Daiso, a discount store in Korea known for its wide selection of homeware goods, is recalling 53,000 pairs of plastic shower shoes that contain potentially dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, a government-affiliated body under the Trade Ministry, announced Sunday. Available in retail stores since October 2022, the sandals were found to contain excessive levels of lead, cadmium and phthalate, a substance used to increase plastic durability. All thre

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2023

Earlier in March, citizens in Seoul witnessed the surreal sight of a distraught zebra wandering around the streets of the capital. A heartbreaking story later came to light that the two-year-old zebra, named Sero, had been suffering immensely after losing both his parents within two years. In another blow for Sero, the Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo announced on Tuesday the death of Coco, Sero's only partner since June 2022, due to complications related to her pregnancy. She was 17 mo

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2023

Students at several colleges in and around Seoul found themselves embroiled in intrigue when they stumbled upon mysterious business cards scattered across campuses last week, sparking a flurry of concern across the country. These cards, written in English and predominantly found near the schools' art departments, curiously touted "totally legal" liquid cannabis, promising "inspiration … more than fifty times high." Each card's backside featured a QR code shap

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2023

Sannakji -- octopus seasoned with salt and sesame oil and served while still squirming – is among South Korea's most notorious delicacies. The local dish shot to global infamy thanks to an iconic scene from 2004's "Oldboy," where Choi Min-sik's character devours a whole wriggling octopus alive at a sushi bar. Numerous videos on YouTube show fearless foreign tourists trying sannakji in Korea’s local fish markets, highlighting the cuisine’s enduring cult

Social Affairs Oct. 24, 2023

Stomach cancer is especially common among Koreans, with data from the National Cancer Center of Korea identifying it as the most common type of cancer in the country from 1999 to 2018. Although Korea reports a lower overall cancer incidence rate compared to the US and UK, its rate of stomach cancer is nearly 10 times higher. Looking to find potential reasons why, a new study led by Dr. Choi Kui-son of the National Cancer Center of Korea has found a lack of exercise to be the most common risk fac

Social Affairs Oct. 21, 2023

Panic spread across Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea, following the discovery of bedbugs in a student dormitory, prompting evacuation and extensive disinfection procedures. The issue first came to light in mid-September when a student reported being bitten by bedbugs. The student, residing in the university's newly renovated dormitory, claimed to have suffered severe symptoms requiring medical treatment including high fever and itchiness. The initial complaint, shared on an anonymo

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2023

South Korean seafood lovers are finding a silver lining amid the soaring food and grocery prices: dinner-plate-sized red king crabs, traditionally a luxury, are now available at surprisingly cheaper prices. On Thursday, E-mart, a leading South Korean retailer, announced a price drop in Russian-imported red king crabs, offering a two-day special price event this weekend. The retail giant is offering Russia-imported king crabs for 5,980 won ($4.40) per 100 grams, nearly half of last month’s

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2023

In a move to counter escalating copyright infringement issues, the South Korean government announced on Tuesday a reward initiative for whistleblowers of pirate websites, offering up to 3 billion won ($2.2 million) in compensation. The initiative, jointly led by the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, seeks to bolster efforts against illegal streaming and sharing that undermines the country's thriving digital content industry. Indiv

Culture Oct. 17, 2023

South Korea is witnessing a surge in sexual assault cases on subway trains, with 784 incidents reported from January to August 2023 alone, according to data from the police and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The data, made public by Rep. Oh Young-hwan of the Democratic Party of Korea, shows a growing trend of assaults that coincides with a post-pandemic surge in public transit usage. The numbers, which include 529 cases of groping or unwanted contact and 255 cases of illici

Social Affairs Oct. 14, 2023

Over 200 convicted sex offenders live with another offender under the same roof in South Korea, government data showed, sparking public safety concerns about their potential risk of reoffending. According to data from the South Korean government’s sex offender registration database, 222 convicted sex offenders are living together at 90 locations nationwide, averaging nearly 2.5 offenders per residence. The information was disclosed in a press release by Rep. Lee Hyoung-seok of the Democrat

Social Affairs Oct. 13, 2023

Five-time major winner and LPGA Hall of Famer Pak Se-ri is launching an LPGA Tour event named after her, set to take place in March 2024 in Palm Springs, California. The announcement of the Se Ri Pak LPGA Tour came during a press conference following the 2023 Maum Pak Se-ri World Match Golf Tournament at Stonegate Country Club in Gijang, Busan. The two-day event, hosted by Pak’s Hope Foundation, featured prominent sports figures like fellow LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, five-time LP

Golf Oct. 12, 2023

A growing number of Americans are reluctant to use US troops to defend South Korea from a North Korean invasion, according to a recent survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a nongovernmental research institute. The survey, conducted from Sept. 7-18 among 3,242 US adults, shows that only half of the respondents agreed with the idea of committing US troops to defend South Korea, marking a significant decrease from the previous year, when 63 percent were in favor. The shift in public opi

Foreign Affairs Oct. 5, 2023

In traditional Korean culture, the full moon is a symbol of life's essence and the passage of time, embodying abundance and fortune in its luminous splendor. Chuseok, or Hangawi, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, captures this heritage through traditions like crafting songpyeon -- half-moon shaped rice cakes symbolizing unity -- and, of course, making wishes under the harvest moon. For those planning to immerse themselves in this celestial treat, here are some of the top

Travel Sept. 28, 2023

For the first time in a decade, Seoul citizens will witness a large-scale military parade, with tanks and armed forces marching across the city center Tuesday amid escalating tensions with North Korea. Major thoroughfares will be closed throughout the day for the event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Korean Armed Forces' founding, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on Sept. 20. The march will commence at the Seoul Air Base at 1:30 p.m. following a memorial ceremony. From

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2023

Commuters on Seoul Metro Line No. 2 were thrown into a frenzy on Sept. 6 when a man was seen shoving people and plunging through the crowded train. The incident, captured by security cameras, unfolded at 8:22 a.m. at Euljiro 4-ga Station during the morning rush hour, highlighting fears riding high following a spate of seemingly random attacks against strangers that rattled the nation throughout the summer. Footage obtained by Seoul Jungbu Police Station shows the suspect in a black hoodie and ma

Social Affairs Sept. 20, 2023