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Lee Jae Myung says paying full respects to those killed in service is important 'social duty'

President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday honoring and paying due respects to those killed while serving the country is a social duty the nation should uphold. Lee made the remarks in a speech at a Memorial Day ceremony, a national holiday commemorating those who sacrificed themselves while serving the country, including those who fought for independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. Saturday's ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery was attended by 3,000 uniformed service members, government officials, national merit recipients and their families. Among the attendees were the family members of a 34-year-old Coast Guard officer who was killed last year while trying to rescue a person from a tidal flat, as well as the families of two service members killed in an Army helicopter crash in February. "Commemorating the spirit of the patriots and paying them full respect is a social duty that we should faithfully uphold," the president said. The president highlighted the enactment next year of a law expanding benefits for the families of independence fighters, saying the government is al

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InterviewAfter 3,000 autopsies in nearly 30 years, Yoo sees life as movie

Having examined more than 3,000 bodies since 1999, Yoo Seong-ho, a professor of forensic medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine, has come to believe that life is like a movie. “A good death is living a good life,” Yoo said in an interview with The Korea Times. “Think of it like a film where the story is a mess from the start. If only the ending has a twist, people will hate it.” Every Monday and Friday, Yoo performs autopsies referred by nine police precincts across Seoul from Jongno District to Yongsan District. In 2024, some 359,000 people died in Korea, most of them in hospitals under medical care and therefore not requiring an autopsy. The cases that come to Yoo are those where the cause of death is unknown or suspicious. Depending on the criteria, that amounts to between 30,000 and 50,000 a year, of which around 9,000 actually go to autopsy. Of Korea's 54 forensic pathologists, 34 work at the National Forensic Service (NFS) and 20 at universities, each handling roughly 180 cases a year. Among them, Yoo may be the most publicly recognized, running the YouTu

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Protest against ballot paper shortages enters 2nd day, demanding new election

Protests over ballot shortages entered their second day Saturday, with thousands encircling a vote-counting facility in eastern Seoul and demanding a new election. By 12:35 p.m., approximately 2,000 people had gathered around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, according to police, claiming Wednesday's local elections were fraudulent. Protesters blocked entrances, trapping an estimated 20-30 officials inside. About 400 police officers were deployed to the scene. No clashes have been reported. The unrest stemmed from the shortage of ballot paper at more than a dozen polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, including in Songpa and Gangnam, forcing temporary voting suspensions. Some voters are believed to have left without casting their ballots. Authorities managed to move the ballot boxes to the gymnasium Friday morning. Since then, protestors have surrounded the facility, preventing officials from removing the boxes or leaving the site. The same day, National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Roh Tae-ak and NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations. The c

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Chinese memory firms edge closer to challenging Korea's chip giants

China's two leading memory-chip makers are moving closer to public listings as both companies rapidly expand production and gain market share, raising fresh questions about whether Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could face a new competitive challenge from China's growing semiconductor industry. ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China's leading dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) producer, won approval last week for its nearly 30-billion-yuan ($4.4 billion) initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai, while NAND flash champion Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC) has begun IPO preparations and could formally submit a listing application as early as June, with proceeds directed at equipment and research and development. The twin listing efforts come as both companies benefit from a global memory upcycle driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand. More importantly, analysts say they reflect a broader shift in China's semiconductor industry, where memory makers are evolving from technology catch-up players into increasingly credible competitors in global markets. The IPO approval

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How plogging turns eco-anxiety into lifestyle for young Koreans

As Koreans brace for another sweltering summer, a grim joke has taken hold in casual conversation: “This will be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives.” For many young people, that line is no longer dark humor but a blunt summary of how the climate crisis feels — relentless, immediate and deeply personal. Among Korea’s young generations, a wave of what experts call “climate anxiety” reshapes their daily lives, from how they exercise and shop to whether they plan to marry or have children. Rather than taking to the streets with placards in protest, many are turning their unease into what they describe as “liveable” eco-friendly lifestyles woven into ordinary routines. A 2024 study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that more than 90 percent of Korean adults feel anxious about the climate crisis. Young adults in their 20s recorded the highest scores among all age groups. Researchers also noted a “functional” side to this anxiety: the more worried people were, the more likely they were to adopt eco-friendly behaviors, rather than disengag

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1st funeral held for victim of Hanwha Aerospace factory blast

The first funeral for one of five people killed in a deadly factory explosion at Hanwha Aerospace, a defense company, was held in the central city of Daejeon, Saturday. A blast at the Hanwha Aerospace facility, Monday, killed five people and injured two others, with company officials saying the workers were cleaning propellant powder residue from tools used in the production of propulsion systems at the time of the explosion. The funeral for one of the victims took place at a funeral parlor in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in the morning with the attendance of his bereaved family, relatives and company executives. This week's explosion marked the latest fatal incident at the Hanwha Aerospace factory following an explosion in 2018 that claimed five lives, and another explosion the following year that left three people killed.

