So, a 32-year-old South Korean hypnotist walks into a bar, or something, and offers to put his 27-year-old blind date (which was arranged by a matchmaking service) into a trance. She finally agrees and he starts “hypnotizing” her by saying, “Black hole! You will plunge deeper into a trance. You will feel thrilled all over your body and if my hand touches your body, you will feel intense pleasure.” Only she’s not hypnotized, and when the “hypnotist” swoops in for the kiss, the woman freaks out and pushes him away. And files a sexual harassment suit and the guy gets fined three million won. Which might just be $2,453, but that’s still one seriously expensive kiss! [AP]

Sure, it’s a sleazy method of seducing a lady, but if a date trying to kiss you is sexual harassment, I’ve got a long day of legal matters to settle. What do you think: Is faux hypnosis totally deplorable or do you think this punishment is a tad harsh?

Shattered glass, broken furniture, biting, shoving, beating, jumping and throwing blunt objects—just another day in Parliament in South Korea. Yesterday, a female lawmaker was rushed to the hospital with injuries after an ordinary session turned into an episode of “UFC Ultimate Fighting.” The rampage began when members of the majority party, the Grand National Party, tried to enter the building to vote on a bill loosening restrictions on media ownership of TV networks. Men and women from the opposing parties began stacking up furniture to block the ruling members from entering the National Assembly. When that didn’t work, they took to clawing each other’s eyes out. Peeps who opposed the bill attacked anyone trying to approach the podium by throwing heavy objects and even body-slamming them.

This baby lion cub was cold, so the South Korean zoo where he lives gave him a heater to warm him up. [Chicago Tribune]

Think we have too many lame romantic holidays in the U.S.? Don’t visit South Korea. There, marketers have cooked up even more days to make single people feel bad about themselves. White Day, on March 14, is when men give gifts to women. (Local custom dictates that women give men presents on Valentine’s Day.) Black Day is today, and it’s when singles wear dark colors and commiserate over meals of black food, the favorite being Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick black bean paste sauce. Yum. If Valentine’s Day, White Day, and Black Day aren’t enough for you, there’s Green Day in August, but it hasn’t gotten much traction. Celebrating Green Day involves drinking cheap liquor from green bottles and walking in the woods. [Reuters]

A new service from a mobile phone operator in South Korea can supposedly tell how much the person at the other end of the line likes you by analyzing their voice. After a convo, users receive an analysis via text that breaks down the amount of affection, surprise, concentration, and honesty in the person’s voice. The service costs only about $1.59 a month, which doesn’t seem like much since it’s a lie detector and a love-o-meter rolled into one. [Reuters]