South Korea - The Korea Times

Fight against racism on Seoul streets

Feminist drag artist Debbie (@_____debbie__ on Instagram) kneels during the march in order to "raise [her] voice in alliance." / Courtesy of Michael Hurt By Michael HurtSpike Lee made a statement film called “Get on the Bus” in 1996, in which a group of black men from a hodgepodge of varied backgrounds share a bus ride to the 1995 Million Man March. They are of different political stripes, conflicting social orientations, and a few have some agendas of questionable self-interest. But the bus was a perfect metaphor and heuristic device to enabling viewers to see different sides and come to a practical conclusion in their own different ways. We may not all take the same path to our imagined destination, we may not all physically get there, nor arrive in the same way. And some people even look suspicious as they go. But everyone gets there and the journey defines the meaning of the endeavor itself, more than the travelers ever thought about before departing. This past

Jun 9, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Foreigner faces deportation for self-quarantine violation

Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency. / Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin, Park Si-soo An Indonesian man faces deportation for violating mandatory two-week self-quarantine, which the South Korean government has imposed on international arrivals to contain the spread of coronavirus. The Indonesian, in his 20s, is being held at Daegu Police Station and the immigration office will soon decide on the next step. The justice ministry, which controls immigration affairs, has deported more than 60 rule-breaking foreign nationals since the coronavirus outbreak here. According to police, the Indonesian arrived at Incheon International Airport from Indonesia on May 30. He cleared immigration on the promise that he would stay for two weeks at a state-designated quarantine facility in Gimpo. But instead he took a taxi heading for Daegu, his final destination. Airport police confirmed his violation through surveillance camera footage and called the taxi's driver, telling him to bring the man back to the airport.Realizing that he was being traced, the man fled from the taxi on the way back.Police launched

Jun 9, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Foreigner faces deportation for self-quarantine violation

Seongnam offers COVID-19 relief funds to marriage immigrants, permanent residents

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Seongnam city government is offering coronavirus relief funds to marriage immigrants and permanent residents to help them financially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.All F-5 and F-6 visa holders who live there are eligible to receive 100,000 won ($83) each just like Korean residents, in addition to the Gyeonggi provincial government's 100,000 won relief money.According to the city government, more than 5,000 people will benefit from its policy. Those who wish to apply can do so at welfare centers in their regions between June 8 and July 31.Seongnam is among several cities where foreign residents can receive coronavirus relief money if they meet certain requirements. Other cities include Suwon, Goyang, Bucheon, Siheung, Icheon and Ansan.

Jun 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Seongnam offers COVID-19 relief funds to marriage immigrants, permanent residents

Activists rally in Seoul to support Black Lives Matter movement

Activists march together in central Seoul, Saturday, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. YonhapYonhapA group of activists held a rally in central Seoul on Saturday to voice their support for the anti-racism movement in the United States that flared up after the death of George Floyd.Some 100 people participated in the rally, which was held in Myeongdong, central Seoul. Clad in black, they later marched toward Cheonggye Stream, with some holding pickets reading "Black Lives Matter."The rally was organized to support the BLM movement that has been spreading across the U.S. and around the world following the death of Floyd, a black American, at the hands of a white police officer.Yonhap"Racial discrimination in the U.S. is not something that can be found just outside our country," said Shim Ji-hoon, 34, who organized the event."It is a matter that we should form an alliance against in that we are living in a country where multiple ethnics live together," he added.The rally was the latest in a series of gestures by South Koreans to support and commemorate the movement. K-pop m

Jun 6, 2020

Activists rally in Seoul to support Black Lives Matter movement

'Time for a change': Anti-racism protesters march across US

Activists to hold rally supporting Black Lives Matter movement in Seoul

Activists rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Friday. A group of people plan to hold another rally at Myeongdong on Saturday. YonhapA group of South Korean activists will hold a rally here this weekend to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States and remember George Floyd.Organizers said Friday they plan to gather at the central Seoul neighborhood of Myeongdong at 4 p.m. on Saturday and march toward Cheonggye Stream, also in central Seoul.The group had initially planned to march from Seoul City Hall to the U.S. Embassy but changed their plans as rallies in the area have been banned amid the new coronavirus pandemic."We want to show solidarity with the U.S. movement and remember Floyd who was sacrificed due to racism," said Shim Ji-hoon, 34, who suggested the event.Shim said organizers plan to use on-site donations to buy masks and pickets and donate the remainder to relevant organizations. The BLM movement has been spreading across the U.S. and around the world following the death of George Floyd, a black Americ

