Bus drivers in Seoul end strike Bus operations return to normal in Seoul on March 28, 2024, as unionized bus drivers in the capital concluded their strike about 11 hours after initiating the labor action following the breakdown of wage negotiations with their employers. (Yonhap)
Runaway ostrich An ostrich gallops on the road in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on March 26, 2024, after escaping from an eco center, in this photo provided by a reader. (Yonhap)
Spring cleaning A worker sprays water on an Olympic installation in southeastern Seoul on March 13, 2024, to remove dirt as part of springtime cleaning. (Yonhap)
Considering the high housing prices Koreans are facing in Seoul, preventing foreigners from buying investment properties may help a little, but probably not much:
The government is facing growing calls to curb the purchases of homes in Korea by foreign nationals, who could obtain mortgage loans from banks abroad and are subject to less stringent borrowing regulations than Koreans.
Some are even demanding restrictions as a reciprocal measure against countries where foreigners, including Koreans, are restricted from owning homes.
As of July 2023, foreigners accounted for 1.4 percent of total home purchases here. While this percentage may seem modest, it has been steadily increasing from 1 percent in 2021 to 1.2 percent in 2022. Also, fierce competition to buy homes in the crowded capital, where real estate prices have been escalating rapidly, has amplified the concerns of local residents regarding foreigners buying homes in Seoul under more favorable conditions.
Firefighters’ rally Unionized firefighters carrying the portraits of firefighters who have died while putting out fires enter a rally in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2024, calling for the expansion of fire manpower. (Yonhap)
Heavy holiday traffic Heavy traffic clogs the Gyeongbu Expressway, which links Seoul to the southern city of Busan, in southern Seoul on Feb. 11, 2024, as many people travel home after Lunar New Year’s Day the previous day. This year’s holiday runs from Feb. 9-12. (Yonhap)
Here is the latest building that will grace Seoul’s skyline in the next few years:
A 100-story landmark building will be built in central Seoul’s Yongsan District, which will also feature a pedestrian bridge linking buildings at the 45th-floor level, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, Monday.
These are part of the city government’s revived plan to transform the 500,000-square-meter former railyard into an international business district.
The land has been vacant for 10 years after the previous development plan had been canceled due to the global economic crisis. The state-run railway operator KORAIL holds 70 percent ownership of the land.
Shin Ramyun maker to open K-ramyun zone in Myeongdong Products of South Korean instant noodle giant Nongshim Co., including Shin Ramyun, acknowledged as the world’s best instant noodles by The New York Times, are displayed at the company’s brand zone in Myeongdong, one of Seoul’s hottest tourist destinations, on Jan. 30, 2024. The zone will open the following day to provide foreign tourists an opportunity to experience K-ramyun. (Yonhap)
