'Victim angered me with threats to report illegal hostess service'

The suspect in the mutilation and murder of a middle-aged man has said he killed the victim out of rage after the man threatened to report him to police over an illegal hostess service at his karaoke bar, police said Wednesday. Police on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old karaoke bar owner, identified only by his family name Byun, in Anyang, about 20 km south of Seoul, on charges of murder, body mutilation and others.

Day-2: Divided families resume reunions [PHOTOS]

The families saw each other again starting at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday in their hotel rooms. They will also have lunch together after the two-hour meeting. This is the first time that separated families have had such private time together during such reunions. They will also join a group meeting at 3 p.m.

Korea raises alert against African swine fever

The South Korean government said Wednesday it has issued an alert against African swine fever to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious animal disease, following three outbreaks in China this month.

(Asian Games) Another golden day in taekwondo, fencing

South Korea picked up gold medals in taekwondo and fencing for the second straight day at the 18th Asian Games on Tuesday, while a Greco-Roman wrestler successfully defended his title. Lee Da-bin in taekwondo won the first gold medal of the day for South Korea, triumphing in the women's over-67 kilogram competition over Deniz Cansel of Kazakhstan.

Japan emulates K-pop incubating model

Japan's popular music industry was thriving in the 1990s and its cultural influence was felt all across Asia, including South Korea. Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment, is one of the Asian musicians inspired by the systematic talent training in Japan back then and transplanted it to the entertainment industry in Korea.

Powerful earthquake rocks Venezuela

A powerful earthquake shook Venezuela's northeastern coast on Tuesday, startling residents in the capital who evacuated buildings and briefly interrupting a pro-government rally in favor of a controversial economic reforms. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 7.3 and said it had a depth of 76 miles (123 kilometers). Its epicenter was 12 miles (20 kilometers) off the sparsely populated Cariaco peninsula that has seen several devastating quakes in the past.

9 killed in electronics factory fire west of Seoul

The fire occurred at around 3:43 p.m. at an electronics goods factory production line that reportedly handles hazardous materials.

Two Koreas to close 10 DMZ guard posts

Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed to close 10 guard posts near the inter-Korean border, as part of a meaningful step to realize their mutual goal of transforming the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a peaceful area, South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo said Tuesday. “We reached an agreement with the North to remove 10 guard posts and decided to expand the number,” Song said during a National Assembly session.

Gunman fires shotgun, kills 2

The 77-year-old man, surnamed Kim, entered the Socheonmyeon township office in Bonghwa County, some 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 9:30 a.m. and fired the gun. Two township officials, aged 47 and 38, respectively, were wounded in the shoulder and the chest. They were taken by helicopter to a hospital, but both died later, police said.

'Custody without time limit violates human rights': watchdog

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has called on the National Assembly to revise some clauses of the Immigration Control Law which in its view violate the human rights of foreigners subject to deportation, the commission said Tuesday. Under the current clauses, foreigners who are ordered to leave the country are housed in detention centers if they cannot be deported immediately.

DJ DOC member to marry girlfriend 17 years his junior [PHOTOS]

Singer Lee Ha-neul of hip hop group DJ DOC will marry his girlfriend on Jeju Island on Oct. 10, after dating her for 11 years. He wrote on his social media Monday, “Thank you. She has been waiting for 11 years. Celebration to me. Consolation to Quince. #I will tie the knot.”

Rising inflation weighs on economy

Record high increases in the cost of wholesale goods are expected to further undermine confidence in the future growth potential of the economy, analysts said Tuesday. The country's producer price index (PPI), a measure of business inflation, stood at 104.83 in July, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). This marks the highest in three years and 10 months and is being driven by rising prices of vegetables and fruit amid the prolonged summer heat wave. The price of spinach rose the highest by more than 130 percent in July from the month before, followed by that of cabbage at 90 percent.

FTC gives up exclusive right to file cases

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has agreed to give up its exclusive rights to file complaints about antitrust cases, such as price collusion or supply restriction.

