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Elderly poverty rate falls below 40 percent for first time, but still highest in the OECD

Korea's income poverty rate among people aged 65 and older has fallen below 40 percent for the first time on record, largely due to the retirement of the baby boomer generation (born between 1955 and 1963), who generally possess more assets, higher incomes and better pension coverage than previous generations. However, experts warn that income inequality within the elderly population is expected to widen further, underscoring the need to strengthen the social safety net for low-income seniors. According to an analysis released Wednesday by the National Pension Research Institute based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Pensions at a Glance 2025, Korea's elderly income poverty rate stood at 39.7 percent. It marks the first time the country's elderly poverty rate has fallen below 40 percent in OECD statistics. The figure has steadily declined over the past decade, from 49.6 percent in 2015 to 45.7 percent in 2017, 43.8 percent in 2019, 43.4 percent in 2021 and 40.4 percent in 2023. Despite the improvement, Korea's elderly poverty rate remains about 2.7 t

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England defeat Norway 2-1 to reach World Cup semi-finals

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jude Bellingham scored in the third minute of extra time to lift England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Bellingham's goal was his second of the game — he also had an equalizer late in the first half. The Real Madrid star is now tied with England teammate Harry Kane with six goals in this tournament, behind the eight of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He scored twice in the round of 16 as England beat co-host Mexico. England, winner of the 1966 World Cup and facing pressure to return to the title match, is now one win away from getting there. The Three Lions will face either Argentina or Switzerland, who were set to play Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri. Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 36th minute for Norway, a squad that reached its first quarterfinals and took the internet by storm with its “Viking row” and the charisma of 6-foot-5 striker Erling Haaland. Haaland — the Manchester City star who had seven goals in this tournament — was held without a goal for the first ti

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Seoul opens 212 free water play areas to combat summer heat

The Seoul Metropolitan Government opened 212 free aquatic cooling facilities in parks and green spaces across the capital Friday to help residents beat increasingly prolonged summer heat waves. The seasonal rollout features 142 splash pads and 70 dedicated water playgrounds that will remain operational through August. To guide families looking for urban retreats, the city’s Parks and Landscape Bureau highlighted 10 premier destinations categorized by their distinct setups. For standard splash pads, the city recommended Seoul Forest, which is currently hosting the 2026 Seoul International Garden Exposition. Other top spots include Seoul Plaza directly in front of City Hall, World Cup Park in Mapo District, featuring a nearby adventure playground and the sandy "Nanji Beach," and Buramsan Healing Park in Nowon District, which is popular for its large live butterfly conservatory. For more extensive water playgrounds equipped with interactive structures, officials highlighted the Seoul Botanic Park, where a colorful water park operates with a maximum depth of 25 centimeters and requires wat

2 MIN READ
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Inside Korea's largest Telegram sex abuse ring: How victims became perpetrators

A random Telegram message arrives from a stranger. “Hi. Someone is posting your picture and phone number in our channel. I think your information has been leaked. You should talk to this person.” The stranger, seemingly helpful, asks the user to tap “Add Contact.” But as soon as the button is pressed, the user's phone number is shared — and a digital manhunt begins. With only that number, perpetrators scour social media accounts and KakaoTalk to identify the victim’s name, friends and family. Then, without warning, the stranger turns hostile. “I can post your personal information online. I can call your family, your school and your workplace.” The threats grow more menacing. “I can make you quit school. I can make it impossible for you to leave your home.” For the victim, it marked the beginning of a long campaign of intimidation. In a sudden turn, victims were forced to choose between two options: ignore the threat and risk having their names and faces shared online and with people they knew, or follow instructions from a man nicknamed “Pastor.” Some chose to comply.

