my timesThe Korea Times
lhj

Lee Hyo-jin

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.

Go to Email

Read more

Law & Crime

Women's rights groups call for complete abolishment of anti-abortion law

Members of the Joint Action for Reproductive Justice hold a press conference on Monday urging the government to completely abolish anti-abortion laws, in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. / Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin Women's rights activists are urging the government to take swift action to revise current laws to ensure the complete decriminalization of abortion, regardless of the length of pregnancy.The country's 67-year-old Anti-abortion Law was declared unconstitutional by a landmark ruling of the Constitutional Court in April last year, which stated that banning abortion in the early stages of pregnancy was a violation of the right to self-determination.In line with the ruling, the court left lawmakers to decide how to legally define the “early stages of pregnancy” when they amend the related law by Dec. 31 this year. The activists held various campaigns both online and offline Monday, marking the annual International Safe Abortion Day, which falls Sept. 28. The Joint Acti

Oct 1, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Women's rights groups call for complete abolishment of anti-abortion law
Politics

Controversy over justice minister continues over son's military service

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae attends a cabinet meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinJustice Minister Choo Mi-ae is facing continued controversy over her son's military service even after the prosecution cleared her of allegations that she had used her influence as a powerful politician to gain special favors for her son in 2017 while he was serving as a Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldier.After a months-long investigation, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office announced Monday that it found no grounds to indict Choo, her 27-year-old son surnamed Seo, and her former aide surnamed Choi regarding Seo's military service as a KATUSA with the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eighth U.S. Army.Choo has been under fire over allegations that she used her influence as the then chairwoman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea to seek special favors in extending her son's medical leave after he underwent knee surgery in June 2017.Although the prosecution dropped the investigation into her for putting external pressure on offic

Sep 29, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Controversy over justice minister continues over son's military service
Health

Gov't extends level 2 social distancing for 2 weeks

A woman walks past a singing room in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Friday, while the attached notice reads that it is closed due to bans imposed on high-risk facilities in the greater Seoul area. / YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government decided Friday to extend the current Level 2 social distancing scheme for another two weeks as part of the strengthened quarantine measures for the upcoming Chuseok long weekend.The current social distancing guidelines imposed nationwide were initially planned to end at midnight Sunday.But the health authorities decided to set two weeks from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 as a special quarantine period to tighten antivirus efforts, as a large number of people are expected to travel across the country to visit their families and relatives. The five-day Chuseok long weekend begins on Sept. 30. Under the measures, night entertainment facilities including clubs and bars will be closed nationwide. Indoor gatherings of 50 people or more and outdoor events of 100 or more will continue to be prohibited. Sports games including traditional folk games and local festivals can be held

Sep 25, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Gov't extends level 2 social distancing for 2 weeks
  • New virus cases over 100 for third day, virus fight put to test ahead of holiday
Society

Jobseekers criticize KB Kookmin Bank over excessive requirements

KB Kookmin Bank's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul / Korea Times FileBy Lee Hyo-jin KB Kookmin Bank has upset many jobseekers over its recent job opening announcement for its excessive demands and challenging tasks from the initial stage of the recruitment process, Thursday.Applicants were required to complete two additional assignments apart from uploading their resume and cover letter and completing an artificial intelligence (AI) interview.The first task was to present a proposal report of three to five pages on the topic “Strategies to enhance KB Kookmin's digital competency.” Their reports were to include assessments on the bank's mobile apps and ways to improve them. Another task was to take a 24-hour online course on the Test of Practical Competency in ICT (TOPCIT), based on which the company will conduct a written exam in November as part of the recruitment process.KB Kookmin Bank's recruitment announcement posted on Tuesday was criticized by jobseekers for its excessive requirements. / Screen capture from KB Kookmin Bank websiteAs the assignments are due on Oct. 5,

Sep 24, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Jobseekers criticize KB Kookmin Bank over excessive requirements
Politics

Gyeonggi Province to test basic income scheme for farmers

Gyeonggi Provincial Government building located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Gyeonggi ProvinceBy Lee Hyo-jinThe Gyeonggi Provincial Government is planning a test run of a basic income program for local farmers starting next April, according to officials,Tuesday.The plans will provide periodic cash payments to farmers in the region to support their long-term livelihoods.The municipal government launched preparations for the trial in June when it designated two institutions, Korea Regional Development Foundation (KRDF) and Nyeoreum, an agricultural policy research institute, to design the scheme and set criteria through which the authorities will designate a suitable town for the experiment. The province held a meeting with the two organizations on Monday to receive reports on current developments and discuss the details. During the session, KRDF proposed to give monthly cash handouts to all residents in the designated town for two years in the form of a “regional currency.” The currency would only be valid in traditional markets, eateries or cafes in the area,