Jun 5, 2020

Activists to hold rally supporting Black Lives Matter movement in Seoul

S. Korea suspends automatic re-entry for foreign residents

By Jon Dunbar Foreign residents of Korea will now need a re-entry permit if they wish to go abroad and return to Korea on the same visa as of June 1. The rule applies to foreigners with family in the country and permanent residents, while excluding holders of A-1 diplomatic, A-2 official, A-3 treaties and F-4 overseas Korean visas. The permits are issued at local immigration offices and applications must be made before departure. Leaving the country without a permit will result in cancellation of registration as a foreign resident. The Ministry of Justice plans to offer a service for re-entry permits on its website hikorea.go.kr starting later this month. While overseas, foreign residents must undergo a medical examination within 48 hours before returning home. They must receive a diagnosis report issued by an authorized medical institute in the country of travel, to be presented when boarding a flight to Korea. The report should be signed by a doctor and written in English or Korean. It should also include the date of examination and presence or absence of fever, cough, chills, head

Jun 3, 2020By Jon Dunbar

S. Korea suspends automatic re-entry for foreign residents

Korea to drop the term 'alien' from ID cards for foreigners

Alien Registration Card / Courtesy of Ministry of JusticeBy Jung Min-hoThe government will drop the term “alien” from the identification cards for foreign residents and replace it with a more neutral term.The Ministry of Justice said Monday that it will change the name of the Alien Registration Card ― after using it for 54 years.The decision comes after the ministry's advisory group recommended using a different name, such as “Foreign National Card,” “Foreign Residence Card” or “Residence Card,” saying that many have come to feel that the term “alien” has negative connotations.The ministry is expected to choose one of the suggestions for the new cards and change the design.“We hope that foreign residents here will feel more included with the new name,” a ministry official said. “We will continue to listen to many people and try to reflect their voices in new policies.”

Jun 1, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korea to drop the term 'alien' from ID cards for foreigners

Korean pastor bears brunt of death threats to save Chinese immigrants

Choe Hwang-kyu, founder and pastor of Seoul Chinese Church in Daelim-dong, Seoul, poses in front of his church, Saturday. He has saved Chinese people from human trafficking, domestic violence, and other abusive practices. / The Korea TimesBy Kang Hyun-kyungRev. Choe Hwang-kyu, 57, has risked his life to save the needy and abused Chinese nationals ― mostly Han Chinese migrants ― for the past two decades. Death threats and blackmail by human traffickers and thugs have become part of his life. They have tried to coerce him to hand over to them people he was protecting, such as Chinese women who fell victim to human trafficking and a man who was almost beaten to death after he failed to pay fees to his broker in exchange for their helping him enter South Korea illegally. They threatened his life would be cut short. But the fearless pastor didn't back down. Choe has been dealing with such life-threatening moments many times for the past two decades since he launched a human rights campaign initially for illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers from China.In 2003, he founded the Seoul Chinese

May 31, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korean pastor bears brunt of death threats to save Chinese immigrants

Seoul punk band …Whatever That Means releases 'Revolving Doors' vinyl record

The members of Seoul punk band ...Whatever That Means / Courtesy of ...Whatever That MeansBy Jon DunbarIt's been a frustrating year for music, as we've seen countless concerts and music festivals canceled. COVID-19 forced the Seoul punk band …Whatever That Means (WTM) to delay their latest album release show and cross-country tour, but they've been selling their new album, “Revolving Doors,” as digital downloads and on vinyl. “I'm not an audiophile,” WTM front man Jeff Moses told The Korea Times. “I just like the look of records. I like flipping through my collection and choosing what I'm going to listen to next. I like when people come to our apartment and look through my collection and share their memories about certain albums. You don't get that with digital playlists.”Marking their third full-length, the new album offers eight new WTM songs plus a couple interesting re-recordings of their older songs. It starts with the title track, with Trash, WTM's bassist and Jeff's wife, singing, “Another year wasting all our time, another six

May 29, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Seoul punk band …Whatever That Means releases 'Revolving Doors' vinyl record

Joseon Images Royal palace converted into Seoul's first zoo

Cherry blossoms on the grounds of the zoo and botanical garden, circa 1920s. Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn the summer of 1908, a “menagerie” was established at Changgyeong Palace by Emperor Sunjong. The menagerie was rather modest ― the chief attractions being a large tiger captured on the slopes of Mount Paektu, a three-meter-long python from India and a kangaroo from Australia ― but it entertained the emperor and he was said to be quite fond of it. Some sources claim he established it in an effort to escape the agony of being under Japan's ever-increasing control.At some point in 1909, either by his own desire or through Japanese pressure, it was decided to turn the menagerie into Korea's first public zoo.The entrance to the zoo and botanical gardens, circa 1920-1940. Robert Neff CollectionThroughout the year, the palace, once the exclusive domain for Joseon royalty, was transformed into a public domain for the masses ― a combination zoo, botanical garden and museum. The grand opening took place on Nov. 1 ― the entrance fee was 10 sen (a Japanese currency equiv

May 29, 2020

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