On Tuesday afternoon, the typically tranquil atmosphere of the Seoul Metropolitan Library was transformed into an exuberant celebration. The library’s quiet reading rooms came alive with jazz music and animated discussions as bibliophiles gathered for the Novel Literature Festival Seoul 2024 in honor of author Han Kang. The festival, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korean Publishers Association, was a joyous celebration of Han Kang, who made history as the first Sout

Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

Amid growing concerns over escalating political and social turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of emergency martial law last week, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday that "Seoul is safe" and urged tourists to return, vowing to undertake efforts to ensure the safety of travelers. In a meeting held by Oh at Seoul City Hall, the mayor spoke with key stakeholders in the tourism sector, including representatives from the Seoul Tourism Organization, Korea As

Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

Protests against lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party have intensified following their collective boycott of the impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol. A number of citizens have voiced their anger by sending wreaths of white condolence flowers, throwing eggs at local offices, posting critical statements and even leaving knives outside lawmakers' homes. The backlash began after the impeachment motion against President Yoon was scrapped after ruling party lawmakers' wa

Social Affairs Dec. 10, 2024

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party have faced a barrage of protest text messages after an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was scrapped due to their decision to boycott the vote. PPP lawmakers have been struggling to deal with an endless stream of text messages, according to local reports, Monday. Some lawmakers have complained that their batteries don’t last more than two hours without a backup even with fully charged phones. Just before and after the impeachme

Social Affairs Dec. 9, 2024

South Korea is facing unprecedented political turmoil as the ruling People Power Party, led by its chair Han Dong-hoon, grapples with the exit strategy that would otherwise determine the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Amid the opposition Democratic Party of Korea's persistent push for Yoon's impeachment following allegations of insurrection, the conservative ruling bloc has now strategically shifted toward calls for Yoon's “orderly resignation,” arguing that this pat

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

Seoul faces the same controversy every Christmas: Should the Christmas tree at Seoul Plaza have a Christian cross at the top? The debate has resurfaced once again this year. The 19-meter tree, adorned with an illuminating cross, red ribbons and gift-shaped ornaments, will remain illuminated until Dec. 31, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. On Nov. 18, the lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree took place at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall. The event was attended by key figures i

Social Affairs Dec. 2, 2024

In the dark, early hours of Friday, as temperatures in Seoul dipped below freezing, a few passengers stood bundled in padded jackets, hands buried in their pockets. They were waiting for bus No. A160, the latest autonomous addition to Seoul's mass transportation system. Operating exclusively in the early morning hours, the bus leaves Dobongsan Station Metropolitan Transfer Center in northern Seoul at 3:30 a.m. to head for Yeongdeungpo Station. Still in the pilot phase, it makes the 50-kilom

Social Affairs Dec. 2, 2024

The revelation that actor Jung Woo-sung and model Moon Ga-bi, who are not married, have welcomed a child has captured widespread public attention, sparking speculation about whether the child will be given Jung’s or Moon’s surname and highlighting the legal intricacies involved. Jung confirmed on Nov. 24 that he is the father of Moon’s child, two days after Moon announced the birth on social media. While Jung pledged to "fulfill his responsibilities" as a father, he h

Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2024

Comic book cafes in Korea hold a cherished spot in many hearts, offering a nostalgic escape to the imaginative simplicity of childhood and a retreat from the stresses of adult life. Until the 1990s, before the advent of smartphones, comic book cafes were a haven for teenagers seeking entertainment and stress relief. While attention has shifted to multimedia on mobile devices, these cafes remain a haven for many and have evolved to cater to diverse interests. For some, comic book cafes offer esca

weekender Nov. 30, 2024

Seoul National University, South Korea's top university and the alma mater of President Yoon Suk Yeol, has joined a growing wave of calls for his resignation on Thursday, a movement that has been spreading across universities and the religious sector nationwide since late October. A total of 525 SNU professors held a press conference at the university's museum in Seoul on Thursday, announcing their participation in the movement of institutions issuing declaration spreading across the c

Social Affairs Nov. 29, 2024

The South Korean government will ease visa requirements for skilled workers, and partially lift hiring limits for foreign national workers in the construction industry, according to the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. Under what it has dubbed its “New Immigration Policy,” industries can propose bringing in foreign workers for specific needs, with requests assessed by government ministries and a committee of experts deciding on adjustments like workforce quotas. Changes will be made

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

Seoul City announced Monday that it has launched two urgent care clinics and four specialized clinics to address the challenges patients requiring urgent care for non-severe conditions face during nights and holidays. The centers are expected to alleviate patients' challenges accessing medical care after a prolonged standoff between the government and trainee doctors, according to city officials. The two urgent care clinics, one in Yangcheon-gu and the other one in Songpa-gu, are to treat n

Social Affairs Nov. 25, 2024

The Seoul Central District Court is set to rule Monday on perjury subornation charges against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party. The ruling of the first trial comes just 10 days after Lee received a suspended prison sentence in a separate trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, further compounding the legal challenges that could cost him his parliamentary seat and jeopardize his presidential aspirations. Prosecutors filed the perjury subornation case aga

Politics Nov. 24, 2024

Concerns over possible nationwide rail disruption grew as unionized workers announced Thursday that they would go on an indefinite general strike on Dec. 5 to demand a wage increase and a bigger workforce. If implemented, the strike is expected to affect the operations of high-speed KTX and other regular train services nationwide, as well as subway services in the capital area, including the operation of Subway Line Nos. 1, 3 and 4 and the Suin-Bundang line. The Korean Railway Workers' Unio

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2024

Disruptive noises from North Korean loudspeakers have caused residents near the inter-Korean border to suffer for months, with some complaining that their health has been compromised, according to local governments on Thursday. Data from a recent mental health assessment in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, has shown that 28 percent of the assessed residents are experiencing significant mental health concerns. Conducted by the city’s mental health welfare center from Aug. 8 to 14, it assessed 102

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2024