The Korea Times

The Korea Times
My TimesLatest

Korea rallies past Czechia 2-1 for opening victory

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 to open their 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico on Thursday, taking a big step toward a place in the knockout stage. Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu netted the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, near Guadalajara in western Mexico, after the teams had traded a goal apiece earlier in the second half following a goalless opening half. Ladislav Krejci headed in the match's first goal for Czechia in the 59th minute before Hwang In-beom scored the equalizer eight minutes later. Hwang then assisted Oh's goal, which came a couple of minutes after a would-be Czechia goal was disallowed on an offside. This was the fourth time that Korea won their first match of a World Cup, following 2002, 2006 and 2010. Korea progressed to the knockout phase in 2002 and 2010. Korea's next Group A match will be against Mexico, one of the tournament's three co-host countries, at 7 p.m. next Thursday at Estadio Guadalajara. It will be 10 a.m. next Friday in Korea. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City in the tournament opener earlier Thursda

3 MIN READ
Korea rallies past Czechia 2-1 for opening victory thumbnail

Fraudulent ChatGPT Pro charges spark alarm over unauthorized use of stolen card data

Card companies and financial regulators in Korea are scrambling to respond to a wave of suspected fraud involving OpenAI's premium ChatGPT Pro subscription service, after hundreds of unauthorized charges were allegedly made using stolen card information. Consumer complaints and testimonies have surged on Instagram and other social media platforms, as well as in local media reports, with users saying they were charged 299,000 won ($196) per month for ChatGPT Pro despite never subscribing to the service. According industry data, a total of 1,368 ChatGPT Pro subscription payments worth about 400 million won were processed in Korea so far this month. Of those, 858 transactions, valued at around 250 million won, have been suspected of being fraudulent charges. These fraudulent transactions were identified across nine domestic card issuers. Cybersecurity experts said fraudsters likely used personal information obtained through phishing crimes or purchased on the dark web to create large numbers of ChatGPT accounts. Unlike domestic online payments, some overseas transactions can be authorized us

2 MIN READ
thumbnail

Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 30 years in prison in drone infiltration case

A Seoul court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after finding him guilty of ordering drone infiltrations into North Korea in an attempt to heighten cross-border tensions and create a basis for his martial law declaration in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court convicted the jailed former president on charges of benefiting the enemy and abuse of power in its ruling that matched special counsel Cho Eun-suk's sentencing recommendation. The court recognized that Yoon had ordered the operation in October 2024 to provoke Pyongyang and use the anticipated increase in cross-border tensions as a pretext for his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. Yoon's legal team appealed the ruling hours later. The court also sentenced former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to 30 years in prison for his role in such operations, higher than the 25 years sought by the special counsel. It sentenced Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the operation, while Kim Yong-dae, former chief of the Dr

2 MIN READ
Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 30 years in prison in drone infiltration case thumbnail

Busan: More than tour stop for BTS

BUSAN — K-pop sensation BTS is heading back to Busan. Three years and eight months have passed since the group last stood on a stage in Korea's second-largest city, and the place has not been forgotten. On June 5, about a week before the group's concert, the city was already restless with anticipation. The seven-piece K-pop juggernaut — composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — is set to hold the Busan leg of its ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour at Busan Asiad Main Stadium scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The shows come roughly three months after the group's comeback performance at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, held to mark the release of its fifth studio album, and about two months after the tour's opening run in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Both Busan dates have long since sold out. For BTS and its fans, Busan is not simply a tour stop. Few cities in the world carry the kind of weight for BTS that the port city does, and the group has chosen its concert dates here carefully. The finale of the two-night Busan show will fall on Friday, the exact date BTS debuted in 2013

5 MIN READ
Busan: More than tour stop for BTS thumbnail

Coupang’s record privacy fine sparks proportionality debate, investment concerns

The record-high 624.68 billion won ($409 million) penalty imposed on Coupang over a massive data breach is fueling debate over regulatory proportionality, as the e-commerce giant was ordered to pay more than four times the fine levied on SK Telecom for last year's hacking incident, while matchmaking company Duo received a far lighter sanction despite a breach involving highly sensitive personal information. The penalty is also casting doubt on Coupang’s ability to maintain the aggressive investment that has driven its growth, fueling speculation that the e-commerce giant could rein in future spending. On Thursday, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) imposed a 624.68 billion won fine and a 16.8 million won administrative penalty on Coupang over its data breach, involving more than 33 million users, and related privacy violations. The regulator concluded that Coupang failed to maintain even basic security safeguards, citing lax management of an authentication signing key and inadequate access controls that allowed a former employee to forge tokens and reach pages conta

