The labor union of mailmen in Korea on Thursday protested against deliveries on Saturdays. The union gathered in front of Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul on Thursday to call for abolishment of the weekend delivery service.  (Yonhap)Korea Post abolished the service in 2014, but it restarted the service the following year after negotiations with the labor union. The union argued that terms of the agreement have been broken, and released the results of a recent survey of 3,547 mailmen across the c

Social Affairs Dec. 22, 2017

들소가 사자를 들이받았다. 심지어 가만히 쉬던 사자를 공격했다. 지난 7일 동영상 공유사이트 유튜브에 게재된 영상으로, 남아프리카공화국 크루거 국립공원에서 발생한 사건을 담았다. (사진=유튜브 영상 캡쳐)영상에서는 들소가 가만히 있는 사자를 냅다 들어올려 집어던진다. 사자는 맥을 못추고 나가떨어졌다.촬영자 베타브르 샤퀸느(22)는 “굶주리고 마른 암사자가 변을 당한 것“이라고 설명했다. 사자는 본래 무리지어 사냥하는 포식자다. 녀석들이 늙고 병약해져 무리에서 퇴출되면 사냥이 사실상 불가능해 굶어 죽는다는 보고가 있다. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Dec. 22, 2017

A news report has highlighted that more foreign men were found to have catcalled local women in the streets. Hankyoreh, a South Korean daily newspaper, reported Thursday that an increasing number of foreign men are catcalling in expat-friendly neighborhoods, such as Itaewon, Seoul. Catcalls are widely regarded as sexual harassment, consisting of unwanted comments and whistles from strangers, despite little legal sanctions on offenders domestically.  (Yonhap)According to the report, many local wo

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2017

Supreme Court justice nominee Min Yoo-sook made her position clear on homosexuality. “I am not taking the view that favors homosexuality,” Min said during a parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday.  (Yonhap)Through a written response submitted to the National Assembly last Monday, she said, “Homosexuality, an individual’s sexual orientation, is not a matter to be resolved through banning or opposing.”She also made her stance on same-sex marriage, “The court ruled that same-sex marriage cann

Politics Dec. 21, 2017

Starbucks opened its biggest store in Korea in downtown Seoul, Wednesday, which is designed to do much more than simply serve coffee. Its former largest in the nation was the “Cheonho Rodeo branch” in Gangdong, Seoul.The 1,097 square-meter compound, named “The Jongno branch,” is located across the street from Bosingak, at Jongno Tower, Jongno-gu, one of the oldest districts in Seoul, dotted with traditional attractions. The store is four times larger than the average size of other branches in Ko

Food Dec. 20, 2017

A recent survey revealed that more than 70 percent of foreign workers in Korea are not discriminated at work for being expatriates. Statistics Korea announced Wednesday the results of its survey on 800,000 foreign workers in Korea. The respondents had worked in Korea for more than 91 consecutive days. They included those permitted to be naturalized as Korean citizens.  Foreign workers in Korea study the Korean alphabet hangeul, at a community center in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2017

An Armenian English tutor was arrested for stealing jewelry and expensive bags from a student’s home.South Gyeongsang Province’s Changwon Police Station said Wednesday that a 34-year-old Armenian woman was arrested for theft of valuables at her elementary student’s apartment.  (Yonhap)The suspect tutored the student in June three time a week when the parents were not at home. The teacher reportedly stole valuables worth 15 million won ($13,800), including a diamond ring, watch and four brand nam

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2017

Apart from shopping for groceries and daily necessities, local customers also have the chance to buy heavy equipment at a local hypermarket warehouse store. Hyundai Construction Equipment announced Monday that four mini excavators are now on sale at Emart Traders’ Gunpo branch in Gyeonggi Province, through Monday, with prices ranging from 26.5 million won ($24,400) to 45 million won, based on size.  (Hyundai Construction Equipment)On the first day of the event, Friday, a customer purchased a 1.7

Industry Dec. 20, 2017

A Korean man who allegedly raped his Filipino ex-wife’s sister will be tried in court again Wednesday. The man, 39, has been charged with raping his former sister-in-law, 20, when his ex-wife was not at home. The victim was staying at the couple’s house on Jeju Island to attend their wedding last February, as she had been invited by the man.  (Yonhap)The victim, who came from the Philippines, revealed the incident to her sister’s close friend, after the couple went on their honeymoon. The victim

