경향신문

Lee Jae-myung surpasses 50 percent in presidential polls for 1st time, gains momentum ahead of election

Lee Jae-myung, a contender in the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)'s primary for the presidential election on June 3, has surpassed the 50 percent threshold in a recent poll on presidential suitability, according to survey results released on April 21. Following the martial law crisis, Lee’s approval ratings had remained in the 30 to 40 percent range, but this latest surge is seen as a sign of his growing dominance. His gains are largely attributed to rising support in the region consisting of ...

2025.04.22 17:51

Seoul Apartment arson using pesticide sprayer leaves 1 dead, 11 injured

A man in his 60s died after setting fire to the apartment building where he once lived, using a pesticide sprayer filled with flammable liquid. Two women in their 70s and 80s sustained serious injuries after falling from windows while trying to escape the flames. Neighbors reported that the man had conflicts with upstairs residents over the issue of noise between floors.According to Seoul’s Gwanak Police Station and fire authorities, a fire broke out around 8:17 a.m. on April 21 at an apar...

2025.04.22 17:48

Discrimination and exclusion make disability caregivers isolated in Korea

“I went to the hospital because I hated my child, because I had thoughts of wanting to kill her.”Hwang Sun-hee, 51, mother of a 15-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and cognitive impairments, spoke these words to a reporter at the Korean Association of Parents with Children with Severe and Multiple Brain Lesions in Seoul on April 17. Her daughter has no strength in her body. She cannot move on her own, nor can she eat by herself. Lately, she has started screaming without apparent rea...

2025.04.21 17:45

Soprano Sumi Jo vows to sing for 100 years at GV event for Maria Callas’ biopic ‘Maria’

“Next year, it will be 40 years since I made my debut on the international stage,” said world-renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo, 63, “I’ve resolved to continue singing not just for 40 or 50 years, but up to 100 years.”Speaking at a guest visit (GV) event for the film “Maria” at Megabox COEX in Seoul on April 19, Jo said, “Seeing how short the peak of my role model Maria Callas’ career was made me take things more seriously.” The film “Maria,” which was released in Korea on April 16, is a b...

2025.04.21 17:40

‘Martial law declaration went beyond tolerance and restraint,’ says Justice Moon Hyung-bae in farewell lecture

A day before stepping down, Moon Hyung-bae, acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, delivered a special lecture at Inha University in Incheon. Moon spoke to students of the law school on April 17 under the theme, “The Path of a Legal Professional: Soul, Creativity, and Communication,” according to the university.Regarding the concept of “Soul,” Moon emphasized the importance of continuously reflecting on the question, “Why did I choose to become a legal professional?”He cit...

2025.04.18 17:08

Gender equality stalls in Korea as index declines for 1st time since 2010

Korea’s National Gender Equality Index for 2023 has dropped compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since the index was introduced in 2010. Persistent gender disparities in decision-making roles and a growing reinforcement of gender role stereotypes within families contributed to the decline.On April 17, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that the index for 2023 stood at 65.4 points, down 0.8 points from 66.2 in 2022. The index measures gender gaps acro...

2025.04.18 17:05

Medical school admissions reversed to 3,058: Government loses to doctors’ self-interest

The government has decided to revert next year’s medical school admissions quota to 3,058 students, the same number as before the recent increase. This comes just one year after 1,509 additional students were admitted under a policy to expand medical school enrollment. While the government described the move as an unavoidable decision to normalize medical education, it is now facing criticism for effectively surrendering its earlier stance, even withdrawing its previous condition that requir...

2025.04.18 17:02

Jeongjeon of Jongmyo Shrine to reopen after 5 years of restoration on April 20

After undergoing extensive repairs due to structural cracks and deterioration of its wooden components since 2020, Jeongjeon of Jongmyo Shrine, designated as a National Treasure, will reopen to the public for the first time in five years.On April 20, the Korea Heritage Service announced that it will hold a commemorative ceremony marking the completion of the restoration work, along with a ritual called Hwananje to return the spirit tablets of Joseon Dynasty kings and queens from their te...

2025.04.17 17:53

People gather again to remember victims of Sewol ferry disaster and for safer society

On April 16, the 11th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, memorial events were held across Korea to honor the 304 lives lost. Citizens paid tribute to each victim, offered comfort to the bereaved families, and reaffirmed their collective hope and determination for a safer society.The official remembrance ceremony began at 3 p.m. at Hwarang Park in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Organized by the April 16 Foundation and the April 16 Sewol Families for Truth and A Safer Society, the event b...

2025.04.17 17:48

‘A prosecutor can make or kill a president’: Familiar faces come to mind while watching film ‘Yadang: The Snitch’

“A prosecutor in Korea can make a president, or kill one!”This line, which now feels almost self-evident, is shouted by Goo Gwan-hee (played by Yoo Hae-jin), a seasoned prosecutor trying to shed his long-standing label as a mere rank-and-file and climb higher up the ladder. And he says it in front of the drug-addicted son of a presidential candidate who was once the head of the Special Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.The film “Yadang: The Snit...

2025.04.17 17:43