Radio communication exchanged between emergency rescue officers responding to the Oct. 29 Itaewon disaster was released Tuesday, revealing the chaotic situation that took place that tragic night. Rep. Lee Sung-man of the main opposition Democratic Party released the transcripts of the recordings he received from the Seoul Emergency Operations Center. It shows communication among the rescue officers sent after the initial citizen’s report to the 119 emergency center on 10:15 p.m., which is

Nam Hwa-yeong, Acting Commissioner General of the National Fire Agency It was a tragedy that should not have happened. Too many young lives were lost in the Itaewon disaster last month. With our deepest condolences to the victims and their families, the National Fire Agency commemorates the sixtieth National Fire Service Day with a very heavy heart. As the first line of support for citizens in danger, the weight of responsibility on our shoulders feels heavier than ever as we take another look a

The Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2023 will invite experts from Korea and abroad to discuss a master plan for restoring urban green spaces in the country’s capital city, the Seoul city government said Tuesday. At the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture, the Seoul city government on Monday held a pre-biennale under the title of “Land Architecture, Land Urbanism: City of Mountain Ranges, Waterways, and Wind Breezes -- Drawing of the Seoul’s Next 100 years.&rdquo

The special investigation division looking into the causes behind the recent Itaewon tragedy has narrowed its sights on top police figures, after President Yoon Suk-yeol slammed police leadership for their insufficient response on Monday. A special investigation team set up by the National Police Agency searched 55 sites related to the Itaewon disaster Tuesday, including the offices of Yoon Hee-keun, chief of the National Police Agency, Kim Kwang-ho, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Agency, and L

US denounces China, Russia for ‘shirking’ responsibilities as UNSC members in backing Pyongyang  

As the world watches the outcome of the US midterm elections, South Korean experts say the results will bring subtle changes for Korea. If the Republican Party prevails, President Joe Biden's economic policies with US allies may see subtle changes, but the US stance on North Korean issues is unlikely to change, experts say. South Korea is paying special attention to the US midterm elections over whether the result could affect some of the US’ economic policies such as the Inflatio

The Korea Herald signed a memorandum of understanding with El Salvador News(Noticiero El Salvador) to further boost South Korean and Salvadoran media ties. According to the memorandum, The Korea Herald and El Salvador News  would establish focal points for exchanging journalistic information and fact checking sources on topics of interest. The signing ceremony was held Friday at The Korea Herald headquarters with representatives of the Salvadoran government, including El Salvador&

Education minister highlights government initiatives to diversify education to create more learning opportunities

Amid criticism over wasted budget and inappropriate use of manpower, President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Kun-hee moved into the new official residence located in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Monday, six months after Yoon's inauguration. The presidential office said that Yoon and his wife moved from their private residence in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, to the Hannam-dong residence on Monday. It took nearly 10 minutes for the president to travel from his home in Seocho-dong to the pre

Online travel permit system making it harder to plan trips to Korea, critics say

The Thai Embassy and Siam Cement Group (SCG) presented collaboration opportunities and business openings to Korean companies at Plaza Hotel in Seoul on Thursday. SCG, Thailand's second-largest business conglomerate organized a business seminar and roadshow to strengthen Thailand-Korea economic ties for future collaborations. Aiming to forge relationships with Korean companies, SCG suggested potential areas of collaboration including smart buildings and smart cities, green construction solut

South Korea's new coronavirus cases swelled to over 60,000 on Tuesday, with a possible winter surge of the virus on the horizon. The country reported 62,273 new COVID-19 infections, including 52 from overseas, bringing the total to 25,919,183, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The figure compared with 58,363 cases a week ago, 43,741 two weeks ago and 15,465 four weeks ago, showing a sustained increase in infections. The average daily cases for the past seven days were 43

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo ordered the interior ministry Tuesday to double-check the country's anti-missile evacuation and other emergency response systems amid heightened tension in the wake of a series of North Korean missile launches. Han issued the order during a Cabinet meeting, saying there has been criticism of the government's air raid alert system when a North Korean missile flew across the inter-Korean sea border toward Ulleung Island last week before crashing near South Kor

North Korea's military said Tuesday it has never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia and has no plans to do so, accusing the United States of spreading "groundless" rumors aimed at tarnishing its image. In a statement issued by the vice director of the Military Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of National Defence the previous day, Pyongyang warned Washington against "persistently" coming up with such a "plot-breeding story." "We regard such moves of th

North Korea on Tuesday voiced "strong regret" that the head of the United Nations has denounced Pyongyang's recent barrage of missiles, according to its state media. Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement "strongly" condemning the North's missile launches, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and urged the reclusive country to immediately cease provocations. "I express strong regret at the fact that the UN secreta