This week in South Korea
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's urban development plans, including youth housing in Yongsan and the normalization of the TBS broadcaster, have been a central focus in domestic news, alongside a poll suggesting public sentiment regarding President Lee Jae-myung's potential re-election bid. Economic discussions covered South Korean card companies' profit increases and the Bank of Korea's outlook on interest rates, while international headlines highlighted South Korea's response to Nepal's floods and intensified crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels.
About South Korea
South Korea is a dynamic East Asian nation renowned for its leading role in technology, its global cultural influence through K-pop and K-dramas, and a rich historical tapestry. Its vibrant and competitive press, while enjoying strong investigative traditions, is notably polarized along political lines, reflecting the country's lively democratic discourse.
Visiting South Korea
Media landscape
South Korea boasts a vibrant and competitive media environment with strong investigative journalism traditions. However, the press is often polarized along political lines, influencing news coverage and public discourse.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of current events, it is advisable to consult a variety of sources, being mindful of their political leanings.
Sources we track 3
Nepal Floods Enter Second Week as Rescuers Search for Workers Trapped in Tunnels
A network of tunnels beneath Nepal’s hydropower projects may offer trapped workers enough space to survive for weeks, but only if water, oxygen and emergency food remain available. Rescue teams are en…
Ryu Jun-yeol takes on two roles and wonders what it would be like to live Messi’s life
Ryu Jun-yeol’s challenge in Netflix’s “The Rat” was not simply to make two characters look different. He had to play a novelist and a creature that copies the novelist’s identity while making them fee…
Rights Groups Protest Removal of LGBT Content from South Korean Anti-Hate Guidelines
Rain fell on Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square as activists held rainbow umbrellas and flags to protest the exclusion of LGBT people from the Education Ministry’s planned guidebook on hate and discriminatory…
Mokpo National University protests medical-school rejection as Lee promises support
Mokpo National University’s senior administrators said they would resign after the university lost its bid to become the candidate for a new national medical school by 1.3 points. At a press conferenc…
ChatGPT Ads Top $1 Billion in Annualized Revenue After 200 Days, Challenging Google and Meta
ChatGPT’s advertising business has crossed $1 billion in annualized revenue only about 200 days after its launch, according to OpenAI. The rapid growth is putting the AI company forward as a potential…
South Korea’s Spy Agency Sees Signs of Dialogue Between Washington and Pyongyang
A meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un could happen “at any time,” South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers, while acknowledging that it had not confirmed a specific contact between Washington …
South Gyeongsang launches travel map for people with pets
South Gyeongsang Province is introducing a travel map designed for people who want to explore the region with their pets. The “With Dogs and Cats” service, named with the Gyeongsang dialect words for …
Monthly livelihood benefits for four-person households to rise by up to 140,000 won next year
The maximum monthly livelihood benefit for a four-person household in South Korea will rise by 140,000 won next year, reaching 2.22 million won. The increase follows a record 6.7% rise in the standard…
Missing South Korean Man in His 70s Found Dead in Stream After Search
A man in his 70s who left home to work in rice fields was found dead in a stream in Jeongeup, South Korea, about a day after he disappeared. The man told his family at about 6:30 a.m. that he was goin…
Man Sentenced to 4½ Years for Helping Withdraw and Launder 1.7 Billion Won in Voice-Phishing Proceeds
The Gwangju District Court sentenced a 22-year-old man to four years and six months in prison for helping a voice-phishing organization withdraw and conceal criminal proceeds. The court said the man c…
Prizewinner Inbee Park Reveals 20-Month-Old Second Daughter on TV Show
Golf champion Inbee Park is returning to KBS2’s “The Return of Superman” with her husband, Nam Ki-hyub, and their two daughters, In-seo and Yeon-seo. The appearance will introduce the couple’s second …
‘Korean Blood, Sweat and Tears’: Japanese Photojournalism Master Captures Six Decades of Korea
At 90, Japanese photojournalist Shisei Kuwabara still climbs onto sofas to take a picture. After a recent interview in Seoul, he pulled out his camera, straightened his bent frame and stepped up witho…
Apgujeong District 3 Files for Seoul’s Integrated Reconstruction Review
Apgujeong District 3, the largest reconstruction project among the sites in Seoul’s Apgujeong-dong, has filed an application for the city’s integrated review. The reconstruction association submitted …
