The number of immigrants in South Korea, which includes foreign nationals residing here as well as naturalized citizens, reached a record high of over 1.56 million in 2024, according to government data released Tuesday. Similarly, the number of employed foreign nationals also hit an all-time high at 1.01 million. The number of those having resided in South Korea for at least 91 days, aged 15 and above, reached about 1,561,000 as of May, compared to 1.48 million tallied a year earlier, according

Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2024

The Ministry of Employment and Labor, in collaboration with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, announced Tuesday the rollout of 20 safety signs, or pictograms, designed to help foreign national workers easily identify workplace hazards and precautions, regardless of proficiency in the Korean language. These pictograms will be distributed to workplaces employing foreign workers particularly in manufacturing industries. Those pictograms were created based on feedback collected from m

Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2024

The iconic seasonal ice skating rink at Seoul Plaza is set to reopen Friday and operate until Feb. 9 next year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The city government has opened an ice rink every winter since 2004, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rink operates every day -- 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Sunday to Friday with hours extended until 11 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays. The entrance fee has remained unchanged at 1,000 won (70 cents) for 20 years, covering skate rental,

Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2024

Following President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by the National Assembly on Saturday, attention is now focused on whether Yoon's potential criminal charges could delay his impeachment trial. Under Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Act, the Constitutional Court can cease the review of an impeachment prosecution if the defendant is under investigation for the same charge. The Constitutional Court said Monday that suspending impeachment proceedings under Article 51 is "entirely

Social Affairs Dec. 16, 2024

With President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached by the National Assembly on Saturday, questions are mounting over whether the presidential compound -- long considered impenetrable to investigators -- might finally face a full-scale raid. A team of detectives from the National Office of Investigation, tasked with investigating Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law, attempted to raid the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Wednesday. However, the NOI special unit, consisting of 60 personn

Social Affairs Dec. 15, 2024

Over the last two weeks, women in their 20s and 30s, who had been regarded as apolitical, emerged at the forefront of protests demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment escalated. The protests began immediately after Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. After the National Assembly rejected the first impeachment motion on Dec. 7, public anger intensified. That day, protests peaked with an estimated 325,000 people gathered near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, based

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

Vegetarianism has become more prominent in recent years -- whether for ethical reasons, in pursuit of better health, animal welfare, or out of a desire to reduce one's carbon footprint for a more sustainable future, many South Koreans are joining the move as well. That has reshaped the Korean food scene, leading to a surge in innovative vegan restaurants. According to the Korea Vegan Union, the number of vegans in South Korea has increased more than tenfold over the past decade, reaching 2

weekender Dec. 14, 2024

South Korea’s judiciary on Friday criticized the revelation that a sitting judge was reportedly included on a list of individuals whose location was to be tracked for potential arrest during martial law operations on Dec. 3. Describing it as a "serious violation of judicial independence," both the Supreme Court and the Seoul Central District Court issued statements Friday condemning the action as a threat to the rule of law. A local media outlet, the JoongAng Ilbo, reported Frida

Social Affairs Dec. 13, 2024

The Supreme Court on Thursday finalized a two-year prison term for Cho Kuk, leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, on charges including academic fraud involving his children and illegal interference with a government inspection. The 59-year-old, once considered a strong contender for the opposition bloc’s next presidential candidate and an emerging liberal figure in South Korean politics, immediately lost his parliamentary seat and will be barred from running for public off

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

On Tuesday afternoon, the typically tranquil atmosphere of the Seoul Metropolitan Library was transformed into an exuberant celebration. The library’s quiet reading rooms came alive with jazz music and animated discussions as bibliophiles gathered for the Novel Literature Festival Seoul 2024 in honor of author Han Kang. The festival, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korean Publishers Association, was a joyous celebration of Han Kang, who made history as the first Sout

Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

Amid growing concerns over escalating political and social turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of emergency martial law last week, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday that "Seoul is safe" and urged tourists to return, vowing to undertake efforts to ensure the safety of travelers. In a meeting held by Oh at Seoul City Hall, the mayor spoke with key stakeholders in the tourism sector, including representatives from the Seoul Tourism Organization, Korea As

Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

Protests against lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party have intensified following their collective boycott of the impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol. A number of citizens have voiced their anger by sending wreaths of white condolence flowers, throwing eggs at local offices, posting critical statements and even leaving knives outside lawmakers' homes. The backlash began after the impeachment motion against President Yoon was scrapped after ruling party lawmakers' wa

Social Affairs Dec. 10, 2024

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party have faced a barrage of protest text messages after an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was scrapped due to their decision to boycott the vote. PPP lawmakers have been struggling to deal with an endless stream of text messages, according to local reports, Monday. Some lawmakers have complained that their batteries don’t last more than two hours without a backup even with fully charged phones. Just before and after the impeachme

Social Affairs Dec. 9, 2024

South Korea is facing unprecedented political turmoil as the ruling People Power Party, led by its chair Han Dong-hoon, grapples with the exit strategy that would otherwise determine the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Amid the opposition Democratic Party of Korea's persistent push for Yoon's impeachment following allegations of insurrection, the conservative ruling bloc has now strategically shifted toward calls for Yoon's “orderly resignation,” arguing that this pat

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

Seoul faces the same controversy every Christmas: Should the Christmas tree at Seoul Plaza have a Christian cross at the top? The debate has resurfaced once again this year. The 19-meter tree, adorned with an illuminating cross, red ribbons and gift-shaped ornaments, will remain illuminated until Dec. 31, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. On Nov. 18, the lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree took place at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall. The event was attended by key figures i

Social Affairs Dec. 2, 2024