The Education Ministry announced Sunday that it will provide 4.6 billion won ($4.1 million) to public schools for the installment of safety devices to prevent young children from accidentally being left alone on school buses According to the ministry, it will provide 300,000 won each for the 15,000 school buses of public kindergartens, elementary and special schools across the nation to install safety devices in the vehicles. (Yonhap)Several young children here have died or suffered harm after b

Social Affairs Sept. 2, 2018

An average of 17.7 cases of “molka” -- using hidden cameras to take pictures or videos for sexual purposes -- were reported per day last year, a lawmaker said Sunday.According to the data Rep. Park Kyung-mee of ruling Democratic Party of Korea received from the National Police Agency, a total of 6,465 cases molka crimes were reported in 2017, showing an increase of 1,280 cases from the year before.(Yonhap)While the numbers continue to increase, only 1,720 of the 4,499 molka suspects identified b

Social Affairs Sept. 2, 2018

A neatly rolled omelet, half-cut cherry tomatoes and sprouts salad, fried cubes of meat and tofu in a packed meal, or “dosirak” in Korean, show off the delicate culinary skills of the cook. As one-person households increase and people prefer quicker meals, the variety of ready-to-eat meals has become more diverse than ever. However, some still prefer the old way, packing their lunchboxes at home for themselves and for their loved ones.  (On the courtesy of instagram user @ciny_diet)For Ciny, an

Food Aug. 30, 2018

The state weather agency forecast Thursday the torrential rain that swept across the upper part of the Korean Peninsula would move down to the Chungcheong and Jeolla regions. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, up to 150 millimeters of rain is expected in the Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces from Thursday to Friday. The weather agency issued an alert warning of heavy rain in the regions.  (Yonhap)For Seoul and the metropolitan areas, up to 50 mm of rain is expected through the

Social Affairs Aug. 30, 2018

The state weather agency forecast more rain accompanied by strong wind and lightning throughout Wednesday and Thursday, following heavy rains that pounded several parts of the country Tuesday.A 49 –year-old man was killed and two others injured in flash flooding caused by an unexpected downpour that hit Seoul, police said Wednesday.The flash flood occurred on the Jungnangcheon, a tributary to the Han River that flows through northeastern Seoul. Police restricted entry to the Dongbu Expressway, w

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2018

Sales of all caffeinated beverages will be prohibited in all elementary, middle and high schools from next month. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a revised law will go into effect on Sept. 14 banning the sales of all coffee and caffeinated products -- typically available for adults and teachers -- in schools.  (Yonhap)Schools are already prohibited from selling soda pop, fruit juice and dairy products if they contain caffeine. But selling other coffee drinks via vending machin

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2018

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo, a key associate of President Moon Jae-in, colluded in a massive opinion-rigging campaign, an independent counsel investigation concluded Monday. In a briefing on the 60-day investigation, special prosecutor Huh Ik-bum announced that power blogger Kim Dong-won, nicknamed “Druking,” and members of his organization had manipulated thousands of online comments -- to sway public opinion in favor of the Democratic Party of Korea -- under Gov. Kim’s superv

Social Affairs Aug. 27, 2018

The Philippines is one of South Koreans’ favorite travel destinations, with over 1.61 million traveling from the peninsula to the archipelago in 2017. That year, South Koreans made up the largest number of tourist arrivals in the Southeast Asian country. In addition to its touristic charm, the Philippines is also rising as a prospective country for foreign investment, with its annual economic growth at over 6 percent, according to the Korean Embassy in the Philippines. Korean Ambassador Han Dong

Foreign Affairs Aug. 20, 2018

A Seoul appeals court cleared singer-artist Cho Young-nam of fraud charges Friday, citing a lack of evidence to prove his actions were illegal. A lower court had sentenced Cho to 10 months in prison suspended for two years for passing off paintings created by his assistants as his own works. Although he had directed the creation of the paintings, he had not notified buyers that assistants had painted the artworks.  Cho Young-nam (Yonhap)The Seoul High Court overturned the lower court’s ruling, s

Social Affairs Aug. 17, 2018

Police said Friday that they were investigating a terrorist threat against the presidential office posted on Womad, a radical feminist community site.Around 1:40 p.m., a user claimed to have planted an explosive device inside Cheong Wa Dae and said it would explode at 3 p.m. The post also included a picture of the purported device.(Screencaptured from Womad website)The police are currently investigating several other matters concerning Womad, including allegations that spycam pictures and footag

Social Affairs Aug. 17, 2018

The first permanent consultative body of the president and five major political parties will be launched in November to provide a platform for cooperation in state affairs.President Moon Jae-in and the floor leaders of five political parties met at the presidential office on Thursday and reached an agreement on establishing the consultative body, among other agreements. (Yonhap)The floor leaders are Rep. Hong Young-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea; Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the main opposi

Politics Aug. 17, 2018

The special prosecutor’s team looking into a massive opinion-rigging scandal requested an arrest warrant for South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo late Wednesday over allegations that he colluded with a power blogger to manipulate online comments in order to sway public opinion on political issues. The independent counsel team led by Huh Ik-bum requested an arrest warrant for Gov. Kim around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicions of obstruction of business. The prosecutors view Gov. Kim, Pres

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2018

The National Assembly on Thursday abolished the controversial “special activities” funds given to lawmakers as to support their political activities, leaving a small budget for foreign-related work.“As of today, the National Assembly abolishes the special activities funds allotted to all parliamentary committees, with the exceptions of the foreign affairs, national security and trade committees,” Yoo In-tae, the parliament’s secretary-general said in a briefing.  National Assembly Secretary-Gene

Politics Aug. 16, 2018

Amid the prolonged heat wave, Seoul’s education board has recommended all of the city’s elementary, middle and high schools to consider postponing the starting day of the upcoming school term.The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on Tuesday officially notified schools of its suggestion to adjust their academic calendars to protect students and faculty members from the risks of scorching weather. (Yonhap)“If a school operates shortened school hours or takes a day off, it should adjust the sc

Social Affairs Aug. 15, 2018

A group of victims of Japanese colonial rule on Wednesday demanded an apology from Japan and called on the South Korean government to properly compensate for damages incurred. The group also called for a thorough investigation into a judiciary scandal in which the chief of Korea’s top court is accused of abusing his authority to negatively influence their legal suits. The association of all victims and their bereaved families of Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule took to the streets in front of the f

Social Affairs Aug. 15, 2018