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COVER STORY Marathons at city centers inconvenience residents

Approximately 40,000 runners participated in the Seoul DongA Marathon on March 15. The race began on a Sunday morning at 5 a.m., starting from Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul and stretching to Jamsil Sports Complex in the city's southeastern Songpa District. The annual marathon was hosted by a major newspaper company together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency approved the race and its path. Police took charge of traffic control during the race, deploying forces from Jongno District, Hyehwa-dong, Namdaemun Market, Jung District, Dongdaemun Market, Seongdong District, Gwangjin District, Songpa District and Suseo-dong. Traffic controls were imposed and lifted at different times to allow for the passage of runners through each area. Controls around the Jamsil section were lifted at 2:30 p.m., nearly 10 hours after the first were imposed at the start of the race. While the participants were running across the city to cheers from onlookers, others were complaining. The event caused massive traffic issues across the city as vehicles were forc

4 MIN READ
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Gender minister nominee reiterates intention to maintain Assembly seat

Gender Minister nominee Yong Hye-in on Thursday reiterated her intention to retain her National Assembly seat, stressing that lawmakers are allowed to concurrently serve as Cabinet members by law. The remarks came amid growing calls for Yong to give up her parliamentary seat after she earlier said she would keep her seat even after joining the Cabinet. "The law allows lawmakers to concurrently serve as Cabinet members," she said during a press conference at the National Assembly. Under current law, lawmakers can double as members of the Cabinet, though proportional representatives have customarily given up their parliamentary seats to join the Cabinet, passing on the post to the next candidate in line on the proportional representation list. Yong, who is currently the sole lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, earlier said she would keep her Assembly seat even if she becomes the minister, noting that her party would become a non-parliamentary party should she resign as lawmaker. "It is difficult to simply apply past convention to my case, as I am the first sitting opposition lawmaker

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Korea to send 2nd disaster relief team to Nepal over floods

Korea's second overseas emergency relief team will be sent to Nepal this week to support recovery efforts following devastating floods and landslides, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The eight-member Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) will depart aboard a KC-330 military transport aircraft and arrive in Nepal on Friday, consisting of officials from the ministry, firefighters, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) personnel and medical staff, according to the ministry. The team, which also includes a small number of rescue personnel, will focus mainly on reconstruction and recovery operations during its seven-day mission, it added. The first 44-member contingent of the KDRT, which was dispatched to Nepal last week, will return home after wrapping up its 10-day search-and-rescue mission. Nine Koreans — six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three of Korea South-East Power — went missing Aug. 26 after massive floods and landslides hit Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border while they were working at a hydropower plant construction site. The KDRT, in cooperation with loca

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President moves to quell reelection talk, but stops short of explicit denial

President Lee Jae Myung has stressed that his term is constitutionally limited, in what was seen as an attempt to defuse controversy amid speculation that he wants to extend his presidency through constitutional reform. His remark, however, appears to have fallen short of ending the criticism, with the main opposition party criticizing him for not explicitly denying that he intends to seek another term. “In any event, my term is clearly limited under the Constitution,” the president said during a meeting with the Korean community in Paris on the final day of his state visit to France, Wednesday (local time). He arrived back in Korea on Thursday. Lee’s comment came as he explained why he had arranged multiple overseas trips during his second year in office under Korea’s current single five-year presidency. “Even if I build strong relations with other countries later in my term, there will inevitably be limited opportunities to capitalize on them ... I need to begin summit diplomacy early to ensure that its benefits can be enjoyed for as long as possible,” he added. Although Lee

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Seoul launches $65 bil. plan targeting global top 3 city status by 2030

Seoul will invest 86.1 trillion won ($65 billion) through June 2030 in 100 projects aimed at placing the Korean capital among the world’s top three cities, with a focus on enhancing the quality of residents’ daily lives. Mayor Oh Se-hoon unveiled the G3 Seoul Plan at Seoul City Hall on Thursday, presenting it as his administration’s overarching agenda for responding to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), demographic shifts and intensifying competition for global talent. Of the total, 53.7 trillion won will come from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, while the central government will cover 9.2 trillion won, while private companies and other sources will contribute 23.2 trillion won. Under the vision of “Global Top Seoul, a city of exceptional quality of life,” officials said they will measure global competitiveness not only through economic and industrial indicators, but also through changes residents can experience in their everyday lives, including housing, health care, safety, education and transportation. One of the key elements of the initiative is the city’s push