3 MIN READ
Coupang’s record privacy fine sparks proportionality debate, investment concerns thumbnail

Foreign investors return to KOSPI buying, powering rally above 8,000

Foreign investors returned to net buying in the KOSPI market on Friday for the first time in 25 trading days, fueling a sharp rally that briefly sent the benchmark index soaring past the 8,400 mark during intraday trading. KOSPI opened 6.44 percent higher at 8,263.85, up 499.90 points from the previous session, and briefly surged as much as 8.5 percent to hit an intraday high of 8,424.13 before paring gains to close at 8,123.62, up 359.67 points, or 4.63 percent, on the day. The rapid advance in KOSPI futures prompted the Korea Exchange to activate a sidecar, temporarily halting program buy orders early in the trading session. Foreign investors played a pivotal role in KOSPI’s rebound, snapping a prolonged selling streak with net purchases of 2.12 trillion won ($1.4 billion) on the day. Institutional investors also lent strong support, buying a net 2.4 trillion won in stocks. The return to net buying came after nearly a month of heavy foreign outflows that had weighed on the market. Before Friday, overseas investors had sold a net 75.6 trillion won worth of KOSPI shares over 24 straigh

3 MIN READ
Foreign investors return to KOSPI buying, powering rally above 8,000 thumbnail

Rate hike seen as strongest tool to support won as FX measures lose impact

Korea’s financial authorities appear to be running out of options to stem the continued weakening of the won, with analysts on Friday saying a benchmark rate hike is effectively the strongest tool left for policymakers. Despite repeated verbal warnings from authorities and a rare joint inspection of banks’ currency operations, the won has remained under pressure against the U.S. dollar, prompting market participants to look beyond conventional intervention measures. In recent weeks, the won-dollar exchange rate has hovered around the 1,500 level, putting the local currency at its weakest point since 2009 during the global financial crisis. Last Monday, the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Bank of Korea issued a rare joint warning that they would respond firmly to excessive volatility and one-sided market moves. At the time, the currency opened at 1,555.2 won per dollar — its weakest level in 17 years and three months — before recovering to close onshore trading at 1,535 won, an improvement of 4.1 won from the previous session following the verbal intervention. However, it

2 MIN READ
Rate hike seen as strongest tool to support won as FX measures lose impact thumbnail

First lady's reserved role strikes contrast with controversial predecessor

First lady Kim Hea Kyung has remained largely out of the spotlight during the first year of President Lee Jae Myung's administration, adopting a low-key public role that contrasts sharply with the high-profile approach of her predecessor, Kim Keon Hee. Kim Hea Kyung has limited her public appearances and stayed away from political issues — a strategy political observers describe as prudent, given that presidential spouses, despite holding no official constitutional role, can shape public perceptions and affect a president's political standing. “The country has witnessed the so-called 'first lady risk' associated with former first lady Kim Keon Hee,” an analyst said on condition of anonymity. “In light of that, the incumbent first lady's reserved role appears appropriate and consistent with her role of supporting the president." Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on charges including stock price manipulation involving Deutsch Motors and accepting money and valuables linked to the Unification Church, a religious group. Her husband, former Presi

2 MIN READ
First lady's reserved role strikes contrast with controversial predecessor thumbnail

Korean schools deploy AI surveillance to stop bullying in real time

Inside the control room of a high school in Seoul's Seodaemun District on Wednesday, a monitor displayed students playing on the field, each tracked by a blue square marker. The moment two students appeared to push each other, the system flagged a possible fight on the screen and sent an alert to a school administrator's phone. The demonstration highlights how artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance technology is turning school security from a passive tool into a real-time warning system. By rapidly detecting and analyzing unusual movement when two or more people are close to each other, the technology helps staff intervene immediately. Traditional security cameras have long drawn criticism from educators for only providing after-the-fact evidence. Now, schools are racing to eliminate blind spots. S-1, a security company, said its sales of video analysis systems — including AI-powered cameras provided to schools — increased 74 percent from January to May compared to the same period last year. The Seodaemun high school recently installed 14 additional AI-powered cameras equ

