Articles by Jung Min-kyung
Jung Min-kyung
mkjung@heraldcorp.com-
‘Korea could go extinct without proper immigration policy’: minister
South Korea has reached a point where accepting more immigrants under a solid policy is no longer a choice, but a necessity because the country could face extinction without it, the justice minister said Wednesday. “We have already surpassed the phase of contemplating whether or not to adopt immigration policies,” Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said during a ruling party policy meeting held at the National Assembly. “Korea faces the fate of becoming extinct due to a population
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2023
-
Passengers file complaints over burning smell on Gimpo Goldline
Several passengers commuting on a subway line connecting Seoul with its western satellite city of Gimpo expressed concern after they detected a burning smell on Wednesday. The subway lines’ operator, Seoul Metro, said it had received a total of three complaints of a burning smell between Pungmu Station and Gimpo International Airport Station at around 7:50 a.m. The operator said it immediately launched an investigation into the matter. A passenger told local media that “a burning rub
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2023
-
6 outgoing ministers ‘strong candidates’ for general elections: ruling party
Six soon-to-be ex-ministers from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Cabinet have been identified as “strong candidates” to represent the ruling party in the 2024 general elections, a party spokesperson said Tuesday. “The six soon-to-be ex-ministers, including Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, are currently being considered as strong candidates to represent our party for the parliamentary elections slated for April next year,” a spokesperson for
Politics Dec. 5, 2023
-
Bills, budget plan left in limbo ahead of elections
Several key bills aimed to provide stronger social safety nets and confirm next year’s budget plan were stuck in limbo as of Monday, as rival parties continued to lock horns ahead of the general elections in April. With less than a week remaining for the plenary session of the 21st National Assembly, observers expressed concern that the bills could be scrapped altogether, with the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea remaining in a standoff. "We
Politics Dec. 4, 2023
-
Yoon vetoes contentious pro-labor, broadcasting bills
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday vetoed a new pro-labor bill and three broadcasting law revisions passed by parliament last month. Yoon's decision came mere hours after the Cabinet officially filed a request for him to reject the bills that were unilaterally passed by the National Assembly on Nov. 9, despite the ruling People Power Party’s strong opposition. The opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, currently holds the controlling majority of se
Politics Dec. 1, 2023
-
Yoon accepts broadcasting watchdog chief's resignation ahead of impeachment motion
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday granted his approval for the resignation offered by the state broadcasting watchdog chief, effectively derailing the main opposition party's plans to proceed with an impeachment motion originally scheduled for later in the day. Yoon's approval followed a surprising turn of events, when Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-kwan reportedly submitted his resignation to Yoon late Thursday. "President Yoon has approved KCC Chairman Lee Don
Politics Dec. 1, 2023
-
4.0 magnitude earthquake rattles Gyeongju, wakes Korea up
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit the southeastern city of Gyeongju at 4:55 a.m. on Thursday, the state weather agency said, prompting mobile phones across Korea to blare en masse from the emergency text alert. No damage has been reported as of Thursday afternoon. The second-strongest quake to hit Korea this year struck the historical city of Gyeongju, located 277 kilometers southeast of Seoul in the wee hours of the morning. The quake's depth was measured at a shallow 12 kilometers and it was
Social Affairs Nov. 30, 2023
-
Labor unions slam government efforts to attract more foreign workers
Two major umbrella unions in South Korea on Tuesday criticized the government’s latest efforts to bring more foreign workers into the country, saying that it should prioritize the “employment of Korean citizens.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, which have an estimated 110,000 members combined, released separate statements protesting the government’s plan to increase the quota or E-9 visas for unskilled foreign workers. &
Social Affairs Nov. 28, 2023
-
Korea to start hiring E-9 visa foreign workers in restaurants
