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dahyun08

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

Fake document probe fuels concerns over local university misconduct

An investigation into a local university is expanding beyond visa irregularities, raising questions over broader systemic failures in student oversight and possible admissions-related misconduct, after more than 100 Chinese students were found to have submitted falsified degrees. Initially framed as an issue tied to immigration paperwork, the case is now prompting scrutiny over whether the university may have knowingly overlooked the problem to boost its international student intake. Honam University in Gwangju is under investigation after the apostilled academic documents of 112 Chinese students on D-2 visas were found to be falsified. The students began studying there in August last year. According to the Ministry of Justice, the U.S. university that the students claimed had issued their degrees either lost accreditation in the mid-to-late 2000s or were never accredited. The Ministry of Education explained that the case primarily concerns immigration-related documents and is currently under investigation by the justice ministry, with further audits or measures to follow depending on t

Apr 5, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Fake document probe fuels concerns over local university misconduct
  • Visas revoked for over 100 Chinese students at local university over falsified academic documents
Society

Visas revoked for over 100 Chinese students at local university over falsified academic documents

Visas for more than 100 Chinese students scheduled to graduate at a local university here in July have been revoked after authorities found that the academic credentials they had submitted were falsified. It was recently confirmed that the students, all enrolled at Honam University in Gwangju, had their visas canceled by the Gwangju Immigration Office in January during the winter break. Most of them were graduate students and several were undergraduates who transferred from other schools. Most of the students were visiting their home country at the time their visas were canceled, preventing their reentry to Korea. Five more who stayed in Korea during the winter break received departure orders, and four of them have since departed voluntarily. The university said it sent out an urgent notice ahead of the new semester advising the students preparing to return to Korea to delay their entry, warning they could face deportation upon arrival at the airport. The university explained that it relies on internationally recognized certification systems, such as apostilled documents — a form of go

Apr 1, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Visas revoked for over 100 Chinese students at local university over falsified academic documents
World

Taiwan’s temples embrace AI to boost tourism, preserve tradition

TAIPEI — Taiwan is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to make its traditional culture more accessible, using new technology to attract both foreign visitors and younger generations. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) showcased how AI can be integrated into tourism policy while preserving cultural authenticity at Smart City Summit and Expo 2026, held in the Nangang District of Taipei. The exhibition drew strong attention, with hands-on booths featuring AI-powered experiences — including an AI bartender and AI perfumer — attracting large numbers of visitors. The initiative seeks to combine Taiwan’s traditional temple culture and fortune-telling practices with AI to improve accessibility for younger generations and foreign tourists. “We are showcasing how AI is not replacing humans, but helping preserve authentic culture, such as fortune telling, through integrated systems,” a Tourism Administration official said. Taiwan is home to more than 15,000 temples, but many are staffed primarily by older generations, with

Mar 31, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Taiwan’s temples embrace AI to boost tourism, preserve tradition
World

Taiwan taps AI-driven education data platform for policy decisions

TAIPEI, Taiwan — When discussions turn to artificial intelligence (AI) in education, it is often framed as a tool for teaching students. In Taiwan, however, the approach is markedly different — AI is being used not in classrooms, but to provide information and support policymaking and strategic planning. At Smart City Summit and Expo 2026, held from March 17 to 20, Taiwanese electronics firm MiTAC unveiled a data platform that aggregates vast amounts of school-related information into a single, interactive system. The platform, in operation for four years, compiles data from schools across districts in New Taipei City, allowing users to visualize and compare information through an interactive city map. “You can access data across multiple areas and interact with a map to explore specific schools in each district,” said Demo Liu, an engineer at MiTAC. The dataset extends beyond basic indicators such as student and teacher numbers, offering detailed insights into student behavior and performance — including the most widely used e-learning platforms, average academic achievement a

Mar 30, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Taiwan taps AI-driven education data platform for policy decisions
Education

Only 1 private kindergarten runs special class despite surging need

Only one private kindergarten in Korea operates a special class for students with disabilities, despite the growing number of children requiring such support. According to data released by the Kindergarten Information Service on Sunday, there are 7,449 kindergartens in the country. Of this number, 4,567 are public institutions, only 28 percent of which offer special education classes, with conditions significantly worse in the private sector. Private institutions account for 38.7 percent of all kindergartens. However, only one — located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province — offers a special education class. While the availability of special classes in kindergartens remains limited, the number of children requiring such support has steadily increased each year. The figure rose from 95,420 in 2020 to 98,154 in 2021, surpassing 100,000 for the first time in 2022 at 103,695. It continued to climb to 109,703 in 2023, 115,610 in 2024 and 120,735 in 2025. Special education recipients are children identified as needing specialized support due to physical, emotional or developmental disabilities, or d

Mar 29, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Only 1 private kindergarten runs special class despite surging need
Law & Crime

Drug seizures soar 46-fold as prosecution abolition raises enforcement vacuum fears