2 MIN READ
Korean schools deploy AI surveillance to stop bullying in real time thumbnail

Trump says Iran deal is in 'pretty final shape,' could be signed in Europe this weekend

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that a peace agreement with Iran is in "pretty final shape" and could be signed in Europe this weekend, noting his understanding that Iran's top leader has approved it. Trump made the remarks during a press availability at the White House, highlighting that the United States "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," after he announced the cancellation of planned strikes on the Islamic Republic, citing progress in the peace negotiations. South Korea and other countries have been closely watching developments in the Middle East conflict, which has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil, fertilizer and other commodities, and has pushed up oil prices. "We have a signing soon and the documents are in pretty final shape. So, we'll see. Very good ... should be done pretty quickly," Trump said. The president added, "The Strait (of Hormuz) will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe." Asked if Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had given h

2 MIN READ
Trump says Iran deal is in 'pretty final shape,' could be signed in Europe this weekend thumbnail

UAE sends military planes to S. Korea to transport Cheongung missile systems: sources

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent its military planes to South Korea to expedite the transport of a Korean-made interceptor missile system amid the Middle East conflict, sources said Friday. The UAE Air Force began sending its C-17 transport aircraft this week to an air base in Daegu, about 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to transport multiple batches of the Cheongung interceptor missile system, according to military and defense industry sources. A C-17 transport aircraft was seen on standby at the Daegu air base Friday, as the UAE reportedly plans to dispatch a total of eight such aircraft to airlift the missile system in successive batches. The move appears to reflect the UAE's urgent need to bolster its defenses against Iranian attacks by securing additional weapons systems. Cheongung (M-SAM II), dubbed the Korean version of the U.S-made Patriot missile defense system, is a mid-range surface-to-air guided missile system capable of intercepting hostile missiles at altitudes below 40 kilometers. It is the second known early transport of the missile system by the UAE. The same UA

2 MIN READ
UAE sends military planes to S. Korea to transport Cheongung missile systems: sources thumbnail

Half of S. Korea's young adults view N. Korea with hostility: poll

Nearly half of South Koreans in their 20s and 30s view North Korea as a hostile state, more than double the share of those who see it as a partner for cooperation, a survey showed Friday. The poll, commissioned by the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) and conducted by Korea Research from May 27 to June 1, surveyed 1,200 respondents aged 19-39. It showed 49.8 percent of respondents considered North Korea as hostile, while 32.4 percent took a neutral position and 17.8 percent disagreed. On cooperation, only 27.3 percent viewed the North as a potential partner, against 42.7 percent who did not. A separate survey of all age groups conducted in the first quarter found 41.9 percent viewed North Korea as a subject of cooperation or support, suggesting younger Koreans hold a markedly harder line against North Korea. On the question of where inter-Korean relations should head, 36.8 percent favored peaceful coexistence for now, while keeping unification as a longer-term goal. Another 20.3 percent supported maintaining two separate states before eventually pursuing unification, while 19.4

1 MIN READ
Half of S. Korea's young adults view N. Korea with hostility: poll thumbnail

Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye release joint single

Three girl groups under HYBE — Le Sserafim, Illit and KATSEYE — joined forces Friday to release a collaborative single, "ICONIC BY MISTAKE," marking a rare cross-group project within the K-pop powerhouse. The track, an alternative pop song driven by a heavy beat and offbeat sound, features a catchy hook built around the lyric: "Thanks to your hate, I accidentally became iconic." The trio gave the first live performance of the song on Mnet's "M Countdown" music program on Thursday, a day ahead of its official release. "We are truly happy that our long-held wish to stand on stage together has finally come true," Le Sserafim said in a statement, adding that the collaboration was prepared as "a special gift" for fans worldwide.

1 MIN READ
Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye release joint single thumbnail

1 in 4 Korean high school students sleep in class: report

Korean high school students have one of the lowest long-term absenteeism rates among OECD countries, but their actual classroom participation remains in question, with more than one in four students admitting to sleeping during class, a recent report showed. The findings suggest that schools are struggling to function as places of learning, as classes remain heavily geared toward college entrance exams and fixed curricula. The report called for changes to class material, teaching methods and student assessment standards. According to the report published by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) on Thursday, Korea recorded the lowest rate of long-term absenteeism among OECD countries. Korea’s rate also stood at 2 percent when the Programme for International Student Assessment measured students who had been absent from school for more than three months in 2022. The rate averaged 7.6 percent among the other countries surveyed. The low absenteeism rate, however, did not mean students were fully engaged in class, the report found. KEDI distinguished attendance from participatio

