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Chinese student found dead; man who reported her missing arrested as suspect

Police said Wednesday that a Chinese student who had been reported missing was found dead the previous day at the home of a fellow Chinese national in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, prompting the Chinese consulate to demand severe punishment for the perpetrator. Investigators said a Chinese man in his 30s, surnamed Jeong, was arrested as a suspect and is being questioned. The victim, a 25-year-old graduate student in Gyeongsan, was found at Jeong’s residence. According to police, the victim had returned to China during her summer break before coming back to Korea on Aug. 14 to attend her graduation ceremony on Aug. 20. She lost contact with her family and acquaintances on the day of the ceremony. Jeong reported her missing at about 7 p.m. the following day, identifying himself as the victim’s boyfriend. Jeong told police that she had told him she was going to Daegu, about 15 kilometers from Gyeongsan, but that he had since been unable to reach her. Suspicion later fell on Jeong after investigators noticed inconsistencies in his statements while questioning him initially as a witn

2 MIN READ
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InterviewStray Kids' music chart milestone points to system, not luck, scholar says

Since its debut in 2018, K-pop boy band Stray Kids have released more than 20 albums, with all nine of their albums to make the Billboard 200 debuting at No. 1. — a first for any act. The group's latest release, "THIS & THAT," debuted atop the chart on Aug. 22. The eight-track EP also earned 369,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 13, according to Luminate. Traditional album sales accounted for 357,000 units, marking the biggest sales week of the group's career. By now, the pattern is familiar enough that the more interesting question is not how Stray Kids did it again, but why it keeps happening. Since its 2018 debut, the eight-member group has built its identity around an unusually high degree of creative control. Its inhouse producing unit 3RACHA — composed of members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han — writes and produces much of the group's music, while its relationship with its official fandom, STAY, has grown alongside its global reach. Those two elements have become central to understanding the group's sustained chart performance. Some 8,000 kilometers away from Seo

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InterviewLSE says global challenges in AI era demand stronger social sciences, not just STEM

LONDON — As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates, universities are pouring unprecedented investment into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) argues that the defining challenges of the AI age will not be solved by technology alone. Instead, the world's greatest challenges — from AI governance and climate change to inequality and declining public trust — will ultimately demand stronger social sciences. "All of the important issues and challenges around AI are social science problems," Larry Kramer, president and vice chancellor of LSE, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at the school's campus. "The technology creates possibilities. Whether those possibilities become benefits or risks depends entirely on the choices society makes." Rather than joining the global race to produce more AI engineers, Kramer argued that universities should focus on the disciplines that determine how the technology is governed and applied in society. "Figuring out how to get the bene

4 MIN READ
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Land minister says additional greenbelt housing supply to be limited to Gyeonggi Province

Land Minister Kim Yun-duk said Wednesday the government's plan to provide additional housing by developing greenbelt areas will be limited to Gyeonggi Province, amid differences with the Seoul city government over housing supply measures in the capital. Kim made the remarks in response to questions over whether the ministry's upcoming plan to supply 73,000 new housing units would include sites in Seoul, ahead of a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to discuss housing supply in the capital and surrounding areas. "The 73,000 housing units will be supplied in Gyeonggi Province," Kim told reporters, effectively ruling out greenbelt areas in Seoul from the government's upcoming housing development plan. Earlier this month, the government announced plans to begin construction of 27,000 homes by 2030 through new housing development projects in Gangseo in western Seoul, as well as Namyangju and Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province. The land ministry also said it plans to announce additional development sites capable of accommodating more than 73,000 homes in late September, prompting speculation that u

2 MIN READ
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US preparing for Freedom Edge joint exercise with S. Korea, Japan: US Pacific Command

The United States is preparing to conduct a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said Wednesday, suggesting that the drills are on track despite the recent scaling back of a Seoul-Washington combined exercise at U.S. President Donald Trump's directive. "In close coordination with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, U.S. Pacific Command is preparing for the 2026 iteration of exercise Freedom Edge," Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a PACOM spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency via email. "This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance our shared interoperability and further strengthen our defense partnerships to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific," Morgan said. She declined to provide further details, including whether this year's Freedom Edge will be carried out at the same scope and scale as those of the three previous drills, held in June and November of 2024, and in September last year. The Freedom Edge exercise was one of the key outcomes from the tri

