Author: Seoul Reporter

The social welfare community organization ‘Share the Love’ announced that Yeonjun, a member of the K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER, celebrated his birthday on the 13th by making a significant donation of 100 million Korean Won (approximately $72,000 USD). This generous contribution underscores Yeonjun’s commitment to giving back and supporting those in need. Yeonjun Joins ‘Honor Society’ of Major Donors In addition to his substantial birthday donation, Yeonjun has officially become a member of the ‘Honor Society,’ a distinguished group of major benefactors for ‘Share the Love.’ This elite circle comprises individuals who have pledged or donated over 100 million…

A prominent South Korean political figure has publicly questioned the Democratic Party’s (DP) recent distancing from the Basic Income Party (BIP), particularly concerning the electoral success of BIP lawmaker Yong Hye-in. The criticism comes from Rep. Jung Jin-suk, the floor leader for the People Power Party (PPP), who argued that the DP’s current actions contradict its past support for the BIP. Criticism Over Past Support for Basic Income Party In a statement posted on Facebook, Rep. Jung pointed out that Yong Hye-in, a member of the National Assembly, received nominations from the DP twice. He emphasized that while Yong Hye-in…

Seoul’s city buses face a potential shutdown on December 16th, as the bus labor union has voted against their current contract, raising the possibility of a strike. This follows a similar situation in January, where the first day of a bus strike saw only 6.8% of services operating, effectively halting over 90% of the city’s buses. The prospect of another “commute crisis” eight months later has intensified calls to designate city buses as an “essential public service,” akin to railways, subways, and airlines. Proponents argue that designating buses as essential would mandate a minimum level of operation even during a…

Singer Jeong Mi-jo, who achieved peak popularity before stepping away from the music industry, has revealed the reasons behind her abrupt departure. In an appearance on MBN’s ‘Kim Ju-ha’s Day and Night’ on Saturday, November 12th, Jeong Mi-jo discussed her career choices and subsequent life path. A Career Interrupted by Personal Conviction Jeong Mi-jo explained that her decision to leave the music scene at the height of her fame was driven by a lack of material ambition. “I never had the desire to become a famous singer or a star, or to make a lot of money,” she stated. Her…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated a willingness to engage in direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami in December. Such a meeting would mark the first face-to-face encounter between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. However, the potential for such a dialogue hinges significantly on the final decision of U.S. President Donald Trump, who will host the summit. Putin himself has not attended G20 summits in person since the Osaka meeting in 2019. Zelenskyy, in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) broadcast…

Kylian Mbappé delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice and assisting once, to lead Real Madrid to a commanding 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. The dominant display on October 13th (KST) at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium solidified Real Madrid’s position at the top of the La Liga standings, drawing them level on points with FC Barcelona, who have played one game less. Real Madrid’s Tactical Setup and Early Dominance Under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mbappé spearheading the attack. He was supported by Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Yan Dhoamande in advanced midfield roles. The midfield…

Singer Song Chang-sik has revealed the deeply personal and moving story behind his decision to adopt two children, sharing the circumstances that led him to bring them into his family. Appearing on the MBN talk show ‘Kim Ju-ha’s Day & Night,’ Song recounted the emotional journey, highlighting his wife’s sister, Cheo-hyeong, as the catalyst for these life-altering choices. The Path to Adoption During the broadcast on November 12th, Song Chang-sik explained that his wife’s twin sister, Cheo-hyeong, who was living in the United States, expressed a desire to adopt a child. After considerable effort, they were able to bring one…

The Supreme Court of South Korea has ruled that retired bus drivers may have a legitimate expectation of re-employment under contract terms, even after reaching the mandatory retirement age. This landmark decision came in a case involving a city bus company, identified as Company A, and two former drivers, Mr. B and Mr. C, who were denied contract-based re-employment after turning 61 in February 2022. Background of the Case Mr. B and Mr. C had been employed as bus drivers by Company A for many years. Upon reaching the retirement age of 61, they sought to continue their employment through…

Director Lee Chang-dong’s latest film, ‘Possible Love,’ has been honored with the Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The acclaimed filmmaker received the prestigious award, equivalent to second place, at the ceremony held on September 12th (local time) at the Lido in Venice, Italy. This marks a significant return to the Venice stage for Lee Chang-dong, as it is his first award at the festival in 24 years, following his success in 2002 with ‘Oasis.’ That earlier film garnered him both the Director’s Award and the Best Actor award for its lead, Moon So-ri. A Deeply Personal…

Atletico Madrid faces a significant setback as key attacking player Pablo Barrios has been sidelined due to injury. The club confirmed the midfielder sustained a muscle tear in his right leg following their UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool. This injury means Barrios will miss the upcoming La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad, with his return timeline to be determined by his recovery progress. Barrios’ Injury Adds to Atletico’s Woes The injury to Pablo Barrios comes at a difficult time for Diego Simeone’s squad. Atletico Madrid has recently experienced a string of unfavorable results, including a 3-0 league defeat to…