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☆ South Korean city turns to matchmaking to boost low birth rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

They were participants at a mass blind-dating event hosted by Seongnam city, an attempt by the local government to reverse a falling birth rate in a country where the popularity of marriage and enthusiasm towards parenthood have nosedived. Jung Jae-hoon, a professor at the department of social welfare at Seoul Women's University, said it was "nonsense" to expect these events to lead to higher birth rates. "You need to spend more money directly on supporting pregnancy, child delivery and parenting to call it a policy to boost birth rates," Jung said. Despite criticism, thousands of people have signed up for this year's blind-dating events arranged by the Seongnam city. "Low birth rates cannot be resolved with a single policy," Shin said.

Persons: Lee Yu, Hwang Da, Hwang, Jung Jae, Jung, Shin Sang, Shin, It's, Soo, hyang Choi, Daewoung Kim, Josh Smith, Stephen Coates Organizations: Seongnam, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Seoul Women's University, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: SEONGNAM, South Korea, Seoul, Korean, United States, Japan, Seongnam

HWASEONG, South Korea, Nov 24 (Reuters) - As South Korea moves to ban eating dog meat, many of those involved in the centuries-old controversial practice are fighting to keep it legal. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015. Despite its declining popularity and opposition from animal rights activists, previous attempts to ban dog meat have failed because of industry protests. With the backing of the public, and bipartisan support in parliament, there are signs that the ban could soon become law. Nam Sung-gue who has run a restaurant selling dog meat boshintang, or "restoring" soup, for the past 30 years, said the ban was unfair, even though his business is fast declining.

Persons: Lee Kyeong, I've, Nam Sung, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon Suk Yeol, gil, Daewoung Kim, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Miral Organizations: Power Party, Gallup, Korean Association, Edible, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Korea, Seoul, Gallup Korea

[1/3] South Korean students wait to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test at a school on November 16, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Half a million South Koreans sat for the annual nationwide college entrance exam on Thursday, the first time in four years that the exam, often considered life-defining in the highly competitive society, has taken place free of pandemic rules. The annual exam is widely considered one of the most important tests in the country. South Korean financial markets opened an hour later than usual at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) to ease traffic. South Koreans spent a record 26 trillion won ($19.97 billion) on private education last year, despite a declining student population, a government report showed.

Persons: Chung Sung, Kim Mi, Yoon Suk Yeol, Daewung Kim, Jimin Jung, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: College Scholastic, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Korean

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attends a welcome ceremony before an annual security meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik at the Defence Ministry in Seoul, South Korea on November 13, 2023. Washington has accused North Korea of supplying military equipment to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, and Moscow of providing technical military support to help the North. "If the countries that backed North Korea during the Korean War ever try to help again, then those countries will also receive grave punishment from the international community along with North Korea." China and North Korea are parties to the armistice with the UNC. The defence chiefs also agreed to step up joint drills and cooperate with Japan to deter and better prepare for any North Korean attack.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won, sik, JUNG YEON, Lloyd Austin, Austin, We're, Shin Won, Shin, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, South Korean Defence Minister, Defence Ministry, Rights, . Defense, . Command, UNC, Security, Democratic People's, DPRK, ., Defence, Korean, United Nations, Command, Soviet Union, U.N, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, China, Russia, North Korea, Pyongyang, People's Republic of China, North, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Washington, Ukraine, Moscow, . North Korea, Russia's, North Korea's, Soviet, United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, U.S, Austin, Japan

The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsINJE, South Korea, Oct 28 (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. troops held joint future combat drills involving drones, an unmanned vehicle and wearable laser sensors this week as part of efforts to modernise their militaries, Seoul's army said on Saturday. The training came as South Korea's military conducts a series of annual Hoguk autumn exercises aimed at improving responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The drills also mobilised various high-tech weapons systems aimed at beefing up future combat capabilities, with the troops wearing multiple integrated laser engagement systems (MILES), which uses lasers to simulate actual battle. Several drones were flown for reconnaissance purposes, some also firing an assault rifle, while South Korea dispatched a multipurpose unmanned vehicle to carry wounded personnel.