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Korean team for Strait of Hormuz assessment returns from UAE

A Korean government team tasked with assessing the security situation near the Strait of Hormuz returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday as Seoul cautiously weighs a potential military deployment amid U.S. pressure. The team, consisting of defense and foreign ministry officials, had left for the UAE on the weekend to conduct an on-site assessment of the overall security and operational situations near the strait, including checking key military bases and ports, as well as logistical and other conditions. They arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Thursday, according to officials with knowledge of the matter. The mission to Abu Dhabi was carried out very discreetly as Seoul is carefully deliberating its potential role in helping secure a free and safe passage through the crucial shipping lane amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The team's dispatch has widely been interpreted as Seoul leaning toward a military deployment to join U.S.-led operations in the region, triggering immediate backlash from Tehran. The deployment issue has posed a diplomatic cha

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Korea mulls acquiring Westinghouse stake in US investment package

Korea and the United States are reportedly discussing a possible Korean investment in Westinghouse Electric, as plans to include the construction of eight large nuclear reactors in the U.S. in a broader investment package have gained a momentum. The prospect of Korea's acquiring a stake in Westinghouse has drawn attention because it could give the country greater leverage in addressing intellectual property (IP) issues that have long constrained its nuclear export ambitions. But experts caution that a financial investment alone may do little unless it is accompanied by meaningful voting rights, governance safeguards and clear commercial returns. According to government sources, the two sides have put the Westinghouse issue on the negotiating table after the U.S. proposed the idea. The potential investment is being discussed alongside a project to build eight large-scale reactors in the U.S. For Korea, the most immediate strategic benefit would be a stronger position in negotiations over IP. Korea’s state-run nuclear plant operator, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and the country’s

3 MIN READ
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Gov't expands care safety net for people with developmental disabilities

Families in Korea caring for individuals with developmental disabilities — a category covering lifelong cognitive and neurological conditions like autism and intellectual disabilities — have long operated in a state of quiet crisis, bearing an immense physical, emotional and financial toll behind closed doors. In response, the government has signaled a major structural shift, unveiling a comprehensive plan Thursday to officially transition this care from an isolating household burden into a fully state-backed responsibility. The landmark policy, announced jointly by interagency ministries led by Minister of Health and Welfare Jung Eun-kyeong, directly addresses the institutional gaps that have repeatedly pushed caregiver families to their limits. With roughly 288,000 individuals with developmental disabilities nationwide — representing 11 percent of Korea’s total registered disabled population — the national initiative establishes a lifecycle-based safety net designed to move care out of private homes and directly into structured community frameworks. The announcement carries p

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Forest therapy reduces suicide risk and depression, study finds

Engaging in structured forest therapy programs significantly reduces suicide risk, feelings of despair and depression, offering a scientifically backed tool for mental health recovery, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Institute of Forest Science. The findings arrive against the backdrop of an ongoing national mental health crisis in Korea, which has long recorded the highest suicide rate among developed nations. In response to persistent societal stress, hyper-competitive work and academic environments and social isolation, state health agencies have increasingly looked beyond traditional clinical interventions toward community-based and natural preventative measures to build long-term psychological resilience. To verify the objective efficacy of natural exposure, researchers introduced standardized psychological tests to evaluate numerical shifts before and after program participation. Timed with World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday, the study analyzed key indicators across 231 participants, tracking changes in suicide risk, hopelessness and depression metri

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Korea's employment dilemma: Can older, younger workers really share job market?

Korea’s labor market is caught in a generational dilemma. Young people continue to struggle to land their first jobs, while older workers are hoping to stay on the payroll for longer, as pension income often falls short of what they need for retirement. As the country rapidly ages, policymakers are pursuing a gradual increase in the statutory retirement age from 60 to 65. This prospect has raised a difficult question: Are older workers staying in the workforce at the expense of the younger generation’s first break? A recent survey by the Economic, Social and Labor Council, a presidential advisory body, found that 77 percent of 878 respondents believed Korea needed an employment system that could better accommodate both older and younger workers. But there is little consensus yet on what that would look like in practice. How can the country make room for two generations to coexist when their needs are increasingly colliding in the job market? Job market pulling in opposite directions The number of employed people aged 55 to 79 reached 10.13 million in May, surpassing 10 million for the

