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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.

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People & Events

Seoul’s tap water gets hip riverside makeover

Municipal authorities have long faced a notoriously tough public relations challenge: how to convince skeptical urbanites to ditch plastic bottles and actually drink from the tap. This weekend, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is gambling that the answer lies in the city's favorite summer pastime — lounging by the Han River with a cold drink and a stash of limited-edition merchandise. Starting Friday, the Seoul Waterworks Authority is launching a sprawling, ultramodern pop-up store titled "Aridapda, Arisu" (Beautiful Arisu) at the Yeouido Hangang Park Event Square. Nestled alongside the river, the three-week installation aims to rebrand "Arisu" — Seoul’s heavily filtered municipal tap water — from a bureaucratic utility into a trendy lifestyle choice centered on sustainability. The phrase Aridapda, a play on the Korean word for beauty and grace, is the centerpiece of a fresh campaign designed to highlight the city's rigorous water-quality standards in a way that resonates with a younger, eco-conscious crowd. Rather than bombarding visitors with dry technical charts, the pop-up t

Jun 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul’s tap water gets hip riverside makeover
Travel & Food

Foreign tourist spending in Korea tops $1.3 bil. for 1st time

Foreign tourist spending in Korea has shattered historical records, surging past the 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion) mark in a single month for the very first time. According to data analyzed by the Korea Tourism Organization, international visitors spent a staggering 2.12 trillion won in Korea using credit cards this past May. The figure represents a massive 67.1 percent jump compared to the same period last year, marking the highest growth rate the country has seen since 2023. The explosive growth was the result of a tidal wave of Chinese visitors, whose card usage skyrocketed by more than 200 percent year-on-year. However, analysts say the real story is that tourist habits are sharply bifurcating, with younger visitors hunting down local lifestyle trends while other tourists, mostly from China, concentrate on shopping for high-end luxury goods. For the younger crowd, tourism has evolved from checking off traditional landmarks to mimicking the daily routines of Seoulites. In the trendy alleys of Seongsu-dong and the shopping blocks of Myeong-dong, "gorpcore" fashion — the art of styli

Jun 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Foreign tourist spending in Korea tops $1.3 bil. for 1st time
Society

Transit card upgrade promises to take guesswork out of commuting

Commuters in Seoul are about to get a major upgrade to their wallets, courtesy of a bureaucratic marriage designed to eliminate transit card confusion. Starting July 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is merging its wildly popular, unlimited transit pass — the Climate Card — with the federal government’s nationwide discount program, "Modu Card" (also known as the K-Pass). The result is a turbocharged hybrid dubbed the "Climate Card Plus." For the past two years, local straphangers have been forced to play an exhausting game of transit math. Commuters had to weigh whether they traveled enough to justify Seoul’s fixed-rate unlimited card or if they were better off using the federal government's pay-as-you-go cashback system. The new "Plus" card solves this dilemma by introducing a touch of automated logic: It calculates your monthly journeys and automatically applies whichever billing method saves you more money. If your monthly transit bill stays below 62,000 won ($45), the card acts like a federal K-Pass, refunding a baseline of 20 percent of your expenses — and up to 53.3 pe

Jun 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Transit card upgrade promises to take guesswork out of commuting
South Korea

Your soundproof car windows could trap you, new study finds

Automakers have increasingly turned to laminated acoustic glass to drown out highway noise and keep modern cabins whisper-quiet. While excellent for a peaceful commute, a new study by Korea's National Institute of Fire Service reveals that this luxury upgrade poses a hidden danger during an underwater emergency. The very material designed to protect you from exterior noise could trap you inside a sinking vehicle. The classic automotive survival playbook — grabbing the seat headrest and smashing the side window with its metal prongs — is dangerously outdated. The institute's survival simulations showed that on standard tempered glass, using a headrest prong is incredibly difficult because the car's rubber molding and window frame absorb the brunt of the impact. However, if you use a dedicated emergency tool like a rescue hammer or a spring-loaded punch, tempered glass shatters relatively easily, provided you avoid the center and aim repeatedly for the corners. If your vehicle is equipped with laminated acoustic glass, you are facing a literal brick wall. Because of a tough, plastic s

Jun 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Your soundproof car windows could trap you, new study finds
Health

Korea joins Europe in landmark joint review of biopharmaceuticals

In a milestone move toward cross-border regulatory alignment, Korea’s drug safety watchdog said Wednesday that it completed its first international joint review of a biopharmaceutical product alongside European and global regulators. The breakthrough is poised to substantially ease the regulatory bottleneck for multinational pharmaceutical companies seeking multimarket approvals. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that its evaluation arm, the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, concluded a simultaneous scientific assessment under the "Opening our Procedures at EMA to Non-EU authorities" (OPEN) framework. Spearheaded by the European Medicines Agency, the initiative brought together regulatory experts from Korea, Switzerland and the World Health Organization to jointly review a changes-to-permits application for a recombinant biological medicine. Launched initially as a pilot in 2020 to accelerate the evaluation of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, the OPEN program operates by standardizing evaluation requirements across participating countries. Historically,

Jun 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea joins Europe in landmark joint review of biopharmaceuticals
Foreign Affairs

