South Korea
- Thailand News
Thai influencer Bew detained in South Korea sparking immigration scrutiny debate
Popular influencer and Bondi Jelly CEO, Waraphon Piyathansomsin, known as Bew, has been detained overnight in South Korea’s immigration detention centre, drawing extensive online attention. Bew, who has over 700,000 followers, was travelling to South Korea for vacation and wedding dress fitting with her fiancé, who was allowed to pass through immigration. However, Bew was held back, leading to an…
- World News
Chinese man charged for abandoning his son on Jeju Island
A shocking child abandonment incident in South Korea has led to a Chinese man in his 30s being charged with violating the nation’s Child Welfare Act. The man was arrested for allegedly abandoning his nine year old son on the popular tourist destination of Jeju Island in August. The Korea Times reported that the boy was left to fend for…
- World News
Calvatia Gigantea: Farmer discovers rare mushroom in South Korea
A 73 year old South Korean farmer stumbled upon a strange, large, white object weighing about 2 kilogrammes while cutting grass on a mountain in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. Initially thought to be an enormous egg, experts later identified the object as a rare type of mushroom known as Calvatia gigantea or giant puffball. The discovery of the giant egg…
- Thailand News
South Korea aims to boost Thai tourism with new campaign
South Korea, marking its 65th year of diplomatic relations with Thailand, is all set to attract more Thai tourists. This comes as part of a bilateral effort to revive the tourism industry in both countries, which shares a robust relationship economically, socially, and culturally. Covid-19 restrictions saw a decline in international tourism, with South Korea welcoming about 570,000 Thai tourists…
- World News
Thai nationals warned to exercise caution in South Korea amidst surge in knife attacks
Thai nationals are being warned to remain vigilant in South Korea after a gruesome string of copycat knife attacks, marking an ominous rise in violence. This fear-inducing outbreak of violence saw its most recent attacks claim two lives and severely injure many others. The Thai embassy in the South Korean capital of Seoul issued an advisory for Thai nationals travelling…
- Thailand News
Bathroom bust up: Thai man accused of sexual harassment at South Korea’s World Scout Jamboree
A scout group commander from the North Jeolla province of South Korea accused another Thai scout group leader of being a peeping tom intent of sexual harassment after the man ventured into a woman’s bathroom during the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. The drama emerged yesterday August 6. A group of 80 scouts and their leaders departed the event,…
- World News
Financial dispute: Online gaming leads to tragic real-life confrontation in South Korea
In South Korea, a chilling online feud case unfolded where authorities discovered a deceased man and another critically wounded inside a vehicle parked on a busy highway near the city of Azu South Jeolla province. The seemingly gruesome situation, according to the ongoing investigation, is believed to have stemmed from a deadly game designed to resolve a persisting financial dispute. Authorities…
- World News
Stabbing spree at Seoul’s Sillim subway station leaves 1 dead, 3 wounded
South Korea’s capital city of Seoul witnessed a chilling incident of violence near the Sillim subway station. A man in his thirties embarked on a perilous stabbing spree inciting widespread terror. The consequences of the attack were fatal, with one man in his twenties losing his life, and three others sustaining injuries. One among the injured is reported to be…
- Phuket News
South Korean woman’s tragic death in Phuket sparks suicide investigation
Phuket Police were alerted early this morning to the tragic death of a 43 year old South Korean woman in her residential bathroom in Rawai. Police believe it was suicide. Police were informed of the case at 7am. The response team arrived at the incident location, a two-story townhouse located on Patak Soi 1. The ground floor of the establishment…
- World News
Famous South Korean streamer Imvely dies during live broadcast
Tragic news struck the South Korean entertainment and streaming industries as famed female streamer 37 year old BJ Imvely took her own life during a live broadcast following a party with fellow streamers. Before her death, footage surfaced of Imvely arguing with other streamers at a party on June 11. After returning home intoxicated, she broadcasted live, mentioning that some friends…
- Thailand News
Royal Thai Air Force defends 50 million South Korean guidance kit acquisition
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) yesterday defended its purchase of guidance-extended range kits from South Korea, worth 50 million baht, asserting that the acquisition adheres to regulations. RTAF spokesperson AVM Prapas Sornchaidee explained that the kits will be utilised with 500-pound air-dropped bombs to improve the air force’s long-range air strike capabilities, in line with the country’s defence preparation…
- World News
South Korean teen questioned for rocking high-speed railway
South Korean police are set to question a teenager for allegedly placing a large rock, the size of a brick, on a high-speed railway last week. The incident took place at Singyeongju Station in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province, where a rail traffic controller noticed the individual trespassing in the restricted area via CCTV cameras. Local reports claim the teenager admitted…
- Crime News
Thai and South Korean officials tackle illegal ‘little ghosts’ labourers issue
A recent meeting between the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand and South Korean authorities aimed to address the issue of illegal Thai labourers, or “little ghosts,” working in South Korea. The discussions focused on finding a systematic resolution to labour problems that could lead to human trafficking. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, at least 170,000 Thai labourers were working in South…
- World News
South Korea hosts first summit with Pacific islands amid geopolitical rivalry
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to initiate the country’s first summit with Pacific island leaders today, as Seoul aims to expand its influence in a region that has become a focal point for intense geopolitical rivalry. President Yoon unveiled his administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy last year, committing to promote a “free, peaceful and prosperous” region based on a…
- World News
South Korea to raise electricity and city gas prices amid high inflation and cost of living
South Korea announced today that it will increase electricity prices by 5.3% in an effort to partly account for rising generation costs. This decision, initially slated for implementation on April 1, was postponed by over a month due to concerns about the potential impact on already high inflation rates and the cost of living. This will be the second electricity…
