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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,

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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

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Can the 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

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What's left to curb weak won?

Market attention is increasingly focused on what, if anything, can reverse the won’s slide as the won-dollar exchange rate has remained above the psychologically important 1,500 won level for more than a month despite easing geopolitical tensions, according to industry analysts, Monday. With heavy foreign selling of Korean equities and a stronger U.S. dollar continuing to weigh on the won, concerns are growing that the currency’s weakness may be becoming structural rather than merely reflecting a temporary external shock. The analysts said the key variables that will determine the won’s direction in the second half include whether the pressure of foreign investors’ selling eases, whether the Bank of Korea (BOK) raises its benchmark interest rate and whether an expected influx of U.S. dollars from SK hynix’s $30 billion American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on the Nasdaq next month materializes. The government has also stepped up microlevel measures, including closer monitoring of the offshore non-deliverable forward (NDF) market and illegal foreign exchange transactions. I

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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

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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

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Lee says all but 2 Korean vessels have left Strait of Hormuz

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that all but two Korean-operated vessels have left the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded there amid the U.S.-Iran war. Lee provided the update during a Cabinet meeting, saying the two that remain have circumstances that prevent them from leaving the strait, which was effectively shut following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February. "This is all thanks to the people who gathered their strengths while trusting the government, and the result of the sincere efforts of public servants at the oceans ministry, the foreign ministry, the National Intelligence Service and other relevant ministries," he said during the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. Lee cautioned, however, that the "crisis is not yet over" as a considerable amount of time will be required to fully bring the world economy back to normal, even after a peace agreement is signed. "We need more effective and focused crisis management in the mid- to long-term," he said, asking the government to maintain a thorough emergency response system and pursue long-term tasks, such as diversifying

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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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Safety warning issued over toxic chemicals in imported kids' footwear

Safety tests on children's products sold through overseas online shopping platforms found dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals in some sandals and other items, prompting Seoul city officials to request the sale of the items be stopped. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that five of 21 children's products purchased from AliExpress, Temu and Shein failed to meet Korea's safety standards after inspections of summer footwear, toys and hats. The city said two pairs of children's sandals contained phthalate plasticizers at levels up to 284.6 times above the legal limit of 0.1 percent. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and have been linked to endocrine disruption and reproductive health problems. The city said di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, one of the substances detected, is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen. Another pair of children's shoes failed the inspection because it contained eight small detachable parts prohibited in products intended for children younger than 36 month

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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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Lotte to launch Korea-Japan food joint venture in Singapore to spearhead Asia expansion

Lotte Group will launch a joint venture in Singapore early next month to integrate the Asian operations of its Korean and Japanese food businesses, marking a major step in Chairman Shin Dong-bin's "One Lotte" strategy aimed at strengthening the group's global competitiveness. The new company, jointly established by Lotte Wellfood of Korea and Japan's Lotte Confectionery, has already secured board approval from both companies, as well as clearance from the relevant competition authorities. Shin Yu-yeol, head of Lotte Holdings' future growth division, will serve as chairman of the joint venture's board and oversee the group's overseas food business strategy and cross-border synergies. The joint venture represents one of the most tangible outcomes of Shin's long-standing effort to deepen cooperation between the group's Korean and Japanese affiliates. Shin has regularly chaired "One Lotte Food Strategy Meetings," urging closer collaboration to build a stronger global presence as growth in the domestic markets of both countries slows. Under the strategy, the two companies have expanded coope

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Samsung Electro-Mechanics bags $294 mil. MLCC supply deal with US Big Tech firm

Samsung Electro-Mechanics will supply multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for artificial intelligence (AI) servers to a U.S. Big Tech firm, signing a $294 million (454 billion won) contract. The company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that it has signed a one-year supply deal that will begin on Jan. 1 next year. The company did not identify the customer, but sources said it is a U.S. cloud service provider. The deal accounts for approximately 9 percent of the component division's 2025 revenue of 5.2 trillion won. MLCC is a component that stabilizes power for semiconductors and other electronic devices. As power fluctuations in servers can directly affect performance, MLCCs have become increasingly important in AI server environments. AI server applications require high-performance MLCCs that can withstand the harsh operating conditions created by intensive computing workloads, such as high heat and greater stress for warpage. AI servers contain more than 10 times as many MLCCs as conventional servers. A typical AI graphics processing unit is equipped with more than 20,000 MLCCs, mea

