-
Media outlet launched to bring news tailored to N. Koreans abroad
A group of North Korean defectors and human rights activists has launched an online media platform aimed at delivering information to North Koreans living and working abroad, with the long-term goal of reaching audiences inside North Korea. The new outlet, called Korea Internet Studio, was officially launched Tuesday amid the shutdown of multiple radio and broadcast services long operated by the US and South Korean governments to deliver information to North Korean audiences. These include the U
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Engines stop, markets wait: Korea stands still for Suneung day
The big day is just a few sleeps away — the day for which every Korean student has been preparing for years, sacrificing weekends and fun: Suneung, the College Scholastic Ability Test. With just some 24 hours to go to Thursday’s nationwide exam, experts are urging students to set aside their books and instead focus on sleep, nutrition and calm preparation. Medical experts warn that last-minute cramming does little good and can even hurt performance. “Many students have been studying long hours w
Nov. 11, 2025 -
S. Korea’s nuclear submarine project to reshape regional security dynamics: think tank
South Korea’s decision to pursue nuclear-powered submarines under a recent agreement with the United States is emerging as a watershed moment for the alliance, expanding its strategic cooperation into maritime and high-technology domains while potentially reshaping Northeast Asia’s security landscape, a think tank said Tuesday. In a report released Tuesday, the Sejong Institute said that Seoul’s nuclear submarine program “marks not merely a step in defense capability, but a historic turning poin
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Seoul to bolster response system, sentencing for kidnapping attempts
The South Korean government announced a set of measures on Tuesday to strengthen its response to kidnapping and child luring crimes, including prioritizing dispatch to reports of such incidents, strengthening laws and tightening sentences. The plan, jointly released by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Korean National Police Agency, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was announced following a string of recent kidnapping attempts targeting elementary school s
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Pressure mounts on top prosecutor to resign over land case decision
Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok came under growing pressure to resign on Tuesday over his decision not to appeal a controversial land development corruption case linked to President Lee Jae Myung’s tenure as Seongnam mayor, as internal criticism within the prosecution widened across all ranks. Noh, who also serves as deputy prosecutor general, took a day off Tuesday amid reports that he is “seriously considering” stepping down. Four days earlier, the prosecution sparked a firestorm by dec
Nov. 11, 2025 -
China’s envoy calls for deeper Seoul-Beijing ties with long-term vision
Seoul and Beijing should strengthen their relations with a long-term vision to sustain the momentum from the first summit between the two countries' leaders, rather than viewing ties through a short-term lens, China’s ambassador to South Korea said Tuesday. Ambassador Dai Bing highlighted the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to South Korea — his first since 2014 — on the occasion of the APEC summit from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, as well as his first in-person summit with South
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Marathon turns tragic when truck hits front-runner, leaving him brain-dead
A runner has been declared brain-dead after being hit by a truck during a marathon in North Chungcheong Province, news reports said Tuesday. The 25-year-old athlete was leading the race at the time. At around 10 a.m. Monday, while participating in the race on a two-lane road in Okcheon, the runner was struck by a 1-ton truck that suddenly crossed from the first lane into the second. The latter had been closed to traffic for the marathon, according to police and fire authorities. A police patrol
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Paik Jong-won cleared, but his company referred to prosecution, in false labeling case
Paik Jong-won, TV personality and CEO of TheBorn Korea, was cleared of allegations that he was involved in his company’s alleged false labeling of ingredient origins, law enforcement said Monday. The company itself, however, has been indicted on the same charges. According to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station on Monday, it decided in October not to refer Paik’s case to the prosecution, determining that there was insufficient evidence to prove he violated the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foo
Nov. 11, 2025 -
From lucky pencils to lunch boxes, Suneung prep drives secondhand boom
Students are making sure they have all their gear ready for Thursday's Suneung, South Korea’s university entrance exam often regarded as a life-or-death test. According to data released Tuesday by the secondhand trading platform Bungaejangter, “Suneung mechanical pencil” was the most searched keyword between August and October. The pencil, specially made and distributed at test sites by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation and the Ministry of Education in a different color each year
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Civil servants to face in-house probe over martial law
A pangovernmental investigation into civil servants allegedly involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law is set to be launched after President Lee Jae Myung agreed to a proposal from the prime minister on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok proposed that the investigation be completed by January and undertaken by a "task force to respect the Constitution and innovate the government." Kim added that the task force will come up with follow-up measures before Seollal,
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Korea to rein in alcohol collabs that 'encourage drinking'
The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday said it plans to impose stricter regulations on promotional collaborations between alcohol products and well-known food brands, saying such marketing appears to encourage alcohol consumption. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Rep. Nam In-soon recently asked the ministry about the collaborative marketing campaigns run for many alcohol brands, such as Gompyo Wheat Beer, promoted by 7Brau brewery and Daehan Flour Mills. With its cans featuring t
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Fire occurs at high school, possibly caused by power bank
A small fire occurred Monday in an empty classroom at a high school, with preliminary investigation suggesting a portable power bank as the likely cause. According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the incident occurred at around 9:18 a.m. at a school in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. The fire started in a classroom locker, and is thought to have been sparked by a portable power bank stored inside the locker. The locker had contained 20 mobile phones and the power bank, all of whic
Nov. 11, 2025 -
2 towers blown up at Ulsan power plant to help search for missing
Two boiler towers were blown up at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan on Tuesday to help the search for four workers trapped under a third tower that collapsed last week. Towers 4 and 6, which flanked Tower 5, had been an impediment in search operations because of the risk that they too could crumble. Tower 5 collapsed last Thursday, trapping seven workers, including three whose bodies have been recovered. Two have been located but are feared dead, while another two remain m
Nov. 11, 2025 -
As populations plunge, some rural Korean provinces court overseas Koreans to return
Provincial governments across South Korea are stepping up efforts to attract overseas Koreans in a bid to curb their declining populations, offering a range of living experience programs and support measures. Wonju in Gangwon Province launched a project titled “Experience Living in Wonju” on Oct. 26, inviting participation by Koreans residing in Australia. Twenty participants spent 15 days exploring the region’s culture by visiting Chiaksan National Park and a local history museum. They also att
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Presidential office may return to Cheong Wa Dae in December: reports
The presidential office in Seoul is likely to be moved from Yongsan-gu back to Cheong Wa Dae in early December, a key campaign pledge by President Lee Jae Myung, local media reported Tuesday. Citing unnamed government sources, the reports said the relocation could occur between Dec. 8 and 14, though the presidential office said that “nothing has been confirmed.” Under the Office of the Administrative Secretary, which was established in June to oversee the relocation, most of the renovation work
Nov. 11, 2025