South Korea is moving to distribute free air purifiers to day cares, nursing homes and schools to protect people most vulnerable to fine dust. The measure, still under discussion at related ministries, would be a follow-up to President Moon Jae-in’s surprise directive last week to temporarily close down old coal-fired power plants to combat the country’s worsening air quality. An official at the Education Ministry confirmed to The Korea Herald on Wednesday that it is currently reviewing the budg

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday that a human bone discovered underwater in early May was identified to be from Danwon High School teacher Go Chang-suk, one of the nine passengers missing from the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking. “We received the DNA test result (from the National Forensic Service) this afternoon, earlier than expected,” said Lee Cheol-jo, a ministry official in charge of the search operation.This photo taken on May 11, 2017, shows workers searching through the wreck

President Moon Jae-in was sworn in last Wednesday, but he moved into the presidential residence only three days after his inauguration. Local reports suggested that the delay was partly due to his predecessor’s home decorations.  (Screen captured from SBS)According to local daily Kookmin Ilbo, the walls inside the living room of the presidential residence were covered with large mirrors that had to be removed. The walls then had to be papered again.Citing a source from the ruling Democratic Part

Shoes Tree, a 17-meter-tall art installation made of over 30,000 worn-out shoes, will be revealed outside Seoul Station on Saturday, marking the opening of the city’s first highway-turned-park, Seoullo 7017.Modeled after New York’s iconic High Line, Seoul’s soon-to-open pedestrian-friendly park stretches for about a kilometer and links seven surrounding areas, including Seoul Station and Namdaemun Market, to 12 pedestrian walkways.(Kim Da-sol/The Korea Herald)Shoes Tree, a major art piece instal

Outdated coal-fired plants, aged 30 years or over, will be temporarily closed down as part of the government’s emergency measure to combat fine dust, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.Under the plans, 10 out of 59 coal-fired plants, located in the Gangwon, South Jeolla, South Chungcheong and South Gyeongsang provinces, will stop operating for a month in June. The concerned power plants have been in operation for 32 to 44 years. Seoul’s sky shows stark differences in colors as it is blanketed in a layer

Two part-time teachers at Danwon High School who died in the Sewol ferry sinking three years ago will have their deaths recognized as being in the line of duty, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. The designation entitles their families to government support and compensation.(Yonhap)“Marking Teacher’s Day today here, President (Moon Jae-in) ordered necessary measures to recognize the deaths of the two part-time teachers,” said Yoon Young-chan, chief presidential secretary for public relations, during a b

Another human bone fragment was discovered inside the Sewol ferry on Sunday, possibly from a victim of the disaster, raising expectations on recovering more remains.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday the search team had found a human bone fragment as they searched through fourth-floor bedrooms at 9 a.m. Sunday.The fourth-floor bedrooms are where most of the Danwon High school students stayed on the day of the sinking. The ministry said the nine missing bodies are believed to be in

In “Les Miserables,” Victor Hugo’s 1862 classic set in the French Revolution, the main protagonist Jean Valjean ends up spending 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving children. In South Korea in 2015, a bank opened to help modern-day Jean Valjeans, poor petty offenders who go to jail because they can’t afford to pay a few million won in fines and penalties. “As long as their offenses are not grave, we consider lending,” Oh Chang-ik, head of the Jean Valjea

Two bone fragments, possibly of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, have been found during a search of the ship’s interior, five days after another bone fragment was found underwater, the government said Wednesday. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said that search operators found two bones as they searched through Sewol’s fourth floor bedrooms at 8 a.m. Wednesday.(Yonhap)“According to the National Forensic Service’s on-site investigation, (those bones) are presumed to be from humans,” the m

A mixed-breed mutt rescued from a dog meat farm looks likely to become a member of South Korea’s new first family. Animal rights groups, pet lovers and a local newspaper Hankyoreh are demanding President Moon Jae-in make good on his promise to adopt Tory, a 4-year-old dog, from an animal shelter in Seoul. Tory, a 4-year-old mix-breed dog (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth)Moon was sworn in at noon Wednesday after winning the election the previous day. During his 60-day electioneering, the li

