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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

Gov't weighs tiered electricity pricing to reverse business clustering around capital

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to roll out electricity pricing that varies by region in an effort to encourage companies to relocate outside the Seoul metropolitan area, in line with the Lee Jae Myung administration’s broader push for balanced national development. Climate minister Kim Sung-whan said Monday that the government is reviewing a regional electricity rate system that would make operating costs more attractive in areas closer to power supply clusters, creating financial incentives for businesses to expand into provincial regions. “The move is aimed at addressing the long-standing concentration of companies in the capital area, where firms tend to cluster to access talent and infrastructure,” Kim said. Although electricity pricing reform must proceed cautiously due to Korea’s historically integrated national grid, which complicates region-specific cost calculations, Kim emphasized that the initiative is ultimately intended to reshape the country’s industrial landscape rather than merely adjust rates. The president previously floated the idea dur

Feb 10, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Gov't weighs tiered electricity pricing to reverse business clustering around capital
Society

Korea to speed up path to permanent residency for STEM students

Korea is stepping up efforts to encourage the long-term settlement of international students, placing special emphasis on those in science and technology fields seen as critical to the country’s innovation and economic growth. Facing a demographic crisis and shifting industrial demands, Korea is increasingly viewing international students as a vital source of its future workforce. “Designing visa systems that enable international students to voluntarily contribute to areas where our society needs experts is a core policy priority,” said Lee Hyang-sook, director of the Residence and VISA Division at the Ministry of Justice in a written interview with The Korea Times. “In line with this policy direction, the ministry is working with universities to more tightly connect study-to-settlement pathways for international students in science and technology fields, while redesigning visa routes that link education and employment to regional and industry demand,” she added. One key change in the effort is a revamp of the Korea Science and Technology Advanced Human Resources Visa Track —

Feb 10, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korea to speed up path to permanent residency for STEM students
Society

KoRoad tightens oversight of driver’s license exams to curb cheating

The Road Traffic Authority (KoRoad) said Friday it had reviewed its test administration system and tightened supervision procedures to improve fairness and credibility, after a series of cheating cases was uncovered amid rising demand from foreign nationals seeking Korean driver’s licenses. According to KoRoad, two cases of mobile phone cheating by foreign applicants were discovered and referred to police for investigation. Under the Road Traffic Act, those found cheating may have their test results invalidated, face a two-year ban from retaking the exam and be subject to criminal penalties. The agency announced that it will continue providing clear guidance to all applicants, including foreign nationals, to ensure they understand testing rules and obtain licenses through proper procedures. It also plans to tighten oversight by deploying two proctors per exam, strengthening identification and fingerprint verification, requiring phones to be powered off and stored separately, and enhancing security camera monitoring at testing sites. As the number of foreign residents rises, foreign appl

Feb 6, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
KoRoad tightens oversight of driver’s license exams to curb cheating
Law & Crime

Abuse case at disability care facility exposes gaps in protecting vulnerable

A sexual abuse scandal at a residential facility for people with disabilities in Incheon’s Ganghwa County that made national headlines is again exposing the limits of protections for vulnerable residents, as investigators face major hurdles in proving the alleged crimes. Because most of the victims have severe disabilities that limit communication, both police and the victims’ legal representatives face challenges in substantiating the abuse. The case involves the head of Saekdongwon, a residential facility in Incheon for people with severe disabilities, and several staff members who are accused of subjecting female residents to years of sexual abuse and mistreatment. The facility housed women with severe developmental and brain-related disabilities who had limited ability to communicate. Many reportedly had no family ties and lived in near isolation from the outside world for extended periods. Investigators suspect the alleged sexual abuse may have continued for more than a decade, with the number of victims estimated at about 20. The case came to light after a former resident who ha

Feb 6, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Abuse case at disability care facility exposes gaps in protecting vulnerable
Society

Vietnam to recognize Korea’s official language exam in university admissions

Vietnam will begin recognizing the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in its university admissions process this year, expanding the reach of the Korean government’s official language certification in international higher education. The Southeast Asian country is the second overseas jurisdiction after Hong Kong to adopt TOPIK as part of its university admissions process. The approval was granted through a ministerial decision issued on Jan. 12 by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training, according to Korea’s Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education on Tuesday. Vietnam’s university admissions system is centered on a nationwide high school graduation exam, much like Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test. Students are required to take exams in mathematics and Vietnamese, along with two additional subjects chosen from a pool of nine — including foreign languages and history — for a total of four. Under the new policy, TOPIK scores can replace the foreign language section of the high school graduation exam. Students who earn Level 3 or

Feb 3, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Vietnam to recognize Korea’s official language exam in university admissions
Society