2 MIN READ
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Samsung targets luxury mobility with battery, display supply for Genesis GV90

Samsung is strengthening its push into the luxury mobility market by supplying key components for Genesis’ flagship GV90, with Samsung Display’s premium OLED screens and Samsung SDI’s large battery cell powering the high-end electric SUV. The collaboration marks an expansion of cooperation between Samsung and Genesis, as both companies seek to capitalize on growing demand for premium electric vehicles (EVs) and sophisticated in-car experiences. Samsung Display is supplying two OLED displays for the GV90 — a 24.6-inch central Cinematic Display and 13.2-inch screens mounted on the backs of the front-seat headrests. The displays began shipping this month, according to the company. The centerpiece is the expandable 24.6-inch OLED display positioned at the center of the vehicle. It can operate as a 23.6-inch screen while driving, showing navigation, driving information and media. When the vehicle is parked, the screen rises 90 millimeters at the push of a button, expanding to its full 24.6-inch size. Self-emissive OLED displays are generally about 30 percent of the thickness and 70 pe

2 MIN READ
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Expert says chance of Trump-Kim meeting is 'slim to none'

WASHINGTON — A prominent expert said Tuesday that he sees a "slim-to-none" chance of another meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, noting that the resumption of their summitry depends on how low the United States sets the bar or how willing Trump is to make concessions. Bruce Klingner, senior fellow at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, made the remarks during a forum in Washington, amid speculation that Trump could seek a summit with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely to attend a regional forum in Shenzhen, China in November. "I think overall, the chance of a meeting is sort of slim to none, and slim just rode out of town," he said during the forum hosted by the Korea Economic Institute of America. "But it could still happen. It depends on sort of how low the U.S. sets the bar or how willing Trump is to offer concessions," he added. Klingner's comment came amid growing expectations for Trump's potential outreach to Kim, which some observers said might be an effort to win a diplomatic feat and burnish his image as a peacemaker, w

3 MIN READ
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Inside TikTok's transparency center: AI catches 97% of removed videos

SINGAPORE — Before a TikTok video reaches the recommendation feed, machines get the first look, scanning its images, sounds and other signals for potential violations of the platform’s community guidelines. In the first quarter of this year, automated systems detected and removed 178 million, or 96.7 percent, of the 184 million videos taken down globally — before they were reviewed by human moderators. Overall, 99.3 percent of removed videos were taken down before users reported them, according to the platform. At TikTok’s Transparency and Accountability Center in Singapore, a demonstration shows how machine-learning systems scan uploaded videos for signals associated with potential violations, such as smoking, drinking, physical violence and extremist symbols, even before human moderators step in to review cases requiring greater context or judgment. The systems use more than visual recognition to also analyze audio, keywords and hyperlinks. The technology can also recognize body posture and actions, allowing it to combine multiple signals — such as a cigarette and a person

3 MIN READ
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Korea's public delivery apps struggle to turn low fees into lasting loyalty

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for measures that would help public delivery apps become a meaningful counterweight to dominant private platforms whose high fees are considered a burden on small businesses. But despite initially winning users over with cheaper rates, many public apps have struggled to maintain their user base and transaction volume once state subsidies scale back, raising questions about whether they can become self-sustaining. At a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Lee described the food delivery market as “effectively a powerful oligopoly,” after being told that food delivery apps Baemin and Coupang Eats together account for roughly 93 percent of the market. Lee Byeong-gweon, second vice minister of SMEs and startups, stated that the government plans to use next year’s budget to give public delivery apps a major boost. “We are planning a support program aimed at raising their combined market share to 15 to 20 percent.” There are currently 12 public delivery apps operated or supported by local governments across the country. Since 2020, loca

2 MIN READ
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Students who chanted 'Let's go to Starbucks' quit Paichai High School baseball team

