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1st foreign slaughterhouse workers enter Korea under new visa program

Korea admitted its first group of foreign slaughterhouse workers, as part of its efforts to address chronic labor shortages and an aging workforce in the sector. The Ministry of Justice announced Tuesday that 12 foreign workers entered Korea under the E-7-3 skilled worker visa designated for slaughterhouse technicians. This is the first time noncitizens have been deployed in that industry through a formal visa channel. Officials said the policy shift is expected to help ease labor shortages while contributing to the stable supply of livestock products and helping to contain food prices. For many years, slaughterhouses have struggled to attract young Korean workers due to demanding physical labor, harsh working conditions and negative social perceptions of the job. As the workforce in the sector aged rapidly amid the nation’s persistently low birthrate, business owners have called for the introduction of skilled foreign labor in recent years. In response, government officials held consultations through the Visa and Residence Policy Council, which decided in September 2025 to introduce a

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Chinese tourist surge reignites debate over driving in Jeju

Jeju’s renewed push to allow Chinese tourists to drive rental cars on the southern resort island is reigniting a decade-old debate over safety, insurance and legal loopholes. On July 2, the island's Vice Governor Park Cheon-su said allowing Chinese tourists to drive could boost visitor spending during a live-streamed meeting with senior provincial government officials. “A large portion of independent foreign travelers are Chinese, but they cannot use rental cars at the moment,” Park said. “If necessary, we could consider providing several hours of driving training in a short period so they can drive, as part of easing regulations.” Park’s remarks quickly triggered backlash online. Many questioned who would be responsible in the event of accidents and whether Jeju’s already overtaxed road safety system could withstand an influx of foreign drivers inexperienced with Korean traffic systems. In response, the provincial government issued a statement on July 4 explaining that the idea was “not a reviewed or decided policy.” As more Chinese travelers move around the island with

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Budget carriers turn to cargo, unpaid leave amid deepening earnings slump

Korea's low-cost carriers (LCCs) are ramping up cargo operations and cutting costs to cushion what is expected to be a sharp second-quarter earnings downturn, as prolonged high fuel prices and a weak won continue to erode their profitability. Facing mounting losses in their core passenger businesses, airlines are seeking to offset earnings pressure by expanding freight operations while implementing cost-saving measures such as unpaid leave for cabin crew. The deteriorating business outlook has also weighed on investor sentiment, with shares of major listed LCCs posting double-digit declines over the past three months despite the broader rally in the benchmark KOSPI. Shares of Jeju Air dropped 14.85 percent over the past three months, and Jin Air shares saw losses of 19.03 percent during the same period. Air Premia has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the shift toward cargo. The LCC transported 21,424 tons of dedicated cargo, excluding passenger baggage, in the first half of the year, up 52.5 percent from 14,055 tons a year earlier. T'way Air also reported robust cargo growth

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Korea dangles $0.60 discount to push coffee drinkers away from plastic

Hoping to nudge consumers away from a deeply ingrained culture of convenience, Korea's environment ministry announced a sweeping pact, Tuesday, with 23 of the country’s largest food and beverage chains to phase out single-use plastics across more than 22,000 stores nationwide. The agreement, signed at the Seoul Upcycling Plaza, brings together global giants like Starbucks and McDonald’s alongside major domestic brands such as Paris Baguette and Ediya Coffee, as well as 150 independent cafes. Organized by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the initiative represents a highly coordinated effort to normalize eco-friendly habits in a country famous for its bustling, fast-paced coffee culture. Under the new guidelines, which will take effect in September, participating outlets will offer substantial financial incentives to customers who bring their own tumblers. By combining store-specific discounts with the government’s "carbon neutrality points," consumers can save up to 800 won ($0.60) per beverage. To further reduce daily waste, single-use items like plastic straws wil

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Sci-fi film 'The Fin' explores discrimination in unified Korea

