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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

Sejong University charts path to global top 100 by 2030

Sejong University is ramping up its global strategy with an ambitious goal: to break into the world’s top 100 universities by 2030. At the heart of this vision is a new academic model designed to help foreign students not just gain admission, but thrive in Korea’s higher education system. "The Ministry of Education's Study Korea 300K initiative presents a pivotal opportunity to elevate the global competitiveness of Korean higher education," Sejong University President Eom Jong-hwa said in an interview with The Korea Times. "We aim not only to align with this national vision, but also to lead it by attracting high-quality international students and helping them successfully settle in Korea, as a model institution." To achieve this, Sejong is moving forward with the establishment of Sejong International College, which will include the International Year One program — an intensive foundation course aimed at easing academic and language barriers for foreign students. "Even students with a fair proficiency in Korean can feel lost when they try to register for courses," Eom explained. "S

Aug 22, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Sejong University charts path to global top 100 by 2030
Education

More integrated system proposed to connect int’l students with businesses

Despite rising demand from both sides, international students seeking jobs in Korea and employers hunting for talent remain disconnected — caught in an unclear, underdeveloped system that offers no clear pathway between them. The National Institute for International Education (NIIED), a government agency responsible for overseeing international student affairs and scholarship programs, emphasized that while efforts are underway to improve access to job and settlement information, broader collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, universities and the public is crucial to support the inclusion of these students within Korean society. "Mismatch is one of the most frustrating problems," said Han Sang-shin, president of the NIIED, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "International students are eager to work and companies need personnel, yet both sides are struggling to navigate a maze of unclear processes, limited outreach and institutional silos." Addressing this challenge is essential to achieving the government’s ambitious goal of attracting more global profe

Aug 18, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
More integrated system proposed to connect int’l students with businesses
Society

Ewha underscores lasting value of women's university in shaping global leaders

Despite decades of progress, Korea still lags in closing gender gaps in politics, business and leadership. It is in this unfinished push for parity that Ewha Womans University — one of the world’s largest women’s universities by enrollment — casts itself as both a catalyst for change and a training ground for women prepared to lead and compete on the global stage. "If asked whether women’s universities are still needed today, I would say they absolutely are," said Ewha Womans University President Lee Hyang-sook, during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Ewha has a responsibility to remain a women’s university that nurtures outstanding talent — not just for Korea, but for the global stage. Our graduates are active worldwide, and we continue to expand our role as a global institution through research and international collaboration." Lee stressed that cultivating global women leaders ranks among the university’s central long-term goals, with initiatives in education, research, international outreach and leadership training already underway to bring that vision to li

Aug 18, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Ewha underscores lasting value of women's university in shaping global leaders
Society

Cash handouts exclude migrant workers, prompting debate on fairness

The government's cash handouts to boost domestic consumption have reached nearly every Korean citizen and many long-term foreign residents, but not migrant workers, whose labor remains essential to keeping local economies afloat, especially in rural areas. As Korea’s foreign population approaches 3 million and the government promotes its multicultural identity, critics argue that migrants remain excluded from benefits and subsidies, weakening efforts at social integration and inclusion. As of Aug. 5, about 93.6 percent of the population — some 47.3 million residents — had received the government cash handout coupons. Non-Korean citizens are in principle excluded from the initiative, but exceptions were made for those with permanent residency, marriage immigrants and recognized refugees who are covered by the state health insurance system. Although the program makes limited exceptions for some foreign nationals, its narrow scope leaves out many migrant workers who pay taxes, sustain local economies and face the same strain from the ongoing economic crisis. "Foreign nationals, especia

Aug 17, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Cash handouts exclude migrant workers, prompting debate on fairness
Politics

Gov't considers pardoning 'comfort women' activist convicted of embezzlement

Yoon Mee-hyang, a former lawmaker convicted of embezzling funds meant for victims of the Japanese military’s wartime sexual slavery, has sparked controversy after being named among candidates for special amnesty on Aug. 15 Liberation Day. The Ministry of Justice’s Amnesty Review Committee held a meeting on Thursday and reportedly selected a list of individuals to recommend for this year's special amnesty, with Yoon's name included. She was indicted on eight charges, including embezzlement of funds intended for victims of World War II-era sexual slavery by the Japanese military. In November last year, the Supreme Court upheld a sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. She is currently serving probation. Yoon secured a proportional representation seat in the National Assembly during the April 2020 general election as a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea's satellite party. She leveraged her role as the chairwoman of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, highlighting her work supportin