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2017

From the second quarter of 2018, drinkers who yell in public parks in Seoul could be subject to fines of up to 100,000 won ($92). Seoul City announced Tuesday that 22 public parks, run directly by the municipal government, will be designated as “alcohol-free areas” from January. This photo is irrelevant with the article (Yonhap)From January to March, during the “guidance term,” if an excessively drunken person is reported, civil servants will be dispatched to the scene. The areas will be intensi

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2017

While a majority of Koreans are content with tap water here, less than half of the population actually drinks it, a survey showed Monday. The Tap Water Public Relations Association and Citizen’s Network for Tap Water released the results of a joint survey.  (Yonhap)According to the survey of 12,196 adults, 92.6 percent of respondents said they are content with tap water, but only 49.4 percent actually drink it on a regular basis.Those who use water purifiers or mineral water bottles said the rea

Social Affairs Dec. 18, 2017

부산 금정경찰서는 서울 번화가에서 행인의 스마트폰을 상습적으로 훔친 혐의(절도)로 김모(49) 씨를 구속했다고 18일 밝혔다. 김 씨는 지난 10월부터 최근까지 서울 홍대·이태원 등지의 복잡한 인파 속에서 행인을 뒤따라가며 외투 주머니에 손을 넣는 일명 '맨손 빼기' 수법으로 스마트폰 24대(시가 1천950만원 상당)를 훔친 혐의를 받고 있다. 사진은 기사와 직접적인 관련 없음 (연합뉴스TV 자료사진)경찰은 훔친 스마트폰을 해외로 밀반출한 일당을 수사하다가 김 씨로부터 스마트폰을 매입한 단서를 잡고 추적해 서울의 한 피시방에서 김 씨를 붙잡았다.경찰은 김 씨가 훔친 스마트폰을 팔아넘긴 혐의로 장물범 최모(61) 씨를 입건했다. (연합뉴스)

한국어판 Dec. 18, 2017

재력가인 지인을 살해하려 한 혐의로 기소된 50대에게 법원이 항소심에서도 징역 4년을 선고했다.대구고법 형사1부(박준용 부장판사)는 살인미수 혐의로 재판에 넘겨진 A씨 항소심에서 피고인 항소를 기각했다고 18일 밝혔다. 대구 법원. (연합뉴스 자료사진)A씨는 지난 2월 19일 오후 10시 48분께 "김치통을 꺼내 달라"며 지인 B씨를 대형 컨테이너로 유인한 뒤 미리 준비한 둔기로 뒷머리 부분을 한 차례 내리친 혐의로 기소됐다.B씨가 급히 밖으로 몸을 피해 전치 3주 상처 외에 추가 피해는 모면했다. A씨는 자신에게 식당 운영 자금을 빌려준 B씨가 넉넉한 재산을 가지고 쉽게 돈을 버는 것을 보고 이를 시기해 범행을 저지른 것으로 드러났다. A씨는 식당 영업 부진으로 경제적으로 어려움을 겪던 상황이었다. 그는 "피해자에게서 경제적으로 도움을 받던 상황에서 살해할 이유가 없다"며 살해 의도가 없었다고 주장했지만, 재판부는 살인의 미필적 고의가 인정된다고 판단했다.재판부는 "자칫 피해자는

한국어판 Dec. 18, 2017

Virtual reality technology will likely be applied to treatment for some alcohol-addicted offenders on probation, according to government officials Sunday. The Ministry of Justice announced that it plans to adopt VR technology for the treatment of offenders who committed crimes under the influence of alcohol, from upcoming January.  A demonstration of VR treatment for alcoholic convicts at Seoul Probation Office Saturday (The Ministry of Justice)According to the ministry, there are more than 20,0

Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2017

The whereabouts of two released dolphins are still unknown, casting doubt whether it was appropriate to free them after some 20 years of captivation. Two Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins were released in to the wildness at waters off Jeju Island last July. The two dolphins, caught in the late 1990s by fishing nets, were sent to a zoo in Seoul, to perform dolphin shows. (Yonhap)The authorities are failing to keep track of the two dolphins, not knowing whether they are dead or alive, even though 1

Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2017