- World News
South Korea aspires to become a global pivotal state for Indo-Pacific crisis response
South Korea‘s aim to become a global pivotal state (GPS) will help countries in the Indo-Pacific region address crises, according to the nation’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Choi Youngsam, who spoke to media in Seoul. Choi addressed the World Journalist Conference, hosted by the Journalist Association of Korea from April 24-29. Around 50 international journalists, including five from Southeast Asia –…
- World News
BTS’ J-Hope answers call of duty, enlists in South Korean military amid fanfare
BTS sensation J-Hope is set to commence his obligatory South Korean military service today, according to local media, becoming the second member of the immensely popular K-pop group to enlist, leading to an overwhelming show of support from fans. The spectacularly successful septet has generated a global cultural impact, selling out stadiums internationally and topping major US charts while contributing…
- World News
Sex traffickers held Southeast Asian women captive in South Korea
Sex traffickers held four Southeast Asian women captive on South Korea‘s Jeju Island. Jeju provincial police said they arrested four subjects who allegedly held the women, The Korean Herald and Asia News Network reported yesterday. The suspects included a Korean bar owner in his 40s, his Chinese wife, and two other accomplices. The suspects were sent to the prosecutor’s office. The victims…
- World News
158 illegal Thai workers in South Korea arrested at Thai singer concert
Police arrested 158 illegal Thai workers in South Korea after they visited two restaurants to attend concerts of a well-known Thai singer. Following the incident, the singer expressed her remorse and posted an apology video on TikTok. Chutima Sodapak, also known as Arm Chutima, was performing in concerts at two bars in Incheon City, South Korea. During her first performance,…
- Environment News
Japan voted top sustainable country, Thailand ranked fifth
Japan has been praised by fellow Asian countries for its sustainability and conservation efforts in a new poll with Thailand claiming fifth place, would you believe? Over 13,000 respondents from more than ten countries participated in the Sustainable Impact Survey 2023 conducted by the online travel agency Agoda. The respondents were asked to rank countries based on their sustainability efforts, and…
- Thailand News
Family of illegal Thai worker who died in South Korea sues employer
The family of an illegal Thai worker who tragically died at a pig farm in South Korea travelled to the country to seek compensation from the employer. The 67 year old worker, named Boonchu, lost his life while working at a farm owned by 60 year old Kim, who reportedly attempted to conceal the death by leaving the worker’s body…
- World News
Bullets found on plane cause evacuation in Korea
A few stray bullets are enough to ruin an entire flight. Yesterday a Korean Air plane was evacuated after two live bullets were discovered on board. The incident took place at Incheon International Airport in South Korea. The plane was bound for Manila and had 230 passengers on board at the time. The discovery of the bullets resulted in the…
- World News
Thai Eastar Jet CEO faces arrest on breach of trust charges
The CEO of Thai low-cost carrier, Thai Eastar Jet Co., Park Seok-ho, is facing arrest on charges of breach of trust and other offences, according to the Jeonju District Prosecutors Office in Jeonju, South Korea. The prosecution requested a pretrial detention warrant for Park, and a court hearing is set to take place later today, reported Yonhap News Agency. Park…
- World News
Thai drug lord ‘becomes Korean’ with plastic surgery to evade the law
Thai police arrested a “handsome Korean man” in Bangkok today who is in fact a wanted Thai drug lord who underwent loads of plastic surgery and changed his name to present as a Korean man to avoid prosecution. Police arrested 25 year old “Jimin Cheong,” formerly Sarahat Sawangjaeng, at a condominium in the Bang Na district of Bangkok under an arrest…
- World News
Thailand offers amnesty to ‘little ghosts’ in South Korea
The Thai government calls for all Thais working illegally in South Korea – known as ‘little ghosts‘ – to return to Thailand before February 28. Any little ghost who does not return to Thailand before this date will face a 30 million won fine (800,000 baht), warned the government. Today, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek revealed that the South Korean Immigration…
- World News
Thai man working illegally in South Korea enters coma, family pleads for help
A Thai man working illegally in South Korea is in a coma after undergoing urgent surgery for a brain haemorrhage. His family is doing everything they can to coordinate his return to Thailand. His family says that 40 year old Narong Fanphua from Thoen district, Lampang province, northern Thailand, has been a ‘Little Ghost’ (slang for a Thai person illegally…
- Crime News
President of Thailand’s Udon Thani FC ‘Madam Wi’ accused of fraud
“Madam Wi,” the president of Thai League 2 team Udon Thani FC in northeast Thailand, has been accused of fraud after allegedly deceiving people into paying her money to find them work in South Korea. Nine people filed a complaint at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station accusing 41 year old Arisara “Madam Wi” Chamun of fraud and violating the Employment…
- Thailand News
3 fraudsters to be extradited from Thailand to South Korea
Three South Korean citizens have been arrested on suspicion of committing fraud resulting in losses of 159 million baht (approximately US$4.84 million) in Korea before fleeing to Thailand. They will be extradited to South Korea to face charges. The suspects, identified as Kim, 54, Yang, 60, and Ye Jun, 51, were charged with fraud in South Korea for alleged stock…
- World News
Infected Chinese tourist escapes quarantine in South Korea
South Korean police are searching for a Covid-19 infected Chinese tourist who escaped from a quarantine hotel last Friday. The South Korean news website, KBS News, reported yesterday that local police have been unable to track down the 41 year old Chinese man who escaped Covid quarantine. The website revealed that the man entered the country via the Incheon International…
- World News
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Kim Jung-un riding a New Year rocket?
South Korea test-fired a solid-fuel rocket yesterday triggering panic over a UFO invasion, or a possible North Korean missile launch by Kim Jung-un, riding a new year rocket into the free south. Seoul said in a statement that the launch was part of efforts to build a space-based surveillance capability and bolster its defence posture. The general public was not…