Aug 8, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Gov't considers pardoning 'comfort women' activist convicted of embezzlement
Society

Fed up with seat hogs, coffee shop chains take tougher stance

Fed up with “seat hogs” — customers who linger for hours on end — franchise coffee shops in Korea are rolling out new rules to reclaim seating space and boost turnover. Many have begun enforcing new rules aimed at managing customers who occupy seats for extended periods. Starbucks Korea announced a nationwide ban, effective Thursday, on the use of personal desktops, printers, power strips and partitions in its stores. Customers who violate the rule will be politely reminded of the restriction by store staff. The move follows a surge in customer complaints over conduct such as putting feet on tables, setting up partitions and using large personal computer equipment in the stores. This development comes as Korea’s franchise coffee shop market reaches intense saturation, with data revealing fierce competition for survival among brands. By late 2022, the number of shops nationwide surpassed 100,000. While growth in sheer numbers is impressive, the market faces mounting challenges marked by price wars and an ongoing battle for customer loyalty. The term “cafe squatters” has spark

Aug 8, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Fed up with seat hogs, coffee shop chains take tougher stance
Society

Hanyang University leads in int'l enrollment, backed by decades of global outreach

Hanyang University, which hosts the largest international student population in Korea, is expanding its global outreach beyond academics to help students settle and thrive after graduation. "Our goal is not simply to increase the number of international students," said Lee Ki-jeong, president of Hanyang University, during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "The university’s internationalization strategy is about building a foundation to expand the university’s ecosystem to a truly global level." Building on years of experience in welcoming students from abroad, Hanyang University enrolled 8,264 international students from 71 countries as of 2024 — the largest such population at any university in Korea. Since welcoming its first international student in 1987, the university has launched a full-scale expansion of its global network, declaring 2003 its inaugural year of internationalization. As the university shifts its strategy to emphasize student experience and long-term support, it launched the HY All-Care system last year — a comprehensive platform designed to assist inte

Aug 8, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Hanyang University leads in int'l enrollment, backed by decades of global outreach
People & Events

2025 Miss Korea pageant winners

Winners of the 69th Miss Korea pageant, hosted by Global E&B, smile with their trophies at COEX Auditorium in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Tuesday. From left are third runner-up Lee Seo-hyun, first runner-up Kim Bo-gum, grand prize winner Jung Yeon-woo, second runner-up Yoo Eun-seo and fourth runner-up Park Ji-yu. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yoon

Aug 6, 2025By Jung Da-hyunphoto
2025 Miss Korea pageant winners
Politics

Who is Jung Chung-rae, fiery new head of ruling DPK?

Jung Chung-rae, a four-term lawmaker known for his fiery rhetoric and blunt style, now leads the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), signaling a more aggressive chapter in President Lee Jae Myung’s campaign to reform the country’s powerful institutions. While the ruling party and the president may gain political momentum, experts caution that an overly aggressive approach risks alienating public opinion and could ultimately backfire. Born in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, Jung is a politician rooted in Korea’s pro-democracy student movement. As a member of the so-called "86 generation" — those born in the 1960s who came of age during the 1980s and led protests against authoritarian rule — he spent two years in prison for violating the National Security Law after leading the 1989 occupation of the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Seoul. Jung was first elected to the National Assembly in 2004 as a candidate for the Uri Party, then the ruling party, aligned with President Roh Moo-hyun. He is widely regarded as one of the most hardline lawmakers within the DPK, known for

Aug 3, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Who is Jung Chung-rae, fiery new head of ruling DPK?
  • 4-term lawmaker Jung elected new Democratic Party of Korea chief
Education

Support grows for int'l students, but navigating system remains daunting

Korea is still learning not just how to attract international experts but also how to hold onto them. As the number of international students grows, more are opting to stay in Korea after graduation. While the government, universities and companies are rolling out support programs and hiring initiatives, visa hurdles, limited access to information and a still-developing culture of inclusivity leaves the country in a state of transition. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, 42.5 percent of 1,207 international students said they are exclusively interested in finding a job in Korea. The largest share at 45.5 percent expressed interest in working either in Korea or in their home country. A majority of international students — 55.1 percent — said they hope to find a job in the region where they currently reside in Korea, aligning with the government’s goal of encouraging foreign talent to settle across the country as part of efforts to address the demographic crisis. Meanwhile, 37.1 percent said they prefer to work in the greater Seoul area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi

Jul 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Support grows for int'l students, but navigating system remains daunting
  • Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support
  • Do Korean universities really understand what int'l students need?
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