Small eatery owners decry next year's minimum wage hike

A group of small restaurant owners is holding a series of protests that will culminate in a large-scale rally against the “unbearably steep” rise in next year's hourly minimum wage, which they claim will harm their businesses. The 430,000-strong Korea Foodservice Industry Association, representing about two-thirds of eatery owners, started the protests in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Monday, which will continue through next week. Up to 30,000 restaurant owners will gather for the rally, Aug. 29.

Plus-size comedian flaunts rare swimsuit body for a reason [VIDEO]

“Plus-size” comedienne Lee Young-ja revealed Monday that she had shown herself in a swimsuit to combat social prejudice. Lee showed a photo of herself in a swimsuit on OLIVE's food show “Food Bless You” on Aug. 9.

Yang Hee-eun unveils new collaborative track

Veteran folk music singer Yang Hee-eun has released another collaboration track, this time working with ballad singer Sung Si-kyung. Her new digital single “You,” composed and produced by Sung, was officially released on Sunday along with a music video. “You” is the ninth song of Yang's special single project titled “Unexpected Collaboration.” Through a series of collaborative acts, the singer-songwriter has been creating authentic music and broadening her musical horizons.

Young woman fined for throwing water bottle at older man scolding her 'public love affair'

According to court documents, the woman abused the man and threw a plastic water bottle at him at a restaurant in Ulsan in December after he criticized her for lying on her boyfriend's lap.

Tiny eastern island excited as hometown player wins first medal

A wrestler from the country's tiny Ulleung Island of the east coast made history for his hometown by reaching the podium in the 2018 Asiad in Indonesia. Nam Koung-jin, 29, won a bronze medal in the men's 125- kilometer freestyle wrestling, Monday, becoming the first Ulleung islander to win an Asian Games medal.

Drunk man bites off police officer's ear

A man wanted list for tax dodging bit off a police officer's ear, Gyeongsan police said Monday.

Police warn of 'virtual kidnapping' scam

Police are warning against “virtual kidnappers,” who swindle money out of parents by calling them and pretending to have kidnapped their children. The scam is decades-old but has become far more sophisticated thanks to social media, where scammers can gather up-to-date information about their targets.

Biotech prodigy, 22, becomes Korea's youngest PhD

Dr. Ryu will receive a doctorate in bioinformatics when she officially graduates from the University of Science and Technology (UST) in Daejeon this month. She gained her master's at UST when she was 15, in 2011. She went to UST after graduating from elementary school. “I was an average student but studying consistently was my strength. My mother encouraged me to study independently,” Ryu told Joongang newspaper.

K-pop 'version 3' - go local for success

K-pop bands with Korean members that went overseas to attract foreign fans have run into a hostile local atmosphere based on nationality and language barriers. Now the bands have found a new way forward - having no Koreans.

Syrian being tried in first case under anti-terrorism law

A Syrian man is being tried in the first case under the anti-terrorism law enacted in 2016, Incheon District Court said Monday. A second hearing was held Monday behind closed doors to prevent details being revealed during the ongoing probe and to protect identities.

Man swindles 250 million won over gay community membership

A man in his 20s has been sentenced to three years' jail for swindling a total of 250 million won ($223,553) from two victims, Ulsan District Court said Monday. He lured them to pay the money in return for being able to join an online gay community and meet other members.

North Korean media makes rare comment on South Korean spy movie

North Korea's state-run Korea Central News Agency recently commented on the movie “The Spy Gone North,” although not directly mentioning the title. It is rare for the North's media to comment on movies or dramas from other countries, especially from the South.

North Korea hosts international trade fair

North Korea is hosting an annual international trade fair in a special economic zone in the port city of Rason, the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, Monday.A total of 120 enterprises from North Korea and China, Russia, Germany and Canada, among others, are participating in the 8thRason International Trade Exhibition from Aug. 20-23, according to KCNA.

North Korean leader attends funeral for former military chief

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a state funeral for a former military chief who died last week, state media said Tuesday.

Reservoirs running dry amid protracted heatwave

The average storage rate of 3,397 reservoirs across the nation stood at 49.3 percent as of Monday, the lowest level this year, the Korea Rural Community Corp. (KRC) said.