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The government is ramping up a crackdown on labor exploitation in salt farms in an effort to close loopholes that have allowed “salt farm slavery” to persist and become an international human rights and trade issue. Under a plan jointly announced Thursday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, government workers will cooperate with police to create a standing, field-centered response system targeting abusive practices in salt farms. The move follows the latest such case in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, in which a salt farm owner was arrested for allegedly exploiting three workers, at least one of whom has a serious intellectual disability. The case has reignited worries over rights violations in remote coastal workplaces. On June 25, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it formally designated the three workers as victims of human trafficking. As recognized victims, they can receive up to six months of living expenses support of 783,000 won ($505) per month each, along with access to medical, legal and other assistance. Offici
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday rejected a report by U.S. lawmakers criticizing Korean authorities’ handling of Coupang regarding its customer data breach from last year, saying the report overlooked the company's violations of Korean law and only defended the U.S. firm. The ministry said the House Judiciary Committee’s interim staff report released on the committee’s website on Wednesday (local time) had a half-eyed view toward the massive data breach discovered last November. "We express regret that the report appears to reflect only Coupang's claims in a one-sided manner," ministry spokesperson Park Il said in a press briefing, saying that the Korean government has been “faithfully” transparent to the United States as to Korean authorities’ process of investigation over Coupang. Park said all Korean investigations and measures regarding Coupang are being conducted lawfully and without discrimination in accordance with domestic laws, and that the government guarantees a fair corporate operating environment regardless of nationality. “Therefore, the report's cl
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) convened a coalition of government officials, manufacturers and researchers Thursday to fast-track the commercialization of direct current (DC) power systems, a move driven by surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers. About 120 participants attended the "K-DC Industry Expansion 2026" event at LS Electric's Cheonan base under the theme, "Beyond DC Demonstration to Industry." KEPCO said the event marked a shift from pilot projects to broader industrial adoption of direct current technologies across the power grid and commercial facilities. The utility plans to expand its direct current portfolio beyond high-voltage direct current transmission into medium- and low-voltage distribution systems for industrial complexes, factories and data centers. The company also said it will promote large-scale projects aligned with government policy while developing commercial business models designed to attract sustained private-sector investment. To speed up commercialization, KEPCO plans to establish a fast-track framework linking standards,
Rumors surrounding actor Yoo Ah-in's return to the entertainment industry have reignited public debate, with earlier speculation about his casting in the upcoming film "Vampire" drawing renewed attention. On Tuesday, a representative from United Artists Agency (UAA) told Xports News that the agency's contract with Yoo had ended. Yoo had been with the agency since 2014, and news of his departure gained further attention amid speculation that he could sign with Galaxy Corporation. Galaxy Corporation is widely known as the agency representing G-Dragon. In recent years, it has expanded its roster to include stars from various fields, such as Kim Jong-kook, Taemin, Song Kang-ho and Lee Jung-hoo. Yoo was sentenced on July 3 last year to one year in prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted on drug-related charges. As reports of a possible agency transfer surfaced during his hiatus, speculation has also grown over a potential acting comeback. This has led to renewed interest in earlier reports linking him to director Jang Jae-hyun's upcoming film "Vampire." Late last year, local med
Josh Safdie, the director of the sports comedy movie “Marty Supreme,” expressed deep admiration for actor Timothee Chalamet, highlighting the unique combination of traits that made him perfect for the lead role. Speaking at an online press conference, Thursday, the filmmaker praised the actor for bringing a rare balance of power and innocence to the character. “One of the things that drew me to Timmy was his intensity, but his intensity was softened by a certain sort of eternal youth and a boyish wonder about the world,” Safdie said. “One of the things I did really admire about him is that he takes things very seriously, obsessively." “Marty Supreme,” which was released in theaters here on Wednesday, is set in the 1950s and follows the journey of Marty Mauser, a young man who tries to become a world champion table tennis player. To achieve his goal, he competes in underground gambling matches and performs circus-style trick shots. Safdie has built a reputation in Hollywood for his distinct filmmaking style, previously directing acclaimed titles such as “Good Time” (2017
“Gravity.” When a science teacher at a high school in Gyeonggi Province was beginning to explain the concept, a few students giggled. Only after class ended did the teacher discover why. In some far-right online communities, the Korean word for gravity, "jungryeok," has been appropriated as coded slang mocking the 2009 death of liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died as a result of a fall from a cliff. The expression has since spread beyond those communities, with some students using it without understanding where it came from. “How can you teach physics without saying ‘gravity?’” asked another teacher at the school, surnamed Lee, who recalled the story shared by their coworker. “About 10 years ago, I rarely came across hate expressions I didn’t recognize. Now, new ones appear all the time and even teachers struggle to keep up.” Teachers say such incidents are becoming increasingly common in classrooms. A recent incident at a high school baseball game highlights how severe the situation has become. Members of the Paichai High School baseball team used chants evokin
Last month's deadly explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon appears to have occurred while cleaning a washing machine that may have contained explosive waste residue, police officials said Thursday. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency unveiled its initial assessment in a press briefing, citing a statement from a worker who was cleaning a tank within the washing machine at the time of the explosion on June 1 that left five workers killed and two others injured in the city located some 130 kilometers south of Seoul. "I was cleaning a tank inside a washing machine at the time of the explosion. The blast seemed to originate from the machine," the worker was quoted as telling police. According to the police, workers used chisel-like metallic scalers to remove waste residue accumulated on the washing machine, which, apparently, may have included explosive waste. Investigators have secured 17 items from the scene, including tools believed to have been used to clean the machine, and requested a forensic analysis by the National Forensic Service, they said. Still, the police said th
The Korean Cultural Center in Austria said it will present a three-day Korean culture festival at the Danube Island Festival, one of Europe's largest free open-air music festivals, from Friday through Sunday. This year's edition of Inspire Me Korea, now in its fifth year, is built around a stage called "Next K-Pop," produced with CJ Cultural Foundation, featuring Korean indie, hip-hop and electronic acts alongside mainstream K-pop. The center said the lineup reflects a broader range of Korean popular music beyond idol groups. Organizers are also planning four booths offering Korean food, beauty products and tourism information, run with the local Korean community association, the Korea Tourism Organization, LG and other Korean businesses operating in Austria. The center pointed to Korean beauty brands now sold at Austrian drugstore chains dm and Bipa, and Korean instant noodles available at major supermarkets, as signs that interest in Korean culture has spread beyond entertainment fans into everyday consumer habits. Austrian food magazine Falstaff featured Korean cuisine on its cover i
As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha revealed Russia's proposal of exchanging thousands of Ukrainian civilians in Moscow's custody for the North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukraine, Seoul is being pushed to offer increased support to ensure that the POWs will be transferred to South Korea. On Monday, Sybiha met with officials from a South Korean think tank, revealing that Kyiv has been asked to trade captured North Korean POWs for Ukrainian citizens held in Russia. He visited Seoul from Monday to Tuesday and engaged in bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday. “When Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had a meeting with Yoon Young-kwan, chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies on Monday, Sybiha said Ukraine was told by Russia to do a prisoners of war (POWs) swap by exchanging two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine for thousands of Ukrainian citizens currently held by Russia,” a source familiar with the matter told The Korea Times, Thursday. “But the Ukrainian foreign minister reaffirmed that the Ukrainian governm
BYD Korea is expected to pivot its strategic focus toward plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to offset its exclusion from the government’s electric vehicle (EV) subsidy program. The Chinese EV maker recently rose to the fourth spot in the nation’s imported car sales, behind Tesla, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but the momentum has hit an unexpected snag, as its all-electric models became ineligible for subsidies starting Wednesday. However, the carmaker is widely forecast to counter the disadvantage by aggressively expanding its PHEV lineup, anchored by its strategically priced Sealion 6 PHEV. According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, BYD Korea failed to win the subsidy for its passenger car business here due to its weak profile in supply chain contribution, a category given greater weight under the government's revised evaluation criteria. Having entered Korea's passenger vehicle market only in January last year, the company scored poorly in that category. Under the government’s updated EV subsidy rule, the climate ministry scores automakers across five categori
BTS member V asked fans to stop visiting the hotels where the group is staying during its "ARIRANG" world tour, saying the crowding compromises his privacy and disrupts his performances. V made the request Wednesday on Weverse, an online fan platform, thanking fans for welcoming him but urging them to avoid private lodgings. He said having the freedom to walk around, dine at local restaurants and enjoy the tour is precious to him. The singer also shared a screenshot of his sleep tracker showing he rested for only two hours and 27 minutes — including 21 minutes of REM sleep and 37 minutes of deep sleep — to highlight his exhaustion. The plea comes as his agency, BigHit Music, ramps up legal action against privacy invasion. The agency recently said a suspect stood trial on charges of trespassing and stalking after being held in custody for three months. The court sentenced the defendant to a one-year suspended prison term with two years of probation, according to the BTS' agency. The agency said loitering outside artists' residences and leaving gifts without consent were criminal acts
President Lee Jae Myung instructed the government Thursday to prepare thorough measures to prevent possible damage from heavy rains. Lee gave the order during a meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae ahead of the start of the annual monsoon season this month. "Rainy season in July is unusual and could lead to extreme heavy rains like a monster," he said. "Thorough readiness is needed. What is really important on top of the efforts of the central government is the role of the local governments on the front line." Lee especially called for preemptive checks on landslide-prone areas, semi-basement houses, construction sites and other vulnerable facilities at a time when many local administrations have undergone leadership changes following the June 3 local elections.
