Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Midterm snacks, minus plastic

Students at Sookmyung Women’s University in Yongsan District, Seoul, receive exam snacks in their canvas bags on April 7 amid ongoing shortages of plastic-bag raw materials caused by the war in the Middle East.

2026-04-07

Why are Koreans disposed toward trash bag panic buying amid the Middle East conflict?

While much of the world reacts to the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran by stockpiling bottled water or canned goods, Koreans have turned their attention to a more domestic essential: plastic garbage bags.

2026-04-02

Left holding the bag

Left holding the bag

2026-03-24

Merchants fear plastic bag shortage as Middle East war disrupts petrochemical supplies

Fears of a “plastic bag shortage” are spreading among small business owners and consumers as supply disruptions hit petrochemical products, including naphtha, a key raw material for plastics, amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

2026-03-24

Special counsel appeals ruling on ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee in corruption case

A special counsel on Friday appealed a court ruling in the corruption case of former first lady Kim Keon Hee that handed down a prison term but found her not guilty on most charges.

2026-01-30

Gov't employee who pocketed money from selling official garbage bags sentenced to 3 years

A former Jeju city government employee has been sent to prison after pocketing hundreds of millions of won from the sale of government-assigned garbage bags, turning trash disposal fees into a personal payday.

2026-01-08

[WHY] The mystery behind all those Trader Joe's bags in Korea

Why are there so many of those plain canvas Trader Joe's bags all over Seoul lately? Why takes a closer look at what's behind the practical yet surprisingly fashionable phenomenon.

2025-09-20

Jane Birkin’s original Hermes bag sells at auction for whopping 8.6 million euros

Sketched out on an air sickness bag, the first Birkin handbag — the prototype for fashion's must-have accessory — sold for a staggering 8.6 million euros ($10.1 million), including fees, on Thursday in Paris.

2025-07-11

Couple in 70s recover life savings after losing bag in Busan cab

A couple in their 70s recovered a suitcase containing their life savings — 10 million won ($7,180) in cash as well as gold — after accidentally leaving it in a taxi during a trip to Busan, police said Tuesday.

2025-05-20

Police investigate bag-gifting pastor for defamation and election law violations

A Korean American pastor who gifted a luxury handbag to first lady Kim Keon Hee is under police investigation for allegedly defaming a lawmaker and conducting illegal electioneering ahead of the April 10 general election.

2024-06-17