my timesThe Korea Times
jhoo

Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.

Go to Email

Read more

Society

International voices to join Gangnam talk show on public ethics

Gangnam District, best known internationally for its high-end commercial areas and sleek corporate towers, is making an ambitious bid to showcase a very different kind of civic leadership: public sector integrity. On Sept. 2, the Gangnam District Office will host the "Integrity Gangnam Global Talk Show" in the main lobby of Gangnam City Hall at 5:30 pm. The public event will feature a panel discussion comparing Korean administrative ethics and anti-corruption standards with those of other cultures. Moderated by veteran news anchor Hwang Jung-min, the panel brings together prominent international media personalities, including Egyptian broadcaster Sammy Rashad and Finnish cultural figure Julia Barlund. Together, the panelists will unpack how different global societies define fairness, bureaucratic transparency and everyday civic morals, drawing direct comparisons between Korea's administrative rules and the norms of Northern Europe and the Middle East. For district leadership, the initiative reflects a deliberate shift away from rigid, lecture-style compliance training toward a participa

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
International voices to join Gangnam talk show on public ethics
People & Events

Dragon boats take over Suyeong River as international regatta hits Busan

The rhythmic beat of wooden drums echoed along Busan’s Suyeong River on Thursday, as hundreds of paddlers took to the water, launching the 14th Korea Open Busan International Dragon Boat Race alongside the 17th Busan Mayor’s Cup Dragon Boat Race. Running through Aug. 24 at APEC Naru Park, the dual five-day regattas bring together roughly 850 elite paddlers and club athletes from around the globe and across Korea. Organized directly by the Busan Metropolitan Government and hosted by the Sea Scouts of Korea Busan Council, the high-energy event aims to showcase the city's vibrant aquatic assets while reinforcing its broader push to establish itself as a premier destination for international eco-tourism and marine leisure. Official racing action kicks off Friday morning following a grand opening ceremony that features the traditional Dotting the Dragon's Eye ceremonial ritual, in which painted eyes on the vessel's ornate dragon head are filled in to symbolically awaken the craft and wish paddlers safe passage across the water. The international lineup features 19 competitive teams and r

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Dragon boats take over Suyeong River as international regatta hits Busan
South Korea

Busan launches multilingual emergency task force to protect foreign residents

The Busan Metropolitan Government announced Thursday a sweeping cross-sector framework designed to safeguard non-Korean speakers during natural and human-made disasters, anchoring the initiative with a dedicated multilingual crisis translation force. Under an agreement signed at Busan City Hall, local authorities joined forces with regional emergency services, humanitarian relief agencies, academic researchers and foreign resident support networks. The cornerstone of this new coalition is the newly appointed Busan Disaster Response Interpreter Corps, a 30-member specialized team providing real-time support across 16 languages, including English, Mandarin, Japanese, Vietnamese and German. Busan officials said the push stems directly from the southern port city's rapidly shifting demographic landscape. As Korea’s principal maritime gateway and second-largest metropolis, Busan has long served as a bustling crossroads for international commerce, shipping, and global tourism. The coastal hub now houses more than 88,000 foreign residents, while welcoming more than 2.4 million international v

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Busan launches multilingual emergency task force to protect foreign residents
Companies

Starbucks Korea, ChildFund Korea launch history, culture program for children

Starbucks Korea and ChildFund Korea (also known in Korean as Green Umbrella) held the first outing for a new history and culture program on Aug. 18, taking about 30 elementary school students from a community child care center to the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, the coffee chain said Thursday. Community childcare centers are welfare facilities supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare that provide after-school care, emotional support and educational activities to children under 18. There are about 4,000 in operation nationwide. The outing is the first activity under a program Starbucks announced last month, in which the company will donate 100 million won ($72,000) annually for three years to ChildFund Korea to give about 1,000 children a year the chance to visit historical and cultural sites. Students from Pureunnarae Community Childcare Center studied the history of the museum's artifacts before visiting, then toured the exhibits by era, starting with the 10-story stone pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple displayed in the museum's central hall. "Hearing the explanations while

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Starbucks Korea, ChildFund Korea launch history, culture program for children
Companies

Mom's Touch lands big in Singapore as opening sales more than double

Korean burger and chicken chain Mom’s Touch said Thursday that its flagship Singapore store has generated more than double its target sales since launching, fueled by an opening-day crowd of over 200 diners. The store opened last Friday on South Bridge Road in Singapore's Central Business District. It is the first store under a master franchise partnership between Mom's Touch and FairPrice Group, Singapore's largest retailer, which operates supermarkets, food outlets, convenience stores and pharmacies. Despite having only 90 seats, the store has averaged more than double its daily sales target over its first five days, with lines still forming before opening each day, the company said. To adapt to halal dietary requirements and local tastes, Mom's Touch spent more than two years developing ingredients, sauces and a supply chain that meet halal standards, while keeping its signature items, such as the Thigh Burger, at the same quality as in Korea. The Singapore menu includes items developed specifically for the market, including a spicy pepper-sauce burger, a fish fillet burger and a bur

