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FORUM Korea urged to navigate fractured global economy with AI transformation

Korean companies must move beyond export-led growth models and embrace artificial intelligence (AI)-driven transformation to remain competitive in an increasingly fragmented global economy, business leaders and experts said Tuesday during The Korea Times Forum. The forum, titled “Made in Korea: Global and AI enablement,” brought together policymakers, corporate executives, diplomats and industry experts to discuss how Korean companies can navigate geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption and intensifying global competition. In a congratulatory address, President Lee Jae Myung vowed to boost corporate growth by increasing investment in cutting-edge industries, including AI. “The government will spare no effort to ensure that the AI-driven transformation becomes a source of hope for all and an opportunity for growth and advancement,” Lee said in a written message. “We will also provide steadfast support so that businesses can innovate freely and achieve sustainable growth.” Rep. Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also underscored the need to

4 MIN READ
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KOSPI retakes 8,000 mark as chip stocks lead sharp rebound

Korean stocks rebounded sharply Tuesday as semiconductor shares rallied worldwide, with KOSPI surging more than 8 percent to reclaim the 8,000-point threshold, while Kosdaq also posted strong gains. Amid heightened volatility in domestic financial markets, a sharp sell-off a day earlier had triggered circuit breakers and sell-side sidecars in the KOSPI and Kosdaq markets. Just one day later, however, both markets staged a rapid recovery, prompting buy-side sidecars on both exchanges. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 7,697.76, up 213.35 points, or 2.85 percent, from the previous session, and extended its gains throughout the day before closing at 8,096.93, up 612.52 points, or 8.18 percent, from the previous session. The rally largely offset Monday's 8.29 percent decline. The strength of the rebound triggered a buy-side sidecar at 9:12 a.m. after sharp gains in KOSPI 200 futures. Program buy orders were suspended for five minutes under exchange rules designed to curb excessive market volatility. At the time, the KOSPI 200 futures index stood at 1,239.05, up 60.80 points, or 5.16 percent, fr

2 MIN READ
KOSPI retakes 8,000 mark as chip stocks lead sharp rebound thumbnail

S. Korea, US align on nuclear submarines as Seoul steps up peninsula defense

South Korea and the United States reached a shared understanding during last week's bilateral talks that Seoul's future nuclear-powered submarines will both bolster the security framework on the Korean Peninsula and benefit the broader alliance, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. “We continued the discussions based on the understanding that the submarines will be built in South Korea and the U.S. side didn’t elaborate further,” a foreign ministry official said, adding that the U.S. delegation did not link the submarine issue to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), another critical area of focus for the two allies. The remarks came a week after the kickoff meetings in Seoul on June 2 and 3, aiming at implementing security and economic agreements outlined in the joint fact sheet published in November 2025, following the October 2025 summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. The meetings were led on the Korean side by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and on the U.S. side by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison

3 MIN READ
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Korea to put counselors in every school in teen suicide prevention push

Professional counselors will be deployed to every school in Korea and school principals will be able to arrange counseling and treatment without parental consent under a sweeping pangovernment plan to curb teen suicide announced Tuesday amid a rise in youth deaths and mental health problems in recent years. The plan involves 15 ministries and government agencies and targets a reduction in the youth suicide rate from eight per 100,000 people in 2024 to 6.5 by 2030 and 4.2 by 2035 — back to levels last seen in 2015. Officials say such a broad, cross-ministry approach is needed because teen suicide is often driven by strong impulsivity and a complex mix of causes, from academic and career pressures to family conflict, harmful online content and media influence, which cannot be addressed by a single institution. "Teen suicide is not an issue that can be resolved simply by focusing on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being or on the efforts of school communities alone. It is a challenge that demands a collective response and sense of responsibility from everyone who shapes the e

3 MIN READ
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Why are Korean engineering prodigies flocking to Chinese universities?

