In yet another stark reminder of South Korea's escalating drug problem, Seoul Bangbae Police arrested a woman in her 40s on Nov. 2 for drug use -- under rather unusual circumstances caught on police camera. The incident began as a minor traffic mishap in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The woman, driving a white vehicle, was involved in what initially appeared to be a routine fender bender. Her behavior at the scene quickly raised suspicions, however. Footage from the patrol car's dashcam shows the

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2023

A man in his 30s has been shot dead by a hunter who reportedly mistook the victim for a boar, police in Okcheon North Chungcheong Province, confirmed Sunday. The case is the latest gun-related accident to occur in South Korea, despite the country's strict gun control laws. According to Okcheon Police, a 60-year-old suspect is under investigation for fatally shooting a man who was catching crayfish in a nearby stream. The suspect, a registered hunter, claims to have mistaken the victim for a

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2023

A concerning trend in South Korea's public health profile emerged in recent data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a research arm of the Health Ministry. According to the report, made public Oct. 18, 32.5 percent of Korean adults were classified as either overweight or obese with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or above in 2022, increasing by a third from a decade before when the figure stood at 24.5 percent. Although nearly 1 in 3 South Koreans are now classified as

Social Affairs Nov. 18, 2023

Yeoju Police Station confirmed Tuesday the arrest of 10 individuals linked to the discovery of over 100 animal carcasses on a local property. The investigation, initiated in April after a report from South Korean animal rights group LIFE, uncovered 118 bodies — 86 dogs and 32 cats — in a state of severe malnutrition. The harrowing scene of the exhumation sparked outrage after being featured on an animal TV show in May, prompting 31,400 people to sign an online petition demanding just

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2023

Weeks have passed since South Korea began grappling with a widespread bedbug outbreak. In response, its central and regional governments have scrambled to launch a four-week campaign beginning Monday, to inspect and disinfect vulnerable facilities and high-risk public spaces. Despite these measures, fear continues to ride high. People are now jumping into action, with some taking measures to map infestations so that the public can be aware of them. In a tech-savvy approach reminiscent of crowdso

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2023

Korea's National Assembly on Friday took a significant step in addressing the evolving landscape of liquor sales with its inaugural "National Assembly Discussion Forum on Invigorating e-Commerce for Liquor." Hosted by Rep. Choi Seung-Jae of the People Power Party and organized by the Asia Pacific International Spirits and Wines Alliance, the event marked the first-ever discussion in the National Assembly on the topic of online liquor sales, attracting attention from both domestic

Industry Nov. 10, 2023

Recent reports of bedbug infestations in various public spaces, including a university dormitory, low-cost apartments, and saunas, have raised alarms of an impending nationwide outbreak across South Korea, prompting the government to launch a multi-agency task force on Tuesday. But, it turns out bedbugs are causing more than just itchy bites -- they're now making waves in the South Korean stock market, as savvy investors are bullish on pesticide manufacturers. On Tuesday, agrochemical compa

Market Nov. 8, 2023

South Korea is issuing an additional 12,900 E-9 visas for nonskilled foreign workers, the Ministry of Labor and Employment announced Monday, in the latest move to address the deepening labor shortage spurred by the country's demographic collapse. The newly issued visas will be distributed across sectors in need: 5,000 in manufacturing, 4,000 in agriculture and 2,500 in the services sector, as outlined in the announcement. Depending on industry demand, the ministry said it plans to add anoth

Social Affairs Nov. 6, 2023

In South Korea, where all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military, a new measure will soon require all enlistees to undergo drug testing during physical exams. On Thursday, the National Defense Committee, a parliamentary subcommittee overseeing military affairs, approved a bill mandating drug tests for all new service members. The bill will now head to the full parliament for a vote, pending judiciary committee review. Until now, the South Korean military conducted drug tests selec

Social Affairs Nov. 2, 2023

Officials in Bundang Police Station confirmed on Tuesday that they apprehended a teenage boy in connection with a fatal stabbing incident involving another teenager, a girl he reportedly met through an online chatting app. The incident occurred in the early hours of Oct. 27, at an apartment located in the suburban neighborhood of Bundang in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The two teenagers reportedly had an altercation while drinking together at the victim’s residence, ultimately leading to t

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2023

Daiso, a discount store in Korea known for its wide selection of homeware goods, is recalling 53,000 pairs of plastic shower shoes that contain potentially dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, a government-affiliated body under the Trade Ministry, announced Sunday. Available in retail stores since October 2022, the sandals were found to contain excessive levels of lead, cadmium and phthalate, a substance used to increase plastic durability. All thre

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2023

Earlier in March, citizens in Seoul witnessed the surreal sight of a distraught zebra wandering around the streets of the capital. A heartbreaking story later came to light that the two-year-old zebra, named Sero, had been suffering immensely after losing both his parents within two years. In another blow for Sero, the Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo announced on Tuesday the death of Coco, Sero's only partner since June 2022, due to complications related to her pregnancy. She was 17 mo

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2023

Students at several colleges in and around Seoul found themselves embroiled in intrigue when they stumbled upon mysterious business cards scattered across campuses last week, sparking a flurry of concern across the country. These cards, written in English and predominantly found near the schools' art departments, curiously touted "totally legal" liquid cannabis, promising "inspiration … more than fifty times high." Each card's backside featured a QR code shap

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2023

Sannakji -- octopus seasoned with salt and sesame oil and served while still squirming – is among South Korea's most notorious delicacies. The local dish shot to global infamy thanks to an iconic scene from 2004's "Oldboy," where Choi Min-sik's character devours a whole wriggling octopus alive at a sushi bar. Numerous videos on YouTube show fearless foreign tourists trying sannakji in Korea’s local fish markets, highlighting the cuisine’s enduring cult

Social Affairs Oct. 24, 2023

Stomach cancer is especially common among Koreans, with data from the National Cancer Center of Korea identifying it as the most common type of cancer in the country from 1999 to 2018. Although Korea reports a lower overall cancer incidence rate compared to the US and UK, its rate of stomach cancer is nearly 10 times higher. Looking to find potential reasons why, a new study led by Dr. Choi Kui-son of the National Cancer Center of Korea has found a lack of exercise to be the most common risk fac

Social Affairs Oct. 21, 2023