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Won hits 17-year low after breaking 1,560 against US dollar

The Korean won weakened beyond the 1,560-per-dollar mark in overnight trading Friday and early Saturday, falling to its lowest level in 17 years as a stronger dollar and continued foreign selling weighed on the currency. The exchange rate climbed as high as 1,561.5 won per dollar in overnight trading before ending at 1,559.0. The move marked the weakest level for the won since March 2009 during the global financial crisis. The won had already weakened to 1,549.1 per dollar during regular trading Friday before the exchange rate closed the daytime session at 1,539.1 won per dollar. It then accelerated sharply after the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data, breaking through the psychologically significant 1,550 and 1,560 levels in succession. Market watchers attributed the latest surge in the exchange rate to a combination of factors, including a stronger dollar, continued foreign selling of Korean equities and concerns over the economic impact of the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. jobs report reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep int

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Ex-President Yoon questioned over messages to justify failed imposition of martial law

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was questioned by a special counsel team Saturday on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of rights in connection with messages allegedly used to justify his declaration of martial law. Yoon, currently detained at Seoul Detention Center, underwent questioning at the special counsel's office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, for about six hours from around 9:50 a.m. It marked his first appearance before the team since its launch on Feb. 25. He is alleged to have directed the foreign ministry and the National Security Office (NSO) to send messages to allies, including the United States, portraying his martial law declaration as legitimate. The messages reportedly framed the measures as necessary to safeguard democracy and counter pro-North Korean forces. The NSO was believed to have delivered Yoon's message to the National Intelligence Service the day after the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, where it was translated into English and briefed to a CIA official, according to the team. Investigators are said to have focused on Yoon's intention behind

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shares 'somaek' with Korea's top tycoons amid partnership talks

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Seoul on Friday, seven months after making headlines with a fried chicken gathering with the heads of Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group that was followed by a large-scale Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator supply across Korea. This time, his visit is set to focus on partnerships with a broader range of Korean firms in AI applications, including robotics, physical AI, infrastructure and gaming. In addition to his business engagements, Huang is also scheduled to make a television appearance and throw a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game, reflecting his celebritylike popularity here. Huang dined with some of Korea's top business leaders at Hyungnim Jeoyo, a casual pork belly barbecue restaurant near Hongik University in western Seoul, hours after his arrival in the country. He shared a table with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver Chairman of the Board Lee Hae-jin. Officials from Nvidia also joined the gathering. The restaurant’s name, which roughly translates to “Hey big brother, over h

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AnalysisElection fallout leaves rival party leaders on shaky ground

Korea’s June 3 local elections have left both the ruling and opposition parties with wounded leaders who are politically weakened yet unwilling to step aside. Traditionally, a heavy electoral setback prompts party leaders to offer an apology and resign, paving the way for an emergency interim leadership. This time, neither side followed that script. Instead, the chairmen of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the People Power Party (PPP) insist they preserved “hope” or “victory,” even as their leadership and authority are being increasingly questioned by party members. On the surface, the ruling liberal party can claim victory, as Chairman Jung Chung-rae did on Thursday, given that it captured 12 of the 16 top posts of the nation’s metropolitan and provincial offices. But key, symbolic losses have forced insiders to acknowledge that the outcome looks far less reassuring. The most painful blow came in Seoul, where incumbent PPP Mayor Oh Se-hoon defeated DPK candidate Chong Won-o, despite early polls showing Chong’s substantial lead and President Lee Jae Myung’s approv

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MORNING CALM TALES The ride of a lifetime

