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Presidential office says no decision reached on troop deployment to Hormuz; review ongoing

The presidential office said Friday no final decision has been reached on sending military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, saying a review is still under way. South Korea may be able to make military contributions to global efforts to ensure free navigation through the strait, to the extent that such contributions do not compromise its defense readiness, if it decides to do so, a presidential official said. The remarks follow media reports that the government is preparing to seek parliamentary approval for a plan to dispatch military forces to the strait, including a combat support ship. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently ratcheted up apparent pressure on Seoul to make military contributions to the critical waterway, repeatedly accusing the ally of turning down his request. "In order to make tangible contributions to the Strait of Hormuz, this should first be considered in light of our readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in accordance with local legal procedures," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We are thinking that we may be able to (make contributio

1 MIN READ
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Seoul traffic alert: Fireworks festival, marathon to close roads this weekend

Drivers and commuters heading into central Seoul this weekend should expect significant disruptions, with road closures and crowd control measures in place for the Seoul International Fireworks Festival on Saturday and a major marathon on Sunday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that traffic in Yeouido — from the southern end of Mapo Bridge to the 63 Building — will be fully controlled from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday in preparation for and during the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. Wonhyo Bridge will also be closed in both directions from 9 a.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday. Police will selectively allow access at six checkpoints in Yeouido. Subway trains will bypass Yeouinaru Station without stopping between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday to manage crowd flow. Safety personnel will be deployed from Friday evening across surrounding roads, subway stations and major entrance routes to Hangang Park ahead of a pre-festival event. On Sunday, the YTN Seoul Tour Marathon will take place in the central Seoul area from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The marathon course starts f

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WEEKENDER Korean shamanism spreads far beyond its homeland

As Korea has taken its place among the world leaders in technology, many facets of its traditional culture also have found their way to a global audience. Through a series of appearances in media and popular streaming content, Korean shamanism has achieved a a new level of global awareness in recent years. For some, the idea of Korean shamanism being a global entity began 20 years ago with the arrival of Andrea Kalff, a woman from Prien am Chiemsee, Germany, who became the very first European to become a Korean shaman. Kalff was raised in a Catholic family in Bavaria, with little knowledge or interest in any kind of shamanism, let alone the Korean version. “Since childhood, I had experienced unusual dreams, intuitive perceptions, illnesses that physicians could not explain and psychological crises that correspond to what Korean tradition understands as 'sinbyeong',” she explained, referencing the "spirit sickness" that is thought to affect people marked to become shamans. Initiation into world of Korean shamanism At the age of 32, while in declining health, she was invited by a frien

7 MIN READ
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Lee to visit France next week for summit with Macron

President Lee Jae Myung will visit France next week to attend a summit-level event on cinema and hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, a presidential official said Friday. The trip, scheduled for Sunday to Wednesday, comes at the invitation of Macron following the French leader's visit to Korea in April, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. It also comes as the two countries mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Lee will first travel to Saint-Paul-de-Vence to attend the Lumiere Summit on the future of cinema before making a two-day state visit to Paris from Tuesday, during which he will hold summit talks with Macron, Wi said. Lee will serve as co-chair of the Lumiere Summit with Macron on Monday, while on Tuesday, Lee and Macron will have a one-on-one luncheon, followed by a summit and a dinner banquet hosted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at the Elysee Palace. In Paris, Lee will also attend a business roundtable involving 20 companies from both countries and have meetings with Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of

2 MIN READ
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Multipronged search continues for 9 Koreans missing in Nepal floods

Despite bad weather and rugged terrain, Korea continued a multipronged search Friday for nine nationals and others still missing after last week's devastating floods in Nepal, the foreign ministry said. The nine Koreans, along with local employees, were working at the Upper Trishuli-1 (UT-1) hydropower plant construction site in Nepal's Rasuwa District when massive floods and landslides struck the area near the Nepal-Tibet border on Aug. 26. The Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) plans to resume helicopter and ground searches early Friday, according to the ministry. "Yesterday, the KDRT and corporate response teams conducted ground searches near Ramche and used drones and other advanced equipment for aerial searches, but found no meaningful signs," a ministry official said. KDRT chief Lee Kyoo-ho met with the commander of the Nepalese military unit in charge of the area to discuss the search operation. "While the two sides agreed to first use helicopters to assess the situation and determine search priorities, one of the two helicopters mobilized returned early due to worsening weather con

