Ex-DPWH official, now state witness, testifies against Romualdez

Inquirer.net - Oct 20, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Henry Alcantara, a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official who became a state witness, took the witness stand before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday to testify against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Alcantara, formerly district engineer of DPWH-Bulacan’s first district engineering office, testified before the anti-graft court during the

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Gov't to promote pay transparency in job ads under 'nation normalization project'

Oct 20, 2026

Gov't to promote pay transparency in job ads under 'nation normalization project'

The government will seek to promote pay transparency in job ads, crack down on illegal street structures and root out the practice of disguising imported goods as locally made or laundering their country of origin as part of its "nation normalization project," officials said Tuesday. The prime minister's office announced a second batch of 30 tasks to tackle under the normalization project launched after President Lee Jae Myung ordered in March the correction of abnormal practices and systems, and deep-rooted illegal and illicit acts to improve the everyday lives of the people. Since then, the government had identified the first batch of 164 tasks, including adjusting speed limits in school zones, the standardization of beach umbrella fees, improving the opaque management system of studio apartments and banning illegal use of the Onnuri gift certificates the government issues to revitalize traditional markets. The additional 30 tasks announced Tuesday were selected from about 200 suggestions with a focus on resolving everyday public grievances, including preventing local council members

2 arrested over late-night mass brawl in Pyeongtaek

Oct 20, 2026

2 arrested over late-night mass brawl in Pyeongtaek

Police said Tuesday they have arrested two people for their alleged involvement in a late-night mass brawl between Central Asian nationals in Pyeongtaek earlier this month. The brawl, involving 21 suspects, took place at around 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 3 at a children's park in the city, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, raising safety concerns among residents. The Pyeongtaek Police Station said it caught five suspects allegedly involved in the brawl -- all of whom are Kazakh or Kyrgyz nationals in their 20s or 30s. It placed two of the five under arrest for alleged assault. Police officials have issued exit bans on two other suspects while investigating the whereabouts of 14 others. They believe the fight broke out over a past dispute and is unrelated to gang activity. Most of the suspects are believed to be day laborers, with three of the five apprehended suspects being undocumented migrants.

Kookmin University professor named among World's Top 2% Scientists

Oct 20, 2026

Kookmin University professor named among World's Top 2% Scientists

Lee Do-youn, a professor at Kookmin University’s College of General Education, has been named to the 2026 World’s Top 2% Scientists list jointly released by Stanford University and Elsevier. The list identifies the top 2 percent of researchers in their respective fields based on a comprehensive analysis of research impact, including citation metrics and research output, using data from Elsevier’s Scopus database. Kookmin University said Lee has broadened her research beyond physical therapy and rehabilitation science to encompass epidemiology and public health. Her research has focused on chronic diseases, major health risk factors, long-term trends in disease burden and the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments. More recently, she has analyzed large-scale health care data from Korea and other countries to examine trends in disease incidence and prevalence, the burden of mortality and disability, and health disparities by age and gender. She also conducts evidence-based health care research by synthesizing and evaluating scientific evidence on various health issues to support d

Sejong University program helps international freshmen adapt to campus life

Oct 20, 2026

Sejong University program helps international freshmen adapt to campus life

Sejong University said Sunday that its Sejong Korean Language and Culture Education Center, part of Daeyang Global College, completed a Campus Survival program last month to help newly enrolled international students adjust to university life in Korea. Held from Sept. 11-25, the program provided 408 international freshmen with practical Korean expressions and information about university life. It also gave them opportunities to interact with senior students. The program was selected as an outstanding initiative in a competition organized by the Ministry of Justice’s immigration integration division to promote early adaptation programs. The center ran the program in five sessions alongside the Campus Life Seminar, a required course for all newly enrolled international students. The sessions focused on helping students navigate everyday university life through practical information and useful Korean expressions. Five senior international students served as mentors, meeting with freshmen in small groups. They shared information on academic options and student support programs, including dou

