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South Korea Reviews Athlete Housing Perks Following Asian Games Backlash

South Korea Reviews Athlete Housing Perks Following Asian Games Backlash

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is reviewing an overhaul of the system that grants special housing benefits to athletes who achieve outstanding results in international sports competitions. This review comes amid a fairness controversy that intensified after the recent Asian Games. The current MOLIT ordinance, the "Rules on the Supply of Dwellings," allows athletes who place within the top three in events like the Olympics, world championships, and Asian Games to apply for national and private dwellings of 85 square meters or less, once in a lifetime, provided they are homeowners. The controversy escalated due to public backlash, particularly when remarks by some men's national soccer team players regarding military service exemptions coincided with these housing benefits. Critics argue that these 'double benefits' are difficult to justify, especially given the rising challenges young people and newlyweds face in purchasing homes.

North Korea's Kim showcases missile capable of reaching US as Trump signals possible meeting

North Korea's Kim showcases missile capable of reaching US as Trump signals possible meeting

By Joyce Lee and Kyu-seok Shim SEOUL, Oct 13 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a defence industry museum displaying an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States, state media KCNA showed on Tuesday.

Kim Young-hee Becomes First North Korean Defector to Lead Korea Hana Foundation

Kim Young-hee Becomes First North Korean Defector to Lead Korea Hana Foundation

Kim Young-hee, a 61-year-old North Korean defector, has been appointed as the new chairman of the North Korean Refugee Support Foundation (North and South Hana Foundation). This marks the first time since the foundation's establishment in 2010 that a former North Korean defector has held this leadership position. Kim, who previously served as the director of the North Korean Development Research Institute, will serve a three-year term. She defected to South Korea in 2002 from Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, and has since become an expert in the North Korean economy, advising various government agencies and local governments. The Ministry of Unification expressed expectations that Kim's appointment will enhance the representation of North Korean defectors and foster communication and social integration between North and South Koreans. The position had been vacant for over 19 months following the dismissal of the previous chief, Cho Min-ho, due to allegations of harassment.

South Korean City Adopts U.S. 'Great Books' Educational Model Amid AI Concerns

South Korean City Adopts U.S. 'Great Books' Educational Model Amid AI Concerns

The South Korean city of Chuncheon has adopted an educational model based on the U.S. 'great books' approach, as reported by NPR's Anthony Kuhn. This initiative comes amidst concerns among educators in developed Asian countries, including South Korea, about declining reading proficiency test scores and the potential negative impact of artificial intelligence on students' critical thinking skills. The 'great books' model, originating from institutions like St. John's College in the U.S., emphasizes collective inquiry and discussion of classic texts rather than rote memorization. Students in Chuncheon are engaging with works from authors such as Mary Shelley, Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Martin Luther King Jr., fostering debate and independent thought. This approach contrasts with South Korea's traditionally competitive and test-centered education system, which often prioritizes memorization.

South Korea’s military says North Korea fired a projectile toward the sea

South Korea’s military says North Korea fired a projectile toward the sea

South Korea’s military says North Korea fired at least one projectile toward its eastern waters, adding to a recent streak in weapons demonstrations

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missiles, adding to streak of weapons tests

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missiles, adding to streak of weapons tests

South Korea’s military says North Korea fired at least one projectile toward its eastern waters, adding to a recent streak in weapons demonstrations

Korean and Italian Producers Sign Co-Production Pact at Busan Market

Korean and Italian Producers Sign Co-Production Pact at Busan Market

The Producers Guild of Korea and Italy’s CNA Cinema e Audiovisivo will set up exchange programs and share information on public funding, building on the two countries’ government-level co-production accord. Korean and Italian producers will have a direct line to each other after the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) and CNA Cinema e Audiovisivo (CNA) […]

South Korean Parliamentary Speaker Cho Discusses Energy and Defense Cooperation with Croatian President

South Korean Parliamentary Speaker Cho Discusses Energy and Defense Cooperation with Croatian President

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik recently concluded a series of meetings with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The primary focus of these discussions was to enhance energy and defense cooperation between South Korea and Croatia. During his meeting with President Milanovic in Zagreb, Speaker Cho highlighted the friendly and cooperative relations that have existed since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, which were elevated to a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership in 2023. A significant aspect of the defense cooperation is the recent deal signed by South Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace to export 18 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Croatia, valued at approximately 640 billion won (US$477 million). This marks the first major arms deal between the two countries and is expected to open avenues for broader partnership, including industrial cooperation and military logistics sup...

Lee Joon Reveals Financial Struggles and Health Issues During MBLAQ Career

Lee Joon Reveals Financial Struggles and Health Issues During MBLAQ Career

Lee Joon Reveals Financial Struggles and Health Issues During MBLAQ Career

Seoul Court Rules U.S. Prison Term Counts Towards Korean Military Exemption

Seoul Court Rules U.S. Prison Term Counts Towards Korean Military Exemption

A Seoul administrative court has ruled that a Korean-born man who served 14 years in a U.S. prison for armed robbery is exempt from mandatory military service in Korea. This decision extends the existing exemption for inmates to those who have completed their sentences overseas, a stance previously rejected by the Military Manpower Administration. The man, who became a permanent resident in the U.S. and was deported to Korea after completing his sentence last year, was convicted of robbery and aggravated assault in 2010. While a physical examination deemed him eligible for alternative service as a social service agent, he sought assignment to wartime labor service, which exempts individuals from peacetime military duty. The court sided with the man, asserting that the rationale for excluding inmates from active duty—to protect military discipline and maintain the quality of the armed forces—applies regardless of where the sentence was served. However, the court stipulated that such overseas prison sentence...

Actor Jung Woo-sung Resigns as Internal Director of Artist Company

Actor Jung Woo-sung Resigns as Internal Director of Artist Company

Actor Jung Woo-sung Resigns as Internal Director of Artist Company

Chinese AI Tool Artex Halts Public Updates Following Misuse in South Korean Hacks

Chinese AI Tool Artex Halts Public Updates Following Misuse in South Korean Hacks

Chinese AI Tool Artex Halts Public Updates Following Misuse in South Korean Hacks