The Korea Times

The Korea Times
My TimesLatest

What’s new in Korea in 2nd half of 2026: 1-week parental leave, unified rail app and more

Korea will introduce short-term parental leave, expand spousal leave around pregnancy and miscarriage and toughen penalties for wage theft as part of a broad package of social policy changes coming into force in the second half of this year. Government ministries on Tuesday announced a six-month policy package spanning family-friendly workplace rules, rail services, weather forecasting and disaster alerts. From Aug. 20, workers who have children aged eight or younger will be able to take one- to two-week blocks of child care leave once a year. The new option is designed for short-term care needs during school holidays or temporary closures of child care facilities, and allow parents to split their child care leave into shorter segments instead of only using it in lengthy stretches. Officials hope this flexibility will encourage more male employees at small firms to actually use parental leave rather than forgoing it due to workplace pressures. Spousal leave rules will also be relaxed. From Sept. 18, men will be allowed to take spousal maternity leave starting up to 50 days before their p

2 MIN READ
What’s new in Korea in 2nd half of 2026: 1-week parental leave, unified rail app and more thumbnail

AnalysisKorea's 'fake news' law set to redraw online speech rules

A viral YouTube video, a one-star review on a delivery app, a heated post on a parenting community — all of these will fall under the same legal standard starting July 7. Korea's revised Information and Communications Network Act, widely known as the "fake news" law, introduces punitive damages for YouTubers with more than 100,000 subscribers and high-traffic TikTok accounts if they display what authorities define as "unlawful" content, while platforms such as Naver, Kakao, Google and Meta stand to face steep penalties if they fail to police such content. High-traffic influencers targeted The enforcement decree spells out who can be sued for punitive damages over illegal and fabricated information. Individuals on online platforms like YouTube or TikTok who have posted at least three pieces of content over the past three months and either have more than 100,000 subscribers or average more than 100,000 monthly views in that period will fall under the definition of major online information producers. If they are found to have deliberately spread false information that causes harm in order

4 MIN READ
thumbnail

InterviewThe Catholic University of Korea says faith is its strength in AI race

As universities race to expand artificial intelligence (AI) education, The Catholic University of Korea is betting that its strongest competitive advantage lies not in AI alone, but in its Catholic identity and the values guiding the technology's use. President Choi Jun-gui said the university's vision, "Be Catholic, Be Excellent," seeks to distinguish the institution by combining cutting-edge AI and biomedical innovation with education rooted in human dignity, ethics and respect for life. "AI is a tool. Human beings must always remain the ones who guide and control that tool," he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. Korea's first medical AI ethics code The university is putting that philosophy into practice through a series of AI initiatives centered on medicine and biotechnology. Starting this fall semester, the university will launch an interdisciplinary graduate program in AI drug discovery and regulatory science, jointly operated by the colleges of pharmacy, medicine and medical AI. Choi said the initiative responds to a growing global demand for professionals who understa

4 MIN READ
The Catholic University of Korea says faith is its strength in AI race thumbnail

Vietnamese Gen Z treats Korean esports players like K-pop idols

Min Hai, 20, a second-year student at Hanoi Law University, was among the thousands of fans who gathered to meet the members of Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), one of Korea’s leading League of Legends teams, on June 18 at Quan Ngua Sports Complex in Hanoi. Holding a placard that read “I am a Hanwha fan,” Min Hai said HLE’s rise into a team representing League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) taught the importance of effort and perseverance. “For me, cheering for HLE is more than just a hobby,” she said. “Watching the players overcome adversity gives me courage to face difficulties, too. They are like role models in life, with many things to learn from.” The scene looked more like a K-pop concert than an esports team fan event. When HLE's star players Zeus, Kanavi, Zeka, Gumayusi and Delight walked out, fans erupted with cheers, chanting their names. Jung, a 20-year-old University of Virginia student, said the players felt like both stars and friends after years of playing League of Legends (LoL) and following them since she was in high school. “It took 26 hours of flying over