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Mom's Touch lands big in Singapore as opening sales more than double
Books

Arts Council Korea's Literature Week returns to Seoul in September

Arts Council Korea, the state-run agency dedicated to funding and promoting the nation’s cultural landscape, will host Literature Week 2026 throughout September. Under the theme “A Sidelong Glance,” the festival will anchor its main festivities at Marronnier Park and its own venues in Daehangno — Seoul’s vibrant, historic theater district — while simultaneously rolling out events at cultural sites nationwide. Literature Week is designed to bridge the gap between writers and readers, celebrating the written word’s power to foster empathy. By encouraging attendees to cast a "sidelong glance," organizers aim to inspire audiences to look beyond their immediate realities and understand overlooked narratives, quiet histories and perspectives distinctly different from their own. This year’s expansive footprint features a staggering 131 events. In Daehangno alone, attendees can explore 38 distinct stage programs alongside 10 interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities. Beyond the capital, the festival relies heavily on grassroots cultural networks, partnering with regional i

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Arts Council Korea's Literature Week returns to Seoul in September
Companies

Dongwon F&B upgrades seaweed packaging in global export push

Dongwon F&B said Thursday it has adopted a nitrogen-flush packaging method for its Yangban brand roasted seaweed, part of a push to expand exports as the company marks the 40th anniversary of the product's launch. The technique reduces oxygen inside the package and replaces it with nitrogen, which is far less reactive. Oxygen triggers oxidation in the oil used to season the seaweed, causing it to develop an off-flavor and lose its crispness over time, while nitrogen helps preserve the fresh, crunchy texture of seaweed straight off the roaster. The company said the method also allows it to maintain the same quality without silica gel packets, the small moisture-absorbing sachets commonly found in packaged foods, cutting about 300 tons of silica gel use per year. The shift is aimed largely at overseas markets, where longer shipping times can leave seaweed soggy by the time it reaches customers. For export products, Dongwon F&B is combining the nitrogen-flush method with silica gel packets, extending the shelf life from six months to 12 months. Yangban seaweed is currently sold in more than

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Dongwon F&B upgrades seaweed packaging in global export push
Law & Crime

Rights watchdog intervenes after migrant worker faces deportation due to employer's error

For a migrant worker in Korea, a valid visa often comes down to administrative perfection. But when an employer fumbles the paperwork, it isn't the boss who faces expulsion — it's the laborer. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission stepped in Thursday to rectify one case of such oversight. The watchdog agency formally expressed its opinion that a foreign employee, caught in administrative limbo due entirely to his employer's negligence, should have his reemployment permit granted. At the same time, the commission urged the Ministry of Employment and Labor to overhaul systemic loopholes that penalize faultless workers with deportation and undocumented status. Although legally nonbinding, the commission’s formal recommendations carry significant sway over regulatory policy. The case centers on an immigrant worker identified only as A, who entered Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) on an E-9 visa — a program designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises fill crucial labor shortages. Since March 2024, the employee had been working at a manufacturing facility

Aug 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Rights watchdog intervenes after migrant worker faces deportation due to employer's error
Environment & Animals

Seoul to invest $434.3 mil. to overhaul aging tap water system

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will invest a combined 607.7 billion won ($434.3 million) to expand daily production capacity and modernize its aging municipal water infrastructure, as heavy summer consumption strains processing plants originally constructed four decades ago. The infrastructure package addresses a growing supply bottleneck across the capital region. Seoul's six primary water treatment complexes currently operate at an average utilization rate of 81 percent of their total design capacity. During peak summer heat waves, operational loads regularly surge past 90 percent. Compounding the capacity crunch is the physical decline of the infrastructure itself: four of the city’s six complexes have been in continuous, uninterrupted operation for more than 40 years. To stabilize output, the Seoul Arisu Headquarters is initiating a two-pronged development strategy targeting both immediate volume expansion and comprehensive facility modernization across key supply hubs. At the Gangbuk Water Purification Center northeast of Seoul, engineers have begun constructi

Aug 19, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul to invest $434.3 mil. to overhaul aging tap water system
Education

Seoul inks AI partnership with Imperial College London to boost European research

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it is extending its network connecting the city's artificial intelligence (AI) startups with leading international researchers from North America to Europe, signing a partnership with Imperial College London after three years of collaboration with Canada's Mila AI institute. The city and its AI industry hub, Seoul AI Hub, signed the agreement Tuesday at the British Embassy Seoul, establishing a framework for joint research, technology commercialization, researcher exchanges and support for startups entering the European market. The signing ceremony was attended by Imperial College London Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise Mary Ryan and British Embassy Deputy Ambassador Gareth Weir, along with officials from Seoul AI Hub. Seoul AI Hub's international research partnerships began in 2023 with Mila, the AI institute in Quebec, Canada, founded by deep-learning researcher Yoshua Bengio. Since then, the hub has supported 20 Seoul-based AI startups in joint projects with Mila researchers, including work on 3D facial modeling from single photos, automa

Aug 19, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul inks AI partnership with Imperial College London to boost European research
previous page
1415161718
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.