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Jung Da-hyun

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.

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Society

Kyungpook National University sets sights on becoming country’s AI hub

Education may remain a core mission of universities, but research is increasingly shaping their global standing. Kyungpook National University President Heo Young-woo stressed that a research-focused strategy is no longer optional, but essential for institutions striving to thrive outside Seoul. “The globalization we pursue goes beyond educating students. We view research as a key driver to raise our global profile and strengthen the university’s international competitiveness,” Heo said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. He emphasized that, especially for regional universities, building robust research environments in collaboration with local governments can create a virtuous cycle, cultivating top experts and contributing to more balanced national development. “With artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies at the center of global attention, we are working to reinforce our foundation in basic studies and integrate AI to build greater competitiveness,” Heo added. Kyungpook National University is stepping up efforts to cement its reputation as a r

Sep 10, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Kyungpook National University sets sights on becoming country’s AI hub
People & Events

Korea Times conference to explore strategies for global competitiveness in higher education

The Korea Times will host a conference titled “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Competitiveness of Korean Universities” on Wednesday. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Grand Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul. The conference will delve into the challenges facing Korean universities, as they grapple with shrinking domestic student populations due to declining birthrates, making the influx of international students increasingly important. Universities are no longer focused solely on boosting enrollment but are turning their attention to cultivating international students who understand Korea and may one day build a life here. Participants will discuss measures to tackle these pressing challenges and explore strategies to boost the global competitiveness of higher education in Korea. With internationalization and foreign student recruitment now seen as vital to the sector’s sustainability, The Korea Times will bring together leaders and policymakers to chart a path forward. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will give a congratulat

Sep 9, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea Times conference to explore strategies for global competitiveness in higher education
Society

Korea’s shortage of core medical services to worsen as new clinics focus on dermatology, plastic surgery

Korea’s health care system continues to grapple with persistent shortages in core medical services, underscoring the need for effective solutions. Although new clinics run by general practitioners are on the rise, 83 percent focus on dermatology, further deepening the shortfall in primary medical services. The number of new clinics opened by primary care physicians this year reached 176 as of July, according to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service received by Rep. Jeon Jin-sook of the Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday. The figure marks a 36.4 percent increase from 129 during the same period last year. General practitioners are licensed doctors who have passed the national board exam but have not completed a residency. Physicians become specialists after finishing residency training and passing an additional certification exam. The number of general practitioners opening clinics has surged since the conflict between the government and the medical community started in February last year. The government aimed to address health care shortages in rural areas and c

Sep 8, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s shortage of core medical services to worsen as new clinics focus on dermatology, plastic surgery
Law & Crime

Korea sees 70% spike in stalking reports over 2 years

Reports of stalking surged more than 70 percent in just two years despite the government’s enactment of a tougher anti-stalking law. Meanwhile, the percentage of protective measures granted to victims by courts has been decreasing each year. According to data from the Ministry of Justice received Sunday by Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the number of reported stalking cases climbed to 13,269 last year. Reported cases under the anti-stalking act have risen sharply, from 406 cases between October and December in 2021 to 7,626 in 2022 and 10,438 in 2023, respectively. Between 2022 and 2024, reported stalking cases jumped about 1.7 times. As of July, the tally had already reached 7,981. The Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes took effect in October 2021, marking a major shift in how such offenses are handled. Previously treated as a misdemeanor that often led to light penalties, stalking is now punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won ($21,590). In 2023, the Nat

Sep 7, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea sees 70% spike in stalking reports over 2 years
  • Stronger measures to protect stalking victims necessary: report
Education

Results of survey on toddler test prep spark skepticism

Once reserved for Korea’s grueling civil service exams, the term “gosi” is now used to describe the intense study routines of children as young as 4 to 7. The term “gosi for 4- and 7-year-olds” reflects the rapid rise of private education in Korea, particularly in English language instruction. In response to concerns over the intense focus on private education for young children, the Ministry of Education conducted its first nationwide survey of English cram schools, examining the prevalence of preenrollment level testing and early instructional programs. But its finding that only 23 English cram schools nationwide administer preenrollment level tests has drawn skepticism for appearing far removed from reality. According to the ministry’s report released Thursday, just 23 out of 728 surveyed institutions were found to administer such tests. By region, 11 were in Seoul, nine in Gyeonggi Province and three in Gangwon Province. In addition, the report indicated that 20 institutions administered level tests to divide students into classes by ability, while only three used them fo

Sep 6, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Results of survey on toddler test prep spark skepticism
Society