4 MIN READ
Vietnamese Gen Z treats Korean esports players like K-pop idols thumbnail

S. Korean, Ukraine FMs agree to resolve North Korean POW issue under international law

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, agreed Tuesday that the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured during the Russia-Ukraine war should be handled in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles. The two ministers discussed the POW issue as well as a wide range of mutual interests and bilateral cooperation during Sybiha's visit to Seoul, according to the ministry. It marked the first visit in 11 years by a Ukrainian foreign minister to Korea for bilateral talks. Cho and Sybiha agreed to continue seeking a resolution to the North Korean POWs issue that respects the detainees' free will, the foreign ministry said in a press release. "The two foreign ministers had a shared understanding that this matter should be resolved in a manner consistent with international law and humanitarian principles," ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a briefing, adding that the government will continue its diplomatic efforts to advance and resolve the issue. He declined to elaborate further, citing the sensitivity o

3 MIN READ
S. Korean, Ukraine FMs agree to resolve North Korean POW issue under international law thumbnail

Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy

A Ukrainian defense media outlet questioned the realism of Korea’s first live-fire counter-drone drill, prompting debate over the military’s evolving drone defense strategy. The Republic of Korea Air Force defended the exercise as a first-step test of existing weapons systems rather than an attempt to replicate combat conditions in Ukraine. Defense Express, a Ukrainian military news outlet, recently analyzed footage from the ROK Air Force’s drill, in which eight M167 Vulcan air defense guns were used to engage 50 low-flying drones. The outlet argued that the exercise differed sharply from real battlefield conditions, pointing out that actual first-person-view (FPV) drones do not fly slowly in a tight formation. It also questioned the cost-effectiveness of firing anti-aircraft rounds at cheap FPV drones. The Air Force rejected the suggestion that the drill lacked value, saying it was the first exercise of its kind and was designed to test whether existing weapons could be used against a swarm of drones. “The purpose was not to reproduce actual battlefield conditions exactly, but t

3 MIN READ
Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy thumbnail

Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing

The National Pension Service (NPS) is expected to resume rebalancing its domestic equity portfolio on Wednesday after its allocation to local stocks climbed well above this year’s target, market analysts said Tuesday. They warn that the move could generate selling pressure of as much as 74 trillion won ($48 billion), adding to downside risks if it coincides with continued foreign investors’ selling of Korean equities. Data from Daishin Securities showed that domestic equities accounted for an estimated 30 percent of the NPS portfolio as of Friday, exceeding its 2026 target allocation of 20.8 percent by 9.2 percentage points. The pension fund periodically adjusts its asset mix to keep each asset class in line with its long-term strategic allocation. When an asset’s share moves too far above or below its target level, the NPS sells assets it holds in excess and increases exposure to those it is underweight in. By systematically rebalancing its portfolio, the fund locks in gains after strong market rallies while accumulating assets during market weakness, a strategy aimed at enhancing

2 MIN READ
Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing thumbnail

Korea secures 2.07 mil. ton dedicated EU steel quota under new TRQ

Korea has secured a dedicated 2.073 million metric ton duty-free steel quota under the European Union's new tariff-rate quota (TRQ), cushioning the impact of the bloc's tighter import restrictions that take effect Wednesday. On Tuesday (local time), the EU announced the operational framework of its new steel import measures, which will replace existing safeguard measures, along with country-specific quota allocations. Under the new measures, the EU has raised tariffs on out-of-quota imports to 50 percent from 25 percent across 30 steel product categories, while cutting total duty-free import volumes to 18.35 million tons from the previous 33.82 million tons annually, which is about a 46 percent reduction. The new structure differentiates quotas by product and trade status, creating separate allocations for WTO country quotas, FTA country quotas and FTA-only shared quotas, effectively providing additional duty-free access to countries with EU free trade agreements, including Korea. The trade ministry announced that Korea’s total dedicated quota was cut 19.7 percent from 2.581 million to

2 MIN READ
Korea secures 2.07 mil. ton dedicated EU steel quota under new TRQ thumbnail

Labor, infrastructure remain hurdles for Korea's AI megaprojects

Korea’s ambitious plan to build a new semiconductor manufacturing hub in the country's southwestern region and expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure faces growing practical questions over how to secure the workforce and industrial infrastructure needed to support these projects outside the Seoul metropolitan area. The government on Monday unveiled three flagship megaprojects — semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers — as new growth engines, backed by more than 1,350 trillion won ($872 billion) in planned public and private investment. The initiative includes about 800 trillion won to build four memory fabs, two each for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in the southwestern region, while strengthening existing manufacturing bases in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and other sites around the capital region. SK Group, GS Group and Naver are also expected to invest around 550 trillion won to develop AI data centers with a total capacity of 8.4 gigawatts in the initial phase and expand to 18.4 gigawatts by 2035. Samsung Group and SK Group separately pledged a combined 4,

3 MIN READ
Labor, infrastructure remain hurdles for Korea's AI megaprojects thumbnail

Can Korean football family really change its mentality?

