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Chipmakers face pressure to share ‘excessive profits’ despite investment pledge

Despite committing a combined 4,755 trillion won ($3.05 trillion) to semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments in support of the government's balanced development agenda, Samsung Group and SK Group's chipmaking units are now expected to face fresh calls to share excess profits. Politicians are already floating profit-sharing proposals, such as establishing a national wealth fund financed by additional tax revenue, distributing public dividends or returning a portion of excess profits to underdeveloped rural areas. The government plans to begin public discussions on the issue within a month, with the labor minister describing chipmakers’ "astronomical excess profits" as "the aggregate gains created by society." In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, said that how to distribute semiconductor companies’ “extraordinary profits between shareholders and workers” would be one of the key questions shaping the country's future. He wrote that excess liquidity should be channeled into overseas investments and

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Lee, Moon stress party unity ahead of DPK leadership race

President Lee Jae Myung and former President Moon Jae-in held their first official meeting at Cheong Wa Dae since Lee took office to emphasize party unity Wednesday, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) faces growing factional tensions ahead of its leadership election next month. The luncheon came as the race for the party chairmanship increasingly evolves into a contest between pro-Lee and pro-Moon factions, fueling concerns over growing divisions within the ruling party. While the presidential office said the gathering had been planned since shortly after Lee’s inauguration and was delayed only because of scheduling conflicts, the timing prompted speculation among political circles. Lee welcomed Moon at Sangchunjae, a traditional house inside the presidential compound, where the two held talks over tea before lunch. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the economy, foreign affairs, security and national unity. Cheong Wa Dae described the meal as a “table of unity.” The menu featured croaker soup, one of Moon’s favorite seasonal dishes, and bibimbap, which s

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30 years on, Kosdaq struggles to regain investors' trust

As Kosdaq marks its 30th anniversary on Wednesday, the government is moving to weed out marginal firms and promote higher-quality companies in a broad overhaul aimed at restoring investor confidence. During a ceremony held at Conrad Seoul hotel, Korea Exchange (KRX) Chairman and CEO Jeong Eun-bo reaffirmed plans to structurally reform the junior tech-heavy market. "The buildup of marginal companies has weighed on the broader market's valuation and made it vulnerable to unfair trading practices," Jeong said. "The goal is to replace weaker firms with innovative technology companies and help them grow into stronger listed businesses." Starting Wednesday, the market capitalization threshold for delisting will be raised to 20 billion won ($12.9 million) from the current 15 billion won. Penny stocks trading below 1,000 won will also become eligible for delisting. KRX expects the tougher rules to sharply increase the number of delisted companies, from eight in 2023 and 38 last year to about 88 this year. Another proposal calls for a "promotion-and-relegation" system, under which the market woul

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Won nears 1,560 on strong dollar, foreign stock selling

The Korean won weakened to 1,559 per dollar in intraday trading Wednesday, showing little sign of stabilizing despite suspected intervention by currency authorities. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,554.9 in Seoul's onshore trading, up 5.5 won from the previous session, marking the local currency's weakest close since March 2009 during the global financial crisis. The rate opened at 1,549.8 and breached the closely watched 1,550 level during the session, climbing as high as 1,559 before paring gains amid dollar-selling by exporters and caution over possible official intervention. Foreign exchange authorities spent a record $22.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 and another $13.6 billion in the first quarter of this year to help support the won. Still, broad dollar strength driven by the Federal Reserve’s hawkish outlook, coupled with the won’s tendency to track weakness in the yen, is putting renewed upward pressure on the exchange rate. Foreign selling in Korean equities is adding to pressure on the currency. Overseas investors net sold 148 trillion won of KOSPI-listed

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'Tank Day' chant at baseball tournament against Gwangju school draws condemnation

Criticism is mounting over a chant by some Paichai High School baseball players that evoked Starbucks Korea's controversial "Tank Day" promotion during a national tournament match against a school from Gwangju. During Monday's match against Gwangju Jeil High School at the 81st Cheongnonggi National High School Baseball Championship in Seoul's Mokdong Baseball Stadium, some Paichai players repeatedly chanted “Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks” in unison. One student even shouted “Tank Day.” The chant was a direct reference to Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion launched on May 18 — the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising — which used the phrase in a reference widely condemned as denigrating the pro-democracy movement. The backlash at the time drew responses from consumers and politicians alike. The pro-democracy movement erupted in the southwestern city of Gwangju on May 18, 1980, when citizens stood up against the nationwide extension of martial law by the military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan, who would become president later that year. The crackdown left hund

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Netflix dating reality 'Better Late Than Single' Season 2 promises fierce return