Persons: Ken Scar, Choi Jeong, Derek Chen, Hyonhee Shin, Daewoung Kim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: . Army, REUTERS, Korean, Korea Combat Training, South, Korean army's 25th Infantry Division, TIGER, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, U.S . 4th Infantry Division, Thomson Locations: Yongin, South Korea, U.S, Korean, Pyongyang, Inje, South, Britain, Uzbekistan, Cambodia

[1/3] People walk through a CCTV (closed-circuit television system) monitored alley in Itaewon, where the Halloween crowd crush occurred last year, in Seoul, South Korea, October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A year after 159 Halloween revellers were killed in a crowd crush in South Korea, the capital's night-life district of Itaewon was quiet on Saturday, the area's usual festivities replaced by mourning for those died. Lee Sung-min, who has lived and worked in the Seoul district for years, said he did not even realise it was the Halloween weekend until early Saturday. Many people were still looking for other places to join Halloween festivities, such as Hongdae, another popular spot among the young. "I thought Hongdae would be better than Itaewon to celebrate Halloween with my boyfriend," said Cheon Ye-ji, a 19-year-old student.

Persons: Kim Soo, Lee Sung, Lee, I've, Lee Jung, Cheon, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Soo, Choi, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL

☆ South Korea, US Troops Hold Drills With Drones, Laser Sensors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Hyonhee Shin and Daewoung KimINJE, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. troops held joint future combat drills involving drones, an unmanned vehicle and wearable laser sensors this week as part of efforts to modernise their militaries, Seoul's army said on Saturday. The training came as South Korea's military conducts a series of annual Hoguk autumn exercises aimed at improving responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The drills also mobilised various high-tech weapons systems aimed at beefing up future combat capabilities, with the troops wearing multiple integrated laser engagement systems (MILES), which uses lasers to simulate actual battle. Several drones were flown for reconnaissance purposes, some also firing an assault rifle, while South Korea dispatched a multipurpose unmanned vehicle to carry wounded personnel. South Korea's army launched the TIGER brigade last year as a pilot unit for future warfare operations using artificial intelligence-powered drones and highly mobile fighting vehicles.

Persons: Hyonhee Shin, Daewoung Kim INJE, Choi Jeong, Derek Chen, Daewoung Kim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Korean, Korea Combat Training, South, Korean army's 25th Infantry Division, TIGER, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, U.S . 4th Infantry Division Locations: South Korea, U.S, Korean, Pyongyang, Inje, South, Britain, Uzbekistan, Cambodia

[1/6] Park Young-soo, whose son died in the Halloween crowd crush a year ago, visits the memorial park where her son's ashes were buried in Pocheon, South Korea, October 24, 2023. She says she may not be able to move on with her life until she sees some kind of accountability from the government. Park is one of more than 100 family members who say the authorities have done little to hold those responsible to account. Relatives of the victims want a special law that would allow an independent and comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crush. "Nothing is reported to us nor communicated to us," said Nari Kim from Austria, who lost her younger brother in the crush.

Persons: Kim Soo, soo, Lee Nam, Lee, Yoon Suk, Lee Sang, Kim Young, Kim, Nari Kim, Jong, Woo Paik, Hyunsu Yim, Daewoung Kim, Heejung Jung, Jimin Jung, Josh Smith, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Interior, National Assembly, Power Party, Korean Society, Thomson Locations: Pocheon, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Itaewon, Hamilton, Seoul, North Korea, Seoul's, U.S, Japan, Iran, Austria, Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has warned extreme weather should be expected as the norm because of climate change, but extensive damage to property and farmland and human casualties for a second year, has cast doubt on the country's readiness. Kwon, who has been farming for 25 years, said it was the first time extreme weather conditions had caused such severe damage since she began growing watermelons 10 years ago. Farmers called for stronger preparations for global warming and asked the government to build more facilities to prevent damage from extreme climate changes. Neighbouring farmer Lee Gun-ho, 60, who cultivates lettuce and strawberries, says farming is always tricky when it comes to weather but more extreme conditions are occurring more frequently and unexpectedly. "However, it's getting warmer and sudden heavy rains are pouring a lot more.

Persons: Kwon Gye, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kwon, ”, Yoon, Lee, Jack Kim, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Farmers, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: South Korea, South, Nonsan ., Seoul

☆ K-pop's biggest music label HYBE looks to lift language barrier with AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The technology enabled HYBE (352820.KS), South Korea's largest music label, to release a track by singer MIDNATT in six languages – Korean, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese in May. Native speakers read out the lyrics, and later the two were seamlessly combined with the help of HYBE's in-house AI music technology, Chung said. 'IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE'MIDNATT said using AI had allowed him a "wider spectrum of artistic expressions." While the technology is not new, it is an innovative way to use AI in music, said Valerio Velardo, director of The Sound of AI, a Spain-based consulting service for AI music and audio. Not only professional musicians but also a wider population will benefit from AI music technology in the long term, Velardo said.

