The Korea Times

The Korea Times
My TimesLatest

S. Korean, Ukraine FMs discuss North Korean POWs

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha discussed the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured during the Russia-Ukraine war, during the latter's visit to Seoul Tuesday. It marked the first visit in 11 years by a Ukrainian foreign minister to South Korea for bilateral talks, according to the ministry. Cho and Sybiha held a small-group meeting followed by an expanded luncheon meeting, during which the two sides discussed a wide range of mutual interests and bilateral cooperation, including the issue of the POWs currently held in Ukraine, according to ministry spokesperson Park Il. "The two foreign ministers had a shared understanding that this matter should be resolved in a manner consistent with international law and humanitarian principles," Park said, adding that the government will continue its diplomatic efforts to advance and resolve the issue. He declined to elaborate further, citing the sensitivity of matters related to the safety of the detainees and their families. Park said that the two POWs' wish to come to So

2 MIN READ
S. Korean, Ukraine FMs discuss North Korean POWs thumbnail

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

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

3 MIN READ
thumbnail

Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing

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

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

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

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

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

Labor, infrastructure remain hurdles for Korea's AI megaprojects

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

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

KOSPI edges higher after volatile session as tech stocks drive gains

KOSPI ended slightly higher on Tuesday after opening on a positive note, supported by a strong overnight rally in U.S. technology shares, but overall trading was marked by fluctuations. The index began the session up 22.05 points, or 0.26 percent, at 8,416.70, and briefly built on early momentum. However, it soon drifted into a narrow range as fluctuations persisted throughout the day before closing at 8,476.48, up 81.83 points, or 0.97 percent, from the previous session. Persistent foreign selling acted as a drag on broader upside momentum. In the United States, equities finished higher as a rebound in mega-cap tech stocks helped reverse recent weakness tied to valuation concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.59 percent, breaking above the 52,000 mark for the first time. The S&P 500 rose 1.18 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.07 percent. Semiconductor names led the advance, with Nvidia, Micron Technology and Broadcom fueling a 3.83 percent gain in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Those positive moves provided some support for Korean chipmakers, though gain

2 MIN READ
KOSPI edges higher after volatile session as tech stocks drive gains thumbnail

Can Korean football family really change its mentality?

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

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

Incheon airport operator to halve employee parking permits

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

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

Global crypto exchanges repackage Korean chip stocks as perpetual futures

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

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

Gyeonggi Province scraps waiting period for migrant child care subsidies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keyveatz debuts with fresh take on girlish hip-hop

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

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

Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave

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

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

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

2 MIN READ
Safety warning issued over toxic chemicals in imported kids' footwear thumbnail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 MIN READ
Lotte to launch Korea-Japan food joint venture in Singapore to spearhead Asia expansion thumbnail

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 MIN READ
Global influencers fan out across Korea to spotlight hidden culinary gems thumbnail

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

1 MIN READ
Gov't newly designates 3 areas in Gyeonggi as speculative zones thumbnail

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

2 MIN READ
Photo of Gaya tombs wins top prize in UNESCO heritage photo contest thumbnail

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

2 MIN READ
Winners of the 22nd Economic Essay Contest thumbnail

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

2 MIN READ
Blooming trumpet vines become symbol of Korean summer thumbnail

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

7 MIN READ
[K-pop Report Card] From meme hooks to industrial pop, here's what defined K-pop's wildest 2 months thumbnail

Editor's Pick

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

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

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

4 MIN READ

Life in Korea

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

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

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

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

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

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

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

K-Culture

BTS to take 'The City' project to London

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

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

Celebrities

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

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

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

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

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Can Korean football family really change its mentality?

  2. Outgoing coach, nat'l team players return home to boos after early World Cup exit

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

  4. What's left to curb weak won?

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

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

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

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

  9. Winners of the 22nd Economic Essay Contest

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

Video

Interesting contents

Taboola 후원링크