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BMW Korea pins high hopes on iX3 electric SUV

BMW Korea is pinning high hopes on its next-generation flagship electric SUV — the iX3 — as the vehicle is expected to serve as a major sales driver for the premium carmaker. Deliveries to Korean customers will begin in July. The iX3 is the carmaker’s first mass-produced model built on its Neue Klasse design language. BMW Korea has already achieved preorders of more than 4,500 iX3 vehicles. The iX3 embodies BMW’s future mobility vision under the new platform. Blending the brand’s heritage with groundbreaking advances in driving dynamics, design and digital technology, the model signals a new direction for premium electric mobility, according to the German automaker. The new iX3 showcases a progressive design language that harmonizes BMW’s legacy with a futuristic aesthetic. Its streamlined body achieves a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.24, enhancing both efficiency and performance. The vertically oriented kidney grille reinterprets the styling of the original Neue Klasse models from the 1960s, while illuminated contour lines replace traditional chrome accents to create a

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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

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Global influencers fan out across Korea to spotlight hidden culinary gems

For the millions of international travelers drawn to Korea by the global ascent of its cultural exports, the culinary itinerary rarely extends beyond the neon-lit barbecue joints of Seoul or the ubiquitous presence of packaged kimchi. But Korean tourism officials are betting that the future of the country’s travel boom lies far outside the capital — hidden in the bubbling cauldrons of provincial tofu houses and the centuries-old fermentation vats of the rural south. The state-run Korea Tourism Organization launched an aggressive initiative Tuesday, aimed at transforming hyperlocal regional cuisine into the next global lifestyle trend. The agency invited 33 prominent food and travel influencers from 13 countries to Samcheonggak, a traditional cultural complex in northern Seoul, to inaugurate "K-Local Food Hunters 33," a coordinated, multiday culinary expedition spanning the Korean peninsula. The strategy relies heavily on the digitized word of mouth. The selected participants, hailing from major tourism markets across Greater China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas, wiel

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Beyond K-pop: Korea wants handicrafts to be its next cultural export hit

Having already conquered global airwaves with K-pop and streaming screens with K-dramas, Korea is placing its next big economic bet on an older, more tactile asset: its rich tradition of handmade crafts. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism unveiled Tuesday a comprehensive five-year road map aimed at transforming local artisanal crafts — dubbed "K-craft" — into a high-value, export-ready industry. The initiative seeks to leverage the global momentum of the Korean wave to supercharge the country's interactive travel experiences. Central to the strategy is a push to turn cultural heritage into an immediate draw for international travelers. Under the new plan, the government will establish a network of high-profile immersive cultural centers in major tourist hubs heavily frequented by foreign visitors. These dedicated spaces will function as hybrid experiential zones, allowing travelers to try their hand at traditional craft-making techniques before purchasing authentic, locally made goods. To deepen the connection between tourism and local economies, the ministry said it will al

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

The government on Tuesday designated three new areas in Gyeonggi Province as speculative zones subject to tighter lending rules, following a sharp rise in home prices in the areas. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it designated Dongtan Ward in Hwaseong, Giheung Ward in Yongin and Guri as regulatory zones during a residential policy deliberation committee meeting held Monday. The ministry said the designations are intended to curb speculative buying, protect genuine homebuyers and address overheating in the housing market. Property prices in Dongtan and Giheung have risen recently amid expectations of further gains, fueled by windfall bonuses received by employees of Samsung Electronics and improvements in transportation infrastructure. The two areas are near the chipmaker's headquarters in Suwon and key production facilities. Real estate prices in Guri have also climbed, as the city is close to Seoul, particularly the Gangnam business district. Home prices in Dongtan rose a cumulative 11.38 percent as of the fourth week of June, marking the largest increase in the c

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Photo of Gaya tombs wins top prize in UNESCO heritage photo contest

A photograph of tombs from the Gaya Confederacy (42 B.C. – A.D. 562) in southeastern Korea won the Grand Prize in the Discover Korea's World Heritage Photo Contest, according to The Korea Times, Monday. The competition was hosted by The Korea Times in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) ahead of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Busan from July 19 to 29. Korea is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 12 tentative sites. Participants were invited to submit photographs featuring one of the country's World Heritage or tentative sites. From a total of 576 entries, The Korea Times and the KHS selected 60 winners. Grand Prize winner Tim Schilstra of Canada captured the Songhak-dong Tumuli in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, one of the seven burial sites that make up the Gaya Tumuli, which were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. The burial mounds belonged to the Gaya Confederacy, a polity that flourished in the southeastern Korean Peninsula during the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C. – A.D. 668) but is oft

