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BreakingOh Se-hoon fined 10 million won, mayorship at risk if upheld

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was convicted Wednesday of violating the Political Funds Act and fined 10 million won ($6,760) over illegal payments for opinion polls commissioned from political broker Myung Tae-kyun. The Seoul Central District Court found that Oh commissioned Myung to conduct a nonpublic opinion poll ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and asked businessman and longtime supporter Kim Han-jung to cover 10 million won ($6,760) cost. Rejecting Oh’s defense, the court said “the defendant requested his supporter to pay the polling costs,” adding that the payment constituted an illegal political contribution under the act. The ruling marks a major legal setback for one of the country’s most prominent conservative politicians and could cast uncertainty over Oh’s political future. The verdict is not final and is expected to be appealed. Under Korean law, elected officials lose their office only if a fine of at least 1 million won or a prison sentence is upheld by the Supreme Court. Oh had denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial, arguing that he never requested the pa

3 MIN READ
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Industry minister heads to Washington to manage tariff risks, advance $350 bil. investment in US

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan departed for Washington on Wednesday to address pending trade issues with the United States as the Trump administration prepares to introduce a new Section 301 tariff regime for Korea under the U.S. Trade Act. During the four-day visit, the minister is also expected to flesh out Korea's $350 billion investment commitment to the U.S. agreed under last year's bilateral tariff agreement, while reaffirming the commitment to maritime cooperation under the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) initiative. Kim will meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to discuss strategic investment, energy cooperation and other bilateral trade issues. The industry ministry said he will also conduct outreach to members of the U.S. Congress to explain Seoul's trade and investment stance. The visit comes as Washington prepares to replace a temporary 10 percent global tariff imposed under Section 122, which expires on Friday. New measures under Section 301 target what the U.S. describes as unfair trade practices, including forced la

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What to know about rare ear disorder that side-tracked IU's return

K-pop singer and actor IU is drawing public attention for a rare ear disorder after worsening symptoms of patulous Eustachian tube (PET) dysfunction forced her to postpone her upcoming album release and cancel a scheduled September concert. With news of her ear condition already having disrupted her highly anticipated comeback plans, many are asking what exactly PET dysfunction is and why it poses such a devastating setback for a vocalist. On Monday, the 33-year-old artist opened up about her ongoing struggle on the fan communication platform Berriz. "While it does not affect my daily life, the symptoms persist day and night, making it difficult to maintain my condition when singing," IU wrote, apologizing to fans for the schedule changes. PET dysfunction occurs when the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and usually remains closed except during swallowing or yawning, stays abnormally open. This allows air and sound to flow continuously into the middle ear, causing autophony, a condition where a person hears their own voice or breathing abnormally loudl

2 MIN READ
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Korea busts record 1 ton of smuggled drugs in 1st half of 2026

Korean customs authorities seized a record 1,007 kilograms of narcotics intended for the domestic market in 767 cases during the first half of the year, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said Wednesday. The haul was equivalent to about 33.58 million doses, based on a 0.03-gram dose. While the number of cases rose 24 percent from a year earlier, the total weight fell 62 percent because last year's figures included drugs merely transiting through Korea. Excluding those transit shipments, this year's haul was the largest on record for drugs destined for the domestic market. KCS Commissioner Lee Jong-wook said during a media briefing that the increase was driven by traveler smuggling, vowing to step up inspections of arriving passengers by expanding a multilayer screening system, including random inspections immediately after arrival and X-ray screening of all checked baggage. The number of traveler smuggling cases jumped 79 percent, while the amount seized rose 23 percent from a year earlier. By contrast, seizures through international mail dropped sharply after customs strengthened secondary

2 MIN READ
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As diets diversify, human rights watchdog calls for inclusive military meals

For generations of conscripts entering Korea’s mandatory military service, the mess hall offered little room for compromise. Meals were standardized, heavy on traditional staples and served without exception. But as dietary needs, ethical choices and personal convictions evolve among young Koreans, the nation’s top human rights agency is urging defense officials to overhaul what ends up on soldiers' trays. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Wednesday that it issued formal recommendations to the Minister of National Defense, service branch chiefs, the Marine Corps commandant and the Military Manpower Administration to establish a systematic, legally grounded framework supporting service members with specialized dietary needs. The guidelines, finalized in June following a comprehensive multiyear investigation into military dining environments, advocate for troops with specialized dietary requirements — including vegetarians, those adhering to religious diets, service members with food allergies and those requiring medical restrictions. Because soldiers residing in bar