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Lee returns home after NATO summit, state visit to Mongolia

President Lee Jae Myung returned home Saturday after attending this year's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara and paying a state visit to Mongolia. Lee attended the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday in his first appearance at the annual gathering since taking office in June last year. Lee's participation in the NATO summit facilitated the launch of negotiations on a Korea-NATO procurement framework agreement as the president sought to expand bilateral defense cooperation beyond arms exports to joint defense production and development. During his state visit to Mongolia, the first by a Korean president in 15 years, Lee held a summit with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and agreed to expand cooperation in supply chains, including in critical minerals, as well as in other economic and cultural areas. The two leaders also declared the start of a "golden era" in Korea-Mongolia cooperation, outlining a shared vision for expanding bilateral cooperation. Back in Seoul, Lee is expected to accelerate the implementation of his policy agenda in the second year of his

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N. Korean, Chinese premiers discuss expanding exchanges, cooperation on 65th anniv. of friendship treaty

North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing to discuss ways to expand exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday. Pak met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the occasion of an event marking the 65th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between the two nations the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding exchanges and cooperation across all spheres, in line with an agreement reached by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit talks in Pyongyang last month. Pak said relations between Pyongyang and Beijing have "reached a new high level," while vowing to strengthen their friendship and solidarity. In response, Li noted that it was the "steadfast" policy of the Chinese government to defend and consolidate their relations with Pyongyang, while describing the North Korea-China relationship as "neighbors sharing destiny." A North Korean delegation led by Pak arrived in Beijing

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Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

GWANGJU — Investigators raided the office of the Gwangju police chief Saturday as part of a widening probe into the police's suspected collusion with the father of the suspect in a high-profile murder case. The National Office of Investigation under the National Police Agency has formed a special team to investigate suspicions that the father, a police officer in the southwestern city of Gwangju, colluded with his colleagues to destroy evidence and access investigative information related to his son's alleged murder of a high school student in May. Investigators on the team executed warrants to search and seize material from the offices of the Gwangju Police Agency chief and the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station chief and five other locations. They arrived at these locations around 10 a.m. and left around 4:30 p.m. The lead investigator for the murder case was arrested earlier this week over concerns he may destroy evidence. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong cut short his trip to the United States amid the controversy and returned home Friday. He apologized to the v

2 MIN READ
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Inside a Korean hospice, where life begins again

After a patient dies in the hospice ward, a middle-aged nurse who cared for her removes the hospital gown. Before the patient is prepared for burial, the nurse dresses her in clothes she chose when she was still alive. A mother of three sons wore a silk hanbok, a traditional Korean dress, that she had worn only once — at her eldest son’s wedding. A 17-year-old boy, who had spent less than a year in school, wore a crisp high school uniform that still looked new. Families prepared some clothes specifically for that day. A 5-year-old girl who grew up in the ward wore a pink dress, her favorite color. An 11-month-old baby born with childhood cancer wore a jeogori, a traditional Korean jacket, made for a first birthday party that the hospital held early. For the nurse, the ritual is not about dressing the dead. It is about restoring the person behind the patient. Park Myung-hee, 56, is a nurse and team leader at the hospice and palliative care center at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, affiliated with The Catholic University of Korea. During her 31-year career, she has cared for patients in t

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Gyeongju World faces renewed safety concerns after Ferris wheel cabin falls

GYEONGJU — A major amusement ride accident at Gyeongju World, one of North Gyeongsang Province's best-known theme parks, has reignited concerns over the park's safety management after a passenger cabin detached from a large Ferris wheel-style attraction and fell to the ground. Although no one was seriously injured, the latest incident follows a series of ride-related accidents over the past four years, prompting calls for stronger safety regulations. According to Gyeongju City and Gyeongju World, July 9, an empty cabin detached from the park's Time Rider attraction at around 11:20 a.m. the previous day while the ride was in operation. The falling cabin struck two other cabins carrying a total of five passengers. All of the riders were taken to a hospital for examination and were later discharged. Unlike a conventional Ferris wheel, Time Rider is a coaster wheel in which cabins travel along a steeply inclined rail. Standing 51 meters tall, the attraction was introduced in June last year to mark the park's 40th anniversary. Gyeongju World promoted it as the first coaster wheel in Korea

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Why Vietnam's top student chose KAIST over medical school