Seoul shares plunged Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI falling below the 8,000 mark for the first time in about 15 trading sessions, as chip heavyweights tumbled on growing concerns over weakening demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors. According to the Korea Exchange, KOSPI closed at 7,648.09, down 7.89 percent from the previous session. The index opened at 7,933.10, marking the first time in about 15 trading sessions that it had fallen below 8,000 during intraday trading. At around 9:07 a.m., KOSPI futures also fell by more than 5 percent, briefly triggering a sell-side sidecar. Foreign investors drove the decline, net selling 5.46 trillion won ($3.5 billion) worth of shares on the main bourse, marking a 10th consecutive day of net selling. Institutional investors also sold a net 114.6 billion won, while retail investors purchased a net 5.39 trillion won. The sharp decline came after reports said Meta may enter the cloud computing business by using its surplus computing capacity. The news raised concerns that AI demand may be weaker than expected and that the AI inves
Korea’s economy is maintaining its growth momentum despite conflict in the Middle East, supported by a recovery in consumption and strong semiconductor exports, the OECD said Thursday. But it also warned that the country’s medium- to long-term growth trajectory is likely to weaken due to persistently low fertility rates and a rapidly aging population. In its latest OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2026 report, the Paris-based organization said fiscal policy should continue to support recovery in domestic demand in the short term, while stressing the need for stronger medium-term fiscal consolidation to address risks. The organization projected Korea’s economy to grow 2.6 percent this year, while consumer inflation is also expected to average 2.6 percent. For 2027, the OECD forecast economic growth to slow to 1.9 percent, with inflation easing to 2.2 percent. In its March report, the OECD cut its growth outlook for Korea this year to 1.7 percent from 2.1 percent, citing concerns over the conflict in the Middle East and rising energy costs. It then sharply revised its assessment in June,
Birthright citizenship
POSCO Group on Thursday said that it will expand its core businesses into lithium production and renewable energy as it seeks to reposition itself as a leading supplier of Korea's key industrial resources. Chairman Chang In-hwa hosted “CEO Investor Day," where he shared the group's new “triple core” business portfolio. It frames steel as an industrial resource; lithium, anode, cathode and rare earth minerals as strategic resources; and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energy as energy resources. The most anticipated venture among POSCO investors was lithium. The group said it will introduce a production capacity of 173,000 tons per year by 2033 and become one of the world’s top five producers of the mineral. The group expects its lithium-based operating profit will reach 1.8 trillion won ($1.2 billion) by 2035. POSCO produces brine lithium from Argentina, where its regional subsidiary, POSCO Argentina, turned profitable in March. The company has also acquired the Argentine government’s approval for a large investment incentive scheme. The group said it will make an ea
Leading technology companies and institutions showcased their latest quantum technology developments at Quantum Korea 2026, which opened on Thursday, as the government seeks to position Korea as a global leader in quantum technology through various policy initiatives. Hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT since 2023, Quantum Korea will run through Saturday. This year’s edition focuses on how quantum technologies are being implemented and used in actual settings. A total of 56 companies and research organizations from 12 countries, including SK Telecom and KT, participated in the event, displaying quantum computer models and showcasing technologies that use quantum-based encryption and other security solutions. The telecom companies focused on quantum security solutions, as advances in quantum computing are expected to increase the risk of existing encryption systems being compromised. The key concept in their exhibitions was quantum key distribution (QKD) technology. QKD sends encryption keys using the quantum states of photons. Because observing a photon changes its quantum state,
The Marine Corps said Thursday it staged regular live-fire drills on islands near the tensely guarded inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea. The exercise, involving K9 propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, took place on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border. The drills, which are defensive in nature, are part of routine exercises held in waters south of the NLL, the Marine Corps said in a release. During the drills, troops reportedly fired some 330 rounds into surrounding waters, according to officials. It marked the second such drills this year, after the first session in February. The live-fire drills were suspended in 2018 under an inter-Korean pact aimed at reducing military tensions. South Korea resumed the drills in 2024 with the suspension of the pact under the previous conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government. Despite speculation that the drills could again be suspended under the liberal Lee Jae Myung government in line with its plan to gradually restore the inter-Korean military pa
Two headlines in June should shape Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI) debate. The first was a victory lap. SK hynix overtook Samsung Electronics by common-share market capitalization for a day, powered by high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI systems. Samsung has a fair caveat: If preferred shares are included, it remains larger. But the market signal was clear. AI has turned memory from a cyclical commodity into critical infrastructure. The second headline was less comfortable. Korean and industry reports suggest China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is moving faster in HBM than many in Seoul expected. Korea still leads. But the margin is narrowing, and that should change how Seoul thinks about its AI goals. Start with what the CXMT story actually shows. HBM3 is no longer the frontier. Nvidia’s Rubin platform uses HBM4, and Korean firms are already pushing into HBM4 and HBM4E. SK hynix has shipped samples of 12-layer HBM4E chips to major customers, while Samsung has showcased HBM4 and HBM4E products for Nvidia’s next-generation platforms. CXMT is trying to close
Korea's growing dependence on semiconductor exports may make the country more vulnerable to external shocks and cyclical volatility, despite serving as a major "growth driver," the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Thursday. The Paris-based organization made the assessment in a report titled "OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2026," which came around a month after it raised Korea's economic growth outlook for this year to 2.6 percent from 1.7 percent three months earlier, citing the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. "Semiconductor exports have been an important growth driver, with the growth contribution of exports and investments accelerating in early 2026," the report said. Government data released the previous day showed Korea's monthly exports hit a fresh high by surpassing the $100 billion mark for the first time in June, amid a record-breaking chip performance. Exports of semiconductors nearly tripled to reach $44.82 billion, with monthly exports surpassing $40 billion for the first time on the back of surging demand for memory chips. The OECD, however, s
K-pop girl group aespa will release its first Japanese EP, "Kiss N Tell," on July 24, the group's agency SM Entertainment said Thursday. The six-track album will include the title track of the same name, along with five other original Japanese songs. Ahead of the release, the quartet is set to hold a three-day meet-and-greet session for its Japanese fans from July 18 to 20 at Tokyo's Keio Arena. Aespa's second full-length album, "Lemonade," released on May 29, has sold more than 1 million copies.
Korea's finance minister on Thursday hosted the inaugural meeting of a steering committee tasked with reviewing the viability of potential projects in the United States under Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol hosted the steering committee meeting with the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Corp. (KUIC), which will be responsible for decision-making and fund management, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Korea has been making preparations to implement its investment pledge made last year under trade negotiations with Washington, with the National Assembly passing the Special Act on Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Management in March. Potential investment projects are subject to review by the project management committee led by the industry minister and KUIC's steering committee, and will require additional approval from the National Assembly before consultations with Washington. During the meeting, Koo suggested three main keywords for Korea's investment projects in the U.S., namely "together, opening and productive." "We will aim to impleme
The K-Medical Tourism Roundtable 2026 convened Thursday, bringing together government officials and industry leaders to discuss shifting Korea's medical tourism strategy toward a more sustainable and competitive ecosystem. Co-hosted by the Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association (KMTPA) and the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea, the forum topics ranged from Seoul's medical strengths to the structural challenges threatening the industry's long-term growth. “Korea's medical credibility and competitiveness are now recognized worldwide,” Kim Dae-hyun, second vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said in his congratulatory remarks, citing a record 2.01 million foreign patient arrivals last year. Kim added that the country's medical tourism industry is growing beyond treatment into a high value-added sector combining beauty, wellness and tourism, giving foreign tourists more diverse reasons to visit. Kim Jin-kuk, president of the KMTPA, said in a keynote speech that Korea's medical tourism sector remains strong but has yet to reach its full potential. “The tour
Korean retail investors continue to pour money into leveraged products listed overseas, suggesting that the launch of domestic single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix has done little to curb broader demand for high-risk overseas products, industry officials said Thursday. Leveraged products accounted for 21 of the 50 U.S.-listed securities most heavily bought on a net basis by Korean investors between June 2 and July 1, up from seven the previous month, according to SEIBro, a portal run by the Korea Securities Depository. Net purchases surged to $1.65 billion from $490 million in the May 2-June 1 period. Korean investors were net sellers of Hong Kong-listed single- stock leveraged products from May 27 to July 1, but buying activity remained sizable. During the period, they purchased $151.5 million worth of the SK hynix product and $79.3 million worth of the Samsung Electronics product, the two largest purchase amounts among Hong Kong-listed securities bought by Korean investors. Unlike in the domestic market, investors trading leverag
Korea’s four major financial holding companies are on track to deliver another record-breaking performance in the first half of the year, driven by robust interest income and a booming domestic stock market, industry officials said Thursday. However, the outlook for the remainder of the year is expected to be less upbeat as a persistently weak Korean won, the prospect of interest rate hikes by the Bank of Korea and tighter regulatory pressure weigh on profitability. The combined net profit of KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori financial groups is projected to reach an all-time high of 11.05 trillion won ($7.1 billion), up 5.7 percent from 10.46 trillion won a year earlier, according to market tracker FnGuide. All four groups are expected to post higher net income compared with a year earlier, with KB Financial Group projected to lead with about 3.68 trillion won. Strong first-half earnings were largely driven by steady net interest income amid higher market interest rates, as well as rising noninterest income supported by gains from securities subsidiaries. However, whether this momentum can b
The Doosan Bears announced Thursday they have signed a temporary injury fill-in Wes Benjamin to a full contract and acquired a new infielder Yunior Severino. Benjamin agreed to a $450,000 deal that will keep him in the Bears' rotation for the remainder of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. Benjamin first joined the Bears in early April on a six-week contract as a replacement for injured starter Chris Flexen. Benjamin then earned another six-week deal in late May, as Flexen remained out with shoulder problems. The Bears then cut ties with Flexen on Monday, two days before Benjamin's second six-week contract was set to expire. Then on the last day of his deal, Benjamin struck out a season-high 10 batters while giving up one unearned run in six innings against the Lotte Giants. Benjamin has pitched to a 2.66 ERA since making his season debut on April 21, the third-best mark in the KBO during that period. For the season, the American left-hander owns the second-best ERA on the Bears, who lead the KBO with a 3.97 ERA. Benjamin previously pitched for another KBO club, the KT Wiz, fro
Allegations that a taxi driver overcharged a Taiwanese tourist nearly tenfold for a ride to Incheon International Airport sparked online debate. The tourist posted a photo of the receipt on Threads, warning others about their experience when leaving the country on Tuesday. "Do not take a taxi unless you are prepared to pay 690,800 won ($445) for taxi fare," the tourist wrote. Earlier that morning, the tourist traveled from eastern Seoul to the airport using the ride-hailing app Uber. The estimated fare was 70,800 won, which the tourist planned to pay through the app. However, upon arriving at the airport terminal area, the driver allegedly chased the tourist and demanded an immediate separate card payment. The tourist said the driver insisted on processing the card immediately and refused to let the tourist leave until the payment was processed. Facing an approaching flight, the tourist complied with the demand and later discovered the 690,800 won charge. "With this amount of money, isn't it at the level of going from South Korea to North Korea?" the tourist said, adding they had just arri