2 MIN READ
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From mountain peaks to film sets, foreign tourists redefine Seoul itinerary

Foreign visitors are increasingly venturing beyond Seoul's iconic shopping districts and royal landmarks, embracing filming locations, traditional markets and mountain trails as the city's tourism landscape grows more diverse, according to a new data analysis released Wednesday. The Seoul AI Foundation said its analysis of foreign visitor movement and online reviews found tourism demand spreading across a wider range of destinations throughout the capital in 2025. The study examined 16 major attractions using SK Telecom roaming-based mobility data and Google Maps reviews from foreign visitors. Myeong-dong attracted the largest average daily number of foreign visitors at 100,910. N Seoul Tower followed with 57,370 visitors, ahead of Samseong Station and Coex with 46,813, Gangnam Station with 41,210 and the Hongdae area with 40,213. The fastest growth was recorded at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, where foreign visitor traffic rose 12.1 percent. The Hongdae area and Naksan Park each posted a 10.5 percent increase, while Gwangjang Market rose 10.4 percent. N Seoul Tower recorded the highest share of

2 MIN READ
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Trump says US 'not finished' as Iran widens attacks

TEHRAN — President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that the United States was "not finished" attacking Iran, as Tehran widened strikes on Gulf states after its Houthi allies threatened to blockade Saudi ports. Two weeks after fighting resumed between the decades-old foes, Trump said Iran would need more than 20 years to recover from the damage inflicted in the Middle East war. "If we left right now, it would take Iran 20, 25 years to rebuild," he said. "We're not finished at all... we're not leaving right now." The warning came as Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain reported Iranian attacks, and as Trump used a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to pledge support for his fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and move toward peace with Israel. Bahrain said it intercepted Iranian attacks as sirens sounded repeatedly, while Kuwait and Jordan said they had intercepted drone and missile strikes. Kuwait said Tehran had hit power and water desalination plants over several days, including on Monday, forcing residents to ration energy. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed a strike on Jordan

3 MIN READ
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Won tests foothold in 1,400s as dollar risks linger

The Korean won has recovered from its weakest level since the Asian financial crisis, trading below the psychologically important 1,500-won-per-dollar level for the first time in three weeks, analysts said Wednesday. The move was driven by easing foreign investor rebalancing and expectations of increased dollar inflows, they said. Still, they cautioned that further gains in the won may be limited, with geopolitical tensions and the possibility of higher U.S. interest rates likely to keep the dollar supported. The won closed at 1,555.8 per dollar on July 2, its weakest level since March 2009 based on onshore trading, according to the Seoul foreign exchange market. It fell below the 1,500 won mark on July 8, closing at 1,498.5, before briefly rebounding to 1,506.1 won the following day. The currency strengthened again to finish at 1,493 on July 14 and has since remained in the upper-1,400 won range. On Wednesday, it ended onshore trading at 1,480.1. The average won-dollar exchange rate based on onshore closing prices stood at 1,488.6 won in the third week of July, falling below the 1,500 wo

2 MIN READ
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Korea bets $108 mil. on AI to fuel next wave of K-culture

Korea has spent more than two decades perfecting the art of the cross-border pop phenomenon. Now, government officials are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property rights to ensure the nation’s cultural juggernaut doesn't run out of steam. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) jointly announced, Wednesday, the launch of a 150 billion won ($108 million) K-Culture Value-Up Fund. The public-private vehicle represents Seoul’s largest target-driven effort to date aimed at pairing state-backed venture capital with emerging technology in the creative arts. Under the plan, the government will chip in 50 billion won from state coffers, flanked by 30 billion won from the state-run Korea Development Bank and the Advanced Strategic Industry Fund. Managing institutions hope to leverage that anchor seed into attracting more than 70 billion won in private capital. The strategy marks a structural pivot for Korea’s cultural policy. Previous state-guided venture funds in media and entertainment hovered around 50 billion won,

2 MIN READ
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Can MBK's last-minute Homeplus rescue mitigate regulatory sanctions?

