[70th Anniversary] Seven challenges for South Korea's social, economic survival

Moving forward from South Korea's dynamic seven decades, The Korea Herald identifies the seven most crucial challenges the nation must overcome for a sustainable and prosperous future. – Ed. Climate crisis becomes irreversible reality Climate change has long been considered a future disaster rather than a present threat by many Koreans. However, it has now become a largely irreversible reality, manifesting as a series of extreme weather events that significantly affect people'

Aug. 13, 2023

[70th Anniversary] Congratulatory messages from political and social leaders

The Korea Herald received congratulatory messages from a distinguished assembly of political and social leaders. Their words signify a shared commitment to fostering collaboration across various fields, ranging from global governance to local administration, artistic creativity and more. – Ed. Kim Jin-pyo, National Assembly speaker I'm Kim Jin-pyo, speaker of the National Assembly. My heartfelt congratulations for the 70th anniversary of The Korea Herald. The Korea Herald was fo

Aug. 13, 2023

Aftermath of Jamboree: Political tug-of-war

As the curtains fell on the 25th World Scout Jamboree on Friday in Seoul, ending with a grand K-pop concert, the controversies surrounding the event are far from over. Mired in issues including a persistent heat wave, inadequate preparation and typhoon-related disruptions, the recently concluded Jamboree is now at the center of the political blame game. While politicians argue over who holds the responsibility, efforts from companies, religious organizations and local governments across the nati

Aug. 13, 2023

Documentary evidence found showing Japan commandeered Korean children during colonization: lawmaker

A local colonial-era newspaper showing that Japan had commandeered teenage Korean girls for wartime labor during World War II has been discovered, a lawmaker of the main opposition party said Sunday. Rep. Heo Jong-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea revealed the pages of the July 4, 1944 edition of the now-defunct Maeil Shinbo, which showed that 13 girls who had just graduated from an elementary school in Incheon had been dispatched as members of the wartime labor force. Following imperial Japa

Aug. 13, 2023

Missing man found dead in reservoir after Typhoon Khanun

A man in an electric wheelchair who had gone missing as Typhoon Khanun landed in South Korea earlier this week was found dead in a reservoir Saturday, fire authorities said. A search was under way for the 67-year-old man who reportedly went missing Thursday after falling into a flooded stream in Daegu, 237 kilometers south of Seoul. Daegu fire authorities said they discovered his body at a nearby reservoir at 10:20 a.m. Saturday. Dozens of firefighters, police officers and city officials, as wel

Aug. 12, 2023

Over 10,000 Scouts head home after attending two-week World Scout Jamboree

About 10,000 young Scouts and adult volunteers who participated in the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in South Korea are ready to depart back home Saturday, the interior and safety ministry said. According to the ministry, over 10,000 participants headed to the airport on Saturday alone to return to their respective countries. The central government and local governments will host various cultural programs, and provide food and transportation services to the remaining participants until they depart b

Aug. 12, 2023

[Photo News] New sculpture of 'comfort woman'

Aug. 12, 2023

'One of best experiences in life': Scouts unfazed by Jamboree chaos

Sixteen-year-old Scout Nora Gothberg from Sweden was taken aback at the chaos that unfolded in the World Scout Jamboree, but says she wouldn't trade the experience for anything. "Even if I were to go back in time and I knew these troubles would still occur, I'd still participate in the Jamboree," said Gothberg. Despite having to deal with challenges such as a searing heat wave and lack of hygiene facilities at the campsite in North Jeolla Province, Gothberg said they didn

Aug. 11, 2023

Education Ministry official under fire for ‘unjustly’ reporting child’s teacher for child abuse

The Ministry of Education said late Thursday that it had launched an investigation into a case where a deputy director-level official at the ministry reported their child’s elementary school for child abuse. Following the complaint, the teacher was immediately removed from their post. According to reports citing the Elementary School Teachers’ Union, the ministry official used their position to file a complaint in November against the then-third-grade teacher, accusing them of child

Aug. 11, 2023

'No Parcel Day,' typhoon to delay deliveries

Any packages shipped after Thursday are highly likely to be delivered mid-next week, due to consecutive holidays and torrential rain in the wake of Typhoon Khanun. Aug. 14 is "No Parcel Day" in Korea, designated in 2020 by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to ensure a day off for delivery workers. The next day is Liberation Day, and as most companies rest Sundays, deliveries will likely resume on Wednesday. Major shipping companies, including Korea Post (EMS), CJ Logistics, Hanjin,