Korea’s gender pay gap widens to over 30%

Korea’s gender pay gap widened last year, with the average difference between wages for men and women rising to 30.7 percent, up from 2023. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family analyzed 2,980 companies required to disclose gender wage data and found that the average annual salary for men was 97.8 million won ($70,248), compared with 67.73 million won for women. This resulted in a gender wage gap of 30.7 percent, up 4.4 percentage points from 2023. While average wages declined for both men and women from 2023, women’s earnings dropped by 6.7 percent — far sharper than the 0.8 percent decline for men — contributing to the widening gap. The divide was especially stark in industries employing large workforces. In manufacturing, the gap widened from 20 percent in 2023 to 29.1 percent last year. In information and communications, the gap rose by 4.3 percentage points, while the gap increased by 1 percentage point in the finance and insurance sector. By industry, the largest gender pay gaps were recorded in wholesale and retail trade and in construction, both exceeding 40 percent,

Sep 6, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s gender pay gap widens to over 30%
Society

Jesuit roots, global classrooms: Sogang University welcomes world

Sogang University, Korea’s only Jesuit institution of higher learning, cultivates a campus culture grounded in personal care. Its “friend-to-friend” ethos permeates daily life, shaping interactions and becoming a defining feature of the university’s identity. Founded in 1960, Sogang University emerged from postwar discussions among Catholic bishops who viewed higher education as vital to the nation’s reconstruction. Supported by the Society of Jesus, the university was built on a strong international network, giving it a distinctly global outlook from the start. "From the very beginning, Sogang was built on an international network," Sogang University President Sim Jong-hyeok said during an interview with The Korea Times. "That foundation enabled many of our early graduates to pursue careers on the global stage, fueling the school’s rapid growth — a model that continues to guide our internationalization strategy today." Leveraging its global Jesuit network, the university has built active exchange channels with universities abroad, especially in the United States, includin

Sep 5, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Jesuit roots, global classrooms: Sogang University welcomes world
Society

Seoul National University rethinks higher education, emphasizing globalization

While many Korean universities prioritize boosting global competitiveness by recruiting international students, Seoul National University stresses that globalization should be regarded not as a project or goal, but as the very foundation of higher education. "Universities must confront a fundamental question — what is their role in the 21st century, beyond the pursuit of global competitiveness?" Seoul National University President Ryu Hong-lim said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. Ryu outlined his vision of the university as a hub for global cooperation, a platform where institutions work together to tackle shared challenges. "Globalization is not an add-on initiative. It must serve as the foundation for everything we do," he emphasized. He noted that universities have always been part of a broader intellectual community that transcends borders. "Our responsibility is to nurture responsible global citizens capable of addressing the world’s toughest challenges," he said. Ryu also stressed that Seoul National University itself must undergo structural reforms, aligning with glo

Aug 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Seoul National University rethinks higher education, emphasizing globalization
People & Events

Jeonbuk University professor develops model to advance global carbon trading

A research team at Jeonbuk National University has developed a model capable of estimating the carbon emissions of some 1.3 billion cattle across 204 countries, drawing considerable attention in the academic community. According to the university, Lee Hak-kyo, a professor in the Department of Animal Biotechnology, and his team developed the so-called “K-model,” which can calculate emissions using only basic data such as a cow’s weight and age at culling. This breakthrough is poised to become a new benchmark for international low-carbon livestock certification and paves the way for the agriculture and food sector to enter the 1,260 trillion won ($903 billion) global emissions trading system (ETS). The agricultural sector has long been sidelined from ETS because of challenges in measuring emissions. This breakthrough, however, is viewed as a potential game-changer, opening the door for farmers to begin emissions trading and play a greater role in cutting greenhouse gases. Based on the methodology of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and six decades of data from the U

Aug 28, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Jeonbuk University professor develops model to advance global carbon trading
Society

Rats, long unseen in Seoul, emerge from the shadows

For years, the rats of Seoul were a footnote, an unseen part of the urban landscape. This summer, however, they’ve come out of the shadows, forcing the capital to confront a rodent problem that has residents on edge and officials scrambling for a response. Flooding and relentless summer rains have brought the rats out of hiding, leading to a surge in sightings across streets and transit hubs. The number of complaints filed on local government bulletin boards over rat sightings has increased recently, according to Gangnam and Gangdong district offices. Climate change has been cited as one of a key driver of the sightings. Warmer temperatures are allowing more rats to survive through winter, while also extending their breeding season. Once limited by the harsh cold, the rodents are now skipping or shortening their hibernation periods, reproducing continuously throughout the year and driving their population to rise at a faster pace. The nationwide average temperature last fall climbed to 16.8 degrees Celsius, exceeding the seasonal average by 2.7 degrees. Torrential rains are also pushing r

Aug 23, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Rats, long unseen in Seoul, emerge from the shadows
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