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Lee Hae-rin

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.

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Travel & Food

Chinese tour groups start returning to Korea

A street in the shopping area of Myeong-dong in downtown Seoul is crowded with local and foreign visitors, Sunday. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinKorea is expecting a large-scale return of Chinese travelers, as China announced the lifting of its ban on group tours to Korea last week after more than six years of economic sanctions. The sudden surge in interest is a promising development for the tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the tourism industry, Sunday, as soon as the Chinese government announcing the end to its ban on group tours to Korea last Thursday, requests started coming in for cruise ships departing from Shanghai to dock at the southern resort island of Jeju. Fifty-three such requests were made on Thursday and Friday, with the first ships arriving on Friday.The sudden influx of docking requests has led to an early closure of applications for sea routes between the two countries until March next year.Chinese tourists enter Incheon International Ferry Terminal, Saturday

Aug 13, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Chinese tour groups start returning to Korea
Travel & Food

China allows group tours to Korea after more than 6 years of restrictions

A street in the shopping area of Myeong-dong in central Seoul is crowded with people and foreign travelers in this March 29 photo. Korea Times fileBy Lee Hae-rinChina has lifted its ban on group tours to Korea after more than six years of unofficial and official sanctions, signaling the return of Chinese travelers, who used to make up the largest portion of visitors to Korea. The sudden relaxation of travel restrictions will likely lead to a boost in Korea's post-pandemic tourism industry.China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced, Thursday, that the mainland's central government will allow group travel to 78 countries including Korea, Japan and the U.S. starting that day, following the global easing trend of COVID-19.This is an addition to China's first lifting of the ban in January on group tours to 20 countries since closing down its borders due to the pandemic, and the second one in March to 40 countries, including Nepal, Vietnam, Iran, Jordan, France, Spain and Brazil.Although China's official ban on group tours started in January 2020, in line with the COVID-19 outbreak,

Aug 10, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
China allows group tours to Korea after more than 6 years of restrictions
Politics

Jamboree Scouts explore Korea's culture, tourism destinations after leaving Saemangeum

Italian participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree pose at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Wednesday. The 300-member delegation is exploring travel destinations in Seoul and neighboring cities while staying at Inha University's dormitory in Incheon after leaving Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Lee Hae-rinAbout 37,000 young Scouts and adult volunteers from over 150 countries participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree are exploring regional travel points in Seoul and seven other cities after leaving the event's original venue on reclaimed land in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, due to a typhoon forecast, the organizing committee said, Wednesday. The programs arranged for Jamboree participants have diverse themes ranging from Korean traditional and pop culture to nature and high-tech industry field trips, which meet the quadrennial global event's mission of new experiences and exchanges, the committee said.On Wednesday morning, 90 participants from Denmark and Norway experienced a K-pop choreography session and guided tour of media art exhibit

Aug 9, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Jamboree Scouts explore Korea's culture, tourism destinations after leaving Saemangeum
Politics

Lawmakers mull life imprisonment without parole for brutal crimes

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a meeting with lawmakers and police at the Korean National Police Agency's headquarters in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinLawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties seek to introduce life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for offenders of brutal crimes in response to a recent series of deadly random attacks.“A series of random attacks with unknown motives targeting many random people have occurred and heightened public fear,” Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, said during a meeting with PPP lawmakers and members of the Korean National Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Division at the agency's headquarters in Seoul, Monday.Kim said the party plans to introduce life imprisonment without parole as a means to control serious criminals more effectively.Korea's Criminal Act states that an inmate serving a life sentence is eligible to be released on parole after serving 20 years if they display model behavior.A total of 105 people sentenced to li

Aug 8, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Lawmakers mull life imprisonment without parole for brutal crimes
Law & Crime

Police to be granted more leeway to use force against violent criminals

An armed special police squad patrols southern Seoul's Gangnam Station in response to a murder threat posted online, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Hae-rinAmid growing fears of random attacks and online murder threats forewarning of copycat crimes, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon ordered the prosecution, Monday, to broadly endorse the use of force by police in the process of arresting violent offenders.The Korean National Police Agency announced measures for “special policing against serious crimes,” Friday, and urged front-line officers to use firearms and stun guns against culprits at the scenes of stabbing rampages. The minister's statement came amid criticism against an order discouraging police officials responding on site from actively arresting suspects of violent crimes for fear of allegations of police brutality.“The recent series of random violent crimes led some innocent civilians to die and heightened public concerns,” the minister said explaining the order's background in a released statement.Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon attend

Aug 7, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Police to be granted more leeway to use force against violent criminals
  • Police reveal identity of fatal stabbing rampage suspect
Politics