In a golden age of dating reality shows where perfectly curated singles trade razor-sharp flirtations, Netflix is doubling down on a completely different kind of romance — the clumsy and utterly genuine kind. Netflix show "Better Late Than Single" is a "dating makeover reality show," which tracks the first romantic steps of people with zero dating experience but maximum expectations. Following the sleeper-hit success of its first installment, the show's second season promises to dive even deeper into the relatable "swamp of delusions" that defines first love. For the show’s creators, the massive popularity of the series lies in its raw, unfiltered nostalgia. "I’ve previously described this show as an old diary," said producer Kim Noh-eun during a press conference for the show at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Wednesday. "When you open it up years later, it makes you cringe so hard your hands and feet curl —yet you absolutely cannot stop reading. It's that universal human experience that resonated so deeply with viewers." Returning panelists actors Seo In-guk and Kang

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What about Park Ji-sung or Lee Young-pyo as head coach?

Now that Hong Myung-bo has resigned, there will be a debate as to who is next to take the national team hot seat, one of the most pressured jobs in Asia. In the past this used to be a fun ritual. First, the media would throw lots of names around — both foreign and domestic. Then there would be a short list revealed and the excitement would move up a level with rumors, reports and all the rest. Outgoing Korea Football Association (KFA) chief Chung Mung-gyu spoiled it all of late by going outside the normal practices to ensure Jurgen Klinsmann got the job in 2023 and Hong in 2024. Indeed, this is part of the reason for the current anger. Now, though, there is going to be a new boss and while it is best not to rush, the question will soon start to be asked: Who? Despite all the criticism at Hong, he is actually one of the most successful Korean coaches. He led Ulsan HD to two successive K-League titles in 2022 and 2023 and also won bronze with the U-23 team at the 2012 London Olympics. Two years ago, there weren’t a lot of choices in terms of quality local coaches and that is still an i

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Petrochemical overhaul faces renewed urgency as margins slide again

The petrochemical sector is coming under renewed strain as naphtha and ethylene margins have slipped back below break-even levels following a brief wartime rebound, reinforcing calls for the government to accelerate its long-delayed industry restructuring. Margins briefly recovered during the U.S.-Iran conflict as feedstock shortage fears lifted petrochemical prices. The ethylene-naphtha spread, a key profitability gauge for naphtha cracking centers (NCCs), jumped to about $370 per metric ton in April from $90 in February, but fell back below $200 in June as supply concerns eased and buyers delayed purchases. The fading war premium comes as the industry's fundamental challenge remains unchanged, with aggressive capacity expansions in China, India and the Middle East continuing to drive a global oversupply. Ethylene demand is expected to grow by about 6 million tons this year, while new capacity additions, led by China and India, are projected to reach roughly 9 million tons, leaving supply growth outpacing demand. In light of this, Seoul has begun pushing industry restructuring, with a t

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SK hynix files amended F-1 with SEC, as it begins US IPO process

SK hynix has resubmitted an amended F-1 Form registration with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) this week, which included potential litigation risks, as it proceeds with its bid to list on the U.S. market. According to the filing submitted Tuesday (local time), SK hynix said a "putative antitrust class action suit" was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Thursday (local time), brought by "indirect purchasers of conventional DRAM products." The plaintiffs alleged SK hynix, its U.S. subsidiary and two other memory semiconductor makers "conspired to restrict the supply of and inflate prices for conventional DRAM beginning in approximately October 2022," the document read. Also in the filing, the Korean chip giant said it has ranked first in the global High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) market, with 56.4 percent market share in the first quarter. It was also the second-largest supplier of NAND flash memory based on revenue during the period, citing data from IDC, a global market intelligence firm. SK hynix said it plans to use the proceeds to pay

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Will Homeplus liquidation decision be postponed again?

Homeplus has submitted an amended rehabilitation plan just three days before a court deadline, but its failure to secure a crucial 200 billion won ($129 million) capital injection is increasing uncertainty over whether the troubled retailer will face liquidation, industry sources said Wednesday. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court will now assess the feasibility of the revised proposal to determine whether to continue with rescue proceedings or dissolve the company. Although the current deadline expires this Friday, expectations are rising that the court will defer the date once more to review the new submission. The country’s second-largest retail chain, controlled by private equity firm MBK Partners, filed for corporate rehabilitation on March 4 last year after struggling with financial difficulties and facing credit rating downgrades. The original deadline for court approval of its rehabilitation plan was March 4 this year, but the court first extended it to May 4 before granting an additional extension until this Friday. Bankruptcy law dictates that a rehabilitation scheme must receive appr

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Gyeonggi Province expands funding to upgrade migrant worker facilities

