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Kim Min-seok wins DPK leadership race over Jung Chung-rae

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok won the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) leadership race Monday, edging out former party leader Jung Chung-rae to become the party's next chairman for a two-year term. Kim, 63, secured 55.94 percent of the vote, or 430,242 votes, at the party's national convention in the Daejeon Convention Center, against Jung's 44.06 percent at 338,809 votes. Neither candidate cleared a majority in the initial count, so the party applied its new preferential voting rules, redistributing second-choice votes from supporters of Song Young-gil, the lowest-placed candidate. With those votes factored in, Kim's cumulative vote share reached 54.08 percent, while Jung finished at 45.92 percent. The winner was determined by weighting votes from DPK delegates and dues-paying members at 70 percent and a public opinion poll at 30 percent. This year's race also introduced another change from the last leadership election: delegate votes, once weighted roughly 17 times higher than those of individual dues-paying members, were counted on equal footing with rank-and-file ballot

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Trump seeks to scale down joint drills in bid to lure Kim back to talks, experts say

U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea could be an attempt to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un back to the negotiating table, experts said Monday. Trump said Sunday that the exercises were costly and sent an "inappropriate and hostile signal" to North Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with Kim and claiming Pyongyang "has been unthreatening and respectful" during his time in office. Noting that it was too late to cancel Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) outright since it was already scheduled to begin Monday, he said he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" the annual exercise. The remarks came a day after Trump posted a photo of his 2019 meeting with Kim at Panmunjeom in the Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone, writing that the two leaders "get along GREAT." Cheong Wa Dae responded by saying South Korea and the U.S. "have closely coordinated on maintaining a solid combined defense posture and on joint exercises and training." "We hope that the friendly relationship between the U

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Landslide kills 1 in Geoje as torrential rain batters southern Korea

Torrential rain battered Korea's southern regions during the three-day National Liberation Day long weekend, triggering landslides, flooding and widespread damage. Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province was among the hardest-hit areas, recording 909.8 millimeters of rain from Saturday through 4:30 p.m. Monday. The region had until recently been grappling with a prolonged and severe drought. The torrential rain left one person dead and four others injured, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Monday. At around 4:42 a.m., a landslide struck the first floor of an apartment building in the city, killing one resident. Two others were rescued and are being treated for injuries. Rescue operations were also underway as of Monday afternoon for more than 20 residents stranded by flooding in parts of Geoje, including Hoejin Village, and about 100 residents of Yesol Village were being evacuated due to concern over possible landslides. According to the National Fire Agency, 154 Geoje residents had been rescued or were being evacuated as of 4:30 a.m. More than 20 emergency calls requ

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How SK chief can raise cash for property settlement

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has secured critical breathing room in his decade-long divorce saga after filing a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court against a 944 billion-won ($668 million) divorce settlement. But the move leaves him with a fresh question: how to raise the cash. Chey's side filed the appeal Friday, shortly before the midnight deadline, extending the legal battle that began in 2017 into what could become a decade-long dispute. The appeal also shields Chey from late-payment interest of about 130 million won a day, which would otherwise add another significant financial burden. In July, the Seoul High Court ordered Chey to pay 944 billion won to his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in cash, as part of their property division. Chey's most immediate option is a stock-backed loan. Chey owns a 17.9 percent stake in SK Inc., the group's holding company, making him its largest shareholder. At a recent share price of 585,000 won, the stake is valued at roughly 7.6 trillion won, providing substantial collateral for financing. The problem is that borrowing against the shares could exp

2 MIN READ
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SBS faces backlash for airing Ha Young's new drama

Korean broadcast network SBS is facing mounting public backlash over its upcoming legal drama "The Long Shot Trial," which stars actor Ha Young amid intense scrutiny over her family's historic ties to the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The series is scheduled to premiere on Feb. 26, 2027, just three days before Korea marks a major national holiday commemorating the 1919 Korean independence demonstrations against Japanese occupation on March 1. Criticism has intensified due to the sensitive timing, as well as the fact that the show is an adaptation of the Japanese television series "Legal V: Ex-lawyer Shoko Takanashi." Commenters have expressed anger over Ha's casting as a righteous lawyer ahead of the patriotic holiday, with online posts widely condemning the family's history and questioning the propriety of her role. "It's so ironic — a family with pro-Japanese royalty roots flexing after stealing Kim Ik-nam’s legacy, whose grandfather worked as a doctor during the human experiments at Sorokdo, and now their kid is playing a righteous lawyer three days before Independence Movement

