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Kim Hyun-bin

Korea Times Digital Media Reporter

Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.

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Society

Workplace bullying spurs surge in trauma counseling

Cases of workplace bullying are on the rise in Korea, and the number of employees reporting psychological trauma has reached record levels, recent government data shows. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) said Sunday that its network of occupational trauma centers conducted 16,607 counseling sessions between 2022 and 2024, with annual figures rising sharply each year. In 2023, there were 6,757 consultations — a 56.4 percent increase from 2022 and a 22.2 percent jump compared to 2023. The centers, first established in Daegu in 2018 and now expanded to 23 locations nationwide, offer free psychological support to workers experiencing trauma caused by serious industrial accidents, co-worker suicides, workplace bullying, or sexual harassment or violence. Work-related accidents, including serious industrial injuries, were the most common reason for trauma counseling in 2023, accounting for 3,214 sessions — nearly half of the annual total. Consultations related to bullying and sexual harassment followed closely at 2,311 cases, nearly double the 1,156 recorded in 2022. G

Aug 4, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Workplace bullying spurs surge in trauma counseling
Politics

Tariff deal offers framework, but sticking points remain ahead of Korea-US summit

As President Lee Jae Myung prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington later this month, unresolved economic issues remain a significant part of the agenda, highlighting the complexity of the Korea-U.S. trade relationship in the wake of the recently announced tariff agreement. Seoul and Washington on Wednesday announced a sweeping tariff agreement centered on a $450 billion investment and purchasing package, following months of protracted negotiations. Under the deal, Korea pledged $350 billion in investments and $100 billion in purchases of U.S. goods in exchange for a reduction in American tariffs on Korean products — including a cut on newly imposed duties from 25 percent to 15 percent and a similar rollback on automotive tariffs. Despite the agreement, officials cautioned that the deal outlines a broad framework rather than a finalized settlement. Key issues — particularly nontariff barriers affecting agricultural goods, digital services and other sectors — remain vague and unresolved. Experts warn that the Trump administration is likely to push Korea for furthe

Aug 3, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Tariff deal offers framework, but sticking points remain ahead of Korea-US summit
Foreign Affairs

Peruvian envoy celebrates National Day, highlights 62 years of bilateral ties

Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Duclos hosted a celebration in Seoul on Monday to mark the 204th anniversary of Peru’s independence, using the occasion to highlight the growing strategic partnership between Korea and Peru and to reflect on more than six decades of diplomatic ties. The reception drew high-ranking officials from both countries, including Vice Minister for Economic Affairs Kim Hee-sang, members of the Korea-Peru Parliamentary Friendship League and ambassadors and diplomats from various missions. “It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to commemorate the 204th anniversary of Peru’s independence,” Duclos said. “This year we also celebrate 62 years of friendship and mutual cooperation with the Republic of Korea — a relationship based on shared values and a common vision for the future.” He praised the continued strengthening of bilateral ties through key milestones such as the 2011 Free Trade Agreement, which has helped make Korea Peru’s fifth-largest export market, and the 2012 establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Duclos highlighted a r

Jul 29, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Peruvian envoy celebrates National Day, highlights 62 years of bilateral ties
Health

9 in 10 Korean children fully vaccinated, rates surpass global peers

Nine out of 10 children in Korea received all recommended vaccinations by the corresponding age, with the country’s immunization rates exceeding those of other major countries by up to 19 percentage points, health authorities said Monday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), full vaccination coverage in 2023 reached 93.3 percent for 1-year-olds, 93.6 percent for 2-year-olds, 88.7 percent for 3-year-olds and 89.4 percent for 6-year-olds. While the rate for 2-year-olds increased slightly from the previous year, coverage for other age groups, especially 1-year-olds, declined. The 3.1 percent drop among 1-year-olds was attributed to the addition of the rotavirus vaccine to the national program, which increased the total number of required doses. Excluding the rotavirus vaccine, the full vaccination rate for 1-year-olds remained high at 96.2 percent, similar to the 96.4 percent recorded a year earlier. Uptake of the rotavirus vaccine itself rose to 94.2 percent after it became part of the national program, a 5.2 percentage point increase from previous rates.