Kim Seung-hyun, 17, still remembers the moment he decided to become a robotics engineer. It was while watching a demonstration video of a “wearable robot” developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). In the video, a researcher paralyzed from the waist down slowly stood up from his wheelchair and walked with the help of the robot, which enhanced the wearer’s muscle strength. His eyes fixed on the screen, Kim watched the video over and over again. At that moment, he decided to become a robotics engineer. His childhood as an ardent fan of “Gundam,” the Japanese animation franchise featuring giant robots, also helped. Last year, after sweeping science Olympiads, Kim became an intern at KAIST. He was deciding where to apply for college: KAIST, Seoul National University or perhaps an engineering school in the United States. Then his supervising professor, Lee Pil-seung, made a suggestion Kim had never imagined. “Seung-hyun, have you ever seriously considered engineering schools in China?” For Kim, it was a surreal moment. Did a KAIST professor, from

9 MIN READ
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Upstage faces IPO uncertainty amid ex-presidential secretary's shareholding controversy

Upstage, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations concerning its ties to Ha Jung-woo, the former senior presidential secretary for AI policy and future planning who ran in the June 3 parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A constituency. Investment banking industry observers said Tuesday that the issue has attracted heightened public attention and taken on greater significance because independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who defeated Ha in the election, kept it in the spotlight throughout the campaign. They added that if Han continues to scrutinize the matter in the National Assembly, the controversy could become a source of uncertainty for the company's planned stock market debut. Conflict-of-interest concerns emerged because Ha owned shares in Upstage while serving as senior presidential secretary, and the company was subsequently selected as one of five operators of the government's proprietary AI foundation model project in August 2025. The initiative, often referred to as Korea's "national A

3 MIN READ
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12 student bodies to issue joint declaration over voting rights violations

As rallies calling for a redo of last week’s local elections continued into their fifth day, student leaders from 12 universities across Korea said Tuesday they will issue a joint declaration denouncing ballot shortages that they say deprived citizens of their right to vote. Student leaders said student bodies from 12 universities — Yonsei, Konkuk, Kyung Hee, Sogang, Korea, Seoul National, Hongik, Sungkyunkwan, Soongsil, Chonnam National, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and the University of Seoul — will simultaneously hold a joint declaration and protest on their campuses at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The timing was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising of 1987, a key milestone in Korea’s pro-democracy movement against the Chun Doo-hwan military regime, in a bid to frame the current dispute as a struggle over basic political rights. In their declaration, the participants are expected to demand a thorough investigation into the ballot shortages, which they say undermined the integrity of the democratic system and effectively deprived many citi

2 MIN READ
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Rival defense expos agree to merge after years of costly split

Korea’s two rival ground defense exhibitions, Defense Expo Korea (DX Korea) and Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX), have agreed to merge after years of operating separately, ending a split that had drawn criticism from defense companies as well as overseas buyers and military delegations. The organizing committees of DX Korea and KADEX announced reaching a final agreement to hold a joint exhibition at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 16-19. The merger is expected to eliminate confusion among exhibitors and foreign delegations while allowing Korea's defense industry to present a unified platform to overseas buyers. The two sides had failed to reach an agreement during final negotiations on May 19, but continued discussions afterward and ultimately settled their differences during a meeting between the heads of the two organizing committees. The exhibition will initially be held under the name of KADEX with DX Korea 2026, although organizers said the final name could change following consultations with the Korea Defense Industry Association. The associ

2 MIN READ
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PM calls for crowd control measures ahead of BTS concert in Busan

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok told officials Tuesday to ensure crowd control and crack down on tourist overcharging, scalped tickets and other illicit practices ahead of the upcoming BTS concert in the southeastern port city of Busan. Kim made the remark at the start of a Cabinet meeting, saying a number of foreigners are expected to visit Busan for the concert, set for Friday and Saturday, and it would be an occasion to showcase Korea's level of art performances and tourism and culture. "Some 260,000 people attended the Gwanghwamun concert back in March, and a large attendance is expected this time as well," Kim said, referring to the BTS concert in Seoul. "The culture ministry, the interior ministry and other agencies should cooperate with local governments and make sure to manage large crowds. We also have to make sure to prevent and crack down on such illicit practices as accommodation rip-offs and scalped tickets." The Busan concert is part of a world tour that began in April after the group's much-anticipated comeback. The tour includes 85 concerts in 34 cities around the world unti

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Controversy erupts over war memorial agency's use of China's Korean War propaganda