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InterviewKorean arms firms need European joint ventures to expand NATO ties: Czech defense chief

Korean defense companies seeking to expand their ties with NATO member nations may need to establish joint ventures and local production partnerships in member states, following the model they have built in Poland, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna said Monday. “Poland is not only buying (Korea’s K2 tanks). Basically, it is building industry around it in cooperation with South Korean businesses,” Zůna said during an interview with The Korea Times at the Czech Embassy in Seoul. “Poland is a prime example of how it should be done — basically creating a joint venture, transferring technology from South Korea to the European partner,” he said, noting that a number of European countries are considering the K2 as a potential main battle tank. Zůna was in Seoul to attend the Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual multilateral security forum hosted by Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. This year’s forum ran from Monday through Wednesday. During his visit, he also met Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back to discuss bilateral defense and security coop

3 MIN READ
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More Korean teens leave school to prepare for college entrance exams

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. The number of teenagers leaving school to prepare for college entrance exams is on the rise. According to an analysis by Jongno Academy of data disclosed through School Info, a government education information portal, a total of 18,661 high school students discontinued their education in 2025. Of them, 10,006 were first-year high school students, accounting for more than half of the total. The category of “academic discontinuation” includes voluntary withdrawal, expulsion and removal from school registers. Leaving school allows students to break away from a fixed school schedule and organize their days according to their own study plans. However, dropping out does not simply mean a change in the learning environment. It can also significantly alter their daily routines and lifestyle. Sleep schedules can become disrupted Schools provide clear time structures, including fixed hours for arriving at school, attending classes and eating lunch. Students are required to wake up at a set time, while classes and breaks follow a regular pattern. By co

2 MIN READ
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12 Koreans arrested in Thailand over alleged voice phishing operation

A dozen Korean nationals have been detained by Thai police on suspicion of involvement in scam-related crimes, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. Thai police recently raided a voice phishing call center at a luxury house in Samut Prakan Province, south of Bangkok, and detained 12 Koreans and a Chinese national, according to AFP. They had reportedly entered Thailand illegally from unspecified neighboring countries. The suspects allegedly targeted Korean victims by posing as prosecutors or government officials. They falsely claimed that the victims were involved in criminal investigations and tricked them into transferring money, the report said. "We are aware that 12 South Korean nationals have been detained by Thai police on suspicion of involvement in scam-related crimes," the ministry said in a release sent to reporters. "The South Korean Embassy in Thailand was providing them with necessary consular assistance." The ministry declined to provide further details as the local investigation is under way. According to the report, police found call center equipment, computers and mobile

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Korean Air faces probe over deleted documents in route case

Korean Air faces possible prosecution after three employees allegedly deleted files and emails during a Fair Trade Commission (FTC) investigation into the airline’s request to ease seat-supply obligations imposed as part of its merger with Asiana Airlines. The FTC said Thursday that it submitted a review report recommending that Korean Air and the three employees each be referred for prosecution over alleged obstruction of the regulator’s investigation. The recommendation is not a final decision. The case will be reviewed by the FTC’s full commission, which will make its final determination after giving Korean Air and the employees opportunities to submit their opinions and review evidence. The watchdog conducted an on-site inspection of Korean Air’s headquarters in Seoul from Feb. 2-6, as part of its review of the airline’s request to ease seat-supply requirements on the Cheongju-Jeju and Jeju-Cheongju routes. According to the FTC, three Korean Air employees deleted work-related electronic files and emails connected to the case between Feb. 2 and 4. Investigators determined th

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'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' shifts to poker for global finale

"Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" moves away from traditional Korean card games toward high-stakes poker on a global stage, marking a major evolution for the iconic franchise, according to director Choi Kook-hee, Wednesday. The director emphasized that the fourth and final installment tells an independent story focused on raw human desire. "Unlike the previous three films, this installment focuses heavily on intense human emotions like envy, jealousy and betrayal," Choi said after the premier in Seoul. "As a long-time fan of the original comic book series by Huh Young-man, it was an honor to direct the final chapter." The upcoming film follows Jang Tae-young (Byun Yo-han), who loses his online casino empire after being betrayed by his close friend Park Tae-young (Roh Jae-won). Driven by revenge, the two former friends clash in a global gambling match involving figures from Japan and Vietnam. While earlier entries often rooted their tension in Korean card games, Choi deliberately chose Texas Hold 'em poker to target international audiences. He said the popularity of poker worldwide gives the

