Articles by Ahn Sung-mi
Ahn Sung-mi
sahn@heraldcorp.com-
W4.24m Chuseok bonuses for lawmakers, but 40% of workers get none
Lawmakers in South Korea have each received a bonus of around 4.24 million won ($3,181) for the upcoming Chuseok holiday, while more than 40 percent of ordinary workers reported receiving no such bonus, igniting a debate about whether legislators deserve such privileges and benefits. On Thursday, members of the National Assembly received their Chuseok bonus -- one of the two holiday bonuses -- with each amount calculated as 60 percent of their monthly salary, according to the regulations on civi
Social Affairs Sept. 13, 2024
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3 out of 4 shops, restaurants plan to stay open during Chuseok: survey
With the Chuseok holiday period approaching, three out of four small business owners plan to keep their shops and restaurants open during the holiday break, a recent survey shows. Alba Heaven, one of the largest part-time job portals, conducted a survey of 96 small business owners, and 85.4 percent said they would operate their businesses during the Chuseok holidays. This figure marks an increase of 5.7 percentage from the previous year. This year, the Chuseok holiday period will stretch over fi
Social Affairs Sept. 7, 2024
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Two Korean women arrested for stealing tourist's bag in Turkey
Two South Korean women were released after being detained by Turkish authorities for allegedly stealing a bag containing around $17,000 in cash from another tourist, according to news reports on Thursday. Turkey’s Demiroren News Agency and other media outlets reported that the two women were arrested by police on suspicion of theft and released after questioning on Aug. 28. The two women, who were traveling in the country, were accused of stealing a bag belonging to an Albanian tourist on
Social Affairs Sept. 6, 2024
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Opposition lawmakers reject president's Chuseok gifts
Some opposition party lawmakers took to social media to reject Chuseok gifts sent by President Yoon Suk Yeol, posting photos of the gifts and criticizing the administration. Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party posted a picture to Facebook on Wednesday showing him returning the unopened gift to a parcel delivery worker. “I clearly told them not to send gifts,” Kim said in the post. “But just like how he handles diplomacy, appoints ministers as he p
Politics Sept. 5, 2024
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Workload and low wages push more young police officers and fire fighters to quit
A growing number of young police officers and firefighters in South Korea are quitting their jobs, citing heavy workloads and low wages, data showed Wednesday. According to data from the National Police Agency submitted to Rep. Shin Jung-hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of police officers with less than ten years of service who resigned voluntarily nearly doubled from 155 in 2022 to 301 last year. Similarly, 125 firefighters with less than ten years of service resigned last year
Social Affairs Sept. 4, 2024
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Stress and unhealthy stress relief fan cancer prevalence in Korea
High stress and subsequent unhealthy eating habits are key factors contributing to the surge in cancer diagnoses in South Korea, according to Kim Eui-shin, a leading cancer specialist. He also noted that the country’s negative perception of cancer is a major hurdle in its fight against the disease. In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel “Jisik Hansang,” Kim identified stress as a significant cancer risk factor. “Korean society is very competitive, and there is no s
Social Affairs Sept. 4, 2024
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Adult-only gaming arcades mushrooming in rural Korea
The number of adult-only gaming centers and internet cafes, known here as “PC bangs,” has seen a rapid increase in rural areas where agriculture and fishing are prevalent, data showed Tuesday. According to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a total of 278 establishments received business permits to operate as adult-only gaming halls last year across the country, up from 215 in 2022. Of the total, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number with 52 newly licensed
Social Affairs Sept. 3, 2024
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Fu Bao experiencing ‘pseudopregnancy’ amid health concerns
Fu Bao, a beloved giant panda born in South Korea and now living in China, has entered the “pseudopregnancy” stage, according to the Chinese panda center, amid growing concerns about her health. The four-year-old Fu Bao has recently been seen displaying unusual behaviors, decreased appetite and lower activity levels since August in videos, sparking concerns from local fans that the panda may have health problems due to China’s extreme heat or that she may be mistreated in the c
Social Affairs Sept. 3, 2024
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Better Korea-Mongolia cooperation can reduce trade reliance on China: officials
South Korea and Mongolia need to strengthen cooperation on the supply of critical minerals to lessen their trade reliance on China, officials and experts from the two countries said at the Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Co-hosted by Herald Media Group and the Ahnsei Foundation, the forum was held at the Novotel in the Mongolian capital on Aug. 27. During the session titled “Core Minerals Cooperation Plan," participants discussed ways for the two countries to wor
Economy Sept. 2, 2024
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Korean American astronaut to launch to space station next year
Jonny Kim, the first Korean American to become a NASA astronaut, will head to the International Space Station in March 2025, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced Thursday. On his first mission to the ISS, Kim will serve as a flight engineer and crew member for the Expedition 72/73. “I’m incredibly honored to represent NASA in our continued commitment to international collaboration and scientific discovery,” Kim wrote via Instagram. Kim will board the Rosc
Social Affairs Aug. 30, 2024
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6 in 10 deepfake victims are minors: police
Nearly 6 out of 10 victims of deepfake sexual crimes investigated by South Korean police were found to be minors, according to newly released data Friday. Out of 527 cases of deepfake crimes reported to police between 2021 and 2023, 315 victims, or 59.8 percent, were identified as teenagers, according to data from the National Police Agency submitted to Rep. Yang Boo-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea. This proportion far exceeds other age groups, with those in their 20s at 32.1 percent, follo
Social Affairs Aug. 30, 2024
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S. Korean food agency bans 34 imported drug-laced candies
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Thursday that it has banned 34 imported sweets after detecting illegal substances, including marijuana. The ministry said it tested 34 items, including gummies, chocolate, candy and beverages, suspected of containing drugs imported from countries where recreational marijuana is legal. The inspection confirmed that these products purchased directly from overseas websites contained drugs or substances prohibited here. Officials reported t
Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2024
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Police bust crypto scammer who received plastic surgery to evade arrest
South Korean police said Thursday that they have arrested the leader of a cryptocurrency scam operation that defrauded investors of 16 billion won ($12 million) and who even underwent plastic surgery to avoid capture. The man, in his 40s, was apprehended earlier this month for deceiving 158 victims between November 2021 and June 2022 by promising a monthly return of 18 percent on investments in a so-called cryptocurrency mining business, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Police
Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2024
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[Newsmaker] Big Bang’s T.O.P to fly to moon next year
T.O.P of K-pop boy band Big Bang will be traveling to the moon next year, joining the first civilian moon mission led by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. The eight crew members flying with Maezawa on the “dearMoon” mission are American DJ Steve Aoki, Indian actor Dev Joshi, American YouTuber Tim Dodd, Czech choreographer Yemi A.D., Irish photographer Rhiannon Adam, British photographer Karim Iliya, American filmmaker Brendan Hall and T.O.P of South Korea, Maezawa announced Friday
K-pop Dec. 9, 2022
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[Eye Plus] Sogyeok-dong: where past and present coexist
Located across the street from Gyeongbok Palace, Sogyeok-dong is a small neighborhood where Korea’s history overlaps with Seoul’s bustling culture. The name Sogyeok-dong derives from Sogyeokso, the National Taoist Temple that was built in 1396 during the reign of King Taejo of the Joseon era (1392-1910). It was established to preserve Taoism and hold sacrificial rites to ward off bad omens. People went to the temple to worship the stars and the earth. The temple is nowhere
Culture April 16, 2022
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