The runway blurred beneath us. A second later, the afterburner ignited, and the F-16 surged forward with a force that pushed me deep into the seat. Rain streaked across the canopy as the jet roared down the runway at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Then the nose lifted and the ground dropped away. Within moments, we were climbing through the clouds. Strapped into the back seat, helmet on and oxygen mask tight against my face, I had a sudden thought that still seemed slightly unreal: Just days earlier, it was a classroom at Yonsei University, teaching English. Now it was the back seat of an F-16, one of the most advanced fighter jets ever built, punching through the clouds over the Korean Peninsula. The path that led to that cockpit began with a newspaper story. At the time, I was also working as a feature writer for The Korea Times, covering a variety of stories about the United States Forces Korea (USFK). One of them involved a dramatic rescue mission in the West Sea. Late one foggy night in February 2001, a pregnant Korean woman living on a small island near the Northern

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N. Korea's Kim attends navigation test of destroyer Kang Kon

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended the navigation test of a naval destroyer, state media reported Saturday, calling for strengthening the navy's combat capabilities and nuclear deterrent. Kim boarded the destroyer Kang Kon, Thursday to assess its maneuvering and operational condition, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Building a powerful navy capable of "reliably taking charge of a part of the nuclear war deterrent" and striking the enemy "under the water or on the water" was "the most important core task" in the party's five-year national defense development policy, he said. Kim expressed confidence that the navy's modernization targets under the five-year plan, including the development of "underwater secret weapons" and the construction of 10,000-ton destroyers, would be "surely carried out" by the country's munitions workers and scientists. He ordered the destroyers Choe Hyon and Kang Won to be commissioned "as soon as possible." Photos released by the KCNA showed his daughter Ju-ae accompanying him. The 5,000-ton Kang Kon has had a troubled path to service. The war

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Former BTS music producer to attend music conference next week

K-pop music producer Alex Karlsson, who has made music for boy group BTS, will speak at a music conference slated for Monday in Seoul. According to Leeway Music & Media, Karlsson will be among the panel at a music conference organized to celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France this year. The venue for the conference will be THILA Ground in the Hongdae area of western Seoul. Karlsson was behind BTS’ “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” (2020). He has also worked on music for other popular K-pop groups, such as SuperM, ENHYPEN, TXT, ATEEZ and Le Sserafim. Other speakers at the conference include jazz artist Amy Gadiaga, Mutant Ninja founder Tarafa Sahloul and Salpot Music Group's Andnew. They will share their thoughts and insights on K-pop, its globalization and the power of music. Monday’s conference will be followed by two other sessions, scheduled for June 15 and 22. The final session is set for the day after the French global music festival, “Fete de la Musique,” which will also take place in Seoul this year.

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Bitcoin drops below $60,000 for first time since October 2024

WASHINGTON — Bitcoin dropped below $60,000 on Friday, its lowest level since October 2024, just before Donald Trump's election, which propelled it to a record high. The currency fell by about 6 percent around 1615 GMT, to $59.7709, before paring its losses slightly. The election of Trump, a staunch advocate of cryptocurrencies, to the White House for a second term in November 2024 sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the sector, sending the price of bitcoin soaring to nearly $110,000. The current dip has been caused by factors including one corporate selloff, according to Emma Bernuau, a consultant at Eurosagency. A surprise sale by Strategy one of bitcoin's most prominent corporate holders — rattled confidence. The firm revealed it had sold 32 BTC from its reserves, the first such disposal in several years. "Although the amount was minimal, the symbolic — significance is considerable," Bernuau said. "The market had generally considered that Strategy had no intention of selling its bitcoin and would continue accumulating regardless of market conditions." Bernuau said long-term investors co

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Koreans living overseas urge gov't to improve public services

Koreans living overseas urged the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) to improve citizen services, raising issues mainly about the expansion of the identity verification system using foreign numbers, support for Korean cultural facilities and the overseas issuance of international driver’s licences. In an online forum held by the OKA marking the third anniversary of the launch of the agency, overseas Koreans, mainly the heads of overseas Korean associations, shared their difficulties and suggestions on how to improve Korean government services. Several participants urged the government to support cultural facilities in their regions so that Korea can expand its influence in other countries. “We urgently need a Korean Cultural Center established in East Timor … KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) has funded other large-scale projects here, such as a $10 million football stadium and various small business factories. However, these do not seem to effectively enhance Korea’s national image. When people here think of football, they think of Portugal, not Korea. Supporting a Taek

