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Lee vows efforts to help swiftly resume US-N. Korea dialogue

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday reaffirmed his envisioned role as a "pacemaker" in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, pledging efforts to help swiftly resume dialogue between the United States and North Korea. The South Korean president made the pledge in his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to revive his diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while inter-Korean relations remain at a standstill. "I hope the long-suspended dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. can resume without delay," Lee said. "We will lay the groundwork for this (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) to develop into a dialogue between the related parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and transition into a peace regime." The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. "Fortunately, President Trump's resolve has recently created a hard-won opportunity for change," Lee said, referring to Trump's repeated expressions of interest in dialogue

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Leaders of Korea, Australia agree to boost cooperation for stable energy supply

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday and agreed to cooperate closely to build stable regional energy supply chains. The two leaders reached the agreement during the meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lee's senior secretary for public affairs Seong Ghi-hong said in a press release. The two leaders had a frank exchange of views on bilateral ties, energy supply chains, cooperation in the defense industry, as well as the international security situation, Seong said. They, in particular, reaffirmed that South Korea and Australia are key partners that rely on each other for energy resources such as liquefied natural gas and petroleum products as the countries jointly respond to the energy crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. "Additionally, they resolved to cooperate closely to build stable and resilient regional supply chains," Seong said. Albanese described South Korea as a trustworthy partner in the critical minerals and clean energy sectors, say

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Asian Games Song Se-ra wins gold in women's epee individual fencing

TOKONAME — South Korean fencer Song Se-ra won the gold medal in the women's epee individual event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday, giving South Korea its first fencing gold at the Games in Japan. Song defeated Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman of Singapore 15-8 in the final at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, some 35 kilometers south of the main host city of Nagoya. It is South Korea's first gold medal in fencing at the Asian Games, which officially opened Saturday. After winning silver at the previous Asian Games, Song moved up to the top of the podium three years later. Bronze medals went to Tamaki Terayama of Japan and Yang Jingwen of China. In epee fencing, fencers use a thrusting weapon that can target the entire body. In the individual event, the fencer who scores more points after three three-minute bouts wins, or the first to reach 15 points. Compared with her tight 15-14 victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals, the final duel went relatively smoothly for Song. In the first round, she gave up two points but then scored three straight to take a 3-2 lead. She extended her lead t

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How to lighten the mood at Chuseok family gatherings

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. During the Chuseok holiday, families and relatives who have not seen one another for a long time often greet each other with warm words and questions about their lives. But what may seem like a harmless remark to one person can unexpectedly hurt another or add to their stress. Family members may feel comfortable asking personal questions that they would hesitate to ask others because of their close relationship. To avoid lingering hurt feelings after the holiday, it may be worth thinking not only about what to say this Chuseok, but also about what not to say. Avoid questions that are difficult to answer Questions about marriage, employment and education are among the most common topics to avoid during holiday gatherings. Questions such as “Are you seeing anyone?” “Why haven't you found a job yet?” or “Which university are you planning to attend?” can put pressure on people, especially when the issues are beyond their immediate control or are things they may already be struggling with. Questions about having children should be treated

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Korea selects Texas power plant as 1st US investment project

Korea has selected a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas, as the first project under its $200 billion strategic investment commitment to the United States. It is also drawing up plans for two further projects related to the construction of eight nuclear reactors and an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan briefed the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee on the projects Tuesday, saying the government had decided on the first project following reviews by committees chaired by the industry and finance ministers. “Today, I would like to report on one project the government has decided to pursue,” Kim said during the committee's plenary session. The $22.3 billion project, with planned generating capacity of about 6.3 gigawatts, is aimed at meeting rising electricity demand in Texas as semiconductor plants and artificial intelligence data centers expand in the state. The project will be funded entirely by Korea, while ownership will be split equally between Seoul and Washington. The govern

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'There are gay people in schools, too': Teachers form 1st LGBTQ+ committee

