South Korean police raided the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a claim made by a former spokesperson for the ministry that a fortuneteller had been involved in the relocation of the presidential residence to Yongsan in central Seoul. Investigators from the cyber bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency were sent to confiscate evidence, including vehicle entry records, to determine if the fortuneteller had visited the ministry's premises in Yo

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon returned to South Korea on Wednesday from his weeklong trip to France, the Netherlands and Germany to learn about their immigration policies aimed at multicultural integration. The justice ministry, which oversees immigration-related policies and tasks in Korea, will put great effort into preparing new immigration policies based on the discussions the minister had with representatives of these European immigration authorities. Han told his counterparts, "No

Two middle school students were on Wednesday indicted for assault and sexual abuse of another middle school student in an incident that they livestreamed. Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday indicted a 16-year-old and a 15-year old, both of whom were in the ninth grade. The 16-year old boy, who is thought to have played the lead role in the incident, has been detained by authorities. The victim was reportedly sexually abused, with the suspects forcing him to undress and then sp

The Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday said it would improve provisions for foreign workers arriving on E-9 visas to help them settle in the country, including not only vocational training but also safety, language and cultural education. The E-9 visa category is for foreigners workers in "non-professional" jobs such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock industries. In addition to the current short-term vocational training, which takes about three days, t

Daegu mosque protest is reflection of Koreans' excessive fear about foreigners, says professor

South Korean workers will enjoy an extra day off if either Buddha's Birthday or Christmas overlaps with a Saturday or Sunday following a law revision, the Ministry of Personnel Management announced Wednesday. A new revision of the "Regulations on Public Holidays of Government Offices" will be presented to the public Thursday, allowing for alternative public holidays following Buddha's Birthday or Christmas for the first time. Koreans celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Apri

Junior Chun claims his family is spending 'black money,' accuses acquaintances of crimes

A civilian helicopter crashed on a hillside in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, at 7:46 a.m. on Wednesday. A pilot in his 60s and a power tower construction official in his 50s were on board, and both of them were found in a state of cardiac arrest. They were immediately sent to hospital, but did not survive. The helicopter reportedly took off from Gimpo International Airport Wednesday morning and was carrying materials for the construction of a transmission tower. Police presume that the helicopter

South Korea will lift the mask mandate for public transportation from Monday, ending the COVID-19 preventative measure imposed since 2020, the government announced Wednesday. "The government will lift the mask mandate starting on March 20 additionally on public transportation, including the bus and subway," Vice Interior Minister Han Chang-seob said during a government COVID-19 response meeting. The types of public transportation where people are no longer required to wear masks incl

As the costs of eating out have continued to soar, the average prices of bibimbap and cold noodles have both exceeded 10,000 won ($7.70). In January this year, the average price of eight representative restaurant menu items in Seoul rose 10.8 percent compared to during the same period last year, according to the Korea Consumer Agency. In particular, jajangmyeon rose 13.9 percent from 5,769 won during the same month last year to 6,569 won, while bibimbap rose 8.8 percent to 10,000 won and naengmy

KCTU refutes charges, accuses NIS and conservative media outlets of spreading false information

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city government would build an aerial cable car connecting major leisure attractions and cultural sites on the banks of the Han River, while visiting London on Monday. Oh made the remark after touring the IFS Cloud cable car, which offers 360-degree views of London across the River Thames. Oh visited London as part of his 10-day trip to Europe, which aimed to look for policy ideas and to discuss ways to enhance international cooperation. Taking inspiration from Lo

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered Tuesday to reexamine a proposed plan to reform the 52-hour workweek, amid criticisms that the proposed revision has stopped short of reflecting the voices of younger generations. "Yoon ordered (the government) to reexamine the proposal itself and its communication with the public to seek improvements," Yoon's office said in a statement. The presidential office also ordered the government to take various employees’ opinions, especially among millenn

The number of food poisoning cases involving raw oysters has surged dramatically this winter compared to last year. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday, a total of 524 cases of food poisoning due to raw oysters were reported between November 2022 and February 2023. This figure is an eightfold increase compared to the same period between 2021 and 2022, which only had 68 cases. Oysters are rich in minerals and vitamins but can be one of the main sources of the norovirus, w

Sejong University professor teaches course requiring students to go on a four-hour date with classmate of the opposite sex to learn about human interaction