As the financial regulator weighs sanctions against MBK Partners over its handling of the Homeplus acquisition, attention is turning to whether the private equity firm’s last-minute effort to keep the retailer afloat could influence the severity of the penalty. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has recently begun reviewing sanctions proposed by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), after the watchdog’s committee approved disciplinary measures on July 2. The FSS recommended a three-month suspension on MBK’s management of the Homeplus buyout fund, along with an institutional warning against MBK in its capacity as the general partner managing the private equity fund. If upheld, the warning would mark the first major regulatory sanction imposed on a domestic private equity fund manager. An institutional warning could affect MBK’s ability to raise capital from major limited partners, including the National Pension Service (NPS). At the center of the case is the firm’s treatment of redeemable convertible preferred shares (RCPS) — a type of preferred stock that can be redee

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Foreign holdings of domestic stocks push up Korea's financial liabilities

A surge in Korean stocks boosted the value of local equities held by foreign investors, swelling the nation's financial liabilities and pushing net financial assets lower for the first time in five years, data showed Wednesday. Net financial assets fell 20.4 percent to 1,271 trillion won ($858 billion) in 2025, a decline of 326 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the national balance sheet released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It was the biggest drop since the data series began in 2009. Net financial assets are calculated by subtracting financial liabilities, which include Korean equities held by foreign investors, from financial assets, which include overseas assets held by Korean residents. While financial assets rose by 2.79 quadrillion won, or 11.4 percent, to 27.318 quadrillion won, financial liabilities climbed by a larger 3.12 quadrillion won, or 13.6 percent, to 26.047 quadrillion won. "The won-denominated increase in the value of Korean equities held by foreign investors exceeded the increase in overseas equities held by Korean r

2 MIN READ
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OpenAI says AI models went rogue during testing, triggering 'unprecedented' breach at startup

WASHINGTON — OpenAI said on Tuesday that an autonomous agent powered by its advanced AI models went rogue during a security test and triggered a hack that compromised the infrastructure of AI startup Hugging Face last week. In a blog post, OpenAI said it was testing the capabilities of some of its most advanced models in a controlled environment but that the agent managed to escape containment, reach the internet and break into Hugging Face to try to satisfy its testing goal. OpenAI said the breakout was "an unprecedented cyber incident, involving state-of-the-art cyber capabilities" and that the company was reinforcing its safeguards. Hugging Face, a platform used to host open-source large language models and datasets, caused a stir in the cybersecurity community when it said in a blog post last week that it had been the target of a hack that "was different from anything we had handled before" in that "it was driven, end to end, by an autonomous AI agent system." In a post to X, Hugging Face cofounder Clement Delangue said the company suspected the hack "might have come from a frontie

2 MIN READ
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InterviewKorean proficiency opened doors for Moroccan engineer in Korea

Developing fluency in Korean, rather than simply earning a degree, was one of the biggest factors behind Moroccan engineer Hind Rbigui’s successful settlement in Korea. “Studying Korean and regularly taking part in Korean-language speech contests helped me greatly when I was looking for a job and ultimately became one of the most important factors in building a long-term life here,” Rbigui, a Moroccan who recently became a naturalized Korean citizen, said in an interview with The Korea Times. Her interest in Korea was first sparked by a television drama, but soon deepened into a fascination with the country’s rapid economic rise. “As an industrial engineering student, I wanted to understand how Korea had achieved such remarkable development in such a short period,” she said. “I felt I had to come and see it for myself.” Rbigui came to Korea in 2014 under the Korean Government Scholarship Program, now known as the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). After a year of Korean-language training at Inha University, she pursued a doctorate in industrial engineering at the University

3 MIN READ
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InterviewKoramco bets on sector expertise, downside risk management to navigate property market uncertainty