Unskilled foreign workers will be allowed to work in restaurants across South Korea starting next year, as the government plans to increase the quota for E-9 visas, officials said Monday. The plan, however, will remain in test trial until further confirmation. “Korean restaurants in 100 areas across the country (including Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Incheon) will be allowed to hire unskilled foreign workers as employees (starting next year) as a test trial,” Ministry of Employment and La
Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2023
-
[Korean History] In 2008, Korea's National Treasure No. 1 went down in flames
South Korea stopped assigning numbers to its national treasures a few years ago, but for many, the expression National Treasure No. 1 still remains synonymous with Namdaemun, or Sungnyemun by its official name. So when this gate from the 14th century burned down one night in 2008, the shock was indescribable, akin to what the French people might have gone through during the 2019 blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral. Koreans watched helplessly on TV as the wooden pagoda atop the arch-shaped stone gate b
Social Affairs Nov. 23, 2023
-
Cemeteries, columbariums reinvent themselves as sanctuaries for the living
Cemeteries and columbariums in South Korea evoke images of sorrowful families and friends mourning the loss of loved ones. With their rows of urns in glass cabinets, columbariums, in particular, are the last place anyone wishes to visit unless compelled to by the loss of someone dear to them. Called “memorial parks,” the solemn atmosphere of these facilities makes them an unwanted addition to a neighborhood in South Korea, where property prices are a key concern. But from about a dec
Culture Nov. 21, 2023
-
Multicultural educator Min Byoung-chul paints his road to success in new book
Min Byoung-chul, widely known as a multicultural educator and for his practical English teaching, released his autobiography on Tuesday. Written in Korean, the book, “Solid Success Comes from a Chance Encounter," describes over 60 chapters how crossing paths with strangers in life led him to new opportunities. It expands on his interview in January this year on tvN talk show “You Quiz on the Block,” hosted by comedian duo Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho. The last chapter of t
Books Nov. 14, 2023
-
Winter camping alert: 5 dead over weekend apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning
A total of five campers were found dead in South Korea over the weekend, apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning, as they fell victim to an invisible killer lurking when camping in winter, officials said Monday. The dead bodies of two separate families were discovered at different campsites with signs of having used charcoal grills or heaters inside zipped-up tents, according to the emergency authorities. The first group of victims consisted of a 63-year-old man, his 58-year-old wife and t
Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2023
-
SK Chairman, estranged wife lock horns in divorce battle
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won hit back at his estranged wife Sunday, accusing her of deliberately stirring the pot to get the upper hand in their ongoing divorce settlement litigation. In a statement released through his lawyer, Chey said that their marriage was broken long before he started dating his current partner. “We’ve been a wife and husband merely on paper for decades,” stressed the tycoon, who had a child out of wedlock in 2015 with his current partner, Kim Hee-young
Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2023
-
[Korean History] In 2004, serial murderer with goal to kill 100 was stopped at 20
In the summer of 2004, South Korea was jolted by one of the most gruesome crime stories the country had ever witnessed. Driven by hatred for the rich and women, Yoo Young-chul committed 20 murders before he was apprehended, a fraction of his self-imposed mission to kill 100. The serial killer’s dramatic capture, along with shocking details of his crimes, which involved claims of cannibalism and dismemberment, left a lasting impact on the nation’s collective memory. The chilling sag
Social Affairs Nov. 8, 2023
Most Popular
-
1
Korean labor force to shrink by 10 million by 2044: report
-
2
[AtoZ Korean Mind] Does your job define who you are? Should it?
-
3
Allegations surrounding BTS resurface, enraged fans demand apology
-
4
Students with history of violence will be barred from becoming teachers
-
5
Top prosecutor pledges 'speedy, strict' probe into first lady's luxury bag allegations
-
6
Medical feud leaves hospitals in financial crisis
-
7
Samsung mocks Apple over iPhone alarm glitch
-
8
'Queen of Tears' riding high on Netflix chart
-
9
Chip up cycle won’t stay long: SK chief
-
10
Speaker floats dual citizenship as solution to falling births