Siblings Sentenced for Secretly Selling Supermarkets Entrusted to Them
A businessman who entrusted four grocery supermarkets to a brother and sister saw them turn against him, according to a ruling by the Ulsan District Court. The court sentenced the older sibling to eig…
Anpanman Comes to Jamsil Baseball Stadium for LG Twins Pop-Up Store
Anpanman is heading to Seoul’s Jamsil Baseball Stadium for a four-day pop-up store with the LG Twins. Choirock Contents Factory said the collaboration will run from the fourth through the seventh. It …
Actor Lee Jae-yong Looks Back on His Career, Reveals Years of Depression
Actor Lee Jae-yong has looked back on his career and spoken about living with depression for seven to eight years during an appearance on the YouTube channel “What Are You Doing These Days?” Lee, who …
DRAM and NAND Flash Prices Hit Record Highs Again in August, but Gains Slow
Monthly average prices for DRAM and NAND flash reached new record highs in August, driven by growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The gains, however, showed signs of slowing. DRA…
Anchor Kim Jin Criticizes ‘I Live Alone’ Over Alleged Staging: ‘Not Truthful’
Channel A anchor Kim Jin has criticized MBC’s “I Live Alone” over allegations that a trip involving broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo was presented as spontaneous despite advance arrangements. Kim wrote on so…
Financial watchdog moves to curb misleading investment advertising
South Korea’s financial authorities are tightening controls on investment-product advertising, targeting claims that could mislead investors. The Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Financial …
South Korea to supply 163,000 tons of Chuseok staples and expand discounts
South Korea will release unusually large supplies of holiday foods before Chuseok as the government seeks to reduce pressure on household shopping bills. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Af…
TWICE’s Tzuyu discusses renewing with JYP amid pressure from China: “I support one China”
TWICE member Tzuyu is discussing a contract renewal with JYP Entertainment as reported pressure from China adds tension to the negotiations. Taiwanese media, including Mirror Media, reported on Aug. 3…
[Exclusive] Musinsa Used grows in scale, but cuts user discounts
Musinsa is cutting user discounts on Musinsa Used as its secondhand fashion marketplace expands and the company places greater emphasis on profitability. Starting on the 28th of this month, Musinsa wi…
South Korea Moves to Block Covert YouTube Ads for Financial Products
South Korean regulators are moving to stop investment firms from using exaggerated promotions and covert YouTube advertising to lure retail investors. The Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea F…
South Korea Holds Prosecutors’ Final International Drug Conference, Vowing Cooperation After New Agency Launches
South Korean prosecutors used what was described as their final international drug conference before the office’s transition to a prosecution agency to call for continued cross-border cooperation. Par…
KBL to Review School Violence Records in Strengthened Rookie Draft Screening
The Korean Basketball League will require every applicant for this year’s rookie draft to submit a school record, including information that could reveal a history of school violence. The KBL will acc…
Ko Woo-seok Set to Return to LG Twins After Three Years
Ko Woo-seok is set to return to the LG Twins three years after leaving the Korean club for Major League Baseball. An LG official said the 28-year-old had told the team he wanted to come back and would…
Myongji University holds admissions strategy event for 2027 applicants
Myongji University held an admissions information event for high school students, parents and teachers ahead of the September application period for the 2027 academic year. The August 29 MJ Admissions…
Russian finance minister attends G20 in person for first time since invasion as Europe refuses group photo
Anton Siluanov’s appearance at the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Asheville marked the first time Russia’s finance minister had attended the forum in person since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Uk…
Sogang University researchers win acceptance for two dysarthria studies at INTERSPEECH 2026
A Sogang University research team will present two studies on AI-assisted dysarthria assessment at INTERSPEECH 2026, a leading international conference on speech and language processing. One paper pro…
South Korea to Give Pregnant Unmarried and Single Parents 230,000 Won Monthly Preparatory Childcare Allowance
Pregnant unmarried women and single parents in South Korea will receive 230,000 won a month for three months starting next year under a new preparatory childcare allowance. The Ministry of Gender Equa…
South Korea to Keep Basic Pension for 70% of Seniors, Add 30,000 Won for Lowest-Income Recipients