The new dystopian sci-fi film "The Fin," directed by Park Sye-young, offers a grim look at a post-unification Korean Peninsula where environmental collapse has created a deeply divided society. The movie follows the struggle of the Omegas, a marginalized group of mutants with fins and three-toed feet, who face severe discrimination and labor exploitation by the human population. Park said the inspiration for the film came from his reflections on historical discrimination and modern social issues. "I came up with the idea of the Omegas while thinking about how marginalized people in Korean society face discrimination and how they are altered by government propaganda and image washing," Park said during a press conference for the movie, Friday. "It was a challenging project, where a small team poured everything they had into it for four years, and I think that intense effort and sweat can be felt in the film." The film centers on an unnamed Omega (Goh Woo), who escapes his harsh labor duties at East Colony 114, drawing the attention of Su-jin (Kim Pu-reum), a government official tasked with

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Cho Wan-kyoo, former education chief and SNU president, dies at 98

Cho Wan-kyoo, a pioneering biologist who served as president of Seoul National University (SNU) and later as education minister, died of old age on Monday. He was 98. Born in Hwanghae Province in North Korea in 1928, Cho graduated from SNU with a degree in biology in 1952. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees from SNU in 1956 and 1969, respectively. Starting his career as an SNU professor in 1957, he discovered the key mechanisms regulating the maturation process of mammalian oocytes. He is widely recognized for conducting original research, which includes developing a culture method to safely transport eggs and embryos. He is also regarded as the godfather of basic biology in Korea. Among his most cited findings was his research on the sex ratio at birth in Korea, in which he identified 110 male births for every 100 female births, a result he published in an international academic journal. Believing that a university should be completely independent, Cho, while serving as SNU president between 1987 and 1991, used his authority to remove the campus ban on political activities. He

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Heavy rain, strong winds set to batter Korea through Wednesday

Heavy rain, accompanied by fierce gusts, was projected to sweep across Korea for the next two days, the state weather agency said Tuesday. Accumulated rainfall is anticipated to reach between 5 and 80 millimeters for central regions and the southern provinces of Jeolla and Gyeongsang from Tuesday through Wednesday. The greater Seoul region could see drenching rains of up to 120 mm over the period, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The KMA said wind gusts could exceed 70 kph for Jeju Island and coastal regions in South Chungcheong, Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces. The rest of the nation is bracing for winds of up to 55 kph. Driven by an influx of warm and humid air, precipitation began as early as 8 a.m. Tuesday on Jeju Island. The downpours were expected to spread to the central region and South Chungcheong Province by the morning, eventually blanketing the remaining central and southern regions later in the afternoon. Temperatures may temporarily dip amid heavy rains, but they are forecast to sharply rebound immediately afterward due to the lingering high humid

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Broker referred to prosecution over fake asylum applications for Vietnamese nationals

A broker and 10 others have been referred to the prosecution on suspicion of arranging fake asylum applications for foreigners living in Korea in exchange for brokerage fees, immigration officials said Tuesday. The 68-year-old Korean broker and 10 alleged accomplices are accused of receiving around 400 million won ($267,000) from 131 Vietnamese who were staying in the country on seasonal worker or short-term visas between December 2024 and October 2025. They allegedly helped the Vietnamese nationals, who did not qualify as refugees, to file for asylum. The broker was sent to prosecutors on charges of violating the Immigration Act, according to the Seoul Immigration Office. The alleged accomplices, including naturalized Korean citizens originally from Vietnam, have been referred to the prosecution without detention. Investigators also found that the broker had instructed the applicants to memorize fabricated information to provide during asylum interviews and submitted applications at 21 immigration offices across the country to avoid suspicion.

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Trump: Iran blockade reinstated, US to charge 20% on Strait of Hormuz cargo

DUBAI/WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would ensure the Strait of Hormuz stays open — for a fee — while warning that U.S. forces would hit Iran again "very hard" in the coming hours after the two sides exchanged missile and drone attacks. The latest hostilities followed Iran's announcement at the weekend that it was closing the vital waterway, casting further doubt on an interim deal to halt the war and driving oil prices higher. "The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that the U.S. would collect a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the strategic strait "as a matter of FAIRNESS." He predicted more U.S. strikes in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow. And there's not a damn thing they can do about it," Trump said. U.S. Central Command said it began a third consecutive

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Seoul to open Sejong Center rooftop as public garden with palace views