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How hanbok policy changed tourist experience at Korea’s old palaces

Foreign tourists love Korean palaces. Statistics show that more than 70 percent of overseas tourists visiting Seoul go to at least one of the city’s ancient palaces. It does not matter whether they plan to go shopping in Myeong-dong or spend a night in Hongdae in western Seoul. Renting the traditional attire known as hanbok and casually strolling around palace pavilions while taking pictures has essentially become a Seoul travel ritual that rarely budges from the itinerary. Be it the scorching heat of summer or the freezing winds of winter, foreign tourists can be seen around the palaces in every season, dressed in brightly colored hanbok, the traditional Korean hat known as "gat" and "norigae," a traditional Korean decorative pendant worn with the outfit. And of all the ancient palaces that lure those tourists, Gyeongbok Palace commands the strongest presence and recognition. With its giant red-brown pillars, broad stone courtyard and the sight of Mount Bukak rising beyond the roofline of Gwanghwamun, the palace might just offer the most “Korean” scenery tourists can find in Kore

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Navies of Korea, Canada hold joint drill

The navies of Korea and Canada held a joint drill this week off the Canadian west coast, Seoul's military said Saturday. The drill involved the 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine and the 3,100-ton frigate Daejeon and Navy helicopters, according to the Korean military. Canada's HMCS Corner Brook submarine and Ottawa frigate, as well as CH-148 shipborne helicopters, joined the drill, according to Seoul's military. Korea's Navy said the two nations strengthened their joint operational capabilities through the naval exercises, which included anti-ship shooting and anti-submarine warfare.

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2026 local elections

Final tally for local elections completed after counting omitted ballots

Final tally for local elections completed after counting omitted ballots

The final vote count for this week's local elections was completed Friday, two days after a shortage of ballot papers disrupted voting at over a dozen polling stations in Seoul. Election officials declared the final tally for the June 3 vote after reflecting the results from two ballot boxes that were counted belatedly due to a blockade staged by protesters alleging election fraud. Earlier in the day, police dispersed a crowd of protesters and secured the ballot boxes, containing around 2,000 ballots, at a polling station in Seoul's Songpa Ward. Friday's tally did not significantly alter the election results, including the razor-thin Seoul mayoral race. The final count showed that incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party won with 49.22 percent of the vote, defeating Chong Won-o of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea by 1.15 percentage points, or 60,259 votes. During Wednesday's elections, ballot shortages were reported at polling stations in Seoul, including in the southeastern wards of Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary suspensions of voting there.

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Editor's Pick

China’s AI chip demand pushes Korea into rare surplus with top trade partner

China’s AI chip demand pushes Korea into rare surplus with top trade partner

HONG KONG — Korea has emerged as a rare bright spot among East Asian economies trading with China, as booming demand for memory chips pushes its balance with its largest trading partner back into a surplus. The country's trade position with China had strengthened steadily this year, swinging from a $764 million deficit in December 2025 to a $1.1 billion surplus in February, before widening further to $3.8 billion in May, according to data from Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The turnaround has been driven largely by semiconductor shipments to China, as the global AI boom fuels demand for memory chips. The surge had tightened supply and sent prices sharply higher, with 16 gigabyte DDR5 memory chips up 682 percent and NAND flash memory prices up 807 percent, according to Morgan Stanley. In May, Korea's semiconductor exports to China jumped 243 percent from a year earlier, the ministry's data showed. Korea’s improving position stands in sharp contrast to that of other East Asian economies, where rising Chinese competitiveness and shifting technology supply chains have

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Life in Korea

Seoul’s Hangang Bus ferry service expands route to serve garden expo crowds

Seoul’s Hangang Bus ferry service expands route to serve garden expo crowds

Hoping to capitalize on a massive surge in public interest, Seoul officials said Friday that the city's newly rebooted river ferry service will add a critical new stop at Seoul Forest to bring visitors to the international garden exhibition. Starting Monday, June 8, the Hangang Bus will stop at the newly minted Seoul Forest pier 16 times a day through the end of October. The addition alters the eastern corridor of the municipal ferry network between Jamsil and Yeouido, creating a scenic transit alternative for an event that has quickly captured the capital’s attention. The Seoul International Garden Show, which opened May 1 on a sprawling 710,000-square-meter site in eastern Seoul, has cemented its status as one of the city's most successful public initiatives. After drawing over 10 million visitors last year, this year’s iteration crossed the one-million-visitor threshold just six days after opening. To maintain safety and efficiency during the route expansion, the city is restructuring the eastern line to alternate stops between the Oksu and Apgujeong piers. Under this alternating