Two students on Seoul’s Paichai High School baseball team have decided to give up playing baseball after becoming embroiled in controversy for chanting slogans criticized for mocking the May 18 Democratic Uprising during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Tuesday that the two students recently notified their school of their intention to leave the baseball team. They were known to have chanted slogans including“Let’s go to Starbucks” at the Gwangju-based baseball team during the game. “According to the school, the two players informed school officials that they intended to quit baseball,” an official from the education office said. The team was at the center of controversy after chanting slogans that appeared to echo Starbucks’ controversial “Tank Day” promotion last May, including “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go to Starbucks” and “Tank Day,” during a June 29 game against Gwangju Jeil High School. Held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium, the game was part of the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Cha

2 MIN READ
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Trump administration issues pause on visa appointments for applicants worldwide

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration has issued a pause on visa appointments for applicants around the world during an ongoing immigration crackdown by the U.S. government in the Republican leader's second term in the White House. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that it launched a global training initiative at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and that appointments for visa services will be adjusted to accommodate the training. Trump has pursued an aggressive deportation drive and immigration crackdown that includes revocations of visas and green cards and rejection of applications over a. range of reasons like political opinions and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza. He says the crackdown aims to improve domestic security. The crackdown has faced some legal setbacks. A U.S. judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, saying that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority. The State Depa

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InterviewYLAB shifts to sustainable model after 'Teach You a Lesson' success

For viewers who enjoyed the Netflix series “Teach You a Lesson,” one of the platform’s most-watched TV shows worldwide in the first half of this year, the webtoon “Get Schooled” may already sound familiar, as the show was originated from the comics. “Get Schooled” was produced by comic and media company YLAB, one of the pioneers of the Korean webtoon industry. Their portfolio of intellectual properties (IPs) includes well-known titles such as “Jungle Juice,” “Study Group,” “Terror Man” and “IRL Quest.” For “Teach You a Lesson,” YLAB produced both the original webtoon and the live-action series, showcasing its ability to expand its IPs across different forms of media. “Based on our previous experiences, we tried to address real-life issues that viewers could relate to through a clear cathartic structure that delivers a strong sense of excitement,” YLAB CEO Kang Cheol-gu said in an interview with The Korea Times. “We also focused on preserving the personalities of the original characters and portraying their complex emotional arcs, and I think those

5 MIN READ
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Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations, has died at 80

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died. She was 80 years old. Known for her curvy physique, massive blonde wigs and skin-tight outfits that served her self-deprecating wit, she was among the most beloved personalities in music and beyond — the rare celebrity whose appeal transcended generations, geography and politics. She wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. Parton, who plucked bejeweled banjos, guitar and dulcimers with her long fingernails during performances, was a generous philanthropist and successful businesswoman whose projects included a theme park in the Smoky Mountain foothills near her birthplace. Her career was forever influenced by her upbringing as one of 12 children born into what she called a “d

6 MIN READ
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WRTN raises $72 mil. in Series C funding round

Korean artificial intelligence (AI) service provider WRTN Technologies has raised approximately 100 billion won ($72.23 million) in a Series C funding round, the company said Wednesday. According to WRTN, the company was valued at more than 1 trillion won in the latest funding round, becoming the first Korean AI service startup to surpass the mark. WRTN has raised a total of 230 billion won in funding so far. This time, Coreline Ventures and Eugene Asset Management joined the Series C round as new investors, while existing investors including Goodwater Capital, Antler Global, Woori Venture Partners and the Korea Development Bank also participated. Coreline Ventures is a U.S.-based venture capital firm with offices in Silicon Valley and Tokyo. It has invested in promising companies in the consumer and business-to-business technology markets in Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Coreline Ventures’ major portfolio companies include Korea’s mobile giant Kakao and China’s Happy Elements, which is known for casual game franchise Ensamble Stars. Osuke Honda, co-founder and managing partner of Cor

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Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?

