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Jin Air flight heading to Vietnam returns home following bird strike

A Jin Air airplane bound for Vietnam returned home shortly after takeoff from the southeastern port city of Busan due to a bird strike, industry officials said Friday. The airplane departed Gimhae International Airport in Busan, some 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, for Nha Trang at 7:55 p.m. Thursday, but was struck by a flock of birds. The plane circled the airport to burn off fuel and landed at Incheon International Airport near Seoul. A total of 150 passengers and six crew members were aboard the plane at the time. A Jin Air official said they decided to head to Incheon airport due to nighttime takeoff and landing curfews at Gimhae airport.

Aug 22, 2025By Yonhap

Jin Air flight heading to Vietnam returns home following bird strike

Postal service to halt US shipments over tariff exemption removal

The national postal service said Thursday it will stop accepting packages bound for the United States starting next week in line with a U.S. suspension of a duty-free policy for international shipments. The move comes as the U.S. is set to end the so-called de minimis exemption, under which low-cost parcels from overseas valued at $800 or less can be shipped to the country without tariffs. All international shipments will face a 15 percent tariff starting Aug. 29. The postal service will stop receiving U.S.-bound air freight packages starting Monday and all parcels shipped via the Express Mail Service (EMS) starting Tuesday. The move does not affect shipments of documents and correspondence. Customers will still be able to send packages to the U.S. via the premium EMS, which imposes tariffs on the recipient. The postal service vowed to draw up measures to minimize customer inconvenience and urged people planning to send parcels to the U.S. to thoroughly prepare necessary shipping documents.

Aug 21, 2025By Yonhap

Postal service to halt US shipments over tariff exemption removal

Feces in public pool forces 700-ton water change in Korea — and experts warn urine is no better

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A public indoor swimming pool in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was temporarily shut down after human feces were discovered floating in the water, sparking public outrage and a full-scale water replacement effort. According to Yeongju City officials, the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on July 15, when a visitor to the Yeongju Indoor Swimming Pool in Giheung-dong reported seeing feces in the pool. Staff immediately responded and confirmed the presence of human waste on the water’s surface. The pool was closed that day, and about one-third of the water was drained for overnight filtration and disinfection. However, public complaints quickly escalated. Patrons demanded a full water replacement, saying, “How can we swim in water that had feces?” and “It’s disgusting.” In response, the facility was fully shut down on July 19, and the entire pool was drained and refilled with 700 tons of tap water. As Yeongju’s only public indoor pool, the replacement water was supplied via the city’s municipal water system, and the associat

Jul 26, 2025By Kormedi.com

Feces in public pool forces 700-ton water change in Korea — and experts warn urine is no better

Chinese bus driver, suffering stroke, steers Korean tourists to safety

A Chinese bus driver is being hailed as a hero after saving 11 Korean tourists and their guide from potential disaster — just moments before collapsing from a fatal brain hemorrhage. On June 29, Xiao Bo, 41, a retired soldier working as a bus driver, was transporting the group near the scenic city of Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, when he began experiencing symptoms of a brain hemorrhage. At around 9:13 p.m., while driving across a high bridge, the bus suddenly veered erratically, alarming the guide and passengers. Despite losing consciousness, Xiao managed to turn off the engine and engage the handbrake, bringing the bus to a safe stop. CCTV footage from inside the bus showed Xiao fighting to remain conscious for 41 seconds, ultimately losing consciousness only after ensuring the vehicle was secure. All passengers escaped unharmed. Xiao was rushed to a nearby hospital but died three days later. According to local news reports, his quick thinking and sense of duty, rooted in his military background, likely prevented a tragedy. The story gained attention after the Korean tourists, upon ret

Jul 13, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Chinese bus driver, suffering stroke, steers Korean tourists to safety

Korea University to host international conference to discuss global challenges

Korea University will host an international conference to discuss various global challenges with some 90 renowned scholars from 39 countries, the college said Wednesday. Marking the college’s 120th anniversary this year, it will host the Korea University Collaboration Hub World Conference (K-CLUB) starting Thursday under the slogan of “Next Intelligence for Planetary Solution” at its Seoul Campus. “Participating scholars will discuss ‘knowledge and technology for sustainable earth,'” a Korea University official said in a press release. “Korea University aims to play a pivotal role in the global network for renowned scholars, especially from developing countries, during the academic conference,” the official added. Korea University is set to announce its plan on how to collaborate with overseas scholars during the two-day event. Participating scholars are also scheduled to discuss various topics in nine categories, including environment, social welfare, education and technology. On the first day, the conference will also introduce the college’s latest collaboration with o

Jul 2, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea University to host international conference to discuss global challenges

Global Peace Foundation's forum in Mongolia explores Korean unification, climate action