Amid a sharp rise in drug smuggling cases, concerns are mounting that the planned abolition of the prosecutor's office in October could leave a serious gap in the country’s long-established drug investigation capacity. The volume of drugs intercepted while being smuggled into the country through maritime routes surged to 1,743 kilograms last year, up approximately 46-fold from 37 kilograms in 2021, according to Korea Coast Guard data submitted on Sunday to the office of Rep. Park Jun-tae of the main opposition People Power Party. Smuggling patterns have also shifted, from numerous small-scale attempts to fewer but significantly larger shipments. While the number of cases rose 37.1 percent — from 518 in 2021 to 710 last year — the volume per case has surged. In April 2025, authorities seized about 1.7 tons of cocaine, valued at about 845 billion won ($560 million), from a ship in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The haul was enough to give every person in Korea more than a single dose based on a 0.03-gram standard. In addition, seizures of the psychotropic drug phenobarbital — classif

Mar 29, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Drug seizures soar 46-fold as prosecution abolition raises enforcement vacuum fears
Society

Korean universities climb in engineering, arts in QS subject rankings

Korean universities showed particular strength in engineering and technology as well as arts and humanities, where most Korean institutions recorded gains in the rankings by subject released Wednesday by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a British company widely known for its global university rankings. In engineering and technology, 16 out of 17 Korean schools on the list rose in the rankings, while in arts and humanities, 9 of 11 improved, reflecting concentrated competitiveness in select disciplines. At the institutional level, Seoul National University led the gains, rising in 11 subject areas, including modern languages, where it climbed to 14th from 19th, and engineering and technology, where it moved up to 24th. It also advanced to 28th in electrical and electronic engineering and ranked first in Korea in 45 subjects overall. Korea University recorded the second-highest number of improvements, with gains in 10 subject areas, including a rise to 29th in modern languages and notable jumps in broad fields such as natural sciences and arts and humanities. Modern languages stood out as a key

Mar 25, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korean universities climb in engineering, arts in QS subject rankings
World

Taiwan debuts AI urban governance pavilion at global summit

TAIPEI — The Smart City Summit and Expo 2026 showcased Taiwan's cutting-edge technologies while positioning the city to pursue new opportunities with global partners in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. The event also highlighted a dual-track urban innovation strategy centered on green transformation and digitalization. Organized by the Taipei Computer Association and the Taiwan Smart City Solutions Alliance (TSSA), the four-day event ran from March 17 to 20 and drew heads of state and representatives from 174 cities across 53 countries and regions, along with more than 3,000 international professionals and over 250 startups. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Poland set up theme pavilions for the first time, underscoring Taiwan’s efforts to partner with global cities and capture new business opportunities in the AI era. One of the key highlights of this year’s event was the debut of the world’s first “AI City Pavilion.” “Smart cities have officially entered the fourth generation — where AI is no longer just a tool but the ‘brain’ of city governance,” TSSA ch

Mar 24, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Taiwan debuts AI urban governance pavilion at global summit
Society

From GKS scholar to startup founder: Bangladeshi entrepreneur bridges 2 countries through shrimp waste

When Andrua Haque, a Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) alumnus from Bangladesh, first arrived in Korea as a child, he could not have anticipated that the country would one day become the launchpad for a food tech startup bridging two nations separated by thousands of kilometers. Now pursuing a master's degree in agricultural biotechnology at Seoul National University, Haque is the co-founder of MFM, a circular food tech startup that converts shrimp byproducts from Bangladesh's tiger shrimp industry into premium pet food and eco-friendly fertilizer. “Having lived in Korea during my childhood, I became fluent in Korean and developed a strong interest in working on exchanges between Korea and Bangladesh,” Haque said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “That experience ultimately led me to pursue my studies in Korea.” He learned about the GKS program — the government-funded initiative that supports international students studying in Korea — through a Korean teacher at his high school. He was admitted to Seoul National University’s Department of Political Science and Intern

Mar 24, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
From GKS scholar to startup founder: Bangladeshi entrepreneur bridges 2 countries through shrimp waste
Society

Feeding stray cats will require consent from affected neighbors

The government has unveiled revised guidelines on the care of stray cats, calling for individuals to obtain consent from property owners before installing feeding stations on land they do not own. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Sunday that the updated guidelines reflect input from experts, veterinarians and local government officials. The revision comes amid ongoing conflicts between residents and caregivers over stray cats in urban areas, with growing calls for clearer rules on how feeding stations are operated and relocated. The installation of feeding stations has emerged as a key source of tension. While feeding stray cats is not illegal under current law, setting up feeding stations on private or public property without consent can lead to legal disputes. In parks and green spaces managed by local governments, such facilities may be classified as unauthorized structures and subject to removal orders. On private land or in apartment complexes, they can raise issues of trespass and potential liability for damages. Caregivers may also face penalties under waste

Mar 23, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Feeding stray cats will require consent from affected neighbors
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