The Korea Times

How will new gov't reshape ministries?

With Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) clinching the presidency, a significant reshaping of the country’s political and administrative landscape now appears imminent. Signaling a departure from conventional approaches, Lee is expected to embark on a campaign of ambitious reforms, potentially establishing new ministries or overhauling existing ones, with particular emphasis on addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) and gender equality. A cornerstone of the president-elect's nascent agenda is his pledge to create a dedicated ministry to confront the climate crisis. This move represents a significant policy pivot, indicating a heightened strategic commitment to environmental stewardship and energy transition within Korea's national governance. The proposed new ministry will consolidate energy-related functions from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy with climate-related responsibilities from the Ministry of Environment, aiming to deliver a more comprehensive and coordinated response to the climate crisis. Throughout hi

Jun 4, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Politics

Young third-party contender falls short in presidential race

Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok garnered just 8.34 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, placing third and falling short of expectations. According to the National Election Commission, Wednesday, Lee received approximately 2.92 million votes nationwide. The result marked a disappointing finish for the former conservative leader, who had cast himself as a serious alternative to the two major party candidates. Lee, at 40, was the youngest presidential hopeful in the race. His campaign centered on winning support from voters in their 20s and 30s with policy pledges targeting youth concerns — including a proposed overhaul of the national pension system. Seen as a relatively centrist figure, he was expected to draw support from both liberals and conservatives. He also stood firm in refusing to unify with Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party, maintaining his stance as "the third candidate." However, Lee suffered a major setback following the third televised presidential debate on May 27, after making a sexually explicit comment that drew widespread conde

Jun 3, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Young third-party contender falls short in presidential race

Politics

Presidential term limits could shift depending on who wins election

Tuesday's presidential election could fundamentally reshape the nation's highest office, as leading candidates offer starkly different visions for constitutional reform. The contentious debate extends beyond the immediate term of the next president, aiming to redefine the very foundations of presidential power for generations to come. While both major contenders acknowledge the pervasive public desire to curb what has been criticized as excessive presidential powers and decentralize governmental authority, their proposed amendments diverge significantly. These disagreements are particularly pronounced regarding the critical issues of presidential term limits and the overall structural framework of the executive branch, signaling a potentially profound shift in how Korea is governed. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has proposed a constitutional amendment to introduce a four-year, consecutive-term presidency, replacing the current single five-year term. The plan, he said, is aimed at strengthening presidential accountability and distributing

Jun 2, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Presidential term limits could shift depending on who wins election

Society

Will Korean universities step up to embrace Harvard’s displaced int'l students?

As uncertainty mounts for international students in the U.S., a prestigious Korean university is stepping up as a possible refuge. Korea University announced it would accept students whose academic futures are imperiled by the latest changes from the Trump administration, which include recent actions to limit foreign student enrollment, particularly at institutions like Harvard University. This is the first time a Korean university has moved to accommodate affected students, following similar actions by institutions in Japan and Hong Kong. In those countries, universities have announced plans while governments are reviewing support measures to attract Harvard students who may be forced to pause their studies in the U.S. Korea University announced it will launch a special support program for students, professors and postdoctoral researchers affected by the recent controversy over Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The initiative aims to offer academic and research assistance to those facing uncertainty amid the policy dispute. On May 22, U.S. President Donald Trump a

May 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Will Korean universities step up to embrace Harvard’s displaced int'l students?

How Trump administration's move will affect Harvard's international students

People & Events

Ulsan appoints national football star as 1st promotional ambassador

Ulju County in the southeastern port city of Ulsan appointed national football team member Seol Young-woo as its first-ever official promotional ambassador, Tuesday. Seol is the first appointee under the county’s new ordinance, enacted in February, to establish a formal public relations ambassador program. As ambassador, he will take part in various domestic and international activities to promote Ulju’s policies, culture and tourism, while helping raise the county’s public profile. Born and raised in Ulju, Seol began his football career with the Ulsan HD youth team. After graduating from the University of Ulsan, he joined Ulsan HD’s professional squad in 2020. He was selected for the Korean men's national football team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and went on to win a gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Seol currently plays for Red Star Belgrade (FK Crvena zvezda) in Serbia, where he helped lead the team to both the Serbian Cup and league championships. Last month, Seol donated 10 million won ($7,283) through his agency to aid recovery efforts following wildfires within th

May 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Ulsan appoints national football star as 1st promotional ambassador