A state-affiliated agency that manages South Korea's war memorial museum came under fire Tuesday after using a Chinese propaganda narrative of the 1950-53 Korean War as a war of resistance against U.S. aggression in a promotional poster. The Korea War Memorial Organization, which operates the War Memorial of Korea, recently posted the material on its website to accept applications for an educational program on the three-year war for elementary school students. The poster, titled "The Korean War: Different Interpretations," features two boys facing each other, with one viewing the conflict as the "June 25 War," the term commonly used in South Korea for the Korean War, and the other thinking of it as the "War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea," China's official narrative of the conflict. South Korea views the Korean War as having begun with North Korea's illegal invasion of the South, while China characterizes its involvement in the war as an effort to assist the North in fighting U.S.-led Allied forces that backed the South. The poster has been removed from the website. An official a

1 MIN READ
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Hana Financial, defense ministry join hands to boost welfare for service members

Hana Financial Group and the Ministry of National Defense launched a welfare program to support injured service members and their families, the financial group said Tuesday. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding at the defense ministry headquarters in Seoul the previous day to operate the "Hero with Hana" program. The initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on service members, particularly those affected by service-related injuries, disabilities or challenging living conditions. Under the program, Hana Financial plans to provide about 1 billion won ($657,000) annually in welfare support to around 300 military personnel and family members. About 200 service members who are caring for children or parents with disabilities will receive assistance for medical expenses, rehabilitation and psychological treatment, as well as the purchase of assistive devices such as wheelchairs. The program will also support 60 children of service members who were killed or injured in the line of duty, as well as those stationed in remote areas, by helping cover the cost of educational

2 MIN READ
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N. Korea, China vow new era of ties in Kim-Xi summit: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to expand cooperation in various fields, pledging to usher in a new era in bilateral relations, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday. Kim and Xi reached the agreement during their summit in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as the Chinese leader was making his first state visit to the North in seven years. The two leaders agreed to put the two nations' friendly relations "on a more solid basis" and expand cooperation in politics, the economy, culture and other fields, according to the report. Kim and Xi agreed to "further strengthen the strategic communication through high-level visits between the two parties and two countries ... in order to open a new chapter of the development of the DPRK-China relations," the KCNA said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. North Korea and China also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other's sovereignty, security and development interests. Kim said strengthening ties

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2026 local elections

Protest over ballot shortage continues for 5th day

Protest over ballot shortage continues for 5th day

Protesters continued to rally outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul for the fifth day Tuesday, demanding a re-run of last week's local elections over ballot shortages at some polling stations. As of 10 a.m., some 200 protesters surrounded SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, according to an unofficial police estimate. The number was sharply down from about 2,000 on Monday afternoon. Tens of thousands of people had amassed at the stadium over the weekend to protest the ballot shortages and block election officials from removing ballot boxes. The lack of ballot papers temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide on Wednesday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). While the protests over the weekend had largely focused on demanding a new election, protesters claiming electoral fraud could be spotted Tuesday, with signs that read, "Stop the steal." Under the election law, a petition must be made to the election watchdog to invalidate a local election and run a new election. If the election watchdog rejects the petition, a lawsuit can be filed in c

1 MIN READ

Editor's Pick

Election commission faces probe, major overhaul

Election commission faces probe, major overhaul

The National Election Commission (NEC) is under criminal investigation and intense pressure to make sweeping reforms after unprecedented ballot paper shortages in the local elections last week triggered public fury and allegations of a systematic electoral failure. President Lee Jae Myung met on Monday with the heads of the nation's four key state institutions — National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok — and agreed to push ahead with necessary reforms for the NEC. Following the meeting, Cho accepted the resignation of NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday questioned Kim Soon-hwan, head of the People’s Welfare Countermeasure Committee, a Seoul-based nongovernmental organization. Kim lodged a complaint against NEC officials over cases in which many voters were unable to cast ballots because of the shortages. Speaking to reporters, Kim likened the incident to the April 19 Revolution, the first democratic movement in Korea in 1960, cal

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul braces for hotter summer with expanded water safety, heat protection measures

Seoul braces for hotter summer with expanded water safety, heat protection measures