2 MIN READ
1 in 4 Korean high school students sleep in class: report thumbnail

Korea's Hanmi Semiconductor to acquire shares of SpaceX

Korea's Hanmi Semiconductor said in a regulatory filing Friday that it is seeking to acquire 50 billion won ($32.9 million) worth of shares in SpaceX, ahead of the U.S. space company's stock market debut. The investment, equivalent to around 7.24 percent of equity, comes amid the company's prospects on the "growth potential of Elon Musk's Terrafab and SpaceX, amid an explosive demand on advanced chips, aerospace and satellite technologies and artificial intelligence (AI)," according to the filing. Terrafab is a vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturing complex spearheaded by Musk, involving Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, an AI company founded by the U.S. billionaire. The facility is expected to start operations in 2028. Some 80 percent of chips produced from there will be used in data centers of SpaceX, while the rest will be topped on vehicles of Tesla as well as its Optimus robots. "We will reinvest the expected future returns into our core semiconductor equipment business to seek sustainable growth, while enhancing shareholder value," an official from the Korean company said. SpaceX is

1 MIN READ
Korea's Hanmi Semiconductor to acquire shares of SpaceX thumbnail

Ballot shortage tests trust in Korea's election system: US expert

SEATTLE — A ballot shortage that disrupted voting during South Korea's recent local elections could have longer-lasting consequences for public confidence in the country's electoral system, according to a U.S. scholar of Korean politics. The controversy deepened Thursday when police raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and several local election offices as part of an investigation into ballot shortages that temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide during the June 3 local elections. More than 100 investigators took part in searches of seven locations, including the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon and local election offices in Seoul that experienced shortages. Police are investigating possible election law violations and dereliction of duty, while former NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak, who resigned over the incident, has reportedly been listed as a suspect. The shortages sparked days of protests by demonstrators demanding a rerun of the elections, though election officials have maintained that the incident does not constitute grounds for a revote. Celeste Arrington,

2 MIN READ
Ballot shortage tests trust in Korea's election system: US expert thumbnail

AI model rivalry expands into defense sector

Artificial intelligence (AI) competition is expanding into the defense sector as domestic tech firms pivot to military applications, leveraging proprietary models and infrastructure in a market where security and data sovereignty are paramount. The shift comes as Naver Cloud and NC AI move beyond the government-led foundation model competition to target a fast-forming defense AI market. Naver Cloud held a seminar on Wednesday and unveiled its strategy for sovereign AI-based defense AI transformation (AX) advancement, outlining practical pathways to deploy AI in real-world military operations. The move follows the company’s launch earlier this month of a dedicated task force for defense AI adoption, marking its first standalone organization focused exclusively on military applications. The team, under company CEO Kim Yu-won, brings together business development, strategy, engineering and deployment personnel to accelerate military AI projects. The company is positioning itself as more than a model provider, aiming instead to build a full-stack Korean defense AI platform. By combining its

2 MIN READ
AI model rivalry expands into defense sector thumbnail

2026 local elections

Police raid election watchdog over ballot shortages during local elections

Police raid election watchdog over ballot shortages during local elections

Police on Thursday raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and some of its local offices in Seoul as part of an investigation into shortages of ballots during last week's local elections. More than 100 police investigators were mobilized for the searches and seizures at seven locations, including the NEC's headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and its local offices in Seoul that experienced the ballot shortages. The shortages temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide, including mostly in Seoul's Songpa Ward, during the June 3 local elections, according to the NEC. Police are investigating the NEC and its local offices on suspicion of election law violations and dereliction of duty in connection with the ballot paper shortages. The incident prompted protesters to gather around a vote-counting facility in Songpa Ward to demand a re-run of the elections for the seventh straight day. The search and seizure warrant is said to list former NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak, who stepped down from his post over the debacle, as a suspect in the case. Investigators plan to s

1 MIN READ

Editor's Pick

Why are Korean engineering prodigies flocking to Chinese universities?

