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New Zealand citizens among flood victims: report

Firefighters search through debris during rescue efforts at the resort area in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / YonhapYonhapBy Jung Min-hoNew Zealand nationals were among the victims confirmed dead after a mudslide engulfed a resort pension in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, amid heavy rain in Korea's central regions earlier this week, according to a local media report.Police and rescue workers said Tuesday that they recovered the bodies of three people, who were inside when it was buried under a landslide Monday morning.According to JoongAng Ilbo, a local daily, the victims were New Zealand citizens ― a pension owner, 65, her daughter, 36, and her grandson, 2. A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul told The Korea Times that she could not immediately confirm the report.On the same day, a landslide swept over a temporary building in a semiconductor parts plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, killing three workers in their 30s and seriously injuring one in his 50s.The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said the downpour had left 13 people dead and

Aug 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho

New Zealand citizens among flood victims: report

S. Korea launches tax probe targeting foreigners who own multiple homes

South Korea's tax authorities said Monday they have launched a tax probe against 42 foreigners who own multiple homes in the nation, amid efforts to curb housing prices in Seoul and its neighboring areas. Korea Times fileSouth Korea's tax authorities said Monday they have launched a tax probe against 42 foreigners who own multiple homes in the nation, amid efforts to curb housing prices in Seoul and its neighboring areas.According to the National Tax Service (NTS), a 40-something U.S. citizen had purchased 42 homes for 6.7 billion won ($5.6 million) in total since 2018 in South Korea.The U.S. citizen rented out the homes to collect money but underreported the rental income to evade income taxes, the NTS said.In another unlawful case, a Chinese national, who has a student visa, bought eight homes in South Korea but failed to report rental incomes to tax authorities, the NTS said.Between 2017 and May this year, 1,036 foreigners purchased more than two homes in South Korea, the NTS said.Of the 23,167 homes purchased by foreigners during the period, 32.7 percent were not occupied by owne

Aug 3, 2020

S. Korea launches tax probe targeting foreigners who own multiple homes

New housing laws at center of criticism

Gov't seeks to extend foreign workers' stay permits amid pandemic

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a coronavirus response meeting at the government complex in Sejong, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoKorea is seeking to extend stay permits for foreign workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday that the government is planning to lengthen the stay for foreign workers and temporarily allow them to work on farms. It would be a win-win for many workers who cannot immediately leave here after their visas have expired because of travel restrictions around the world, and the farmers who may need them for the coming harvest season, Chung said.“After the pandemic, farmers have faced severe labor shortages,” he said at a virus response meeting. “Meanwhile, some foreign workers say they are 'stuck' here due to shutdowns and travel restrictions by their countries.”Gov't steps up quarantine measures on sailorsThe government is also stepping up quarantine measures on sailors coming from overseas.Under the new measures, sailors from Russia and six other designated nations ― Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzsta

Jul 29, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Gov't seeks to extend foreign workers' stay permits amid pandemic

Joseon Images Hotel rivalry in Seoul in 1900s

Hotel du Palais in the summer of 1901 / Robert Neff Collection By Robert NeffAt the dawn of the 20th century, Seoul was one of the most modern cities in Asia. Streetcars conveyed passengers from one end of the city to the other, shops were filled with imported goods, and the luxuries of telephones and electricity were slowly but surely being introduced. In September 1899, a railroad connected the capital with Jemulpo (modern-day Incheon) and, as a result, more tourists began to visit Seoul. Despite its many Western modernizations, Seoul was not ready for Western tourism; the only accommodations available to tourists were in the homes of the expat community, their respective legations, Japanese or Chinese inns or at Emberley's Boarding House ― a small establishment operated by an English couple. Realizing the opportunity, Friedrich A. Kalitzky, a Polish merchant, contemplated establishing a small hotel near Deoksu Palace, and an American firm toyed with the idea of b

Jul 28, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Iraqi serves kebabs for 13 years in Namdaemun Market

Abdulkareem Adnan slices off chicken from his vertical rotisserie at Adnan Kebab in Namdaemun Market, in this undated photo / Courtesy of Adnan KebabBy Jon DunbarNamdaemun Market holds countless surprises in its folds. Among them is Adnan Kebab, an Iraqi restaurant housed in a tiny alcove in front of an NH Bank. It would be easy to miss if it weren't for the big menu standing up outside, red circular signs advertising halal food and a smaller sign offering a prayer room. A kebab shop in Namdaemun may sound a little unusual, except this one's been here 13 years, predating even most of the kebab shops on the other side of Mount Nam in Itaewon. Abdulkareem Adnan, its namesake owner, opened the shop in 2008 after discovering a “for rent” sign on the tiny space. Fresh pita bread is prepared at Abdulkareem Adnan's factory in Incheon. / Courtesy of Adnan Kebab“I didn't choose this store, but it was a coincidence,” he told The Korea Times. “I had a neighbor who was an old man who came to Namdaemun Market and passed by in front of the building and noticed that th