Inaugural SCIA chief attends Cabinet meeting amid political neutrality concerns

Oct 20, 2026

Inaugural SCIA chief attends Cabinet meeting amid political neutrality concerns

Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), attended a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung for the first time Tuesday, sparking controversy over the agency's political neutrality. Kim, who received his letter of appointment from Lee on Monday, was scheduled to hold his inauguration ceremony Tuesday afternoon. The SCIA was launched Oct. 2 as part of an overhaul of the criminal justice system that removed prosecutors' independent investigative powers. Kim emphasized the agency's political neutrality and independence before his appointment, saying he would decide whether to attend the Cabinet meeting after reviewing relevant laws and consulting with concerned agencies. Concerns have been raised that the participation of investigative agency and prosecution chiefs in Cabinet meetings could undermine their political neutrality and independence. In principle, even officials at the presidential office can be subject to investigation and prosecution, and holding weekly in-person meetings with the president itself could place political p

President Lee calls for all-out efforts to boost housing supply

Oct 20, 2026

President Lee calls for all-out efforts to boost housing supply

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday stressed the need to cut the time required for administrative procedures in building homes, calling for all-out efforts to boost housing supply. The president made the call during a Cabinet meeting as runaway housing prices persist despite the government's efforts to cool the market. "Stable housing is the foundation for practical improvements in people's lives," Lee said, citing a decline in housing construction permits and the supply of new land for real estate development over the past three years as reasons for disruptions in housing supply. "In order to resolve the current problems in the real estate market, created by various factors that have accumulated over the years, consistent market management policies and large-scale housing supply measures should be implemented promptly," he added. Lee instructed officials to make all-out efforts to boost housing supply by cutting the time needed to prepare land for development and granting administrative permits for house construction as quickly as possible, "without being constrained by customary practic

Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats

Oct 20, 2026

Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats

The defense ministry on Tuesday expressed "grave concerns" over North Korea escalating border tensions with threats and its criticism of South Korea's military operations conducted in response to the North's repeated border intrusions violating the armistice agreement. The ministry's statement came a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), saying the border situation has become "very unstable." In a commentary released by state media Monday, she cited in specific numbers the warning shots and broadcasts from the South, claiming that those operations are intended to hamper its border fortification work. "The Ministry of National Defense expresses grave concern over Kim Yo-jong's criticism of our military's legitimate operations conducted under the Armistice Agreement, as well as her escalation of tensions through military threats," it said in a statement. "The warning broadcasts and warning shots conducted by

Lee to hold 2nd plenary meeting on deregulation this week

Oct 20, 2026

Lee to hold 2nd plenary meeting on deregulation this week

President Lee Jae Myung will attend a meeting this week aimed at easing regulations to help nurture advanced industries and ensure balanced development, his office said Tuesday. The second plenary meeting of the regulation rationalization committee will be held Friday following the first session in April, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The upcoming meeting is expected to discuss ways to ease regulations to support the Lee administration's development plan focusing on regional growth, as well as its push to secure absolute global leadership in cutting-edge industries. As part of the discussion, officials will present solutions to regulatory obstacles to advancing growth-engine industries, including robotics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, self-driving vehicles and biotechnology, the presidential office said. They are also expected to delve into discussions on rationalizing unnecessary regulations to promote the growth of venture companies. Friday's meeting will bring together officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the finance, science, interior, industry, health, labor,