![[PHOTO] AKTC at Yeongwol mayor's inauguration](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsimg.koreatimes.co.kr%2F2026%2F07%2F02%2F343f00e0-cfc2-4ffb-9080-7a3149e7f491.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Yeongwol County Mayor Kim Gil-soo, second from right, poses with Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. (AKTC) Operations Superintendent Byun Seung-min, left, and AKTC CEO Office Manager Beatriz Rendo, second from left, during Kim's inauguration ceremony at the Yeongwol Culture and Arts Center in Gangwon Province, Wednesday. AKTC operates the Sangdong mine in Yeongwol where it produces tungsten and molybdenum ores, which are key minerals in the defense, semiconductor, aerospace, steel, medical and other manufacturing industries. AKTC has recruited 45 percent of its employees from Yeongwol and other parts of the province and plans to expand its workforce from 107 to 140 by the end of this year. Courtesy of AKTC
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's capital overnight into Thursday that killed at least eight people and injured dozens as loud explosions shook Kyiv for hours. The attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones damaged buildings and civilian infrastructure across the city. Many residents took shelter at metro stations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other authorities issued the first warnings of the attack. The attack killed 11 people in Kyiv and damaged 20 residential buildings, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said 54 people were injured, including two children. Damage was recorded in 30 locations across the city, mainly residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, he added. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Ukraine’s allies to strengthen the country’s air defenses following what he described as a “night of horror” in Kyiv, urging partners not to delay decisions on supplying air defense systems and missiles. Writing on X, Sybiha sa
Yongsan District has overhauled its multilingual website, rolling out redesigned online services in seven languages as the district seeks to make administrative information easier to access for the growing number of foreign residents and international visitors. The revamped website, unveiled Wednesday, supports English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, German and Vietnamese. The redesign focuses on improving readability, navigation and user convenience while preserving the district's existing multilingual services. The website consolidates essential information on administrative services, civil affairs, daily life, tourism and accommodations in one place. Frequently searched information is displayed on the front page to help users find key services more quickly. Visitors can also access information on major attractions in Yongsan, including Itaewon, Hannam-dong, the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial of Korea, along with shopping and lodging options. For foreign residents, the website provides guidance on administrative procedures, public services and basic information needed
The ancient kingdom of Baekje once thrived as a vibrant crossroads of East Asian cultural exchange, connecting the traditions of the Korean Peninsula, China and Japan. Today, a municipal museum dedicated to preserving that legacy is expanding its historical mandate, transforming itself into a modern gateway for global diversity — one child at a time. The Hanseong Baekje Museum announced Thursday a collaborative educational initiative with European cultural institutions designed to introduce young Koreans to foreign cultures through hands-on creative play. The program underscores a growing movement among Seoul’s public institutions to foster global citizenship and creative thinking in early childhood education. The initiative’s centerpiece, a workshop titled "COSTRUIAMO" (Let’s Build!), will debut July 10 in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul. The program aims to translate Italy’s towering architectural history and design philosophy into an interactive playground. Children will experiment with spatial concepts, building their own miniature structures to n
The government will consider easing regulations on drones to allow the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for efforts to put out large wildfires, officials said Thursday. The envisioned measure was one of three "regulatory sandbox" projects that the Office for Government Policy Coordination has additionally selected in the first half of the year to look into the feasibility of easing or waiving those regulations. Under the current regulations, it is difficult to deploy drones to put out wildfires because drones weighing more than 150 kilograms are classified as aircraft that must obtain permission before flight and are also banned from nighttime flights. Should the use of drones prove effective, nighttime flights and post-operation flight permissions will be allowed. "If the aerial firefighting method using fleets of large drones is expanded, it is expected to help secure the golden time and stop the spread of large-scale wildfires," the office said.
President Lee Jae Myung has proposed a golf meeting with senior lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP) as part of an effort to improve communication with the opposition, PPP officials said Thursday. They said a senior presidential official called three-term PPP lawmaker Shin Sung-bum in mid-June and invited him to join the president for a round of golf. The official said the meeting was intended to give Lee an opportunity to hear candid views and criticism from opposition lawmakers. The presidential office did not confirm the report. Shin, nevertheless, said, "I received a call from a senior Cheong Wa Dae official inviting me to play golf with the president." "The official said the purpose was for the president to meet opposition lawmakers and listen to their criticism," the lawmaker added. Shin said he declined the invitation because he does not play golf, but welcomed the idea. He added that he told the presidential official it would be worthwhile for the president to meet opposition lawmakers and hear their views on pending issues, including concerns over the government's handling
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will showcase on Friday artificial intelligence (AI) agents capable of automating high-bandwidth memory (HBM) design, offering a glimpse into the future of semiconductor research. KAIST's HBM Design and Research Automation Workshop Using the OpenClaw AI Agent will run from 8 a.m. to noon and highlight practical applications of the laboratory's in-house OpenClaw AI Agent platform. Graduate student researchers from the laboratory, led by KAIST electrical engineering professor Kim Joung-ho, will demonstrate practical applications for these AI agents. Their presentations will focus on automating chip design and simulation, optimizing document management and streamlining semiconductor research workflows. The first session, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., will introduce the OpenClaw AI Agent platform and its use with the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Presentations will cover AI agents for package design and analysis using KiCad MCP, semiconductor power delivery network simulation, eye diagram dataset construction and equalizer optimization
Schools should be places where young people learn to think critically, engage respectfully with differing opinions and develop the habits of democratic citizenship. They should never become arenas where political hostility and ideological contempt are normalized. Yet a recent survey of Korean teachers suggests that precisely such a transformation is taking place — and that the consequences extend far beyond the classroom. According to a survey conducted by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, nearly nine in 10 teachers believe that politically charged hate speech in schools has become a serious problem. Additionally, four out of five reported frequently witnessing students using such language, while more than 70 percent said the phenomenon had intensified following the political turmoil that erupted in December 2024. The expressions cited range from insults directed at current and former presidents to xenophobic rhetoric, misogynistic slurs, historical distortions and disparaging remarks targeting minorities. Although the survey reflects teachers' perceptions rather than a
A fishing boat reported sighting a whale shark in the waters near Jeju Island, Wednesday. A video uploaded to fishing vessel Seungryong's social media account shows the distinct white spots and the broad head shape of a whale shark, estimated to be around 3 meters in length. While whale sharks are typically found in tropical waters, they have been sighted in waters near Korea in recent years, a trend attributed to warmer ocean temperatures as a result of climate change. Korean waters have traditionally been a crossroads for cold and warm ocean currents, but a 2020 study found that the sea surface temperature of Korean waters has been increasing nearly 2.5 times higher than the global average. As a result of climate change, the Kuroshio Current — the main source of heat from equatorial waters to Korea — has shifted northwards by roughly 1.7 degrees of latitude and continues to advance. Meanwhile, the North Korea Cold Current continues to weaken due to warming temperatures in subarctic regions. Consequently, sightings of subtropical oceanic species such as chub mackerel and bluefin tuna
The growing consumer preference for flagship devices is giving LG Display a relative edge, as its focus on OLED displays across smartphones and other consumer electronics has left the company well positioned to benefit from the trend. According to industry officials, Thursday, the display industry is facing mounting cost pressure as surging memory prices are forcing device makers to keep their bill of materials (BOM) costs under control by demanding price concessions from other component suppliers. Market tracker TrendForce said in a recent report that memory prices for smartphones surged by up to 200 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, raising memory’s share of total smartphone BOM costs to 30 to 40 percent from the previous 10 to 15 percent. While rising memory costs have driven up the prices of a wide range of consumer electronics and are set to put pressure on smartphones as well, demand for premium products has remained relatively resilient. According to Omdia, Samsung Electronics and Apple ranked first and second, respectively, in global smartphone shipments in the first q
Disability rights advocates resumed a regular “bus-boarding” protest in Seoul on Wednesday for the first time in 22 years, calling on the Seoul Metropolitan Government to improve access to public buses for people with disabilities. Members of Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, along with other human rights activists, gathered at a bus stop in Hyehwa-dong, Jongno District, central Seoul, at 8 a.m. The protesters, many of whom use wheelchairs, boarded arriving buses in groups of two or three. They used wheelchair ramps or lifts to board low-floor buses. On buses with steps, some left their wheelchairs and pulled themselves up the stairs using their arms and legs. At one point, the protesters moved onto the road and blocked traffic after police attempted to divert approaching buses away from the stop where the demonstration was taking place. The protesters criticized the Seoul city government for failing to fulfill its pledge to replace all city buses with low-floor models by 2025. They said people with disabilities remained unable to move freely around the city despite the e
Sungkyunkwan University’s unconventional oil technology development project group opened a local office in Calgary, Alberta, on Tuesday to expand international cooperation in oil sands production technologies. The opening marks a significant milestone, establishing a foothold in Canada to commercialize Korea-developed oil sands plant technologies and bring them to the global market, the university said Wednesday. The group has been implementing the “Unconventional Oil Technology for Production Plants with Innovative Construction and Enhanced Engineering Research” project since 2022 to develop technologies for oil sands extraction. The project is a national research and development (R&D) initiative led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and supported by the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (KAIA). Through the Canadian demonstration program, the group plans to open the way for the commercialization and global expansion of Korean plant equipment and technologies based on operational data and expertise gained from field operation. The university
Korea's showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup disappointed for more reasons than just the national team's exit in the round of 32. Equally troubling was the country's failure to produce a World Cup referee for a 24th consecutive year. Not since referee Kim Young-joo officiated at the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan has a Korean center referee been appointed to the tournament. Even among assistant referees, there hasn't been any representation since Jeong Hae-sang's appearance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. While the national team qualified for 11 straight World Cups, Korean referees repeatedly fell short of reaching football's biggest stage. Beginning in the 2010s, the Korea Football Association (KFA) appeared to invest in developing elite officials by designating promising referees as "special referees," a program intended to nurture future World Cup candidates. More than a decade later, however, the results have been disappointing. At this year's tournament, only one former participant in the program reached the preliminary candidate list, ultimately failing to ma
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) on Thursday launched an AI Leadership Council aimed at strengthening public-private cooperation and supporting Korea's ambition to become a global artificial intelligence powerhouse. The announcement came during the AMCHAM AI Forum 2026 in Seoul under the theme "Powering Korea's AI Future: Partnership, Policy and Scale." More than 150 government officials, business executives and technology experts from Korea and the United States attended the event to discuss AI policy, investment and industrial competitiveness. The newly established council brings together senior executives from major global companies, including Apple, Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Cohere, Corning, J.P. Morgan, Lam Research, OpenAI, PTC, Qualcomm and Tesla. Chaired by AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim, the council will provide industry perspectives on AI policy, regulation, data governance and ecosystem development while promoting closer collaboration between the government and private sector. "Korea has a unique opportunity to help shape the next era of global innovati
