Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died Friday hours after being shot during a campaign event, Japanese media outlets reported. Japanese national broadcaster NHK announced at around 5:50 p.m. Friday that Abe died after being shot twice in the back with a gun while giving a speech at around 11:30 a.m. in the Japanese city of Nara. Hours earlier in the afternoon, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that Abe was in “severe condition” and that doctors were do

International July 8, 2022

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been taken to hospital, in an apparent shooting during a rally Friday, Japanese media outlets reported. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Abe was shot at around 11:30 a.m. during a campaign speech in the Japanese city of Nara. He was rushed to hospital while “showing no vital signs,” the outlet reported, adding people at the scene heard “something like gunshots” and saw Abe bleeding. A male suspect in his 40s was

International July 8, 2022

The ruling People Power Party on Friday suspended its chairman’s membership in connection to allegations surrounding sexual bribery, a decision expected to cause immense turmoil within the ruling bloc and broader political circles. The internal ethics panel of the People Power Party announced at 2:45 a.m. Friday, after an eight-hour-long meeting, that they have decided to suspend Chairman Lee Jun-seok for the next six months, threatening his chances of finishing his term, which ends next

Politics July 8, 2022

Soongsil University is starting an employment support program for its students and young locals with a goal to help them start their careers in industries of their choice upon graduation. The university announced Thursday a program dubbed “Job Go,” running from July 18 to Aug. 5 will be available for current and former Soongsil University students as well as any young local job seeker. It will be available to 60 students on a first-come, first-served basis. The program includes thr

Social Affairs July 7, 2022

Turmoil might be ahead for the ruling People Power Party, with its ethics panel set to rule on allegations facing Chairman Lee Jun-seok on Thursday. The ruling party’s internal ethics panel will decide whether to penalize Lee for “failing to maintain dignity” and “coercing to destroy evidence” in relation to a sexual bribery case, at 7 p.m. Thursday. Police have been investigating allegations that Lee received sexual favors as well as bribes worth 11.5 million won

Politics July 6, 2022

Witnessing members of the ruling People Power Party rejoicing on June 1 after their crushing victory in the local elections, it seemed the party was set for smooth sailing, at least until the end of this year. But the party already appears to be breaking up into factions, and the ongoing power struggle between close aides of President Yoon Suk-yeol and others including People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok shows the conservative bloc could be headed for another dark age. Rep. Chang Je-won,

Politics July 5, 2022

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s internal feud is intensifying as members clash over the rules to elect a new chair at the party’s upcoming national convention in August. Ahn Gyu-baek, head of national convention preparations committee with the Democratic Party, announced his intent to resign from the committee Tuesday to express discontent with the party leadership’s decision to overturn his committee’s suggestion on setting rules for the

Politics July 5, 2022

South Korea’s legislative branch elected Rep. Kim Jin-pyo as the new National Assembly speaker Monday after parties dramatically reached a last-minute compromise on forming new leadership in the legislature. At a plenary session of this month’s provisional assembly held at 2 p.m. Monday, 255 out of 275 legislators present voted to elect Kim as the head of the legislative branch for the latter half of the 21st National Assembly. The main opposition party controls 170 out of 300 legi

Politics July 4, 2022

South Korea’s rival parties failed to strike a deal in their last-minute negotiations for forming the next leadership of the legislative branch before the start of this month’s provisional assembly. As the closed-door meeting held Sunday afternoon between floor leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties ended without an agreement, the National Assembly is to remain stalled, further delaying confirmation hearings for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s Cabinet picks and more than

Politics July 3, 2022

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare is starting a pilot run of sickness benefit program Monday as the country mulls making the welfare scheme a nationwide policy. The ministry announced Sunday that six regions had been selected to act as test beds for the initiative until July 4, 2023. The areas are Seoul’s Jongno-gu; Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province; Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province; Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province; Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, and Suncheon, South

Social Affairs July 3, 2022

The race for the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s leadership is heating up, with many rising stars bidding to lead the party to a new phase of politics and help overcome an ongoing series of election defeats. Under the lead of an emergency steering committee, the Democratic Party is preparing for a national convention in August where it will elect the new chair. The chairman seat has been left vacant since former Rep. Song Young-gil resigned in March. The party has seen member

Politics July 3, 2022

South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties are engaging in last-minute negotiations on forming the next leadership of its legislative branch before the start of this month’s provisional assembly. Eyes are centered whether a deal could be reached at the 11th hour to stop the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea from unilaterally electing the next National Assembly speaker. The legislative branch has been off work for more than a month, as negotiations have stalled without much

Politics July 3, 2022

A 17-year-old high school student referred to her first-ever attempt at sexual intercourse last year as “disastrous,” as she and her then-boyfriend had no idea what to do other than to take off their clothes. After searching the internet, the two found a way to give it a go. However, in an interview with The Korea Herald, she said that she still isn’t sure if she did everything right, as nobody has ever told her what a typical sexual relationship entails. “I think my bo

Social Affairs July 2, 2022

The chief of staff for People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok resigned Thursday, as the party’s internal feud escalates over its leadership and future direction. Rep. Park Seong-min sent a text message to reporters Thursday morning saying he will no longer serve as Lee’s chief of staff for personal reasons. Park did not specify the impetus of the resignation. The legislator has served as a bridge between Lee and President Yoon Suk-yeol since being appointed to the chief of staff

Politics June 30, 2022

Tension is mounting over the fate of People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok as a police investigation proceeds ahead of a critical moment for the ruling bloc and its leadership next week. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Tuesday it is planning to summon Kim Sung-jin, CEO of tech company I-kaist, for questioning this Thursday as a part of its ongoing investigation on Lee charged with sexual bribery allegations. The police investigation on Lee started after an unidentified informant

Politics June 28, 2022