Articles by Lee Jung-joo
Lee Jung-joo
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com-
Over half of population resides in Seoul metropolitan area: data
More than half of South Korea’s total population was found to reside in the capital city of Seoul and surrounding metropolitan cities, according to official data released by the government on Wednesday. As of December 2023, the registered populations in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province recorded up to 26.1 million residents, which made up 50.7 percent of the country's total population. Out of the 26.1 million, 9.39 million were registered in Seoul, 3 million were registered in Inch
Social Affairs Feb. 14, 2024
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Seoul to help more women to freeze eggs
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will double the number of subsidies it provides women to cryopreserve their eggs, said the city government on Wednesday, as part of the city government’s measure to tackle falling birth rates in the capital city. In September 2023, the city government proposed to provide up to 2 million won ($1,496) to 300 women between the ages of 20 and 49 who have resided in Seoul for more than six months. Starting in 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide
Social Affairs Feb. 14, 2024
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Seoul to subsidize W1m for mothers' postpartum care
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide mothers who give birth in Seoul with a subsidy of 1 million won ($753) per child in 2024, said the city government through a press release on Tuesday. From September 2023, the city government subsidized newborn mothers' postpartum care in the form of voucher points, which were distributed to their credit or debit cards. Within just four months since the subsidy was introduced, up to 15,907 mothers signed up to receive the subsidy. However, at
Social Affairs Feb. 13, 2024
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N. Korea scraps inter-Korean economic cooperation laws
North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament approved the annulment of laws and agreements related to promoting economic cooperation with South Korea during its plenary meeting Wednesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. The Supreme People’s Assembly voted to abolish the law on inter-Korean economic cooperation, the "law on the special zone for international tours of Mount Kumgang" and regulations for its enforcement and agreements on inter-Korean econom
North Korea Feb. 8, 2024
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Number of international students grows to 182,000 last year: ministry
South Korea saw up to 182,000 new international students in 2023, an increase compared the 167,000 in 2022, said the Ministry of Education on Wednesday. To enhance Korean universities’ management of the increasing numbers of international students and to respond to the problem of illegal immigration among international students, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice annually examine the universities' internationalization competencies. In 2023, among the universities th
Social Affairs Feb. 7, 2024
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South Korea to lower EV subsidies by W1m
Subsidies given to those who purchase electric vehicles will be lower regardless of vehicle size compared to the subsidies given last year, said the Ministry of Environment on Tuesday. During the Ministry of Environment’s press briefing on its new EV subsidy plan, the environment ministry confirmed that the performance subsidies for EVs of all sizes have been reduced by 1 million won ($752). According to this new plan, the maximum subsidy for medium and large-sized EVs will reduced from 5
Social Affairs Feb. 6, 2024
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24/7 support system needed for independence of disabled: experts
Experts and activists have repeated their calls for a more long-term, attentive care system for those with disabilities to prevent further tragedies in the wake of another murder-suicide by the parent of a disabled child. On Sept. 16, 2023, a family of five was found dead in their home in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, after the father killed his wife, his three sons with developmental and physical disabilities and himself. On Friday, a man in his 40s was found dead alongside the body of his 10
Social Affairs Feb. 5, 2024
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4 in 10 fire officials have mental health concerns: report
Four out of 10 fire officials were found to have suffered from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disorder, according to survey results released by the National Fire Agency on Sunday. The survey underscores the urgent necessity to address the mental health concerns of fire officials, particularly in light of the recent tragic loss of two firefighters, shedding light on the challenging working environments they face. The two were trapped while responding to a fire a
Social Affairs Feb. 4, 2024
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Seoul's Han River water-bus service to launch in October
A water-bus service that runs along the Han River will commence in October, announced the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday. During its press briefing, the city government said that the “Hangang River Bus” will operate a water route through seven docks in Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Jamwon, Oksu, Ttukseom and Jamsil. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also added that it plans to add a route that connects Gimpo and Seoul next year after consulting with officials from Gimpo to impr
Social Affairs Feb. 1, 2024
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Sillim stabbing rampage suspect sentenced to life at first trial
Cho Sun, a 34-year-old who carried out a stabbing rampage near Seoul's Sillim Station, killing one person and injuring three others, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the first trial on Wednesday. “To make sure Cho reflects on his misdeeds and to maintain social safety and order, the court decided to sentence Cho with the heaviest punishment following the death penalty,” said Seoul Central District Court in its ruling. The court also ordered Cho to wear a GPS-equipped electr
Social Affairs Jan. 31, 2024
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Korea to digitize personal seals, enhance online gamer protection
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vowed to improve services in digital government administration, online gaming and telemedicine by removing organizational hassle, enhancing protections for gamers and improving the welfare of the people. The plan involves digitizing necessary documents for approximately 1,500 administrative services within the next three years and creating digital stamps in lieu of traditional personal seals, which have been in use in South Korea for 110 years. In cases where p
Social Affairs Jan. 30, 2024
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[Community Discovery] Why does Seoul need more garbage incinerators?
Son Myung-jin, a housewife in her 40s living in Mapo, northwestern Seoul, is worried about the city's plan to build a new waste incinerator in her neighborhood. In August, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would build the new plant in 2026 on the site of a parking lot near the existing waste incinerator, called the Mapo Resource Recovery Facility, to begin operations in 2030. According to the city government, the new incinerator plant will be built underground and the exis
Social Affairs Jan. 30, 2024
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S. Korea records 31.4 drought days in 2023: KMA
South Korea experienced an average of 31.4 meteorological drought days in 2023, ranking 27th since records began in 1974, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Friday. Korea’s southern region recorded an average number of 36.6 meteorological drought days, while the central region recorded 26 days on average. Meteorological drought is determined based on the degree of dryness or rainfall deficit and the duration of the dry period. In the southern region, the winter of 2021 had signif
Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2024
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Korea to introduce AI-powered flood warnings for public safety
The Ministry of Environment announced its plan to launch an AI-powered early warning system for floods starting in May, ahead of this year's summer flood season, in a bid to enhance public safety. The announcement comes in the wake of deadly floods last year, which saw the inundation of an underpass in the city of Osong, North Chungcheong Province, resulting in 14 fatalities. "To ensure a golden time for the prevention of casualties through 'smart forecasting,' we will expand
Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2024
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Extreme cold temperatures to continue until Fri. morning
As a cold continental high pressure extends from northern China, temperatures will remain below freezing nationwide on Wednesday and continue until Friday morning, said the Korea Meteorological Administration. In the central region, eastern parts of North Jeolla Province and inland regions of North Gyeongsang Province where a cold wave warning has been issued, temperatures were recorded to be as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, while other regions’ temperatures recorded as low as minus 5 C
Social Affairs Jan. 24, 2024
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