I don’t know about everyone else, but my summer seems to have gone by way too fast. I can’t believe it’s already August.
- The Park Geun-hye saga: “In trial, Lee Jae-yong tells of being harshly rebuked by Park Geun-hye” and “Special Prosecutor seeks 12-year sentence for Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong.”
- The Moon administration: “Chief science official steps down” and “Defense minister orders resolute, confident response to NK provocations.”
- “Two CEOs grow company into go-to K-beauty platform.” Sarah Lee and Christine Chang co-founded the U.S.-based K-beauty retailer Glow Recipe.
- “Newborns estimated at 360,000 this year.” That’s a record low, and 12.4% down from last year.
- “‘We Want to Live’ Demonstration Puts Misogyny and Violence on the Public Agenda Again.” Over 200 women participated in the demonstration after a woman was murdered on August 6.
- “Ex-diplomat sentenced to prison for sexual assault.” He received three years for sexually assaulting minors in Chile.
- “Karoshi (Death by Overwork) of Twenty-Something Online Game Developer in ‘Crunch Mode’ Recognized as Work-Related Death.” Two other people at that same company also died last year, and some have called for investigation into whether overwork contributed to their deaths, too.
- “Seoul to financially support dating abuse victims.” The Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide legal and financial support to victims of date crimes.
- “Jeju’s ‘Haenyeo’ Female Divers to Receive Government Allowance.” If they’re over 80, they’ll get 200,000 won/month, and if they’re in their 70s, they’ll get 100,000 won/month to help support them.
- “One Officer Forced Soldiers to Eat Hunted Goose, Another Forced Subordinate to Stay Up All Night Doing His Wife’s Homework.” Stories of violence and abuse in the military.
- “Conglomerates Facing Wage Lawsuits Could be on the Hook for Over 8 Trillion Won.” 35 companies are currently facing lawsuits over wages.
- “Rape and Retribution: Nayoung’s Story Isn’t Over.” A look into the impact of a 2008 crime where a fifty-eight-year-old man raped and beat an eight-year-old girl in a public bathroom. The 2013 movie Hope was based on this case. The offender will be out of jail in three years.
- “A Working Environment that Gives Alba Workers As Little Rest As Possible.” A look at part-time, minimum wage work in south Korea.
- “Lee Soo Hyuk to enlist in the military this week.” Serve safely!
- “Lee Joon to enlist in October.” Good luck to you, sir!
- “‘Woman Of Dignity’ Becomes Most-Watched JTBC Drama, Beats Record Set By ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.'” They hit 9.986%!
- “Stranger (Secret Forest) enjoys success as tvN’s top rated series in 2017.” Congrats to the cast and crew–and especially to first-time scriptwriter Lee Soo-yeon.