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Supreme Court to deliver final verdict on Lee Jae-myung Thursday 3 p.m.
The Supreme Court of Korea announced Tuesday that it will deliver its verdict on Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case Thursday at 3 p.m. The Democratic Party of Korea presidential contender's ruling is set to come 10 days before the official presidential candidate registration deadline on May 11, which is earlier than many had anticipated. Lee’s case, which was initially assigned to a panel of four justices, was referred to the grand bench on April 22. Chief Justice Jo Hee-de had decided
April 29, 2025 -
Over half of single parents in bottom 20% income group: study
A substantial number of single parents in South Korea have low financial instability and far less time to spend with their children than two-parent households, a study by a state-funded research institute showed Tuesday. As of 2021, 31.4 percent of all households with one parent and at least one unmarried child were in the bottom 10 percent in terms of household income, according to research by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Another 20 percent were in the second-lowest bracke
April 29, 2025 -
Monthly rentals hit record 64.6% of Seoul housing leases as 'jeonse' system fades
Monthly rental contracts now make up nearly 65 percent of all new housing leases in Seoul, reaching a record high as South Korea’s traditional lump-sum rental system, "jeonse," continues to disappear. According to the latest data by the Supreme Court’s Integrated Registration Information System, Seoul registered 233,958 residential lease contracts between January and March this year. Of those, 151,095 — roughly 64.6 percent — were monthly rental deals, the highest share since data collection beg
April 29, 2025 -
Myung Tae-kyun investigated in election interference scandal
Myung Tae-kyun, accused of fabricating polls to influence the candidacies of conservative political figures, was summoned for questioning Tuesday morning, in a widening investigation into his alleged corrupt ties with the former presidential couple and current Seoul mayor. The pollster's summons to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office suggests the investigation into his alleged ties with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee is approa
April 29, 2025 -
Main blaze of Daegu wildfire extinguished after 23 hours
Fire authorities battling another wildfire in Daegu brought it under control around 1 p.m., Tuesday, 23 hours after the blaze was reported to have broken out. According to the Korea Forest Service, the fire, which began at 2:01 p.m. on Monday at Hamjisan, was declared to be largely extinguished on Tuesday, affecting 260 hectares of woodland -- equivalent to 364 soccer fields. Though no casualties have been reported so far, the blaze prompted the evacuation of some 2,000 residents in nearby areas
April 29, 2025 -
Fire agency aims for faster on-site dispatch times
The National Fire Agency announced a set of measures during a press briefing Tuesday to allow for quicker dispatch of fire authorities to sites needing urgent response nationwide, according to the “8-minute peak arrival theory.” Fire authorities in South Korea have referred to the 8-minute peak arrival theory for rapid response to sites where fires need to be distinguished over the last five years. According to the theory, it takes about eight minutes after a fire breaks out for all objects at t
April 29, 2025 -
Seoul subway fares to increase to 1,550 won starting June 28
The base fare for a subway ride in the Seoul area with a transportation card is scheduled to increase by 150 won ($0.10) to 1,550 won starting June 28, meaning a round-trip fare will exceed 3,000 won for the first time. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that the hike was confirmed by the local governments of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, and Korea Railroad Corp. on April 24. The subway fee adjustment marks the first fare hike in 18 months since the city increased the ba
April 29, 2025 -
In photos: Firefighters battle overnight to contain Daegu wildfire, now over 92% under control
A wildfire that broke out in Daegu on Monday was about 92 percent contained as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, local authorities said. No casualties have thus far been reported. The Korea Forest Service said firefighting crews worked through the night, deploying 53 helicopters, to bring the main blaze under control. A total of 1,551 personnel and over 400 pieces of equipment were mobilized for the effort. As the fire spread rapidly amid shifting winds on Monday night and early Tuesday, about 6,500 residents
April 29, 2025 -
'School was hard, I exploded' says high schooler responsible for stabbing rampage
A high school student who carried out a stabbing attack that injured seven people on Monday told police he committed the crime out of frustration over difficulties at school. "School life was difficult. I was holding it down, and I exploded," the 17-year-old suspect told investigators, according to officials at Heungdeok Police Station in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Authorities said Tuesday they are seeking an arrest warrant for the student on charges of attempted murder. Investigators
April 29, 2025 -
Wildfire in Daegu 92% contained: authorities
The containment rate of a wildfire in the southeastern city of Daegu that has spread for two days has risen to 92 percent, officials said Tuesday, as firefighters made all-out efforts to put out the main blaze. About 50 helicopters and 1,500 personnel were mobilized to contain the blaze that broke out Monday on Mount Hamji in northern Daegu, some 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Lim Ha-soo, a senior official at the Korea Forest Service, told reporters that it aims to extinguish the main blaze
April 29, 2025 -
FM Cho extends condolences over deadly vehicle attack at Vancouver festival
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday expressed deep condolences over a deadly vehicle attack during a cultural festival in Vancouver over the weekend that left multiple casualties. "My deepest condolences to those affected by the tragic incident at the Lapu-Lapu festival. We stand in solidarity with the people of Canada and the Filipino Community in Vancouver," Cho said in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The attack occurred on Saturday (local time) during the Lap
April 28, 2025 -
1,200 residents evacuated from Daegu wildfire
After South Korea battled the worst wildfire in its history in March, another wildfire in the southeastern city of Daegu spread fast Monday, forcing some 1,200 residents to evacuate. Authorities stated that the fire broke out at approximately 2 p.m. in Hamjisan, a mountain in the city’s central region. Forest authorities initially issued a Level 1 wildfire response, deploying 19 helicopters, 38 pieces of firefighting equipment and 165 firefighters. Thirty minutes later, the response was raised t
April 28, 2025 -
Human rights body not to attend LGBTQ+ festival, breaking 8-year streak
The National Human Rights Commission said Monday it will not attend this year's Seoul Queer Culture Festival, deciding to boycott invitation of both the largest LGBTQ+ festival in the country and the anti-homosexual rally on the same day. Organizers of the festival and the demonstration held by the Holy Korea — a Christian group opposing public display of same-sex relations — both invited the NHRC to their respective events in Seoul on June 14, according to the commission. The invitation sent by
April 28, 2025 -
Refusing surgery on HIV patient is discrimination
Refusing to conduct surgery based on a person's HIV status is an infringement on one's right to equality, the National Human Rights Commission said Monday. Recently, a petition was filed with the NHRC by a person who was turned down after trying to book surgery for cervical and spinal stenosis at a Seoul-based hospital. According to the hospital, its medical staff had decided that the patient's conditions did not require surgery, and recommended treatment at another hospital since none of the st
April 28, 2025 -
Fire in Daegu spreads toward villages
A fire on a mountain in Daegu began spreading toward nearby villages Monday, triggering the second-highest firefighting response. The blaze began around 2 p.m. on Mount Hamji in the city some 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul, prompting forest authorities to issue a Level 1 wildfire response involving 19 helicopters, 38 pieces of equipment and 165 personnel. The response level was later raised to Level 2 on a three-tier scale as strong winds fanned the flames. No casualties have been reported so
April 28, 2025