scene, police subdued him with a stun gun and subsequently arrested him. It

Social Affairs Oct. 18, 2023

A woman walking around in a box in southern Seoul's popular Gangnam has sparked criticism online. On Friday, an online community posted a thread titled "Real-time Apgujeong Box Girl," showing pictures of a woman who appeared to be wearing only a cardboard box in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu. She could be seen guiding men's hands through holes on either side of the box, apparently to allow them to touch her breasts. Responses to the thread varied widely. Some people responded wi

Social Affairs Oct. 17, 2023

Controversy has arisen over whether visiting Seoul's popular nightlife district Itaewon to celebrate Halloween this year is acceptable, as the one-year anniversary of the crowd crush that took the lives of 159 mostly young people approaches. On Sunday, an online community post posed the question: "Is going to Itaewon this Halloween a thoughtless act?" The post presented two options -- "It's thoughtless" and "No problem at all" -- soon sparking fervent disc

Social Affairs Oct. 16, 2023

The 2023 Seoul Fantastic Beer Festival, which launched Friday, runs until Oct. 15 at Seoul Noryangjin Soccer and Baseball Stadium. The festival, the largest and longest-running beer festival here, showcases all kinds of beer, and offers a variety of food and music performances. Admission is free for all visitors. However, those who want to sit at designated tables to watch the performances will be required to purchase tickets in advance. People can line up from 1 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, t

Culture Oct. 11, 2023