They were there in 1950 when the U.N. troops landed in Incheon to besiege the North Korean Army during the Korean War. They were there when the allied forces pushed North Korea to the brink at the Yalu River, only to be pushed back by massive forces of China.Over half a century later, soldiers of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army are still here to serve as an integral piece of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.KATUSA is a group of to South Korean soldiers augmented to the 8th U.S. Ar

When faced with mandatory conscription in South Korea, all able-bodied men between 18 and 35 face the dilemma of choosing where to serve during their 21-month duty. This ranges from the regular army and the navy to auxiliary police and the marines. Among these choices, serving in KATUSA, or the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, is almost a dream come true and the most envied. KATUSA soldiers and U.S. soldiers jointly participate in a combat exercise in this file photo. (8th ARMY, RO

Test scores play an integral role in life of a South Korean. For some men, this appears to apply even to their mandatary military service. Since the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, or KATUSA, is widely perceived as an opportunity to practice the language and enjoy enhanced welfare as a soldier, interest in enlisting as a KATUSA soldier is high. Potential applicants have been turning to cram schools to get the required English scores.Some of these institutes are run by ex-KATUSA so

Every year, on the morning of June 25, the Korean War Veterans Memorial is greeted by a slew of government officials, military personnel and war veterans who gather to pay tribute to the fallen warriors of the Korean War that cost the lives of 130,000 Korean and 36,000 U.S. soldiers. But the 66th Anniversary this June had new additions to those honored -- fallen Korean soldiers who had served under the Korea Army Augmented to the 8th U.S. Army, or “KATUSA.” The names of 7,052 unknown heroes were

While some may think the best way to beat the scorching weather is to take a dip in the pool or guzzle an iced coffee, summertime in Korea is known for its unique culture of scaring the heat right out of you. Every summer the local box offices are filled with the newest horror and psychological thriller flicks to literally give viewers the shivers. Many local moviegoers are known to flock to the theaters in the summer hoping to cool off with a little bit of self-inflicted fear, as it is popular

As the sweltering Korean summer sets in, theaters are gearing up to open a series of horror movies for audiences wishing to cool off with goosebumps and chills.　Coming soon to the screens are a diverse horror films, from spectral and psychological to survival thrillers. 　American supernatural horror flick “Sinister 2,” set to open in local theaters on July 7, features ghostly children and demonic sacrifices taking place inside an isolated farmhouse. Directed by Ciaran Foy, it is the sequel to th

Thrill-seekers visit haunted areas to discover spirits that linger after death

Children growing up in Korea are exposed to numerous urban legends that often fan fear and anxiety -- unfounded fears, in the eyes of adults. 　Set against the backdrop of modernized cities, the urban legends typically involve nighttime happenings at rather ordinary, everyday places -- schools, elevators, bus stops, bathrooms, and so forth -- creating irrational fears of everyday activities. 　In those stories, a ghost happens to arise from right next to the bed or under the desk and tries to suff

The South Korean public is more sensitive to air quality these days, in light of increasing news reports on the negative impacts of fine dust and with a slew of released apps that send almost real-time updates on the concentration of harmful particles. So how bad is fine dust to one’s health?Fine dust particles do not just cause respiratory problems such as bronchial and asthmatic diseases, they also increase the chance of cerebrovascular diseases, according to the Korean Medical Association.Fin

Earlier this month, the South Korean government released a set of fine dust countermeasures amid growing public anxiety over the peninsula’s grey skies.Considering neighboring countries’ climate conditions and the upcoming monsoon season, the government admitted that the current fine dust problem in Korea is “difficult to be resolved within a short period of time.”Regardless, the government said it would improve the air quality through several action plans. It set a goal to reach the air quality

A latest report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has sent a solemn message to the world: If we do not effectively tackle air pollution, it could cause 6 to 9 million premature deaths and economic consequences of $2.6 trillion annually by 2060.South Korea was among countries singled out as those in greater danger. The report said that South Korea could see at least 1,109 early deaths per 1 million people in 2060 -- the only OECD member to exceed the 1,000 mark -- unl

Up until recently, China was considered the main enemy when South Koreans were warned to stay indoors away from the polluted air that was mainly considered to be due to yellow sand from the deserts of the neighboring state.With the increasing number of studies on fine dust and their health impact, public awareness has grown over the sources of air pollutants and how the situation was left untended to for many years. “The last thing I want is to be one of those fussy moms but as for the fine dust

　Breathing in South Korea has become more risky. There have been a slew of reports from overseas that warned of worsening air pollution in Korea, with the latest being Yale University’s study released last Friday. It found that Korea ranked 173rd out of 180 countries in terms of air quality. 　One of the main culprits for the worsening air quality is particulate matter, otherwise known as fine dust. The small particles -- 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter -- can penetrate deep into the respirat

Following the Bank of Korea’s surprise cut in base interest rate last week, local banks have each been slashing their own rates on deposit and saving accounts. Citibank Korea’s easy-access deposit account for corporate clients has fallen to the negative return territory after the bank slashed its annual interest rate to 0.001 percent from 0.1 percent on Tuesday. This means that a deposit of 10 million won ($8527) earns 1,000 won a year in interest or 846 won after tax. Given that inflation has r

A shift in funds from savings accounts to the real estate market could fuel the home market