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S. Korea to foster AI talent across all stages of life
After South Korea scrapped its ambitious plan to introduce artificial intelligence-powered digital textbooks, the government is taking another step to cement its standing as a global AI leader — this time, by investing 1.4 trillion won ($960 million) to nurture AI talent from elementary school to postgraduate researchers. The Education Ministry on Monday announced its first-ever national blueprint titled “AI Talent Development Plan for All,” aimed at strengthening AI capabilities throughout a pe
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Korea Post to pause deliveries in deep freeze
The state-run Korea Post announced Monday that it will temporarily suspend deliveries during periods of severe cold or heavy snowfall to protect its workers. The policy will remain in effect through the end of February. “Amid cold waves and snowstorms, we will make every effort to ensure that our employees can work safely,” said Kwak Byung-jin, acting head of Korea Post. Customers will be notified in advance if mail is delayed when postal workers pause deliveries or take shelter due to extreme c
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Monk loses lawsuit against temple over 14 years of alleged unpaid wages
The Seoul Northern District Court recently ruled against a Buddhist monk who filed a wage claim lawsuit against his former employer, a temple he worked at for nearly 14 years under a verbal agreement. The court dismissed the claim, citing a lack of evidence that a formal employment relationship existed. The plaintiff claimed that the temple owed him 685 million won ($471,400) in unpaid wages and severance package for 13 years and nine months of service. In 2010, he made an agreement with the lat
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Taxi driver sentenced to jail for extorting drunk passengers with fake vomit scheme
A taxi driver in Seoul was sentenced to prison for extorting 150 million won ($103,156) from 160 intoxicated passengers after smearing a mixture resembling vomit on them after they fell asleep. The Seoul Northern District Court sentenced the taxi driver to four years and six months in prison on Friday, on the charges of extortion, attempted extortion and false accusation. The 68-year-old had previously served one year for similar crimes. According to the verdict, once victims fell asleep in his
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Fishing boat capsizes in southwestern waters; 9 people aboard: authorities
A fishing boat carrying nine people capsized off the southwestern coast Monday, officials said. The boat was located near the island of Eocheong, Gunsan, and identified as Chinese-flagged. (Yonhap)
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Middle school bomb threat turns out to be hoax
A Gangwon Province middle school was received a bomb threat Sunday, which police dispatched to the site found to have been a hoax. According to the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education on Monday, Seoul police on Sunday evening notified the Pyeongchang Police Station that an anonymous threat had been made against a school in the city. The author of the online post claimed to have planted explosives inside the school, and threatened to kill the students. Police searched the school and found no e
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Search for missing in boiler tower collapse enters 5th day
The search for two missing workers entered its fifth day Monday after a boiler tower collapsed at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan. A total of seven workers were initially trapped at the plant of the Ulsan branch of Korea East-West Power Co., a state-run utility company, on Thursday. Three bodies have been recovered, while four people are still trapped, including two who are presumed dead. Firefighting authorities said drones were sent inside the debris overnight to aid in
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Another body pulled from power plant tower
The body of another worker was recovered Sunday from the site of the collapsed boiler tower at a decommissioned thermal power plant in Ulsan, three days after the fatal accident. The recovery came as the intermittent and difficult rescue operation at the Ulsan Thermal Power Plant briefly resumed Sunday morning, after being suspended Saturday afternoon amid safety concerns and unstable site conditions. The victim was identified as a 44-year-old man surnamed Kim, who had been trapped with his arm
Nov. 9, 2025 -
South Korea to see cold snap before warm temperatures return Wednesday
South Korea can expect a brief spell of cold weather starting Monday before temperatures return to levels similar to previous years, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Sunday. The KMA attributed the drop in temperatures to a high-pressure system expanding toward the West Sea, bringing in cold, northerly winds into the Korean Peninsula. Compared to morning temperatures from Sunday, Monday’s morning temperatures are projected to be 4-8 degrees Celsius lower, with average nationwide low t
Nov. 9, 2025 -
North Korean liquor could hit local shelves after safety review
South Korea is moving to revise customs rules to allow imports of North Korean alcoholic beverages, including Koryo Doenjangsul, signaling a rare reopening of private-sector trade with the North in more than a decade. According to the Unificaiton Ministry, a government task force — comprising the ministry, the National Tax Service, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Intelligence Service — met earlier this month and agreed that current safety and management standards must be re
Nov. 9, 2025 -
Yoon receives over W650m in prison funds
Former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center for his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, has received over 650 million won ($446,500) in prison deposits over the past three months. The large influx of deposits has sparked concerns that the system may have been exploited as a channel for political fundraising. Yoon collected some 657.26 million won in prison deposits, or personal funds deposited to inmates for their use while incarcera
Nov. 9, 2025 -
Bus union postpones strike plan until after Suneung, talks to continue
The Seoul bus union said Sunday it would postpone its planned strike until after Suneung on Thursday. The union, which had previously threatened to begin a strike on Wednesday, said it will hold additional negotiations on Thursday instead and will not stop work before then. "To minimize public inconvenience, we will do our best to reach a collective agreement and wage deal as early as possible," the union said. On Suneung day, South Korea goes all out to support millions of college entrance exam
Nov. 9, 2025 -
Body of another worker recovered after deadly power plant tower collapse in Ulsan
ULSAN -- The body of another worker was recovered Sunday from under the rubble following last week's deadly collapse of a boiler tower at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan. The boiler tower at the Ulsan branch of Korea East-West Power Co., a state-run utility, collapsed Thursday while in the process of being demolished, initially trapping seven workers. As rescue operations continued, firefighters pulled the body of a 44-year-old victim from the debris Sunday morning, follo
Nov. 9, 2025 -
3 missing, 2 in cardiac arrest after Chinese fishing boat capsizes off S. Korea's Gageo Island
MOKPO -- A Chinese fishing boat capsized off South Korea's southwestern Gageo Island on Sunday, leaving three crew members missing and two others in cardiac arrest, Coast Guard officials said. The 98-ton vessel sank in international waters about 80 kilometers off Gageo Island at around 6:50 a.m., according to officials. Of the 11 people on board, six were initially rescued by another Chinese vessel operating nearby. The Coast Guard later rescued two more who were drifting at sea, but both were f
Nov. 9, 2025 -
4 in 10 ER visits for self-harm, suicide attempts last year were teens, people in 20s: data
Four in 10 patients who visited emergency rooms after attempting self-harm or suicide last year were in their teens or 20s, government data showed Sunday. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 35,170 people sought emergency care nationwide last year after such attempts. While the figure was down 11,189 from a year earlier, they still accounted for 0.8 percent of all emergency room patients — the same proportion for three consecutive years — as overall emergency room visits also declin
Nov. 9, 2025