Man sent to prosecutors for allegedly murdering mother-in-law, kidnapping wife

Oct 20, 2026

Man sent to prosecutors for allegedly murdering mother-in-law, kidnapping wife

Police on Tuesday referred a man to the prosecution for allegedly murdering his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife, officials said. The man, identified as 26-year-old Kim Sung-woo, is accused of stabbing his mother-in-law to death at her home in southern Seoul on Oct. 11 before kidnapping his wife who had been staying there, according to the Seoul Songpa Police Station. Kim allegedly assaulted his wife in the face when she was confined in his vehicle before police rescued her and took him into custody in Yangyang County, about 150 kilometers east of Seoul, hours after the alleged murder. The police station said it recommended charges of retaliatory murder, retaliatory confinement, aggravated assault and violations of laws on stalking and domestic violence against Kim to the prosecution. Kim's wife had applied for divorce mediation in August before withdrawing it to seek an annulment of their marriage. The suspect had stalked his wife on 18 occasions between Sept. 16 to Oct. 11, waiting for her near his in-law's home, the police said. Investigators are putting weight on the possibility t

[COVER STORY] Should women serve? Korea's female conscription debate is back as troop pool shrinks

Oct 20, 2026

[COVER STORY] Should women serve? Korea's female conscription debate is back as troop pool shrinks

South Korea’s decade-old debate over female conscription resurfaced during a National Assembly audit this month, amid growing concerns that a shrinking draft-eligible population could undermine military readiness. During a National Assembly defense committee audit on Oct. 12, opposition lawmakers raised the issue, arguing that the time has come for a public discussion as the eligible male population continues to fall. Defense ministry data shows the pool of 20-year-old men eligible for service dropped from 332,000 in 2019 to 257,000 in 2022, and is projected to fall further to 228,000 by 2035 and 120,000 by 2043. Rep. Yoo Yeong-ha of the main opposition People Power Party said, "Now, we must officially put female conscription on the table. This will also require broad societal consensus." Rep. Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party used the term “gender-equal conscription” — meaning mandatory service for both men and women — to call for a broader discussion on reforming the system. “If we continue wringing a dry towel without even considering gender-equal conscription as an option,

Seoul launches driverless night bus along Cheonggye Stream

Oct 20, 2026

Seoul launches driverless night bus along Cheonggye Stream

Steering wheel-free shuttles will hit the streets of downtown Seoul this week, offering free automated rides along the historic Cheonggye Stream to connect the capital’s late-night food markets and nightlife hubs. Starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is deploying the nation's first regularly scheduled driverless night shuttle — the Cheonggye A01. Stripped of both a steering wheel and a driver's seat, the futuristic pod-like vehicle weaves along a 4.8-kilometer loop, binding together the city's vibrant nightlife, culinary hubs and cultural landmarks under the glow of the city lights. The shuttle, operating two vehicles across 11 marked stops every 30 minutes until 11 p.m., connects Cheonggye Plaza with major commercial districts, including the neon-lit food alleys of Jongno, the industrial-chic bars of Euljiro and Gwangjang Market, world-famous for its street food. Following a successful pilot program in August and a year of daytime testing, the night shuttle offers night-shift workers, late-night shoppers and international tourists free transit between ke

Busan ranks No. 5 on Expedia's Top 10 global travel destinations for 2027

Oct 20, 2026

Busan ranks No. 5 on Expedia's Top 10 global travel destinations for 2027

Busan — Korea’s vibrant southeastern port city celebrated for its beaches and bustling seafood markets — is cementing its status as one of Asia's hottest escapes, jumping into Expedia’s top ten global destinations for 2027 following a dramatic spike in worldwide travel searches. The city was the only destination in Korea to make the list in Expedia’s “Unpack ’27” report, ranking fifth worldwide as the result of a 50 percent increase in travel searches compared with the previous year. South Lake Tahoe, California, topped the ranking with a 195 percent increase, followed by Hyogo, Japan, at 95 percent; Punta del Este, Uruguay, at 65 percent; and Sedona, Arizona, at 55 percent. Expedia highlighted Busan’s lively coastal atmosphere, traditional markets and diverse food scene, recommending Haedong Yonggung Temple, Haeundae Beach and Jagalchi Market as key attractions visitors can explore in a single day. The city also met Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check criteria, which recognize destinations aligned with sustainable tourism principles promoted by the World Travel & Tou

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