The Korea Herald

Failed vote to impact national politics

PoliticsAug 24, 2011

The conservatives’ defeat in Wednesday’s school meals referendum in Seoul is expected to have a sizable impact on national politics in the run-up to major elections next year, political analysts said. Hong Joon-pyo (left), chairman of the ruling Grand National Party, holds a press conference a
Districts, age groups show turnout disparity

PoliticsAug 24, 2011

Voters in Seoul’s three affluent districts ― Seocho, Gangnam and Songpa ― turned out at polling stations in large numbers, but not enough to salvage beleaguered mayor Oh Se-hoon.At Wednesday’s referendum on free school meals, the three districts reported the largest voter turnouts, with Seocho marki
Oh’s free meal referendum fails

Social affairsAug 24, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon lost a politically charged referendum on whether to give free lunches to all students or only to poor students Wednesday as voter turnout was too low for the vote to be valid.A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Seoul on Wednesday, as the capital holds its first-ev
North Korea agrees to rejoin six-nation talks: Russia

North KoreaAug 24, 2011

Pyongyang expresses support for gas pipeline in summit talksNorth Korea agreed to “unconditionally rejoin” the stalled six-nation talks aimed at resolving its nuclear standoff during a summit meeting between its leader Kim Jong-il and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for
DP boycotts FTA hearing as GNP plans passage

PoliticsAug 24, 2011

By Bae Hyun-jungParties are again at odds over the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade bill, despite their hard-reached agreement last week to hold a public hearing on the issue.The parliamentary foreign affairs committee held a public hearing on Wednesday on measures to prevent harm to the lo
Wages rise 5.2% this year

Social affairsAug 24, 2011

By Lee Sun-youngKorean workers saw their salaries rise by an average of 5.2 percent this year, slightly higher than a year earlier, government data showed Wednesday. According to the Labor Ministry, this year’s average is 0.6 percentage point higher than in 2010, when the figure stood at 4.6 percent
Ministry to scrap direct election of public univ. heads

Social affairsAug 24, 2011

By Lee Woo-young The Education Ministry will ask public universities to phase out presidential elections and require presidents to specify school development goals. Under the university reform measures suggested by an experts’ panel formed amid rising calls for tuition fee cuts, national and public
Battle for Somali famine aid

Aug 24, 2011

A Feed Somalia Fundraiser is to see Seoul Emcees battle it out to raise funds to help starving people in Somalia this weekend. The 5,000 won cover fee and any other donations during the night to be held at Itaewon’s Rocks Mountain Tavern on Friday from 11 p.m. will go toward a Canadian aid agency he
Study N.K. books in Seoul

Aug 24, 2011

A club looking at literature on North Korea is to discuss two landmark books on the country until October. The JFNK Book Club will discuss each book on alternate Saturdays. The group started “North Korea Through the Looking Glass” by Oh Kong Dan and Ralph C. Hassig on Saturday, Aug. 20 and will cont
Giving laughs at Itaewon gig

Aug 24, 2011

A Seoul comedy group is inviting people to chuckle for charity at a gig in Itaewon this weekend. Seoul City Improv is to host a comedy night at Roofers Bar on Saturday, with all proceeds going to help underprivileged kids’ education in Korea. The comedy night to start at 9 p.m. includes “Whose Line
Ulsan party for abandoned pets

Aug 24, 2011

A fund-raising party is being held in Ulsan on Saturday Sept. 3. in aid of Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary. The event is to start at 7 p.m. at Cima Bar in Ulsan. There will be a BBQ from 8 p.m. with games and activities to raise cash for the organization’s new animal home. BAPS needs money for its rel
Mime cycles for orphans

Aug 24, 2011

A Korean man has cycled his way around the country dressed as a clown to buy bikes for underprivileged children. Woo Keun-chul made the circuit from Seoul to Busan and back again wearing pantomime makeup to raise cash from July 17 to Aug. 19. Woo Keun-chul on his trip around Korea. (Woo Keun-ch
Call to help homeless at Suwon

Aug 24, 2011

Volunteers are being sought for a new project to help homeless people in Suwon, following rough sleepers’ eviction from Seoul Station. PLUR volunteer group fears that more homeless people are beginning to sleep rough around the Suwon Station area following moves to clear them from the capital.
Tears replace fears on return to Korea

Aug 24, 2011

By Kirsty Taylor Overseas adoptees can often find returning to Korea an overwhelming journey full of mixed emotions. But American adoptee Liz Dewart could only beam as she told of a twist to her return to her motherland, as the woman she was unexpectedly reunited with struggled to hold back the tear
Girl commits suicide after being assigned to different school from her friends

Social affairsAug 24, 2011

A 17-year-old in Daejeon committed suicide at her apartment on Tuesday afternoon.She was discovered by her neighbor. Although the student was taken to a hospital, she was pronounced dead soon after.The anonymous teenager left a message in her room which reads “I don’t want to go to school.” Investig