2 MIN READ
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Chip tariff talks with US based on understanding Korea won't be disadvantaged: Seoul official

Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Thursday that Seoul and Washington are continuing talks on U.S. semiconductor tariffs under the understanding that Korea would not be put at a disadvantage compared with its competitors. Kim made the remarks during a meeting with reporters at an event marking four U.S. companies' plans to invest in Korea, a day after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that President Donald Trump's administration is working to develop a "targeted" and "thoughtful" tariff policy for semiconductors. "During tariff negotiations in October, the U.S. already said that it would not treat Korean semiconductors less favorably than those of its competitors," he said. "I believe the two countries are continuing discussions in this spirit." The minister also pointed out the semiconductor-related portion of a joint fact sheet that Seoul and Washington published in November to outline bilateral agreements on trade, investment and security. The fact sheet included a U.S. pledge to offer semiconductor tariff rates for Korea that are "no less favorable" than terms tha

2 MIN READ
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Gov't seeks infrastructure to tokenize traditional securities beyond fractional investments

The government plans to build infrastructure to tokenize traditional securities such as stocks, bonds and funds, expanding security token offerings (STOs) beyond fractional investment products, as the system is set to launch next February. The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service unveiled the policy direction, Friday. Tokenized securities are digital representations of securities issued and traded through blockchain-based distributed ledger technology. The term is frequently confused with fractional investing, but it actually describes the method used to issue a security, rather than a distinct category of investment. The technology can thus be applied far beyond fractional investment products, allowing conventional securities such as stocks, bonds and funds to be issued and traded in tokenized form using distributed ledger systems. The country's tokenization plan will be rolled out in three phases, with the first phase covering privately placed money market funds and corporate bonds for institutional investors, unlisted stocks and publicly offered fraction

1 MIN READ
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K-ART FOCUS For Koo Jeong-a, missing is part of seeing

Koo Jeong-a makes art from what people usually fail to notice: the lingering trace of scent, a glow that emerges only after darkness falls and a crystal that flashes only when a viewer happens to stand in the right place. Her new solo exhibition at Leeum Museum of Art, “KOO JEONG A: OUSSSMOS,” turns that preoccupation into a museum-wide experience. On a rainy afternoon, the first challenge was simply to locate 50 crystals hidden in the dark gabion wall outside the gallery — a task that seemed designed to test whether looking is the same as seeing. In the work, titled “A Reality Upgrade & End Alone,” (2003/2026) the crystals refused to announce themselves. Only after shifting position and looking again did a small flash of light appear. That fleeting discovery — or the possibility of never finding it at all — is integral to her work. “Seeing is understanding,” Koo said at a press event Monday for her new exhibition. “I think seeing is knowing.” Yet the artist added that she cannot compel viewers to understand her works; she only hopes they will find their own way tow

4 MIN READ
[K-ART FOCUS] For Koo Jeong-a, missing is part of seeing thumbnail

Shinsegae chairman joins US AI supply chain push in Washington

Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, joined U.S. political and technology leaders Thursday in Washington for the launch of Foundry School, a workforce initiative aimed at strengthening advanced manufacturing and technology supply chains. Chung attended the event at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace at the invitation of Vice President JD Vance and the U.S. Department of State. Foundry School is a U.S.-led program developed with Stanford University to train entrepreneurs, engineers and advanced manufacturing leaders for strategic industries. The initiative is part of Pax Silica, a U.S.-led economic security partnership focused on strengthening supply chains supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and other strategic technologies. Jacob Helberg, U.S. under secretary of state for economic affairs, said Shinsegae’s partnership with Reflection AI represented an important milestone in Korea-U.S. cooperation in advanced industries. Helberg said Chung was a strong partner in efforts to build trusted AI supply chains among allies. Chung’s participation came as Shinsegae Group works

2 MIN READ
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Simmons experiments with art of sleeping through bed-less pop-up event