Faced with a shrinking domestic workforce and a chronic labor shortage across its industrial heartland, Korea’s most populous province is deploying financial incentives to get small manufacturers to improve conditions for foreign workers. Gyeonggi Province, the sprawling manufacturing belt that encircles Seoul, said Wednesday that it selected 15 small- and medium-sized enterprises for its "Happy Workplaces" initiative. The designated companies will receive corporate grants of up to 10 million won ($7,200) each. The money is explicitly earmarked to upgrade the basic facilities that affect the daily lives of migrant workers: renovating drafty on-site dormitories, upgrading cafeterias and installing safety equipment on hazardous factory floors. The incentive program, co-managed with the Gyeonggi Provincial Job Foundation, arrives amid an intensifying national debate over the treatment of migrant laborers. Korea relies heavily on low-skilled foreign workers to sustain its factory lines and agricultural sectors. Yet grassroots labor advocacy groups have long documented substandard housing

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Samsung SDI forecasts earnings turnaround this year, urges AI-driven transformation

Samsung SDI expects to return to profit this year after spending the past year strengthening its business fundamentals, CEO Choi Joo-sun said Wednesday as the battery maker marked its 56th anniversary. Speaking at a commemorative ceremony at the company's headquarters in Giheung, Gyeonggi Province, Choi said the company had laid the foundation for renewed growth despite a challenging business environment. "Over the past year, we have steadily strengthened the fundamentals of our business with a mindset of 'pessimistic optimism,' laying the groundwork for a renewed leap forward," Choi said. "As promised earlier this year, we expect an earnings turnaround to be achievable this year." The comments come as Samsung SDI seeks to recover from slowing global electric vehicle demand and intensifying competition in the battery industry. Choi highlighted several achievements across the company's businesses, including securing a series of energy storage system projects, signing supply agreements with global premium automakers, restoring the competitiveness of its cylindrical battery business and exp

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'Stop the bullying': Japan defends crucified Korean football manager after disastrous World Cup exit

Public anger in Korea has fallen squarely on national football team manager Hong Myung-bo, with critics blaming him for the country’s disastrous 2026 FIFA World Cup exit. But across the sea in Japan, a wave of sympathy has emerged for the embattled coach, with public figures and commentators casting the criticism in Korea as excessive and vitriolic. Former J.League colleagues rally behind Hong Among those who came to Hong’s defense was Taro Kono, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives. Kono, who served as foreign minister and defense minister under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and later as digital minister under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, wrote Monday on X, formerly Twitter: “Don’t bully our OB Hong Myung-bo.” Derived from the English term “old boy,” “OB” is commonly used in Japan to refer to a former member of an organization or a former player for a sports club. Kono served as chairman of Shonan Bellmare from 2000 to 2005, several years after Hong played for the J.League club in 1997 and 1998, when it was known as Bellmare Hiratsuka. Although the two apparentl

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Why Korean music shows are no longer just about K-pop

Korean music shows are no longer mere promotional platforms for new music releases. Mnet's "M Countdown" recently diversified its programming by bringing musical theater actors, fictional bands from television series and viral content creators to its stage. "M Countdown" is rethinking its role, departing from its traditional format centered on digital music charts and K-pop comeback stages. The shift serves as a strategic response to declining television ratings and shifting media consumption habits, drawing a positive reception from K-pop fans and regular viewers. Music shows previously served as the primary promotional vehicle for new releases. Today, audiences consume music through streaming services and short-form video platforms. Fans also seek out official YouTube channels or fan cams — fan-shot performance videos — on their own schedules, significantly diminishing the exclusive content traditional programs can offer. Viewership for broadcast and cable network music shows has plummeted in recent years. With audiences prioritizing online clips over live television, networks mus

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Seoul expands free weddings, cultural programs at historic houses

Looking to move past the era of treating historic architecture merely as static museum pieces, Seoul metropolitan authorities are opening the heavy wooden doors of the city’s public "hanok" — traditional Korean houses — to become interactive backdrops for contemporary civic life. Starting this summer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will dramatically scale up community programming across its network of public properties in the historic Bukchon and Seochon neighborhoods, municipal officials said Wednesday. The pivot follows a highly successful spring season that saw over 44,000 visitors, alongside a tidal wave of interest in a new pilot program offering free wedding photo sessions for newlyweds inside designated historic properties. The lottery-based wedding photography initiative initially drew dozens of couples vying for just four slots when the program was launched at the Hong Geon-ik House, one of the city's best examples of a merchant's home from the 1930s. Couples cited a desire to escape the sterile environment of commercial studios in favor of the natural lighting, slopi

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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

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Soldier again, mother always