Persons: MIDNATT, Chung Wooyong, Lee Hyun, Chung, Kim Hong, Supertone, Choi Hee, HYBE, Valerio Velardo, Velardo, Choi Jin, Hyunsu Yim, Daewoung Kim, Hyun Young Yi, Josh Smith, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Neural, Supertone, The, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Seoul, Korean, HYBE, South, South Korea, Spain

SEOUL/CHEONGJU, South Korea, July 16 (Reuters) - The bodies of eight people trapped in a tunnel flooded by heavy rain in central South Korea were retrieved on Sunday, authorities said, with the death toll from days of torrential downpours that have pounded the country rising to 37. Kong Seong-pyo, a 60-year-old Cheongju resident who frequently uses the underpass, said the government should have restricted access to the tunnel when flooding was expected. The Ministry of Interior and Safety said nine people were missing across the country as of 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) as heavy downpours caused landslides and floods, with evacuation orders covering 8,852 people. [1/9]Rescue workers are seen near a recovered electric bus during a search and rescue operation near an underpass that has been submerged by a flooded river caused by torrential rain in Cheongju, South Korea, July 16, 2023. While South Korea often experiences heavy rains in summer, it has witnessed a sharp increase in torrential rains in recent years.

Persons: Seo Jeong, Seo, Kong, Kim Hong, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Han Duck, Gyun Kim, Daewoung Kim, Hongji Kim, Cheongju, hyang Choi, Diane Craft, Michael Perry, Jamie Freed, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: MBC, Reuters, The, of Interior, Safety, REUTERS, Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Railroad Corp, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, CHEONGJU, South Korea, Cheongju, Seoul, Gangnam, Chungcheong

☆ Rescuers retrieve six bodies from flooded South Korea underpass
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/9] Rescue workers are seen near a recovered electric bus during a search and rescue operation near an underpass that has been submerged by a flooded river caused by torrential rain in Cheongju, South Korea, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-jiCHEONGJU, South Korea, July 16 (Reuters) - The bodies of six people trapped in a tunnel submerged by heavy rains in central South Korea were retrieved on Sunday, firefighting authorities said, taking the death toll from days of torrential rains that have pounded the country to 33. Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said some 15 vehicles, including a bus, are estimated to have been submerged in the flooded underpass in the city. The ministry data does not include those in the flooded tunnel as it was not immediately clear how many people were trapped underwater. Reporting by Do Gyun Kim, Daewoung Kim and Hongji Kim in Cheongju, Soo-hyang Choi in Seoul; Editing by Diane Craft and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Hong, Seo Jeong, Seo, Yoon Suk Yeol, Han Duck, Gyun Kim, Daewoung Kim, Hongji Kim, Cheongju, hyang Choi, Diane Craft, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, of Interior, Safety, Korea Railroad Corp, Thomson Locations: Cheongju, South Korea, Seoul

☆ South Korea LGBT festival proceeds, bumped from prime spot by Christian group
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 1 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands attended South Korea's largest annual LGBT festival on Saturday, vowing to continue fighting for gay rights after the Seoul city government denied them a prime spot and gave it to an anti-LGBT Christian group. "You can see a lot of hateful banners behind me as well as those that support us on our right," said Yang Sun-woo, chief organiser of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival. "South Korea is enjoying a rise in global status but LGBT rights here are at rock bottom," she said. The Christian group CTS, which has vocally opposed homosexuality, said it was not trying to thwart LGBT people. "Some ask why we need this queer festival, but it is the only time a year where we can all enjoy ourselves out in the open."

Persons: Yang Sun, ”, Cho Jong Yun, Kim Kyu Jin, Kim Saeyeon, Kyu Jin Kim, Nicole Kim, Hong Joon, Daewoung Kim, Hyunsu Yim, William Mallard Organizations: South, Christian, Seoul Queer Culture, CTS, LGBT, Gallup, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Seoul, COVID, Korea, South Korea, Daegu

☆ Robot takes podium as orchestra conductor in Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] An android robot, EveR 6, is seen as it takes the conductor's podium to lead a performance by South Korea's national orchestra, in Seoul, South Korea, June 30, 2023, in this handout picture. National Theater of Korea/Handout via REUTERSSEOUL, June 30 (Reuters) - An android robot, EveR 6, took the conductor's podium in Seoul on Friday evening to lead a performance by South Korea's national orchestra, marking the first such attempt in the country. The two-armed robot, designed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, made its debut at the National Theater of Korea, leading musicians in the country's national orchestra. "Movements by a conductor are very detailed," Choi Soo-yeoul, who led Friday's performance alongside the robot, said. The humanoid robot guided three of five pieces showcased on Friday evening, including one jointly conducted with Choi.