Foreign Affairs

'Will my Instagram activity block me?' Social media fears cloud Korean students’ US study plans

A wave of anxiety is taking hold among Koreans eyeing higher education opportunities in the United States, who are shifting the focus of their worries from academic benchmarks and linguistic fluency to the digital footprint they leave on social media platforms. The concerns were sparked by reports that the U.S. government has ordered a pause on new student visa interview appointments as it considers implementing mandatory social media screening for visa applicants. "We couldn’t get any work done because of the flood of phone calls and messages from worried students and parents asking about their visa interviews," a manager at an education consultancy specializing in U.S. study abroad program in southern Seoul told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. "One mother, whose daughter had been accepted to Yale University and was preparing to schedule a visa interview in June, came to our office in a panic, unsure of what to do,” she added. “Some students and parents are so worried about the social media screening that they’ve even considered deleting their accounts, just in case.

May 28, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

'Will my Instagram activity block me?' Social media fears cloud Korean students’ US study plans

Education

Seoul expands Korean language support for immigrant students

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said Tuesday that it will launch a new Korean language support program in June, targeting multicultural and recently arrived immigrant students to meet the rising demand for language instruction. This expansion marks a notable shift in Korea's education policy, acknowledging that language proficiency is essential not just for academic success, but also for broader social and economic integration. With this foundational support, more students will be better equipped overcome barriers and deepening social inequalities in an increasingly diverse society. The initiative extends eligibility to schools in areas with relatively few multicultural students, where access to Korean language resources and support has recently been limited. While districts with a high concentration of multicultural students — such as Yeongdeungpo, Geumcheon and Guro districts — have long offered a range of after-school programs, translation support services and Korean language education, students in less diverse areas have often been excluded from such initiative

May 28, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Seoul expands Korean language support for immigrant students

Society

Migrant issues left off agenda in presidential race

Despite Korea’s efforts to attract more foreign workers amid a deepening demographic crisis, immigration issues have been largely absent from the presidential campaign platforms. So far, only one candidate has introduced official policies addressing the needs of foreign residents and migrant populations. Experts warn that immigration can no longer be treated as a peripheral issue, emphasizing the need for serious discussions and long-term policy planning. The number of foreign residents in Korea exceeded 2.65 million last year, making up 5.2 percent of the total population, according to data from the Ministry of Justice. Among them, long-term residents — including permanent residents and foreign spouses — now make up more than 36 percent, highlighting a shift toward increasingly settled immigrant communities. Migrant workers continue to play a vital role in manufacturing hubs across rural areas and in Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul — underscoring the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable immigration policies. As the reliance on migrant workers increases, some politi

May 27, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Migrant issues left off agenda in presidential race

Society

Bus drivers' strike looms

Commuters head toward buses at a transfer center in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Unionized bus drivers have warned they will go on strike beginning on Wednesday morning if wage and collective bargaining talks fail to produce an agreement by today. Unionized bus drivers in other regions, who have been in negotiations with their respective employers, have also threatened to go on strike the same day. Yonhap

May 26, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Society

Jeju teacher's death intensifies scrutiny of school complaint systems

Concerns are growing over the effectiveness of school complaint response systems following the death of a middle school teacher on Jeju Island, who was reportedly the target of repeated complaints from a student’s family. The incident highlights a growing national debate over safeguarding educators and the emotional strain of an increasingly litigious environment, as more teachers report feeling vulnerable amid rising demands and confrontational encounters with parents. The teacher was found dead at the school on Thursday. According to education officials, the teacher had expressed emotional distress due to persistent complaints, reportedly receiving more than 10 phone calls a day from the student’s family. The case in Jeju closely resembles a widely reported incident from 2023, when a young elementary school teacher died by suicide at Seoi Elementary School in southern Seoul. That tragedy sparked nationwide calls for the creation of a separate communication channel to handle parental complaints, with the goal of shielding teachers from the emotional toll of managing a barrage of dir

May 25, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Jung Da-hyun

Read more

How will new gov't reshape ministries?

Young third-party contender falls short in presidential race

Presidential term limits could shift depending on who wins election

Will Korean universities step up to embrace Harvard’s displaced int'l students?

Ulsan appoints national football star as 1st promotional ambassador

'Will my Instagram activity block me?' Social media fears cloud Korean students’ US study plans

Seoul expands Korean language support for immigrant students

Migrant issues left off agenda in presidential race

Bus drivers' strike looms

Jeju teacher's death intensifies scrutiny of school complaint systems

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