Popular internet slang words derived from the Korean word “eorini,” which means children, may promote negative stereotypes and discrimination against children, the country’s human rights watchdog said Tuesday. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea urged related government bodies to find ways for the public to refrain from using the newly coined words that compare a beginner in a certain field to a child, saying it can demean children. “Eorini” is a for

A woman and man suspected of causing the 2019 drowning death of the woman’s husband were indicted for murder by state prosecutors on Wednesday, as the investigators set themselves up for a court fight to prove her criminal intent. The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office indicted 31-year-old Lee Eun-hae and her accomplice, 30-year-old Cho Hyun-soo ,on charges of murder, attempted murder, and violation of insurance fraud law. The pair is accused of inciting Lee’s husband

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday announced new measures to increase the number of late-night taxis to cope with a worsening cab shortage, after the government lifted social distancing rules last month. The city plans to add around 3,000 taxis that run from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., 2,700 of which will be operated by independent drivers, and another 300 from Seoul-based taxi firms. To secure more late-night taxi drivers, authorities have announced a raft of changes to existing rules, suc

South Korea‘s largest disabled advocacy group resumed subway protests Wednesday, calling on the government to roll out more detailed plans to guarantee the basic rights of those with disabilities.　 Like recent demonstrations, Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, a disability advocacy group that has recently been staging protests at subway stations, held a demonstration at Gyeongbokgung Station during the morning rush hour. Members of the disabled advocacy group crawled along t

The 15th World Forestry Congress has kicked off. At this year’s congress, running under the theme of “Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forests,” some 13,000 officials of governments, international organizations, civic groups and academic associations from 143 countries are participating to discuss forestry and environmental problems in order to find solutions. As damages derived from climate change -- such as the recent cases such as flooding in Europe, th

Korea Forest Service and Woori Financial Group agreed to work together to promote the importance of carbon-neutrality in business management, as well as a priority on environmental, social and governance issues, the forest agency said Wednesday. The agreement signed Monday comes as part of their joint efforts to recognize the importance of forests in responding to climate change and ESG activities, and to contribute to their joint goals of sustainability by encouraging activities promoting ca

Country known for its pressure-cooker education system has made significant positive steps, some say

Yoon Suk-yeol, his justice minister pick Han Dong-hoon cleared of suspicion

The South Korean government Wednesday made public newly declassified documents on its first-ever formal meeting with North Korea since the division of the peninsula and other cross-border exchanges in the early 1970s, offering a glimpse into the beginning of a new chapter in tumultuous inter-Korean relations. The dossier included a transcript of a three-minute conversation between the South Korean Red Cross envoy and his North Korean counterpart at the truce village of Panmunjom on Aug. 20, 1971

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell below 50,000 on Wednesday as the government has lifted the outdoor mask mandate in the latest effort to return to pre-pandemic normalcy amid a downward trend in COVID-19 cases. The country reported 49,064 new COVID-19 infections, including 29 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,395,791, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Daily coronavirus infections have been on the downward trend in recent weeks after peaking a

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.  Answer: c Korean children have Christmas in the middle of the year -- on Children’s Day. On May 5 every year, children get special treats, which usually include presents, and go on family outings to amusement parks, zoos and the like. It has been a public holiday since 1975. There is no school for children, and all salaried workers -- regardless if they have a child or not

A gastroenterology professor at Seoul National University (SNU)'s College of Medicine has been chosen as the physician to incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol, an official said Wednesday. Kim Joo-sung, who graduated from the college in 1989, is a specialist in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The physician to the president is a pro bono honorary position equivalent to the level of vice minister, who works at their regular job but conducts routine check

A fire broke out at an apartment building in the southeastern port city of Busan, leaving one brain dead and two others seriously injured, officials said Wednesday. The fire is assumed to have started in the living room of an apartment on the 13th floor at 9:43 p.m. Tuesday and was extinguished in about 30 minutes after completely destroying the unit, according to officials. A 70-year-old resident was found unconscious in the laundry room and transported to a nearby hospital but was reportedly d

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a lot of pain for all of us, is coming to an end. Over the past two years, COVID-19 has caused us a lot of economic and social loss, and everyone is struggling for a better recovery, but we don’t know where to start. In Seoul, where spring has sprung, discussions are underway for a better recovery through forests. Governments, international organizations and civic groups from various countries gathered in the South Korean capital for the 15th World

From young woman to bar hostess, a term causes a fatal misunderstanding between a Chinese and Korean man