Society

Why are sinkholes popping up all over Korea?

A series of sinkholes appearing across the country has highlighted growing concerns over safety as underground construction projects are carried out in various locations. The most recent incident occurred Monday morning near a metro extension construction site in Busan’s Sasang District, which has seen 14 sinkholes over the past three years. A sinkhole, approximately 3 meters wide and 2 meters deep, appeared 200 meters away from another one that measured 5 meters wide and 3 meters deep, which appeared just a day earlier. Followed by a collapse at a subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday, Seoul also saw multiple sinkholes over the weekend. According to safety and emergency offices, a sinkhole opened at a crossroad in Gangdong District on Sunday, just three kilometers away from where a 20-meter-wide, 20-meter-deep sinkhole opened at an intersection last month, killing a motorcyclist. This is the third sinkhole in the district recently after another sinkhole appeared near an elementary school earlier this month. Meanwhile, in Seoul’s Mapo District, another

Strategy meeting on US tariffs

Korea University defends tuition hike, vows more support for int'l students

Korea University is advocating for stronger support for international students and expanded global outreach while justifying its tuition hike as inevitable. The number of international students at the university is surging, drawing attention to the school’s support efforts for them. During a press conference Monday marking its 120th anniversary, Korea University said that the number of international students admitted to degree programs has surged by 87 percent compared to last year. Graduate student enrollment alone increased from 379 to 1,359, while the number of short-term international students, including those in exchange and visiting programs, also grew by an average of 10 percent. With their numbers growing, the university raised its tuition for international students by 9 percent. Tuition for international students tends to rise at a higher rate, as it is not subject to a legal cap. Calling the increase unavoidable, Korea University President Kim Dong-one stressed the school remains committed to strengthening support for international students and expanding its global engagement.

Strong winds sweep across Korea, causing damage, power outages

Strong winds swept across Korea on Sunday, toppling structures and causing power outages in various parts of the nation, authorities said. In Gyeonggi Province, where a strong wind advisory had been issued, gusts reached up to 22.9 meters per second earlier in the day. In Suwon, south of Seoul, a signboard in an entertainment district fell onto parked vehicles, and a wall near Suwon Station collapsed onto a pedestrian walkway. No injuries were reported in either incident. Strong winds caused power outages in several regions. The roof of an abandoned factory in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was torn off by strong winds and struck a nearby utility pole, resulting in a power outage that affected around 50 households. A broken tree branch damaged a high-voltage power line in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, cutting electricity to over 800 households. As of Sunday evening, strong winds were expected to continue across most regions of the country through midnight, while gusts of 20 to 25 meters per second were forecast to persist on the southern resort island of Jeju through Monday.

Strong winds sweep through Korea

What’s next for gender ministry after Yoon’s ouster?

With the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, attention is shifting to the future of the ministry’s role and scope. With the snap presidential election approaching, the ministry is expected to undergo significant changes if a new administration takes office. Yoon's push to abolish the gender ministry was clearly reflected in the prolonged vacancy of its ministerial post. Following intense criticism over the mishandling of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in 2023, then-Minister Kim Hyun-sook resigned. Yoon did not name a replacement and Vice Minister Shin Young-sook has served as acting minister since Kim's departure. Many opposed the ministry's abolition and called on the government to end the prolonged leadership vacuum by appointing a new minister. Korean Women’s Associations United issued a statement on April 4, following the Constitutional Court’s ruling to impeach Yoon, arguing that the former president consistently neglected women’s rights and gender equality during his term. They also urged the nex

Rescue workers recount aftermath of subway collapse

Search efforts resumed Sunday for a worker still missing after a construction site collapse, following a temporary suspension due to fears of further cave-ins. Another worker trapped roughly 30 meters underground was rescued safely on Saturday, 13 hours after the incident, authorities said. A construction site for a section of the Sinansan Line in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, collapsed Friday, caving in part of the road above and damaging several nearby buildings. The cause remains unclear, and no fatalities have been confirmed. A fire authority official said Sunday that the decision to restart the search was made based on a situational assessment involving civil engineering and geological experts. However, he noted that due to numerous hazards at the site, accessing the lower section of the collapsed underground tunnel remains impossible. The remaining missing person, a man in his 50s, is believed to be approximately 35 to 40 meters beneath the surface, though his exact location and condition have not yet been confirmed. Fire authorities carried out an overnight rescue operation into

Rescuers ready to resume search for missing worker at collapsed subway construction site in Gwangmyeong

Rescuers were ready Sunday to resume efforts to find a missing worker at a collapsed subway construction site in the city of Gwangmyeong, officials said. The construction site for the Sinansan Line in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, collapsed Friday, causing a section of the road above ground to cave in and damaging several buildings. Five workers were initially unreachable, but three were found safe, while another — an excavator driver in his 20s — was rescued 13 hours after the collapse some 30 meters underground. Authorities suspended rescue work Saturday night to find the fifth worker, a man in his 50s, due to safety concerns amid worsening weather conditions.

Man reunites with family 50 years after going missing at age 3 thanks to DNA match

A South Korean man who was separated from his family at age 3 has miraculously reunited with his relatives 50 years later, thanks to a DNA test. According to Busan Jungbu Police, Friday, Kang, now 53, was separated from his father in a crowd at Seoul Station in March 1975 while waiting with him for his mother. He was later sent to a childcare facility in Seo District, Busan, where he remained until adulthood. Kang, who now works in Busan, visited the police station in February in hopes of finding his long-lost family. Having no knowledge of his real name or birthdate, Kang shared his story with officers, who recommended a DNA sample be taken. The DNA was sent to the National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC), which has operated the “Missing Children Database System” since 2004 to match DNA of missing children with that of searching family members. A month later, Kang received the long-awaited news: a match had been found. His mother had registered her DNA in 2019. However, she had passed away in January 2023 at the age of 86. Using her family records and contact information,

Subway construction site in Gwangmyeong collapses; evacuation order issued for nearby residents

A subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, collapsed Friday, leaving one worker missing, with an evacuation order issued for residents living nearby, authorities said. The site had been evacuated earlier in the day after authorities were alerted to the risk of collapse following the discovery of cracks in multiple pillars used in the construction of tunnels for the Sinansan Line. The collapse occurred at 3:13 p.m., causing a section of the road above ground to cave in and damaging several nearby buildings. Five workers conducting a safety inspection above ground were initially unreachable, but three were found safe, while another was said to be trapped underground. An excavator driver remains missing. Meanwhile, the Gwangmyeong city government issued an evacuation order for residents in the vicinity, citing concerns over possible additional collapses. The city also requested that vehicles take alternate routes. "An evacuation order was issued for residents of nearby apartment buildings," Mayor Park Seung-won said during a press briefing. "Residents are currently being