As forecasters warn of a hotter and wetter summer, Seoul is moving to fortify its drinking water system and shield vulnerable residents from the season's expected extremes. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it will implement a comprehensive summer response plan centered on Arisu, the city's tap water brand, with measures ranging from intensified water quality monitoring to emergency support for people at heightened risk from heat waves. Officials said higher temperatures and increased rainfall expected this summer could heighten concerns over changes in water quality and heat-related health risks. To address those concerns, the city said it will strengthen monitoring across the entire water treatment process, from raw water intake to reservoirs, with year-round surveillance and enhanced inspections aimed at preventing the appearance of microscopic organisms in tap water. The city said it will maintain residual chlorine levels in sedimentation basins and increase treatment measures, including more frequent backwashing of filtration systems and expanded ozone treatment, to blo

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Seoul Real Book Fair launches as alternative to Seoul Int'l Book Fair

As Seoul’s popular “text hip” culture fuels record demand for book fairs, a group of independent publishers is launching an alternative event to challenge Korea’s largest literary festival scheduled for later this month. Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) is slated for June 24 through 28 at Coex in southern Seoul, while Seoul Real Book Fair will take place at Nodeul Lounge on Nodeul Island in Seoul from June 25 to 28. The alternative fair was born from mounting frustration among small and midsized publishers who have been unable to secure booths at SIBF despite the event’s surging popularity. “In recent years, SIBF has effectively become the name of a company with a handful of major shareholders, instead of a public festival cultivated by Korean readers and publishers for the past 50 years,” the organizing committee wrote on Instagram, criticizing SIBF for what they described as “privatization." The committee argues that the marginalization of independent publishers began in 2024 with the establishment of Seoul International Book Fair Inc. The event also dropped conside

2 MIN READ
Seoul Real Book Fair launches as alternative to Seoul Int'l Book Fair

K-Culture

TXT's Yeonjun set for solo comeback in July after breakout debut success

TXT member Yeonjun is preparing to return as a solo artist, less than a year after launching his individual music career and earning strong commercial results in Korea and Japan. Xportsnews learned Tuesday that Yeonjun of K-pop boy group TXT is preparing a solo album targeting a July release. The upcoming project will mark his latest solo activity following his first solo mixtape, released in September 2024, which introduced him as a standalone artist separate from the five-member group. Yeonjun continued his momentum with his first solo album in November last year, drawing favorable reviews from fans and critics alike. His debut solo EP proved to be a commercial success, selling more than 600,000 copies during its first week of release. The album also topped Japan's Oricon chart, one of the country's most closely watched music rankings. The singer earned praise from global listeners during his previous solo promotions, with many fans highlighting his distinct artistic identity and stage presence. Expectations are now growing over what new musical direction and concept he will showcase wi

1 MIN READ
TXT's Yeonjun set for solo comeback in July after breakout debut success

Celebrities

Fans stunned as Girls' Generation member Sooyoung and Jung Kyung-ho end 14-year relationship

One of South Korea's longest-running celebrity couples has called it quits. Girls' Generation member and actress Sooyoung and actor Jung Kyung-ho have ended their relationship after more than a decade together, their agency confirmed Tuesday. "That is true. Sooyoung and Jung Kyung-ho recently broke up," an official from Sooyoung's agency, Saram Entertainment, told Xportsnews. The news comes after online speculation gained traction when fans noticed that the two stars no longer appeared to follow each other's social media accounts. As of Tuesday, neither Sooyoung nor Jung could be found on the other's following list, fueling breakup rumors across online communities and social media platforms. Many fans expressed surprise at the news, with some saying they were shocked because the couple had long been regarded as one of the entertainment industry's most stable and enduring relationships. Sooyoung, a member of the iconic K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, and Jung Kyung-ho, known for hit dramas including “Hospital Playlist” and “Crash Course in Romance,” began dating in September 20

1 MIN READ
Fans stunned as Girls' Generation member Sooyoung and Jung Kyung-ho end 14-year relationship

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Lee heads to Europe for G7 summit

  2. Fair trade watchdog slaps $327,000 fine on Coupang for misleading ads

  3. Korea to put counselors in every school in teen suicide prevention push

  4. FORUM Korea urged to navigate fractured global economy with AI transformation

  5. The right to be alone and the right to not to be abandoned

  6. Why are Korean engineering prodigies flocking to Chinese universities?

  7. Economy expands 1.8% in Q1, faster than earlier estimate: BOK

  8. ContributionThe AI company that chose to hire more people instead of adopting more AI

  9. Seoul braces for hotter summer with expanded water safety, heat protection measures

  10. Nvidia chief Huang wraps up visit to Korea focused on AI partnerships

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