Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday the government will actively provide mental health support to help heal the trauma in the wake of the deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon area. Bereaved families, injured people and ordinary citizens affected by the disaster, which left at least 155 people killed, will be subject to government-organized mental treatment programs, Han told a response meeting. "Not only bereaved families who were saddened by the accident, but also many people wh

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South Korea is wrapped in collective shock and grief from the unprecedented tragedy that took the lives of 155 people in a popular nightlife district in central Seoul. The number of deaths continued to rise, reaching 155 people with more than 149 injured on Monday. Twenty-six foreigners were among the dead. They are from Iran, China, the US, Japan, France, Australia, Norway, Vietnam, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Austria and Russia. The dead also included six teenagers. Police sai

At least 26 foreign nationals are among the 155 confirmed deaths from Saturday night's crowd crush that occurred amid Halloween celebrations in Seoul's Itaewon. According to authorities, foreign casualties stood at 26 as of Monday. They are from Iran, China, the US, Japan, France, Australia, Norway, Vietnam, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Austria and Russia. Foreign Minister Park Jin ordered officials to urgently notify relevant embassies in Seoul of the current status

The conflict between the minister of justice and the main opposition party took another turn on Thursday, with the minister openly demanding an apology over allegations raised against him. "As a victim of false news, I demand a sincere apology and responsible actions from the Democratic Party of Korea," Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said through a statement earlier in the day. Han was referring to claims made by the Democratic Party's Rep. Kim Eui-kyum that he and President Yoon

Jo Sang-jun, a deputy director of the National Intelligence Service known as a confidant of President Yoon Suk-yeol, has resigned from the post for health and personal reasons, the agency said Thursday, dismissing news reports linking his move with a possible internal rift over personnel affairs. Jo's resignation, tendered on Tuesday and accepted by Yoon the same day, had sparked rampant speculation on why he quit only a few months after assuming the job and just a day before he was due to atten

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Thursday that South Korea will increase its funding to help developing nations mitigate the impacts of climate change. South Korea "will strongly support developing nations' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to climate change," Han told a conference on sustainable dialogue in the pan-Pacific region. Han said South Korea will increase its overseas aid on climate finance and expand its funding for the Green Climate Fund, an inter

The government and the ruling People Power Party pledged Wednesday to significantly bolster efforts to tackle ever-growing drug use, officials said. The People Power Party and the government held a policy consultation meeting at the National Assembly and discussed various measures to prevent people from abusing substances and provide help to those suffering from drug addiction. "Our party and the government will put in all-out efforts to completely eradicate drugs from people's daily l

President Yoon Suk-yeol voiced regret Wednesday after the main opposition party boycotted his budget speech, saying the party has left a bad precedent that could weaken public confidence in the National Assembly. Yoon delivered a budget speech in a half-empty National Assembly hall Tuesday after the main opposition Democratic Party decided to boycott the session in protest over the prosecution's recent raid of its headquarters and other actions it described as suppression of the opposition. &quo

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the grave of late former President Park Chung-hee on Tuesday to mark the 43rd anniversary of his death, his office said. Park was killed by his spy chief on Oct. 26, 1979, after ruling the country with an iron fist for 18 years. Yoon paid his respects at Park's grave at Seoul National Cemetery a day before the death anniversary, according to his office. He was joined by his chief of staff Kim Dae-ki, National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han, Veterans Minister P

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday addressed the National Assembly amid escalating partisan conflict that led to an unprecedented complete boycott by the main opposition party. Doubling down on defense In the address, Yoon stressed the need to strengthen deterrence against North Korea, saying that another nuclear weapons test by Pyongyang is imminent. “It is judged that North Korea has already completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test,” Yoon said. "North Korea has rece

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday called for preemptive responses to downside economic risks to cope with rising volatility in financial markets. With major economies jacking up interest rates to deal with red-hot inflation, "concerns are also growing over uncertainties and volatility in our financial market," Han told a Cabinet meeting. "It is time for agile and preemptive risk management," Han said. Han also painted a bleak picture for next year's global economic

Prosecution raids Democratic Party think tank; opposition will not attend Yoon's parliamentary speech

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday appointed the first and second vice ministers for health, his office said. Lee Ki-il, the current second vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was named first vice minister, while Park Min-soo, presidential secretary for health and welfare, was named second vice minister. Lee has served in various senior positions in the ministry, including as spokesperson and chief of the Office for Healthcare Policy. Park served as chief of the ministry's O

Prosecutors on Monday raided the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party as part of an investigation into bribery allegations involving a close confidant of party leader Lee Jae-myung. The Seoul Central Prosecutors Office is probing Kim Yong, deputy head of the Democratic Party-affiliated Institute for Democracy think tank, on suspicion of receiving a total of 847 million won ($591,000) from property developers in the city of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, in violation of the politi