Articles by Shin Ji-hye
Shin Ji-hye
shinjh@heraldcorp.com-
[Weekender] Behind the rise of unstaffed stores in Korea
Choi Seung-hoon, 32, a regular patron of self-service venues in Korea, recently broadened his experiences in unstaffed shops by purchasing a takeaway sashimi dinner set for one. “I usually eat alone,” he told The Korea Herald at Sea Fridge, an unmanned sashimi store near Sangwangsimni Station, central Seoul, as he looked through the glass refrigerator door at a selection of vacuum-packed, aged fish, mostly in packages with one or two servings. “I think this is good because I
Social Affairs Jan. 20, 2024
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Head of cooperative federation arrested for verbally, physically abusing employees
The head of the Sunjeong Livestock Cooperative Federation in Jeonbuk State was arrested by the police for verbally and physically abusing her employees, as well as unfair work practices and withholding wages, according to the police. Sunchang Police Station in Jeonbuk State said Friday in one incident, the chairperson, surnamed Koh, allegedly assaulted an employee three times at a funeral for joining a labor union. The head was also accused of assaulting other employees with her shoes reported
Social Affairs Jan. 19, 2024
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Dolphin calf entangled in net worries authorities
Authorities are deliberating about how to help a young, struggling dolphin whose tail has been entangled in a discarded fishing net for months. The calf, presumed to be under one year of age, was first spotted swimming with its tail entangled in the net in November last year by researchers from Jeju National University. It was seen again last week, still with its tail in the net, in waters off Seogwipo City. Professor Kim Byung-yeop who leads Jeju National University’s dolphin research t
Social Affairs Jan. 18, 2024
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Europe winds down adoptions from South Korea
Northern European countries are scaling back their long-standing overseas adoption programs following reports of illegal practices, a move that will likely impact South Korea, one of the leading countries in sending babies abroad for adoption. Norway is contemplating a temporary suspension of all international adoptions after local news outlet Verdens Gang exposed illegalities and corruption in the process of bringing in foreign-born babies to be adopted by Norwegian families. The primary coun
Social Affairs Jan. 18, 2024
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Koreans see home as sanctuary for peace, solitude, rather than family fun: survey
When South Koreans think of the ideal home, they envision it to be a sanctuary for relaxation and peace, favoring personal solitude over family bonding time, according to a global survey by Ikea. According to the Swedish furniture giant’s annual Ikea Life at Home Report 2023, released globally last week, 58 percent of the respondents of Korean nationality consider their ideal home to be a place where they can relax and unwind comfortably, a figure notably higher than the global average o
Social Affairs Jan. 16, 2024
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South Korea officially adopts body camera for police officers
South Korea will officially adopt body cameras for police officers to better manage violent crimes, as well as stipulate measures to ensure the protection of personal information. According to the National Assembly and the National Police Agency on Sunday, a partial revision to the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers recently passed the plenary session of the National Assembly. The revision sets out the basis for the legal introduction of body cameras and specific standards for
Social Affairs Jan. 14, 2024
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Late Chun’s 5.5 billion won in assets to be confiscated, overdue fines down to 86.7 billion won
The unpaid fines of former President Chun Doo-hwan, who died in November 2021, are likely to be set at 86.7 billion won ($66.2 million), following a lawsuit that enabled authorities to confiscate an additional 5.5 billion won, marking the final indemnity payment from the former dictator. This would bring the total collected fines to 132.72 billion won out of the 220.5 billion won imposed in relation to his 1997 conviction for rebellion and bribery. Local media outlets and legal sources reporte
Politics Jan. 4, 2024
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[LLG] It's complicated: Our love-hate relationship with Seoul
It is the pulsating heart of everything – from business and fashion trends to education and culture. Seoul's dynamic energy is infectious, drawing people from all corners of the country and beyond. Yet, the city is also a place where life is often consumed like a commodity, where the pace of life operates in overdrive. We asked nine people whose lives have intersected with the city what Seoul meant to them. A family’s ticket to wealth Kim Hee-yong’s move to Seoul 1 1/2
Hashtag Korea Jan. 2, 2024
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Nearly 30% of married female migrants experience depression
Nearly 30 percent of female marriage migrants in South Korea reported experiencing depression, nearly double the rate observed among married Korean women, according to a recent government report. The study, released on Monday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, revealed that 27.4 percent of married female immigrants reported experiencing depression, almost double the 14.1 percent observed among their Korean counterparts. As it pertains to the study, the term "experiencing
Social Affairs Jan. 1, 2024
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[KH Explains] An extra day is not necessarily a bonus
As the year 2024 approaches, people around the world are gearing up for a leap year, but not everyone will be welcoming the extra day. The concept of a leap year arises from the fact that a year in the international solar calendar is not exactly 365 days long. Instead, it consists of 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. To account for this extra time, we add an extra day to our calendars every four years. This additional day is what gives us a leap year, complete with the leap day Fe
Social Affairs Dec. 31, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Young leaders of Korea, Indonesia ask: How can we help each other?
In South Korea, concern over a looming demographic crisis is escalating, as the rapid aging of the population is feared to sap the vitality of what was once a dynamic society. From an Indonesian perspective, the country has something to offer: its abundant young workforce. Young leaders of Korea and Indonesia who are part of the nonprofit and nongovernmental organization Junior Chamber International have been exploring such opportunities. “If Korean companies have problems in hiring new,
Social Affairs Dec. 25, 2023
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Wage gap between small and large firms persist as youth avoid jobs at SMEs: data
South Korean young adults are avoiding jobs at small firms due to low compensation, as the wage gap between small and large companies has been at nearly double for several years, data showed on Thursday. A survey conducted by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, involving 1,000 young people between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1, revealed that the average expected monthly salary among individuals employed at SMEs was 3.23 million won ($2,490). The most expected salary range, chosen by 40.7 per
Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2023
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Korea increases monitoring personnel for stalkers
South Korea’s Justice Ministry is set to increase the number of personnel in charge of monitoring stalkers. As the revision of the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes takes effect next month, individuals convicted of stalking will be required to wear electronic ankle monitors. To manage and supervise this system, the Justice Ministry and probation offices will add 21 people to their staff. According to the revision, if a stalker approaches the victim within a specified distance, the v
Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2023
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Tales of hard work, dashed dreams and disillusionment
In her teens and early 20s, Park Jung-mi (not her real name) viewed herself as an achiever, even if she wasn't one of the highest fliers. In high school, she studied until late into the night on a near-daily basis, aiming for admission to a prestigious university. After successfully getting into one of the top 10 universities here, she maintained her commitment to hard work and self-discipline, graduating with an average GPA above 4 out of 4.5. But from then on, life has been disappointing.
Social Affairs Dec. 10, 2023
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[Photo News] Korean delegation advocates for climate action in Dubai
The Korean delegation at COP28, consisting of representatives from groups Greenfund and Jeski Social Campaign along with climate and environmental activists and experts, said Friday that they held a performance at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, calling for opposition to war and solutions to the climate crisis. (Jeski Social Campaign)
Social Affairs Dec. 8, 2023
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