"I love you, darling” was the final text message sent by the 60-something captain of a South Korean chemical tanker to his wife, before the ship capsized in rough seas off Japan's west coast on Wednesday. He was among nine later found dead of the ship’s crew of 11, with one still missing. The captain's wife, speaking at Keoyoung Shipping's headquarters in Busan on Thursday, said she received the love message from her husband at around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, to wh

Social Affairs March 22, 2024

The fifth edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off Wednesday at the Floating Island Convention Center on the Han River in Seoul, under the theme "Age of Hyper-Uncertainty: Global Business Opportunities and Trends." Spanning 13 weeks, the weekly forum serves as a gathering point for leaders in the business and finance sectors, academic experts, diplomats and top civil servants. Its primary objective is to strengthen business networks based on shared interes

People March 21, 2024

Korean workers are experiencing decreased job satisfaction, amid an increasing tendency to value financial gains and a healthy work-life balance, a report showed Sunday. According to research conducted in 2023 by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, which surveyed 1,500 individuals aged between 18 and 64, Koreans rated the importance of their jobs in their lives at an average of 4.58 out of a possible 7, down by 0.87 point from 5.45 reported in 2007. In terms of

Social Affairs March 18, 2024

Busan city is facing opposition from Korean language preservation groups as it moves to name a district “Eco Delta-dong,” making the first time an English place name would be used for an official administrative unit. As per the city’s announcement on Tuesday, the district office of Gangseo, Busan, has submitted the naming proposal last month for the new entity to be comprised of three existing areas, Gangdong-dong, Myeongji 1-dong and Daejeo 2-dong. In pursuit of the national

Social Affairs March 12, 2024

Many Koreans perceive drug offenders as fundamentally different from ordinary people. An Jun-hung, a defense attorney who specializes in drug crimes, knows from his decade-long experience of representing them in court that this is not the case. He likens the experience of trying illegal drugs to getting into an unexpected car accident. "Most people who get caught doing illegal drugs first encounter them unknowingly or out of curiosity," the attorney from law firm Son & Partners s

Social Affairs March 12, 2024

Koreans, particularly of younger generations, are often compared to an imaginary rival by the name of “Eomchina.” This rival, whose name literally translates as “mom’s friend’s son,” represents an idealized peer against whom one is constantly measured in various aspects of life, from academic achievements and career success to marital status and monthly income. “Eomchina” as a benchmark for success stems from parental comparisons and envy for the a

Hashtag Korea March 10, 2024

Long recognized as South Korea's most expensive retail area, Myeong-dong in central Seoul has lost its crown. Recent surveys show that last year, this tourist-favored shopping district was surpassed by an unexpected contender in terms of store rent: Bukchang-dong. Bukchang-dong’s commercial strip is located between the Bank of Korea building, City Hall Station and Hoehyeon Station, and it topped the annual retail market analysis conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with an

Social Affairs March 7, 2024

A charity project to support survivors of fires who suffered burns by raising money from sales of calendars featuring muscular firefighters has raised more than 1 billion won ($750,000) over its 10-year span, Seoul’s fire department said Wednesday. The 10th edition of the “momjjang” or "great body" calendar, on sale from November to January, generated 96 million won in revenue and donations, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters. The

Social Affairs March 6, 2024

Gifting condolence money in a white envelope to those you are close to who are in mourning is a long-standing tradition in South Korea. Yet, when this custom coincides with Korea's increasing number of pet owners and evolving pet-friendly culture, it might take an unexpected turn in this nation which has recently decided to outlaw the consumption of dog meat. In a survey of 5,000 Korean nationals conducted in 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, nearly one out of

Hashtag Korea March 5, 2024

In another piece of grim news underscoring South Korea's looming demographic crisis, the number of marriages in 2023 fell by 40 percent compared to the level recorded a decade ago, government statistics revealed Sunday. According to Statistics Korea, an estimated 193,673 couples tied the knot last year, a drop of 40 percent compared to the 322,807 couples who got married in 2013. From a year ago, however, the 2023 figure marks a 1 percent increase, or 1,983 more marriages. In 2022, marria

Social Affairs March 3, 2024

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- At a secluded temple tucked away on a snow-covered mountain, a Buddhist monk stood before a wooden altar, praying for a departed soul. On the altar, next to a spirit table, there was a framed photo of the deceased: a dog named after the temple itself, Hyundeok. “Hyundeok passed away recently,” said Venerable Hyunjong, the temple's founder and chief monk. “He was 8 years old.” In honor of the departed pup, which was one of two who live

Hashtag Korea March 2, 2024

A hacker managed to steal 100,000 won ($75) from a local bank by exploiting the online banking verification system which confirms a person’s identity through deposits of 1 won. The suspect is accused of making 100,000 verification requests over the course of a week, swindling 1 won with each request. According to a report from local media outlet Edaily, the suspect, whose identity is being withheld, appeared to have employed an automated program, given the substantial number of ID verifi

Social Affairs Feb. 29, 2024

Bar owners who are misled into selling alcohol to minors with fake IDs may soon have a way to prove their innocence using surveillance camera footage under a proposed rule change. The Ministry of Government Legislation announced a public notice Tuesday for the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Food Sanitation Act, which contains new clauses that exempt those who unknowingly sell alcohol to customers under the age of 19 from punishment if video evidence is provided. For 20 days until Mar

Social Affairs Feb. 27, 2024

Many parts of Gangwon Province have recorded substantial snowfall, with some eastern mountainous regions setting new records, according to a weather agency Friday. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that its weather station on Hyangro Mountain in Goseong reached its snow measurement limit of 160 centimeters for the first time. By 11 p.m. on Wednesday, the station had recorded 146.4 centimeters of snow. The accumulation of snow is impeding access to the gauge used to measure th

Social Affairs Feb. 23, 2024

South Korean balladeer Sung Si-kyung has launched a Korean rice wine under his new liquor brand Kyung on Thursday. According to his agency SKJaewon the makgeolli rice wine is the first product the singer developed in collaboration with the startup brewery J1. Renowned for his appreciation of refined spirits, Sung engaged in every stage of crafting and perfecting the rice wine, an official from the agency said. Named "Kyungtakju," this traditional fermented drink is crafted from ingre

K-pop Feb. 22, 2024