Despite predictions that Tuesday’s election might record the highest voter turnout ever, the final turnout was similar to those of previous presidential elections. According to the National Election Commission, the final turnout reached 77.2 percent. Out of 42.5 million eligible voters, 32.8 million cast their ballots.(Yonhap)“A large number of the electorate is believed to have had travel plans during the long holiday weekend. The rainy weather might have hampered voters heading to the polls,”

THE NEW PRESIDENT -- South Korea’s major newspapers Wednesday report the landslide victory of Moon Jae-in as the nation’s 19th president. Leading conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo (not included in the picture) highlighted the new administration as the “first progressive government in 10 years.” Moon’s five-year presidency kicked off around 8:10 a.m. on the day, upon confirmation of his win by the National Election Commission. (Kim Da-sol/The Korea Herald)

South Korea’s crucial vote to choose the next leader of South Korea made headlines beyond the nation Tuesday.Many foreign media outlets reported the voter turnout in real-time, highlighting that voters were galvanized by anger over the corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye in March. (Yonhap)News agency Reuters reported that Tuesday’s high turnout showed South Korean voter’s eagerness “to move on from a corruption scandal that brought down the former president and sh

Unlike past presidents, who have had a 60-day transition period to assemble their administrations, South Korea’s next president is to take office immediately, without the conventional inauguration ceremony.The unique situation is created by the current vacancy in the Blue House after the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye upon impeachment.“The elected (candidate) is to acquire the position of president as soon as the NEC confirms their victory on Wednesday morning,” the National Election C

Fires continued to burn near the eastern cities of Gangneung and Samcheok in Gangwon Province, Monday, as soldiers, civil servants and volunteers struggled to bring them under control. One person has died. Firefighters were close to extinguishing the wind-fed forest fires that broke out in the eastern mountainous region Saturday and Sunday, but strong winds revived some of them overnight, authorities said.Firefighters try to put out forest fires in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Monday. (Yonhap)The

As this year’s worst-ever dust storm from China blanketed the country, a large of number of Koreans canceled or cut short their weekend plans, choosing to stay indoors, as advised by authorities. At some popular festivals, however, it was just business as usual, with food stalls in open air and all outdoor programs for visitors to enjoy.  Citizens are seen covering their faces with face masks in Hangang Park on Saturday. (Yonhap)Fine dust warnings and advisories were issued for most parts of the

Many factors come into play determining voter turnout and conventional wisdom is a bad weather could dampen electoral participation. Yet, a look at past elections in South Korea does not show a clear correlation between weather conditions and voter participation rates. In the previous 2012 poll in which Park Geun-hye was elected as president, the morning low in Seoul recorded 10 degrees below zero. But the voter turnout was 12.8 percent points higher than in elections held in warmer times. For T

Police on Thursday raided the offices of Samsung Heavy Industries as part of their investigation into a crane collision that killed six people and injured 25 others at the company’s shipyard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.A total of 30 investigators searched offices inside the shipyard in Geoje and secured documents such as job sheets and safety education materials, police said.(Yonhap)Investigators said it will focus on whether the crane collision was caused by miscommunication between cra

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Wednesday vehemently denied a news report that suggested the ministry intentionally delayed the salvage operation of the Sewol ferry.The ministry’s clarification followed broadcaster SBS’ report that the ministry delayed the operations due to political circumstances. Lee Cheol-jo, a ministry official in charge of the salvage operation, speaks at a press conference in Mokpo on Wednesday. (Yonhap)“The Sewol salvage operation was delayed purely due to technic

A Seoul citizen-led project to improve the city’s artistic appeal kicked off its second two-month run Saturday. About 101 Seoul residents gathered at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Saturday to embark on a mission to find and promote the hidden artistic gems of Seoul.In its second year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s “Arts on Seoul’s street found by citizens,” will run from April through June.Participants of “Arts on Seoul’s street found by citizens” pose for a photo in Dongdaemun Design Plaza i