HANOI — "Medical school was never even an option for me. It simply isn't the field I'm passionate about." Hoang Huong Giang, 18, Vietnam’s top scorer in the science track of the national high school graduation examination, paused briefly when asked whether she had ever considered studying medicine before giving her answer. Despite earning the highest score nationwide in the science track (mathematics, physics and English), a perfect 1,600 on the SAT and an IELTS score of 8.0, Giang chose neither medical school nor an elite U.S. university. Instead, she will enroll in the Department of Computer Science at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Korea's sience & research hub of Daejeon. She graduated from the High School for Gifted Students affiliated with Hanoi National University of Education, one of Vietnam's leading institutions for nurturing top science and engineering talent. As Korean companies expand investments in Vietnam in advanced industries such as AI and semiconductors, competition to attract top global talent is intensifying. At the same time, t

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MORNING CALM TALES 'Ppi-ppi': Korea's brief pager fad in the '90s

Before phones lived in our pockets — before they glowed, chirped, hummed, vibrated, tracked us and reminded us of things we hadn’t yet forgotten — there was the pager. In Korea, it was commonly and affectionately called "ppi-ppi." That palm-sized device fit neatly into a brief moment in the technological scheme of things, nudging how we communicated — if only slightly — into the future. In Korea, ppi-ppi weren’t just devices. They let us be connected before we really understood what being connected would come to mean. Almost overnight, pager shops sprang up all over the city. There were at least a dozen in Sinchon alone, along the main drag leading down from Yonsei University — identical, brightly lit and impossible to miss, glowing late into the night. Young clerks stood just inside the doors, eager and alert, ready to usher you into the latest craze. Inside, glass display cases gleamed with rows of nearly identical ppi-ppi, arranged neatly in place, waiting like small, obedient creatures — each one promising that someone, somewhere, might soon be reaching out. Walking p

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[MORNING CALM TALES] 'Ppi-ppi': Korea's brief pager fad in the '90s thumbnail

From 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' to chill, CORTIS captures K-pop's new mood

Something about CORTIS just hits differently from other K-pop groups. There is no sophisticated fictional universe or elaborate lore surrounding the members. No mystique designed to keep fans on edge. No metallic beats dominating their music. Much of the formula that has come to define K-pop is conspicuously absent from CORTIS. The decision to take a different path came from a bold acceptance of the fact that conventional methods, such as building elaborate lore around a group, could take CORTIS only so far in expanding its fan base. And it paid off. People in their 40s and 50s, a generation that has largely remained outside the core K-pop fandom, suddenly began to notice the group and, more importantly, like it. To some, CORTIS represents change itself. The most high-profile figure to make that connection was newly appointed Prime Minister Han Sung-sook, who quoted the group’s lyrics while pledging the change she intended to bring to the country. The obvious question, then, is what exactly about CORTIS has won over so many middle-aged listeners and led them to embrace the group as a sy

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SK hynix rises nearly 13% in debut on Wall Street as demand for memory chips soars amid AI frenzy

NEW YORK — Shares of Korean memory chipmaker SK hynix rose 12.8 percent as they made their debut on Wall Street, at a time demand for chips is surging thanks to the frenzy around artificial intelligence. The company is already one of the largest in Korea, along with Samsung Electronics, and is a member of the Kospi index. Even with a recent pullback, the country's Kospi index is up 77 percent so far this year and SK hynix shares have more than tripled. SK hynix priced its American depositary receipts, or ADRs, at $149 each Thursday. They opened Friday at $170 and closed at $168.01. The offering of 177.9 million ADRs raised proceeds of $26.5 billion, making it the biggest-ever initial share sale in the U.S. by a foreign company. An ADR is issued by a bank or broker and is a simplified way for U.S. investors to own foreign stocks through the U.S. markets. SK hynix is going public in the U.S. amid a surge in IPO proceeds. There were 48 IPOs raising a total of $104.8 billion during the second quarter, according to Renaissance Capital. It is the biggest quarter for deal proceeds in five ye

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SK hynix rises nearly 13% in debut on Wall Street as demand for memory chips soars amid AI frenzy thumbnail

