Stories from Seoul · South Korea

A wild boar appeared on the campus of Ewha Womans University in the Seodaemun District of Seoul. No injuries or property damage were reported in the transcript. The animals are reportedly venturing into everyday urban areas as habitats shift. This movement follows changes in local wildlife directions and habitat patterns. The presence of these animals in residential and academic zones is noted as a recurring occurrence. A wild weasel was captured in an apartment in Mapo District, Seoul, after being spotted on a nearby university campus. Firefighters took over 50 minutes to catch the animal, which died during the capture. The university had advised students to avoid the campus at night due to sightings. A wild boar was also discovered in an apartment parking lot in Mapo-gu, Seoul, four days prior to the report.

South Korean Democratic Party leadership is expressing reluctance to nominate former Vice Chairman Kim Yong for a by-election. Kim previously received a five-year prison sentence related to the Daejang-dong development corruption case. Party leader Jung Chung-rae also indicated a negative stance regarding the nomination last Wednesday. Leadership fears the nomination could negatively impact the overall election results. Pressure on the party leadership is increasing as the nomination issue causes internal friction. Representative Jung Cheong-rye also expressed opposition to the nomination last Wednesday. Supporters claim Kim is a victim of manipulated investigations by political prosecutors. Representative Lee Kun-tae, a former lawyer for President Lee, held a press conference today demanding the nomination.

Samsung Electronics shares rose 2.96% to 226,000 KRW during the last trading session. SK Hynix shares increased by 7.49% to 3,500 KRW. These movements occurred in the South Korean semiconductor market. Samsung Electronics rose 2.96% to 226,000 won and SK Hynix rose 7.49% to 35,000 won. The KOSPI index surpassed 6,600 and reached the 6,650 level. South Korean stocks surged 5% to reach new historical highs. SK Hynix shares rose 12.5% to a record closing price, while Samsung Electronics increased by 5.44%. Stock prices for SK Hynix and other large companies rose significantly, jumping from 9% to 10%. Large companies including SK Hynix saw stock prices surge between 9% and 10%. Samsung's stock price has increased more than fourfold in the past year.

A shooting incident occurred at an event in Seoul around 8:00 PM. Witnesses reported a rapid evacuation following gunfire at a gala event. Military personnel were observed pointing weapons toward the room to secure the area. The transition from the sound of shots to the evacuation took fewer than four seconds. Security personnel disguised as waiters were used to infiltrate the area during the incident. Rapid response units equipped with machine guns were deployed as the perimeter was breached. The presence of plainclothes security officers acting as service staff was noted during the event.

New applications for court auctions in South Korea reached 30,500 cases in the first quarter. This figure represents the highest volume of new auction requests since the first quarter of 2013. Creditors are requesting the disposal of collateralized assets to recover unpaid debts. Total annual auction applications exceeded 100,000 cases in 2014 and again in the current period. Gasoline prices in Seoul averaged 2,046.2 won per liter, while diesel averaged 2,032.7 won per liter. Average diesel prices rose slightly to 2,002.1 KRW per liter. Naver is providing an integrated guidance page for high oil price relief subsidies.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has established a technical advisory group for AI government services.

The Seoul International Garden Show will open this Friday in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Organizers aim to extend the garden concept beyond park boundaries to include surrounding areas like the Han River, Seongsu-dong, and Konkuk University area. Last year's event at Boramhae Park attracted over 700,000 visitors. installations include 'Garden Flowing Under the Forest' by French landscape artist Akmi Baba, located at the entrance of Seoul Forest. Participants include corporations, various institutions, individual artists, students, and citizens. Renowned artist Hwang Jae-hee, a three-time winner of the 70th PLA Show, is participating with a work titled 'Wan-gan-ui Su-su-bun'. The event provides guidance systems in nine different languages via audio and text. A mobile treasure hunt game called 'Adhentos' is available for children to use within virtual reality garden settings.

The National Health Insurance Service announced that 16.71 million workplace subscribers will pay an average of 218,000 KRW more in premiums. Conversely, 3.55 million subscribers with reduced compensation will receive an average refund of 115,000 KRW. The total adjustment amount is estimated at 3.07 trillion KRW, representing a roughly 10 percent increase. Starting this year, the system will automatically process year-end tax settlements for all workplaces using National Tax Service income statements. The National Health Insurance Service reports that the need for additional year-end settlements arises because companies often report changes in employee wages once a year rather than immediately. The service stated that if workplaces reported wage changes as they occurred, the year-end settlement process would be unnecessary.

Approximately 5% of the 128,000 total workforce have requested to continue normal operations during the ongoing labor dispute. The first court hearing is scheduled for April 29. The dispute involves personnel specifically related to safety facilities and raw material product prevention tasks. Samsung Electronics employees have filed for an injunction to prevent the company from labeling their bonus demands as illegal strike actions. The outcome remains uncertain due to judicial discretion and the burden of proof on Samsung.

Political pressure is mounting for party leader Jang Dong-hyeok to resign following a trip to the United States. Critics question the timing of the trip ahead of local elections and allege he misrepresented meetings with U.S. officials. Reports indicate the Chosun Ilbo has called for his resignation for five consecutive days. Jang has stated he will do everything to ensure victory in local elections except resign. The controversy involves allegations of lying regarding whether he met with a U.S. Under Secretary. Political commentators are discussing the role of Jang Dong-hyeok in the current political landscape, suggesting his actions may be contributing to the framing of Han Dong-hoon as a victim of oppression. The discussion posits that Jang's leadership style is shaping the perception of party leadership dynamics.