Seoul will soon have a new, elevated vantage point where residents and visitors can take in the capital’s ancient imperial history and dramatic mountain skyline, completely free of charge. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it has cleared the final architectural and administrative hurdles to transform the flat, underutilized roof of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts into a lush public garden and observation deck. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September, with plans to open the space to the public by the end of the year. The Sejong Center, a grand concrete-and-granite complex, has long served as a prominent anchor of the city's cultural life. Yet, while audiences have packed its concert halls, public access to its expansive rooftop has remained restricted. City planners now view the roof as a crucial link to tie Gwanghwamun Square, the arts center and Gyeongbok Palace into a single, cohesive cultural corridor. The project is part of a deliberate municipal campaign to carve out open-air vantage points for everyday citizens in the densely packed capital. City pl

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Hyundai Rotem's K2 becomes 1st Korean defense product with NATO quality certification

Hyundai Rotem's K2 main battle tank has become the first Korean defense product to receive a NATO quality assurance certification — a key milestone that will strengthen the company's competitiveness in the global defense market, the defense firm said Tuesday. The company received the Allied Quality Assurance Publications (AQAP)-2110 certification, a NATO quality assurance standard for the design, development and manufacturing of defense equipment. AQAP-2110 is a key qualification for supplying defense equipment to NATO member states, as it verifies that products meet the alliance's stringent quality assurance requirements throughout the production process. The certification is widely regarded as an essential prerequisite for expanding defense exports to NATO countries and partner nations. The certification applies to Hyundai Rotem's armored vehicle lineup, including the K2 main battle tank, armored recovery vehicle and combat engineering vehicle. The company said it plans to broaden the scope of certification to additional defense products in line with market demand. With the certifica

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Football reform panel to extend KFA presidential election deadline to boost transparency

A committee on reforming Korean football has decided to extend the deadline for electing the next president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), seeking to ensure a more transparent process as part of broader reform efforts. The decision was reached at the committee's second meeting, presided over by Park Ji-sung, a co-chair of the committee, on Monday in Seoul. "The committee has agreed to render institutional support to help the KFA revise its regulations requiring the election of a new president within 60 days so that extensions can be allowed in cases of unavoidable circumstances," Park told a press briefing after the roughly two-hour closed-door meeting. He added that procedures to amend the rules will begin Tuesday with completion expected within the month. The move comes as Korean football faces a leadership vacuum, with both the KFA presidency and the national team head coach position currently vacant. KFA President Chung Mong-gyu stepped down earlier this month after leading the association for more than 13 years, bowing to intense public scrutiny over his leadership. Head co

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Samsung SDI 1st to meet global indoor battery fire safety standard

Samsung SDI said Tuesday its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries have become the first in the industry to pass a global indoor fire safety test, bolstering its competitiveness in the fast-growing artificial intelligence (AI) data center market. The battery maker said its UPS batteries met all criteria in UL Solutions' Indoor Large-Scale Fire Test (LSFT), becoming the first in the world to meet the standard. UPS systems provide emergency power during outages or voltage fluctuations and are considered critical infrastructure for AI data centers, where uninterrupted power is essential. The Indoor LSFT, introduced by UL Solutions earlier this year, evaluates whether a fire intentionally ignited in a battery module spreads to adjacent racks or systems under conditions that simulate real-world UPS operations. During the test, the battery module in which thermal runaway was intentionally initiated was completely consumed by fire, but the flames did not spread to adjacent racks. According to Samsung SDI, no gas release, explosion or rupture was observed, and the system met all required

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Korean refiners in spotlight as Russia's diesel export ban tightens global supply

Korean refiners are drawing growing attention for their expanding role in the global supply chain after Russia halted diesel exports following Ukraine's attacks on its energy infrastructure, industry experts said Tuesday. Russia, the world's second-largest diesel exporter after the United States, imposed a temporary ban on diesel exports on July 8 after repeated Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted refinery operations and triggered domestic fuel shortages. The move has further tightened global diesel supplies at a time when refining capacity in the Middle East has yet to fully recover, while concerns are resurfacing over a potential disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Reflecting the tightening supply, U.S. diesel crack spreads widened from just over $60 per barrel in late June to more than $80 per barrel on the day Moscow announced the export ban last week. Against this backdrop, Korean refiners are seeking to capitalize on stronger overseas demand while maintaining sufficient domestic inventories, closely watching developments in the Middle East, global oil prices and the

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Who is Rescene's CEO, known for group's chart reversal success?