It took years for former Army Staff Sgt. Choi Woo-ri to return to uniform. Leaving the military was never about giving up her dream. It was a decision she made for her family after she and her husband, both career soldiers, struggled to balance military service with raising their three young children. “My discharge wasn’t giving up on my dream. It was simply putting it on hold,” Choi said in an interview with The Korea Times. Choi, who now serves as a long-term standing reservist with the Army’s 60th Infantry Division, said she had wanted to be a soldier since childhood. Her father, a former reconnaissance battalion soldier, was her biggest role model, while lessons from an elementary school teacher about serving the nation left a lasting impression. Learning about the 2010 sinking of ROKS Cheonan while working as a security officer in her early 20s cemented her decision to enlist. Becoming an Army noncommissioned officer in 2011, Choi spent years doing what she had always dreamed of before stepping away from military service to focus on her family. Even after leaving the Army, howe

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Cracking down on hidden fees, Korea overhauls hotel rating system

Korea’s hospitality sector is facing its most significant regulatory shake-up in years, as the government moves to fundamentally reshape how the nation’s hotels earn their stars. The sweeping changes blend bureaucratic streamlining for hotel operators with aggressive new penalties designed to protect consumers from price gouging. Starting Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will implement a comprehensive overhaul of its hospitality rating criteria, according to an official decree. The initiative replaces a convoluted, multitiered framework with a single, unified evaluation standard — a long-awaited response to an industry that hoteliers argued had grown out of step with a modern global tourism market. Under the new guidelines, the criteria used to judge everything from a modest budget property to a sprawling five-star luxury resort will be integrated into a standardized points system. The move is engineered to alleviate the substantial administrative and financial hurdles faced by operators, who previously had to navigate vastly different compliance rules depen

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Seoul extends visa fee waiver program for group tourists from 6 countries until end of 2026

Korea has extended to the end of the year its visa fee waiver program for group tourists from six countries, the justice ministry said Wednesday. Under the extended program, visa issuance fees will be waived for group tourists coming from China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, according to the ministry. The program was introduced following a national tourism strategy meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae in February to promote and revitalize foreign group tourism. The justice ministry said it expects the extension to bring positive effects on vitalizing the tourism industry and recovering local economies. Around 790,000 foreigners entered the country on group visas in 2025, marking a 39 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the ministry. Of those, only 0.07 percent overstayed their visas or continue to stay here illegally, marking a drop of more than 50 percent from the previous year.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Life in Korea

Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave

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

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Lifestyle

Operatic miracle: How former baritone from Korea found global success as lead tenor

Korean tenor Baek Seok-jong says his career has been defined more by failure than success, reflecting on a musical journey that ultimately led him to the world's most prestigious opera houses. Now, he is set to make his first full-length opera appearance in Korea as Calaf in Puccini's "Turandot," presented by the Seoul Arts Center from July 22-26. "Failure has far outweighed success in my life," Baek said in a written interview with the Hankook Ilbo. Looking ahead to his long-awaited domestic opera debut, he added, "Hardship has been a greater blessing than comfort." Baek built his international reputation by turning understudy opportunities into career-defining performances. In 2022, he was cast as the cover for Samson in Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila" at the Royal Opera House in London, before making his principal debut in the role. Soon afterward, he stepped in for renowned German tenor Jonas Kaufmann as the lead in Mascagni 's "Cavalleria Rusticana," earning widespread acclaim. The following year, he sang leading roles in Verdi's "Nabucco" and "Turandot" at the Metropolitan Opera i

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Operatic miracle: How former baritone from Korea found global success as lead tenor

K-Culture

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

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

Celebrities

Cha Eun-woo baptized as Catholic during military service

Actor and singer Cha Eun-woo has officially become a Catholic after being baptized during his mandatory military service, his agency confirmed Wednesday. A representative from Fantagio said Cha received the Catholic sacrament in June, confirming earlier local media reports. According to the reports by News1, the ASTRO member was baptized during a religious ceremony held on his military base as part of faith activities available to service members. Cha enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the Korean Army in July last year and is currently serving in the Army military band. He is scheduled to be discharged in January 2027. The actor has remained in the spotlight even while serving in the military. Earlier this year, he faced controversy over a tax payment dispute. Initial reports claimed authorities had imposed an income tax reassessment of about 20 billion won ($14.7 million), but later reports said he ultimately paid approximately 13 billion won in additional taxes. Cha apologized over the controversy at the time. "I sincerely apologize to my fans and everyone else for the disappointment

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Cha Eun-woo baptized as Catholic during military service

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

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

  2. What about Park Ji-sung or Lee Young-pyo as head coach?

  3. Son Heung-min, other players greeted by encouraging fans in return from World Cup

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

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

  6. Cracking down on hidden fees, Korea overhauls hotel rating system

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

  8. Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing

  9. Seoul extends visa fee waiver program for group tourists from 6 countries until end of 2026

  10. Soldier again, mother always

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