The South Korean government plans to hold a separate on-site memorial ceremony for Koreans forced to work at the gold mines on Sado island during Japan's colonial rule, following a last-minute decision to boycott Japan’s memorial event on Sunday. Seoul’s abrupt reversal comes amid a growing domestic backlash over the choice of Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister at Japan’s Foreign Ministry, as the chief government delegate for Sunday’s memorial event. Ikuina

South Korea leads the world in industrial robot adoption, with 1,012 robots per 10,000 employees deployed in 2023, according to a global study. The World Robotics 2024 report, presented by the Frankfurt, Germany-based International Federation of Robotics, reveals that the Asian country’s robot density far surpasses other nations. Singapore ranked second with 770 robots per 10,000 employees, followed by China at 470 robots per 10,000 employees. “Robot density serves as a barometer

All eyes turn to Busan as delegations from 175 countries gather for the final round of negotiations to clinch a legally binding United Nations treaty to combat plastic pollution. Kicking off Monday and running through Dec. 1, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee could define the global response to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The initiative stems from a resolution passed during the UN Environment Assembly meeting in March 2022, which

The Seoul Central District Court is set to rule Monday on perjury subornation charges against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party. The ruling of the first trial comes just 10 days after Lee received a suspended prison sentence in a separate trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, further compounding the legal challenges that could cost him his parliamentary seat and jeopardize his presidential aspirations. Prosecutors filed the perjury subornation case aga

A person who submitted an edited a voice recording to win a civil lawsuit was found guilty of attempted fraud, a local court said Sunday. Chuncheon District Court sentenced the 41-year-old defendant to a 10 million won ($7,100) fine for attempted fraud. The defendant, who was involved in a legal feud with another person over a bar they had jointly operated, claimed that the partner had promised to pay 50 million won as a form of reimbursement for investing in the bar. A voice recording of the tw

Doosan Group’s ambitious corporate restructuring plan, which will separate Doosan Bobcat from Doosan Enerbility and merge it into Doosan Robotics, is entering its final stages. Following regulatory approval last Friday, the proposal now awaits a vote at a shareholders’ meeting on Dec. 12, marking the completion of a process that began four months ago. The restructuring process has undergone six amendments to its securities filings since the plan was first announced on July 11, as Doo

Lawmakers and ambassadors were among the 1,122 people who gathered in Gwangju and Seoul Friday to make kimchi to donate to underprivileged people. The 2024 Korea Kimchi Grand Festival was held for two hours in the National Assembly’s courtyard in Yeouido, central Seoul and May 18 Democracy Square in central Gwangju simultaneously. The event was organized by Herald Media Group, local broadcaster Gwangju MBC and Rep. Ju Chul-hyun of the main opposition Democratic Party. The event at the Nati

A local court ruled against a Daegu hospital that challenged government's decision to withdraw funding after the institution's refused to admit a teenage emergency patient, leading to her death. Th Health Ministry decided not to provide government subsidies to four universities, including the Daegu Catholic University Medical Center (DCMC), for six months in response to their actions concerning a 17-year-old emergency patient in March. The girl sustained a serious injury after fallin

Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands in the South Pacific, is a paradise for nature lovers. But in South Korea, this beautiful island nation is gaining attention for a different reason: citizenship shopping. Bae, 30, a housewife living in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, is thinking of acquiring Vanuatu citizenship for the sake of her 4-year-old son. “My son currently attends an English immersion kindergarten. I am hoping he can enroll in international schools (in Korea), instead of local s

South Korean police apprehended nearly 300 doctors for drug-related offenses this year, government data showed Sunday, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring of medical professionals who have access to controlled substances. A total of 294 doctors were caught for drug-related offenses in the first 10 months of this year, according to the Korean National Police Agency's data submitted to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the main opposition Democratic Party. Drug offenders here are those involved

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly from Wednesday, with some regions likely to see the first snow of the season, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Sunday. A low-pressure trough and a cloud band developing over the West Sea are expected to bring rain to most parts of the country on Tuesday. Following the rain, temperatures are forecast to drop significantly starting Wednesday, with morning temperatures as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul, the KMA said

This year's Mnet Asian Music Awards presented new and exclusive performances while exploring the tastes of K-pop fans worldwide Thursday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and at Osaka's Kyocera Dome on Friday and Saturday. The Korean music awards ceremony, broadcast live in around 200 countries, held part of its three-day event in the US for the first time, attracting an audience of around 93,000. 2024 MAMA was held under the theme of "Big Blur," which the festival host sai

A 26-year-old man was found guilty of evading national service after he was found to have deliberately gained weight to avoid serving in the military. Seoul Eastern Dongbu District Court recently sentenced the defendant to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Military Service Act. The act stipulates that those who evade their mandatary military service without justifiable cause can be punished by up to three years in prison. The defendant deliberately gained weight by

Woori Bank CEO Cho Byung-kyu is stepping down in disgrace as legal risks surrounding the bank and its parent group intensify. According to industry sources on Sunday, the board of Woori Financial Group, the holding company of Woori Bank, on Friday decided against reappointing Cho following the expiration of his current term at the end of this year. The decision came hours after local prosecutors filed an arrest warrant for former Woori Financial Chairman Son Tae-seung on charges of breach of tru

Starting next month, all newly registered cars seating for five or more passengers will be required to have a fire extinguisher, fire authorities said Sunday. Currently, the mandatory installation of fire extinguishers applies to vehicles that carry seven or more passengers. According to the National Fire Agency, the change aligns with the revision of the Act on Installation and Management of Firefighting Systems, set to take effect in December after a three-year grace period. The mandate does

As the year draws to a close, the South Korean box office is gearing up for a fierce, star-studded showdown featuring the country’s top actors. Song Kang-ho, Kim Yoon-Seok, Hyun Bin and Song Joong-ki will each bring their star power to highly anticipated films, ranging from an underdog sports drama to a heartwarming family comedy, a historical epic and a gritty survival tale. Kicking off December is director Shin Yeon-sik’s sports comedy-drama “One Win.” The film follows

The Purme Foundation, a South Korean nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities lead independent lives, has been awarded the Grand Prize at the 2nd annual HD Hyundai Honor Awards. The announcement was made Sunday by the HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation, which organizes the awards. The HD Hyundai Honor Awards were created to spotlight individuals and organizations making a real difference in their communities. Winners are chosen for their efforts to tackle social challenges and promote

The number of newly hired workers in their teens and 20s marked the lowest figure since an official tally has been kept since 2018, a government data showed Sunday. A total of 1.45 million new hires among people under the age of 30 occurred in the second quarter of this year, down 8.6 percent from 1.59 million in the same quarter in last year, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service data by the Statistics Korea. The number of existing jobs held by the same worker for Q2 marked

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- An immersive exhibition highlighting Korean cultural heritage including intangible cultural properties has opened in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The eight-minute multimedia show entitled “Heritage Garden: Threads of Connection” showcases 146 items, from Goryeo celadon and Joseon moon jars to the Jinkwansa Bronze Bell and the Seokguram Grotto on the walls of Arte Museum, a private museum operated by d’strict design company. Eight such museums oper

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is set to face a sentencing hearing this week for allegedly suborning perjury, legal sources said Sunday, 10 days after he got a suspended prison term for election violations. The Seoul Central District Court is set to deliver a verdict Monday on Lee's charges of suborning a secretary of a former Seongnam mayor to make false court testimony in his favor in a 2018 election law violation case involving him, according to the sources. Prosecutors suspect the lead