Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul is where South Korea’s largest political protests take place. The 2017 massive candlelight vigils here led to the impeachment of the former President Park Geun-hye last year. For many, Seoul’s symbolic center represents the nation’s passion for democracy and freedom of expression -- at least for people who don’t live in the area.  A drawing of the new Gwanghwamun Square, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday.

Social Affairs April 10, 2018

Exercise is an indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle -- especially at school, where playground pursuits can get kids into the habit of keeping active.But with worsening air pollution raising health concerns, schools are scrambling to find indoor alternatives to playground activities.Students practice kicking a ball at virtual objects on the screen in Seoul Banghak Elementary School’s indoor sports facility. Bak Se-hwan/The Korea HeraldLast month, Seoul Banghak Elementary School in Seoul intr

Social Affairs April 9, 2018

Even the prime minister has appeared caught by surprise over the country’s ongoing waste management crisis. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon berated Environment Ministry officials over a lack of measures to help ease Seoul’s growing buildup of plastic recyclables.“What good is having a long-term plan if you can’t tackle the immediate waste collection crisis?” Lee is reported to have asked during a meeting with officials. Lee’s wrath came just a day before Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyu

Social Affairs April 8, 2018

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that free masks for filtering fine particulate matter will be provided to the elderly and disabled amid worries over potential health hazards caused by bad air quality.  Seoul’s Namsan Tower is blanketed in thick smoke. (Yonhap)According to a press release, the city is set to supply 2.2 million free masks to facilities and community centers for the elderly and disabled throughout the city, in addition to 321,000 free masks that were distribute

Social Affairs April 5, 2018

Recent Chinese restrictions on the types of recyclables that it will purchase continue to cause much confusion, as both residents and management offices of apartment complexes struggle to understand what can and cannot go in their recycle bins.Plastic and foam waste are left at the back of SsangYong apartment complex in Gangnam, Wednesday, as the recyclables collection company refused to collect, due to low profitability. Bak Se-hwan/The Korea HeraldOfficials at SsangYong Apartment in Gangnam sa

Social Affairs April 4, 2018

From junk electronic parts and second-hand smartphones to high-tech household appliances and audio systems, the electronics town of Yongsan is a place where techies can find virtually anything and everything related to electronics -- or, at least it used to be.Bae Jong-soo, the owner of a small appliances shop, has fond memories of the electronics town despite its crumbling buildings, but things have changed since he opened his business 32 years ago.“We had pride,” he said on a recent afternoon.

Social Affairs April 3, 2018

About 30,000 people here attended the “2018 Korean Churches United Easter Service,” organized by the Korean Christian Association, at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on Sunday to praise the true meaning of the resurrection of Jesus, according to the committee.  2018 Korean Churches United Easter Service. Photo: KCAPastor Lim Min-chul, chairman of the preparatory committee, Pastor Lee Hun-mok, chairman of the organizing committee, and Pastor Cho Gyu-yoon, the chief secretary, prepared this year’s united s

Social Affairs April 2, 2018

The majority of South Korea’s recyclables that are exported overseas go to China. Beijing’s recent decision to ban solid waste imports that it used to purchase is causing a ripple effect on the recycling programs in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province area.Bags for recycling waste near a residential area in Seoul. YonhapThe ban on imports of 24 types of recyclables -- a reflection of China’s tougher stance on pollution -- mostly impacts local recyclers that used to sell waste to China. S

Social Affairs April 2, 2018

Over 20 percent of air quality predictions in Seoul issued by the Environment Ministry‘s National Institute of Environmental Research last year were incorrect, said Rep. Choi Do-ja of Bareun Mirae Party, who obtained the data from the ministry Sunday.  Seoul’s Namsan Tower is blanketed in thick smoke. (Yonhap)According to Choi’s press release, 487 of the 2,384 predictions for the next day’s PM10 and PM2.5 density levels -- density of particulate matter smaller than 10 and 2.5 micrometers in diam

Social Affairs April 1, 2018

The first leg of former President Park Geun-hye’s trial will be concluded soon, with the courts set to hold a sentencing hearing this week. 　Park is accused of a string of wrongdoings, including bribery and abuse of power. The former president is also alleged to have allowed long-time associate Choi Soon-sil meddle in state affairs.  Former President Park Geun-hye. YonhapThe verdict comes around a year after Park was formally removed from office and arrested in March last year amid allegations t

Social Affairs April 1, 2018

A low birthrate is the new normal in South Korea. The country last year marked 1.05 births per woman, an all-time low since the statistics bureau started compiling such data. A total 358,000 babies were born in 2017, down 11.9 percent from a year ago. To keep its population level stable, the country needs to build a family-friendly environment and atmosphere to encourage young couples to have children amid a quickly aging population and shrinking workforce, according to Yangcheon District Mayor

Social Affairs March 29, 2018

The prosecution on Wednesday indicted aides of former President Park Geun-hye on charges of perjury and falsifying documents in changes made to the time log of developments on the day of Sewol sinking in 2014. The former presidential aides indicted in connection with the case are former chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, and Kim Jang-soo and Kim Kwan-jin, who headed the National Security Office under Park. The suspects are accused of document falsification and damaging public documents. Former preside

Social Affairs March 28, 2018

Former lawmaker Chung Bong-ju on Wednesday withdrew his bid to run for Seoul mayor in June as sexual misconduct allegations against him lingered. The announcement came a day after Chung’s accuser held a press conference Tuesday and repeated her claim that the 57-year-old forcibly kissed her at a local hotel’s cafe in Yeouido, Seoul, on Dec. 23, 2011, when she was a university student.Former lawmaker Chung Bong-ju. Yonhap“I will withdraw my bid for Seoul mayor and will stop all my public activiti

Social Affairs March 28, 2018

An alleged victim of sexual harassment at the hands of Chung Bong-ju came forward Tuesday, refuting the former lawmaker’s claims of innocence in a press conference. Lawyer Ha Hee-bong, who represents an alleged sexual harassment victim of former lawmaker Chung Bong-ju, speaks at a press conference in Seoul’s Seocho District after the victim left the conference. YonhapAccording to the accuser, who has chosen not to disclose her identity, Chung forcibly kissed her at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on

Social Affairs March 27, 2018

HONGGGYE-RI, North Gyeongsang Province -- Jusan is considered holy by people living in a small farming village in Honggye-ri, North Gyeongsang Province. Rising just a few hundred meters behind the village, the pine tree-clad mountain is where people traditionally pray for a son. “We see beauty in nature every day,” 62-year-old Park Chung-lak, who grows apples in the village, said on a recent afternoon. “And it needs respect and admiration.”  Local farmer Park Chung-lak, who grows apples in the H

Social Affairs March 20, 2018