An outbreak of lovebugs, a species of March fly that remains in pairs, has spread rapidly to areas across Seoul over the weekend, according to reports from authorities Sunday. In 2022, several complaints were filed about lovebugs in northwestern Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. However, this year, the outbreak has spread to other districts, such as Dongdaemun-gu and Seongdong-gu in eastern Seoul, and Gwanak-gu in southern Seoul, authorities said. Lovebugs aren’t toxic or harmful, but t

A heavy rain advisory was issued early Sunday morning for the inland area of Jeju, the southern island province, signaling the onset of this year's monsoon season, which is anticipated to be exceptionally wet. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Jeju is expected to receive rain accumulating 100-200 millimeters through Monday, with some mountainous areas reaching up to 300 millimeters. Downpours will then spread to upper parts of the country, with capital Seoul experienci

The number of violent crimes that saw a significant drop in the initial years of the pandemic bounced back last year partially on eased social distancing measures, data showed Sunday. A total of 450,623 violent crimes were reported last year, up 7.4 percent from 419,683 cases the previous year, according to data from the National Police Agency submitted to Rep. Chung Woo-taik of the ruling People Power Party. The violent crimes include murder, robbery, rape and sexual assault, theft and violence

A woman accused of killing her two newborns and keeping their bodies in a refrigerator was formally arrested Friday after a court issued a warrant for her arrest. The Suwon District Court issued the warrant, citing fears she might flee. The woman in her 30s was charged with murdering two babies, one boy and one girl, after their births in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and storing their bodies in a freezer at her home in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Earlier in the day, she declined to atte

Mayor blasts Daegu police for 'inappropriate law enforcement, retaliatory investigation'

South Korea is facing growing calls for changes to the birth notification system after an infant’s body was found in a trash can in Ulsan following other recent infanticide cases. Ulsan Nambu Police Station said Friday that a dead baby had been found the previous day at an apartment complex in Ulsan. A cleaner reportedly found the body in the trash can and reported it to the police. The police are trying to track down the person who abandoned the baby. On Wednesday, a Suwon woman in her 30

The Seoul High Court on Friday has commuted the death sentence of a 54-year-old man who robbed and murdered a woman, as well as killed an accomplice. The man, Kwon Jae-chan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being given a death sentence in June 2022. The appellate said in a ruling that evidence to prove that his murder was premeditated was insufficient, while acknowledging that he had intended to rob the woman. In December 2021, Kwon brutally choked the woman, whom the murderer was a

Operators of a mobile application on which brothels share the personal information of their customers, including phone numbers, were arrested by police, officials said Friday. They are accused of violating of the law on personal information protection and the law on punishment of prostitution. According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police, some 6,400 sex work establishments shared information about sex buyers, including some 4.6 million phone numbers, their past records of visiting other

A new river bus service along the Han River is poised to set sail as the city's latest public transportation and tourism offering, potentially starting in late 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday. The city’s administrative body has slated a preliminary evaluation for the second half of this year. Among the focal points of this assessment are dock accessibility and economic viability, which the city is actively seeking to navigate. With an objective of launching the riv

Three Thai nationals involved in the operation of illegal gambling sites while illegally staying in South Korea have been convicted, the Gwangju District Court ruled Friday. The court gave two defendants suspended sentences of 1 1/2 years in prison term and a suspended sentence of four months in prison term to the third. They were convicted of creating online gambling spaces in Thai and handling money for use in gambling. The criminals were tasked with collecting and distributing money in Gwangs

Twenty students were found to have fallen victim to child abuse, a pangovernmental investigation into thousands of students who missed classes for more than seven days without prior notice on Friday. Four cases have already been sent to the prosecution, and investigations are being underway for the other 16 cases, the officials said. They were among a total of 6,871 cases of students who did not attend school for more than seven days in March, according to the Ministry of Education, which conduc

A 61-year-old man burned his neighbor to death after losing money in a game, the Gwangju District Court heard Thursday in the case's first hearing. The unnamed man is suspected of killing the victim -- also in his 60s -- with criminal intent, the court heard. The accused had a life insurance policy that designated him as the recipient in case the victim died. The suspect collected 8 million won ($6,148) in insurance money after the incident. The two men were neighbors and had been acquainte

South Korea's military has identified the remains of another soldier killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, about 13 years after their discovery near the inter-Korean border, the defense ministry said Friday. The ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification confirmed the remains belonged to Pfc. Kim Hyeon-taek, after conducting a DNA analysis using a sample from his daughter. KIA stands for "killed in action." The agency first discovered part of his remains in Cheorwo

No sign of foul play has been found in the death of a South Korean tourist who recently died at a subway station in the suburbs of Paris, embassy officials said Thursday. The 36-year-old man, who was traveling alone in France, is presumed to have died at the Villejuif-Louis Aragon station of the Paris Metro on June 12 (local time). Police suspect he may have died by an electric shock while attempting to cross the railroad tracks. The South Korean Embassy in Paris said it has examined the circums

The National Election Commission said Thursday a recent inspection has revealed 21 instances of suspected nepotism involving the hiring of officials' families and relatives. The election oversight body has conducted an internal probe encompassing almost all officials and employees after allegations arose last month that several agency positions had been secured by the children of former and current senior officials through their undue influence. "Through an investigation conducted on a