“Schools have gay people, too!” That was the message of support from a teacher in a booklet published ahead of the launch of the Sexual Minorities Committee of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU). On March 1, the committee became the union’s first-ever body dedicated to sexual minorities. It brings together LGBTQ+ teachers and teachers who support them. Their shared hope is that LGBTQ+ students will encounter at least one teacher who supports them during their years at school. On the evening of Sept. 14, The Hankook Ilbo spoke by phone with “Mo,” the committee’s inaugural chairperson, who uses a pseudonym as an activist. Schools ask about gender every day Mo is a 13-year veteran elementary school teacher. At the first staff meeting held at the school where Mo currently works, Mo proposed eliminating a numbering system that divides students by gender. Under the system, the 30 students in a class are divided into boys and girls, with boys assigned numbers starting with 1 and girls from 16, in alphabetical order. The students are then divided into “boys’ team

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What options remain for Korea in Hormuz after Lee rules out war involvement?

President Lee Jae Myung’s decision to rule out sending troops for combat in the U.S.-Iran war is drawing attention to what Seoul can still do in and around the Strait of Hormuz without joining the fighting. The remaining options range from expanding the role of the Cheonghae Unit, a Korean naval contingent operating in waters around the Gulf of Aden focused primarily on anti-piracy and vessel-protection missions, to maritime surveillance and logistical support, according to analysts. They said whether such options would allow Korea to stay out of the war would depend on where and when the country’s military forces are deployed, what missions they take on and whether they remain under Seoul’s command. “It is important that the Cheonghae Unit remains under independent Korean command and focuses on protecting Korean vessels and nationals, rather than becoming involved in combat operations,” said Cho Yong-geun, a professor of military studies at Kyungnam University. He added that “if it is after the war ends, there would be no problem” with expanding the unit’s operations tow

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Foreign students choose Seoul over New York, London, Paris for vibrant culture, cheaper rent: report

Seoul has surged in popularity among international students worldwide, owing to its vibrant urban culture and lower housing costs than established hubs, British daily The Financial Times (FT) reported. The number of international students enrolled at universities in Korea rose 69 percent over the past three years to 307,500, data showed. The FT noted Seoul offers students good value, providing access to globally renowned K-pop culture and vibrant city life at manageable costs. Bolstered by K-pop's global reach, the capital increasingly attracts European and American students. The outlet added that Seoul's "energy, culture, food and cityscape promise a cosmopolitan lifestyle, which comes with a cheaper price tag than many students’ home cities." A major draw for these international students is Seoul's housing costs, which remain relatively affordable compared with major Western cities. Monthly rent was reported at about 900,000 won ($660) for a one-room apartment, or studio, and 600,000 won ($440) for "hasuk," a Korean-style boarding house. Students' reasons for choosing Seoul to study

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KOSPI loses early gains as US tech rally fails to lift market

After opening more than 2 percent higher on a strong overnight rally in U.S. artificial intelligence stocks, Korean stocks gave up most of its early gains on Tuesday. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 7,161.61, up 2.2 percent from the previous close, according to the Korea Exchange. But gains steadily faded through the afternoon, with the index ultimately closing at 7,017.91, up just 0.15 percent. Institutions and retail investors were net sellers of 119.1 billion won ($87.56 million) and 1.61 trillion won, respectively, while foreign investors bought a net 85.1 billion won. The two semiconductor heavyweights both opened more than 3 percent higher before losing momentum. Samsung Electronics closed at 276,500 won, up 0.91 percent, while SK hynix fell 1.5 percent to 1.84 million won. “Domestic risks facing the Korean stock market do not appear to be particularly significant. The VKOSPI, which gauges expected volatility in the KOSPI 200, has fallen substantially from this year’s peak of 95 percent to 44 percent,” said Kim Dae-jun, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. “Extreme vol

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Chief justice rejects presidential office request to re-recommend Supreme Court justice nominee

