Seoul to expand monthly transit pass to cover Hanam

People traveling from Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, by subway will be able to use “Climate Card” — Seoul’s monthly transit pass, starting from this weekend, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The Climate Card is a rechargeable monthly transit pass that offers unlimited access to public transportation within Seoul and select neighboring cities on the city’s outskirts. Starting Saturday, people can use the pass at four Hanam-based subway stops — Misa Station, Hanam Pungsan Station, Hanam

Aug. 5, 2025

Seoul to boost river bus connectivity

Seoul is working to improve access to the Hangang Bus and its docks by operating and establishing free shuttles and more public bike rental stations ahead of its official launch in September, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday. A pilot program for the city’s new waterborne public transportation system began in July and has since identified several areas that need to be upgraded or improved. In particular, limited transport connections to the stops was found to be a major shortcoming.

Aug. 4, 2025

Defining week ahead for ex-presidential couple

A defining week lies ahead for the special counsel team investigating former first lady Kim Keon Hee as it plans to make another attempt to execute the warrant to arrest jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol and bring him in for questioning, following Friday's failed attempt. The team also plans to summon the former first lady for questioning on Wednesday. Yoon, who was already detained as another special counsel investigates major charges that include abuse of power and production of false docu

Aug. 3, 2025

DP embraces new tariff deal, PPP expresses reservation

The Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday welcomed the country’s trade deal to set a 15 percent tariff with the United States in exchange for $450 billion of South Korean investment in the US and the purchase of American liquefied natural gas and other energy products. Rep. Kim Byung-kee, the floor leader of the ruling party, thanked President Lee Jae Myung and the government for “meaningful results” that meet people's expectations, adding that he would like to extend his gratitude to those in t

July 31, 2025

Joint probe to revisit Itaewon tragedy

South Korea’s Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday decided to launch a joint investigation team comprising the prosecution and police to probe the Itaewon crowd crush. The decision came two weeks after President Lee Jae Myung pledged to the bereaved families of victims in the Itaewon tragedy that he would form a separate task force to investigate the disaster, which claimed 159 lives during Halloween festivities in 2022. The joint investigation team is set to revisit the overall circumstance

July 30, 2025

Special counsel seeks warrant to arrest Yoon

A special counsel team investigating former first lady Kim Keon Hee applied for a warrant on Wednesday to arrest former President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he snubbed summons for questioning over his alleged illegal meddling in the 2022 by-elections. "We have repeatedly asked former President Yoon to appear for questioning scheduled at 10 a.m. today, but Yoon did not attend without any explanations," special prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee said during a regular press briefing. "It is why we have decided to f

July 30, 2025

Seoul to take down 59-year-old Seosomun Overpass next month

The Seosomun Overpass, once a driveway passing through the heart of Seoul, is slated for demolition over safety concerns. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it is scheduled to remove the flyover, located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, by gradually closing its roads starting from Aug. 17. According to the city government, one lane of the overpass connecting the City Hall and Chungjeongno Station of Line No. 2 will initially be closed. The opposite lane westward will subsequently be

July 29, 2025

Special counsel seeks warrant to detain former interior minister

The special counsel team investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol applied for a warrant to detain former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Monday, citing evidence-tampering concerns, the seriousness of the allegations and a risk of repeated offenses. During a press briefing, assistant special prosecutor Park Ji-young said, “The special counsel filed a request for a detention warrant for the former Interior Minister Lee on suspicion of crimes including participation in insurrection, abuse of

July 28, 2025

Heat wave, tropical nights to persist

Heat waves and tropical nights are expected to continue across the country through July, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The degree of health risks posed by the heat wave in most parts of the country for Tuesday and Wednesday was forecast to be at the "warning" level, the third-highest in its four-tier system, according to the impact-based forecasts by the KMA on Monday morning. A "warning" level is declared when the highest apparent temperature is forecast to exceed 35 deg

July 28, 2025

Court orders Yoon to compensate 105 claimants for distress caused by martial law crisis

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday ruled that former President Yoon Suk Yeol pay a total of 10.5 million won ($7,597) combined to 105 citizens for causing them to suffer emotional distress due to the imposition of martial law. The ruling in the civil case was in favor of 105 citizens who filed a suit against Yoon, demanding that former president pay 100,000 won ($75.30) in compensation per person. “It is clear that the plaintiffs, who are members of the public, suffered pain expressed th

July 25, 2025