Cabbage prices alert When the weather starts to cool, one particular product becomes critically significant to South Korea’s price monitoring authorities: cabbages. As the main ingredient in the most widely consumed type of kimchi, napa cabbage prices directly influence the cost of living here, with ripple effects felt in far-reaching areas, from school cafeterias to military barracks. Signs of strain are already visible this week with more than a month to go until the nationwide kimch

Social Affairs Oct. 16, 2024

In 2008, as a 25-year-old university student, Steven Heo boarded a plane bound for Tanzania, seeking an extraordinary experience before graduation. However, what was meant to be a one-year stay turned into a life-changing journey that reshaped the path of the philosophy and psychology major. Now in his early 40s, Heo leads Africa Insight, a Seoul-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and combating stereotypes, while fostering cultural exchange between Korea and Africa. In

Social Affairs Oct. 12, 2024

Experience Africa's rich and diverse culture at the 7th Seoul Africa Festival, which takes place at Seoul's Banpo Hangang Park on Saturday Hosted by Africa Insight and sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival features a variety of performances and programs in collaboration with African communities. The festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. with a vibrant parade led by DjembeCola Roots, a group inspired by the performing arts of West Africa, particularly Mande music and da

Culture Oct. 11, 2024

SEJONG -- Two events kicked off a new campaign this week to celebrate and elevate Hangeul, the Korean writing system and cornerstone of the nation’s culture, by cultivating legions of Hangeul ambassadors around the world. On Tuesday, the day before Hangeul Day, the inaugural Sejong Hangeul Olympiad brought together 105 contestants from 24 countries to showcase their Korean language skills. Designed to encourage Korean learning and reward exceptional learners, the competition, held in the

Social Affairs Oct. 10, 2024

A trio of young language enthusiasts from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Morocco who met through a chat group, triumphed at the first Sejong Hangeul Olympiad on Tuesday where they demonstrated their exceptional Korean language skills. United as the team "Stars of Sejong," they won the grand prize in a competition that brought together 105 participants from 24 countries to celebrate Hangeul ahead of Hangeul Day. A total of 35 teams, each comprising three members, participated in the Hange

Social Affairs Oct. 10, 2024

Veterinarian Choi Young-min is a beloved figure in the animal care community. A regular on popular TV program “Animal Farm,” Choi treats a wide variety of creatures, from lizards to sparrows, turtles and hedgehogs. The sight of tiny limbs taped down for an X-ray, or being gently cradled in one hand for a checkup, often evokes both squeals for their cuteness and a twinge of pity in viewers. "It's adorable to watch, but for a veterinarian, it means the work is more challengin

Hashtag Korea Oct. 9, 2024

The Seoul Fireworks Festival, which organizers said attracted around 1 million people, concluded without major disruptions Saturday night. However, the large amounts of trash left behind by visitors cast a shadow over the event. Yeouido Hangang Park was packed with families, friends and couples from early morning as they secured prime spots for the fireworks show, which began at 7 p.m. There were no significant incidents during the festival or while people left afterward. Fire authorities report

Social Affairs Oct. 6, 2024

Jang Yun-jeong, 28, grew up in a world where numbers defined her worth. From academic achievements to salary and social status, her standing was calculated in terms of scores, grades and ranks. At school, where comparison was at its most ruthless, Jang received report cards after every midterm and final exam, which displayed her rank in each subject within her class and the entire school. These numbers made her constantly aware of where she stood relative to her classmates. "Feeling the nee

Hashtag Korea Oct. 6, 2024

German Ambassador to Seoul Georg Schmidt highlighted the growing complexities and opportunities in a world in flux during a session of the Global Business Forum on Wednesday. Addressing the weekly forum of local CEOs and leaders from various fields, the diplomat touched upon a wide array of pressing issues — from Germany’s energy revolution and the rise of artificial intelligence to demographic shifts and global security, as he emphasized the need for innovation and international col

Social Affairs Oct. 3, 2024

The number of gig workers -- including platform workers, freelancers and independent contractors -- surged by over 2.3 million in the last five years, with the highest increases seen among younger and older people, a lawmaker said Tuesday. According to Rep. Choi Ki-sang of the Democratic Party of Korea, citing data from the National Tax Service, the number of gig workers increased from 6 million in 2018 to 8.3 million in 2022, marking a rise of 2.33 million -- a jump of 38.6 percent. Gig worker

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2024

Seven out of ten Korean children are found to be short-sighted as myopia among children is rising at an alarming rate worldwide, according to a recent study cited by the BBC. In the study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, a research team from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China, reviewed government data on over 5 million children and teenagers until June 2023 from 50 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania. According to the researc

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2024

Park In-soon can never forget August 2009. That was the month her son ended his life at 23 years old. Her son had been struggling with depression, but he had told her that he was feeling better. But two months after he stopped taking his medication, he took his own life. For Park, the news of his death felt like receiving a life sentence. She could not sleep. All she wanted was to follow him in death. Several weeks later, she got into a car accident, while driving home from a sunrise service a

Hashtag Korea Sept. 26, 2024

In a country grappling with the world’s lowest fertility rate of 0.72, the arrival of quintuplets to a couple last week has become national news, generating a flurry of articles. On Tuesday, the focus shifted to the sum of all government grants that the babies will be receiving -- totalling at least 170 million won ($128,000). Whether this is enough is now being hotly debated online. Kim Joon-young and Sagong Hye-ran from Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, welcomed three boys and two girls

Social Affairs Sept. 24, 2024

Over three days of relentless downpours, 1,500 people across the nation were forced to evacuate as heavy rains wreaked havoc on homes, roads and infrastructure. Heavy rain from Thursday afternoon to Saturday began from Jeju Island and along the southern coast, before spreading across the nation. Along the southern and western coasts, heavy rain fell at a rate of about 100 millimeters per hour, while southern regions and the North and South Chungcheong provinces experienced 50-80 millimeters pe

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2024

The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea is nearing 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with around 9.1 million visitors from January to July this year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. As travel recovers, more tourists are opting to explore the country by train or rental car. The number of foreign tourists using trains surged by 50.2 percent year-over-year, with 2.32 million travelers opting for the rail network. Popular destinations include Busan, Daegu and Gyeongju, wi

Social Affairs Sept. 13, 2024