Thai Embassy rolls out events marking 68th anniversary of Korea-Thailand ties

The Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul is rolling out a series of high-profile bilateral events over the coming weeks, spanning startup diplomacy, cultural exhibitions, a cabinet-level visit and a business forum, as the two countries mark the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The first event takes place Wednesday, when the embassy launches the Seoul-Thailand Startup & Innovation Space at the Thai ambassador's residence. The platform is designed to connect Thai and Korean entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. The launch program includes a reverse pitching session by Korean investors — among them SparkLabs, BlueTide Capital and the Korean Business Angels Association — followed by pitches from 10 Thai startups and one-on-one business matching sessions. Next, Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2026, with the theme of "Creative Life and Creative Heartbeat," takes over Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul on June 20-21. The two-day public event will feature Thai cuisine, pop music performances, traditional dance, arts and crafts, and tourism promotions. National Assembly member Kwak Sang-eon is

Jun 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Thai Embassy rolls out events marking 68th anniversary of Korea-Thailand ties
Companies

Dongwha Natural Maru becomes 1st Korean wood flooring brand to receive carbon storage certification

Dongwha Enterprise's building materials brand Dongwha Natural Maru said Tuesday it has received official certification from the Korea Forest Service for the carbon storage capacity of its wood-based flooring products, becoming the first domestic wood flooring brand to receive such recognition. The certification is issued under Korea's wood product carbon storage labeling system, which measures and discloses the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in wood products made from domestically harvested timber. The scheme is grounded in the Act on the Sustainable Use of Timber, which promotes carbon storing and other environmental functions of wood. Five products received certification: the Gangmaru line's Jin Origin, Jin Grande, Jin Grande Square and Jin Terra; along with the laminate flooring line Crogen. The products store between approximately 34 and 38 kilograms of carbon dioxide per 3.3 square meters — roughly equivalent to one pyeong, a traditional Korean unit of floor area. Installing Jin Origin or Jin Grande Square across a typical 84-square-meter apartment is estimated to sequester

Jun 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Dongwha Natural Maru becomes 1st Korean wood flooring brand to receive carbon storage certification
Society

Seoul Donghaeng Store reopens after monthlong renovation

Seoul Donghaeng Store, a farmers' cooperative store run by the city near Anguk Station, reopens Tuesday following a month of renovations aimed at improving visitors' shopping experience and expanding programming. The permanent store — located on the first floor of the Anguk Building annex in Jongno District — sells agricultural and regional specialty products sourced from small farms and producers across Korea, offering city residents competitively priced goods while providing producers with a reliable sales channel. For the reopening, the city has reorganized product displays, added category signage to help shoppers navigate the space faster and installed new digital signboards visible from outside the store. A companion Naver Smart Store will reopen June 29 with updated product listings. To mark the reopening, the store will hold events from Tuesday through June 19, including free rice cake giveaways for all visitors, a prize draw for purchases of 30,000 won ($20) or more and tastings of local fruit ade beverages. Apple, white peach and blueberry farmers will visit the store in per

Jun 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul Donghaeng Store reopens after monthlong renovation
Companies

LS Electric to showcase ultra-high-voltage transformers, DC solutions at Munich energy expo

LS Electric said Tuesday it will exhibit its full lineup of power infrastructure products at EM-Power Europe 2026 in Munich next week, targeting a European market where electrification policy is driving a sharp rise in grid investment. The Korean electrical equipment maker will participate in EM-Power Europe — one of four trade shows under The smarter E Europe, Europe's largest energy industry expo — at Messe Munchen from June 23-25. The company's exhibit theme is "Total Solution Provider for a Smarter Power System," encompassing products ranging from ultra-high-voltage transformers down to DC distribution solutions. The centerpiece of LS Electric's booth will be a 132kV, 90MVA ultra-high-voltage transformer. The company has been accelerating its push into Europe's high-voltage segment after signing a 62 billion won ($45 million) supply contract for 400kV-class transformers with a German energy firm earlier this year. Also on display will be a 1,500kVA cast-resin transformer and a 35kV medium-voltage switchgear unit. LS Electric obtained Europe's Environmental Product Declaration cert

Jun 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
LS Electric to showcase ultra-high-voltage transformers, DC solutions at Munich energy expo
People & Events

Seoul to roll out hidden-camera YouTube series promoting tap water during World Cup

Seoul city is launching a two-episode hidden-camera YouTube series featuring Korean comedians to promote Arisu, the city's tap water, during public World Cup viewing events. The series, titled "Muldeun Akma Eungwondan" — loosely translated as the "Water-Bearing Cheering Squad," a play on the Red Devils, Korea's official football supporters' group — stars comedians Shin Gyu-jin and Kim Yong-myung. The concept is inspired by the hydration break, a stoppage introduced at this year's World Cup around the 22nd minute of each half to allow players to rehydrate in hot conditions. The city says the same principle applies to fans at outdoor viewing events. The first episode was filmed June 12 during Korea's group-stage match against the Czech Republic, in which the national team rallied for a 2-1 comeback win. The two comedians posed as pub staff and served Arisu to spectators, later revealing their identities and conducting on-camera interviews about hydration habits. The second episode, to be set during Korea's June 19 match against Mexico, will feature the pair roaming the Gwanghwamun publi

Jun 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul to roll out hidden-camera YouTube series promoting tap water during World Cup
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