SEATTLE — A food safety scandal involving formaldehyde-treated napa cabbage in China is raising a new question for kimchi’s fast-growing presence in the United States: Could the controversy hurt American consumers’ appetite for the Korean staple? Chinese authorities recently confirmed that napa cabbages were illegally soaked in a solution containing formaldehyde, a chemical classified as a human carcinogen, to keep them fresh during transportation, prompting an investigation and efforts to trace where the affected produce was distributed. The case quickly raised concerns about kimchi, whose main ingredient is typically napa cabbage. Korea has strengthened inspections of cabbage imported from China and is seeking to determine whether produce linked to the case entered the country. There is currently no evidence that affected cabbage or kimchi has reached the U.S. Still, the controversy comes as kimchi enjoys unprecedented visibility among American consumers. Once mainly found at Korean restaurants and Asian supermarkets, kimchi has become a mainstream food in the U.S., showing up eve

2 MIN READ
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LS Electric, GE Vernova form HVDC joint venture

LS Electric has signed an agreement with global power infrastructure company GE Vernova to establish a joint venture focused on voltage-source converter high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) technology, seeking to strengthen their competitiveness in Korea’s next-generation power grid market. The two companies signed the strategic cooperation agreement at CIGRE 2026, a major global power grid technology event, in Paris on Tuesday (local time). LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and CEO Chae Dae-seok attended the ceremony along with Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification segment, and Johan Bindele, CEO of its Grid Systems Integration business. The joint venture, to be named Grid X Technology, will combine GE Vernova’s VSC-HVDC technology with LS Electric’s local manufacturing and project execution capabilities. The companies will cooperate on key equipment supply and the joint execution of HVDC projects in Korea, while seeking opportunities to expand into overseas markets. The partnership is expected to support Korea’s efforts to modernize its power grid and strength

2 MIN READ
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AnalysisJeju missing person cases raise doubts over police readiness for sole investigative power

Distrust of police is deepening over the premature closure of multiple missing person cases on Jeju Island, raising questions about the force's readiness to take full control of criminal investigations. President Lee Jae Myung ordered the creation of a government body in charge of measures to reform the police on Tuesday, a day after police found the body of Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman missing for months. The case sparked controversy after it emerged that a police officer had closed it without confirming her whereabouts. Police said Tuesday they had removed all four officers in the chain of command at Jeju Seobu Police Station from their duties pending an investigation. The Jeju Provincial Police said Tuesday an autopsy on the body found at a palm farm on Jeju Island confirmed it was Jang. They said its position when found suggested she died by hanging. “The recent breakdown in police discipline and irresponsibility in public safety matters have become serious problems,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting, adding that police are likely to wield more power than any other state ins

3 MIN READ
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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

COVER STORY President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

President Lee Jae Myung is grappling with a falling approval rating and no clear sign of a turnaround, as a string of disputed government-led initiatives continues to unsettle the public. This has prompted Cheong Wa Dae to pledge a renewed focus on livelihoods and tangible economic results. Disputes over policies have piled up rather than letting up, including controversies in the past weeks over a real estate tax overhaul, prosecution reform and a proposed merger of military academies. More recently, the controversies have spread to plans to build rental housing instead of parkland on a vast site in central Seoul’s Yongsan District, as well as the scaling back of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and Cheong Wa Dae’s clash with the Supreme Court over the nomination of new justices. Analysts said Tuesday that the president has limited options for making a breakthrough amid the disputed initiatives, as the public increasingly perceives them as threats to their economic interests and their access to justice and national security, rather than as ideological issues. The analysts s

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Nowon Craft Beer Festival returns to historic railway park

Nowon Craft Beer Festival returns to historic railway park

A former railway park in northeastern Seoul is set to transform into a vibrant two-day showcase for craft beer, live music and regional cuisine as the Nowon Craft Beer Festival returns this September. Set to take place on Sept. 12 and 13 at Hwarangdae Railway Park, the festival will feature more than 200 craft beers curated from 34 breweries across Korea. Running daily from noon to 9:00 pm, the celebration will officially kick off with an opening ceremony at 7:00 pm on Sept. 12, at the main stage in the park’s parking lot. In partnership with Seoul Music Week, the festival promises an impressive lineup of live performances. Singer Kassy and rapper Mad Clown will headline Saturday’s stage, while the legendary punk rock band Crying Nut is set to deliver an energetic closing performance Sunday. Beyond the music, attendees can sample signature dishes from local traditional markets and neighborhood eateries across Nowon-gu, and enjoy a diverse array of gourmet food trucks. The festival grounds will also feature a marketplace spotlighting small business brands and youth entrepreneurs, alo

