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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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Companies

Korean malls go all out on pet perks as 4-legged shoppers boost sales

As the Lunar New Year holiday unfolds, major department stores and sprawling shopping malls in Korea are rolling out expanded pet-friendly spaces and merchandise, seeking to draw more foot traffic and keep shoppers lingering longer by catering to a growing view of pets as members of the family. The shift reflects the rise of “pet humanization,” a consumer trend in which companion animals are treated much like people, and comes amid a steady expansion in pet ownership across Korea. As online shopping continues to erode the traditional advantages of brick-and-mortar retail, stores are emphasizing in-person experiences that encourage customers to linger longer and return more often — frequently with their pets in tow. According to the 2025 Korea Pet Report by KB Financial Group’s research institute, 5.91 million households, or 26.7 percent of the national total, were living with at least one pet at the end of 2024, up from about 18 percent in 2018. Nearly 15.5 million people — roughly three in 10 residents — now share their homes with companion animals. Sales of traditional hol

Feb 14, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Korean malls go all out on pet perks as 4-legged shoppers boost sales
Society

Nearly 720,000 Koreans expected to travel abroad during Lunar New Year break

Nearly 720,000 people are expected to travel overseas through Incheon International Airport during Korea’s six-day Lunar New Year holiday, with Japan emerging as the most popular destination amid a relatively short break, airport officials said Friday. According to Incheon International Airport Corp., a total of 718,880 passengers, including transfer travelers, are projected to depart the country between Feb. 13 and 18. The Lunar New Year holiday, one of Korea’s most significant travel periods, runs for six days this year. Japan accounted for the largest share of outbound travelers, with an estimated 185,432 passengers expected to visit the neighboring country. China followed with 123,486 travelers. Southeast Asian destinations collectively attracted about 204,084 travelers, while European countries accounted for 35,740 passengers. Passenger traffic is expected to peak on the second day of the holiday, Saturday, when about 130,675 travelers are forecast to depart. The lightest traffic is projected for the final day of the holiday on Feb. 18, with 104,721 passengers expected to leave

Feb 14, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Nearly 720,000 Koreans expected to travel abroad during Lunar New Year break
Foreign Affairs

ASEAN-Korea Centre approves 2026 work plan, expands regional outreach

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) convened its 18th Annual Meeting of the Council in Seoul on Wednesday, as senior officials reviewed achievements for 2025 and approved the center’s work plan and budget for 2026. The AKC Council, composed of high-level government representatives from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Member States and Korea, reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation amid evolving global uncertainties. Participants underscored the importance of AKC’s role in meeting growing demand for an enhanced partnership. Deliberations were guided by the ASEAN-Korea Plan of Action for 2026-2030, which supports implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Seoul’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership vision, titled “Contributor, Springboard, Partner.” Extensive discussions were held regarding proposed 2026 programs aimed at translating strategic commitments into practical initiatives. In 2026, AKC plans to implement around 30 programs focusing on economic cooperation, culture and tourism, media, and people-to-people exchanges. The initiati

Feb 12, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
ASEAN-Korea Centre approves 2026 work plan, expands regional outreach
Foreign Affairs

New Zealand envoy highlights Maori heritage, Korea ties at Waitangi Day event

New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet highlighted her country’s bicultural foundations and the long-standing friendship between Korea and New Zealand during a Waitangi Day reception at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul on Tuesday. Addressing diplomats, Korean officials and invited guests, Bennet described Waitangi Day as one of the most significant dates in New Zealand’s national calendar. “Waitangi Day is a day for us to reflect on who we are as a country and to honor the partnership at the heart of New Zealand — to celebrate the unique bicultural foundations that continue to shape our identity today,” she said. Bennet said the occasion also provided an opportunity to celebrate the deep and enduring relationship between Korea and New Zealand, noting that despite the geographic distance, the two countries are connected by shared values such as respect, partnership and cooperation. “Friendship — whether between people or between nations — is built on human connection, and human connection at its heart is built on mutual understanding,” she said. As part of her r

Feb 11, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
New Zealand envoy highlights Maori heritage, Korea ties at Waitangi Day event
Business

Inspire appoints Steven Wolstenholme as chief casino officer

Inspire Entertainment Resort said Tuesday it has appointed Steven Wolstenholme as its new chief casino officer, bringing more than three decades of experience in integrated resort and casino operations across North America and Asia. Wolstenholme will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of Inspire’s casino business and leading its mid- to long-term growth plans, the company said. His role will also include strengthening operational processes and reinforcing the resort’s market positioning as Korea expands its integrated resort sector. Wolstenholme previously served as president and chief executive officer of Hoiana Resort & Golf in Vietnam and as president of Okada Manila in the Philippines. His career spans the full lifecycle of large-scale integrated resort projects, from development and opening to stabilized operations. Earlier in his career, Wolstenholme served as chief operating officer at Galaxy Macau, where he led organizational reforms during the global financial crisis, and as president of the Grand Sierra Resort in Nevada, where he improved operating profitab