LNG reemerges as strategic fuel for Korea's AI, chip ambitions

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is regaining strategic importance as the government reassesses its energy mix to support massive investments in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and semiconductor manufacturing, while a prolonged global boom in LNG strengthens prospects for the country's broader LNG supply chain. Seoul is reconsidering LNG's domestic role after previously planning to reduce its share in the country's power mix under long-term decarbonization targets. Growing electricity demand from AI infrastructure and semiconductor manufacturing has renewed focus on LNG-fired power generation as a flexible backup source to balance the intermittency of renewable energy. The government is expected to consider a sharp increase in the share of LNG power in a new electricity plan, which will be drawn up later this year. It is also said to be reviewing a proposal to meet part of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix’s planned semiconductor cluster’s 6.3-gigawatt power demand in the southwestern region with LNG combined-cycle plants. Executives have also called for greater policy support fo

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Interview'Korean cinema's crisis is invisible from NY' says US film fest chief

"From New York, and the U.S. in general, the drought is almost invisible," Samuel Jamier, the executive director of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) said, challenging the prevailing anxiety surrounding the future of Korean cinema. "Film, television and K-pop blur into a single triumphant category — Korean content — and its sheer popularity overshadows the predicament of the industry that produces it." In a recent email interview with The Korea Times, the executive director offered a refreshing global perspective on Korea’s pop culture scene, arguing that while structural bottlenecks are very real in Seoul, the global appetite for Korean storytelling remains as fierce as ever. His insights come as NYAFF kicks off its landmark 25th anniversary edition, running from Friday (local time) to July 26 in New York, featuring a massive Korean cinema spotlight co-hosted by the Korean Cultural Center New York and the nonprofit Film at Lincoln Center. Supported by the Korean Film Council, this year's festival is screening 23 Korean movies across five venues. Opening the festival on Frid

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Hyundai Motor, Kia, GM Korea on verge of strike amid faltering wage talks

Hyundai Motor, Kia and General Motors (GM) Korea are edging closer to labor action amid their stalled wage negotiations, sparking concerns over production disruptions that could cost hundreds of billions of won. Hyundai Motor's union will stage a two-hour partial strike each day starting Monday, as it failed to find a breakthrough in its wage negotiation with the carmaker’s management. Unionized workers from the automaker are demanding management provide a performance bonus equivalent to 30 percent of the firm’s net profit last year — a figure seen by its management as highly excessive, as the carmaker suffered a net profit fall of more than 20 percent in 2025 in the aftermath of U.S.-imposed auto tariffs. This year’s negotiations have also stalled over a new contentious issue: manufacturing automation driven by advances in physical artificial intelligence (AI). Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Group shared plans to gradually deploy Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robots across major production facilities in Korea and overseas, prompting strong opposition from the union. In respon

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Editor's Pick

Korea's push to raise retirement age raises fears over youth job market

Korea's push to raise retirement age raises fears over youth job market

In Korea's superaged society, where those aged 65 or over account for more than 20 percent of the total population, a renewed debate has emerged over what the retirement age should be. The discussion resurfaced last month after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floated the idea of raising the retirement age from 60 to 65. The party, however, is taking a cautious approach and avoiding railroading the policy plan since it is closely related to youth employment. The issue now is balancing longer careers for older adults with the potential cost of fewer job opportunities for young workers. Income cliff A retirement age of 60 is usually observed in the public sector and most private companies, although some companies set their own ages under a labor-management agreement. At the heart of the issue is the income cliff between the retirement age and the national pension eligibility age, which ranges from 60 for those born in 1952 or earlier to 65 for those born in 1969 or later. For those at the higher end, that gap can mean five years without receiving national pension payments after re

4 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Monsoon rains to soak Korea through Thursday

Monsoon rains to soak Korea through Thursday

Monsoon season rains are forecast to drench the nation through Thursday, the state-run weather agency said. The broader Seoul area, inland parts of the eastern province of Gangwon and the central-western province of South Chungcheong already experienced rainfall overnight, with downpours forecast to hit the entire nation through Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The KMA attributed the rainfall to a stationary front moving back and forth across Korea. The broader Seoul area, inland and mountainous parts of Gangwon and central and northern parts of the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang are expected to see 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall through Thursday, the KMA said. The central provinces of South and North Chungcheong and the southwestern province of North Jeolla are forecast to receive 80 to 150 mm of rain over the period. Some parts of the region could see more than 200 mm of rainfall. A heavy rain advisory was issued for the central city of Sejong, the provinces of South and North Chungcheong, and parts of North Jeolla Province, prompting t