The CEO of girl group Rescene's agency has drawn attention after being revealed as a Berklee College of Music graduate and a former singer born in 1990. On the July 11 episode of MBC's variety show "The Manager (Omniscient Interfering View)," viewers followed Rescene as the group returned triumphantly to Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province following its recent success. Overcoming the difficulties of its early days, the group has emerged as one of the most notable success stories among artists from smaller entertainment agencies, earning the nickname "the miracle of a small-agency idol group." Kim Hye-soo, a company executive who appeared on the show as the group's manager, said she first met CEO Lee Joo-heon when they were both at Berklee College of Music. Lee, the head of The Muze Entertainment, is a former member of vocal group HIGHBROW. Kim explained that the company started with only three people, including Lee. Because of limited resources, they pooled their own money together and established the corporation with an initial capital of 10 million won ($7,300). In the early day

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Streaming originals expand to TV for broader audience reach

Original dramas once available only to paid subscribers of streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Apple TV+ are increasingly making their way to traditional television, as streaming services ease their exclusivity strategy in favor of reaching broader audiences through familiar broadcast channels. MBC has been airing the Disney+ original series "A Shop for Killers" since July 3 in its regular Friday-Saturday drama slot at 9:50 p.m. Based on Kang Ji-young's novel "The Killer's Shopping Mall," the action thriller follows Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), who becomes the target of assassins after inheriting a mysterious shopping mall left behind by her late uncle Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook). The series became Disney+'s most-watched Korean original worldwide in 2024 and was selected by the New York Times as one of the "Best TV Shows of 2024" in the international category. For Disney+, airing the series on terrestrial television ahead of the release of its second season on July 22 is expected to maximize promotional impact and generate renewed interest. MBC has emerged as the most proactive terrestrial broa

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Actor Park Bo-gum headlines Korea's new cinematic push for tourists

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will release a new overseas tourism promotional video on July 15 built around celebrated Korean actor Park Bo-gum, framed as a short film rather than a traditional ad. The video launches the tourism organization's 2026 global campaign, "Begin to Hear Korea." Park, who is serving his second consecutive year as honorary tourism ambassador for Korea, appeared in last year's campaign discovering various parts of the country. In this year's installment, he plays a "music director" who travels around Korea with Danish musician Ki, collecting everyday sounds and turning them into a single piece of music. The campaign is built around listening rather than sightseeing, aiming for what the tourism organization described as full auditory immersion. It draws on a travel trend known as "dailycation" — a blend of "daily" and "vacation" describing visitors who want to experience ordinary local life rather than typical tourist activities. The video features sounds that may seem unfamiliar to foreign visitors but are distinc

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Seoul shares sharply down late Tuesday morning on retail selling

Seoul shares extended losses late Tuesday morning, led by falls in semiconductors and other market heavyweights, amid investor worries over the renewed tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty over artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. After opening 0.56 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended losses, trading 139.03 points, or 2.04 percent, higher at 6,667.90 as of 11:20 a.m. The decline comes after the KOSPI nose-dived 9 percent in the previous session due to a massive sell-off of technology stocks. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.26 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 1.55 percent. A standoff between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, along with a slump in SK hynix's U.S.-listed shares overnight, sapped investor sentiment. Individuals sold a net 2.33 trillion won ($1.56 billion), while institutions and foreigners bought a net 1.93 trillion won and 427.8 billion won, respectively. In Seoul, large-cap stocks were mixed. Chip giant SK hynix fell 4.23 percent, and top carmaker Hyundai Motor plu

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Bill to pre-screen music harmful to minors sparks censorship fears

A proposed bill requiring music distributors to screen song lyrics before release is sparking censorship concerns, with critics questioning how far the state should be allowed to go in policing creative content. The amendment to the Music Industry Promotion Act was submitted last week by Rep. Kim Hyun and nine other lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The bill would require music distributors to pre-screen all tracks to determine whether they contain content harmful to minors before release. If any song is judged harmful and its creator is under 19, the distributor must block the track from release altogether. If the artist is an adult, the distributor must notify them that the track may be designated harmful to youth in advance, which would restrict it to adult listeners only. Under the current system, songs containing sexually explicit, violent or hateful content can be designated harmful to youth after release, which bans minors from accessing them and limits distribution. The Youth Protection Committee under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reviews content d

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Who wins Messi-Ronaldo GOAT debate?