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Lifestyle

Can late-night run offset overeating? Actor Lee Jong-suk’s workout sparks interest

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actor Lee Jong-suk worked up a sweat with a late-night run after enjoying a series of indulgent meals during a recent trip to Italy. In a vlog uploaded to his YouTube channel, Lee documented his visit to Florence and Milan, where he attended fashion events for a luxury brand. The actor's food-filled journey began even before departure. At the airport lounge, he enjoyed a generous meal and continued eating aboard his flight, consuming pizza, beef tenderloin steak with potato croquettes, cheese and biscuits, chocolate ice cream, instant noodles and an eel rice bowl. Afterward, he joked that he felt sleepy from a blood sugar spike and admitted he was uncomfortably full. Upon arriving in Florence, Lee ordered room-service pasta before attending a fashion show. Later, while sightseeing at Milan’s iconic Milan Cathedral, he treated himself to gelato. As the food-focused vlog continued, Lee appeared slightly embarrassed by his appetite. “Celebrities probably shouldn’t eat everything they want before a scheduled event,” he said. “I feel like I

3 MIN READ
Can late-night run offset overeating? Actor Lee Jong-suk’s workout sparks interest

K-Culture

ReviewNetflix drama 'Teach You a Lesson' serves as reality check for Korea’s broken education system

Netflix’s new series "Teach You a Lesson" exposes a Korean education system so fundamentally fractured that it feels like a dystopian thriller. Yet the story, based on a webtoon, strikes a painfully real chord. Gone are the days when the primary headline was overzealous teachers abusing students with corporal punishment. Today, the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme. Guided by a cultural climate that fiercely prioritizes student rights and coddles aggressive parents, the classroom has devolved. Disruptive students openly mock their instructors, while educators are left utterly powerless, forced into willful ignorance just to survive the school day. It is against this grim, real-world backdrop that the series launches its ultimate power fantasy. The show tracks the Korean Educational Rights Protection Bureau, a government-sanctioned vigilante squad deployed to salvage classrooms ruined by boundary-crossing teenagers and toxic parents. Anatomy of a broken classroom The drama anchors its stakes immediately through Gyeong-min, a high schooler systematically ostracized by his entire

3 MIN READ
Netflix drama 'Teach You a Lesson' serves as reality check for Korea’s broken education system

Celebrities

Go Youn-jung turns an ice cream bite into a viral photo shoot moment

Actress Go Youn-jung has once again proven that even the most ordinary moments can look like a magazine spread. On Friday, Go shared several photos on social media, giving fans a glimpse into her everyday life. The images quickly drew attention online, with many praising the actress's effortless charm and natural beauty. One photo shows Go enjoying an ice cream cone on the street. Far from striking a glamorous pose, she scrunches up her entire face while taking a bite, creating a playful and relatable moment that amused fans. Despite the exaggerated expression, the actress still managed to look as though she had stepped out of a coming-of-age film. Her naturally styled bangs and casual outfit added to the laid-back atmosphere, highlighting a softer side of the star often seen in polished on-screen roles. Go also shared several candid street photos showing her wearing sunglasses on top of her head and holding a cup of coffee. Flashing mischievous expressions and playful poses, she showcased a youthful and approachable image. In another photo, the actress is seen gently petting a dog outside

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Go Youn-jung turns an ice cream bite into a viral photo shoot moment

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Chinese memory firms edge closer to challenging Korea's chip giants

  2. Protest against ballot paper shortages enters 2nd day, demanding new election

  3. InterviewAfter 3,000 autopsies in nearly 30 years, Yoo sees life as movie

  4. How plogging turns eco-anxiety into lifestyle for young Koreans

  5. Lee Jae Myung says paying full respects to those killed in service is important 'social duty'

  6. The tiny invisible Korean bow

  7. After decades of controversy, Steve Yoo says returning to Korea no longer matters

  8. 1st funeral held for victim of Hanwha Aerospace factory blast

  9. Ex-President Yoon questioned over messages to justify failed imposition of martial law

  10. World Taekwondo leadership honors late pioneer Park Young-ghil in Rome

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