Simmons Korea, a company that manufactures mattresses and bedding products under license from the global Simmons brand, took an experimental marketing approach. By staging a pop-up event featuring dance, culinary experiences and other forms of art, the company sought to explore the blurring boundary between sleep and dreams without a single display of its own products. Simmons on Wednesday unveiled an immersive art performance titled “The Breath Before Inspiration” at Simmons Gallery Seongsu in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, exploring themes of sleep, dreams and inspiration. The performance was designed as an immersive experience in a space with no separation between the stage and audience. Dancers waved through the audience as they performed, viewers, pulling spectators along with them and drawing them into the performance itself. The performance translated four values that Simmons’ Beautyrest Black line products promote — tranquility, flexibility, resilience and structure — into distinct movements. Rapper and record producer Gray served as music director for the project, while spati

2 MIN READ
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CJ ENM brings K-drama, K-pop channels to Amazon

American television viewers are getting two new front-row seats to Korean entertainment, and accessing them will not require a subscription. CJ ENM, the entertainment powerhouse behind global smashes like "Parasite," said Friday that it is launching two free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels on Amazon Prime Video in the United States. Operating around the clock, the brand channels — “CJ ENM K-Stories” and “CJ ENM K-Pop” — aim to expand the reach of Korean drama, film and music directly into American living rooms. The venture signals a strategic push by CJ ENM to monetize its extensive content library while leaning into the rapidly expanding FAST market, which offers linear, cable-style channels over the internet without monthly fees. As traditional paid streaming services face consumer fatigue over rising subscription costs, free ad-supported platforms have quietly emerged as a dominant force in American media consumption. The flagship channel, “CJ ENM K-Stories,” will showcase hit television series and movies. Its inaugural lineup includes acclaimed tele

2 MIN READ
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Presidential policy chief's exit fuels hopes for softer crypto regulation

Korea’s cryptocurrency industry is weighing the prospect of regulatory relief following the sudden resignation of presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, who had aggressively pushed to curb major shareholder dominance in local crypto exchanges, industry officials said Thursday. Kim submitted his resignation Monday amid continued criticism that single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) introduced in May under his leadership have been contributing to heightened stock market volatility. President Lee Jae Myung accepted his resignation Tuesday, with no successor named yet. Kim, a former senior financial bureaucrat who previously headed the crypto think tank Hashed Open Research, was initially expected to foster pro-industry regulations upon taking office in June 2025. Instead, his tenure saw a push to cap major exchange shareholders’ equity at 20 percent, which would force founders to sell their excess stakes. The industry, which believed Kim played a significant role in shaping the regulation, has mounted fierce opposition to the proposed equity cap, arguing tha

2 MIN READ
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Expert says Trump may not have problem acknowledging NK nuke possession

WASHINGTON — A prominent expert said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump may not have a problem with acknowledging North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons as he thinks it is "not his fault," while noting that Pyongyang might wait for the November midterm election outcome before a potential summit with Trump. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made the remarks during a podcast, as Trump is seeking to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year amid questions over whether he would adhere to the long-elusive goal of the North's denuclearization. "When it comes to Trump and North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, I actually don't think President Trump has a problem with acknowledging North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, or that they are, in fact, a nuclear weapons power," he said during the CSIS podcast. "I don't think he has a problem with that because ... in his mind, that is not his fault. That is the failure of 35 years of U.S. policy, everybody before him, and

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Dating in Korea: Young adults vet partners for values

Political and social divisions between young men and women have become increasingly visible in Korea, raising questions about whether the divide is spilling over into their romantic relationships. But for young Koreans themselves, differences in political views do not necessarily make romance impossible. Instead, they say they are finding their own balance between love and personal values — while some see checking a potential partner's views as an essential step before entering a relationship. The following is the first installment of "Tiki-Taka," a Hankook Ilbo roundtable series that presents the perspectives and ideas of young people whose outlook differs from and may never become the same as that of older generations. Screening before dating Participant 2: “I have a friend who checks what online communities someone uses and who they follow on social media before dating them. She doesn't automatically rule someone out just because they support a particular politician, but she feels that following that politician on social media means they're an active supporter, so it makes her thi

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K-food shifts focus to US hypermarkets, Chinese 'punk wellness' trend