Persons: Choi Soo, Choi, Lee Young, Lee, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Soo, hyang Choi, Emma Rumney Organizations: South, Theater of, REUTERS, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, National Theater of, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Theater of Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, National Theater of Korea

☆ South Korea shoppers buy up salt before Japan's Fukushima water dump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Hyun Young Yi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Lee Young-Min and her children pose for photographs during an interview with Reuters in Seongnam, South Korea, June 28, 2023. The release of the water from huge storage tanks into the Pacific is expected soon though no date has been set. The rush to stock up contributed to a nearly 27% rise in the price of salt in South Korea in June from two months ago, though officials say the weather and lower production were also to blame. South Korean fisheries authorities say they will keep a close eye on salt farms for any rise in radioactivity. South Korea has banned seafood from the waters near Fukushima, on Japan's east coast.

Persons: Lee Young, Min, Kim SEOUL, Song Sang, keun, Japan's, Hirokazu Matsuno, Kim Myung, Hyun Young Yi, Jack Kim, Robert Birsel Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Fisheries, ., Thomson Locations: Seongnam, South Korea, Japan, Tokyo, Seoul, Korea, Fukushima, Japan's, China

☆ South Koreans become a year or two younger as traditional way of counting age scrapped
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, June 28 (Reuters) - South Koreans became a year or two younger on Wednesday as new laws that require using only the international method of counting age took effect, replacing the country's traditional method. Under the age system most commonly used in South Koreans' everyday life, people are deemed to be a year old at birth and a year is added every Jan. 1. But many South Koreans continued to use the traditional method for everything else. In December, South Korea passed laws to scrap the traditional method and fully adopt the international standard. Another age system exists in South Korea for conscription, school entrance and calculating the legal age to drink alcohol and smoke: a person's age is calculated from zero at birth and a year is added on Jan. 1.

Persons: Lee Wan, Choi Hyun, It's, Choi, Soo, hyang Choi, Daewoung Kim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Koreans, South, South Korea, Seoul

☆ BTS fans pack Seoul park to celebrate 10-year anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, June 17 (Reuters) - An estimated 300,000 people are expected to gather in the heart of South Korea's capital Seoul on Saturday as fans from around the globe commemorated the debut of K-Pop boy band juggernaut BTS 10 years ago. At the "BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA" at Han River Park in Seoul on Saturday, thousands of fans wandered under clear skies and bright sun among various exhibits including a BTS history wall, stage costumes and commemorative sculptures, many in BTS' signature purple colour. With the bands' songs playing in the background, fans danced under shady trees or bonded over their favourite band members. Later on Saturday, BTS leader RM is expected to speak to fans, followed by fireworks over the Han River, with local media estimating up to 300,000 people will be in attendance. "I'll continue to be an ARMY for 10, 20, 30 years, so I hope you as artists, singers, extend a lot of positive influence for a long, long time."

Persons: Audrey Lintner, Kim Hye, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Joyce Lee, Lincoln Organizations: BTS, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korea's, Seoul, Han, Sri Lanka

☆ Seoul hosts large crowds as BTS fans celebrate 10-year anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Fans of the K-pop boy band BTS dance during BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA in Seoul, South Korea, June 17, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeonSEOUL, June 17 (Reuters) - An estimated 400,000 people gathered in South Korea's capital Seoul on Saturday as fans from around the globe commemorated the 10th anniversary of the debut of K-Pop boy band juggernaut BTS. At the "BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA" at Han River Park in Seoul on Saturday, tens of thousands of fans wandered among various exhibits including a BTS history wall, stage costumes and commemorative sculptures, many in the band's signature purple colour. With hit songs playing in the background, fans danced under shady trees or bonded over their favourite band members. BTS leader RM later read out fan messages, performed and received calls from fellow members Jung Kook and V at the celebration.

Persons: Kim Soo, Audrey Lintner, RM, Jung Kook, V, I've, Kim Hye, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Joyce Lee, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, BTS, RM, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, South Korea's, Han, Sri Lanka

☆ Fans celebrate K-Pop supergroup BTS' 10-year anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoSEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - Fans of K-Pop supergroup BTS gathered in the heart of the South Korean capital Seoul on Monday to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the boy band's debut. Landmarks such as Seoul City Hall and Namsan Tower were lit purple, BTS' signature colour, while dozens of fans from France, Mexico and elsewhere came to enjoy the sights. Organisations and businesses are also joining the celebration, with the city of Seoul working with BTS' management agency HYBE (352820.KS) to set up a tour of landmarks associated with BTS. South Korea's postal service released special commemorative stamps of BTS' debut anniversary. The celebrations are expected to hit a climax on Saturday, when BTS leader RM is expected to meet fans - followed by fireworks near the Han River, which bisects Seoul.