SK bioscience said Thursday it will lead an artificial intelligence (AI) project funded by the Gates Foundation aimed at speeding up decision-making in vaccine development. The Research Optimization & Trial Outcome Recommender (ROTOR) project will build an AI platform that analyzes clinical and scientific data generated during vaccine development to help researchers decide how to advance a candidate vaccine. Global health nonprofit PATH and consulting firm Slalom will also take part, the company said. In drug development, companies typically decide whether to move into large, costly Phase 3 trials based on Phase 2 results. That decision is harder for many vaccines, including rotavirus vaccines, because scientists often lack a reliable biological marker — a correlate of protection — that predicts whether a vaccine will work, or because lab tests produce inconsistent results. SK bioscience said the AI platform is meant to make that process more scientific and reduce costly guesswork. The platform will initially be built and tested using rotavirus vaccine data from SK bioscience and PAT
The United States and China are competing to attract Nepali youth with skill programs following the deadly 2025 Gen Z protests in Nepal. Both nations have almost simultaneously opened applications for youth leadership and skill development programs in Nepal. This is classic long-game geopolitics and a smart move for influence with the future leaders in the Himalayan nation. Last year's Gen Z protests in Nepal, set off by a short- lived ban on social media and discontent at corruption and economic inequality, led to the resignation of the KP Sharma Oli-led government and the dissolution of parliament. The two-day Gen Z protests in Septemberresulted in 76 deaths and many injuries. Nepal's youth protests have changed the conversation and changed the rules of power. That protest was not just youthful rebellion, but a call for democratic renewal and reinvention. The programs were rolled out just a couple of months after Nepal’s rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, was sworn in as prime minister after his party scored a landslide victory in the election. The Chi
HD Hyundai Electric has secured a power infrastructure supply agreement worth up to 1.12 trillion won ($720 million) with a global Big Tech company, strengthening its foothold in the fast-growing North American data center market as artificial intelligence (AI) fuels surging demand for electricity infrastructure. Under the long-term framework agreement, HD Hyundai Electric will supply distribution equipment worth 553.9 billion won and high-voltage equipment worth 567.3 billion won to data centers under construction across North America through 2028. Individual purchase orders will be issued in phases according to the customer's construction schedule. The deal is significant because it goes beyond supplying individual products, covering an integrated package of power infrastructure equipment required to operate large-scale data centers. The company will provide both distribution equipment, which safely distributes electricity throughout a facility, and high-voltage equipment, which regulates voltage and ensures efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. Supplying both produc
CJ Olive Young, Korea's largest health and beauty retailer, said Thursday it will debut its signature Olive Young Festa in Los Angeles this August, marking the company’s first large-scale experiential beauty festival in the United States. The festival will run from Aug. 14–16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, anchoring itself to KCON LA 2026 to capitalize on the massive influx of international K-pop and pop culture enthusiasts. The move marks an aggressive acceleration of Olive Young's global retail strategy. It follows the debut of the company's first physical U.S. location in May, as well as a highly successful market test through a sister festival in Japan that same month. Held under the theme "The K-Beauty Playground Festival," the roughly 4,700-square-meter, or about 50,000-square-foot, space will feature 55 Korean beauty and lifestyle brands. At its center will be a mock Olive Young store showcasing best-selling products, surrounded by four zones styled after Seoul shopping districts popular with tourists —Hongdae, Myeongdong, Seongsu and Gangnam — with Korean-language
Members of a special parliamentary committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 local elections on Thursday entered a vote counting venue that has long been barricaded by angry protesters to prevent the removal of ballot boxes stored inside. The on-site inspection came 27 days after protesters demanding a rerun of the elections began blockading the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on June 5, two days after ballot shortages temporarily suspended voting at polling stations across the nation. Police cleared protesters from the entrance to the stadium, which served as a ballot counting site on election day, to allow committee members access to the stadium. A man in his 60s was arrested on charges of obstructing official duties after allegedly pushing police officers while trying to prevent them from clearing the entrance. Led by the committee chief, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the main opposition People Power Party, lawmakers inspected a basement storage area where around 380 ballot boxes, some 2.47 million ballots and voting logs were stored. The committee said
A viral video of a Japanese calligraphy teacher's reunion with her famous student offered an interesting glimpse at one of Korea's fastest-growing tourism trends. In a YouTube video uploaded on June 28 by rising K-pop girl group RESCENE, Japanese member Minami visited her hometown in Chiba and reunited with her former calligraphy teacher. During their conversation, the teacher revealed that she had flown back to Japan that day, after undergoing a cosmetic procedure near Sinnonhyeon Station in southern Seoul, drawing laughter from the group. Although the conversation was lighthearted, it showed one of the reasons why many foreign tourists choose to visit Korea. For years, K-beauty was largely synonymous with cosmetics. Tourists would fill their suitcases with sheet masks, skin care products and makeup before heading home. Today, however, an increasing number of visitors are booking appointments at dermatology clinics, receiving scalp treatments, consulting personal color experts, visiting pharmacies and participating in wellness programs that promise healthier lifestyles as well as improv
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President Lee Jae Myung vowed Thursday to turn the central Chungcheong provinces into the global center of artificial intelligence (AI)-led innovation as he promoted the government's plan to support large-scale facility investment in the region. Lee made the pledge during a public briefing held in Asan, about 80 kilometers south of Seoul, as a follow-up to the government's announcement of a tripolar mega project centered on attracting massive investment in semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers. "Chungcheong possesses infinite growth potential," he said. "If it is combined with businesses' strategic investment and the government's firm will, Chungcheong will stand upright as the center of global innovation beyond the center of the Republic of Korea's advanced industry, that leads the AI era." Ahead of Lee's remarks, companies including Samsung Group and SK hynix unveiled plans to invest 392 trillion won ($252.5 billion) to construct a high bandwidth memory fab, a packaging facility and other sites in Chungcheong. "The four major advanced industries of semiconductors, displays, s
Global fried chicken restaurant franchise company Genesis BBQ has debuted in India, opening two locations in the southern city of Bengaluru. The company said Thursday its HSR Layout and Koramangala branches opened on June 26 through its partnership with a local company under a master franchise deal. Genesis BBQ said it will expand its Indian market to other cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai and Vellore. Bengaluru, according to Genesis BBQ, is one of India’s hubs for IT and startups, along with young consumers. HSR Layout is in a premium commercial district and in the vicinity of IT business districts, including Electronic City, Sarjapur Road and Outer Ring Road. The company said the area also has a large population of those in their 20s to 40s with high incomes. Koramangala is nestled in the largest dining and commercial hub in Bengaluru, according to the Korean firm. A variety of global dining brands and trendy restaurants are concentrated in the area, which made it an ideal location for Genesis BBQ to promote itself to local consumers. Both stores will operate as quick-service rest
324-Battle of Adrianople: Roman Emperor Constantine I defeats Licinius, his co-emperor, who flees to Byzantium 1863-Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle ever fought on the American continent, ends in a major victory for the Union during the U.S. Civil War 1884-Dow Jones publishes its first stock index, the Dow Jones Transportation Average 1996-U.K. House of Commons announces that the Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish and subsequently English and British monarchs, will be returned to Scotland after 700 years in Westminster Abbey 1998-Svoboda, oldest Ukrainian-language newspaper in U.S., founded in 1893 in Jersey City, New Jersey, contracts from daily to weekly publication 2004-Official opening of Bangkok's subway system
The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Korea's largest genre film fest, will kick off its 11-day run Thursday with a record 321 films, organizers said. BIFAN, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, will take place in venues across Bucheon, west of Seoul, through July 12, according to the organizers. Under the slogan "New era, new skin," this year's event will showcase features and shorts from 50 countries, including 93 films that will make their world premiere. Opening the film fest will be prominent Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping's "Blades of the Guardian," an action film starring martial arts icon Jet Li. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the film fest will launch a new section called "Asian Genre Films 99," a three-year project to map the landscape of Asian genre cinema. A special section will be dedicated to French sci-fi films to mark both the film fest's 30th anniversary and the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and France this year. Reflecting the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the film fest wi
In an increasingly competitive global scramble for advanced technology, Korea is rolling out the red carpet for elite foreign engineers and researchers. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced Thursday the expansion of its “K-Tech Pass” program, introducing a more flexible screening framework designed to aggressively boost the recruitment of global talent by domestic firms. The overhaul shifts away from a rigid visa system that corporate leaders complained was disconnected from the realities of hiring in cutting-edge fields. Previously, foreign applicants could only secure the fast-tracked "Top-tier" residency visa if they met strict quantitative milestones. These included holding a postgraduate degree from one of the world’s top 100 engineering schools, an employment history at Fortune 500 companies or a salary at least three times Korea’s gross national income per capita. Under the new "qualitative track" launched Thursday, applicants will be evaluated on a broader 100-point rubric. While quantitative metrics still account for 65 points, 35 points are now alloc
Hyosung Heavy Industries has secured a power equipment supply contract worth 310 billion won ($200 million) with Australia's AusNet, strengthening its position as a key supplier in one of the world's fastest growing energy transition markets. The company said Thursday that it signed a five-year agreement with AusNet, the sole transmission network operator in the state of Victoria, to exclusively supply Hyosung’s ultra-high-voltage transformers, reactors and other critical power equipment for the region's transmission grid. The deal marks another major win for Hyosung in Australia, following the 142.5 billion won energy storage system project it secured in Queensland in March. With projects spanning Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, the company has further solidified its standing as a top-tier supplier across the country. Under the agreement, Hyosung will provide ultra-high-voltage power equipment to support Australia's expanding transmission infrastructure, as the country accelerates its transition toward renewable energy. The company currently holds the largest
The takeover of the Democratic Party by extremist socialists is gaining new momentum as candidates in several big cities are celebrating victories – mirroring how MAGA has seized control of the Republican Party. The old parties are slowly fading away as more and more anti-establishment outsiders are winning races and replacing more moderate elected officials across the country. The new battle line in America is MAGA vs. Socialists, not Republicans against Democrats. The pendulum is swinging away from the parties in power, and combined with President Donald Trump’s fading popularity, driving voters toward socialist candidates. The question becomes are voters ready for socialist government? Will they embrace it in the midterm elections? Is the Democratic Party giving way to socialism? Will Democrats nominate a socialist in 2028? In Washington, D.C., a so-called Democratic Socialist – the new euphemism for socialist – is set to take over the mayor’s seat just blocks away from the White House, where Trump has warned the feds could take over from a “crazy socialist.” Janeese Lewis
Korea’s pharmaceutical industry achieved a major commercial milestone in 2025, driven by an unprecedented surge in overseas demand for biopharmaceuticals and a record-shattering performance by domestic manufacturers. According to data released Thursday by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the nation's drug exports climbed 12.4 percent year-over-year to reach 15.5 trillion won ($10.44 billion), breaching the psychologically important $10 billion threshold for the first time. Combined with a 5.9 percent increase in imports to $8.93 billion, the surge propelled Korea to a record-high pharmaceutical trade surplus of $1.51 billion. The export boom coincided with unprecedented activity at home. Total domestic pharmaceutical production rallied to 33.85 trillion won, marking the highest volume recorded since the government began compiling the industry's data in 1998. Overall, the domestic pharmaceutical market expanded slightly by 0.03 percent to a total value of 31.71 trillion won. At the heart of this growth is Korea’s highly competitive biopharmaceutical sector, which has transformed
