Korea Times K-Culture Reporter
Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
The once bustling streets of dog meat restaurants in central Seoul turned deserted, Wednesday, as consuming the meat fell out of favor among Koreans. This void was accentuated as Korea officially banned this age-old practice on Tuesday.
Korea put an end to the contentious tradition of consuming dogs as the National Assembly passed a special bill, marking a rare moment of political unity to ban the trade and consumption of dog meat.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to raise the subway fare sometime this year by 150 won (11 cents), according to the city government, Monday. Although the exact timeline is unknown, the increase could take effect as early as July, in sync with the official implementation of the city's unlimited transit pass.
Police said they will respond sternly to anyone who posts threats to commit copycat crimes or spreads misinformation online following the recent knife attack against Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic People of Korea.
About half of Jeju residents believe that the island's foreigner-only casinos contribute to increases in local crime and therefore more government regulation is necessary, a survey showed, Friday.
Patients are struggling to find prescription and over-the-counter medicines in pharmacies amid a nationwide outbreak of influenza as well as a global drug shortage.
2024 kicked off, Monday, marking the Year of the Blue Dragon in the sexagenary cycle. As a symbol of strength, prosperity and success, the dragon, the fifth sign and the only mythical creature among the 12 Oriental zodiac signs, has long been cherished as a guardian creature for the Korean people.
A 30-year-old Suwon-based office worker surnamed Choi found it strange not to become a year older even after a New Year started.
Foreign women who migrated to Korea to marry Korean men showed a more than twofold chance of experiencing depression compared to Korean adult women, a government study showed, Monday.