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☆ Signs of Rare Unrest Among North Korean Workers in China, Researchers Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Ju-min ParkSEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's intelligence agency says poor conditions for North Koreans working overseas have led to "incidents and accidents", while researchers report rare protests and unrest in China among workers from a North Korean military-linked trading company. Fed up with unpaid wages and lingering pandemic lockdowns, as many as 3,000 North Korean workers in China staged protests last month, according to two South Korean government-affiliated researchers, including a former North Korean diplomat. The North Korean embassy in Beijing and its consular office in the Chinese border city of Dandong did not respond to calls from Reuters seeking comment. South Korea's unification ministry said in a report last year that China and Russia were hosting North Korean workers despite the sanctions. That's not easy now, given the North Korean regime wants to keep them in China to raise money for the government."

Persons: Cho Han, Cho, Ko Young, Ko, Jimin Jung, Josh Smith, Eduardo Baptista, Antoni Slodkowski, Laurie Chen, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, . State, Korea Institute for National, South, Korea's National Intelligence Service, Security, Koreans, U.S . State Department, NIS Locations: SEOUL, China, North Korean, Beijing, Dandong, North Koreans, North Korea, Pyongyang, Korean, Helong, Jilin province, Jilin, Russia, Seoul

The time is now to put an end to the controversy around eating dog meat, party members have said, adding there was broad support from the opposition party, which currently controls parliament, and from the public. 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. The farmers scuffled with police who outnumbered them and set up barricades to stop them from crossing the street to move closer to the presidential office. While the practice of eating dog meat has declined in popularity, the farmers and restaurant owners who serve the meat have been fighting to keep it legal. The farmers have accused First Lady Kim, a vocal critic of dog meat consumption, of exercising what they call improper pressure on the government and the ruling party to bring in the ban.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Keon Hee, Ju, Lady Kim, Jimin Jung, Dogyun Kim, Hongji Kim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Jamie Freed Organizations: Korean Association, Edible, Presidential, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South 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

[1/5] G-dragon of K-pop group BIGBANG arrives at a police station to appear for questioning regarding his alleged illegal drug use in Incheon, South Korea, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsINCHEON, South Korea, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The former frontman for the K-pop band BIGBANG, known as G-Dragon, appeared for police questioning on Monday over allegations of illegal drug use, the latest in a string of South Korean artists embroiled in high-profile narcotics cases. Kwon, 35, stood briefly for the media before entering a police station in Incheon where the star of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", Lee Sun-kyun, was also questioned over the weekend on a separate allegation of illegal drug use. South Korea has tough drug laws, and crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Social media and foreign travel have made illegal drugs much more accessible, drug rehab advocates say.

Persons: BIGBANG, Kim Hong, Kwon Ji, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kwon, Oscar, Lee Sun, Lee, Choi Seung, Lee Seung, Dogyun Kim, Jimin Jung, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YG Entertainment, Social, Thomson Locations: Incheon, South Korea, Rights INCHEON, Korean, Korea, T.O.P

[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

[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

[1/5] South Korean people chant slogans during a protest against Japan’s discharge of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, in Seoul, South Korea, August 26, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Protesters gathered in the capital of South Korea on Saturday to demand that the government take steps to avoid what they fear is a looming disaster from Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The utility responsible for the plant, Tokyo Electric Power (9501.T) has been filtering the water to remove isotopes, leaving only tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is hard to separate. South Korea has said it sees no scientific problems with the water release but environmental activists argue that all possible impacts have not been studied. The first discharge of 7,800 cubic metres - equivalent to about three Olympic pools - will take place over about 17 days.

Persons: Kim Hong, Choi Kyoungsook, Choi, Gyun Kim, Jimin Jung, Heekyong Yang, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Korea Radiation Watch, Tokyo Electric Power, Kyodo, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Japan, Tokyo, Korea

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

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