Housing project reignites dispute between gov't, mayor over development near UNESCO sites

The Lee Jae Myung administration’s new housing plan has rekindled a row between the central government and Seoul Metropolitan Government over a redevelopment project near the historic shrine of Jongmyo, as the president’s plan involves another heritage site. The city government accused the government of applying double standards by blocking its high-rise redevelopment plan while backing the Lee administration’s housing construction, while the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) has questioned the city’s procedural legitimacy. The issue goes beyond the tension between development and preservation, reflecting a tug-of-war between politicians from rival parties over development projects ahead of the June local elections. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon rekindled the debate by alleging double standards. His government has pushed for a redevelopment plan for Sewoon District 4 near Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) — a plan that the KHS opposes, citing potential loss in value of the shrine. But the housing plan announced by the Lee administration last week inc

Feb 2, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Housing project reignites dispute between gov't, mayor over development near UNESCO sites
Society

Two-thirds of older Koreans back raising retirement age: study

Two out of three Koreans aged 50 and older support extending the mandatory retirement age, a recent survey found, with respondents favoring an average retirement age of 66.3 — higher than the current eligibility age of 65 for the national and basic pension programs. The National Pension Research Institute said Sunday that 66 percent of respondents supported extending the retirement age, while 34 percent opposed the idea, according to the 2024 Korean Retirement and Income Study. By gender, 66.2 percent of men and 65.9 percent of women favored the extension. Launched in 2005, the study tracks households with members aged 50 and older, examining incomes, consumption patterns, assets, retirement preparedness, retirement planning, labor market participation and receipt of public pension benefits. The survey conducts its main study every two years, with supplementary surveys carried out in between. The most recent supplementary survey covered 8,394 individuals nationwide, including household members aged 50 and older and their spouses. Support for extending the retirement age varied by age.

Feb 1, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Two-thirds of older Koreans back raising retirement age: study
Education

Korea’s classroom phone ban faces 1st test as schools disagree over rules

A nationwide ban on students’ cellphone use in classrooms, mandated by law, will take effect in March with the start of the new school year, but varying enforcement rules across schools are already raising concerns about confusion. According to education officials Sunday, the Ministry of Education issued an administrative notice outlining proposed revisions to national guidelines governing student life and conduct in schools. The revision would allow school principals and teachers to issue warnings to students and restrict the use of smart devices, including cellphones, during class. Under the proposed changes, the use of such devices would be permitted only in limited circumstances, such as to assist students with disabilities or special educational needs, for educational purposes or in emergency situations. The revised bill would also allow schools, under their own rules, to collect and store students’ smart devices — effectively permitting administrators to ban not only their use but also their possession during the school day. The details on banning cellphone use during class we

Feb 1, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s classroom phone ban faces 1st test as schools disagree over rules
Society

Which majors do international students choose most in Korea?

The global Korean wave, fueled by the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, has helped put Korea on the global education map. However, the social sciences, not pop culture, have emerged as the most popular majors among international students. According to the 2025 Survey on Immigrants' Living Conditions and Labor Force, social sciences excluding Korean studies ranked as the most common major among foreign residents on student visas, accounting for 29.3 percent of the total as of May last year. Korean studies ranked second at 17.8 percent, followed by the Korean language at 16.6 percent and engineering at 15 percent. Engineering saw a notable increase of 3.3 percentage points from May 2023. In contrast, enrollment in humanities and arts declined by 3.2 percentage points, with their combined share falling from 17.2 percent in 2023 to 14 percent in 2025. The perceived quality of Korea’s academic programs was the top reason international students chose to study in the country, cited by 34 percent of respondents, according to government data. It was followed by alignment between Korean majors a

Jan 28, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Which majors do international students choose most in Korea?
Society

Korea to track English-taught university courses for 1st time

The Ministry of Education will begin tracking the number of English-taught courses at universities this year, in line with a surge in international student enrollment. The move marks the government’s first nationwide effort to collect such data, which until now had been left to individual universities. An education ministry official told The Korea Times recently that the data will serve as a key reference for overseas students, as Korea attracts not only full-time degree seekers but a growing number of short-term exchange and visiting students from an expanding range of countries. Once disclosed annually, the data could serve as a barometer of the government’s growing policy emphasis on English-taught instruction for universities nationwide. Universities broadly agreed with the rationale, as Korea’s school-age population shrinks and institutions expand international student recruitment under the government’s regional university initiative. Increasing the number of English-taught courses is widely seen as a necessary step. However, they also urged caution, saying the issue requires

Jan 23, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korea to track English-taught university courses for 1st time
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