Negotiations on having Korean tour players compete at an LPGA tournament on their home soil have fallen through, officials said Thursday. The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) said in a statement that the upcoming BMW Ladies Championship, the lone U.S. LPGA event held in Korea each fall, will not be co-sanctioned with the Korean circuit, after the LPGA declined to accept the Korean proposal of having at least 30 homegrown players in the field of 78 players. The BMW Ladies Championship is scheduled to take place from Oct. 22 to 25 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul in South Jeolla Province. The KLPGA said it had met with its LPGA counterpart on 16 occasions over the past eight months and insisted that there would have to be a minimum 30 KLPGA players teeing off in order for the tournament to be co-sanctioned with the domestic tour. However, the LPGA countered that it could only accept up to 10 KLPGA players and the two sides were not able to come to a compromise. The KLPGA said it was willing to make concessions on other aspects of the t
Classiq Technologies, an Israeli quantum software firm, and Korean data center operator QAI have signed a multiyear agreement to launch the country’s first locally operated "Quantum-as-a-Service" platform. The cloud-based model will allow Korean businesses to rent quantum computing power instead of building expensive, proprietary hardware. The deal pairs Classiq's software platform, which converts high-level program designs into code that can run on different types of quantum computers, with QAI's domestic data center infrastructure. The companies said the combination will let Korean companies, government agencies and researchers test and run quantum computing applications without deep technical hardware expertise. QAI will operate the service under its own brand and handle sales and customer support in Korea, while Classiq will provide technical backing, the companies said. They also plan to address data sovereignty and security requirements sought by Korean public institutions, and to pursue joint marketing and engineer training programs. "Quantum computing will not flourish through h
K-pop girl group TWICE is giving fans one more reason to celebrate before the curtain falls on its biggest world tour yet, opening a special pop-up store Wednesday to mark the Seoul finale of its sixth world tour, "THIS IS FOR." The pop-up store runs from through July 12 at Plat1399 Studio in Seoul's Gangdong District and celebrates the final stop of the group's world tour, which spans 81 concerts across 44 cities. Designed around TWICE's official characters, TWICE LOVELYS, the venue embraces a bright summer theme with yacht-inspired displays, marine-themed decorations and seasonal props that create a playful atmosphere. Visual elements tied to the Seoul finale are featured throughout the space, allowing visitors to relive moments from the tour while exploring merchandise and interactive exhibits. The first floor is dedicated to official merchandise, while the second floor offers exhibition and hands-on experience zones inspired by the tour. Fans can participate in several interactive events, including the "TALK THAT TALK: LYRIC QUIZ," where those who correctly answer at least seven of ni
Terrorism is evolving, sometimes almost beyond recognition. The pace of radicalization is accelerating. Attacks have become increasingly basic, unsophisticated and cheap. For some, terrorism seems to be like a craving, a source of dopamine to satisfy carnal impulses. Quick preparation, convenience and mass production: Welcome to the age of fast-food terrorism. A growing proportion of terrorist perpetrators are very young, with minors now representing up to a third of the counterterrorism workload in several European countries. Terrorism historically has been a youth problem, appealing particularly to “military age males” between 18 and 35. But today’s profiles are getting much younger, with arrests of individuals as young as 12 becoming almost daily occurrences. These young perpetrators are mostly radicalizing online, where they spend a good part of their lives and are regularly bombarded with extreme content, mostly on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Like fast-food marketing, terrorist propaganda online seeks to engage young brains in desperate need
“I felt like a rock.” Those were the words of nine-year-old Odai Shanah in a news interview that gained viral attention on social media. Odai was a witness to the horrific shooting that took place at the largest mosque in San Diego last month. In the video, we can all see a young boy recounting his experience with stunning composure, recalling seeing and hearing what his innocent mind can only process as “bad stuff.” While he speaks with the same calmness of how we imagine he might also share the day’s lessons or playground antics, he speaks of hearing gunshots and how his legs were shaking. Hearing Odai talk about this traumatic experience in the mosque where he attended school broke our hearts. As we observe National Gun Violence Awareness Month, our message is clear: No child should ever have to experience that fear – all children should be safe from violence in all the places where they live, play, learn, and pray. However, the sad reality is that exposure to gun violence is routine for children across our country. For several years now the statistics have painted a grim p
An industrywide 392 trillion-won ($252.5 bil.) investment will be injected into the central Chungcheong area, including high bandwidth memory (HBM) fabs and packaging facilities by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as part of the government's drive to spread artificial intelligence (AI)-led growth, the industry ministry said Thursday. It is a follow-up plan to the government's tripolar mega projects, unveiled by President Lee Jae Myung earlier this week, aimed at advancing technologies across the country and turning Korea into an industrial powerhouse in the emerging AI era. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Samsung Group pledged to invest a total of 140 trillion won in Chungcheong Province to build an HBM fab and packaging facility by Samsung Electronics, as well as an organic light-emitting diode and next-generation display production line by Samsung Display. Samsung Electro-Mechanics will construct high-performance package substrate facilities for AI servers and Samsung SDI will build an advanced battery manufacturing factory. Samsung Group expects the invest
The Korean won weakened further against the U.S. dollar Thursday, due to the steady selling of local stocks by foreign investors. The won was quoted at 1,555.8 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., down 0.9 won from the previous session, with the exchange rate remaining at the 1,550-level for the second consecutive day. The won opened at 1,552.3 won per dollar, up 2.6 won from the previous session, after remarks by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh that inflation expectations had moderated. On Wednesday, the won hit its weakest level since March 5, 2009, slumping to 1,554.9 won to the dollar at the close of onshore trading. Foreign investors sold a net 4.3 trillion won ($2.7 billion) worth of local stocks on Thursday, remaining net sellers of local stocks for the 10th consecutive trading session. Earlier in the day, Vice Finance Minister Huh Chang said the government is ready to take measures to stabilize the foreign exchange market if necessary. Huh said the exchange rate is "misaligned" given the nation's economic fundamentals.
Inflation is expected to ease in July from the previous month, supported by the government's efforts to stabilize consumer prices and lower crude oil prices following eased tensions in the Middle East, the central bank said Thursday. "Consumer prices in June expanded further from May as petroleum product prices remained elevated and the increase in agricultural product prices accelerated," Deputy Gov. Lee Ji-ho said during a meeting to review inflation trends. "Inflation is projected to remain elevated for the time being as downward pressure from lower crude oil prices will be offset by demand-side pressure stemming from economic growth," he said. Earlier in the day, government data showed that Korea's consumer prices rose 3.2 percent in June from a year earlier, marking the steepest growth since December 2023, when the figure was at the same level. In May, consumer prices rose 3.1 percent. Fuel prices surged 24.7 percent last month, contributing 0.93 percentage point of the overall increase in consumer prices. It was the sharpest growth since 35.2 percent posted in July 2022. Prices of a
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday the government should focus on reining in inflation, after data showed that the country's consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in 30 months last month due to the lingering impact of the Middle East conflict. Despite easing tensions in the Middle East, the government should not let its guard down as the economy is still facing challenges, such as high oil prices and a weakened Korean won, Han said while presiding over an emergency economic response meeting on her second day in office. "More than anything else, we should make it our highest priority to concentrate on managing prices," Han said. "We should put in maximum efforts to stabilize prices, such as monitoring the prices of items closely related to people's livelihoods in real time and swiftly carrying out supply measures in a bold manner." Han said the government should also prepare measures in advance for economic cooperation with the Middle East, including restoring machinery and auto exports to the region and contributing to post-war recovery efforts. Earlier in the day, data from
North Korea on Thursday highlighted its military achievements during the 1950-53 Korean War in a move seen as aimed at bolstering the regime's unity ahead of the 73rd anniversary of the armistice signing. In an article carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea claimed the victory in a naval battle in waters off Jumunjin in July 1950 was a "miracle" as it successfully defeating U.S. warships in the East Sea with four torpedo boats. "At that time, world people said that it is a miracle, not a battle to sink a heavy cruiser with torpedo boats and it is the greatest miracle that cannot be seen in the world history of naval battles," the KCNA said, highlighting North Korea's state founder Kim Il-sung's role in the operation. The Korean War, which started with an invasion by the North, ended with the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. North Korea celebrates the armistice signing date as "Victory Day" in what it calls the Great Fatherland Liberation War. There is speculation that North Korea may hold a military parade to commemorate Victory Day this year, given the large
Hanwha Ocean Co. said Thursday it has been selected as the preferred bidder for Korea's next-generation Navy destroyer project worth 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion). In a regulatory filing, Hanwha Ocean said the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) notified the company of the selection on Wednesday. Hanwha Ocean beat rival HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. to lead the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) program, which aims to build six next-generation destroyers using domestically developed technologies. The envisioned 6,000-ton-class Aegis destroyers are expected to become one of the Navy's core strategic assets, offering capabilities comparable to those of the 7,100-ton King Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers, currently the service's most powerful warships. Thursday's announcement caps a grueling two-year delay for the KDDX project that had been locked in a fierce legal dispute between the two rivals. The dispute erupted after several HD Hyundai employees were convicted between 2022 and 2023 for stealing Hanwha's initial KDDX conceptual designs. The breach pr
Northeast Asia is entering a period of profound strategic transformation. The region is no longer defined solely by military balances, territorial disputes or nuclear deterrence. Instead, it is increasingly shaped by the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), cyber capabilities, hybrid warfare, technological competition, energy security and shifting major-power alignments. The result is an emerging security architecture that is more complex, interconnected and unpredictable than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Recent diplomatic developments illustrate the speed of this transformation. U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed engagement with China's President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategic coordination with Beijing, and Xi’s outreach to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un underscore how major-power politics continues to shape Northeast Asia. Yet the region’s future is not being determined only through summits and military posturing. Increasingly, the decisive battleground lies in cyberspace, technological innovation, AI governance, semicondu
The lavish welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping received on his recent visit to North Korea stylistically underscored a deep and comradely relationship between the two communist regimes. Xi’s trip to Pyongyang, his first visit in seven years to the secluded socialist state, was nonetheless more about reviving and rebalancing ties with the dictator Kim Jong-un than about political substance. Xi as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, lavished praise on North Korea, a neighboring state sharing many of China’s cultural traditions. State media reported that both are “socialist countries led by communist parties with traditional friendship, rooted in their shared ideals and beliefs as well as their common goals, and backed by a profound historical foundation, a solid political basis, and strong emotional bonds.” During the 1950-53 Korean War for example, newly founded People’s Republic of China sent hundreds of thousands of “volunteers” to aid North Korea’s attack on South Korea. The Chinese communist forces sustained huge losses in helping their North Korean co
Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the index tumbled on heavy selling in semiconductor shares. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes shortly after the market opened, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 4.46 percent lower, the KOSPI fell 446.8 points, or 5.34 percent, to 7,856.61 as of 9:08 a.m. The benchmark index came under pressure as investors dumped semiconductor stocks, tracking an overnight selloff in U.S. technology shares. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures index falls 5 percent or more for at least one minute.
