BUSAN -- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon called on the central government to decentralize authority and allocate more human resources to municipalities, enabling them to develop tailored strategies for addressing the population crisis and fostering future growth. “Korea’s chronic low growth and deepening polarization cannot be overcome with regional strategies that are centralized and standardized," he said Friday at a conference held by the Korean Political Science Association in Busan.

Social Affairs Aug. 23, 2024

South Korea has seen a surge in bee stings as subtropical wasps, such as Asian hornets, have gotten more active due to high temperatures, according to the National Fire Agency on Thursday. According to the fire agency’s data, the number of cases where patients had to be transported to emergency services due to bee stings reached up to 2,583 over June to July in 2024. On average, the fire agency had seen up to 42 reports made daily regarding bee stings. There has also been a 35.9 percent in

Social Affairs Aug. 22, 2024

Though Typhoon Jongdari weakened to a tropical depression late Tuesday evening, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday that rain will continue to fall, focusing on central regions of South Korea to Thursday. As of 9 p.m., Tuesday, Typhoon Jongdari weakened to a tropical depression 30 kilometers off the southeastern coast of Heuksando, South Jeolla Province, according to the KMA. The typhoon then passed by Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, at 3 a.m., before dissipating nearby

Social Affairs Aug. 21, 2024

A typhoon warning has been issued across Jeju Island as of 2 p.m., Tuesday, as the Korea Meteorological Administration expects Typhoon Jongdari to get close to the western coast of the island around 6 p.m. the same day. The KMA forecast heavy rain, ranging from 30 to 50 millimeters per hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, to fall on Jeju Island from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. Until Wednesday, the island can expect to see up to 30 to 80 mm of rain, while heavily hit areas such as

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2024

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will turn Gwanghwamun Square into a nationally symbolic space that represents free democracy and world peace, based on opinions and ideas submitted by civil society and experts. The city government’s recent announcement comes after its initial announcement on building a nationally symbolic space raised criticism and controversy two months ago. In late June, Oh made an announcement during a meeting with veterans of the 1950-53 Korean Wa

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2024

Typhoon Jongdari is slowly approaching South Korea, and it is expected to bring heavy rains accompanied by strong winds to the southern parts of the country, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Monday. The KMA said Typhoon Jongdari, the ninth typhoon of this year and the first typhoon to hit Korea this year, formed on the southwestern coast of Okinawa at 3 a.m., Monday, moving at a slow speed of 10 kilometers per hour. Typhoon Jongdari is expected to approach Jeju Island on T

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2024

Several proposed laws named after popular trot singer Kim Ho-joong to raise public awareness aim to prevent drunk drivers from evading punishment by obstructing accurate alcohol level readings, sparking intense debate in Korean society. Lawmakers who proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Act, being dubbed the “Anti-Kim Ho-joong Law” following the singer’s hit-and-run accident in May, have faced intense criticism from his fans, who have demanded the bills be opposed or withdra

Social Affairs Aug. 18, 2024

Seoul National University, South Korea's top-ranked university, has ignited debate with its decision to distribute stickers to students' parents. The SNU Foundation, the university's official fundraising organization, announced Wednesday that it will begin distributing stickers to display on one's car as souvenirs to students' parents who sign up to receive the foundation’s newsletters. The bumper stickers revealed by the foundation have four different designs, eac

Social Affairs Aug. 15, 2024

While Japan is grappling with record rainfall from Typhoon Maria and bracing for three more typhoons, South Korea is experiencing the opposite -- intense heat, heat wave warnings and tropical nights. In the past, after the roughly monthlong monsoon season in July, Korea would see heat waves last to mid-August, accompanied by typhoons and rain after, lowering overall temperatures to ease into fall. However, instead of typhoon warnings and heavy rain this year, Korea has seen more heat wave warn

Social Affairs Aug. 14, 2024

The number of COVID-19 cases is expected to reach its peak by the end of this month, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, vowing to expand its COVID-19 response team and implement stricter antivirus measures. As of the first week of August, the agency said up to 861 cases have been recorded at 220 major medical institutions around the country, a sixfold increase compared to the number of cases from July. “The surge could peak around the end of August, as contacts among peo

Social Affairs Aug. 13, 2024

The weather agency said Monday that it expects the current heat wave to continue at least until Aug. 22, with temperatures until then to record higher than usual. In the past, Korea saw the summer heat easing into fall weather after Aug. 15. However, due to the continued convergence of the Tibetan and North Pacific high-pressure systems over the Korean Peninsula, the Korea Meteorological Administration anticipates the current heat wave to last longer. Until Aug. 22, morning temperatures are expe

Social Affairs Aug. 12, 2024

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Friday new measures to prevent fires caused by overcharging electric vehicles, including banning EVs with over 90 percent battery levels from entering underground parking in residential buildings. The municipal government explained that electric vehicle fires can result from various factors, including external impacts and battery defects, with excessive charging also recognized as a significant cause. The policy comes a week after an Incheon incident w

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2024

Local training hospitals began announcing new recruitment notices for trainee doctors Friday, eight days after the Ministry of Health and Welfare called for additional recruitment notices due to low turnout during the initial recruitment round two weeks ago. The second round of recruitment for local training hospitals is scheduled to last until Aug. 14 for first-year resident doctors and until Aug. 16 for second to fourth-year resident doctors. The government plans to hold written examinations f

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2024

After Suga, a member of the K-pop group BTS, admitted Wednesday to drunk driving an electric scooter, concerns have been raised calling for stronger regulations and management of personal mobility devices. Oh Seo-yeon, a 28-year-old office worker based in Seoul, told The Korea Herald that she finds herself being extra cautious when walking around the city because of personal mobility devices like electric scooters or motorized bicycles. “There are countless times where I almost got run ove

Social Affairs Aug. 8, 2024

This July experienced the highest number of tropical nights for any July since weather records began in 1973, the Korea Meteorological Administration said last month. South Korea recorded an average of 8.8 tropical nights this July, a three-fold increase compared to the previous average of 2.8 days in past Julys, according to the KMA's monthly weather analysis report. Tropical nights refer to a phenomenon where the lowest temperature remains above 25 degrees Celsius between 6:01 p.m. the ni

Social Affairs Aug. 7, 2024