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

Life in Korea

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

As hundreds of thousands of BTS fans from all corners of the globe descend on the southern port city of Busan for their highly anticipated concert this weekend, the streets are alive with an undeniable buzz. While the main mission of most visitors is to see BTS on stage, any trip to the city wouldn't be complete without exploring the flavors of Jimin and Jung Kook's hometown. Forget generic online reviews and sponsored blog posts — those who want the real, unfiltered flavors can put their trust in the ultimate insiders: Busan’s taxi drivers. The "Taxchelin Guide" (a portmanteau of "taxi" and "Michelin"), a bulletproof culinary map curated by the city's most seasoned drivers, who know the city’s hidden culinary gems better than anyone. Launched in 2016 as a collaborative effort between Busan's municipal tourism bodies and local taxi associations, this annual guide has evolved over the years from a word-of-mouth insider secret into an official, highly respected restaurant guide. 'Camellia flower' marks spot Based on three strict criteria — consistent taste, reasonable pricing and dis

3 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Bernard Werber to headline Gyeonggi Library book talk

Bernard Werber, the globally acclaimed French novelist whose imaginative thrillers have long commanded a devoted following in Korea, will anchor a flagship literary event in Gyeonggi Province later this month. The Gyeonggi Library said Thursday that it will host the bestselling author of "Empire of the Ants" for an intimate book talk on June 28 at 3 p.m. inside the Planet Gyeonggi Hall. The event serves as a centerpiece for the library’s monthly humanities series, "Meet the Planet," and is organized in collaboration with the cultural department of the Embassy of France in Seoul to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The discussion will pivot around Werber’s highly anticipated new novel, "The Waltz of the Souls," slated for domestic release in mid-June. For Korean readers, the event offers a rare window into the universe that Werber has constructed over decades through international hits such as "The Thanatonauts," "Empire of the Angels," and "The Prophecy of the Bees." The program features an onstage dialogue between Werber and the pr

2 MIN READ
Bernard Werber to headline Gyeonggi Library book talk

K-Culture

Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

Actor Koo Kyo-hwan’s momentum this year has been hard to ignore. With hit drama “We Are All Trying Here” and zombie film “Colony,” Koo has moved between television and the big screen in the first half of the year, making his presence felt across genres. His rise appears to be only gaining speed. Since making his commercial film debut with “Peninsula” in 2020, Koo has built a steady career across films and dramas, including “Escape” (2024), “Once We Were Us” (2025), Netflix’s “D.P.” series, “Parasyte: The Grey” (2024) and “Monstrous” (2022). He has four upcoming projects awaiting release, including “White Blast” and “Seeking the King.” “Once We Were Us” was an especially meaningful addition to his filmography, both in terms of its reception and his performance. Koo has always shown a different face in each project while maintaining his distinct style, but in this film, his acting shone more brightly than ever before. Once regarded as a leading figure in Korea’s independent film scene, Koo is now establishing himself as an actor who can bal

3 MIN READ
Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

Celebrities

Aespa's Karina, Winter cheer on Korean national team at World Cup match

Members of K-pop girl group aespa, Karina and Winter, showed their support for the Korean national football team. On Friday, Karina and Winter shared updates on their personal social media accounts ahead of Korea's match against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Karina posted a video of herself wearing Korea's signature red cheering shirt and waving the national flag, along with the message, "Go, players!" Winter also uploaded a video capturing the atmosphere inside the stadium, joining in support of the team. Singer Kwon Eun-bi is also reported to have participated in the away support event. Earlier in the day, the World Cup opened with a performance by renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Korean American singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained global attention through the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." EJAE and Bocelli sang the tournament's official theme song, "DNA," signaling the start of the competition. Meanwhile, the Korean national team opened its World Cup campaign against the Czech Republic on Friday, to be followed by

1 MIN READ
Aespa's Karina, Winter cheer on Korean national team at World Cup match

Get key insights on Korea from the members-only personalized news service My Times.

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Korea rallies past Czechia 2-1 for opening victory

  2. Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 30 years in prison in drone infiltration case

  3. Fans gather at Gwanghwamun to cheer for Korea in World Cup match against Czechia

  4. Ballot shortage tests trust in Korea's election system: US expert

  5. PHOTOS Fans' cheers thunder across Gwanghwamun

  6. Trump says Iran deal is in 'pretty final shape,' could be signed in Europe this weekend

  7. Korean won gains on renewed hope of U.S.-Iran peace deal, foreign net buying

  8. Son Heung-min set for record-tying 4th appearance

  9. Daytime World Cup fever grips Seoul for 1st time in 24 years

  10. Aespa's Karina, Winter cheer on Korean national team at World Cup match

Video

Interesting contents

Taboola 후원링크