The government has reset its strategy in order to accomplish this year’s K-food exports goal of $16 billion, setting specific goals for different export markets. With exports having reached $8.25 billion as of the end of July, and instant noodles alone accounting for $1 billion of the total, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on Thursday that the second half of the year is “the last opportunity to determine whether the goal is accomplished or not.” Planned measures range from expanding exports and catering to the needs of overseas markets to providing financial support for Korean exporters and responding swiftly to non-tariff barriers in export markets. Plans were finalized at the third meeting of a private-public Korean food export committee meeting in Seoul, which was joined by officials from eight ministries, representatives of major companies including CJ, Samyang Foods, Daesang and Nongshim, and officials from agencies related to agriculture, fresh produce exports and tourism promotion. The updated export measures have been recalibrated to be region-spec

3 MIN READ
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COVER STORY 'Taiwan Pavilion' issue could become another THAAD row: Chinese official

Controversy over the name of a Taiwanese exhibition venue at Gwangju Biennale has fueled concerns of a potential diplomatic conflict between Korea and China. Chinese officials say that the biennale organizers’ permission for the participating Taiwanese artists to use the name of “Taiwan Pavilion” is against the “One China” principle, and that the decision crossed a “red line.” They warned that its impact on the bilateral relationship between Korea and China could be as serious as the diplomatic row over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system deployment in 2017. China protested on Thursday through a press release criticizing the Gwangju Biennale Foundation’s decision to permit Taiwanese artists to use the name “Taiwan Pavilion” at the international art event instead of the institutional name, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA). The release followed Chinese artists' official announcement of their withdrawal from the exhibition. In the release, the embassy said the incident “directly damages the political base of Ch

3 MIN READ
[COVER STORY] 'Taiwan Pavilion' issue could become another THAAD row: Chinese official thumbnail

Chinese man sent to prosecution over alleged murder of student

A Chinese man was referred to the prosecution on Friday for allegedly killing one of his students and dismembering her body in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan last month, police said. Zheng Changsheng, a 31-year-old university lecturer, is accused of killing the 25-year-old female graduate student, also from China, at his home in the city some 290 kilometers southeast of Seoul on Aug. 20, mutilating her body and abandoning the body parts in mountains and other places in five cities, including nearby Gyeongju and Gunpo, just south of Seoul. He is also accused of obstructing the police's investigation by falsely reporting her missing after the alleged murder and taking her cell phone to a train station while dressed as a woman. According to the Gyeongbuk Gyeongsan Police Station, Zheng feared losing his job when the victim threatened during an argument to disclose their romantic relationship to the university. Police also said they conducted a psychopathy test on the suspect but his score was below the 25 out of 40 points required to classify him as a psychopath. The search for the victi

1 MIN READ
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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] 'Dress Like a Museum' contest triggers cosplay sensation

COVER STORY 'Dress Like a Museum' contest triggers cosplay sensation

For one day, Korea’s most revered artifacts are no longer kept behind museum glass. Instead, they stride down runways, pose for selfies and perform choreography in front of crowds at museums across the country, as golden Buddhist sculptures, smiling Silla-era roof tiles, Bronze Age bells and even a life-size map of the Korean Peninsula come to life for the National Museum of Korea’s cosplay contest. The relatively new tradition has become like a Korean version of Halloween, when for one day in September, participants become the cultural treasures they love most. This year's “Dress Like a Museum” has drawn 275 teams and 643 participants — more than triple last year’s 83 entries — turning what began as a museum participation program two years ago into a fast-growing heritage fandom event. Contestants are not only asked to imitate heritage but also to bring it to life through their own storytelling. Echoing the contest’s poster slogan — “It is time to awaken the artifact sleeping inside you” — the event invites participants to discover a personal connection with heri

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul tightens safety measures ahead of annual fireworks festival

Seoul tightens safety measures ahead of annual fireworks festival

Anticipating a crowd of more than 1 million people along the Han River, Seoul officials led by Mayor Oh Se-hoon carried out on-site safety checks Thursday to prevent overcrowding at the annual Seoul International Fireworks Festival. Oh conducted an on-site inspection at Yeouido Hangang Park, focusing on crowd management, emergency response plans and facility safety at one of the festival’s main viewing areas. This year’s festival will be held Friday and Saturday, with a pre-event Friday and the main program Saturday. The festival, now in its 22nd year, is expanding to two days for the first time, with visitors expected to include large numbers of international tourists. During his inspection, Oh reviewed plans for identifying different crowd-control zones, dispersing visitors after the event and managing traffic around the venue. He also examined spectator seating, entry and exit routes, safety fences, restrooms and trash bins at the festival site. Oh said the two-day format is expected to draw more visitors than usual, making comprehensive safety preparations essential. He said Seoul w