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

The Korean hair tie behind Norway's Viking hero

Amid Norway's unexpected breakout success in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, all eyes are on Erling Haaland, who has become the viral poster child of his national team. While Haaland was already famous for his status as one of the best strikers in the world, the World Cup has brought widespread focus on the footballer’s striking features and imposing 1.95-meter frame that make him instantly recognizable on and off the field, even to first-time football fans. Of particular note is Haaland’s long blond hair, which he ties into a slicked-back bun during his games. This iconic hairstyle is helped along by KKNEKKI, a brand that has its roots in Korea. KKNEKKI, meaning yarn in Gyeongsang dialect, was created in Korea in 1987, incorporating Korea’s traditional artisan spirit into its production. It was later bought by the family-owned Norwegian group Bon Dep. The hair ties are made from woven polyester fabric and tied off with a plastic bead. The soft weave provides a comfortable and snag-free tie, especially for fragile and easily-damaged hair. There are over 700 colors to choose from, in

2 MIN READ
The Korean hair tie behind Norway's Viking hero

K-Culture

TXT's Yeonjun to drop 2nd solo album

Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will release his second individual album Friday, his agency BigHit Music said. The EP, titled "No Labels: Part 02," set for release at 1 p.m., marks the first release from Yeonjun in about eight months after his first solo record, "No Labels: Part 01." The new album consists of six tracks, including the lead track "Ice Cream," "Vanilla" and "No More Disco." Yeonjun took part in creating the choreography for "Ice Cream" and penning the lyrics for "Baby Wassup?" and "Long Way Long Ride." "Ice Cream" is a summer song that portrays a relationship where two people maintain a certain distance despite being sweet to each other. "I felt selecting 'Ice Cream' as the lead track was the right decision, as it best reflects my color in this album," Yeonjun said. "It is a song that shows both my exterior and inner self." Yeonjun is set to take the stage as a solo artist on ABC's "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Aug. 7 (U.S. time).

1 MIN READ
TXT's Yeonjun to drop 2nd solo album

Celebrities

Han Go-eun's beauty secret? It's in her husband's homemade lunchbox

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actress Han Go-eun, 51, has revealed the homemade lunchbox she eats while filming television dramas. The actress previously surprised fans by saying she has maintained a weight of 52 kilograms for the past 33 years despite standing 172 centimeters tall. In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, "Goeun Unnie Han Go-eun," titled "For the first time in 11 years, my husband and I left Cheongdam and visited Seosulla-gil," Han enjoyed a date with her husband, Shin Young-soo, in Seoul's Jongno district. Having been busy filming a drama, Han said, "I've been doing nothing but filming lately, so it feels refreshing to finally come out on a date." She also shared that her husband prepares her lunch every day. "My husband always packs my lunch," she said. Shin explained his routine: "Before she leaves in the morning, I make sure she has protein and fruit. Since she rarely eats carbohydrates, I usually include a potato." Han added that the lunchbox has become a hit with the drama staff. "When I arrive in the morning, everyone asks, 'What did your hus

2 MIN READ
Han Go-eun's beauty secret? It's in her husband's homemade lunchbox

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Top 10 Stories

  1. Scorching heat wave grips nation; 39.9 degrees Celsius recorded in southeast

  2. Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

  3. Elderly poverty rate falls below 40 percent for first time, but still highest in the OECD

  4. Gyeongju World faces renewed safety concerns after Ferris wheel cabin falls

  5. Inside Korea's largest Telegram sex abuse ring: How victims became perpetrators

  6. Iran's IRGC navy says Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice, state media reports

  7. Why Vietnam's top student chose KAIST over medical school

  8. Inside a Korean hospice, where life begins again

  9. REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK A firsthand look at 'Mongtan New City'

  10. China celebrates 65th anniversary of treaty with N. Korea

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