Fears grow over copycat crimes following series of stabbing rampages

Police and subway officials patrol Jamsil Station in southeastern Seoul, Friday, in response to a menacing online post that threatened a copycat crime similar to the stabbing rampage that took place the day before in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap Gov't mulls introducing life imprisonment without parole for serious crimesBy Lee Hae-rinA series of copycat crimes and menacing online posts forewarning of similar attacks have emerged across the country following stabbing rampages at southern Seoul's Sillim Station and a department store in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.On Thursday evening, a 22-year-old surnamed Choi rammed a vehicle into pedestrians outside a department store near Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and then attacked shoppers with a knife inside the building. The attack left 14 people injured with two in critical condition and at risk of brain death, according to fire authorities, Friday. On Sunday, a woman in her 60s who had been brain

Aug 4, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Fears grow over copycat crimes following series of stabbing rampages
  • Man nabbed for stabbing teacher at high school in Daejeon
  • Police to beef up patrols, stop and searches in wake of back-to-back stabbing rampages
  • Police intensify investigation into surge of copycat crime threats following stabbing rampage
Society

Only 35% of Koreans feel happy about life: survey

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hae-rinOnly 35 percent of Koreans feel happy about life, with the level of happiness in older age groups being lower, a recent study showed. Social contact and communication with others were key factors that increased people's happiness levels, while unmet health issues made people unhappy.According to the Public Health Weekly Report (PHWR), the official journal of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), published on July 6, only 34.7 percent of Koreans feel happy about life, with the average happiness level on the index at just 6.68 points in a scale of zero to 10.The study also showed that the people's happiness levels declined by age group. Thirty-nine-point-four percent of respondents aged between 19 and 44 said they were happy, but the rating went down for older age groups, with just 35.3 percent reporting a sense of happiness for those aged 45 to 64 years old. The figure went lower still for 65 to 74 year olds, registering just 29.7 percent, and only 25.7 percent among those aged over 75.The happiness level was slightly higher among men com

Aug 3, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Only 35% of Koreans feel happy about life: survey
Travel & Food

Booking.com to offer 'Ultimate K-pop Experience in Seoul' in August

A three-dimensional rendering of the K-pop-themed stage, which will be featured at an executive producer suite at RYSE hotel in Seoul where winners of the Ultimate K-pop Experience will stay for two nights in August / Courtesy of Booking.comBy Lee Hae-rinBooking.com, a leading online travel platform, will offer one K-pop fan and their guest an unforgettable journey to Seoul in August.Dubbed the “Ultimate K-pop Experience in Seoul,” the trip will include flights to Seoul, and a two-night stay at the executive producer suite in the trendy lifestyle hotel, RYSE, in vibrant Hongdae, western Seoul. The Y2K-styled room features a private stage for “noraebang,” or karaoke, and an in-suite hot food station featuring popular Korean snacks such as “ramyeon” and “tteokbokki.”The trip also includes several K-pop-themed activities, including front-row seats at the live music show “M Countdown,” an “idol makeover” from hair and makeup artists who work with Korean celebrities such as IU to members of Girls' Generation and a pho

Aug 3, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Booking.com to offer 'Ultimate K-pop Experience in Seoul' in August
Travel & Food

Taste 'gwahaju,' Korea's traditional summer drink

Gwahaju, or Korean traditional fortified liquor that has long been a summer seasonal specialty, brewed in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Gimcheon GwahajuKorea's traditional medicinal wine fortified with soju makes hot summer more bearableBy Lee Hae-rinGwahaju, which means “liquor that gets you through the summer” in Korean, is a seasonal delicacy that has guided Koreans through the summer heat for centuries.It is a light brown-colored, sweet-smelling, sticky-rice-based medicinal wine that has soju added during its fermentation process. The addition of the distilled spirit fortifies the fermented beverage, which intentionally interrupts the growth of microorganisms that change the flavor and allows the liquor to retain its taste and quality throughout the hot weather.Gwahaju normally has between 13 to 15 percent alcohol, which is higher than traditional rice wine makgeolli with 6 percent and similar to commercially distilled liquor soju with 14 percent.The making of gwahaju is similar to fortified drinks developed in other countries, such as Portugal's p

Aug 3, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Taste 'gwahaju,' Korea's traditional summer drink
Society

Gov't to enhance bilingual education support for children from multicultural families

Children of multicultural families and their mothers, marriage immigrants to Korea, participate in a bilingual education program at a family support center in Hongseong county, South Chungcheong Province, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and FamilyBy Lee Hae-rinKorea plans to strengthen support for bilingual education for children from multicultural backgrounds at family support centers across the country, the government announced, Wednesday.Since 2014, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been operating bilingual education projects to help children from multicultural families learn their parents' native languages from an early age. This year, the ministry expanded the support by providing tailored bilingual classes for multicultural children aged under 12, reflecting growing demand from multicultural families.The ministry also published a teaching guide on bilingual education and distributed copies to family support centers across the country last month in time for summer vacation programs. There are 211 family support centers in Korea as of J

Aug 2, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Gov't to enhance bilingual education support for children from multicultural families
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