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

Independence activist groups, opposition boycott government-organized Liberation Day ceremony

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the Japanese defense minister's tribute at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which Seoul views as glorifying Japan's militaristic past, calling it an "anachronistic act" and unfathomable behavior. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's visit to the shrine in Tokyo occurred on the same day Korea commemorated its liberation from Japan’s illegal colonial rule, which lasted from 1910 to 1945. "Our gover

Sticking to preventive measures, testing for COVID-19 if signs appear could tame spread, experts say

A considerable number of South Koreans believe that sex-related conversations between romantic partners are necessary, a recent survey indicated. In a survey conducted by local matchmaker Duo with 500 unmarried men and women between ages 25 and 39, 69 percent of the respondents answered that such talks are essential in a romantic relationship. Of those responding such, 69 percent said it was because they believe sex is an area in which both sides should take efforts to adjust to the other. Twe

A police data showed that over 10,000 cases of obstruction of public duties occurred last year, the highest figure in the past five years. The provisional National Police Agency data for 2023 was 10,120 local media outlets reported Wednesday, citing a report compiled by Rep. Lee Dal-hee of the ruling People Power Party. There were 9,588 of such cases in 2019, 9,538 in 2020, 8,216 in 2021, and 9,569 in 2023. Obstruction of the performance of official duties, stipulated in the Article 136 of the C

An overwhelming majority of the counterfeit products seized by South Korean customs in the first half of this year were from China, Korea Customs Service data showed Thursday. From January to June, 93.4 billion won ($68.6 million) worth of fake goods were seized while being smuggled into the country. Imports from China accounted for 24 of the 34 cases, worth 78.1 billion won, according to the customs data in a report compiled by Rep. Park Seong-hoon of the ruling People Power Party. Most of th

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday paid his respects at the grave of former first lady Yook Young-su, the assassinated wife of ex-President Park Chung-hee, on the 50th anniversary of her death, the presidential office said. Yoon, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, visited the grave at Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul a day after making a phone call to former President Park Geun-hye, Yook's daughter, to express his condolences, according to presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-

Indian ambassador to Korea highlights strengthened partnership in Aug. 15 Liberation Day message

Independence activist groups and opposition parties were set to boycott the government's ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day on Thursday in protest over the appointment of a new president of the Independence Hall of Korea. The Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), a state-funded association of independence fighters and their descendants, has vowed to skip the ceremony and organize its own at Hyochang Park in central Seoul in protest of the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk, accu

The government will secure and distribute additional COVID-19 treatments before the end of this month to fight a resurgence of infections nationwide, a presidential official said Wednesday. South Korea has seen a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with virus hospitalizations at 220 major medical institutions nationwide having risen sixfold in a month to come to 861 as of the first week of August, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. "We

South Korea has governors of northern provinces, deemed its territory under Constitution

A Seoul bus driver is under investigation after a passenger was killed when the vehicle sped off before they had fully disembarked, police said Wednesday. The Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station have filed a case against the driver for professional negligence resulting in death for the fatal accident that occurred in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Monday. The victim, in her 80s, fell to the ground while disembarking when the vehicle began to move. She got caught in the rear wheel and was later pronounc

Country continues to seek heirs of more than 7,200 heroes

Thirty-two medical schools have requested from the government 4,301 additional faculty members over the next six years, in order to address an anticipated faculty shortage in light of the state's plan to expand the medical school enrollment quota across the country. The medical schools slated for a quota increase next year submitted their requests for the thousands of additional faculty members to the Education Ministry in March, according to the report compiled by Rep. Jin Sun-mi of the