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1 in 5 normal-weight Korean women see themselves as obese

Nearly two in 10 normal-weight Korean women perceive themselves as obese, according to a recent survey. The findings are raising concerns over the use of increasingly popular injectable weight-loss drugs among people who are not obese. According to a survey by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO), Monday, 18.9 percent of normal-weight women aged 20 or older perceived themselves as obese. The findings were based on data from adults who participated in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2022 and 2024. The figure was more than four times higher than among normal-weight men, only 4.1 percent of whom perceived themselves as obese. Under the KSSO’s obesity treatment guidelines, body mass index (BMI) — calculated by dividing weight by height squared — is classified into five categories: A BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 is considered normal weight, 23 to 24.9 pre-obesity, 25 to 29.9 stage 1 obesity, 30 to 34.9 stage 2 obesity and 25 or higher is categorized as stage 3 obesity. Among women classified as pre-obe

2 MIN READ
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Trade minister's ouster raises concerns over Korea's response to US pressure

The abrupt dismissal of Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo has raised concerns over Korea's ability to navigate sensitive negotiations with the United States, as the two countries work to finalize a major investment package in exchange for a tariff reduction. President Lee Jae Myung dismissed Yeo, who had led trade negotiations with Washington, effective midnight on Saturday, without giving a reason or naming a successor. The move came as Seoul and Washington work to finalize a large-scale investment package, with the Donald Trump administration expected to announce later this month the results of a Section 301 investigation into Korea for alleged excess industrial capacity and forced labor. In July, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a 12.5 percent tariff on Korea and other economies over forced labor allegations under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act. Separately, the USTR is investigating 16 economies, including Korea, under the same law over alleged excess industrial capacity and production. The sudden leadership vacuum resulting from Yeo's dismissal has raised questions over the

3 MIN READ
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Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box office

As local movie fans become more careful with their spending at theaters, high-end cinema experiences led by the IMAX giant screen are emerging as the main catalyst behind Korea’s summer box office rebound. The domestic box office is seeing a strong comeback as major summer blockbusters bring crowds back to theaters. Driven by the hot weather and peak holiday season, people are heading to air-conditioned cinemas for big-screen visual spectacles they cannot get at home on streaming platforms. According to recent data by CJ CGV, the nation's largest cinema chain, nationwide theater attendance reached roughly 9.55 million from July 29 to Aug. 9. This marks the highest summer attendance since 2019, and showed a 45.6 percent jump from the same period last year. The multiplex chain added visitor numbers at CGV theaters alone rose 58.1 percent. Instead of going to regular screens, moviegoers are choosing high-tech theaters that offer an experience worth the ticket price. Data from the Korean Film Council showed that Hollywood blockbusters "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" captured

2 MIN READ
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CJ targets $8.5 bil. North America revenue by 2028 on K-lifestyle boom

CJ Group plans to grow its North American revenue to 12 trillion won ($8.48 billion) by 2028, as it links its food, entertainment and beauty businesses to capitalize on the growing demand for Korean culture and products. The conglomerate unveiled its vision at a strategy event in Los Angeles on Friday (local time), as Chairman Lee Jay-hyun returned to the United States just three months after touring the group’s U.S. operations to accelerate its K-culture expansion strategy. During his latest visit, Lee toured KCON LA and Olive Young Festa in the city, visiting booths showcasing Korean small and medium-sized businesses seeking to expand overseas and sampling Bibigo's kimchi noodle product that was recently launched in the U.S. "Just as CJ's cultural business began 30 years ago with the belief that culture is the future, let us now become a global K-lifestyle leader that fills the daily lives of people around the world through content, food and beauty," Lee said during the visit. The group generated more than 8 trillion won in North American revenue last year, up more than tenfold from

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Budget, education ministries clash over education grant reform