2 MIN READ
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Cho Hyun-joon positions Hyosung Heavy Industries for US power boom

Hyosung Heavy Industries is strengthening its foothold in the U.S. power infrastructure market as soaring electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and efforts to replace aging power grids drive a rapid expansion of the country's power infrastructure. The company said Tuesday that its localization strategy, spearheaded by Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, is beginning to bear fruit as demand rises for ultra-high-voltage power equipment in the United States. Cho anticipated the growing importance of power infrastructure amid the rapid development of AI and has called on Hyosung Heavy Industries to become a "game changer" in the power infrastructure market driving the transformation of global industries. The United States is expanding its 765-kilovolt (kV) ultra-high-voltage transmission network to accommodate rising electricity demand, including from AI data centers. Such networks enable the long-distance transmission of large amounts of electricity with lower losses. Hyosung Heavy Industries currently accounts for nearly half of the U.S. market for 765kV ultra

3 MIN READ
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Blackstone invests in major logistics center with ESR

Blackstone, a New York-based asset management firm, has teamed up with ESR to invest in a major logistics center development project in the Seoul metropolitan area, the company said Thursday. The move highlights Blackstone’s growing focus on logistics real estate as a key investment market in Korea. The firm said funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners have invested in a majority interest in Sanha Logistics Park II, a prime dry-storage logistics development in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, through a primary share issuance. ESR will retain its investment in the project while continuing to oversee its development and asset management through ESR Kendall Square, its local platform in Korea. Construction is underway on Sanha Logistics Park II, which covers 334,000 square meters and is slated for completion in 2028. The logistics facility is located along the Gyeongbu Expressway, a major transportation route linking Seoul and Busan, in a well-established industrial and distribution area home to operations of major Korean conglomerates. The facility is being developed with significant p

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RoundtableAI-driven anti-aging fuels next wave of Korea's medical tourism

Korea's medical tourism industry is on the cusp of its next leap, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and anti-aging care converging to reshape treatment across specialties. Panelists at the Medicon Black Roundtable on Tuesday said Korea already has skilled medical staff and technology, and AI now makes possible what wasn't before. Hosted by The Korea Times and the Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association (KMTPA), the roundtable discussion brought together specialists from Korea's five key medical tourism fields: ophthalmology, plastic surgery, dermatology, dentistry and health checkups. Panelists examined how AI and anti-aging could fuel Korea's medical tourism leap, from diagnosis to treatment. "Combine Korea's clinical strengths with AI, K-beauty, wellness and its national brand, and medical tourism can go beyond simply attracting foreign patients," said Kim Jae-kyoung, managing director of Content and Business Planning at The Korea Times. With anti-aging drawing growing interest, hospitals no longer need to offer a single specialty, panelists said, adding that bundling ophthalm

3 MIN READ
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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] Lee caught in Hormuz deployment dilemma

COVER STORY Lee caught in Hormuz deployment dilemma

President Lee Jae Myung is confronting a major dilemma over whether to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz, with the prolonged crisis in the Middle East leaving him caught between conflicting national interests with little room for compromise. The United States, Korea's most important security ally, is intensifying pressure on Seoul to make a military contribution to U.S.-led operations as its war with Iran drags on. Making a military contribution may satisfy Washington and could lead to progress on other bilateral security and economic issues, but Tehran has warned that any Korean military involvement, including noncombat support, will have “serious consequences.” In addition, deployment could also trigger a strong domestic backlash, especially from liberal voters who form the backbone of support for Lee and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). On the other hand, refusing to join the war could invite retaliatory measures from Washington and complicate pending issues such as tariff negotiations, which could also affect domestic politics. “The dilemma goes to the heart of w

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul brings free music, film, crafts to local park this weekend

