The Korea Times

Singer Psy invites soldiers to concert

Singer Psy performs during his Summer Swag concert in Seoul on June 30. NewsisBy Kim Se-jeongSinger Psy, known for his ultra-popular song “Gangnam Style” and its signature horse dance, is good at firing up his concert-going fans from the stage.Last weekend, he cheered on soldiers and improved their morale by inviting hundreds of them to one of his Summer Swag concerts in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, on Saturday, for free.This was made public on Sunday after one of the soldiers, whose name was not disclosed, wrote about it on his Facebook. He said the soldiers had been deployed for civilian recovery work in regions that were devastated in recent torrential rain and resultant flooding.“The concert was scheduled in Boryeong on July 29, which initially was just a pie in the sky for us. But Psy donated the tickets to the military units (in the region). Hundreds of servicemen and other military personnel had the opportunity to enjoy the concert and take some time off,” the soldier wrote.“I heard that Psy has a big heart for military personnel and I co

Jul 31, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Foreign Affairs

S. Korean FM discusses improving bilateral cooperation with Turkish president

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands, prior to talks in Istanbul, Turkey, July 28. Courtesy of the foreign ministry South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin has met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed improving the two countries' strategic partner relationship, the ministry said Saturday. Park met with Erdogan in Turkey (Turkiye), Friday (local time), during his four-nation trip, which will also take him to three other countries, according to the foreign ministry. It marks the first visit to Turkey by Seoul's foreign minister in eight years. In the meeting, Park expressed gratitude to the "brother nation" for dispatching around 20,000 soldiers during the 1950-1953 Korean War, marking the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, according to the ministry. The minister asked for Turkey's support for the South Korean government's "audacious" initiative, which offers massive economic assis

Jul 29, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

S. Korean FM discusses improving bilateral cooperation with Turkish president

Society

Famous child psychiatrist under fire following teacher's suicide

Dr. Oh Eun-young on her TV show/ Korea Times fileBy Kim Se-jeongThe suicide of an elementary school teacher has triggered a variety of debates in Korea, with some teachers taking aim at a renowned psychiatrist and television personality Dr. Oh Eun-young and her program featuring children with behavioral issues.They argue the approach of Oh, a doctor of psychiatry who in addition to her TV appearances is also a writer and YouTuber, has played a role in weakening teacher authority in schools. “Oh made many parents believe all children must be heard and loved under any circumstances,” one teacher wrote on an online forum. “As more parents worship Oh's approach, they diminish teachers' authority in dealing with school children.” “My Geumchoggi” is a weekly TV show featuring children with behavior problems and Oh offering advice. The TV show has become so popular that it became a must-watch among parents in Korea. Many closely adhere to her approaches to discipline. She is also the author of several books on the same topic. “Dr. Oh, let me ask you

Jul 27, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Famous child psychiatrist under fire following teacher's suicide

Society

People's stories offer glimpses into desperate moment in flooded tunnel

This still, from a dashcam video belonging to a survivor, was recorded while he was trying to turn his vehicle around in the tunnel in Osong in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, as it filled with water, Saturday. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongAs a rescue operation is over at a flooded tunnel that trapped vehicles in Osong in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, stories of the victims and survivors offer glimpses into the last few minutes leading up to the flood that engulfed the tunnel, Saturday. “I was driving behind the bus in the tunnel,” one survivor told Yonhap News Agency. “Watching how fast the water was approaching, I felt I needed to escape. Luckily, I managed to turn my car around and yelled at other drivers to turn around.” His escape was captured by his dashcam, which has gone viral online. The flood took 14 lives. A 50-year-old man spoke of his nephew who climbed on top of his car in the tunnel together with his brother-in-law. The nephew was found dead while the brother-in-law survived. “My nephew got married only two months ago. He was giving

Jul 19, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

People's stories offer glimpses into desperate moment in flooded tunnel

Foreign Affairs

First lady supports Busan's Expo bid with key rings

This compiled photo image shows key rings on first lady Kim Keon Hee's bag, June 19, when she was departing for Paris. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongFirst ladies' fashion often makes a buzz.In Korea, first lady Kim Keon Hee's bags are turning heads. On her trip to Japan earlier this year, she carried a bag designed and manufactured by a Korean company showing her support for locally produced goods. During her trip to Spain last year, people talked about an eco-friendly bag that she had brought. On Monday, Kim and her husband Yoon Suk Yeol left for Paris and this time, people are talking about two key rings fastened to her bag, showing her support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030. Visible on the key rings were the messages: “Busan is ready” and “Hip Korea”According to local news outlets, she was involved in the making of the key rings and carried them to Paris to hand out as gifts.The presidential couple flew to Paris to attend a general assembly of the Bureau International de Expositions which takes place on Tuesday local time. Yoon is expected to make a pre