The 2026 World Cup is over for Korea and the inquest into what happened in Mexico is well underway. Starting now is the discussion about what should happen next. As mentioned previously, there is a lot of anger and emotion at the moment and that can help promote the desire for change. But when actually thinking about what should happen, cool heads are needed. It is going to be a long journey, but the first steps have to be taken, and I am not talking just about finding a new coach. There are short-, medium- and long-term changes that need to be done. In the short-term, there has to be a collective breath taken and a calm discussion. Talking to coaches who are on the outside watching Korea, they all remark about how much pressure is put on the coach and the players. A question to ask all stakeholders — the fans, the media, the politicians, the players, the public and private sector — is whether people are prepared to tolerate relative failure if the necessary progress is being made? For example, the Asian Cup kicks off in January. It’s just six months away, and will be in Saudi Arab

3 MIN READ
Can Korean football family really change its mentality? thumbnail

Incheon airport operator to halve employee parking permits

Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) will slash the number of parking permits issued to airport employees by more than half beginning Wednesday, as part of a sweeping reform aimed at addressing lax management and the misuse of employee parking privileges, the state-run airport operator said. The measure follows a recent inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which found that IIAC had issued an excessive number of long-term parking permits, while failing to adequately oversee their use. The audit also identified cases in which some employees used complimentary parking privileges for personal purposes rather than for work-related needs. In response, IIAC has pledged to completely overhaul its employee parking permit system, invalidating all existing permits and requiring workers to reapply under stricter eligibility criteria. Under the revised rules, the standard for obtaining a permit will be tightened from cases where parking is considered “necessary for work” to circumstances where it is deemed “essential for work.” The corporation plans to reduc

3 MIN READ
Incheon airport operator to halve employee parking permits thumbnail

Global crypto exchanges repackage Korean chip stocks as perpetual futures

Global cryptocurrency exchanges are offering high-leverage perpetual futures linked to Korean chip stocks and the KOSPI, seeking new revenue streams as crypto trading volumes decline sharply, industry officials said Tuesday. Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, has been among the most aggressive players in the shift, rolling out a series of products. One of its products even gives investors exposure of as much as 150 times the move in the KOSPI. On June 22, Binance listed KORUUSDT, a perpetual futures contract tied to KORU, a triple-leveraged KOSPI exchange-traded fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The product offers leverage of up to 20 times. Four days later, Binance added another KORU-linked product with leverage of as much as 50 times. Perpetual futures, a staple of crypto trading, allow investors to speculate on the price of an asset without owning it. Unlike traditional equity products, they can be traded around the clock and often come with far higher leverage. The expansion builds on Binance's earlier move into derivatives tied to Korean semiconductor stocks. On

2 MIN READ
Global crypto exchanges repackage Korean chip stocks as perpetual futures thumbnail

Gyeonggi Province scraps waiting period for migrant child care subsidies

For immigrant families navigating the grueling early months of relocation, economic survival often hinges on a simple question: Who will watch the children? In Korea, where a shifting demographic landscape has forced a dramatic rethink of immigration policy, Gyeonggi Province said Tuesday that it will immediately eliminate a contentious 90-day residency requirement that had blocked newly arrived foreign workers and residents from accessing child care subsidies. The sweeping policy shift, set to take effect in July, represents a calculated attempt by provincial authorities to close a glaring regulatory gap that had left children of migrant families vulnerable during their critical initial transition period. Previously, local ordinances in Gyeonggi Province — a massive economic engine enveloping Seoul that houses the country’s largest concentration of foreign workers — forced immigrant parents to pay for daycare entirely out of pocket until they reached the three-month mark, regardless of their legal registration status. Under the newly amended Gyeonggi Foreign Resident Support Ordi