Jul 29, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
9 in 10 Korean children fully vaccinated, rates surpass global peers
North Korea

N. Korean, Chinese hackers grow bolder, target crypto, nuclear sites

Hackers backed by North Korea and China are escalating global cyberattacks, infiltrating hundreds of organizations across government, education and critical infrastructure — including leading cryptocurrency platforms and the U.S. agency responsible for nuclear weapons, cybersecurity experts reported. Dutch cybersecurity firm Eye Security reported that more than 400 institutions worldwide have been breached in recent days. Most of the victims are based in the United States, with additional incidents reported in Mauritius, Jordan, South Africa, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. This expansive and unconstrained campaign signals a worrying new phase in the North's state-sponsored cyber warfare, demonstrating both a heightened capability and a broader intent to destabilize critical sectors far beyond traditional intelligence gathering. The global reach of these incursions underscores the severe and interconnected vulnerabilities facing both public and private entities worldwide. The attacks are still unfolding, with hackers actively scannin

Jul 25, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
N. Korean, Chinese hackers grow bolder, target crypto, nuclear sites
North Korea

N. Korea opens new beach resort hoping to remake eastern coast into tourism hub

North Korea unveiled a new beach in Tongchon County, roughly 50 kilometers south of the recently launched Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, state media reported Thursday — a move analysts view as part of Pyongyang’s broader campaign to reinvent the country’s eastern seaboard as a tourism hub. Years of stringent international sanctions, aimed at curtailing its weapons programs, have left North Korea severely short of hard currency. This has crippled legitimate trade, forcing Pyongyang to increasingly rely on illicit revenue streams, including cyber theft. Curiously, tourism remains one of the few sectors not explicitly banned by United Nations sanctions, a loophole the isolated nation has actively tried to exploit by developing resorts and seeking foreign visitors to generate much-needed funds. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party, reported that an opening ceremony was held Wednesday for the new beach in Tongchon. The article framed the facility as a product of the “motherly party’s loving care,” underscoring the regime’s continued efforts to pro

Jul 25, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
N. Korea opens new beach resort hoping to remake eastern coast into tourism hub
Foreign Affairs

Jim Heller set to be deputy chief at US Embassy in Seoul

Jim Heller, a veteran U.S. diplomat with extensive experience in East Asia and multilateral affairs, is set to be named the new deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, according to sources Thursday. He will replace Joy Sakurai and is expected to take up the post by the end of the month. Heller, a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as acting deputy assistant secretary for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands at the U.S. State Department. In Washington, Heller has held key roles across a broad range of regional and functional offices, including the Office of Japanese Affairs; Office of Taiwan Coordination; Office of Korean Affairs; State Department Operations Center; Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Affairs; and Office of Multilateral Trade Affairs. His overseas postings include two tours at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and assignments at the U.S. Embassies in Seoul and Kyiv, as well as service with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Erbil, Iraq. Known as a seasoned "Asia hand," Heller brings decades of institutional knowledge a

Jul 24, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Jim Heller set to be deputy chief at US Embassy in Seoul
Foreign Affairs

Czech envoy backs Korean nuclear tech, signals interest in AI, security ties

Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jancarek has praised Korea’s nuclear technology and welcomed the signing of a major nuclear power agreement between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Czech utility CEZ Group, calling it a milestone for bilateral cooperation and a foundation for expanding strategic ties into other high-tech industries. In an interview with The Korea Times on July 8 at the Czech Embassy in Seoul, Jancarek said the agreement, signed on June 4, enables the construction of two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Station and positions KHNP as the Czech Republic’s preferred nuclear partner. “This deal is not the end — it’s just the beginning,” the ambassador said. “The whole process started in 2022 with three bidders, and in July 2024, the Czech government selected KHNP as the preferred bidder. Now, we are entering the implementation phase, which could last 15 to 20 years.” Under the agreement, KHNP will supply APR1000 reactors, and has coordinated with stakeholders to ensure compatibility with Western standards. Jancarek emphasized that the Czech

Jul 23, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Czech envoy backs Korean nuclear tech, signals interest in AI, security ties
Foreign Affairs

Colombia celebrates deepening ties with Korea on Independence Day

In a commemorative address marking Colombia’s 215th Independence Day, Ambassador Alejandro Pelaez Rodriguez highlighted the country’s deepening ties with Korea, citing shared democratic values, growing trade and expanding cooperation in science, technology and global diplomacy. “Colombia, the country of beauty, welcomes you to the celebration of the 215th anniversary of its independence,” Pelaez said at a reception hosted by the Colombian Embassy in Seoul on Monday, July 21. “We honor the legacy of those who dreamed of a free nation and defended it with dignity.” The ambassador highlighted Colombia's increased presence in multilateral institutions. “For the first time in our history, Colombia has been elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025-27 term, where we will serve alongside the Republic of Korea,” he said. “Additionally, we have been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2026-27.” Ties between Korea and Colombia, the ambassador noted, are rooted in shared values and a legacy of solidarity

Jul 22, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Colombia celebrates deepening ties with Korea on Independence Day
Politics

PHOTO President inspects landslide site

President Lee Jae Myung inspects a landslide-hit area of a village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday, following torrential rains. Lee later visited a support center for rain damage in the county, where he discussed follow-up measures with other government officials and local authorities. Yonhap

Jul 21, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
[PHOTO]President inspects landslide site
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.