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Winners of the 22nd Economic Essay Contest

The Korea Times is pleased to announce the winners of its 22nd English Economic Essay Contest for university students. The Grand Prize winners are Alexandra Maria Escobar Garay, a Salvadoran student at Busan University of Foreign Studies, and Ko Kyung-hwan, a Korean student at Hanyang University. Each winner will receive 3 million won in prize money and an award certificate. The runners-up are Sultanova Khadizha, a Kyrgyz student at Woosong University, and Said Jonathan Luviano Lessie, a Mexican student at Ajou University. Each will receive 2 million won and an award certificate. Commendation awards went to Tran Minh Ngoc, a Vietnamese student at Hanoi Financial and Banking University, Narzullaeva Maftuna Shukhrat Kizi, an Uzbek student at Inha University, and Lee Hyo-jeong, a Korean student at the University of California. Each will receive 1 million won and a certificate. The contestants wrote essays addressing one of two subjects. The first topic covered Korean banks and securities firms. The contestants were asked to write an essay based on this writing prompt: Korean banks and securitie

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

As Seoul pushes to raise the eligibility age for free subway rides from 65 to 70, calls are growing to extend the change across the broader range of social benefits provided to older citizens to reflect the demographic reality of a “superaged society,” in which more than 20 percent of the population is 65 or older. But the threshold is tightly bound up with a host of other policies, including the statutory retirement age, making it increasingly difficult for the Korean government to revise a definition of old age written into law decades ago. Under the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, people aged 65 and older receive a range of benefits, including free rides on subways nationwide and free admission to national parks, museums, galleries and historic palaces. They are also entitled to a 30 percent discount on rail services such as the KTX. Various welfare programs introduced later, including the basic pension and long-term care insurance, followed suit by setting their eligibility threshold at 65. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sunday, that age standard has remained

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Blooming trumpet vines become symbol of Korean summer

Neungsohwa, or trumpet vine, is emerging as a summer icon for young Koreans, who increasingly treat its blooming season as an experience to savor. Part of the trumpet creeper family, the plant produces clusters of large flowers in vivid shades of yellow and orange. It sends long, flexible stems up walls, fences and tree trunks, reaching heights of up to 10 meters. It typically blooms from July to September, peaking around August. Its blooms spill over theatrically, highlighting even small spaces and creating a sense of drama. The plant is hardy, tolerating heat, rain and wind, and has long been cultivated at homes and gardens around Korea. The flower’s recent popularity roots in its name and symbolism. The name of the flower can be translated as "insulting the sky." Essays have gone viral on social media playing with the idea of “laughing at” or “defying” the harsh summer sky, along with the season's monsoon rains, typhoons and oppressive heat. Old stories describe the flower as a sign of dignity and integrity even in decline, as its blossoms drop intact rather than scattering

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K-pop Report Card From meme hooks to industrial pop, here's what defined K-pop's wildest 2 months

For K-pop, May and June were gloriously messy. Over the past two months, artists bounced between internet memes and club sounds, nostalgia and reinvention, minimalist production and maximalist spectacle. Veteran acts proved they could still evolve without losing themselves, while younger groups continued searching for sounds they could truly call their own. Some experiments paid off. Others raised more questions than answers. Here's what stood out, or fell flat, in K-pop's latest wave of releases. BABYMONSTER, "CHOOM" EP — title track "CHOOM," released May 4 Verdict: Nearly there BABYMONSTER deserves some credit for refusing to chase trends. The track is unmistakably YG: a throwback packed with production choices that recall the label's glory days, when BLACKPINK, or even 2NE1 before them, defined its identity. The instrumental, in particular, feels lifted from that era, and there's certainly an audience still hungry for that sound. The question is whether nostalgia is the right strategy for one of K-pop's youngest groups. A familiar formula can keep longtime YG fans happy, but whether i

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Korea launches K-Chicken Belt to boost gastronomy tourism