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said Tuesday he cannot comply with the presidential office's request to re-recommend a candidate for a top court justice post, saying he could find no constitutional grounds for doing so. Last month, the presidential office had asked Cho to recommend a new candidate after taking issue with his written recommendation of two Supreme Court justice nominees to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho told reporters on Monday that the document concerning the request "does not specify the reasons for requesting a re-recommendation or the constitutional grounds for the request." "I cannot find any other specific constitutional grounds or reasons to justify the request for re-recommendation," Cho said. "I therefore state that I cannot comply with the request." Cho had recommended Son Bong-kie of the Daegu District Court and Kim Sung-soo, then a Seoul High Court judge, to be appointed as new Supreme Court justices by the president. Usually, the chief justice visits the president to make a face-to-face recommendation for a new Supreme Court justice after prior coordinati

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New defense chief stresses trust in push for OPCON transfer

New Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday that he would push ahead with the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) based on trust between Korea and the United States, emphasizing that the process should strengthen their alliance and combined defense posture. “OPCON transfer will move in a direction that strengthens the Korea-U.S. alliance,” Kang told reporters at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul shortly after officially beginning his duties. He noted that successive Korean administrations and the two allies have worked toward the transfer for years, while acknowledging that the process cannot be driven by Seoul alone. Because an alliance involves two sides, Kang said, the process may not always proceed exactly as one side wants, making mutual trust particularly important. “In some ways, I believe trust is even more important than the conditions,” he said, pledging to pursue the transfer “without wavering” in a way that preserves trust. Kang also rejected the notion that the transfer would weaken the allies’ combined defense posture. Drawing on his ex

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Chip boom masks Korea's growing zombie firm problem

Korea’s semiconductor boom is producing extraordinary headline growth, but its benefits are not being felt evenly across the economy. While strong chip exports have pushed nominal gross domestic product (GDP) sharply higher, the share of “zombie” companies has climbed to a record, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday. The country’s nominal GDP has accelerated since the second half of 2025, fueled by higher semiconductor prices and strong exports. In the second quarter of this year, it surged 26.4 percent from a year earlier, the fastest increase in 47 years. Away from the export sector, however, the picture is considerably weaker. As of last December, 19.1 percent of nonfinancial companies were classified as zombie firms, up from 17.1 percent a year earlier and the highest level since the BOK began compiling the data in 2010. Of the 29,468 companies, 5,632 fell into the category. The term refers to those that have been unable to cover even their interest expenses with operating profits for three consecutive years. Their share increased among both large and small and midsize ente

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Suicide leads causes of death among teens to 40s, cancer from 50s

The number of deaths in Korea last year reached the second-highest level on record, while suicide was the leading cause of death among people in their teens through their 40s, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Tuesday. Although both the number of suicides and the suicide rate declined from the previous year, teenagers stood out as an exception, with their suicide rate climbing to an all-time high. Meanwhile, cancer emerged as the leading cause of death starting among people in their 50s, highlighting a sharp divide in mortality patterns across age groups. According to the data, suicide accounted for more than half of all deaths among Koreans in their teens and 20s in 2025, underscoring its disproportionate impact on younger generations. The share stood at 51.2 percent for teenagers and rose to 53.5 percent for those in their 20s. It then fell to 42.3 percent among people in their 30s and 25.4 percent among those in their 40s. The suicide death rate, meanwhile, increased progressively across these age groups. It stood at 8.6 per 100,000 among teenagers, r

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Hanwha chair calls for stronger defense AI capabilities

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn has urged Hanwha Systems, the group’s IT solutions arm, to strengthen its defense artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities as the conglomerate seeks to use AI-based command-and-control systems to connect its land, sea, air and space defense systems. Kim visited Hanwha Systems’ Gumi plant in North Gyeongsang Province on Tuesday to review its production and testing capabilities for advanced defense equipment and emphasize the need to secure “unparalleled defense AI capabilities” and uphold a “safety-first” culture. At the site, he inspected the assembly and testing of the multifunction radar for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system. The radar detects and tracks aircraft and missiles, identifies targets and guides interceptor missiles. It has been exported to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. “The Gumi facility has grown into a key export hub for Hanwha’s defense business as it expands into global markets, as well as a center for technological innovation,” the chairman said. “What you mak

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YouTube ad restrictions put Korean 'mukbang' creators on alert