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Whole-wheat bread but blood sugar still spikes? Beware of this ingredient

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. More consumers are choosing whole-wheat bread over white bread in an effort to make healthier choices. But many products sold as whole-wheat bread are not what they appear to be. To identify genuine whole-wheat bread, consumers should check whether whole-wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient. Some whole-wheat bread products on the market are made primarily with refined wheat flour, with a small amount of whole wheat added and caramel coloring or other colorants used to give the bread a darker appearance. Although they may look healthier, nutritionally they can be little different from conventional bread and remain primarily carbohydrate-based foods. “Fake” whole-wheat bread often has a dark brown color, a soft and moist texture, and a sweet taste. In many cases, these characteristics come from the addition of coloring to regular wheat flour. By contrast, genuine whole-wheat bread made with 100 percent whole-wheat flour tends to be a lighter shade of brown than consumers might expect. It is typically coarser and firmer in texture,

2 MIN READ
Whole-wheat bread but blood sugar still spikes? Beware of this ingredient

K-Culture

IU to release new digital single next week

Singer-songwriter IU will release a new digital single next Thursday, her agency said, marking her first new music in a year after health issues forced concert cancellations and delayed her sixth studio album. EDAM Entertainment announced the return in a statement Friday, alongside a teaser video uploaded to the artist's social media channels. The agency did not provide further details about the single, including its title. IU's most recent release was the digital single "Bye, Summer" in September 2025. The 33-year-old artist, one of Korea's best-selling solo acts, had planned to hold standalone concerts in Goyang near Seoul earlier this month. The shows were canceled after she suffered a flare-up of patulous Eustachian tube, a condition in which the tube inside the eardrum remains abnormally open. She also postponed the release of her sixth studio album due to the same health issue and has not announced a new date.

1 MIN READ
IU to release new digital single next week

Celebrities

Korean celebs 'blessed with successful wives' — who's No. 1?

Comedian Kim Sook jokingly named Dr. Hong Hye-gul, film director Jang Hang-jun, singer Lee Sang-soon and former KBS announcer-turned-TV personality Do Kyung-wan as husbands blessed with successful wives, drawing laughs from the cast and viewers. On the Sept. 1 episode of KBS 2TV’s entertainment show “Problem Child in House,” physician and broadcaster Yeo Esther revealed that she is a self-described “homebody” who rarely goes out, even on weekends. Hong, who has been married to Yeo for 33 years, joked about the financial benefits of his wife’s lifestyle. “Because she stays home, she doesn’t spend much money. The money just keeps piling up at home, and I’m the only one who spends it,” he said with a laugh. Kim Sook then said Hong is widely regarded as one of the “four kings of husbands blessed with wifely luck.” “Hong Hye-gul is famous as one of the four kings of husbands who hit the jackpot with their wives. The others are Jang Hang-jun, Lee Sang-soon and Do Kyung-wan,” she said. Jang is married to screenwriter Kim Eun-hee, while Lee Sang-soon is the husband of s

2 MIN READ
Korean celebs 'blessed with successful wives' — who's No. 1?

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Top 10 Stories

  1. Court rejects LG chief's adoptive mother's petition to end adoption

  2. Dating in Korea: Young adults vet partners for values

  3. WEEKENDER Korean shamanism spreads far beyond its homeland

  4. Cheong Wa Dae denies report of possible troop deployment to Hormuz

  5. Chip tariff talks with US based on understanding Korea won't be disadvantaged: Seoul official

  6. Korea's birthrate could have been 28% higher without private education competition

  7. Should middle and high schools start after 8:30 a.m.?

  8. COVER STORY 'Taiwan Pavilion' issue could become another THAAD row: Chinese official

  9. Expert says Trump may not have problem acknowledging NK nuke possession

  10. Gov't seeks infrastructure to tokenize traditional securities beyond fractional investments

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