Jun 20, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

First lady supports Busan's Expo bid with key rings

Law & Crime

Parents investigated for beating teenage daughter

Surveillance camera footage shows two parents and a daughter, who kneels down in front of her mother. Screen captured from SBS' YouTube accountBy Kim Se-jeongPolice are investigating an alleged child abuse case by two parents and their son against their daughter. According to the police and local news outlets, the alleged physical abuse took place on a street in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, around midnight on May 15. Surveillance camera recordings showed the teenage girl running away barefoot on the street outside of an apartment building and the father pulling her hair and hitting different parts of her body to stop her. In other footage, the mother kicks the daughter and hits her head until the daughter kneels down. The girl's older brother also took part in the assault.Police immediately separated the family from the daughter and ordered the parents and the son to stay away from her. On May 19, a local court ordered the father to be detained for being a potential danger to his daughter according to the law. The mother and son were not detained. The daughter was taken to a dif

May 22, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Parents investigated for beating teenage daughter

Society

Police probe alleged physical abuse of disabled children at day care center

CCTV footage shows a teacher hitting a child on the face at a day care facility in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. Screen captured from Yonhap New Agency's YouTube accountBy Kim Se-jeongPolice are investigating alleged child abuse cases at a day care center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, involving children with disabilities. According to Gyeongnam Police Agency and local news reports, arrest warrants have been requested for four teachers for abusing 15 children at the specialized facility for children with developmental disorders. A number of employees are still under investigation.CCTV footage that went viral online showed the teachers hitting the heads, arms, faces and legs of the children repeatedly. The police said that more than 500 acts of abuse had occurred in the span of two months at the facility and that one teacher is accused of 200 instances of abusing children during the period. The police said the teachers had admitted to the abuse, but claimed that they could not help doing so because communication with the children was difficult. The police opened the investig

May 17, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Police probe alleged physical abuse of disabled children at day care center

Law & Crime

Funeral held for boy killed by bus in school zone

A photo of Cho Eun-gyeol, an eight-year-old boy who was killed by a bus in front of his school, is carried by a bereaved family member during the funeral on Sunday. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongA funeral was held on Sunday for an eight-year-old boy killed by a bus in front of his school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last week.The vehicle carrying his body was flanked by almost 300 people ― school friends and parents ― when it stopped by the school during the funeral procession. They waved white handkerchiefs at the vehicle as a show of grief. The parents couldn't stop crying during the funeral.The incident happened on May 10 when a city bus struck Cho Eun-gyeol at a crosswalk in front of the school. The boy had right of way as the crosswalk signal was green, and the bus drove through to make an illegal right turn reportedly without seeing the boy. The driver was apprehended immediately. Police tested him but they didn't find any alcohol in his blood. Under the current law, violators of school zone traffic regulations can face up to life imprisonment if they kill a pedestrian. Separately, the

May 15, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Funeral held for boy killed by bus in school zone

Foreign Affairs

Kishida dons blue badge in support of Japanese abductees return from NK

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wearing a blue badge arrives at the airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong As Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived at the airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday and greeted Korean officials welcoming him, those watching on TV grew curious about a blue badge pinned to the right lapel of his suitcoat. The badge was seen he visited the Seoul National Cemetery and the presidential office where he met his Korean counterpart President Yoon Suk Yeol. The blue badge is a symbol of the Japanese citizens who were kidnapped by North Korean government agents. By wearing it, Kishida showed his solidarity with the families of the abductees in their fights to bring their missing family members home. According to the Japanese foreign ministry website, the blue badge was made by a group of the abductees' family members, with the blue color representing the ocean that separates the abductees from the family members and the sky that could possibly connect them. A total of 17 of its citizens were kidnapped by the No

May 8, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Kishida dons blue badge in support of Japanese abductees return from NK

Society

Vietnamese couple mourns toddler son's death, continues fight for justice

Tran Anh Dong, left, and son Tran Viet Bach celebrate the New Year in their home, Jan. 1. Courtesy of Tran Anh DongBy Kim Se-jeongWhen Vo Thi Nhung got married in 2018, she was a teacher at a daycare center in Vietnam. In 2020, Vo got pregnant and quit her job to join her husband, Tran Anh Dong, who had moved to Korea. In March 2021, their son, Tran Viet Bach, was born in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and in November 2022, the couple sent the 18-month-old boy to a daycare facility. Five days later, the child died at the facility.An autopsy showed the boy had suffocated to death. As the police investigation unfolded, the parents learned that a daycare teacher wanted the child to get more sleep and applied excessive force on him for 15 minutes. Prosecutors sought a 30-year prison term for the teacher, claiming the death was the result of murder due to gross negligence, while the defendant claimed it was an accident. The presiding judge sentenced the teacher last month to 19 years behind bars.The couple appealed the ruling, claiming the sentence was not harsh enough.“Nineteen years

May 8, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Kim Se-jeong

Read more

Singer Psy invites soldiers to concert

S. Korean FM discusses improving bilateral cooperation with Turkish president

Famous child psychiatrist under fire following teacher's suicide

People's stories offer glimpses into desperate moment in flooded tunnel

First lady supports Busan's Expo bid with key rings

Parents investigated for beating teenage daughter

Police probe alleged physical abuse of disabled children at day care center

Funeral held for boy killed by bus in school zone

Kishida dons blue badge in support of Japanese abductees return from NK

Vietnamese couple mourns toddler son's death, continues fight for justice

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