Seoul brings free music, film, crafts to local park this weekend

Seoul is transforming a neighborhood green space into an autumn stage this weekend, hosting two days of free concerts, family activities and an outdoor movie screening. The 2026 Cheonho Park Fall Festival runs from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul. The event reflects a broader effort by municipal planners to decentralize culture, turning neighborhood parks into accessible hubs for leisure rather than relying solely on major venues along the Han River or in central Seoul. Cheonho Park, built on the site of a former factory in a densely populated residential zone, serves as a crucial green lung and gathering spot for the local community. The lineup blends live music across multiple genres with interactive workshops for families. Saturday’s schedule features youth hip-hop dance teams, classical guitar sets and a local residents’ singing contest, capped off by performances from singers So Yu-mi and Jung Min-chan. Around the park, visitors can plant potted flowers, design custom photo key rings and get face paintings. Snack stands will distribute compli

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Korea Heritage Service designates 16th-century temple hall in Geumsan as Treasure

The Korea Heritage Service has designated the Daegwangjeon Hall of Sinansa Temple in Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province, as a Treasure, one of the country's state heritage designations just below National Treasure. No written record establishes exactly when the hall, the temple's main worship building, was first built. But a ridge-beam inscription discovered during dismantling repairs in 2007 recorded a 1638 reconstruction and an 1840 renovation. Later, in 2023, tree-ring dating of key wooden members found several dated to 1583, scientifically confirming the hall was originally built in the 16th century. The hall features a "dapo" bracket style — in which bracket sets supporting the roof's weight are placed both atop the columns and between them, rather than only atop the columns — combined with a gable roof, a design in which the roof slopes only at the front and back. The agency said placing bracket sets on the building's sides and corners despite its gable-roof design is a distinctive feature reflecting 16th-century construction techniques. Other elements considered signs

2 MIN READ
Korea Heritage Service designates 16th-century temple hall in Geumsan as Treasure

K-Culture

Former NCT member Mark Lee starts solo era with independent label Upper Room

Mark Lee — the artist and rapper best known as a core member of the global supergroup NCT — released his new single “My Friend” Thursday, marking a pivotal departure from the glossy mechanics of mainstream pop and laying the cornerstone for a new independent chapter. The track serves as his inaugural release under Upper Room, a creative company founded by Lee. Rather than leaning on maximalist production, “My Friend” leans comfortably into restraint. Built over a nostalgic, lingering guitar loop, the mid-tempo pop track wrestles with a timeless late-summer question: What does the highest form of love actually look like? Mark took the reins across every stage of the track's creation, contributing to the songwriting, composition and arrangement. The result is less of a commercial product and more of a personal diary entry — a gentle reflection on closing one chapter of life to step quietly into the next. That ethos carries directly into the song's accompanying music video. Steering entirely clear of computer graphics or artificial staging, director Gus Black — known for his

2 MIN READ
Former NCT member Mark Lee starts solo era with independent label Upper Room

Celebrities

Former NCT member Mark Lee starts solo era with independent label Upper Room

Mark Lee — the artist and rapper best known as a core member of the global supergroup NCT — released his new single “My Friend” Thursday, marking a pivotal departure from the glossy mechanics of mainstream pop and laying the cornerstone for a new independent chapter. The track serves as his inaugural release under Upper Room, a creative company founded by Lee. Rather than leaning on maximalist production, “My Friend” leans comfortably into restraint. Built over a nostalgic, lingering guitar loop, the mid-tempo pop track wrestles with a timeless late-summer question: What does the highest form of love actually look like? Mark took the reins across every stage of the track's creation, contributing to the songwriting, composition and arrangement. The result is less of a commercial product and more of a personal diary entry — a gentle reflection on closing one chapter of life to step quietly into the next. That ethos carries directly into the song's accompanying music video. Steering entirely clear of computer graphics or artificial staging, director Gus Black — known for his

2 MIN READ
Former NCT member Mark Lee starts solo era with independent label Upper Room

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Korea's employment dilemma: Can older, younger workers really share job market?

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  3. InterviewKorean arms firms need European joint ventures to expand NATO ties: Czech defense chief

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  5. International students in Korea top 500,000 for 1st time on Korean cultural boom

  6. COVER STORY Lee caught in Hormuz deployment dilemma

  7. Inside Spotify House Seoul — 3 floors built around the listener

  8. 'Gambling with our lives': AI researcher quits Anthropic

  9. Young female political party official's visible tattoo sparks debate in Korea

  10. 12 Koreans arrested in Thailand over alleged voice phishing operation

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