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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

Migrants face online harassment after posting gov’t aid coupons online

A naturalized woman who migrated to Korea through marriage has faced xenophobic backlash after sharing photos of government-issued cash handouts on social media. The incident comes amid the launch of the nationwide stimulus program, which began distributing relief vouchers on Monday to all Korean citizens residing in the country in an effort to boost domestic spending. A Cambodian-born woman who recently obtained Korean citizenship posted a photo on social media of prepaid cards she received from the government, accompanied by the caption, “Thank you, Korea.” The image showed one card valued at 450,000 won ($327) and two additional cards worth 200,000 won each, totaling 850,000 won. The woman reportedly received 400,000 won as a basic livelihood security beneficiary, plus an additional 50,000 won for residing in a sparsely populated rural area. The two 200,000 won cards appear to have been issued for her spouse and child. After the post circulated online, it sparked a wave of hate and harsh criticism. Comments such as “Give back my taxes,” “What did she do for Korea to receive 8

Jul 26, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Migrants face online harassment after posting gov’t aid coupons online
Society

Gov’t moves to end medical standoff, but backlash grows over preferential treatment

The government is stepping up efforts to resolve a nearly 17-month standoff with trainee doctors and medical students over plans to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 students as officials offer a path forward for striking students and begin talks with trainee doctors who have walked off the job. The former Yoon Suk Yeol administration's bid to increase medical school admissions, citing an urgent doctor shortage amid a rapidly aging population, triggered a fierce backlash from thousands of medical students and trainee doctors. They argued the issue stemmed from poor working conditions and uneven physician distribution, not numbers, leading to mass walkouts that severely strained the nation's health care system. A consultative body focused on improving training conditions for trainee doctors held its inaugural meeting on Friday. The move is viewed as a crucial step toward stabilizing the country’s health care system. During the inaugural session, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to develop a reinstatement strategy for striking resident doctors that aligns wit

Jul 25, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Gov’t moves to end medical standoff, but backlash grows over preferential treatment
  • Backlash grows over preferential treatment for returning medical trainees
Education

Do Korean universities really understand what int'l students need?

While global fascination with K-pop and Korean culture may initially draw the attention of international students, it is the nation’s robust academic environment and the promise of expanded opportunities that ultimately attract many to its shores. This academic appeal is precisely what drew in students like Airon Mussagy, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student from Mozambique currently studying at Sungkyunkwan University, who specifically cited Korea's medical programs as her reason for studying here. "The educational environment in Mozambique hasn’t developed as much compared to Korea, and I thought the education system here was quite advanced," she said. This perception of a more advanced system is a significant driver, but the incongruity extends beyond mere assumptions about what draws international students to the country. It is also manifested in various support initiatives that frequently fail to address their actual needs. While Korea’s strong academic environment draws international students, many find themselves struggling to adjust to its fiercely competitive envir

Jul 22, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Do Korean universities really understand what int'l students need?
  • Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support
Environment & Animals

PHOTO Village devastated by landslides

A village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, is damaged by landslides triggered by torrential rain, leaving the area unrecognizable, Sunday. The region was hit with some 100 millimeters of rain per hour Saturday, resulting in eight deaths. Yonhap

Jul 20, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
[PHOTO] Village devastated by landslides
Environment & Animals

Torrential rains leave 17 dead, 11 missing

Torrential rains pounded Korea for five consecutive days, leaving 17 people dead and 11 missing and damaging nearly 2,000 public facilities nationwide, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency on Sunday. In response, President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to swiftly assess the flood damage and expedite the designation of special disaster zones, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said later in the day. Among the 17 confirmed fatalities, 10 deaths occurred in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, where a rare countywide evacuation order was issued on Saturday. Two more deaths were reported in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, where search and rescue operations remain underway. One fatality was reported in Gwangju, while the remaining deaths included one in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, two in Seosan and one in Dangjin — both in South Chungcheong Province. One person remained unaccounted for in Gwangju, while four were missing in Sancheong, five in Gapyeong and one in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The number of casualties may rise as search a

Jul 20, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Torrential rains leave 17 dead, 11 missing
Education

Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support

As universities in Korea grapple with intensifying global competition, many are moving beyond the pursuit of enrollment figures to invest in more robust support systems aimed at enriching the academic, professional and personal lives of international students. An increase in foreign student numbers at universities in Korea highlights sustained efforts by the government and academic institutions to broaden Korea’s international presence and competitiveness in higher education. However, critics warn that policies focused solely on attracting international students risk creating gaps in follow-up support and student management. The biggest challenge in Korea’s push to attract international students is a lack of long-term support beyond enrollment — covering students' education, and later employment and settlement in the country. Song Ki-chang, chancellor of Sungsan Hyo University and honorary professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, emphasized the importance of refocusing on the core purpose of educating international students. "The fundamental purpose of international students is

Jul 15, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support
Politics

Gender minister nominee apologizes over power abuse allegations

Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo apologized to her former aides, Monday, amid growing backlash over allegations of power abuse, expressing regret and acknowledging that some may have been hurt by her actions. The allegations against Kang have been taken all the more seriously given the ministry’s responsibility to protect marginalized communities. There has been heightened public attention on the ministry, which is predicted to have an expanded role under the Lee Jae Myung government, a dramatic shift from the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration's plan to abolish it. Kang, also a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), faces allegations of power abuse, including requiring aides at her office to undertake personal errands and replacing 46 staff members over a five-year period, as well as suspicions of failing to disclose assets in her financial report. "I sincerely apologize for the controversy caused by my actions," Kang said during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul. "I extend my deepest apologies to the aides who may ha

Jul 14, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Gender minister nominee apologizes over power abuse allegations
Society

On or off? Air conditioner dilemma drives up power bills

With a record-breaking heat wave gripping the country, air conditioners have become less of a luxury and more of a lifeline. Yet with rising temperatures come growing worries about the strain on household electricity bills. In response, social media platforms have been flooded with tips and tricks for using air conditioners more efficiently — offering relief from the heat without delivering a financial shock. Among the most widely shared energy-saving tips are running the air conditioner continuously rather than turning it on and off, and using the dehumidification setting instead of standard cooling. Some users upload snapshots of their electricity bills as evidence that these strategies actually trimmed their costs. Whether it's cheaper to keep the air conditioner running or to turn it on and off depends largely on how the unit’s outdoor compressor operates. For inverter-type air conditioners — which adjust the outdoor fan speed based on cooling demand — keeping the unit running is usually more efficient. Turning the unit off and back on too quickly can cause indoor temperatures

Jul 12, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
On or off? Air conditioner dilemma drives up power bills
Society

Korea hikes minimum wage by lowest margin since '97 Asian financial crisis

The minimum wage is set to rise by just 2.9 percent next year — the smallest first-year increase under any Korean president, falling short even of the previous conservative administration’s pace. The modest increase defied expectations and comes under the leadership of President Lee Jae Myung, marking a shift in the administration’s economic trajectory, defined by a shift toward expanded welfare programs and a focus on income-led growth. At its 12th plenary session held Thursday at Government Complex Sejong, the Minimum Wage Commission voted to raise the hourly minimum wage to 10,320 won ($7.50) for 2026 — up only 290 won from the current level. The rise of 2.9 percent marks the smallest first-year increase under any administration since the 2.7 percent rise enacted during President Kim Dae-jung’s tenure in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In contrast, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration approved a 5 percent increase in its first year. The decision reflects a notable shift. Observers say the commission’s public-interest members prioritized the financial strains o

Jul 11, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea hikes minimum wage by lowest margin since '97 Asian financial crisis
Society

HUFS nurtures global talent, bridging nations through language and innovation

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is redefining its role — evolving beyond a language-focused institution to become a global talent incubator, blending linguistic expertise with emerging technologies and strengthening its international alumni network. HUFS President Park Jeong-woon underscored the school’s efforts to transition from a provider-centered to a learner-centered model, with the aim of helping students more effectively pursue their individual aspirations. "We’re focusing more on what students truly need — creating an environment where they can explore and pursue their own dreams," Park said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Learner-centered education allows students to define their own paths. Our university is building programs that integrate language and technology to help students grow into globally competitive, cross-disciplinary experts." HUFS was honored with the "Most Innovative Project" award in the 2024 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), following a sweeping academic overhaul that merged overlapping language majors and introd

Jul 11, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
HUFS nurtures global talent, bridging nations through language and innovation
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