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Hope of finding more survivors faded Wednesday as Venezuela marked a week since twin earthquakes killed almost 2,300 people, while many who lived through the disaster were running desperately short on food. As the death toll mounted, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared seven days of mourning, saying the country's "soul is torn apart by the human losses." Tens of thousands of people remain unaccounted for. The majority of collapsed buildings in the hardest-hit city of La Guaira, just north of Caracas, have been marked with the letter 'D' for 'deceased' — a sign they had been searched with no signs of life found. "Time isn't wasted in a place where there is no expectation of recovering people alive," said Javier Rodes, the coordinator of a Spanish rescue team whose sniffer dog Nala searched in vain through the rubble for traces of life. There have been miracle survivors, such as a three-year-old boy found alive Tuesday, six days after Venezuela's most powerful quake in over a century. But experts say trapped victims are unlikely to survive more t
Song Sung-mun has hit his first home run in Major League Baseball. Song hit a solo shot off Chicago Cubs starter Colin Rea to lead off the top of the fifth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Wednesday (local time). Song drilled a middle-middle fastball from Rea and sent it 385 feet into the stands in right field. The line drive shot left Song's bat at 107.7 miles per hour, with a launch angle of 20 degrees. Song had hit a double in his first trip to the plate in the third inning. The former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Star flied out in the sixth and grounded out in the eighth. The Korean is batting .233 in 33 games in his first major league campaign, and has a home run, nine RBIs and six steals. Song's home run cut the Padres' deficit to 9-1 and they went on to lose by 23-3. San Diego starter Walker Buehler served up three home runs and reliever Kyle Hart, a former starting pitcher in the KBO, also surrendered three dingers. Catcher Rodolfo Duran, who pitched the final two innings of the blowout, gave up two more long balls, as the Padres suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
Hyundai Motor Co., BYD Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea and three other automakers will voluntarily recall more than 146,000 vehicles in Korea to fix defective components, the transport ministry said Thursday. The six companies, which also include Volvo Car Korea, Jaguar Land Rover Korea and Stellantis Korea, will recall a combined 146,505 vehicles across 38 models, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Hyundai Motor will recall 54,792 units across two models, including the Tucson, after software errors in the instrument cluster control system were found to cause the display to flicker or shut off. Chinese automaker BYD will bring in 18,091 units across six models, including the SEALION 7, because the seat belt reminder warning may be obscured by other notifications. Mercedes-Benz Korea is summoning 2,113 units of the C 300 4MATIC over durability issues in the steering wheel electronics control circuit. Volvo Korea is calling for 55,405 units across seven models to undergo preventative maintenance, including the XC60, because of a durability issue involving a componen
HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Inside a dimly lit studio at Hyundai Motor Group’s Namyang R&D Center, a researcher sits in a carbon-fiber cockpit surrounded by a massive 270-degree curved screen. As he hits the accelerator, the simulated road rushes past, and the entire rig tilts and vibrates, mimicking subtle asphalt textures of a real test track. Building countless physical prototypes for every design iteration is no longer viable. Instead, Hyundai Motor relies on a high-performance driving simulator operating on a six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) motion system. The simulator translates linear and rotational movements — including roll and pitch — into an ultra-realistic driving experience. To achieve maximum fidelity, the carmaker scanned its Namyang proving grounds down to the millimeter, capturing specific slopes, speed bumps and surface roughness. To prevent massive rendering files from lagging, the company deployed a world-first "Terrain Server" system that streams topographical data in real time based on the virtual car’s location. The simulator is highly versatile. Researcher
Korea's consumer prices rose more than 3 percent from a year earlier for two straight months in June, reflecting the lingering impact of the Middle East war on supply chains and oil prices, data showed Thursday. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, increased 3.2 percent last month from a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the sharpest increase since December 2023, when the figure was at the same level. Prices of industrial products rose 4.4 percent, driven largely by higher fuel prices. The data ministry said fuel prices shot up 24.7 percent, contributing 0.93 percentage point of the overall increase in consumer prices. It was the sharpest growth since 35.2 percent posted in July 2022. In detail, gasoline prices rose 23.1 percent and diesel prices jumped 33.7 percent. Korea relies heavily on imports to meet its energy needs. Prices of agricultural and fishery products rose 3.2 percent, led by increases in the prices of domestic beef and rice, which climbed 7.5 percent and 11.7 percent, respectively. The price of green onions, a staple
A leakage of heavy water from a nuclear reactor in the southeastern region of the country occurred earlier in the week, with no issue related to radiation having been detected, nuclear safety officials said Thursday. The leak incident at the Wolsong-4 reactor in the city of Gyeongju was reported by the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) at around 2:26 p.m. on Wednesday to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Nuclear safety officials said it plans to dispatch a group of experts for on-site inspection. No irregularities in external radiation levels have been detected. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the amount of heavy water leaked was estimated at 208 kilograms, but the water has not escaped outside the facility, the commission said. The Wolsong-4 reactor has been shut down for a regular inspection since July. The KHNP said it immediately closed related pumps after detecting the leak.