A government plan to reform the country's local education grant system is facing delays as the budget and education ministries remain divided over the details of a funding formula that has been largely unchanged for more than five decades, despite agreeing on the broad framework for reform. The issue gained momentum as the Ministry of Planning and Budget pushed aggressively for reform amid expectations of a substantial increase in tax revenue on the back of the semiconductor boom. Education grants have continued to rise automatically with tax revenue even as the school-age population declines, fueling concerns that the system could lead to excessive or inefficient spending on education. The two ministries are also at odds over how to use the new "future response fund," which will be financed with excess tax revenue generated by semiconductor exports and could be unveiled by the budget ministry as early as this week. The two ministries have reached broad agreement on scrapping the current system, which automatically allocates 20.79 percent of annual domestic tax revenue to local educatio

3 MIN READ
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How will government fine-tune controversial tax reform measures?

Korea is reviewing potential adjustments to the tax reform package unveiled on Aug. 3 following mounting public controversy and feedback, particularly regarding individual savings accounts (ISAs) that have drawn strong criticism from investors, according to government insiders Monday. For real estate taxes, however, the government is likely to stick to the core elements of its proposal, including the deduction structure and tax rates. Further adjustments, including the cap on comprehensive real estate tax increases, are expected to be addressed through parliamentary deliberations. The government plans to gather public input through Thursday before holding discussions at a Cabinet meeting, aiming to submit a final bill to the National Assembly early next month. The focus of the revisions centers on ISAs, which offer tax exemptions on interest and dividend income and serve as a popular investment vehicle for retail investors looking to build long-term wealth. Under the initial proposal, the government introduced a new “productive finance ISA” scheme while scrapping the annual contribut

3 MIN READ
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Nvidia executive to visit LG Electronics robotics hub on Tuesday

Madison Huang, a senior director at Nvidia and the daughter of CEO Jensen Huang, is scheduled to visit LG Electronics's robotics hub in Korea later this week, industry sources said Monday. During the visit scheduled for Tuesday, Huang plans to hold closed-door talks with senior LG Electronics officials on partnerships as the two companies deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and robotics. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on robotics, with the talks set to take place at LG Electronics' data factory under construction in southern Seoul. The Korean tech giant is developing the facility as a key infrastructure platform to advance the capabilities of humanoid robots. Last week, LG Electronics announced plans to unveil a next-generation humanoid robot capable of bipedal walking in the first quarter of 2027, based on Nvidia's robotics platform. The Korean tech company said it had signed a memorandum of understanding at Nvidia's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, with LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Jensen Huang in attendance.

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Why are some baseball fans fuming at PSY's 'Summer Swag' concert?

A professional baseball game between the NC Dinos and the Lotte Giants was temporarily suspended on Saturday after thick smoke from fireworks at PSY’s “Summer Swag” concert drifted into nearby Sajik Stadium. The 2026 home game between the NC Dinos and Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Dongnae District, Busan, was briefly halted after dense smoke spread across the field. The smoke came from fireworks launched during PSY’s “Summer Swag” concert at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, located nearby. As the smoke was carried by the wind and quickly spread to the baseball field, umpires decided to temporarily stop the game. The Lotte Giants subsequently displayed a message on the stadium’s electronic scoreboard informing spectators that “the game has been temporarily suspended due to smoke from fireworks at a concert held in the area near the baseball stadium.” The game resumed about 20 minutes later. However, baseball fans have expressed frustration because a similar incident occurred in August last year, when a Lotte game at the same was interrupted by smoke from fireworks during

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31 Chinese nationals caught after illegally entering Korea via Taean coast

More than 30 Chinese nationals have been caught after illegally entering Korea via the west coast in Taean over the past eight years, the Coast Guard said Monday. From September 2019 through May this year, 31 Chinese nationals were apprehended in waters off Taean County or its beaches, more than 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul, Coast Guard officials said. In September 2019, three Chinese nationals were caught after arriving near a beach in Taean aboard a rubber boat, while another eight were apprehended last year after arriving in the county aboard a 4.3-meter-long boat. In the latest incident, on May 25 this year, Dong Guangping, a Chinese dissident, was caught after illegally entering the country via waters off Taean, marking the seventh illegal entry attempt by Chinese nationals along the coast since late 2019. Dong, who had been jailed several times in China, was later allowed to leave Korea. The New York Times reported that he arrived in Canada in June. Coast Guard officials said that 25 of the 31 had previously worked in Korea. Most had been deported for illegal stays and attempte