Persons: Mike Segar, Rita, Lotte, JungKook, Daewoung Kim, Joyce Lee, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hudson, REUTERS, Seoul City Hall, BTS, Hyundai Department, Lotte Cinema, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, SEOUL, Seoul, France, Mexico, Korea, KS

More than 85% of the South Korean public oppose Japan’s plan, according to a survey last month by local pollster Research View. Seven in 10 people said they would consume less seafood if the wastewater release goes ahead. "We are getting more customers than usual lately and many of them seem worried about the planned wastewater release," he said. Social media posts talking about buying salt in large amounts and urging people to do the same have also gone viral. Order volumes and inquiries about buying salt have increased as of late, according to the local branches of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation known as Nonghyup in Sinan County, a region famous for producing sea salt.

Persons: Japan's, Hyun Yong, gil, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Hyunsu Yim Organizations: sil, South, South Korea's Ministry of, Fisheries, “, country’s, Of Fisheries Cooperatives, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, NHK, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Fukushima, Seoul, Tokyo, Sinan County, South Korea, Insanaga, KS, Japan

[1/5] TANAKA whose real name is Kim Kyung-wook, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Seoul, South Korea, May 16, 2023. Now Kim exemplifies the changing attitudes of young Koreans as ties with Japan thaw. DEMAND REBOUNDThe quarrels are being left behind as the enthusiasm of young Koreans fuels a sharp rebound in demand for Japanese consumer products. That compared with a 90% drop in imports of Japanese beer in 2019, when the intensifying feuds made it an early target of a sweeping boycott. "China is clearly less preferred than countries like the United States and Japan," Kim said, citing Beijing's curbs on freedom in Hong Kong and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: TANAKA, Kim Kyung, Kim Hong, Ji, Jeong, Tanaka, idolises, I've, it's, Kim, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk, James Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Heekyong Yang, Jimin Jung, Daewoung Kim, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, South, Korea's, Relations, Asahi Group Holdings, Costco, Hankook Research, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, South Korean, Japan, Tokyo, Korean, China, Russia, North Korea, United States, Hong Kong

SEOUL, May 31 (Reuters) - Rare wailing air raid sirens and mobile phone alerts calling for evacuations rattled residents of the South Korean capital, Seoul, early on Wednesday after North Korea launched what it said was a satellite. North Korea launched the rocket southward, South Korea's military said, prompting emergency alerts and evacuation warnings in parts of South Korea and Japan. [1/2] People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what it called a space satellite toward the south, in Seoul, South Korea, May 31, 2023. The two countries are still technically at war seven decades after the Korean War ended in an armistice. "Alerts" and "evacuation" were the most trending topics on Twitter in South Korea on Wednesday morning, with confused tweets scrambling to grasp what was going on or to find evacuation areas.

Persons: Lee Juyeon, Lee, Kim Hong, Kim Jong, Ed Davies, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, REUTERS, Twitter, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Seoul, North Korea, South, South Korea, Japan, Korean, Seoul's

The bill passed the opposition-led parliament last month, prompting protests from some medical workers who said the new law would open the door for nurses to provide treatment without a medical license. Nurses say that the doctors' claim is groundless, and that the country needs more care centres to cope with its rapidly aging population. In vetoing the bill, Yoon said that the new law caused excessive conflict among medical workers, and that nursing practices outside medical institutions would cause public anxiety over the healthcare system. The Korean Nurses Association, which led the walkout, strongly denounced Yoon, saying he abandoned his promise as a presidential candidate to improve nurses' working conditions. The impact of the strike was seen as limited so far, as most protesters used holiday time or shortened business hours, with major hospitals operating normally.

[1/5] Choi Jin-mook, 48, Chief Director of Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (DARC) and visiting professor of Department of Addiction Rehabilitation and Social Welfare at Eulji University, listens to a recovering drug addict during a group counselling for drug addicts in Incheon, South Korea, April 1, 2023. South Korea has only six drug rehabilitation centres, according to Choi, including just two run by the food and drug safety ministry. In comparison, Japan - with 126 million people to South Korea's 52 million - has about 90 rehab centres. PRISON NOT REHABOne of the biggest problems is that South Korea's corrections system focuses mostly on punitive detention and lacks rehabilitation support, Choi said. Some drug crimes are also punishable by death although South Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997.

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