A total of 58 South Korean conscientious objectors were released from prison on parole simultaneously at 10 a.m. on Friday, the Ministry of Justice said.The release came after the landmark Supreme Court ruling Nov. 1, which for the first time in Korean history acknowledged religious beliefs and personal conscience as justifiable reasons to refuse mandatory military service. Korean conscientious objectors are seen in front of a prison in Daegu on Friday soon after their release. (Yonhap)The Minis

Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2018

The number of women executives at Korea’s top 500 companies has increased slightly, but it is still rare for women to attain corporate leadership positions, the latest figures showed.The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family surveyed the top 500 companies based on sales turnover and announced the results Thursday. (Yonhap)As of 2017, the top 500 corporations employed a total of 454 women executives, who comprised 3 percent of all executives at those corporations. That figure was up 0.3 percenta

Social Affairs Nov. 29, 2018

Patients with epilepsy and other rare diseases will be able to get medical marijuana here as soon as early 2019, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Thursday.As the National Assembly passed a bill to amend the Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs on Nov. 23, the sale, import and export of cannabis for medical purposes will soon become legal. When the amendment comes into effect, medicinal marijuana can be imported from countries such as the United States or those in Europe. However, the

Social Affairs Nov. 29, 2018

A massive power outage hit Goyang and Paju in Gyeonggi Province around noon on Wednesday, affecting residential and commercial customers. The power utilities in most areas were fully reconnected after an hour and a half, Korea Electric Power Corp. said.The sudden blackout is thought to have occurred after a high-voltage line buried near Dongpae High School in Paju was damaged during a water facility repair carried out by Korea Land & Housing Corp., according to local media reports.  (Yonhap)Kepc

Social Affairs Nov. 28, 2018

Under proposed measures to be introduced next year, domestic violence offenders can be arrested at the scene of the crime and the violation of a restraining order could result in a prison sentence, the government said Tuesday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency jointly proposed stronger measures to combat domestic violence during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.  (Yonhap)The move follows a high-

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2018

Authorities carried out a second on-site investigation on Monday to determine the cause of Saturday’s fire at a KT building in Ahyeon-dong, Seoul, which sparked major network failures and interrupted communications in parts of the capital city over the weekend.Investigators from the police, the fire department, the Korea Electric Power Corporation and the National Forensic Service began the on-site probe at around 10:17 a.m., with a view to identifying the exact cause and origin of the fire. The

Social Affairs Nov. 26, 2018

Phone and internet services, cash machines and in-store payment systems provided by KT were paralyzed in parts of Seoul over the weekend after a fire took out key network equipment.According to fire authorities, the fire broke out in the basement of a KT building in Ahyeon district at around 11:10 a.m. on Saturday. It took about 10 hours for the blaze to be completely put out.  Officials from KT Corp. are making efforts to normalize the network at the company's building in the central Ahyeon dis

Social Affairs Nov. 25, 2018

The Human Resources Development Service of Korea and Seoul Business Agency on Thursday launched a program aimed at supporting Vietnamese nationals in importing Korean small and medium-sized enterprises’ products to their country. The program will provide international trade-related training and education to 33 Vietnamese workers in Korea this year in a bid to expand Korean SMEs’ export routes, HRD said. The 33 workers were selected from those who re-entered Korea on the E-9 visa.The HDR Korea an

Social Affairs Nov. 22, 2018

Over 400 Gyeonggi Province teachers and school staff were disciplined for drunken driving in the last three years, according to a report from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.The report on the status of civil servants disciplined for driving under the influence showed that a total of 406 school teachers and staff in the province faced disciplinary action between 2016 and 2018 for drunk driving, for causing drunk driving accdents or refusing to take a breathalyzer test.  (Yonhap)An ele

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2018

Korean trot singer Hong Jin-young appeared on a TV show with her sister, Hong Sun-young, Sunday night, and the sibling soon captivated Korean viewers with her joyful energy. The singer had talked about her sister several times on TV, but it was the first time for the older sister to actually show up herself.  Hong Sun-young (SBS)The two revealed their daily life via SBS reality show “My Little Old Boy,” featuring a pork belly meokbang, or eating broadcast, as well as mini-concerts. The Hong sist

Television Nov. 19, 2018

Stan Lee, co-creator of Marvel Comics, passed away in Los Angeles on Monday at the age of 95, prompting a number of Korean fans to mourn the loss of the legendary icon. The creator of Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, the X-Men, Black Panther, Thor and many more had been suffering from pneumonia, according to media reports.  Stan Lee arrives at the Activision E3 Preview Event in Los Angeles June 14, 2010. (REUTERS)As his death was confirmed, the name “Stan

Film Nov. 13, 2018

YouTube creator Banzz on Saturday dropped a surprise announcement via Instagram that is set to be married next year. “I will be married next year!” Banzz said, uploading a selfie with his now fiancee to his official Instagram account. “We haven’t fixed the date yet, but will tell you guys later. I feel a lot better now!” He added. (Banzz`s Instagram)Banzz, one of the most popular broadcasters in Korea, is popular for his regular meokbang, or eating shows, held regularly via his YouTube channel.

Television Nov. 12, 2018

라이터를 펄펄 끓는 무쇠 칼로 자르면 어떤 일이 일어날까?　이 같은 궁금증을 실제 실험에 옮긴 영상이 최근 유튜브에서 화제를 모으고 있다. (유튜브 채널 Life Hacks and Experiments 캡쳐)　“1,000도가 넘는 무쇠 칼 대 라이터 10개”라는 제목의 이 영상에는 줄지어 늘어선 라이터들이 등장한다.　토치를 활용해 뜨겁게 달군 무쇠 칼을 라이터에 갖다 대자 순식간에 불이 붙었다.　화염에 휩싸인 라이터들은 정확히 반으로 잘렸다.　영상은 현재 유튜브에서 3200만 회 이상 조회됐다. 　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)　

한국어판 Nov. 9, 2018

MACAU -- China’s autonomous region of Macau is one of Asia’s top tourist destinations to enjoy gambling, entertainment and nightlife. The mesmerizing nighttime view of extravagant casinos shows why the city became known as the Vegas of the Orient, but Macau also has rich tourist attractions for travelers of all ages.The historical background of Macau, which was a Portuguese territory until 1999, creates a unique atmosphere that permeates every nook and cranny of the city, including its food scen

Travel Nov. 8, 2018

Camping has been popular pastime since it became fashionable in the late 2000s. The number of campers in Korea was 600,000 in 2011 but broke 5 million in 2016, Statistics Korea estimated, suggesting a strong growth in the popularity of outdoor activities. Among many types of camping, from classic tent camping to luxurious glamping in fully-equipped cabins, camping out in a car has risen as an affordable option. (Instagram @dalnote_kang)Often called “cha-bak” in Korean, which translates to “stayi

Travel Nov. 4, 2018