Hoarding disorder may have bigger implications

A series of tragic fire incidents in South Korea have been linked to individuals with hoarding disorders, raising interest and awareness of the condition characterized by persistent difficulty in discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value. The excessive accumulation of items creates hazardous living conditions, leading to increased fire risks. On Feb. 26, a fire broke out in a single-room apartment in Buk-gu, Busan. Noticing the smell of burning, the landlord entered the unit and f

March 12, 2025

Police to decide on disclosing teacher's identity in Daejeon elementary school murder case

Authorities will determine Tuesday whether to disclose the identity of a 48-year-old teacher surnamed Myung, who is accused of murdering a 7-year-old student at an elementary school in Daejeon. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday it will hold a deliberation committee Tuesday at 2 p.m. to review whether to release the suspect’s personal details, including her name, age and photograph. Under South Korean law, law enforcement officials may disclose the personal details of a suspect,

March 10, 2025

U-turn on medical school quotas leaves students, parents reeling

With only 4 months left until admissions process for 2026 kicks off, uncertainty on med school quota fuels confusion among prospective students South Korea’s recent proposal to conditionally roll back its planned hike and cap next year’s medical school enrollment at 3,058 — the quota it was before and has been for the last nearly three decades — has fueled frustration among high school seniors, Suneung test takers and their parents. In February last year, the government announced they would sudd

March 9, 2025

Over 12,000 police to be mobilized on impeachment ruling day

Police to erect massive barricade of buses surrounding Constitutional Court, presidential residence to block all access With the Constitutional Court of Korea expected to deliver its ruling on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment this week, police are reportedly preparing extensive security measures to prevent unrest. According to local media reports, the police initially planned to mobilize 192 riot units, involving 12,000 officers across Seoul on the day of the court's impeachment r

March 9, 2025

Soaring over barriers: Women ambassadors in Seoul reflect on gender equality in leadership

Despite making strides toward gender equality, women still remain underrepresented in leadership positions in most countries, particularly in diplomacy and politics. In marking International Women’s Day, The Korea Herald presents a special feature exploring the persistent gender gap through the voices of female ambassadors serving in Seoul. Their experiences, drawn from diverse cultural and political backgrounds, shed light on both the progress made and the challenges that remain in advancing wo

March 6, 2025

AI digital textbooks off to shaky start as semester begins

As South Korean schools kicked off the new semester on Tuesday, the government's ambitious plan to introduce digital textbooks using artificial intelligence has yet to gain full traction. The Education Ministry revealed that the adoption rate remains at just 33 percent, with administrative and technical hurdles slowing down implementation. During a press briefing the same day, an Education Ministry official stated that as of Friday, the rate of AI digital textbook adoption across schools nationw

March 4, 2025

Prosecutors name Yoon as suspect in insurrection probe

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly avoided impeachment on Saturday after the motion was scrapped for failing to meet the quorum of two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly. However, his legal troubles are far from over. Police, prosecutors and corruption authorities have all begun wide-ranging investigations into his controversial declaration of martial law and opposition parties vow to pursue alternative avenues of accountability. The prosecution said Sunday the president has been booke

Dec. 8, 2024

Who are the ruling party lawmakers who voted on Yoon's impeachment?

In a dramatic turn of events during the Dec. 7 National Assembly vote on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment motion, all but one member of the ruling People Power Party vacated the chamber in a boycott. The motion is likely to fail to pass due to a lack of quorum. Only Ahn Cheol-soo remained among the ruling party members to cast a vote. However, two more lawmakers from the ruling party -- Kim Yea-ji, and Kim Sang-wook -- chose to return and cast their votes. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a three-

Dec. 7, 2024

Protests sweep South Korea as calls for Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation intensify

Mass protests and calls for the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol are spreading across South Korea, with citizens from diverse sectors -- including education, religion, NGOs and the arts -- staging candlelight vigils and rallies denouncing his controversial declaration of martial law. This marks the largest nationwide candlelight protest movement since the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2016. The wave of dissent has been particularly pronounced among university students an

Dec. 5, 2024

Why did President Yoon Suk Yeol resort to martial law?

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday has sparked widespread criticism, marking the first time in over 40 years that such a measure has been invoked. Political experts suggest that the unprecedented move is rooted in Yoon’s increasing political isolation, compounded by numerous scandals, legislative gridlock and growing tensions with both opponents and allies. Park Chang-hwan, a political commentator and professor at Jangan University,

Dec. 4, 2024