WASHINGTON — A U.S. House committee on Wednesday released a report accusing Korea of "discriminatory attacks" on e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. and other American companies, claiming the Asian country's treatment of them violates last year's bilateral trade deal. The House Judiciary Committee issued the 35-page interim staff report, titled "Closed for Competition: Korea's Discriminatory Attacks on American-owned Businesses," as Coupang has faced public criticism and investigations for a massive data leak in Korea. The report particularly zeroes in on Korean authorities' probes into the data breach case of Coupang, which it says has been a "consistent target" of the Seoul government, at a time when Seoul wants to ensure that the case does not get in the way of the two countries' cooperation on security, trade and other fronts. "Korea has a long history of engaging in economic discrimination against foreign companies," it says. "These practices include coercive investigation tactics, overly burdensome regulatory requirements, and massive fines and penalties intended to punish American com
DOHA/DUBAI/VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — Iran and the United States concluded a round of indirect talks on Wednesday with no sign they had made headway toward a lasting peace, focusing instead on issues that they said had been resolved when an interim agreement was announced two weeks ago. Sources familiar with the discussions said negotiators for the two countries spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iran's funds, two critical issues under the initial agreement. The next meeting will take place after funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is due to be buried on July 9, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said. The Doha discussions produced "positive progress" on issues related to the memorandum that halted the war in June and were "building on the outcomes" of a summit in Switzerland, the ministry spokesperson said in a post on X. In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump said the two sides were making progress on possible limits to Iran's nuclear program — the main reason he launched the war along with
The recent U.S.-Israeli war against Iran underscored an increasingly costly reality of modern warfare: Shooting down a low-cost drone can require an interceptor missile worth more than 100 times as much. As inexpensive drones become more common on the battlefield, militaries are searching for more cost-effective ways to defend against them. That shift is creating new opportunities for companies developing next-generation counter-drone technologies. One of them is Airbility, a Korean startup developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered counter-drone system built around a reusable high-speed unmanned aircraft system. Its CEO believes the company's platform could offer a more economical alternative to conventional air defense systems by deploying interceptor drones from the air, rather than relying solely on costly ground-based missile systems. "In modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the recent U.S.-Iran conflict, we've repeatedly seen militaries fire interceptor missiles costing more than 100 times as much as the low-cost drones they are trying to shoot down," Airbility
Even at vocational high schools, principals who don't have to worry about their graduates finding jobs are a rare breed these days. Seo Un-suk, principal of Chungbuk Semiconductor High School, is one of them. “We have 96 students in each grade, and more than 100 semiconductor companies have signed agreements to hire our graduates,” Seo said. “There is no need to worry about finding jobs.” Seo beamed as he led a tour of the school. Unprecedented global demand for semiconductors, he said, has brought the school growing attention from companies both in Korea and overseas. “We do not have enough students to send even one graduate to each company,” he said. Located in North Chungcheong Province, the school began as a conventional vocational high school. In 2008, it adopted its current name, and two years later, it was designated Korea’s first Meister high school specializing in semiconductors. Since then, it has established itself as a leading training ground for the industry’s future workforce, building expertise in semiconductor technology that school officials say is unrival
In the spring of 2006, Ray Seol was a 31-year-old jazz student in New York, at a time when Asian musicians were still a rarity in the jazz scene. Four years earlier, he had stunned his family in Korea by announcing that he was traveling halfway across the world to pursue a career in music, all because of a chance encounter with guitarist Wes Montgomery’s spellbinding rendition of “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” “I experience music through images,” Seol recalled. “When I heard this piece, I couldn’t tell where it began or where it ended. It felt completely unbound, like this dazzling image with no sense of logic.” Then, during finals week, an unexpected international phone call came. His mother had taken her own life. “I’m 51 now,” he said quietly, “the same age my mother was when she died.” Seol, now a jazz bassist and professor at Berklee College of Music, spent the next decade carrying a grief that never seemed to loosen its grip. In many ways, it felt like part of him remained imprisoned by the day she died. But like many bereaved ones, his family retreated into sil
“The appeal of Vietnamese cinema lies in its diversity,” Kaity Nguyen, a 27-year-old Vietnamese actor and producer said of the local film industry as the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival opened in the coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam. “From the north to central Vietnam and the south, each region has a different culture, and there is history accumulated over many years. There are so many stories to tell audiences around the world,” she told the Hankook Ilbo in an interview on Sunday. “Not only historical events but also stories about the lives of Vietnamese people today are being made more and more.” Nguyen is the festival’s youngest juror and has also moved into production. She has built a career marked by critical recognition and box-office success in Vietnam. She rose to stardom with her 2017 debut film, “Em Chua 18,” winning best actress at the Viet Film Festival. She later appeared in Blood Moon Party” in 2020, “The Last Wife” in 2023 and “Hijacked” in 2025, films that won over critics and audiences. Looking back to the year she made her debut, Nguyen s
Iran’s joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a “forceful response,” again ratcheting up tensions over a waterway crucial for international energy supplies. The strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, has emerged as one of the top issues in negotiations to reach a permanent end to the Iran war. The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, reported by Iranian state television, comes af
A special counsel team investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration indicted a former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday over his alleged involvement. Special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team indicted Kim Myung-soo for allegedly playing a key role in the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, when Kim served as the nation's highest-ranking military officer. He was indicted without detention. Investigators allege Kim took no action as martial law troops moved
The labor side revised down its proposed hourly minimum wage for next year to 11,700 won ($7.56) during ongoing wage-setting negotiations Thursday, still higher than the business side's proposal. The revised minimum wage proposal was presented by the labor side at a plenary session of the Minimum Wage Commission, down from its initial proposal of 12,000 won. The latest proposal marks the labor side's fourth revision from its initial offer. During the meeting, the business side proposed 10,410 wo
South Korea's growing dependence on semiconductor exports may make the country more vulnerable to external shocks and cyclical volatility, despite serving as a major "growth driver," the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday. The Paris-based organization made the assessment in a report titled "OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2026," which came around a month after it raised South Korea's economic growth outlook for this year to 2.6 percent from 1.7 percent three months
The Doosan Bears announced Thursday they have signed a temporary injury fill-in Wes Benjamin to a full contract and acquired a new infielder Yunior Severino. Benjamin agreed to a US$450,000 deal that will keep him in the Bears' rotation for the remainder of the Korea Baseball Organization season. Benjamin first joined the Bears in early April on a six-week contract as a replacement for injured starter Chris Flexen. Benjamin then earned another six-week deal in late May, as Flexen remained out wi
A disability rights advocacy group resumed its subway boarding protest in Seoul on Thursday, following a six-month hiatus. Sixty activists from the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, many of them in wheelchairs, boarded a train at City Hall Station, occupying six train cars, with 10 activists in each car. The protest took place after the morning rush hour, causing less disruption than expected as there was enough room on board for both the wheelchairs and commuters. "We are here to ta
The vice chair of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council on Thursday raised the need for South and North Korea to call each other by their official names in a bid to help bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Kang Chang-il, vice chair of the PUAC, a presidential advisory body on unification, made the call, after senior leaders of South Korea's seven major religious orders urged the two Koreas to mutually use their official names. South Korea currently refers to the North as "North Korea" rathe
SEJONG -- Sejong Special Self-Governing City has achieved its largest-ever single investment deal since its establishment, securing 8 trillion won ($5.2 billion) from Samsung Electro-Mechanics to build a cutting-edge semiconductor package substrate production line, city officials said Thursday. The agreement was signed at Samsung Display’s second campus in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, with new Sejong Mayor Cho Sang-ho, regional governors and executives from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Celltrion
A series of high-profile overcharging incidents is raising fresh concerns over whether South Korea’s tourism infrastructure is keeping pace with its growing international reputation. The latest case involved a Taiwanese tourist who said he was charged nearly 700,000 won ($450) for a taxi ride from eastern Seoul to Incheon Airport — roughly 10 times the usual fare. The tourist said on social media that he used Uber on May 30 to travel from Jayang-dong in Seoul’s Gwangjin-gu to Incheon Internation
Samsung Electro-Mechanics will set up a 480 billion won ($310 million) joint venture with a Sumitomo Chemical Group unit to produce glass cores, a key material for next-generation semiconductor substrates used in advanced chip packaging. The Korean components maker said Thursday it signed a final agreement with Dongwoo Fine-Chem, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Co., to establish the venture, tentatively named GlaSSEM. Samsung Electro-Mechanics will hold a 66.2 percent stak
Bao Nguyen, director of the Netflix documentary "BTS: The Return," likened BTS' military hiatus and reunion to Homer's "The Odyssey," describing the group's return as a modern journey shaped by separation, longing and homecoming. Speaking in a recorded interview screened Thursday at the fifth BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Nguyen said the comparison first came to him while watching BTS perform at SoFi Stadium in 2021, before the members began their mand
Last month's deadly explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon appears to have occurred while cleaning a washing machine that may have contained explosive waste residue, police officials said Thursday. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency unveiled its initial assessment in a press briefing, citing a statement from a worker who was cleaning a tank within the washing machine at the time of the explosion on June 1 that left five workers killed and two others injured in the city located s
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are discussing plans with Seoul National University to launch company-sponsored semiconductor programs at regional universities, as the government pushes for a semiconductor megaproject in South Korea’s southwest, local media reported Thursday. The plan centers on SNU receiving investment from the two chipmakers and helping regional universities establish company-sponsored degree programs — known in Korea as contract departments — that will use SNU's semiconducto
A police officer has been accused of destroying evidence in his son’s murder case, raising questions over a legal exemption that shields relatives from punishment for concealing or destroying evidence on behalf of family members. The officer is the father of Jang Yoon-gi, the 23-year-old suspect accused of abducting and killing high school student Lee Chae-won in Gwangju on May 5. According to local media reports Wednesday, Jang’s father allegedly disposed of items that prosecutors later cited a
The South Korean cafe owner, whose message of support for victims of Venezuela's devastating earthquakes resonated with thousands of people online, said he hopes the unexpected attention will translate into real help for those affected. After Korean news outlets picked up his story, Yum Ji-hong, who runs a dessert cafe on the southern resort island of Jeju, shared a follow-up message on TikTok thanking viewers and reflecting on the response. "What started as a short video to check on my TikTok f
BTS will bring its citywide fan festival “BTS The City Arirang” to London this week, transforming some of the British capital’s most recognizable landmarks into immersive installations. Beginning Saturday, the project will spread across central London with exhibitions, interactive fan events and large outdoor installations ahead of BTS’ concerts in the city. One of the festival’s most prominent attractions will take place on July 6, when the London Eye will be illuminated in the signature red co
For many pet owners, losing a companion animal can feel like losing a family member. But whether that grief should be recognized at work remains a divisive question in South Korea. A small but growing number of companies now offer pet bereavement leave, reflecting the rise of pets as family members. But the idea remains controversial, exposing a gap between changing household realities and workplace benefits still largely built around marriage, childbirth and childcare. As of 2026, only a handfu
South Korean stocks dipped nearly 8 percent Thursday, dragged down by a sharp sell-off in semiconductor shares as investor sentiment soured amid renewed concerns over excess capacity. The Korean won weakened against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged 655.32 points, or 7.89 percent, to close at 7,648.09. after falling as low as 7,616.33. Due to the sharp drop, the bourse operator Korea Exchange activated a sell-side sidecar for the KOSPI around 9:07 a.m., halti
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are reviewing potential chip fab sites in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province as the government moves to back an 800 trillion won ($514.7 billion) semiconductor investment plan aimed at expanding chip production beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. Cheomdan District 3 in Gwangju Innopolis, a research and development zone, and the site of the city’s military airport have emerged as key candidates because of their access to power, water, roads and nearby research faci