South Korea will keep its basic pension within the lower-income 70% of people aged 65 and older next year, abandoning for now a proposal to link eligibility to median income and gradually reduce cover…
Nepal’s catastrophe shows who pays the price for global climate change
The flooding and landslides that struck Nepal have focused attention on how rising global temperatures are changing the risks faced by Himalayan communities. The exact factors behind the disaster stil…
Supreme Court Overturns One-Year Sentence for Officer Accused of Leaking Hwang Ui-jo Investigation Details
South Korea’s Supreme Court has sent back the case of a police officer convicted of leaking investigation information linked to footballer Hwang Ui-jo’s illegal-filming case, saying the evidence did n…
Ryu Seung-soo Says Bae Yong-joon Moved Him to Tears as He Recounts His ‘Yon-sama’ Manager Days
Actor Ryu Seung-soo is set to share stories about his long relationship with Bae Yong-joon on MBC’s Radio Star. Ryu will revisit the period when the drama Winter Sonata brought Bae major attention in …
Shinsegae Gangnam opens Asia’s first lululemon men’s pop-up store
Shinsegae Department Store is bringing an Asia-Pacific first to its Gangnam branch with a lululemon pop-up store focused entirely on men’s products. The store opened on September 1 and will operate th…
ENHYPEN tops Billboard and Oricon, a seven-year miracle built with ENGENE
ENHYPEN has reached the top of both Billboard and Oricon with its eighth mini-album, “The Sin: BLISS,” in what the report presents as a seven-year miracle created with the group’s fans, ENGENE. The al…
Former fromis_9 Member Lee Seoyeon to Return After 10 Months With a More Distinct Musical Identity
Lee Seoyeon, formerly a member of fromis_9, is returning to music after a 10-month break with what is described as a more clearly defined musical identity. She will release her first solo mini-album, …
Daedong AI Tractor Recognized as New Agricultural Technology for Detecting Cropland and Obstacles
Daedong’s HX1400-AI tractor has received designation as a new-technology agricultural machine from South Korea’s Rural Development Administration. The designated technology is a Level 4 autonomous-dri…
VIDRAFT Launches AI Foundry to Custom-Develop AI for Companies and Institutions
South Korean deep-tech startup VIDRAFT is pursuing an “AI Foundry” business that develops artificial intelligence for companies and public institutions and delivers systems ready for use in the field.…
“Pitch Where Batters Want to Avoid”: Ko Young-pyo’s Drive to Develop New Pitches and Improve Control
KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo has found a way to thrive under the automatic ball-strike system, an electronic judging system that has been described as a graveyard for sidearm pitchers. Now 35, he has o…
Chipotle Chooses South Korea for Its First Asian Location, Gangnam Store to Open
Chipotle Mexican Grill has chosen South Korea as the first stop in its Asian expansion, opening a store in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The U.S. Mexican restaurant chain held a media event at the Gangnam…
“No Wonder People Fall for Him”: WOODZ Shows Off a Perfect Suit Fit
WOODZ drew attention for his polished suit at the 2026 Brand of the Year Awards in Seoul. The event took place at The Shilla Seoul hotel in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul. WOODZ, who won in the male so…
“Korea’s Strongest Guardian Returns”: Japanese Media Spotlight Go Woo-suk’s Potential LG Comeback
Go Woo-suk’s possible return to the LG Twins has attracted attention in Japan as well as South Korea. The pitcher has spent more than two years pursuing an opportunity in the United States. He is now …
‘Chipflation’ Drives Samsung and LG to Launch Budget-Friendly PCs
Rising memory prices are pushing South Korean electronics companies toward more affordable computers, with Samsung Electronics launching its New Galaxy Book6 for everyday users. Samsung said the lapto…
Spain’s Roberto Moreno named South Korea’s interim national team coach for six matches
Roberto Moreno will take charge of South Korea for six international matches after the Korea Football Association appointed the Spaniard as the national team’s interim coach. Moreno’s contract runs th…
Goryeong County Chief Lee Nam-cheol Dies at 65 After Esophageal Cancer Battle
Lee Nam-cheol, chief of Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang province, died at 12:55 a.m. at the age of 65 while undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. He took medical leave on the 18th of the pre…
Ulsan launches 50 billion won regional growth fund to accelerate startup-city drive
Ulsan has launched a 50 billion won regional fund aimed at channeling venture investment into companies in the city. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said the Ulsan Future Growth Fund completed its f…
Ryu Jun-yeol says working with Sol Kyung-gu felt like catching the last train
Ryu Jun-yeol described meeting actor Sol Kyung-gu during production of the Netflix series “Field Mouse” as a fateful opportunity, saying it felt like catching the last train. Ryu made the comments dur…