1 MIN READ
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'OK, Let's Get Divorced': Lee Min-jung, Kim Ji-seok to portray realistic divorce battle

A new KBS drama, “OK, Let’s Get Divorced,” will center on a married couple’s divorce battle, weaving together love, jealousy, loyalty and pride among an increasingly complicated cast of characters. KBS Drama and GTV’s “OK, Let’s Get Divorced” premieres Wednesday. The drama follows a married couple who have grown exhausted with their relationship and decide to bring their marriage to an end, offering a realistic portrayal of the divorce process. The series will also be available on TVING and Wavve following its initial broadcast. Lee Min-jung plays Baek Mi-young, while Kim Ji-seok plays Ji Won-ho. The couple jointly runs a wedding dress shop called Gian White and decide to end their marriage. Their relationship, however, becomes increasingly complicated when characters who harbor feelings for each of them enter the picture. Calvin (Lee Hyun-jin) is Mi-young’s former boyfriend who has returned as the CEO of a hotel. After meeting Mi-young again through business, Calvin boldly approaches her as she struggles with her troubled marriage. His unexpected advances leave Mi-you

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What to watch out for when eating Koreans' beloved summer soup dishes

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Friday marked the final of the traditional three hottest days of summer, known as "sambok." As the heat of summer wears you down and your appetite and energy levels decline, a bowl of nourishing food is a welcome way to replenish your strength. While "samgyetang" (chicken soup with ginseng) and grilled eel are favorites during the summer, those looking for something different might want to try octopus or duck. "Yeonpotang" is a clear soup made with octopus, Korean radish, napa cabbage and water parsley. The chewy octopus and fragrant water parsley add flavor, while the light broth can help revive an appetite dulled by the summer heat. "Baeksuk," meanwhile, is made by slowly simmering duck or other fowl with medicinal herbs, resulting in a rich broth and tender meat. A hearty serving can leave you feeling full and satisfied. Here is a look at the nutritional profiles of the two summer dishes, as well as what to watch out for when managing blood sugar. Yeonpotang: Watch sodium levels Octopus, the main ingredient in yeonpotang, is rich in protein

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Editor's Pick

NK aims to deepen ties with China, Russia by criticizing nuclear projects of S. Korea, Japan: experts

NK aims to deepen ties with China, Russia by criticizing nuclear projects of S. Korea, Japan: experts

North Korea’s recent criticisms against South Korea’s nuclear submarine plans and Japan’s consideration of non-nuclear policy revisions, coupled with its latest missile tests, are likely aimed at boosting ties with China and Russia and bolstering its nuclear narrative, experts said. They believe Pyongyang's recent actions were timed with the expected visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Seoul, as early as next week. In a commentary released by Pyongyang's state-run news outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday, Jang Kum-chol, first vice minister of North Korea's foreign ministry, criticized Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine development plan with the United States, saying, "South Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines will inevitably trigger a nuclear domino effect across the Asia-Pacific region." The criticism came three months after Seoul unveiled in May the Jang Bogo N Program, an initiative to develop around three 8,000-ton nuclear-powered submarines. A piece published by the KCNA on Wednesday attributed to international affairs commentator R

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Life in Korea

[RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] Geuni Sikdang offers a taste of North Korea in Cheonan

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Geuni Sikdang offers a taste of North Korea in Cheonan

