Articles by Shin Ji-hye
Shin Ji-hye
shinjh@heraldcorp.com-
Will Constitution be revised to allow young president?
Discussions on abolishing the age limit for presidential candidates are gaining traction in the wake of the sensation caused by 36-year-old Lee Jun-seok in the main opposition People Power Party’s leadership race. Under the current Constitution, a candidate must be over 40 years old to run for president. The clause was first introduced in 1962 during the fifth constitutional amendment led by the military regime. In order for the Constitution to be revised, the motion needs the support
Politics June 6, 2021
-
[Feature] Wheelchair woes still blight Seoul
Going to a new restaurant and eating out is not a big deal for most Seoulites, but it is a challenge for Lim Sung-hee, 42, who has used a wheelchair for about 20 years since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Many restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores in Seoul remain inaccessible to her because of stairways and raised door thresholds. In her wheelchair, she can’t get over steps higher than 5 centimeters. To avoid frustration, Lim tries to visit only those restaurant
Social Affairs June 2, 2021
-
‘Assembly speaker strengthens ties with Russia, Czech Republic’
National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug has wrapped up an official visit to Russia and the Czech Republic, conducting extensive diplomacy focusing on peaceful settlement on the Korean Peninsula and nuclear power plant exports, officials said Monday. Park’s nine-day trip that ended Sunday came at the official invitation of Russian House Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Czech Senator Milos Vystrcil. During the first five days, Park visited Russia to focus on deepening friendship and co
Politics May 31, 2021
-
Labor Ministry accused of passing the buck in sexual harassment case
South Korea’s Labor Ministry is facing criticism over a sexual harassment case at a foreign company’s Korean office. Early in 2020, a male employee in his 30s working for a large British investment firm in Korea reported to the UK headquarters that his female boss was sexually harassing him. Following the complaint, the boss began asking him to do things that violated company guidelines and the headquarters eventually fired him for failing to comply, according to the accuser. He
Social Affairs May 28, 2021
-
[Herald Interview] Young president hopeful pledges volunteer military
Ruling Democratic Party’s Rep. Park Yong-jin, 50, the first politician who announced a run for president in next year’s election, has vowed that he would reform the military conscription system. Park says it is time to transition to a voluntary military, with compulsory service restricted to basic training for men and women. “The debate on volunteer military system in our society has been quite long. But we are not going in that direction yet. We still conscript young peo
Politics May 27, 2021
-
Politicians raise voices in support of Samsung chief
Some politicians have raised their voices in support of granting clemency to jailed Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, after remarks from President Moon Jae-in appeared to open up that possibility. Earlier this month, Moon said he would “judge after hearing many opinions from the public,” suggesting Lee might be pardoned. He had taken a different tone at a New Year’s press conference, saying, “Now is not the time to say pardon.” In his more recent statement he said, &ld
Politics May 24, 2021
-
[Herald Interview] ‘US-owned hotel should be moved out of proposed Yongsan park’
Yongsan-gu mayor said that a US military resort hotel in the city should be out of an envisioned national park slated to open within a decade. Upon the agreement made between Korea and the US in 2003, the US Forces Korea headquarters and the United Nations Command moved to Pyeongtaek in 2018, ending the US military presence in the city. In 2005, the Korean government announced plans to build the nation’s first urban national park in the area by 2027. “The land occupied by foreign
Social Affairs May 23, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] New lead in death of student who drowned in Han River
New information continues to emerge regarding the night Sohn Jung-min disappeared near the Han River, further fanning public interest in the case. The medical student was found dead in the river the next day. According to police investigations so far, Sohn was with a friend at Han River Park until around 3:38 a.m. on April 25. Later, at around 4:27 a.m., the friend woke up alone and went home without knowing where Sohn had gone. Later, the police checked each of the 154 vehicles entering an
Social Affairs May 19, 2021
-
International pharma companies eye Korea as vaccine production hub: PM
New Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Tuesday hinted that more multinational vaccine makers could be seeking a production base in Korea. “Korea is one of the few countries in the world that, as you know, can produce vaccines when combined with various technologies of the US,” he told reporters in his first press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. “Many multinational pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen and Moderna, want to form vaccine partnerships wi
Social Affairs May 18, 2021
-
Asylum seeker wins case against Justice Ministry
An asylum seeker from an African nation won his case against the Ministry of Justice on Monday, after the court ruled it was illegal for the government to refuse to accept refugee applications. The Korea Immigration Service, under the Ministry of Justice, did not dispute the ruling. The Justice Ministry does not release personal information, including nationality, about those seeking refugee status. In February the man applied for refugee status, saying he had come to South Korea because of
Social Affairs May 17, 2021
-
Belgian envoy’s wife to avoid punishment for alleged assaults
The wife of the Belgian ambassador to South Korea, who was booked on charges of assaulting two clothing store clerks in April, is to avoid punishment on the grounds of diplomatic immunity. “We confirmed that the Belgian ambassador side would not give up the immunity in connection with the assault case of the ambassador’s wife,” the police said Monday. “We will decide not to send the case (to the prosecution) as usual.” According to the police, the Belgian Embass
Social Affairs May 17, 2021
-
Adoptive mother sentenced to life for killing toddler
The Seoul court sentenced an adoptive mother surnamed Jang to life in prison Friday for abusing and killing a 16-month-old girl named Jeong-in. Her husband was sentenced to five years in prison for neglecting the abuse. Jang was indicted last December on charges of habitually abusing her adopted daughter between March and October last year and causing her death. The adoptive father surnamed Ahn was also indicted without detention for neglecting to take action despite being aware of his wife&rs
Social Affairs May 14, 2021
-
Korea to have new social distancing rules from July: New PM
New Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on his first day of work that the nation would have new social distancing rules from July if the coronavirus situation stabilizes. Kim, who took office Friday, presided over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held at the Seoul Government Complex. “We will do our best to ensure that more than 13 million people complete their first vaccinations without a hitch in the first half,” Kim said. He added that t
Politics May 14, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] Ruling party presidential hopefuls rally supporters
With a year to go before the presidential election, three political heavyweights from the ruling bloc are rallying supporters, with each of their visions focusing on social welfare policies. Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, dubbed the ruling party’s Big Three, all launched their own think tanks and began working out their policies and messaging strategies. Front-runner Gov. Lee launched the Korea Growth an
Politics May 12, 2021
-
Seoul education superintendent probed by anti-corruption agency
Seoul’s education superintendent is being probed by the nation’s anti-corruption investigation agency over allegations that he abused his power in hiring teachers. This is the first probe by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, or CIO, since its inception in January. It was created to investigate allegations involving high-ranking officials or their family members. Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who oversees the city’s education office, is accused
Politics May 11, 2021
Most Popular
-
1
Seoul Fireworks Festival ends smoothly, but leaves piles of trash
-
2
[AtoZ into Korean mind] The price of numbers: How rankings shape lives in Korea
-
3
Yoon set for talks with Marcos in Philippines
-
4
Can Jennie break the K-pop solo artist slump?
-
5
Baseball star Hwang Jae-gyun, T-ara's Jiyeon file for divorce mediation
-
6
[Exclusive] Korea’s defense acquisition agency fails to meet legal standard for women representation
-
7
First lady’s Dior bag scandal to be at center of Assembly audit
-
8
2 US B-1B bombers conducted joint drill with S. Korean Air Force on Oct. 1 Armed Force Day
-
9
Firefighters’ 3,000 won meals spark nutrition concerns
-
10
Yoon honors veterans of Korean War in trip to Philippines