Appeal court acquits nonmedical eyebrow tattooist after Supreme Court ruling
A South Korean appeals court has overturned the conviction of a nonmedical practitioner who performed eyebrow tattoos, ruling that the procedures fell within ordinary cosmetic tattooing. The Gwangju D…
[Photo] 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week opens
The 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week opened at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Sept. 1, with models presenting collections on the runway. The six-day event features designs from 31 brands. Shows will t…
[Photo] Hwang Chan-sung makes a striking impression among the models
Hwang Chan-sung joined models on the runway as the 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week opened at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Sept. 1. The event brings together designs from 31 brands. Shows are schedul…
Hanwha Ocean Wins 477.8 Billion Won Order for Three VLGCs
Hanwha Ocean has secured an order worth 477.8 billion won for three very large gas carriers from a shipowner based in Oceania. The shipbuilder disclosed the contract through South Korea’s Financial Su…
Manchester City’s £80 Million Offer May Not Be Enough as Liverpool Risk Ending Gakpo Transfer
Manchester City’s attempt to sign Cody Gakpo faces a setback despite a proposed £80 million transfer, worth about 148.7 billion won. Liverpool have moved toward keeping the forward after failing to se…
[Photo] CRAVITY’s Minhee Takes the Runway at Seoul Fashion Week
CRAVITY’s Minhee took to the runway as Seoul Fashion Week opened at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Sept. 1. The 2027 S/S edition features collections from 31 brands. Events will take place at DDP and othe…
Goryeong County chief Lee Nam-cheol dies while battling esophageal cancer
Lee Nam-cheol, the head of Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang Province, died at 12:55 a.m. on the night of the first, after battling esophageal cancer. He was 67. Lee took 30 days of medical leave on…
NIS says Kim Ju-ae is effectively designated successor, North Korea-US summit possible at any time
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, has effectively entered the process of being designated North Korea’s successor, according to lawmakers briefed by t…
Man in His 20s Detained After Allegedly Breaking Four Teeth of Woman Who Tried to Stop Assault in Gangnam
A woman who tried to stop an assault in Seoul's Gangnam district reportedly suffered four broken teeth after a man in his 20s allegedly attacked her. Gangnam Police said they obtained a detention warr…
Im Sung-jae to Return to Genesis Championship and Seek Historic Second Win
Im Sung-jae will return to the Genesis Championship this year, aiming to become the tournament’s first multiple winner. The South Korean golfer has confirmed that he will compete at Woojeong Hills Cou…
World No. 1 An Se-young Gets Easier Path as Chinese Rivals Skip Asian Games Rehearsal
An Se-young has received welcome news before the 2026 China Masters, with Chinese players Chen Yufei and Han Yue listed among the absentees. The Super 750 tournament takes place in Shenzhen from Septe…
Ha Yoon-kyung and Yang Mal-bok smile at press event for ‘As We Grow Up’
Ha Yoon-kyung and Yang Mal-bok smiled during a press conference for the film “As We Grow Up” at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul on September 1. Directed by Jung Seung-oh, the family drama follows thr…
South Korea’s spy agency sees signs of U.S.-North Korea talks and calls Kim Ju-ae de facto heir
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said it had detected signs of dialogue between the United States and North Korea. The agency also assessed that Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean lead…
Ki Joo-bong Appears at Press Event for ‘At the Age of Maturity’
Ki Joo-bong appeared at a press screening and media conference for “At the Age of Maturity” at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. Directed by Jung Seung-oh, the film is a family drama about three peopl…
‘At the Age of Maturity’: Ki Joo-bong, Ha Yoon-kyung and Yang Mal-bok Pose as Parents and Daughter
Ki Joo-bong, Ha Yoon-kyung and Yang Mal-bok posed together at a press screening and media conference for the film “At the Age of Maturity” in Seoul. The event took place at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in …
Anpanman to Open First Pop-Up Store With LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium
Anpanman is heading to Jamsil Baseball Stadium for a first-time collaboration with the LG Twins. The popular character will operate a joint pop-up store with the professional baseball team in Seoul fr…
[Photos] Director Jung Seung-oh Presents ‘When We Grow Up’
Director Jung Seung-oh’s ‘When We Grow Up’ was presented to reporters at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul on the 1st. The family drama centers on three people who have yet to grow up. Their bodies, mo…
