8 of 10 reporters who covered Yoon Suk Yeol's trial predict unanimous ruling to oust him

Only one of the 10 surveyed predicted verdict reinstating Yoon Reporters who covered all 11 hearings of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial overwhelmingly predict a unanimous decision to remove the suspended president, the country's journalist association reported Wednesday. According to the Journalists Association of Korea’s survey of 10 reporters who covered the Constitutional Court throughout Yoon’s trial, nine expect the ruling to uphold his impeachment, removing him from the top off

March 12, 2025

If convicted, US YouTuber Johnny Somali likely to be deported, face reentry ban: legal expert

An American YouTuber known as Johnny Somali, who is currently on trial for offensive behavior, could be deported and banned from reentering South Korea if convicted, a local lawyer said. The 24-year-old whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael faces three charges, which include obstruction of business and violations of the Minor Offenses Act. He is not physically detained, although he is banned from leaving the country. Kim Ju-hyeong, a senior attorney at the law firm Majung, who specializes in i

March 11, 2025

Buyer of record W7.4b luxury Banpo apartment was Uzbek national: data

The new owner of a high-end apartment unit in Seoul’s Banpo district, which was sold for a record 7.4 billion won ($5.09 million) late last year, has been identified as a 41-year-old Uzbek national, data showed Monday. A real estate register, seen by Herald Business, a sister paper of The Korea Herald, revealed that the owner acquired the 244-square-meter unit on the 26th floor of Banpo Xi, a landmark apartment complex in Seocho-gu's Banpo-dong, in November last year. That is 300 million won mor

March 10, 2025

Controversial YouTuber Johnny Somali pleads guilty to all charges in Seoul court

The YouTuber who calls himself Johnny Somali, who faced public backlash last year in South Korea for his videos showing him kissing a "comfort woman" statue ― representing victims of wartime sexual slavery ― and doing other controversial actions, admitted to all three charges against him during the first hearing in his trial last week, according to local reports Monday. According to Yonhap, the 24-year-old American streamer, whose real name is Ramsay Khalid Ismael, arrived an hour late for the h

March 10, 2025

1 in 6 Korean youths obese, with half at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure: study

About 1 in 6 South Korean students are obese and nearly half of those have at least one risk factor for a metabolic disorder, a study showed Sunday. According to the Health Insurance Research Institute under the National Health Insurance Service, the obesity rate among elementary, middle and high school students was 16.7 percent, while the figure for preschool children aged 1-6 years old stood at 8.3 percent, as of 2023. Overweight children and students made up 17.7 percent and 27.3 percent, res

March 9, 2025

After being spotted in Seoul, Chris Hemsworth confirms shoot in Korea

After sightings of a person suspected to be Chris Hemsworth in the streets of Seoul over the past few days, the Hollywood actor confirmed he was in the city for a shoot. Hemsworth, known for his role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealed his recent trip to Seoul through an Instagram post Thursday, writing, “A little behind the scenes from our recent Limitless 2 shoot! South Korea exceeded expectations.” The post includes a series of photos, including some featuring Hemsworth wearing

March 6, 2025

South Koreans report higher level of depression in 2024: survey

Income significantly affects happiness, national pride high before martial law crisis More South Koreans expressed feelings of anxiety and depression in 2024, with their happiness levels varying across income groups, a survey showed Thursday. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Institute of Public Administration on 8,251 Korean nationals aged 19 and over, between August and September last year, the average anxiety level of respondents stood at 4.1 points out of 10 in 2024, up from 3.4 p

March 6, 2025

Street racers near Everland sent to prosecutors

After sunset, an empty road near Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, became a training ground for drivers practicing dangerous tricks. The noise and commotion from their gatherings, which persisted throughout 2024, led to over 40 complaints filed with authorities. On Wednesday, the police in Yongin announced they were sending 10 suspects — all in their 20s — to the prosecution after months of investigation. They were not physically detained. The drivers are accused of practicing da

March 5, 2025

Reality vs. TV drama: Korean trauma nurse talks 'Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' and 'missing' nurses on choppers

In Netflix's latest hit medical drama series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," an air ambulance often turns into a high-stakes operating room. Trauma surgeons making bold incisions mid-flight in a race against time keep viewers on the edge of their seats. However, there's an important element missing: The presence of trauma nurses. According to Kim Dong-ju, a 33-year-old nurse at a trauma center at the Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, it is generally a team of two — a

March 5, 2025

Protesters offered prepaid coffees, snacks as support pours in from faraway

Participants at the anti-President Yoon Suk Yeol rallies near the National Assembly in Yeouido on Saturday were provided with coffee, snacks and meals paid for by supporters. Some restaurants and cafes near the protest sites were flooded with preorders from citizens who paid in advance for food and drinks for unknown protesters. Pictures showing proof of prepayments made at restaurants, cafes and bakeries near the parliament building, as well as Gwanghwamun Square, where tens of thousands

Dec. 7, 2024