Sep 23, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Gyeonggi Province to test basic income scheme for farmers
Society

Regulation on plastic use to come into effect next year

Several examples of plastic packaging which will be banned from January next year under the new regulations / Courtesy of Ministry of Environment By Lee Hyo-jin Regulations on the plastic packaging of consumer goods will come into effect starting January next year to reduce excessive use of single-use plastics, the Ministry of Environment announced Tuesday.The Ministry has produced a set of mandatory guidelines on the use of plastic bags widely used to package consumer products. It had pushed for them to be adopted earlier this year, but had to postpone the introduction following a backlash from businesses.Under the new regulations, plastic wrapping for promotional items often seen in supermarkets will be banned. Also, three or fewer products sold individually cannot be packaged in one plastic bag. The government will allow exemptions when additional packaging is needed for transportation, hygiene and safety purposes. Plastic packaging for fresh products such as mea

Sep 22, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Regulation on plastic use to come into effect next year
Health

40% of Seoul residents have mental health issues due to COVID-19

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin The prolonged coronavirus pandemic has seen the mental health of Seoul citizens deteriorate more than their physical health, according to a recent survey by Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG).According to the survey results released on Monday, 1,489 of 3,983 respondents ― almost 40 percent ― said their mental health has deteriorated since the start of the pandemic, whereas 22 percent felt it has worsened their physical health. A total of 3,983 Seoul residents aged between 10 and 90 took part in the survey. The poll, organized in cooperation with IBM, was conducted via chatbots.The main reasons offered for declining mental health were refraining from outdoor activities under social distancing measures, economic hardship, discomfort from wearing face masks, overall lethargy in daily routine, and the absence of human interaction.The survey also revealed that people feel more stressed about isolation than unemployment or decreased income. One third of the respondents stated that restricted leisure activities including travel bans were the main reason f

Sep 21, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Politics

Gyeonggi Province to hold job fair for international students

Gyeonggi Province Government building located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province By Lee Hyo-jin Gyeonggi Province will hold a two-day job fair from Wednesday for international students in Korea seeking employment here, according to province officials, Monday.Through contactless job interviews, the municipal government plans to match foreign students in the area with local companies seeking to expand their business overseas.Some 80 international students have enrolled for job interviews conducted by 15 local businesses from various sectors. The city had previously planned to set up one-on-one counseling booths and on-site recruitment, but had to move the event online due to a recent resurgence of coronavirus cases in the greater Seoul area.Prior to the job fair, students will be provided with detailed information about the firms through a recruiting website. Job interviews will be held from Wednesday without face-to-face contact, using kiosks

Sep 21, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Gyeonggi Province to hold job fair for international students
Law & Crime

What you need to know about notorious child rapist Cho Doo-soon

Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam speaks to child rapist Cho Doo-soon at Cheongsong Correction Center in this Mar. 16, 2010 file photo. / Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-jin Notorious child rapist Cho Doo-soon's upcoming release, scheduled for Dec. 13, is making the public nervous. Calls are mounting to keep him in prison forever, but will it be possible?Below are some questions and answers about Cho and why it is so difficult to keep him behind bars within the current legal boundaries: What has he done?In 2008, Cho, then 57, violently raped an 8-year-old girl in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. After kidnapping the victim on her way to school, Cho took her to a church restroom. He choked, beat and brutally raped her. The victim was left with severe injuries which resulted in permanent internal damage. Cho was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He has 17 other criminal convictions dating from 1970, including sexual offenses and murder. How have people responded the possibility of his

Sep 18, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
What you need to know about notorious child rapist Cho Doo-soon
Society

Work from home likely to continue: survey

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jinAs working from home is becoming increasingly common amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, many people question what this means for the future of the workplace. The shift to remote work is likely to continue in Korea even after the pandemic ends, according to a recent survey, Thursday.A survey conducted by the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) among the top 100 firms in terms of domestic sales showed that they have adapted well to the new scheme triggered by the pandemic, and more than half plan to expand it even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.The data was collected through phone calls with company representatives between Sept. 7 and 8, when Seoul and its surrounding area was under level 2.5 social distancing measures, and the rest of the country under level 2. Among the respondents, 88 percent said they had applied a full or partial work-from-home scheme. Two percent of respondents said they had plans to adopt the system in the near future. Another 8 percent did not have staff working remotely and had no plans to implement the option in the future. T

Sep 17, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Work from home likely to continue: survey
previous page
173174175176177
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.