Detailed information on some of Korea's most beloved chicken restaurants, particularly independent chicken specialty shops and chicken-themed local attractions is now available online as part of efforts to boost the country's gastronomy tourism for international visitors. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday unveiled the K-Chicken Belt, an online platform featuring 30 destinations across 30 cities and counties nationwide. The featured locations were selected from about 2,700 recommendations submitted by local residents and municipal governments through a public survey conducted in March and April. The poultry highlighted include Suwon galbi chicken, Sokcho sweet and crispy fried chicken, Andong braised chicken and Chuncheon spicy stir-fried chicken. The chicken gizzard alley at Daegu's Pyeonghwa Market, spicy chicken stew in the city of Taebaek, Gangwon Province and Haenam’s chicken course sets also made the list. “There are plenty of gastronomic resources in Korea. We should no longer have to get to a destination before searching for what to eat nearby. We

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Damien Hirst exhibition at MMCA attracts 540,000 visitors

An exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) highlighting the works of British artist Damien Hirst has attracted more than 540,000 visitors, the museum said Monday. A total of 541,889 people visited the "Damien Hirst: Nothing is True But Everything Is Possible" exhibition than ran at the Seoul branch of the museum from March 20 to June 28, averaging 5,645 on a daily basis, according to the MMCA. The exhibition, the artist's first solo show in Asia, brought together some 50 pieces of works spanning his 40 years of career, including iconic works like "For the Love of God," a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with diamonds, and the "Natural History" series preserving real animals in tanks of formaldehyde. By age, visitors in their 20s and 30s accounted for 62 percent, while the number of teen visitors reached a record 12 percent, nearly doubling from the average portion of teen visitors at an MMCA exhibition. Foreign visitors accounted for 6.5 percent of the total, while the MMCA saw the number of new members jumping 3.3-fold during the exhibition. The MM

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CU in China: Why South Korean retail giant is adopting 'online first' strategy

South Korean convenience store giant CU has been testing the waters in China with a limited online trial operation, marking a different approach from other multinational brands that bet big on physical outlets. The brand, operated by BGF Retail which has around 18,600 stores in South Korea, is being cautious to start with. Together with its Chinese partner Ningshing Ubay, it is only selling 11 products on e-commerce platform Tmall under Alibaba Group, which also owns the South China Morning Post. Analysts said the "online-first, private-label-driven" business model was meant to avoid head-on confrontation with rivals in China's highly competitive e-commerce market but also guarantee access to the world's second-largest consumer market. "If consumers maintain interest, a deeper strategy can follow," said Chen Bo, a marketing professor at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. If not, the approach can easily shift as selling products online first is a lower-risk way to test demand, he added. German supermarket chain Aldi tested the Chinese market in a similar way in 2017 through an online store

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Why are Chinese audiences going for Korean musicals rather than Western shows?

As the lights dimmed in the Shanghai theater, the string quartet struck up once more for the encore. Tina Zhang was fully drawn into the psychological thriller, but it was not until after the show that she found out that the musical was originally from South Korea. Zhang, 39, saw the official Chinese adaptation of Interview for the first time last year. "The logic was tight, the plot was well-structured and interwoven, and it was genuinely engaging," she said. Over the past few years, a number of licensed South Korean musicals have received a warm reception in China, where cultural overlap helps them to win over audiences more easily than their Western counterparts. Xu Jianing, a 23-year-old postgraduate student in Shanghai, said Interview was the best South Korean adaptation she has seen so far. "Every character is vividly portrayed, and everything connects seamlessly. At the same time, while the main storyline stays intact, different actors still have room for interpretation, and there are intentional ambiguities that invite the audience to think for themselves." This trend has taken root

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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

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

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Lifestyle

From work to World Cup woes: 3 simple ways to ease stress

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Avoiding stress in daily life — from relationships, pressure at work, disappointing news such as Korea's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup — is nearly impossible. When people experience stress, levels of the hormone cortisol begin to rise. Chronic stress, which keeps cortisol levels elevated, can affect nearly every part of the body. It can disrupt metabolism, contribute to weight gain and trigger inflammation. It may also affect blood sugar, blood pressure, heart health and even memory. Stress does not simply disappear on its own. To protect both physical and mental health, it is important to develop habits that help maintain a sense of calm regardless of external circumstances. Drawing on information from Harvard Health Publishing, here are three simple ways to reduce stress. Choose physical activities you genuinely enjoy Physical activity helps lower cortisol levels and relax both the body and mind. However, forcing yourself to do exercises you dislike may become another source of stress. Instead, choose activities you actually enjoy,

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From work to World Cup woes: 3 simple ways to ease stress

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

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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

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

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