YouTube’s tighter enforcement of its policies on eating disorder-related content is affecting Korean food and diet creators, with some losing advertising revenue or deleting hundreds of old videos. Tzuyang, one of Korea’s best-known "mukbang" creators, also weighed in on the issue in a video uploaded Sunday. Mukbang, which translates to eating broadcast, refers to content showing people eating large quantities of food. “I heard eating a lot isn’t the trend these days,” she said while vising Sinpo Market in Incheon. “I’ll try to be a YouTuber who eats a reasonable amount from now on.” She nevertheless went on to eat fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, Korean blood sausage, donuts and several other dishes in her usual mukbang style. Tzuyang has about 13.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Other creators have already faced restrictions. DietJo, a food and diet YouTuber with about 440,000 subscribers, said her channel had been demonetized as YouTube applies stricter guidelines to videos involving binge eating and eating disorder-related content. She said she had also stopped uploadi

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Uber Technologies files for FTC review of Delivery Hero stake acquisition

The antitrust watchdog said Tuesday it has received an application from Uber Technologies Inc. regarding its plan to acquire a stake in Germany-based Delivery Hero SE, the parent company of Woowa Brothers Corp., which operates Korea's leading food delivery app. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said the U.S.-based Uber Technologies has submitted the application for a review regarding its plan to acquire a full stake in Delivery Heros. Woowa Brothers operates the delivery platform, Baedal Minjok, or Baemin.

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'I'll live with Mom': More Koreans reaching age 50 without ever having married

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A woman in her mid-50s lives with her elderly mother. She was too busy working to marry and ended up remaining single well past 50. Her mother, now in her 80s, is still disappointed that her daughter has not married but is happy to have her by her side. The mother has limited mobility on one side of her body due to a stroke. Thanks to her daughter, she is able to go out more often. Without her daughter, she might have had to move into a long-term care facility. Her other two children, a son and a daughter, are married and live separately. 1.27 million unmarried people in their 50s and 60s According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 934,000 men and women in their 50s had never married as of August, accounting for 11 percent of the total population in their 50s. The figure is 3.3 times higher than the 281,000 recorded 10 years ago. Among those aged 60 and older, 339,000 people have never married. The proportion of unmarried people in their 40s also stood at 20 percent. There are various reasons why men and women who have reached m

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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] Middle-aged Koreans largely look to national pension for post-retirement safety net

COVER STORY Middle-aged Koreans largely look to national pension for post-retirement safety net

More than six out of 10 middle-aged Koreans identified the national pension as their primary safety net for life after retirement, according to figures released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, Monday. The figure rose to 61 percent from 51.7 percent a decade ago, showing that people in the age group are becoming more dependent on the state-run pension program rather than private pensions or other means of post-retirement support. The data was based on analysis of 10 years of responses from people aged 40 to 64 collected through the ministry’s annual survey. According to the data, awareness of post-career financial security grew between 2015 and 2025 among this demographic, driven by a rapidly aging population. In 2015, 75.8 percent of the age group said they were actively building or already have a retirement cushion, and the ratio rose to 81.9 percent in 2025. But a large portion of the cushion was from the national pension, as reliance on the state pension grew by almost 10 percentage points, while alternative means experienced a decline as reliance on private pension services

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Life in Korea

Seoul to keep 6,000 clinics, pharmacies open during Chuseok

Seoul to keep 6,000 clinics, pharmacies open during Chuseok

During the annual Chuseok holiday, when millions of families travel across Korea to gather and celebrate the autumn harvest, finding an open doctor’s office can turn an ordinary illness into a logistical nightmare. In response to potential medical shortages during the four-day break from Thursday to Sunday, Seoul city officials said Tuesday that more than 6,000 medical clinics and pharmacies will remain open, supported by a 24-hour emergency response system. The initiative aims to prevent overburdening hospital emergency rooms with noncritical cases while ensuring that both light ailments and life-threatening conditions are managed smoothly. On average, roughly 1,547 medical institutions — comprising 642 clinics and 905 pharmacies — will operate daily across the capital. For residents experiencing minor illnesses like cold symptoms or indigestion, the city encourages visiting neighborhood clinics rather than rushing to hospital emergency rooms. Basic over-the-counter remedies, including fever reducers and pain relievers, will also remain continuously accessible across 6,926 design

