One dead, mass casualties feared in battery factory fire in South Korea

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - A fire broke out at a battery manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, on Monday, leaving at least one worker dead and six others injured, authorities said. Officials fear the casualty count may rise, as an estimated 23 people, including 20 foreign nationals and two Koreans, are believed to be trapped inside the facility. The blaze started at 10:31 a.m. at a factory operated by Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The cause of the

June 24, 2024

500 yoga practitioners gather in southern Seoul to celebrate 10th International Yoga Day

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Despite heavy showers, 500 yoga practitioners and enthusiasts gathered last Saturday at COEX, a massive underground shopping mall complex in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam, to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day. The event, jointly hosted by the Embassy of India to Korea and the Korea Yoga Association (KYA), was attended by Indian Ambassador Amit Kumar and KYA President Cheon Jun-pil, who greeted guests and yoga practitioners at the ope

June 24, 2024

Foreign students flock to Seoul, shunning provincial universities

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Foreign students are increasingly choosing Seoul and surrounding areas for their studies in Korea, according to a report released by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) on Monday. The influx is further exacerbating the country's ongoing issue of urban concentration, with nearly half of the population now residing in the capital region. According to the Bank of Korea, more than 40 percent of Korea's population lives in the Seoul met

June 24, 2024

Weak yen draws more Korean travelers to Japan

SEOUL, June 21 (AJU PRESS) - The weak Japanese yen has attracted over 10 million Korean travelers to Japan during the first five months of this year, up about 46 percent compared to the same period last year. According to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Friday, some 10.26 million people traveled to the island country between January and May, up 46.2 percent from last year's 6.95 million. The figure is the highest ever recorded since the m

June 21, 2024

Korea imposes stricter penalties on delinquent parents

SEOUL, June 20 (AJU PRESS) - Those who neglect paying child allowance now face more inconvenience and restrictions, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday. The ministry has decided to publicly unveil the names of these delinquents, suspend their drivers' licenses, and impose travel bans. In Korea, divorced couples, either the mother or father without custody, are responsible for financially supporting their former spouse until their child turns 18. The amount

June 20, 2024

Season's first heatwave advisory issued as temperatures soar in Seoul

SEOUL, June 19 (AJU PRESS) - This year's first heatwave advisory was issued for Seoul and other inland areas on Wednesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued the advisory as the mercury soared to 34.4 degrees Celsius in the afternoon in Seoul. It also issued heat advisories for many other parts of the country. The advisory is issued when the highest "feels-like" temperature is expected to climb above 33 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutiv

June 19, 2024

Medical service disruptions set to worsen as more doctors join strike

SEOUL, June 18 (AJU PRESS) - Doctors at private clinics went on a full-scale strike on Tuesday, joining the ongoing protest by trainee doctors at university hospitals. This worsening situation, sparked by the government's radical reform plans to increase admission quotas at medical schools, could lead to disruptions for patients, resulting in an unprecedented medical service vacuum in Korea. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday, only 4.02 percent of docto

June 18, 2024

Korea to streamline entry procedures for tourists to revitalize tourism

SEOUL, June 17 (AJU PRESS) - In a bid to attract more tourists and boost revenue, the government Monday announced a series of plans to simplify entry procedures and enhance travel conveniences for foreign travelers. Korea's tourism industry was severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of foreign visitors plummeting from 17.5 million in 2019 to 970,000 in 2021. Thanks to the increasing popularity of K-pop and Korean dramas in the global market, tourism is

June 17, 2024

Admiral Yi Sun-shin named most admired figure among Koreans

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - Admiral Yi Sun-shin remains the most revered figure among many Koreans, according to a recent survey by pollster Gallup Korea. In the survey of nearly 2,000 people aged 13 and above released this week, some 14 percent named the historical naval hero as the person they respect the most. Yi had previously topped the same survey in 2014 and 2019. The admiration for Yi seems stronger among men, with 18 percent choosing him, compared to 9 percent of women.

June 14, 2024

Canadian Embassy calls for collaborative efforts in Arctic marine conservation

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - The Embassy of Canada to Korea hosted a special event in Seoul on Thursday to raise awareness about protecting the marine environment. The event, held in collaboration with the Korea Polar Research Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute, brought together environmentalists and other experts to discuss conservation efforts for the Arctic marine environment. Among the participants were visiting Inuit delegates, indigenous to the Arctic, who came to S

June 14, 2024