Asset managers’ ability to source, structure and manage investments has become increasingly critical amid high interest rates and a prolonged property market correction, which have heightened uncertainty across Korea’s real estate investment industry. Cheong Seang-hoi, CEO and president of Koramco REITs Management and Trust, described the current market environment not simply as a downturn, but as a proving ground for asset managers. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, he said Koramco views the ongoing market correction as both a crisis and an opportunity, adding that the company is focusing not on one-off deals or short-term gains, but on a structural overhaul of its operating model to navigate the uncertainty. “When markets are strong, differences in performance among asset managers are less noticeable. But when markets become volatile, outcomes depend on which assets they choose, how they structure investments and how effectively they manage them after acquisition,” he said. “Interest rates remain elevated, liquidity has dried up and assets are being repriced. In suc

4 MIN READ
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Sejong Language Center offers cultural experience programs for international students

Sejong University's language center organized diverse cultural experience programs, including Korean cooking classes and museum visits, this month to help international students better understand Korean culture and history. The Sejong Language Center held a class on making "memil jeonbyeong" (buckwheat crepes) for foreign students enrolled in levels 1-4 Korean language courses on July 7, 9 and 10 at the cooking classroom in the Daeyang AI Center on the university’s campus in northeastern Seoul, the school said Monday. During the class, students flattened the dough, filled it with ingredients and made memil jeonbyeong themselves, learning about a traditional Korean dish. They also shared their creations with classmates, experiencing Korean food culture through the class. Although it was the students’ first time preparing Korean dishes, students from diverse national backgrounds gained a deeper understanding of Korean food culture by actively participating, collaborating and communicating with one another, according to the university. On July 9, students in levels 5-6 Korean language c

2 MIN READ
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Roundtable Media literacy key to helping Koreans filter fake news

The Fake News Act, which took effect on July 7, has sparked widespread debate. Combating fake news is undoubtedly necessary. The threat posed by misinformation will only grow in the age of artificial intelligence, as advanced technology makes it easier than ever for people to create and spread false or manipulated content. Despite this pressing need, the act has drawn criticism for relying on controversial measures, vague definitions of what constitutes fake or manipulated news and excessive punitive damages, making it appear more like a quick fix than a carefully considered solution. To examine the act's shortcomings and explore possible improvements, The Korea Times hosted a roundtable discussion featuring three columnists: Park Jung-won, professor of law at Dankook University; Cho Hee-kyoung, professor of law at Hongik University; and Min Seong-jae, professor at Pace University in New York. The panelists emphasized that the government should consider making media literacy a core part of education to help citizens distinguish factual information from fake news. The discussion was mode

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Editor's Pick

Is semiconductor stock rally shifting from Korea to China?

Is semiconductor stock rally shifting from Korea to China?

Korean stocks led the global semiconductor rally over the past year, but the momentum is shifting toward China as shares of the country's two biggest chipmakers pull back, analysts said Monday. The TIGER China Semiconductor FACTSET ETF (exchange-traded fund), which tracks large-cap Chinese semiconductor companies, gained 49 percent in the three months through Thursday, making it the best performer among three Korea-listed semiconductor ETFs managed by Mirae Asset Global Investments, according to the Korea Exchange. That compared with a 33.6 percent gain for the TIGER U.S. Philadelphia Semiconductor ETF and 19.9 percent for the Korea-focused TIGER Semiconductor ETF. The Korean fund remained the top performer over the past year, surging 253.3 percent. The China-focused fund rose 154.8 percent, while its U.S. counterpart gained 132.4 percent. Analysts said the shift toward China reflects fresh inflows as Korean semiconductor shares pause after a sharp rally. Funds have sharply flowed out of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix this month even as both companies continue to post record earnings. "

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Life in Korea

Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

Shark sightings off Korea's east coast have nearly quadrupled this year as climate change pushes more of the predators into Korean waters, prompting coastal municipal authorities to step up beach safety measures. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), 46 large sharks were spotted off the east coast from January to June this year, compared with 12 in the same period last year. Shortfin mako sharks, rated “high” for the risk of attack in the agency's shark classification guide, were the most common, with 23 sightings. The surge in shark sightings tracks a broader warming trend in Korean waters. As temperatures climb, warm-water fish move further north along the east coast, and the large sharks that prey on them follow. The average sea surface temperature around the Korean Peninsula from January to June this year was 17.17 degrees Celsius, the highest level in 26 years. That marks an increase of 1.17 degrees from last year and 0.52 degrees from the previous record set in 2020, according to NIFS. Along the east coast, the average sea surface temperature from Apr