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Lifestyle

Wegovy, Mounjaro help Korean doctor navigate lifelong struggle with obesity

The after school meal never varied. He laid grilled pork belly in the largest pan in the kitchen to grill. After finishing the meat, he made instant noodles, tossing in generous helpings of rice cakes, dumplings and cheese before finishing the meal by stirring cooked rice into the remaining broth. As a high school student, Chang Hyoung-woo cooked this meal alone in the kitchen whenever he could, trying to avoid comments from anyone wandering in. The meal was so heavy that he would sleep hard for an hour or two before waking up to study. Looking back, he said the routine resembled how sumo wrestlers and traditional Korean "ssirum" wrestlers gain weight. Ate like ssireum wrestler Lavish meals had been his primary indulgence since childhood. While other boys his age were outdoors playing with friends, Chang had little interest in exercise. Instead, he favored fried chicken, hamburgers, red meat, snacks, cola and ice cream. He hated meals like sukiyaki and shabu-shabu that mixed thin slices of meat with vegetables to cook in broth. Why would anyone spoil quality meat with unwanted greens? Hi

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Wegovy, Mounjaro help Korean doctor navigate lifelong struggle with obesity

K-Culture

Seventeen's Joshua releases new digital single in Chinese, English

Joshua of K-pop boy group Seventeen on Tuesday released "Baby Come Home," an individual digital single presented in both Chinese and English. The two-track release came out at 1 p.m., with the Chinese-language version featuring award-winning Taiwanese singer-songwriter WeiBird, while the English version is performed solely by Joshua. According to his agency, Pledis Entertainment, Joshua co-wrote and composed the track, which is built around an acoustic guitar arrangement and a warm, understated melody. Joshua's collaboration with WeiBird on the Chinese version adds a new layer to the song, which centers on the theme of becoming a place where someone can always return. The English-language version features Joshua's calm, lyrical vocals that convey the same message of steadfast companionship.

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Seventeen's Joshua releases new digital single in Chinese, English

Celebrities

Why this celebrity couple in their 70s never married after 25 years together

They have spent 25 years together without ever registering a marriage. Now in their 70s, veteran actor Park Jung-soo and TV producer Jung Eul-young have dressed as bride and groom — for a wedding photo shoot. Luxury wedding magazine Wedding H recently unveiled photos of the longtime couple in wedding attire, offering an unexpected bridal moment decades into a relationship they have chosen not to formalize through marriage. In one photo, Jung wears a classic black tuxedo jacket, while Park appears in a modern wedding dress paired with a short veil. Jung beams beside her as Park looks toward the camera with a bashful expression. The couple also depart from traditional wedding styling in another set of photos. Jung throws a leather jacket over his shirt, while Park pairs a voluminous white wedding gown with a black leather jacket. They go all-black for another look, with Jung wearing a long black coat and Park dressed in a sleeveless black gown. Park and Jung, both born in 1952, have been together for 25 years. Jung is also the father of actor Jung Kyung-ho. Their relationship has attracted

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Why this celebrity couple in their 70s never married after 25 years together

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Top 10 Stories

  1. YouTube ad restrictions put Korean 'mukbang' creators on alert

  2. Meet Korean 'fencing idol' Yang Seung-hye whose looks drew AI comparison

  3. Foreign students choose Seoul over New York, London, Paris for vibrant culture, cheaper rent: report

  4. Suicide leads causes of death among teens to 40s, cancer from 50s

  5. Won-dollar rate back on roller coaster as 1,400-won mark looms

  6. 'I'll live with Mom': More Koreans reaching age 50 without ever having married

  7. Gov't bans private academies' placement tests for young children

  8. Chip boom masks Korea's growing zombie firm problem

  9. Korea selects Texas power plant as 1st US investment project

  10. S. Korean firms demand more compensation as hopes for N. Korea business fade

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