경향신문

Nongshim launches campaign to promote dedication of firefighters

Nongshim, Korea’s top instant noodles and snack maker, said on April 1 that it launched the “Safety Campaign That Touches People’s Heart” with the National Fire Agency starting this month. The campaign is a social contribution activity that the company and the fire agency have been conducting since 2021 to promote the importance of fire safety and the dedication of firefighters.As part of the campaign, Nongshim will launch a limited-edition package of Shin Ramyun containing the stories of ...

2025.04.02 17:54

If Yoon impeached, early presidential election likely to be held on June 3

As the Constitutional Court announced that it will deliver a ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment on April 4, interest in the timing of an early presidential election is also growing. If Yoon is impeached, June 3 is the likely date for the 21st presidential election. On the other hand, if the Constitutional Court rejects or dismisses the case, Yoon will immediately return to office after the sentencing.If the court upholds the impeachment motion, Yoon will be removed from the of...

2025.04.02 17:51

Kim Soo-hyun denies underage dating allegations and takes legal action against YouTubers and Kim Sae-ron’s family

Actor Kim Soo-hyun denied underage dating allegations, saying, "We dated for about a year five years ago" after the late actress Kim Sae-ron became an adult. Kim Soo-hyun’s management agency said they filed a court complaint for 12 billion won in damages against the operators of YouTube channel Hoverlab that spread photos of his personal life and Kim Sae-ron's family to verify the facts through an investigative agency.“We did not have a relationship when the deceased was a minor, and it ...

2025.04.01 17:46

When people let their guard down, poisonous mushrooms like Yoon Suk-yeol grow

“Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration shocked us and made us realize ... that when the people let their guard down, cracks occur in the democracy that was considered solid, and poisonous mushrooms like Yoon grow in those cracks." Hyun Ki-young (84), author of the novel “Aunt Suni,” which brought the Jeju uprising to the surface, wrote in an essay titled “The Wind Blowing in April,” published this month. “Martial law is a despicable tool of someone who is thirsty for dictatorship,” Hyun...

2025.04.01 17:36

U.S. 25 percent tariffs on bolts and nuts weigh heavily on Korea’s small exporters

“I think we're going to produce more than 30 percent less this year than we did last year. It's a disaster for small businesses.”A head of Company A, which exports $5 million worth of bolts and nuts to the U.S., said, “If we export to the U.S., the price will go up by 25 percent, which will make us much less competitive. We have not received any new orders since February.” The business situation is deteriorating, but there is no obvious solution. Domestic demand has been sluggish for a long ...

2025.04.01 17:33

Last residents of Gwangcheon Citizen Apartment in Gwangju move out with pride

A vehicle carrying the belongings of the last residents of Gwangcheon Citizen Apartment in Gwangju, So Young-doo (70) and Cho Sung-ja (60), arrived in front of the apartment on the morning of March 30.So and his wife moves to a neighboring apartment not far from the apartment. With their departure, Gwangcheon Citizen Apartment, built in 1970, will be relegated to a historical footnote.All of the neighbors had already moved out a year or two ago. However, the couple said, “We couldn't...

2025.03.31 18:04

Recent massive wildfires reveal Korea’s poor wildfire response system

The massive wildfires that broke out simultaneously in the Yeongnam region of Korea have exposed the shortcomings of the country's wildfire response system. It will be difficult to avoid the criticism that the recent wildfires, the most destructive in the country’s history, were caused by its poor disaster response system.The wildfire started in Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, on March 22 spread to four neighboring cities and counties. Favorable weather conditions for the spread ...

2025.03.31 18:01

Social care workers are not angels but laborers

March 30 is “Social Care Workers' Day.” The government has been celebrating this day as “Social Workers' Day” since 2011, when it enacted a law to improve the treatment and status of social workers. Social care workers call it Social Care Workers' Day.While the government emphasizes the importance of care, it has actually outsourced care work to the private sector. Social care workers are being exhausted day by day due to low wages, intense work, and an unstable working environment fille...

2025.03.31 17:59

Short selling to resume soon in Korea after longest hiatus in its stock market history

The resumption of short selling, which had been suspended for the longest period in Korea’s stock market history, is now imminent. While retail investors worry that short selling will exert downward pressure on the market, experts predict that its overall impact will be limited. However, stocks that have seen sharp price increases, such as shipbuilding and defense stocks, and those with weak earnings like secondary battery stocks, are expected to be prime targets for short selling, leading to in...

2025.03.28 18:04

Constitutional Court’s ruling on Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial to be pushed back to April

The Constitutional Court’s ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to be pushed back to April. As the delay in designating a sentencing date continues, both the ruling and opposition parties are adjusting their strategies. The opposition parties are likely to continue to call for a swift ruling, while also increasing the intensity of their street protests. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has temporarily suspended its street protests and is focusing on shaping p...

2025.03.28 18:01