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Enjoy seasonal figs with these healthy recipes

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. If you’re craving something sweet but are concerned about blood sugar or struggling with constipation, figs may be worth adding to your diet. Figs come into season in August and are soft and naturally sweet, while also providing dietary fiber, potassium, polyphenols and other nutrients. Fresh figs are generally a better choice than dried figs for those looking to keep their sugar and calorie intake in check. One of the main nutritional benefits of figs is their high dietary fiber content. Fiber helps add bulk to stool and retain water, supporting regular bowel movements. In a clinical trial involving people with functional constipation, participants who consumed fig paste for eight weeks experienced shorter intestinal transit times, along with improvements in stool consistency and abdominal discomfort. Figs also contain compounds that can serve as food for beneficial gut bacteria, potentially helping support a healthier intestinal environment. Worried about blood sugar? Choose fresh figs over dried Figs are also considered a relatively low-glyc

2 MIN READ
Enjoy seasonal figs with these healthy recipes

K-Culture

Soyeon looks back on her 20s with first full-length solo album

Soyeon, the leader and producer of K-pop group i-dle, is returning to the solo stage with her first full-length album, “The Awesome Life,” five years after her last solo release. Cube Entertainment said Wednesday that it released an intro film for the album on i-dle’s official social media channels at midnight, coinciding with Soyeon’s birthday. The film follows Soyeon as she looks back on her life on her final birthday in her 20s, beginning with her first birthday party and moving through her trainee years, appearance on Mnet’s “Produce 101,” i-dle’s debut and her work as a producer. The video then turns to her present as she prepares her first full-length solo album, with phrases including “I always wanted to be new” and “I wanted to do better” appearing throughout. Soyeon said she had put off making a full-length solo album for quite some time. “If I look back on this album when I’m a grandmother, I think I’ll say, ‘Ah, it was really romantic,’” she said, asking fans to look forward to “The Awesome Life.” The film ends by revealing the album’s t

2 MIN READ
Soyeon looks back on her 20s with first full-length solo album

Celebrities

NewJeans' Haerin returns to spotlight in new Dior photos amid hiatus

NewJeans member Haerin has offered fans a rare glimpse of herself amid the group's prolonged hiatus, appearing in new photos highlighting her continuing ties with luxury fashion house Dior. Several photos of Haerin were posted to NewJeans' official account Tuesday, showing the singer posing with perfume and flowers from Dior, for which she has served as an ambassador. Wearing a gray jacket paired with a light-colored skirt, Haerin sports long wavy hair and bright makeup, presenting a more mature look than the youthful image she had when NewJeans debuted in 2022. The photos drew particular attention as Haerin has largely remained out of the public eye since NewJeans suspended activities amid its dispute with agency Ador. They also signal that her relationship with Dior, which began before the group's hiatus, remains intact. Born in 2006, Haerin turned 20 this year. She has long attracted attention among K-pop fans for her distinctive features. NewJeans announced in November 2024 that it was terminating its exclusive contracts with Ador and later pursued independent activities. The group su

1 MIN READ
NewJeans' Haerin returns to spotlight in new Dior photos amid hiatus

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. US family dinner turns deadly: 8 killed, including children

  2. AnalysisJeju missing person cases raise doubts over police readiness for sole investigative power

  3. Korea's public delivery apps struggle to turn low fees into lasting loyalty

  4. Korea considers opening National Skills Competition to foreigners

  5. Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?

  6. North Korea denuclearization missing from US readout as Trump pushes for Kim talks

  7. COVER STORY President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

  8. Chinese student found dead; man who reported her missing arrested as suspect

  9. InterviewYLAB shifts to sustainable model after 'Teach You a Lesson' success

  10. Expert says chance of Trump-Kim meeting is 'slim to none'

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