[Photo] Director Jeong Seung-oh Poses at ‘When We Grow Up’ Press Event
Director Jeong Seung-oh posed for photographers at a press screening and media conference for “When We Grow Up” in Seoul on Sept. 1. Held at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Yongsan District, the event intr…
North Korea’s Nampo Port Sees Frequent Tanker Traffic, Raising Suspicions of Sanctions-Busting Fuel Imports
North Korea’s Nampo port has seen tanker traffic at a pace that could indicate refined-petroleum imports far beyond the United Nations sanctions limit. An analysis of satellite images taken by Planet …
Seven in 10 South Koreans support restricting teenagers’ social media use
Seven in 10 South Koreans support restricting teenagers’ access to social media by age, but teenagers themselves largely oppose the idea. The Korea Press Foundation’s Media Research Center surveyed 1,…
Young South Koreans accuse basic pension reform of shifting costs onto future generations
South Korean young people have reacted angrily to the government’s proposed reform of the basic pension, accusing it of shifting the cost onto future generations. The Pension Research Association’s Fu…
South Korea’s SME Ministry Proposes Record 18 Trillion-Won Budget for Growth and Safety Nets
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups has proposed a record budget of 18.0724 trillion won for 2027, promising to strengthen both the path from startup to scale-up and the safety net for small b…
South Korea’s Industry Ministry Sets Record 2027 Budget, Focusing on AI, Chips and Resource Security
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is seeking its largest budget since its creation, with a sharp increase aimed at turning stronger tax revenues into investment in future industries…
Bank of Korea Launches New News Sentiment Index to Track Economic Mood
The Bank of Korea has unveiled a new gauge designed to read the economy through the tone of news coverage, describing it as a more precise measure of public economic sentiment. The revised News Sentim…
Chelsea Accepts Tottenham’s Bid for Mykhailo Mudryk, Reports Say
Mykhailo Mudryk is reportedly heading from Chelsea to Tottenham after Chelsea accepted Tottenham’s proposal for the Ukrainian winger. The BBC reported that Chelsea had accepted the offer, while transf…
South Korea’s science ministry to invest 9.4 trillion won in AI next year, secure 10,000 Vera Rubin GPUs
South Korea’s science ministry plans to put 9.4 trillion won into artificial intelligence next year and secure 10,000 Vera Rubin graphics processing units. The investment forms part of a plan to obtai…
Lee Ki-kwang Poses at Seoul Fashion Week
Lee Ki-kwang posed at the 2027 Spring/Summer Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The fashion event features 31 brands and runs from September 1 to 6 at venues across the city.
So Yi-hyun Attends Seoul Fashion Week
Actress So Yi-hyun posed at the 2027 Spring/Summer Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The event features 31 brands and runs from September 1 to 6 at venues around the city.
Tempest’s Eunchan greets fans at Seoul Fashion Week
Tempest member Eunchan posed for photographers at the opening of the 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week in Seoul. The fashion event is taking place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza and other locations across the c…
The Japanese Defender Expected to Displace Kim Min-jae Could Leave First After Injury, With Ajax Making an Offer
Kim Min-jae has made a strong start at Bayern Munich, securing a starting place in the opening matches. Hiroki Ito, the Japanese defender once expected to challenge him, may now be the player heading …
Park Kyung-lim Named Top MC for Fourth Consecutive Year
Broadcaster Park Kyung-lim won the MC award at the 2026 Brand of the Year Awards in Seoul, marking her fourth consecutive year receiving the honor. The ceremony took place on Sept. 1 at The Shilla Seo…
Park Kyung-lim Named Top MC
Broadcaster Park Kyung-lim received the MC award at the 2026 Brand of the Year Awards in Seoul. The ceremony took place at the Seoul Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu. The awards, now in their 24th year, are ho…
Parents’ Contributions to South Korea’s Children’s Independence Fund Count Toward 20 Million-Won Gift-Tax Exemption
Parents who contribute to South Korea’s planned Children’s Independence Fund will not receive a separate gift-tax exemption. Their payments will count toward the existing exemption for gifts to minor …
South Korea Sets Record 29.6 Trillion-Won Science Ministry Budget as AI Spending Jumps 84%
South Korea plans to spend 9.4211 trillion won on artificial intelligence next year, an 84% increase that forms the centerpiece of a record science and technology budget. The Ministry of Science and I…
South Korea’s Climate Ministry receives record 25.7 trillion won budget for mega-projects and electric vehicles
South Korea’s Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry has proposed a record budget of nearly 26 trillion won, combining industrial infrastructure spending with a broader push toward electric vehicles…
