The government on Saturday denied speculation that it plans to raise cigarette prices or impose a health tax on alcohol, saying no such measures are under review.
The government is considering raising cigarette prices to around 10,000 won ($6.63), which has remained at 4,500 won for the past 11 years, and imposing a health promotion levy on alcohol.
Actor Lee Jae-ryong, 62, was caught by police after allegedly crashing into a guardrail while driving under the influence (DUI) in southern Seoul and fleeing the scene, police said Saturday.
Entertainer Park Na-rae, who has stepped back from television amid a series of controversies, was recently seen attending classes on how to make makgeolli, or Korean rice wine.
While many Koreans believe that having one or two drinks a day is harmless medical evidence and new government guidelines warn that no amount of alcohol is safe and that even light drinking can raise the risk of cancer and other diseases.
In Korea, a country known to be very safe for foreign travelers, a silent but imminent danger might be just around the corner on any street in the country — drunk drivers.
Seoul’s Jongno District has declared Tapgol Park an alcohol-free zone in an effort to protect its historic setting and improve public safety, district officials said on Monday.
Beginning next September, labels on alcoholic beverages in Korea will feature new pictograms and stronger warnings against drunk driving and drinking during pregnancy.
Koreans are drinking softer but paying more for their favorite alcoholic drink, as soju prices climb while alcohol levels sink to record lows in a decades-long shift in consumer taste.
A man who stole hundreds of bottles of alcohol over several months from a restaurant in Daegu was caught by the restaurant owner after a late-night stakeout. The man reportedly told police that he did it “because he was hungry.”
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