Jul 28, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Foreign Line

Seth Mountain returns to HBCLocal expat folk musician Seth Mountain has a show this Saturday in The Studio in Haebangchon (HBC), joined by many musician friends including Jinu Konda and the Tiger Mountain Spirit Family Band, a traditional Korean ensemble.The venue will be outfitted with tables to maintain distancing, and the audience will be limited to 36 people. Everyone's temperature will be checked at the door.Visit fb.com/thestudioHBC for more information and to RSVP.K-Monster holds free consultations for moving to CanadaK-Monster, an overseas recruitment agency offering work and study abroad as well as permanent residency programs, is holding free consultations this weekend for anyone interested in working or studying in Canada. No English test scores are required, and Korean citizens as well as non-Canadian foreign residents on E or F visas are welcome to take part.Available jobs range from farming and food service to hospitality and IT, and many more. Consultations will be held Aug. 1, 8 and 15 starting at 11 a.m.Visit?kmonster.net or fb.com/KmonsterSK?for

Jul 28, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Prosecution helps foreign victims go through criminal procedures

Korea Times fileThe prosecution said Sunday it is providing a number of services to support foreign crime victims going through local criminal procedures.Foreign victims can learn criminal procedures from videos posted by the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) on its YouTube channel in five different languages ― Chinese, English, Thai, Vietnamese and Russian ― or seek telephone counseling service in 19 languages, according to the office. Starting this month, the SPO will distribute booklets explaining support programs provided by the prosecution for foreign victims written in 16 languages to institutions such as multicultural family support centers, it said.Foreign victims can be accompanied by their translators or family members when undergoing questioning or giving testimonies.South Korea extends the stay period of victims of sexual crimes, child abuse and other domestic violence until the related trial is complete. The prosecution said it also does not report details of victims without legitimate stay permits to the immigration office if relieving them of damage they suffered is nee

Jul 26, 2020

Prosecution helps foreign victims go through criminal procedures

RAS Korea Korea's Forgotten 28th King

A 1920 wedding photo of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Joseon / public domainBy Steven L. ShieldsOn June 10, 1926, Crown Prince Euimin (birth name Yi Eun) was officially elevated to the throne of Joseon following the funeral of his older brother, King Sunjong. From 1910 until he died in 1926, Sunjong was referred to as King Yi of Changdeok Palace. Euimin became King Yi II. He was officially His Majesty King Yi of Changdeok Palace, according to Japanese imperial pronouncements, public understanding, other contemporary accounts and with full consent of the Joseon Royal Court. He was the last reigning monarch of Joseon and the 28th head of the royal family.Some argue that after 1910 the King of Joseon did not really “rule,” and thus, the “dynasty” ended. Most lists of the monarchs also stop in 1910 with King Sunjong on the throne and the Japanese in power. These arguments are historically and factually incorrect. Article 3 of the 1910 annexation treaty is definite in ensuring that Joseon would retain the king, stating, “His Majesty the Emperor of Ja

Jul 21, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Expat releases bilingual bedtime story

Author Hallie Bradley's daughter Ava holds up a copy of their bedtime storybook, "The Sun & The Moon Story." / Courtesy of Hallie BradleyBy Jon DunbarAny parent of young children dreads running out of bedtime stories. And it's extra challenging with bilingual children, finding books that can stimulate their minds in both languages. When Hallie Bradley's daughter Ava was three years old, she started asking for bedtime stories to be read in both English and Korean. “We'd either have to have two libraries of books with the same titles or more books with bilingual children in mind,” Bradley, a foreign resident here, told The Korea Times. “There aren't a lot though. There are a lot of English/Korean learning books but that wasn't exactly what I wanted. I wanted a story book, something that wasn't so much about learning new vocabulary, but more about a calming meditative experience.”So she and her family fixed that problem by creating their own bedtime story, “The Sun & The Moon Story.” “This story started off one night as we laid in bed lo

Jul 21, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Kielbasa's sudden takeover of domestic sausage market

Packs of Polish sausage kielbasa are piled up on the shelf in a GS25 in Seoul, July 13. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar By Kyung LeeIn recent months, kielbasa has overrun shelves across the country. But the long, horseshoe-shaped sausages didn't come from nowhere. Hailing from Poland, these sausages have filled a niche in the local market to be enjoyed by all, not only Europeans.Local meat supplier S-Food introduced the locally made sausages back in 2006, under its delicatessen and brand, John Cook.At first they were shaped like regular straight hot dogs, but they took on their signature curve or 'horseshoe shape' in 2015 and were upsized to 270 grams to provide a more satisfying experience for consumers. From 2017, local customers with a growing appetite for European sausage could buy kielbasa not only through John Cook's delis but also the company's online store as well as in supermarkets and even convenience stores.In 2018, they started to attract viral exposur

Jul 14, 2020

Global Community

Global Community

New Zealand citizens among flood victims: report

S. Korea launches tax probe targeting foreigners who own multiple homes

Gov't seeks to extend foreign workers' stay permits amid pandemic

Joseon Images Hotel rivalry in Seoul in 1900s

Iraqi serves kebabs for 13 years in Namdaemun Market

Foreign Line

Prosecution helps foreign victims go through criminal procedures

RAS Korea Korea's Forgotten 28th King

Expat releases bilingual bedtime story

Kielbasa's sudden takeover of domestic sausage market

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