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Thursday launched the AmCham AI Leadership Council, bringing together major global technology companies and policymakers to support South Korea's ambitions of becoming a global artificial intelligence hub. The announcement came during the 2026 AmCham AI Forum held at Grand Hyatt Seoul under the theme, "Powering Korea's AI Future: Partnership, Policy, and Scale." The event drew about 150 participants from government, industry and academia, including te
A controversial chant by high school baseball players has erupted into a political flashpoint in South Korea, with rival parties clashing over whether the students deserve harsh punishment. The "Let's go to Starbucks" chant was widely interpreted as a derisive slogan evoking Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion. The campaign sparked outrage last month for allegedly belittling the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, a significant event in South Korea's democratic history commemorated on May 18. L
CJ Olive Young said Thursday it will host its flagship beauty festival overseas in August alongside KCON LA 2026, as it steps up efforts to globalize K-beauty. The three-day event, Olive Young Festa LA 2026, will start Aug. 14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and feature 55 K-beauty and lifestyle brands. Launched in 2019, the event was Korea's first large-scale beauty festival, featuring brands sold through the retailer's platform and showcasing flagship products. By partnering with KCON LA
Classiq Technologies said Thursday it has signed a definitive agreement with Korean quantum AI data center specialist QAI to launch South Korea's first locally operated Quantum-as-a-Service, or QaaS, business. The partnership aims to make quantum computing more accessible to companies, government agencies, research institutes and universities by allowing them to develop, test and run applications across multiple quantum hardware environments. Classiq is a global quantum software company that has
South Korea needs stronger fiscal rules, a broader tax base and deeper structural reforms to prevent rapid aging from pushing public debt onto an unsustainable path, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday. "Without action, the cost of aging will put debt onto an unsustainable path," Douglas Sutherland, head of country studies in the OECD Economics Department, said at a press briefing in Sejong. "This is not our projection — it reveals the risks of aging pressures
A parliamentary committee inspecting a sealed ballot counting site in southern Seoul on Thursday raised concerns over how the National Election Commission has been managing ballot boxes from the June 3 local elections, citing possible blind spots in the site’s surveillance system. Lawmakers said they found potential surveillance blind spots in areas where ballot boxes are being stored at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul. “It is absurd for the NEC to store the ball
South Korea's benchmark Kospi tumbled nearly 8 percent on Thursday, led by sharp losses in heavyweight chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, tracking an overnight sell-off in US technology stocks as investors grew increasingly concerned about a slowdown in chip demand. The index fell below the 8,000-point mark at the open, triggering a sell-side sidecar, a five-minute curb on program trading, at 9:07 a.m. Although it briefly recovered above the threshold during intraday trading, it ultima
Russia has proposed exchanging thousands of Ukrainian detainees for two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine, Ukraine’s top diplomat told experts in Seoul, sources close to the matter confirmed Thursday. If confirmed, the proposal could complicate Seoul’s efforts to bring the prisoners to South Korea. Separate diplomatic sources familiar with the matter, however, expressed skepticism over whether Moscow would make such an offer of that scale. The remark by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii
Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the group's business portfolio, pledging to transform the steelmaker into a "national champion supplier of strategic resources" spanning steel, lithium and energy. Speaking directly to investors at the group's CEO Investor Day event, Chang said rising geopolitical tensions, supply chain fragmentation and the accelerating shift toward low-carbon industries require a fundamental rethinking of corporate growth strategies
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday finalized the formation of the country's first post-Assad-era parliament, which is set to hold its first session next week in a step seen as a test for the country's transition. After toppling longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December 2024 after more than 13 years of civil war, the new authorities dissolved Syria's rubber-stamp legislature and adopted a temporary constitutional declaration to cover a five-year transition period. In a process that began
HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — As vehicles evolve into software-heavy machines, quality inspection has become increasingly complex, raising the bar for advanced, efficient testing powered by digital twin, robotics and artificial intelligence. A key example of this shift is Hyundai Motor Group’s Namyang research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where the automaker is pioneering new inspection technologies for the era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The Namyang center unveiled its new Ad
Doctors said Wednesday they feared the aftermath of Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes could trigger a widening medical crisis marked by untreated injuries, infectious diseases and a health care system already on the brink. Thousands of displaced Venezuelans are sleeping in crowded shelters or outside without access to clean water amid dismal sanitary conditions following the June 24 earthquakes which officials say killed at least 2,295 and left more than 11,000 injured. Aid workers said t
Lotte Cinema and Megabox, South Korea's No. 2 and 3 cinema chains, will no longer pursue a merger, Lotte Shopping announced Wednesday. In the company's corporate filing released Wednesday, Lotte Shopping said the memorandum of understanding signed with Contentree JoongAng to merge Lotte Cinema and Megabox was terminated on June 30. Signed on May 8, 2025, the agreement to merge Lotte Cinema and Megabox had attracted attention for potentially reshaping the theater industry. The memorandum of under
S&P Global Ratings said South Korea's government-backed artificial intelligence push is likely to support economic growth over the next few years, but warned that the long-term payoff depends on whether demand ultimately matches expectations. "The near-term impact is clearly positive because today's investment translates into capital spending and economic growth," said Kim Eng Tan, managing director of S&P Global Ratings' Asia-Pacific sovereign ratings team, in an interview with The Korea Herald
Hanwha Asset Management and US-based MarcyPen Capital Partners have launched MarcyPen Asia, a joint venture aimed at investing in high-growth consumer brands in South Korea and across Asia. First announced in December 2025, the venture was launched after receiving regulatory approval. It will use Korea as its regional base to identify companies with strong cross-cultural appeal and global expansion potential. MarcyPen Asia will invest in consumer brands tied to cultural content, products and exp
US ice cream brand Van Leeuwen is making its debut in South Korea, opening its first store near Gangnam Station on Friday as the Brooklyn-born company looks to tap into one of Asia's most influential food markets. The 32-seat shop, operated by franchise partner A Twosome Place, pays homage to the brand's origins through a display of the yellow ice cream truck from which founders Ben Van Leeuwen, his brother Peter and their partner Laura O'Neill launched the business in New York in 2008. "We beli
South Korea on Thursday rejected allegations by the US House Judiciary Committee that it systematically discriminates against American companies, calling the claims factually inaccurate and saying Korean authorities enforce regulations fairly regardless of nationality. "We regret that the report released by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday appears to unilaterally reflect only Coupang's arguments," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said during a regular briefing. Park said investiga
General hospitals and other medical institutions will soon be required to hire backup staff for health care workers taking parental leave, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday. Tertiary hospitals must calculate the number of hours lost over the past three years when doctors, nurses and medical technicians took leave related to childbirth and child care — including leave for miscarriages, stillbirths and infertility treatments — and then add that number to the average number of hours
Members of a special parliamentary committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 local elections on Thursday entered a vote counting venue that has long been barricaded by angry protesters to prevent the removal of ballot boxes inside the venue. The on-site inspection came 27 days after protesters demanding a rerun of the elections began blockading the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on June 5, two days after ballot shortages temporarily suspended voting at po
Expressing a mix of disbelief and excitement, many of the Korean artists featured in this year's festival said they could never have imagined standing on the Avignon stage one day. Founded in 1947, the Avignon Festival, alongside the Edinburgh Festival, is considered one of Europe's major performing arts festivals. This year's edition marks the first official inclusion of Korean works since 1998, when the festival's "Desir d'Asie" program spotlighted East Asian arts. Korean has been named this y
South Korea’s Army pledged Thursday to strengthen safety controls and medical support for reservists during training, after concluding that a reservist who died during a mobilization exercise in May had died from a preexisting medical condition. The announcement came amid growing public criticism of the military’s handling of the case. A public petition calling for the impeachment of Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, uploaded on June 18, had gained more than 260,000 signatures as of Thursday. The p
SK Bioscience said Thursday it will lead a Gates Foundation-funded project to develop an AI-powered platform designed to support clinical development decisions in vaccine research. The project, called Research Optimization & Trial Outcome Recommender, or ROTOR, will bring together a global consortium that includes a technical collaboration with global health nonprofit PATH and technology consulting firm Slalom. ROTOR is designed to analyze clinical, immunogenicity and scientific datasets generat
The Japan Football Association plans to retain coach Hajime Moriyasu after Japan's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the team being eliminated by Brazil in the first knockout round, according to a report from Kyodo News. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said the federation has not yet made an official decision, but told reporters it intends to bring Moriyasu back following Japan's World Cup campaign. Japan advanced out of what many considered one of the tournament's toughest groups, finishing runner-
Cracks in a society rarely appear all at once, and leaders must learn to detect them early — whether in markets, borders or public literacy, speakers at this week’s Global Business Forum said Wednesday. The weekly forum, organized by The Korea Herald and Herald Business, brings together figures from diplomacy, business, culture and other fields to discuss changes in the business environment and future strategies. This week’s session, held in Seoul under the theme of the “grit of leadership,” ope
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday dismissed claims that the government had pressured companies into making large-scale regional investments as "outdated," stressing that companies invest where it makes the most economic sense. Speaking in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Lee also pushed back against criticism that the government's regional development drive amounted to handing out "gifts" to certain areas. Such investments, he added, should not be viewed as competition among regions. Samsung
South Korea captain Son Heung-min and veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung were left out of the starting lineup for the team's final World Cup group-stage match against South Africa over internal disagreements about an interview boycott, a lawmaker claimed, citing a whistleblower report. Rep. Jin Jong-oh of the main opposition People Power Party said Thursday that the report, received through the Korea Football Association, alleges divisions within the squad deepened over whether to continue a media
Nearly a month after Jensen Huang said Nvidia had begun hiring for a Korea R&D center, the company’s latest local job postings suggest the US chipmaker is building a more concrete engineering presence around Korea’s core industries. A Korea Herald check of Nvidia’s official careers website found late-June postings covering robotics simulation, high-performance computing and automotive software, areas tied to Korea’s manufacturing, semiconductor and auto sectors. The newest Korea posting seeks a
HD Hyundai Electric said Thursday it has signed a framework agreement worth up to 1.12 trillion won ($721 million) to supply power and distribution equipment to a global Big Tech company. The agreement covers 553.9 billion won in distribution equipment and 567.3 billion won in power equipment for large-scale data centers. HD Hyundai Electric did not disclose further details, including the customer's identity, citing confidentiality. HD Hyundai Electric said the deal allows it to provide core dat
Daewoong Pharmaceutical said Thursday it has signed a 145.2 billion won ($93.4 million) export and supply agreement with Switzerland-based Acino Pharma AG to launch its diabetes drug Envlo in eight major markets across the Middle East and North Africa. The company said the deal is Envlo's largest export agreement to date and marks the first entry of a Korean-developed sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor into the MENA market. Under the agreement, Daewoong plans to secure marketing a
Multiday warnings of extreme heat landed in New York, Boston and Philadelphia on Wednesday as sultry weather pushed east just ahead of Fourth of July celebrations in a region that revels in its role as a historic hub of US independence. Temperatures in the high 30s Celsius were forecast for the Northeast; Philadelphia and Boston could top 38 C by Thursday. Throw in humidity, and the real-feel heat index will be even higher at times, the National Weather Service said. A heat dome — high-pressure
HONOLULU (AP) -- The golf season in Hawaii again starts at Waialae Country Club next year as a PGA Tour Champions event that will be called the Sony Championship. The PGA Tour and Sony on Wednesday announced the change, which had been expected since April when the tour said it would not be returning to Maui for The Sentry, which since 1999 had preceded the Sony Open. The Sony Championship will be Jan. 14-16 -- ending on a Saturday -- at Waialae, which had hosted a PGA Tour event since 1965. The
