Seoul to streamline traffic lanes, make area pedestrian-friendly, plant trees along paths that pass by historic sites

A new immigration center is set to open in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 31, which will provide immigration services to foreigners living in Andong and six cities nearby. The new center, operated by the Daegu Immigration Office, will be located on the Andong National University campus. The center will offer general immigration services, including foreigner registrations and extensions or changes to visa status, according to the Daegu Immigration Office on Monday. It will service for

Two-hundred and fifty-six. That's the number of people between age 10 and 20 that took their lives due to mental health problems last year. Of a total 13,205 deaths by suicide in 2021, some 5,258 had histories of mental health treatment, according to police data provided by Rep. Oh Young-hwan of the main opposition Democratic Party. The same data shows that the number of suicides aged 10-29 age groups jumped each year from 2019, with the figure for the latter marking 888 as of 2021. The figures

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to below 15,000 on Monday, but the daily count recorded a marked rise from the previous week amid concerns over a virus resurgence in the winter. The country reported 14,302 new COVID-19 infections, including 56 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 25,311,636, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The figure marked a fall from the previous day's 26,256 new infections due mainly to fewer tests over the weekend, and it is the

Seoul is considering imposing drinking and smoking bans across Han River parks, the city government said Sunday. But the plan could come to nothing if backlash ensues. The Seoul city government, seven years ago, tried to make Han River parks smoke-free, but failed due to staunch public backlash. Last year, the city government also tried to push ahead with imposing a ban on drinking at the riverside parks, but the local government also made no progress even after a yearlong discussion. The Se

South Korea’s daily COVID-19 infections increased Saturday, while a new variant was confirmed in the country, fanning concerns for a resurgence in the winter. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of new COVID-19 cases on Saturday reached 26,256, slightly down from the previous day’s 26,906 cases. The daily figure, however, was up around 4,800 from the previous week’s 21,569 and up 8,610 from two weeks ago. The country reported 16 new deat

The death toll from a concrete formwork collapse at a construction site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, last week has risen to three as another worker died, authorities said Sunday. Five workers pouring cement at the low-temperature warehouse construction site in the city, 67 kilometers south of Seoul, plunged about 10 meters after a cement formwork collapsed on the structure's fourth floor on Friday. Three of the five workers -- all foreigners -- were transported to hospitals in a state of

Action for Clean Environment (ACE), a global nonprofit organization working to facilitate global environmental activism, awarded seven organizations including businesses and local governments for their contribution to environmental protection on Tuesday. The Global Clean Environment Awards, held for the third time, was given to seven winners in five categories -- Siheung City government in the Public Service category; Panacell Biotech in the Healthcare category; AMP Robotics, Joyview Education,

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases stayed below 30,000 for the fifth consecutive day Sunday, but the daily count recorded a sharp hike from the previous week amid rising concerns over a resurgence in infections nationwide in the winter. The country reported 26,256 new COVID-19 infections, including 67 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 25,297,334, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. It marks a slight fall from the previous day's 26,906 new cases, but 4,800 ca

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 30,000 for a fourth straight day Saturday with the daily death toll down to its 14-week low for a Saturday. The country reported 26,906 new COVID-19 infections, including 48 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 25,271,078, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The daily figure has stayed below the 30,000 mark this month except for three days, KDCA data showed. The latest virus wave, triggered by the spread of a high

Rev. Lee suspended from duties for two years for offering his blessing at a queer festival in 2019

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases stayed below 30,000 for the third straight day Friday, but signs have emerged indicating that the coronavirus might be picking up steam again. The country reported 24,751 new COVID-19 infections, including 60 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 25,244,255, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. While the country's sixth and latest virus wave has slowed since mid-August, health authorities cautioned that the pace of slowdown is e

The number of people who died in South Korea as a result of alcohol addiction surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with solitary deaths accounting for half of that figure, a survey showed Thursday. The Korean Academy of Addiction Psychiatry collected the data from local addiction treatment facilities nationwide, which keep records of patients with alcohol use disorder. Excessive alcohol use was responsible for 156 deaths in 2019, according to KAAP. The figure increased to 204 in 2020 and 215

Scholars say they are seeking ways to tap into growing popularity of South Korean pop culture

An antiquated southern Seoul apartment complex long at the center of the nation's real estate policy debate due to its massive size and location in the wealthy Gangnam district has obtained a long-awaited reconstruction approval, the city government said Thursday, signaling its intent to speed up its plan to increase the housing supply. The Seoul city government's Urban Planning Committee convened Wednesday to approve a reconstruction plan by Eunma Apartments, a complex of 4,424 apartm