"I love you, darling” was the final text message sent by the 60-something captain of a South Korean chemical tanker to his wife, before the ship capsized in rough seas off Japan's west coast on Wednesday. He was among nine later found dead of the ship’s crew of 11, with one still missing. The captain's wife, speaking at Keoyoung Shipping's headquarters in Busan on Thursday, said she received the love message from her husband at around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, to wh

The fifth edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off Wednesday at the Floating Island Convention Center on the Han River in Seoul, under the theme "Age of Hyper-Uncertainty: Global Business Opportunities and Trends." Spanning 13 weeks, the weekly forum serves as a gathering point for leaders in the business and finance sectors, academic experts, diplomats and top civil servants. Its primary objective is to strengthen business networks based on shared interes

Korean workers are experiencing decreased job satisfaction, amid an increasing tendency to value financial gains and a healthy work-life balance, a report showed Sunday. According to research conducted in 2023 by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, which surveyed 1,500 individuals aged between 18 and 64, Koreans rated the importance of their jobs in their lives at an average of 4.58 out of a possible 7, down by 0.87 point from 5.45 reported in 2007. In terms of

Busan city is facing opposition from Korean language preservation groups as it moves to name a district “Eco Delta-dong,” making the first time an English place name would be used for an official administrative unit. As per the city’s announcement on Tuesday, the district office of Gangseo, Busan, has submitted the naming proposal last month for the new entity to be comprised of three existing areas, Gangdong-dong, Myeongji 1-dong and Daejeo 2-dong. In pursuit of the national

Many Koreans perceive drug offenders as fundamentally different from ordinary people. An Jun-hung, a defense attorney who specializes in drug crimes, knows from his decade-long experience of representing them in court that this is not the case. He likens the experience of trying illegal drugs to getting into an unexpected car accident. "Most people who get caught doing illegal drugs first encounter them unknowingly or out of curiosity," the attorney from law firm Son & Partners s

Koreans, particularly of younger generations, are often compared to an imaginary rival by the name of “Eomchina.” This rival, whose name literally translates as “mom’s friend’s son,” represents an idealized peer against whom one is constantly measured in various aspects of life, from academic achievements and career success to marital status and monthly income. “Eomchina” as a benchmark for success stems from parental comparisons and envy for the a

Long recognized as South Korea's most expensive retail area, Myeong-dong in central Seoul has lost its crown. Recent surveys show that last year, this tourist-favored shopping district was surpassed by an unexpected contender in terms of store rent: Bukchang-dong. Bukchang-dong’s commercial strip is located between the Bank of Korea building, City Hall Station and Hoehyeon Station, and it topped the annual retail market analysis conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with an

A charity project to support survivors of fires who suffered burns by raising money from sales of calendars featuring muscular firefighters has raised more than 1 billion won ($750,000) over its 10-year span, Seoul’s fire department said Wednesday. The 10th edition of the “momjjang” or "great body" calendar, on sale from November to January, generated 96 million won in revenue and donations, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters. The

Gifting condolence money in a white envelope to those you are close to who are in mourning is a long-standing tradition in South Korea. Yet, when this custom coincides with Korea's increasing number of pet owners and evolving pet-friendly culture, it might take an unexpected turn in this nation which has recently decided to outlaw the consumption of dog meat. In a survey of 5,000 Korean nationals conducted in 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, nearly one out of

In another piece of grim news underscoring South Korea's looming demographic crisis, the number of marriages in 2023 fell by 40 percent compared to the level recorded a decade ago, government statistics revealed Sunday. According to Statistics Korea, an estimated 193,673 couples tied the knot last year, a drop of 40 percent compared to the 322,807 couples who got married in 2013. From a year ago, however, the 2023 figure marks a 1 percent increase, or 1,983 more marriages. In 2022, marria

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- At a secluded temple tucked away on a snow-covered mountain, a Buddhist monk stood before a wooden altar, praying for a departed soul. On the altar, next to a spirit table, there was a framed photo of the deceased: a dog named after the temple itself, Hyundeok. “Hyundeok passed away recently,” said Venerable Hyunjong, the temple's founder and chief monk. “He was 8 years old.” In honor of the departed pup, which was one of two who live

A hacker managed to steal 100,000 won ($75) from a local bank by exploiting the online banking verification system which confirms a person’s identity through deposits of 1 won. The suspect is accused of making 100,000 verification requests over the course of a week, swindling 1 won with each request. According to a report from local media outlet Edaily, the suspect, whose identity is being withheld, appeared to have employed an automated program, given the substantial number of ID verifi

Bar owners who are misled into selling alcohol to minors with fake IDs may soon have a way to prove their innocence using surveillance camera footage under a proposed rule change. The Ministry of Government Legislation announced a public notice Tuesday for the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Food Sanitation Act, which contains new clauses that exempt those who unknowingly sell alcohol to customers under the age of 19 from punishment if video evidence is provided. For 20 days until Mar

Many parts of Gangwon Province have recorded substantial snowfall, with some eastern mountainous regions setting new records, according to a weather agency Friday. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that its weather station on Hyangro Mountain in Goseong reached its snow measurement limit of 160 centimeters for the first time. By 11 p.m. on Wednesday, the station had recorded 146.4 centimeters of snow. The accumulation of snow is impeding access to the gauge used to measure th

South Korean balladeer Sung Si-kyung has launched a Korean rice wine under his new liquor brand Kyung on Thursday. According to his agency SKJaewon the makgeolli rice wine is the first product the singer developed in collaboration with the startup brewery J1. Renowned for his appreciation of refined spirits, Sung engaged in every stage of crafting and perfecting the rice wine, an official from the agency said. Named "Kyungtakju," this traditional fermented drink is crafted from ingre

The oldest female elephant in South Korea passed away Tuesday at a zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, at the age of 59, zoo officials said Thursday. The female elephant, named Sakura, had suffered from deteriorating health since November last year, primarily caused by ascites and subcutaneous edema. Born in February 1965 in Thailand, she was in her 90s in human years. Sakura spent her early years as a circus performer at a Japanese amusement park, Takarazuka Family Land, from when she was 7 m

In 2021, after seven years of service as a narcotics detection dog, Parang retired from her duties. Now, three years into retirement, the female black Labrador retriever has found a loving home in a Songpa-gu, Seoul apartment complex, fully embracing her new role as a beloved family pet. In the love and care of the Hur family, the former customs dog has now blossomed into the darling of her community, winning the hearts of everyone through her clumsy yet genuine devotion and patient, kind deme

At Korea's busy eateries, diners lingering after eating often get disapproving looks from restaurant owners or those still waiting for a table. While this tension between leisurely dining and the demand for tables exists elsewhere, it can be highly pronounced in South Korea, where meals typically don’t include a dessert course and the focus of diners is often more on the eating itself, rather than on conversation. In online discussion forum Nate Pann last December, an anonymous post

An endangered Amur leopard from the UK has found a new home at a zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on Thursday. The arrival of the female leopard, born in 2014, at Seoul Grand Park is a significant addition to the zoo's existing pair of only male cats, born in 2016. Zoo officials said they plan to initiate a breeding program for these leopards. The public will have the opportunity to meet the new leopard in the second half of the year. The Amur leopard, scientifically known as Panthera par

An individual charged with illegal drug possession and use is now facing a another trial for filing what he claimed was a petition containing a character reference letter from the head of a local sports association, but which was allegedly forged by the suspect's friend using ChatGPT, arguing for leniency from the court, state prosecutors said Thursday. He was subsequently indicted for document forgery. The letter, submitted to the prosecution during the man’s first trial on drug char