Aug. 11, 2023

Typhoon Khanun weaker than expected

Typhoon Khanun was weaker than initially predicted, as it lost speed while moving north along the peninsula, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Friday. The weather agency added that Khanun had left the country at around 6 a.m. Friday and entered North Korea, where it was heading toward the capital Pyongyang. Typhoon advisories were lifted across the country, and the alert level was lowered from "serious" to "alert." There were 379 reports of damage from Typhoon Khan

Aug. 11, 2023

Korean girl safe after abduction in suitcase in Philippines

An 8-year-old Korean girl, who had been abducted and taken away in a suitcase by a man on Cebu Island, Philippines, has returned home safely, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Friday. The girl appears unharmed, but was admitted to hospital for checks. According to officials and media reports, the girl had been taken from her home in Cebu at around noon, Thursday. Surveillance camera footage showed a man dragging a large suitcase before fleeing the scene in a car. The suspect, in his 30s, appe

Aug. 11, 2023

Prosecution indicts suspect in deadly stabbing rampage in Seoul

The prosecution on Friday indicted the suspect in last month's deadly stabbing rampage near a subway station in Seoul. Cho Seon, 33, has been arrested for killing one man and wounding three others with a knife on July 21. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office charged him with multiple counts that include murder, attempted murder, theft, fraud and insult. The investigation revealed that he fatally stabbed the 22-year-old victim 18 times on a street close to Sillim Station in southwes

Aug. 11, 2023

Yoon orders swift, sufficient support for people who suffered damage in typhoon

President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the government Friday to provide swift and sufficient support to people who suffered damage from Typhoon Khanun, his office said. Yoon gave the instruction to Interior Minister Lee Sang-min after being briefed on the overall scale of damage caused by the typhoon, presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a written briefing. "Provide swift and sufficient support to people who suffered damage in the typhoon and come up with measures to ensure thorough su

Aug. 11, 2023

Typhoon causes over 360 cases of facility, flooding damage

South Korea suffered a total of 361 cases of facility and flooding damage nationwide from Typhoon Khanun, authorities said Friday, as the typhoon's impact turned out to be less than initially feared due to its gradual weakening during its lengthy inland passage. Khanun, which plowed through South Korea from south to north for 16 hours Thursday, dissipated after reaching the vicinity of North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, around 6 a.m. Friday, according to the weather agency. The typhoon caused flo

Aug. 11, 2023

PM emphasizes safety of Scouts as K-pop concert set to wrap up 2023 World Scout Jamboree

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo once again urged officials to ensure the safety of Scouts on Friday as approximately 40,000 participants of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree are set to gather in Seoul for a farewell K-pop concert later in the day. The "K-pop super live" is scheduled to kick off at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m., marking the conclusion of the quadrennial gathering, which has been marred by a heat wave and a typhoon. Teenage Scouts and adult volunteers had earlier been reloca

Aug. 11, 2023

Malnourished lioness occupies cage recently vacated by starving lion

The cage recently vacated by a malnourished lion at Bugyeong Zoo, southeastern city of Gimhae is now housing the lion's 4-year old offspring, according to reports Thursday. The offspring, a 4-year old lioness, also appears malnourished, sparking outrage online. Complaints by furious citizens calling for the closure of Bugyeong Zoo are currently being posted on Gimhae City Hall's official website. The zoo has faced complaints and calls for closure over the past few months, with allegati

Aug. 10, 2023

Vietnamese brothers dead at construction site

Two Vietnamese workers killed at a construction site incident in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday have been identified as brothers, officials said. According to Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police and Anseong City Government on Thursday, the victims -- aged 30 and 29 -- lived and worked together here. The older brother first came to Korea some seven years ago. The younger followed about two years ago to live with his brother and sister-in-law. The victims died after the uppermost floor o

Aug. 10, 2023

Seoul hikes city bus fares

Fares for Seoul city buses will rise by 300 won (23 cents) from Saturday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday the fares for trunk (blue) and branch (green) routes will be raised to 1,500 won, while it will be 1,400 won for circulation (yellow) routes and 3,000 won for wide-area (red) routes. The late-night bus fare will be raised to 2,500 won, and village buses, or Maeul routes, to 1,200 won from 3 a.m. on Saturday. By route type, blue, green and yellow routes' fares will be rai

Aug. 10, 2023

Jamboree friendship formed over Korean fried chicken

The ill-prepared and ill-fated World Scout Jamboree has been a source of embarrassment and shame for many South Koreans. But amid all the negative publicity over the event's numerous problems -- from the heat wave, to the partially flooded campsite, to the insect bites, hygiene issues, insufficient food and even an alleged peeping tom incident -- there have also emerged stories of unexpected kindness and friendship. In one such story shared with The Korea Herald, a team of adult volunteer

Aug. 10, 2023