After the eras of Pelé and Diego Maradona faded, world football came to be defined by two names for nearly two decades: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Locked in an intense battle for the sport's highest honors, the two legends turned the "GOAT" (greatest of all time) debate into a defining part of football culture. Each pushed the other to greater heights, leaving behind one of the most remarkable rivalries in the history of the game. As the curtain falls on the Messi-Ronaldo era following the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, here's a look back at their 20-year battle for football supremacy. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo truly took shape in 2008, when Ronaldo — then with Manchester United — and Messi of Barcelona faced off for the first time in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. The first round went to Ronaldo. He led United to the final, scored against Chelsea in the championship match, helped the club lift the trophy, and claimed his first Ballon d'Or later that year. The rivalry intensified the following season after Ronaldo's blockbuster move to Real Madrid. Their battl

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Who will acquire troubled JoongAng Ilbo?

With JoongAng Ilbo entering a workout following a liquidity crisis, attention is turning to who will acquire one of Korea's leading newspaper publishers, with construction firms emerging as likely buyers, industry officials said Monday. As construction companies increasingly expand into the media sector to diversify their business portfolios and strengthen brand recognition, JoongAng Ilbo's decision to put management rights up for sale has fueled speculation that they may seek acquisition. Among the names most frequently mentioned are Hoban Group and Booyoung Group, both of which already have media holdings. Hoban is viewed as a potential purchaser as it acquired national daily Seoul Shinmun, technology newspaper Electronic Times and business news outlet EBN in 2021, though it later sold Electronic Times in 2023. Booyoung has also emerged as a potential buyer. The group owns regional newspapers Incheon Ilbo and Jeju-based Halla Ilbo through its affiliates, and holds a 5.5 percent minor stake in broadcaster TV Chosun. "Construction companies have increasingly viewed acquisition of media out

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Tight timeline puts southwestern chip cluster plan at risk

As the Korean government pushes to complete a new 800 trillion won ($532 billion) semiconductor cluster in the country's southwestern region and begin mass production there by 2030 — within President Lee Jae Myung's single five-year term — concerns are growing that the tight timeline could put the entire project at risk. The government stresses that the target is achievable by rolling out measures to address concerns raised by experts over securing sufficient industrial water, power supply, workforce and land, but industry officials argue the timeline is based on the optimistic assumption that every step will proceed without delays. Given that the downside risks are as significant as the scale of the investment, they say the government should allow for greater flexibility rather than becoming overly fixated on its political timetable. According to government officials, the central government is accelerating plans to relocate facilities at Gwangju Military Air Base, the site selected for the semiconductor cluster, to nearby Muan County, South Jeolla Province. It aims to begin the rel

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Gwangju schoolgirl murder suspect admits rape-murder charge

Jang Yoon-gi, the 23-year-old suspected of killing a high school girl in Gwangju, admitted to the rape-murder charge on Monday, reversing his earlier claim that the killing was the result of an impulse and not sexually motivated. His admission was made only after a dashboard camera video clip showing his crime was collected as evidence through the prosecution's supplementary investigation. Jang's case has added to controversy over the government's move to strip prosecutors of their supplementary investigative powers amid systemic failures within the local police. At a court hearing in Gwangju, Jang, who was indicted last month on charges of stabbing and killing the 16-year-old girl in the southwestern city in May, told the court “Yes” when asked whether he admitted to the charges, including full rape-murder charge. Following his arrest, Jang had claimed the murder was the result of an impulse, repeatedly saying he wanted to kill someone before taking his own life. The police initially forwarded the case with simple murder charges. The prosecution, however, upgraded the charges to rap

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BOK poised for rate hike Thursday as markets eye further tightening

The Bank of Korea (BOK) is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate on Thursday, with markets focusing on whether the central bank will signal further tightening, analysts said Monday. The BOK is anticipated to raise its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 2.75 percent, at Thursday's Monetary Policy Board meeting, in what would mark its first rate increase since January 2023. Markets are increasingly eyeing another 0.25 percentage point hike as early as August or October. Citibank expects the central bank to raise rates unanimously this week. "We expect the BOK to hike its policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent without a dissenting opinion. We expect Gov. Shin Hyun-song's press conference will likely point to a gradual pace of hiking cycle for the second half of 2026, implying a 25 basis points hike per quarter," Citibank economist Kim Jin-wook wrote in a report. Citibank expects the BOK to continue its gradual tightening cycle, with additional 0.25 percentage point hikes in October, January and April in 2027, bringing the policy rate to a terminal rate of 3.5 pe