CHEONAN, South Chungcheong Province — In Cheonan, behind what can only be considered the most unassuming storefront in the country, lies a local favorite. This is Geuni Sikdang and it specializes in North Korean cuisine. Most will be familiar with Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold noodles), but this restaurant offers something a bit rarer: "eobok jaengban" (boiled meat platter). Eobok jaengban started in Pyongyang Market and was often shared when doing business deals to impress potential clients. It consists of beef brisket, beef broth, leafy vegetables and dumplings. When ours arrived, the beef cuts were splayed out beautifully around the outer edge of the pan and the fire underneath was immediately lit, both in the stovetop and in our appetites. We dug into the dumplings first and they were extremely subtle. A very mild kimchi was mixed in with tofu and bean sprouts. There was a surprising, yet welcome, parmesan flavor to the whole affair. The restaurant makes the broth every day and uses hanwoo 1++ Korean beef for this dish. Brisket and other “off-cuts” can be tough to use properly a

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Lifestyle

'Busy vacations' can leave your body exhausted

A car cannot remain in good condition if it races at full speed without a break, suddenly shuts off and then accelerates again without warming up. The human body is much the same. If people spend the entire workweek under pressure, finally relax on the first day of vacation and then plunge straight back into their routine upon returning to work, their bodies can easily suffer. A 46-year-old civil servant surnamed Park experienced just that. Before his summer vacation, he cut back on sleep for several nights to finish a backlog of work. But when he finally arrived at his vacation destination, he developed a headache and flu-like aches. He ended up spending his entire first day at his accommodations. Although several days of rest might have been expected to help, he said that after returning to work his body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge and he struggled to concentrate. He had become sick during a vacation meant for rest and returned feeling even more fatigued rather than recharged. The phenomenon cannot simply be dismissed as psychological. Researchers at Tilburg University in the N

2 MIN READ
'Busy vacations' can leave your body exhausted

K-Culture

Stray Kids lands atop Billboard 200 with 'This & That,' group's 9th No. 1

K-pop band Stray Kids has landed atop the Billboard 200 with its new EP "This & That," the group's ninth No. 1 on the main chart, Billboard said. Billboard said in a chart preview published Sunday (U.S. time) that Stray Kids now has the second-most No. 1 albums among groups in Billboard 200 history, behind only the Beatles and tied with the Rolling Stones. Stray Kids was already the only K-pop group to have topped the chart eight times, and the latest feat extended the group's own record. "This & That," the group's 10th EP, consists of eight tracks led by the hip-hop-based, groovy title track of the same name, which the band said emphasizes a "chill" and "cool" mood. All eight tracks were produced by its in-house team 3Racha, made up of members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han.

1 MIN READ
Stray Kids lands atop Billboard 200 with 'This & That,' group's 9th No. 1

Celebrities

How much is EXID's Hyelin making as taco shop owner in central Seoul?

Hyelin of K-pop girl group EXID has revealed that she has become the owner of a taco restaurant, taking on the food service business in search of a more stable source of income. By running the restaurant herself, she said she has discovered new possibilities for her future. In a video titled “Why EXID’s Once-Busy Hyelin Is Working at a Restaurant,” uploaded to YouTube channel Human Story on Sunday, the K-pop idol shared she is currently operating a taco restaurant in Anguk-dong in central Seoul. “I’ve recently been working as a DJ and in musicals, and I’m also the owner of a taco restaurant,” she said. Although she continues to pursue entertainment activities, Hyelin explained that she took up the restaurant business as a side job because income from broadcasting is not always consistent. “There are seasons when you’re active in broadcasting, but it’s not something you can simply choose to do whenever you want to work, so the income isn’t regular,” she said, adding that she began operating the restaurant as a way to build a more stable life. Hyelin said she decide

2 MIN READ
How much is EXID's Hyelin making as taco shop owner in central Seoul?

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Trump orders Pentagon to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-US military exercises

  2. How much is EXID's Hyelin making as taco shop owner in central Seoul?

  3. Landslide kills 1 in Geoje as torrential rain batters southern Korea

  4. Trump seeks to scale down joint drills in bid to lure Kim back to talks, experts say

  5. Engineers over lawyers? Chip boom reshapes K-drama, dating market

  6. 31 Chinese nationals caught after illegally entering Korea via Taean coast

  7. Kim Min-seok wins DPK leadership race over Jung Chung-rae

  8. Key S. Korea-US military drills begin amid OPCON transition push

  9. How SK chief can raise cash for property settlement

  10. Korean fan culture meets religion in Gen Z Buddhism

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