Feb 11, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Inspire appoints Steven Wolstenholme as chief casino officer
Foreign Affairs

Egypt seeks to deepen economic, cultural ties with Korea

Egypt’s ambassador to Korea, Hazem Zaki, said Friday that Cairo is looking to significantly deepen economic, cultural and people-to-people ties with Seoul, pointing to expanding opportunities for Korean investments and cooperation across a range of sectors. Speaking to reporters during a networking dinner at his residence in Seoul, Zaki said Egypt views its relationship with Korea as “very positive” and ripe for expansion following President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Cairo last November, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. “The political relationship is already very strong, and that gives us the space to expand cooperation across all fields,” Zaki said, pointing to manufacturing, transportation, energy, culture and tourism as priority areas. Zaki highlighted the presence of major Korean companies in Egypt, including Samsung, Hyundai and LG, noting that Korean products enjoy strong trust among Egyptian consumers. He said Egypt is encouraging Korean firms to expand their footprint, particularly through the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which Cairo hopes could

Feb 9, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Egypt seeks to deepen economic, cultural ties with Korea
Society

Korea to require retirement pensions at all workplaces, add fund-based plans

Korea will gradually require all workplaces to introduce retirement pension plans and plans to roll out a professionally managed pension system aimed at boosting investment returns, under a landmark agreement reached Friday by labor, business and the government. The accord was announced in a joint declaration by the Tripartite Task Force on Strengthening the Retirement Pension System at a meeting in Seoul. Officials said it marked the first social pact on structural reforms to the retirement pension system since its introduction in 2005, after more than two decades of debate over coverage, funding and returns. Under the agreement, employers will be required to deposit severance benefits into externally managed retirement pension plans. The mandate will be phased in based on company size and financial capacity, with detailed timelines to be finalized after a government survey of micro and small businesses. Although retirement pensions became mandatory for newly established firms in 2012, enforcement has remained weak. As of 2024, only 435,000 workplaces — 26.5 percent of all businesses

Feb 6, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Korea to require retirement pensions at all workplaces, add fund-based plans
Health

Koreans report strongest sense of social cohesion since 2014: study

Koreans reported their strongest sense of social cohesion in more than a decade in 2025, according to a government-funded study released Friday, even as engagement in civic life and perceptions of social mobility continued to weaken. The report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs showed that perceptions of social cohesion, measured on a 10-point scale, rose to 4.87 points in 2025, the highest score since the survey series began in 2014. The figure compares with 4.18 in 2016, 4.17 in both 2018 and 2019, and 4.32 in 2024, based on year-by-year survey results. Social trust, also measured on a 10-point scale, reached 5.70 points in 2025, up from 4.59 in 2014 and 5.22 in 2024, marking its highest level over the 11-year period covered by the study. Indicators of subjective well-being — including life satisfaction and happiness, both measured on a 0–10 scale — also reached their highest levels since 2014. The report noted that while these indicators have been tracked annually since the survey began, it does not disclose detailed year-by-year averages for all well-being i

Feb 6, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Koreans report strongest sense of social cohesion since 2014: study
Foreign Affairs

ASEAN-Korea Centre sends trade mission to Brunei, Singapore

The ASEAN-Korea Centre, in cooperation with the Korea Importers Association, led a trade mission to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore from Feb. 2 to 5 to expand trade and investment ties between ASEAN member states and Korea. The mission brought together 21 Korean companies from the food and beverage, materials and consumer goods sectors, along with about 30 local companies and industry stakeholders from Brunei and Singapore. Participants took part in business forums, one-on-one business matching sessions and industrial site visits aimed at providing market insights and identifying potential partners. The initiative was part of the AKC’s multi-year trade promotion program launched in 2025. It followed earlier missions to Indonesia in January 2025 and to Laos and Thailand in May 2025, as the center stepped up efforts to support Korean companies seeking entry into ASEAN markets. The mission opened on Feb. 2 with the Brunei-Korea Business Forum at the Radisson Hotel in Brunei Darussalam. A keynote address was delivered by Hajah May Fae’zah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, permanent secretary at

Feb 5, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
ASEAN-Korea Centre sends trade mission to Brunei, Singapore
Foreign Affairs

PHOTO Gender equality minister meets Irish ambassador

Won Min-kyong, third from left, minister of gender equality and family, poses after a meeting with Irish Ambassador to Korea Michelle Winthrop, fourth from left, and other government and embassy officials to discuss gender equality policies at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

Feb 4, 2026By Kim Hyun-binphoto
[PHOTO] Gender equality minister meets Irish ambassador
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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.