The 2022 local elections in Korea were held Wednesday, marking the eighth edition of the event since the right to elect local government leaders and assembly members. The history of local elections in Korea began in 1952 in the midst of the Korean War, with two more such elections held in 1956 and 1960. However, local elections were put on hold for nearly three decades after an authoritarian regime took power in the 1960s. Former President Park Chung-hee put a stop to the local elections a

Politics June 1, 2022

The pledges of Seoul’s education superintendent candidates are split according to their political inclinations, despite the rule against candidates revealing their political stances. With the local election just around the corner, candidates from the conservative bloc are promising to improve students’ academic achievements, attacking the previous administration led by Seoul’s education superintendent, Cho Hee-yeon, who is recognized as a liberal-leaning figure. The conserv

Social Affairs May 30, 2022

The outlook of the election for Seoul’s education superintendent remains blurry for the conservative bloc, as candidates have failed to form a merger while continuing to attack each other. With less than a week left to the local elections, Cho Hee-yeon, the current superintendent of education for Seoul, and Kang Shin-man, who are considered liberal-leaning candidates, announced they have formed a merger Thursday. “Seeing some candidates demonize and assault certain groups for t

Social Affairs May 27, 2022

Gangwon Province has been underdeveloped, limited by heavy regulations, says Lee Kwang-jae, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s Gangwon Province candidate for governor. Lee, who held the post of Gangwon Province governor for a short period in 2010 before he was removed due to involvement in a large political scandal, believes a new future awaits the province. According to Lee, the new Special Act on the Establishment of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, likely to p

Politics May 26, 2022

Increasing temperatures and rapidly rising sea levels pose a grave threat to humanity, experts warned Thursday. Speaking during the first session of H.Eco Forum on rising sea levels, experts warned that the oceans are headed for irreparable damage. Professor Axel Timmermann, the director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics at Pusan National University, was the first speaker and gave a speech titled, “Using basic science to avert climate changes.”  Timmermann reviewed th

Social Affairs May 26, 2022

The second edition of the H.eco Forum was held Thursday, shedding light on climate change and its effects on the marine environment. This year’s event was held under the theme of “Climate Crisis and the Ocean” on Nodeul Island – also known as Nodeulseom -- inviting environment scholars, activists and experts in and out of Korea. Some speakers from abroad gave their speeches online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “This year’s H.eco Forum focuses on ma

Social Affairs May 26, 2022

This year’s H.eco Forum, held under the theme of “Climate Crisis and the Ocean,” is to shed light on the risks our oceans are facing and the possible consequences for humanity. H.eco Forum, launched last year, is an annual event designed to bring awareness on climate crisis. It invites environment experts in and out of Korea, serving as a platform for discussions. The upcoming edition of the forum will take place at Multipurpose Hall on Nodeulseom in Seoul, Thursday, featu

Social Affairs May 25, 2022

Lee Jung-hyun, once a big name in the conservative bloc, is seeking a return to politics after a five-year hiatus, this time running for the governor of South Jeolla Province. Lee, a former head of the main conservative party and a close aide of ousted former President Park Geun-hye, had left politics after Park’s impeachment in 2017. Having left the central arena, Lee has returned to his political hometown. “I wanted a fresh start, working my way upward,” Lee told The

Politics May 24, 2022

The postponement of the deposit refund scheme for single-use plastic has appeased owners of small businesses for the time being, but concerns remain. On Friday, the Ministry of Environment announced that it will postpone the launch of the new deposit system for single-use cups until Dec. 1. The new scheme was set to kick off on June 10, requiring franchise cafes, bakeries and fast-food franchises with more than 100 branches to charge a 300 won ($0.24) deposit per single-use cup to customers.

Social Affairs May 23, 2022

The National Assembly on Friday approved the appointment of Han Duck-soo as the new prime minister, with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea deciding to vote for the appointment at a meeting held late in the afternoon. The president can appoint ministers without parliamentary approval with the exception of the prime minister. The Democratic Party had expressed discontent with Han as a prime minister pick citing the unusually high salary he drew while working in the private sector,

Politics May 20, 2022

The Ministry of Environment said Thursday it will announce more details on the new deposit refund scheme for single-use cups to ease the burden on small-business owners. From June 10, franchise cafes, bakeries and fast-food franchises with more than 100 branches have to charge a 300 won (24 cent) deposit per single-use cup to customers. The ministry said it would help businesses adapt to the new rules, after some franchisees complained about it being a burden. “We empathize with th

Social Affairs May 19, 2022

The Ministry of Education is to run a 50-day inspection on the educational environment of 1,250 kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools from Wednesday. The newly launched task force will review the schools’ respective quarantine measures, guidelines for extracurricular activities and monitor school facilities. As schools have recently resumed normal operations after a two-year COVID-19-induced hiatus, the inspection team will also examine schools’ respective infectio

Social Affairs May 16, 2022

The Korea Forest Service held an event commemorating the launch of Business for Land Initiative on Tuesday, during the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Cote d’Ivoire. Woori Financial Group became the first business in Korea to announce its support for the organization. The UNCCD is an international organization established in 1994 to protect and restore land. There are currently 197 member countries to

Social Affairs May 15, 2022

Seoul Institute of the Arts has named Megawati Soekarnoputri, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, as its honorary chair professor, hoping to encourage cultural interchange between Korea and Indonesia. The art institute held a ceremony at its campus in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, appointing Megawati as an honorary professor. The institute‘s President Lee Nam-sik attended the ceremony, too. Megawati is an Indonesian politician who served as president of Indo

Social Affairs May 11, 2022

The changes we are seeing in the ocean right now are already irreversible, said climate scientist Axel Timmermann. Timmermann is the director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics at Pusan National University, working to address changes in the climate and ecosystem. Prior to the upcoming H.eco Forum on May 26, where he is to give a lecture under the title of “Using basic science to avert climate changes,” Timmermann warned that the oceans have already reached “thresholds for

Social Affairs May 11, 2022