As Himalayan glaciers melt faster, rivers become increasingly unstable
The Himalayas are losing glacier stability at the same time that their rivers are becoming harder to predict. Flash floods triggered by glacial collapse in Nepal and Tibet last week have renewed atten…
South Korea considers joint aerial search with Nepal army for nine missing citizens
South Korean authorities are considering a joint aerial search with Nepal’s army for nine citizens who went missing after major flooding in Nepal’s Rasuwa region. A South Korean foreign ministry offic…
South Korea’s Budget Expected to Top 1,000 Trillion Won by 2030 as Government Pledges to Keep Debt Below 50% of GDP
South Korea expects government spending to exceed 1,000 trillion won by 2030, even as the government projects a lower debt burden and improved fiscal balances over the next five years. The country’s d…
South Korea to Double Rural Basic-Income Pilot Areas and Give Freelancers Childcare Benefits
South Korea will expand its rural basic-income pilot to 35 counties next year, up from 17, covering about half of the country’s 69 declining-population counties. Residents will receive 150,000 won a m…
Government to Create 162 Trillion-Won Future Response Fund Amid Semiconductor Boom
South Korea plans to set aside 162.3 trillion won next year in a new fund built from tax revenue generated by the semiconductor boom. The government says the money will support future growth while pre…
820 Trillion-Won ‘Super Budget’ Promises to Reduce Inequality, but Industry Spending Rises Three Times Faster Than Welfare
South Korea’s proposed 820.9 trillion-won budget carries two stated goals: raising potential growth and reducing inequality. Yet the biggest increases are concentrated in industrial policy, while welf…
South Korea Unveils 820 Trillion-Won ‘Super Budget’ to Lift Potential Growth on Semiconductor Boom
South Korea’s government has put forward an 820.9 trillion-won budget for 2027, the largest increase in spending on record. The proposal raises spending by 12.8%, or 93 trillion won, as the Lee Jae-my…
FSN Subsidiary Adqua Wins Bronze at 2026 Busan International Advertising Festival
A campaign that paid for time off for South Korean small-business owners has won a Bronze award at the 2026 Busan International Marketing Advertising Festival. Adqua Interactive, a subsidiary of KOSDA…
“I eat vegetarian but wear leather jackets”: Novelist Do Gi-min embraces contradiction
Novelist Do Gi-min describes herself as a contradiction: she has followed a strict vegetarian diet for four years, yet has bought leather jackets and shoes throughout the same period. The attraction, …
Two Passenger Planes Fly Low Over 56,000 Rugby Fans, Sparking Safety Debate
Two passenger planes flew just above a packed rugby stadium in Cape Town before South Africa played New Zealand, turning a pre-match spectacle into a safety debate. The Airlink Embraer aircraft passed…
Ha-young Leaves ‘The Trauma Code’ Amid Controversy Over Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Record
Actor Ha-young will not return for the follow-up to Netflix’s “The Trauma Code,” after controversy surrounding allegations about her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities. Netflix said on the fi…
“Even the Last Signal”: Cell-Tower Records Used to Search for Nepal Flood Missing
Families who have spent days searching for relatives missing in Nepal’s major floods are using the last recorded mobile-phone signal as a possible clue. Roshan Kumar Joshi, an environmental expert wor…
Spain’s Roberto Moreno appointed interim coach of South Korea’s national football team for six matches
Roberto Moreno will take charge of South Korea’s men’s national football team as interim coach for six international matches, the Korea Football Association said. The association approved Moreno’s app…
Government cuts 69 trillion won in mandatory spending and redirects funds to core priorities
South Korea’s government plans to cut 69 trillion won in mandatory spending in its 2027 budget proposal, exceeding its target of reducing such spending by 10 percent. It also plans to redirect savings…
Full tuition support for regional university freshmen as rural basic-income pilot expands to 35 areas
South Korea’s next budget puts regional development at the center, offering full tuition support to freshmen at national universities outside the capital region and expanding a basic-income project fo…
What made Jeon Hyun-moo’s 29 hours of effort feel wasted was not the ‘fake improvisation’ but the ‘I Live Alone’ team’s response
Questions over MBC’s Kazakhstan trip for “I Live Alone” have not gone away. The latest focus is not only whether the journey was genuinely improvised, but also how the production team responded. The c…
South Korea to Commit 3.4 Trillion Won to Nuclear Submarines and KF-21 in 2027 Budget
South Korea plans to begin pursuing a nuclear-powered submarine program in earnest next year while committing major funding to mass-produce its homegrown KF-21 fighter jet. The proposed 2027 budget al…
