-
Ex-spy chief acknowledges Yoon's outburst during questioning in Marine death probe
Former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong has acknowledged former President Yoon Suk Yeol flew into a rage when he was briefed on the results of an initial probe into the death of a Marine in 2023, reversing his yearslong denial, legal sources said Wednesday. Cho made the admission during questioning by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team Tuesday as a suspect over allegations of government interference in the Marine Corps' investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun in
July 30, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon again fails to appear for special counsel questioning
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol again did not appear for questioning by a special counsel on Wednesday. Yoon, who is under arrest over his martial law attempt in December, was summoned to appear at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office by 10 a.m. to be questioned about his alleged meddling in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Yoon also snubbed the special counsel's earlier summons to appear for questioning Tuesday, citing his deteriorating health. (Yonhap)
July 30, 2025 -
Weather service says heat waves to become more severe
Heat waves gripping South Korea over the past weeks are expected to intensify in coming days, the state weather service said Wednesday, with daytime highs set to range from 32 C to 38 C nationwide. Seogwipo of the southern Jeju Island experienced a 15th consecutive tropical night Tuesday, while Seoul's tropical night entered the 10th consecutive day, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The heat waves will become more severe through this weekend and the temperatures will not cool down a
July 30, 2025 -
Drugs seizures jump ninefold in H1: customs
The amount of illegal drugs seized reached an all-time six-month high in the first half of the year, with international drug rings increasingly turning their eyes to Asia amid tightening border controls in the United States, the customs agency said Tuesday. South Korea cracked down on 617 trafficking cases involving a combined 2,680 kilograms of illegal substances in the January-June period, according to the Korea Customs Service. The number of cases increased by 70 percent from the same period
July 29, 2025 -
South Korea aims to make preschool free for all children by 2027
South Korea will begin offering free education and child care to all 5-year-olds by subsidizing preschool institutions from July, as a step toward the government's plan to make preschool education universally accessible by 2027. The Ministry of Education announced Tuesday that the Cabinet had approved a 128.9 billion won ($92.6 million) allocation for the second half of the year. It aims to support approximately 278,000 children aged 5 who are enrolled in either kindergartens or day care centers
July 29, 2025 -
South Korea's population stagnates despite number of foreign residents topping 2 million
South Korea's population showed almost no growth in 2024, as an increase in foreign residents was offset by a continued decline in the number of Korean nationals, according to government data released Tuesday. The data also highlighted the country's aging population, with nearly 1 in 5 South Koreans now aged 65 or older. In its annual census data, Statistics Korea reported that the total population reached 51.8 million as of Nov. 1, 2024. This was an increase of just 31,000 from the previous yea
July 29, 2025 -
Mother reunited with daughter 54 years after she went missing
A 61-year-old woman who went missing over half a century ago has been reunited with her mother, who never gave up hope of finding her, according to local police Tuesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Tuesday shared the story of the woman surnamed Jo, who vanished in August 1971 at the age of 7 while traveling by bus to her aunt’s house in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Jo's mother, surnamed Jang, only learned of her daughter's disappearance after her sister -- Jo's aunt -- told her in person
July 29, 2025 -
Off-duty fireman puts out restaurant fire
A firefighter with nearly 30 years of experience recently extinguished a fire at a restaurant he was visiting while on vacation. Fire Capt. Gwon Chan-ju of the Pocheon Fire Station was leaving a restaurant in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, at around 8 p.m. on Saturday when he heard a popping noise and saw smoke coming from the building, according to local media reports. He immediately reported the fire to the 119 emergency services before picking up a fire extinguisher to contain the flames. Gwon al
July 29, 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 -
HPV-linked throat cancer on the rise among Korean men
Throat cancers linked to the human papillomavirus are on the rise among South Korean men, according to a local expert on Tuesday. Park Jun-wook, a head and neck cancer specialist at the Catholic University of Korea’s Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, said the rising trend underscores the importance of raising awareness about HPV-related cancers and the need for vaccination among men. HPV is widely known as the leading cause of cervical cancer, and in Korea, the HPV vaccine has traditionally been consid
July 29, 2025 -
Campaign to call migrant workers by name spreads in southwest
Regions across the southern part of Korea are joining a growing campaign to encourage calling migrant workers by their names, rather than using disrespectful terms such as “ya” (hey). The campaign is part of broader efforts to promote a culture of respect toward residents with diverse ethnic backgrounds. The initiative was launched by the Jeollanamdo Contingent Workers Center, a human rights group based in South Jeolla Province. Since last year, the center has worked with local corporations and
July 29, 2025 -
Mother letting child sit in driver’s seat sparks backlash in Korea
A photo of a young boy sitting in the driver’s seat of a car stopped at a traffic light has sparked controversy online in South Korea, local media reported Tuesday. According to reports, a post titled “(My boy) really likes to take the wheel” appeared Saturday on a large online community for mothers. It featured a photo of a boy, estimated to be under 10 years old, holding the steering wheel while seated in the driver’s seat. Though the car was at a stop, the gear was in drive. “He’s a boy, so h
July 29, 2025 -
Migrant soldier claims racism in the barracks
A conscripted soldier of the South Korean Army says he was the victim of racially charged bullying, leading to an official military police investigation, according to local media reports on Monday. The 22-year-old soldier jumped from the second floor of his barracks in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 23. While receiving treatment at the military hospital, he made the complaint to his superiors. Born to a Chinese father and a mother who defected from North Korea, the soldier was born in China
July 29, 2025 -
Govt. to launch online portal to support families of Jeju Air crash victims
The government plans to begin trial operations of an online portal to offer support for the families of victims of the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport late last year, according to officials Tuesday. The portal, at 1229familysupport.kr, will offer centralized information on government support measures and facilitate communication between authorities and bereaved families starting Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It was developed in con
July 29, 2025 -
Woman stabbed in parking lot, attacker caught by civilians
A woman in her 20s was severely injured in a stabbing attack in an Ulsan parking lot on Monday, after which the attacker tried to escape by car but was thwarted by the collective effort of people at the scene. The suspect, in his 30s, is currently under investigation by the Ulsan Bukbu Police Station for the attack, which took place at a hospital parking lot at around 3:38 p.m. on Monday. The victim sustained severe injuries and had yet to regain consciousness as of Tuesday morning. A group of p
July 29, 2025