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Seoul to turn into citywide art playground with Kiaf, Frieze in September

Seoul is gearing up for a blockbuster month of art and culture in September, as Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul return with expanded citywide programs ranging from classical music and public art to film and late-night gallery events. This year’s Kiaf Seoul, Korea’s largest international art fair, runs from Sept. 2-6 at Coex in southern Seoul under the theme “Coexistence,” reflecting on the relationship between humans and technology in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The Galleries Association of Korea is introducing two special exhibitions — “Humal” and “Virtual Vital” — that examine how human instinct, animal vitality and digital systems intersect in contemporary art. “Humal,” a portmanteau of “human” and “animal,” brings together seven Korean artists, including Kang Gun, Kwak Ji-soo and Hwang Soo-yeon, in sculpture, installation, painting and photography that foreground the body and primal sensibilities long suppressed by rationalism and civilization. “Virtual Vital” extends the questions raised in “Humal” into augmented reality, inviting vis

2 MIN READ
Seoul to turn into citywide art playground with Kiaf, Frieze in September

K-Culture

NewJeans signals return as 4-member group with new video, photos

Popular K-pop girl group NewJeans released a surprise video and photos featuring four members, including Minji, on the fourth anniversary of its debut Wednesday, signaling its possible return to the music scene. The video, titled "2026 Summer of NewJeans," was posted on the group's official YouTube channel at midnight without prior notice, according to music industry sources. New photos of the four members — Haerin, Hyein, Minji and Hanni — were also posted on the group's official homepage and Instagram account. The release marks the band's first group-based content in one year and four months. The move drew fresh attention because the group had effectively been on hiatus after a bitter dispute with its agency, ADOR, over the dismissal of former CEO Min Hee-jin and the status of its exclusive contracts. NewJeans announced in November 2024 that it was terminating its contracts with ADOR, but the court later sided with the agency in both an injunction case and the main lawsuit, restricting the group's independent activities. Following the ruling, members Haerin, Hyein and Hanni returned

2 MIN READ
NewJeans signals return as 4-member group with new video, photos

Celebrities

NCT Wish, RESCENE to headline pool party at Everland's Caribbean Bay this week

Everland’s iconic water park, Caribbean Bay, is dialing up the summer heat this week with an explosive lineup of top K-pop talent, Samsung C&T’s resort division said Wednesday. Returning for its second consecutive year in partnership with Samsung Card, the Water Music Pool Party offers a thrill unlike any other: Visitors can groove to live music while immersed in an artificial wave pool with swells reaching up to 2.4 meters high. The star-studded roster kicks off Friday with rising boy group NCT Wish, followed by boy band The Wind on Saturday. On Sunday, five-member girl group RESCENE takes center stage. Driven by a viral YouTube catchphrase and a social media following topping 10 million across YouTube and Instagram, RESCENE has dominated Korean music charts this year with hit tracks "Love Attack" and "Pretty Girl." Fans online have already dubbed a trip to the water park paired with a RESCENE performance the ultimate summer combo. The momentum continues into next week, featuring girl group Fifty Fifty on July 28 and BTOB's Minhyuk on July 31. Throughout August, weekend festival-go

2 MIN READ
NCT Wish, RESCENE to headline pool party at Everland's Caribbean Bay this week

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Opinion

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Top 10 Stories

  1. Interview'I was only 9': N. Korean defector recalls childhood memory of public execution

  2. Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

  3. InterviewFluent Korean opened doors for Moroccan engineer in Korea

  4. QS names Seoul world's best student city for 2nd year

  5. Trump says US 'not finished' as Iran widens attacks

  6. Prediction markets boom as Korea grapples with legal gray zone

  7. Novartis to invest $95 mil. in Korea cancer radiotherapy supply chain

  8. S. Korea seizes cargo vessel suspected of violating UN sanctions on N. Korea

  9. Seoul to turn into citywide art playground with Kiaf, Frieze in September

  10. 'Dead Poets Society' brings question of good education to Seoul stage

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