2 MIN READ
Gyeonggi Province scraps waiting period for migrant child care subsidies thumbnail

Chinese EV makers gain traction in Korea's import car market despite uphill battle

When Choi, a 35-year-old office worker living in Korea, started looking for her next car, she did not expect BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand, to make her shortlist. “I've wanted an electric vehicle, but domestic models are just too expensive,” Choi said, adding that rising fuel prices first sparked her interest in EVs. Her attention later turned to Chinese brands after reading about China's rapid adoption of EVs and how it helped cushion the country from recent oil-price shocks linked to the conflict in the Middle East. “I still have some biases against Chinese products, but with so many people driving them in China, I figured they can't just be cheap junk,” she said. “They’ve probably spent years developing the technology and gone through plenty of trial and error.” Choi’s case reflects a subtle shift underway: Chinese EV makers are stepping up their presence in Korea, one of the world’s most competitive automotive markets, and are now gaining traction. The push comes as Chinese-made vehicles overtook Japanese brands in Korea’s import market for the first t

3 MIN READ
Chinese EV makers gain traction in Korea's import car market despite uphill battle thumbnail

Accelerated Yongin investment well within Samsung, SK hynix financial flexibility: S&P

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have sufficient financial flexibility to accelerate planned investment in the Yongin semiconductor cluster, S&P Global Ratings said Tuesday, easing concerns that the chipmakers' upcoming investment package could weigh on their financial stability. Speaking at a media briefing in Seoul, Jeremy Kim, associate director for Asia-Pacific corporate ratings at S&P Global Ratings, said the timing of the planned investment in the chip cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, could be brought forward, resulting in a modest increase in capital expenditure over the next two years. "There could be some increase in capital expenditure this year and next, but both SK hynix and Samsung Electronics have sufficient financial capacity to absorb that through their free cash flow," Kim said. The comments came a day after Samsung Electronics and SK hynix unveiled an approximately 4,700 trillion won ($3.4 trillion) investment package, including about 3,500 trillion won earmarked for expanding production of advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Sams

2 MIN READ
Accelerated Yongin investment well within Samsung, SK hynix financial flexibility: S&P thumbnail

Keyveatz debuts with fresh take on girlish hip-hop

Hip-hop and R&B label AOMG's first-ever girl crew Keyveatz made its official debut Tuesday, dropping its title track "OXY" and staking a claim in one of K-pop's last open spaces — girlish hip-hop. The five-member group — Son Ju-one, Newy, Um Ji-one, Kim Yu-na and Kang Ye-seul — have been deliberate about the "girl crew" label, positioning themselves apart from the typical girl group mold for an identity rooted in "subculture and underground aesthetics." Hours before the release of its debut EP "OXY_GEN," the group met press at YES24 Wanderloch Hall in Seoul, arriving in sharp streetwear but radiating first-day nerves. "I'm incredibly nervous," said Son, the group's leader. "Standing on an official debut stage, I feel excited and anxious all at once. A lot of time and effort went into getting here ... Our slogan is 'Don't miss what's next,' so we're asking you to keep an eye out for us." On what "girl crew" means in practice, the members pushed back against the idea of image as something manufactured. "It's built on attitude, not concept," Kim said. "Creating unpredictable individual

3 MIN READ
Keyveatz debuts with fresh take on girlish hip-hop thumbnail

Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave

As K-pop juggernaut BTS enters a new era following the release of its latest album, "ARIRANG," scholars from around the world will gather in Korea to examine the group's cultural influence through fandom, technology, politics and globalization. The fifth BTS: A Global Interdisciplinary Conference will take place Thursday and Friday at the International Convention Center of Jeonbuk National University, under the theme "The Next Generation Hallyu & BTS." Hallyu refers to the Korean wave. Hosted by the International Society for BTS Studies (ISBS), the conference will bring together 50 presenters from 10 countries, including Korea, the United States, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia, the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia and Japan. The event is co-organized by Jeonbuk National University's Namwon Glocal Campus Administration, Center for Glocal University Project, department of K-entertainment and Big Movement. Opening the conference, Lee Ji-haeng, professor of K-entertainment at Jeonbuk National University, will deliver the keynote address exploring the cultural significance of