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EXPLAINER How $133 mil. funding dispute between MBK, Meritz pushed Homeplus toward collapse

Once Korea’s second-largest discount store operator, Homeplus decided to temporarily close stores beginning Monday after running out of cash, leaving it unable to pay suppliers or even cover basic operating expenses. The retailer now faces an uncertain future after the Seoul Bankruptcy Court terminated its rehabilitation proceedings earlier this month. Without an immediate 200 billion won ($133 million) cash injection, industry observers say it is effectively on the path toward liquidation unless a last-minute rescue materializes. Why $133 million? So why has 200 billion won become the figure that could determine Homeplus’ fate? The number represents the minimum amount the court said the company needed to carry out its restructuring plan. After years of struggling with the decline of Korea’s hypermarket sector and consumers’ shift to online shopping, Homeplus — owned by private equity firm MBK Partners — initially sought a buyer. But no deal materialized. One hurdle was an accounting assessment showing that the company’s liquidation value was more than 1 trillion won higher th

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Why political neutrality rules leave teachers unable to address classroom hate speech

Korean teachers say the growing problem with hate speech among teenagers in the classroom could be addressed by expanding educators' political rights, while experts stress that adults must model responsible language first. Concern has intensified following a series of controversies, including an incident last month when Paichai High School students chanted a phrase condemned as a direct reference denigrating the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, prompting calls for a broader look at how schools address the issue. A survey by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, released last week, found that 89.3 percent of 1,109 elementary, middle and high school teachers nationwide had witnessed or heard about students engaging in hate speech, discrimination, historical distortion or anti-democratic expressions in their remarks, assignments or presentations over the past year. The most commonly encountered expressions mocked politicians or historical figures, cited by 88.9 percent of teachers, with 58.2 percent saying they heard such remarks repeatedly and often. That reality is fami

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Hit comedy 'Okay! Madam' returns with luxury cruise sequel

The action-comedy film "Okay! Madam," which drew over 1.22 million viewers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, is returning with its sequel, "Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage." Director Lee Cheol-ha expressed his deep gratitude and excitement about the sequel, recalling the bittersweet memories of releasing the original film during the height of the pandemic. "I remember looking back at the situation six years ago when the pandemic was spreading and prebooked tickets were being canceled, which made the actors very sad during our promotional events," Lee said during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. "It was heartbreaking that our hard work could not reach more viewers at the time, but we were so grateful that many people still watched it, and the film generated good revenue through streaming platforms, which allowed us to make this sequel." The sequel expands its universe from an airplane in the first movie to a massive luxury cruise ship, following a former secret agent Mi-young (Uhm Jung-hwa) and her family, who get caught up in a cruise hijacking in the middle of the ocean. Lead acto

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Editor's Pick

Gwangju Airport semiconductor hub plan risks new Korea-US friction

Gwangju Airport semiconductor hub plan risks new Korea-US friction

The Korean government's plan to transform Gwangju Airport, also known as Gwangju Air Base, into a flagship semiconductor cluster for the country's southwestern region faces an alliance hurdle, as the facility serves as a Korea-U.S. Air Force Collocated Operating Base (COB), meaning any redevelopment will require close consultations with Washington. Established in 1964, Gwangju Airport is a Ministry of National Defense-owned dual-use facility shared by the Air Force and domestic civilian aviation. The civilian side has already been earmarked for transfer to Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, subject to the completion of a KTX extension slated for December 2027. The military relocation involves a far more complex set of considerations. As one of five COBs in Korea, Gwangju Airport is designated as a location where U.S. air assets can rapidly deploy in a contingency, even though no American operational units are permanently stationed there during peacetime. Portions of the installation are understood to have been provided to the U.S. side under the Status of