ULAANBAATAR — Visions for unification of the two Koreas should go beyond questions of process and power to focus on a more aspirational goal: a united Korea that serves humanity as a whole. Mongolia may hold a unique key in the process with its rare diplomatic ties to Pyongyang and a history of peaceful transition from communism to democracy, according to experts attending the “Mongolia Forum and Retreat: Northeast Asian Peaceful Development and Korean Unification.” The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) hosted the international forum to discuss the development of Northeast Asia and potential peaceful unification of two Koreas at Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on June 24. Blue Banner, One Korea Foundation, Global Peace Leadership Corps and Action for Korea United co-hosted the forum alongside the nongovernmental organization. Some 30 renowned experts from 10 countries joined the annual event to discuss not only the current international situation and possible unification of the two Koreas but also Mongolia’s efforts in countering climate change. The foru

Jun 29, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Global Peace Foundation's forum in Mongolia explores Korean unification, climate action

Breast cancer misdiagnosis leads to surgery and trauma for woman in her 30s

A woman in her 30s underwent breast surgery after being misdiagnosed with cancer during a routine health checkup, only to later learn that her test sample had been switched with that of another patient, leading to a mistaken diagnosis. According to reports on Sunday, including coverage by KBS, a woman received a breast cancer diagnosis last September at a medical institution in Sejong. The checkup was part of a company welfare program offered by her husband’s employer. The hospital informed her that a biopsy had revealed a malignant tumor. “I felt like the sky was collapsing,” the woman said. “It’s hard to believe, but they told me that since I’m young and healthy, the cancer might spread faster. I cried in front of the doctor.” Shocked by the diagnosis, she sought a second opinion at a major hospital in Seoul, where another biopsy showed no signs of cancer. To be certain, she underwent surgery under general anesthesia to remove about six centimeters of tissue from her left breast. “At that point, there were too many possibilities,” she said. “It was so early they mig

Jun 18, 2025By Hankookilbo

Breast cancer misdiagnosis leads to surgery and trauma for woman in her 30s

‘Why serve rice cakes to toddlers?’ Parents and teachers fear choking risks in Korean daycare meals

After a tragic choking death of an 18-month-old at a daycare center in Gimpo, South Korea, parents are calling for rice cakes to be removed from daycare menus. The case has sparked national debate and renewed scrutiny over the safety of foods served to young children. The incident occurred last month when a toddler choked on a rice cake during snack time and later died despite emergency aid. Since then, many parents have questioned why foods with known choking risks — such as sticky rice cakes — remain in daycare meal plans. Some facilities have temporarily removed rice cakes from their menus, while others have made no changes, leaving many parents confused and anxious. “The daycare sent us choking prevention guidelines after the incident, but the meals stayed the same,” said Bae, 33, a parent in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. “We’re really worried. Can’t they just remove rice cakes altogether?” Following the May 22 accident, the Ministry of Education issued a non-binding advisory to daycare centers, recommending that sticky foods be cut into small pieces. Some regional food

Jun 7, 2025By Hankookilbo

‘Why serve rice cakes to toddlers?’ Parents and teachers fear choking risks in Korean daycare meals

Toddler dies after choking on rice cake at Gimpo day care, teacher under investigation

A two-year-old boy died after choking on a rice cake at a day care center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, leading to an investigation and charges against the day care teacher. Gimpo Police said Monday they have booked a day care teacher, identified as A, at a day care center in Gochon-eup, Gimpo, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. A is accused of negligence in supervising the child, B, during snack time on May 22 at 3:10 p.m., leading to the boy’s death. According to the police investigation, the day care center provided children with sliced baekseolgi (a type of rice cake) during snack time. The boy choked while A briefly left the room, and no signs of abuse were detected in the case. The child was transported to a nearby hospital by emergency responders after the day care center called for help, but he was pronounced dead. Staff at the day care attempted the Heimlich maneuver before paramedics arrived. The National Forensic Service delivered an initial verbal assessment after an autopsy, stating the likely cause of death was suffocation due to airway obstruction. Police said they pl

Jun 3, 2025By Hankookilbo

Toddler dies after choking on rice cake at Gimpo day care, teacher under investigation

38 N. Korean defectors enter S. Korea in Q1: unification ministry

A total of 38 North Korean defectors entered South Korea for resettlement in the first quarter of this year, slightly down from 43 during the same period last year, the unification ministry said Thursday. The latest entries brought the total number of North Korean defectors who came to South Korea to 34,352, the ministry said. Of the first-quarter total, only one individual was male, with the rest being female. More than half of those who came to South Korea in the first quarter were in their 20s or 30s, continuing the trend of younger people arriving in the South in search of a new life. Most of the North Korean defectors first smuggle themselves into a foreign country and stay there for an extended period before seeking asylum in South Korea or elsewhere due to tighter inter-Korean border controls and security reasons.

Apr 17, 2025By Yonhap

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