2 MIN READ
Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave thumbnail

RESCENE's rise proves small K-pop agencies still have a chance

In a K-pop landscape where entertainment giants hold most of the cards, one five-member girl group is proving the rules can still be bent. RESCENE is winning over the public through a playbook that looks nothing like conventional K-pop marketing, fueling hope that small agencies still have room to break through, even as industry watchers debate exactly what RESCENE's formula is. RESCENE debuted in March 2024 with the album "Re:Scene" under The Muse Entertainment, a newly formed agency. The multinational lineup, made up of Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena, built its identity around an unusual concept: reviving a "scene" through "scent." But without the backing of a major label or a big-budget marketing push, the group struggled for years to make a name for itself. Momentum finally arrived this year through social media. In March, content showing Woni and Minami sporting Japanese "gyaru"-style (a flashy, dramatic Japanese street-fashion look) makeup while touring Woni's rural hometown of Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, went immensely viral online. The YouTube moment also sent a spotlight

3 MIN READ
RESCENE's rise proves small K-pop agencies still have a chance thumbnail

Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation

As urban temperatures soar and the relentless hum of modern life grows louder, a centuries-old monastic tradition is transforming into Korea’s newest summer escape. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism said Tuesday that it will roll out a curated network of more than 60 specialized "Summer Special Templestay" programs across 50 historic temples nationwide through July and August. The initiative marks a significant evolution for the state-supported cultural program. Once strictly defined by austere dawn chanting, vegetarian monastic meals and hours of meditation, modern temple stays have broadened their appeal to attract a younger, digitally fatigued demographic by merging ancient asceticism with contemporary leisure. This summer’s decentralized itineraries partition the monastic experience into distinct experiential tracks tailored for a modern audience. For adventure-seeking travelers, coastal and mountain temples are embracing regional outdoor sports. Naksan Temple, perched dramatically over the East Sea, will offer surfing lessons paired with wave meditation. Down south, Ssanggye

2 MIN READ
Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation thumbnail

CORTIS agency vows legal action after GPS tracker found on group’s vehicle

BigHit Music is taking legal action over invasive and malicious behavior targeting K-pop boy group CORTIS, including alleged privacy violations by obsessive fans. The agency said Monday in a notice posted on the fan platform Weverse that it regularly files criminal complaints based on round-the-clock monitoring and reports submitted by fans. BigHit Music said it has continued to take firm action against malicious online posts, violations of the artists’ rights, the illegal distribution of flight information and other invasions of privacy or breaches of fan etiquette. “We identified posts and comments across online platforms that infringed upon the artists’ rights,” the agency said. “The latest complaints cover content involving disparagement and insults, the dissemination of clearly false information about the artists and the performance of their albums and songs, as well as maliciously altered images that violate their dignity or cause sexual humiliation.” The agency also said it had gathered evidence against several high-volume accounts accused of illegally selling informat

2 MIN READ
CORTIS agency vows legal action after GPS tracker found on group’s vehicle thumbnail

Editor's Pick

[ON FAKE NEWS] The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

ON FAKE NEWS The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

New revisions to the Information and Communications Network Act, which will take effect in July, will hand Korea one of the most decisive legal tools yet devised against online falsehoods. For a country that has watched deepfakes and manipulated clips spread faster than fact-checkers can debunk them, this is surely a step worth welcoming. But it also deserves to be implemented with care, so that a sound principle does not curdle into overreach. The revision targets influential online information producers, such as YouTubers with more than 100,000 subscribers or creators averaging over 100,000 monthly views. If such creators knowingly spread false or fabricated information and cause harm, they now face punitive financial damages of up to five times the loss incurred. Large platforms, defined as those with over a million daily users on average, must also establish formal reporting and response systems for disinformation. The case for action is persuasive. The Hyundai Research Institute has estimated that fake news costs the Korean economy roughly 30 trillion won annually, about 1.9 perce