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Life in Korea

Sinchon skate shop hosts Korean punk zine fair

Sinchon skate shop hosts Korean punk zine fair

Spin and Grind, a skate shop newly opened in western Seoul's Sinchon area, is holding a zine fair this weekend. "CUT & PASTE: A Korean Punk & Hardcore Zine Fair" celebrates the history and culture of zines documenting Korea's punk and hardcore scene. A curated selection of zines dating back to the early 2000s will be on display, alongside newly released and reprinted titles available for purchase. "I wanted to inspire more people to start making their own zines," Victor Ha, Spin and Grind's proprietor, told The Korea Times. "I also wanted to archive as many zines published in Korea as possible and create a snapshot of the Korean zine scene as it exists today." The zine titles he's rounded up so far include "Army Life" (2005) by Geeks guitarist Kang Jun-sung, "Red Flag" by Rux frontman Won Jong-hee (2004-06) and "Faithful Youth" (2004-10) by Lee Geon-hee of Busan hardcore band All I Have. There are zines in Korean and English. Some of the zines are closer to full-scale books, such as the photo books "Seoul Punx" (2017) by Jung You-jin and "The More I See" (2011-15) by Scumraid drummer Lee

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Lifestyle

Summer foods that can lead to weight gain

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As temperatures soar, many people reach for refreshing summer favorites such as naengmyeon (cold noodles), kongguksu (soy milk noodles) and shaved ice desserts. But these seasonal staples often contain far more calories, sugar and sodium than expected. Here are five popular summer foods that may quietly sabotage your diet. Naengmyeon Depending on the type, a serving of naengmyeon contains about 500 to 700 calories. More concerning than the calorie count, however, are its high carbohydrate and sodium levels. Many commercially sold naengmyeon noodles contain relatively little buckwheat and are instead made primarily from starch, making them high in carbohydrates. The chilled broth also often contains sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Drinking all of the broth can provide more than half of the recommended daily sodium intake. Those trying to lose weight are advised to leave most of the broth behind. Adding a boiled egg or slices of lean meat can boost protein intake, helping slow blood sugar spikes and keep you feeling full longer. Kongguksu A bowl

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Summer foods that can lead to weight gain

K-Culture

CORTIS' 'REDRED' sets record for most days at No. 1 on Spotify Korea chart

CORTIS, the rookie boy band under Bighit Music, has set a new record for the most days at the No. 1 spot on Spotify's Daily Top Song Korea chart among any K-pop group song with its hit single "REDRED," the label said Tuesday. "REDRED," the title track from CORTIS' second mini album, topped Spotify's Daily Top Song Korea chart for the 70th time on the July 12 chart. Spotify is a global audio streaming platform, and the daily chart tracks the most-streamed songs in Korea each day. The milestone broke a record that had stood for three years and four months. "REDRED" first reached No. 1 on the April 27 chart. It hit its 50th day at the top on June 20, breaking the record for a boy group song, and has continued to top the chart since. On Spotify's Weekly Top Songs Korea chart, which covers July 3-9, the track marked its 11th week at No. 1, the longest run at the top of that chart by any K-pop group song. CORTIS' monthly listener count on Spotify has also reached 12.67 million, ranking among the top three highest figures recorded by any Korean boy group, the label said. The group's popularity h

2 MIN READ
CORTIS' 'REDRED' sets record for most days at No. 1 on Spotify Korea chart

Celebrities

Former K-pop idol walks 155 km after group disbands, wins support from 500,000 viewers

Former ARrC member Hyunmin is drawing widespread support online after documenting a 155-kilometer walk from Seoul to Jecheon following the disbandment of his K-pop group, with the emotional video surpassing 500,000 views in less than a week. A video, titled "22 years old, I quit being an idol and walked 155 km from Seoul to Jecheon," was uploaded to the YouTube channel @Gwangjincityboyy on July 7. The video opens with the narration, "The group disbanded two weeks ago." Hyunmin, who began training to become an idol at the age of 14, reflected on his eight-year journey toward his dream. He appeared on Mnet's survival audition show “Boys Planet” in 2023 before debuting with rookie boy group ARrC in August 2024. The group disbanded after less than two years. "I decided to walk while looking back on the eight years during which I dreamed a happy dream, from the age of 14 to 22," Hyunmin said. His destination was a railway bridge in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, featured in acclaimed Korean director Lee Chang-dong's film “Peppermint Candy.” Referring to the film's iconic line, "I

3 MIN READ
Former K-pop idol walks 155 km after group disbands, wins support from 500,000 viewers

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