Sejong University and the Sejong Research Institute proposed to build a new maritime transportation route directly passing through the north pole in a seminar on "Arctic Route Development" on Thursday. In the seminar held at the university’s Daeyang AI Center in Seoul, Choo Myung-gun, the university’s honorary chairman, envisioned the need to develop an Arctic route for maritime transportation. Choo explained that the route would contribute to South Korea’s economic d

On international blood donation day, blood banks running relatively low on type O

As the number of travelers to Saudi Arabia is expected to increase during hajj, the public health authority is urging pilgrims heading to the Middle Eastern country to take extra precautions against Middle East respiratory syndrome. “Large gatherings such as hajj are associated with unique health risks, especially MERS, so travelers should follow sanitation recommendations,” the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Wednesday. Hajj is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mec

Reports of parents sending their children to day care or kindergarten with recording devices have sparked controversy online. While the parents claim that they are “collecting evidence of possible abuse,” some teachers complain that the illegal practice is a sign of “unfounded distrust from the parents." Searching for "day care recorder" on the internet turns up numerous small recording devices on sale that come in diverse forms, from necklaces to badges. Some ar

Seoul National University’s disciplinary committee said Tuesday that it has decided to expel former Justice Minister Cho Kuk from the school's law faculty, citing the court decision that sentenced him to two years in prison for abusing his power and influence. The decision comes after he was removed from his teaching position in January 2020. He was indicted without detention on Dec. 31, 2019, on 12 charges, including for bribery and corruption, over his involvement in his children&rs

Officials confirmed on Tuesday that a ghostly-looking woman who had climbed on top of a highway tunnel near Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, had been successfully rescued. The incident had gained widespread attention after her eery silhouette scared numerous drivers. As fleeting images of her standing on top of the 10-meter-tall tunnel, taken from fast-moving vehicles, went viral Tuesday, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police announced her rescue on Sunday. The person captured in the video and photos is a f

Choi fights for a retrial, vindication after being jailed for biting off the tongue of the man who tried to rape her

Amid growing criticism over racist comments between South Korean soccer players, the Thai player referenced in the comments expressed his feelings on Facebook. Instagram comments exchanged between Korean players with Ulsan Hyundai FC went viral online Sunday. The players likened a teammate to former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' former wing back Sasalak Haiprakhon, apparently because of his dark skin. The 27-year-old Thai player posted a statement on Facebook, “No one knows what we have t

Presidential office opens public debate over legitimacy of nighttime labor protests

A funeral home in Osan, Gyeonggi Province is accused of directing bereaved family members to change in a room with a built-in security camera, said Osan Police Station on Monday. On May 31, a family was allegedly directed by the funeral home’s staff to change in an empty room in the funeral home. The family no longer had access to the bereaved family’s waiting room, as their father’s funeral had already ended. The family members filed a report with the police as soon as they fo

The number of patients recently treated for being obese doubled in five years, data showed. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients visiting hospitals due to obesity doubled from 14,966 in 2017 to 30,170 in 2021. Experts speculated that reasons for the increase in the number of obese patients were poor eating habits, such as ordering unhealthy food and not exercising sufficiently. It is known that people who suffer from obesity are at increased ris

The state human rights watchdog said Tuesday it has decided to submit its opinion to the Constitutional Court to oppose the Carbon Neutrality Act, saying the law is unconstitutional because the government's target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is too low. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said it opposed the country's Carbon Neutrality Act, which was passed in September 2021, as Article 8 Clause 1 and its implementing ordinance Article 3 Clause 1 are "unconstit

　The number of smartphone users on 5G mobile networks had topped 30 million as of April for the first time since the service was commercialized in 2019, data showed. 　The total number of 5G users reached 30.02 million in April, accounting for 38.1 percent of the total 78.79 million mobile subscriptions in the country, according to the data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. 　SK Telecom, the country’s largest mobile carrier by subscriptions, had the most 5G users at 14.35 million as o

People living in urban areas are more likely to experience mental stress while those in rural areas are more likely to drink and smoke, data showed Monday. Findings in the 2022 Community Health Survey, conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, showed Seoulites recorded the lowest rate of smoking among the six groups studied, but that they had higher levels of alcohol consumption. Compared to other areas, however, they are less likely to binge drink. The survey looked into the

Two women in their 20s were taken in for questioning over on suspicion of assaulting two minors for not greeting them respectfully in Ulsan, according to the city's Ulju Police Station on Monday. The women allegedly summoned two minors -- a middle school student and a high school student -- to the basement of a building located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan at night on June 4. They are suspected of forcing the students to kneel and slapping their faces for 20 minutes. The two women are also suspected