4 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation

Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation

As urban temperatures soar and the relentless hum of modern life grows louder, a centuries-old monastic tradition is transforming into Korea’s newest summer escape. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism said Tuesday that it will roll out a curated network of more than 60 specialized "Summer Special Templestay" programs across 50 historic temples nationwide through July and August. The initiative marks a significant evolution for the state-supported cultural program. Once strictly defined by austere dawn chanting, vegetarian monastic meals and hours of meditation, modern temple stays have broadened their appeal to attract a younger, digitally fatigued demographic by merging ancient asceticism with contemporary leisure. This summer’s decentralized itineraries partition the monastic experience into distinct experiential tracks tailored for a modern audience. For adventure-seeking travelers, coastal and mountain temples are embracing regional outdoor sports. Naksan Temple, perched dramatically over the East Sea, will offer surfing lessons paired with wave meditation. Down south, Ssanggye

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation

As urban temperatures soar and the relentless hum of modern life grows louder, a centuries-old monastic tradition is transforming into Korea’s newest summer escape. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism said Tuesday that it will roll out a curated network of more than 60 specialized "Summer Special Templestay" programs across 50 historic temples nationwide through July and August. The initiative marks a significant evolution for the state-supported cultural program. Once strictly defined by austere dawn chanting, vegetarian monastic meals and hours of meditation, modern temple stays have broadened their appeal to attract a younger, digitally fatigued demographic by merging ancient asceticism with contemporary leisure. This summer’s decentralized itineraries partition the monastic experience into distinct experiential tracks tailored for a modern audience. For adventure-seeking travelers, coastal and mountain temples are embracing regional outdoor sports. Naksan Temple, perched dramatically over the East Sea, will offer surfing lessons paired with wave meditation. Down south, Ssanggye

2 MIN READ
Korea’s temples reinvent summer vacation with surfing, scuba, meditation

K-Culture

BTS to take 'The City' project to London

K-pop supergroup BTS' large-scale cultural program "The City" will be held in London next month to celebrate the group's stop there for its ongoing world tour, the group's agency said Monday. The band will stage the offline event, titled "BTS The City Arirang London," alongside its "Arirang" world tour concerts scheduled for July 6-7 (local time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, according to the agency, BitHit Music. The main events of "The City" will kick off on July 6, the first day of the London shows, starting with lighting installations. The London Eye, one of the city's most iconic landmarks, will be illuminated in a vivid red, the key color of the "Arirang" tour. On the same day, a large floating boat carrying a sculpture featuring the "Arirang" logo will appear on the River Thames. From July 8 to 10, a special BTS-themed media art exhibition will be held at Outernet London, a public entertainment space focused on the arts, music and culture. The venue's massive digital LED canvases will be filled with visuals from "Arirang," offering an immersive audiovisual experience. Ad

1 MIN READ
BTS to take 'The City' project to London

Celebrities

Figure skating legend Kim Yuna shares candid reflection in fourth year of marriage

Former figure skater Kim Yuna shared heartfelt thoughts about what marriage has meant to her. On June 26, Elle Korea's YouTube channel uploaded a video titled "Queen Yuna's Flirting Tips?" In the video, Kim hosted a "Counseling Corner," where she listened to viewers' concerns and offered advice. One viewer asked, "Everyone around me is married, but I'm still unsure about getting married. What does marriage mean to you?" Kim replied, "I haven't been married for very long either, so I still feel like a beginner when it comes to talking about the meaning of marriage." Kim married Forestella member Ko Woo-rim, who is five years younger than her, in 2022. Speaking about her husband, she said, "It feels like I've gained someone I can always talk to and lean on — a true companion." She continued, "We're also each other's legal guardians, but beyond simply being a husband and wife, I've come to realize that we're people who protect one another. It feels very reassuring to have someone like that by my side." Meanwhile, comments Ko Woo-rim made earlier about why he decided to marry Kim have also dr

2 MIN READ
Figure skating legend Kim Yuna shares candid reflection in fourth year of marriage

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

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy

  2. S. Korean, Ukraine FMs agree to resolve North Korean POW issue under international law

  3. Despite public support, Korea struggles to raise age threshold for seniors’ free subway rides

  4. Can Korean football family really change its mentality?

  5. Incheon airport operator to halve employee parking permits

  6. Gov't newly designates 3 areas in Gyeonggi as speculative zones

  7. Labor, infrastructure remain hurdles for Korea's AI megaprojects

  8. Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing

  9. Late Filipino captain designated Korean War hero of July

  10. Son Heung-min apologizes for Korea's World Cup exit

Video

Interesting contents

Taboola 후원링크