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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 invites sweltering city dwellers to dip their feet in Cheonggye Stream

As relentless heat waves and stifling tropical nights bake the concrete landscape of Korea’s capital, city officials are offering weary urbanites a surprisingly simple refuge: dipping their bare feet into a watercourse running directly beneath skyscraper-lined avenues. Starting Friday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch the 2026 edition of "Cheonggye Stream Water Splashing," a 10-day summer retreat designed to transform a 120-meter stretch of the restored downtown waterway into an accessible wading creek. Running daily through Aug. 9 between Cheonggye Falls and Gwangtong Bridge, the initiative aims to recreate the refreshing ambiance of a mountain valley in the dense heart of the metropolis. The concept builds on a burgeoning appetite among city dwellers for low-cost, hyperlocal leisure. When the city introduced the wading program last summer, more than 50,000 residents and international tourists flocked to the sunken promenade, slipping off their shoes to dangle their legs over stone embankments. The overwhelming turnout prompted municipal planners to expand infrastructure

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul invites sweltering city dwellers to dip their feet in Cheonggye Stream
People & Events

Following surge in demand, Seoul brings 'Slow Morning' walks to Gwangjin Bridge

A popular Sunday morning fitness event that transforms Seoul’s streets and landmarks into open-air exercise spaces is expanding to one of the capital city’s most scenic bridges, offering residents a new way to experience the capital through walking, wellness and culture. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that its “Swieom-swieom Morning” (Slow Morning) program is scheduled for Aug. 2 and Aug. 9 around Gwangnaru Hangang Park and Gwangjin Bridge, following strong public interest in its first two events, which attracted a combined 6,807 participants. Unlike traditional races, the program emphasizes participation over competition, allowing people of all ages and fitness levels to walk or run at their own pace without rankings or time records. The initiative was inspired by the “Car Free Morning” concept that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon encountered during a trip to Malaysia and began as a pilot project in March before becoming a regular program this July. The first two events — a riverside course from Yeouido to Mapo Bridge and an urban route connecting Seoul Plaza, Se

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Following surge in demand, Seoul brings 'Slow Morning' walks to Gwangjin Bridge
Travel & Food

KTO rolls out summer travel discounts to make domestic vacations more affordable

With millions of workers preparing for summer holidays, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is expanding a package of travel discounts aimed at easing vacation costs while encouraging people to explore destinations across Korea. The tourism agency said Wednesday it will introduce a series of promotional campaigns for participants in the government-backed worker vacation support program, offering discounts on regional travel products, wellness stays and leisure activities throughout the summer season. The worker vacation support program is designed to encourage domestic tourism by sharing travel costs among employees, companies and the government. Under the program, workers contribute 200,000 won ($145), while their employers and the government each provide an additional 100,000 won. The resulting 400,000 won travel fund can be used to purchase accommodations, admission tickets, travel packages and other tourism-related products through the program’s dedicated online platform, Vacation Shop. This year, the KTO is placing greater emphasis on regional tourism through partnerships with l

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
KTO rolls out summer travel discounts to make domestic vacations more affordable
Companies

Mapping Seoul's taste: Neighborhoods show distinct instant noodle preferences

A bowl of instant noodles may seem like an ordinary grocery purchase, but in Seoul it can also offer a glimpse into how people live, shop and eat. New sales data from Nongshim, Korea's leading producer of instant noodles, suggests that even in a city united by a deep affection for the quick dish, neighborhood demographics and retail environments shape remarkably different buying habits. The food maker released its 2026 Seoul Nongshim Ramyun Popularity Map, Wednesday, analyzing point-of-sale purchases at large discount stores and supermarket chains across the capital's 25 districts during the first half of the year. The findings reveal that while flagship brands continue to dominate, local preferences often mirror the character of the communities where shoppers live. Shin Ramyun remained the city's undisputed favorite. The brand ranked No. 1 in 15 of Seoul's 22 districts with large discount stores, underscoring its enduring appeal across generations. Citywide, it also led in Nongshim's overall sales ranking, followed by Chapagetti, Neoguri, Shin Ramyun Gold, Ansungtangmyun, Yukgaejang Bo

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Mapping Seoul's taste: Neighborhoods show distinct instant noodle preferences
Companies

Huons Meditech wins trademark infringement lawsuit against Chinese company

Huons Meditech, a medical device maker under Huons Group, said it has won a final ruling in a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Chinese company that used its DermaShine trademarks without authorization. The company said it discovered that Hebei Future Precision Equipments Co. had been manufacturing and selling counterfeit products using the registered trademarks "DermaShine" and "DermaShine Max." Huons Meditech filed suit at the Anci District People's Court in Langfang, a city in China's Hebei province, on July 1, 2025, seeking an injunction. The court ruled in the company's favor on June 18, and the judgment became final on July 18 after the one-month appeal period expired. Under the ruling, the Chinese company must immediately stop all infringing activity and is barred from using trademarks identical or similar to Huons Meditech's registered marks. The court also ordered the destruction of counterfeit products, display stands, packaging and related promotional materials, and required the company to reimburse Huons Meditech's costs from the case within 10 days of the ruling taking

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Huons Meditech wins trademark infringement lawsuit against Chinese company
Companies

Renault Korea enters police patrol vehicle market with Grand Koleos

Renault Korea said it has entered the National Police Agency's multipurpose patrol vehicle market for the first time, supplying its Grand Koleos SUV to police stations nationwide as part of an annual market worth about 120 vehicles. The company's 2.0-liter turbo gasoline four-wheel-drive Grand Koleos was selected as a replacement model under the police agency's 2025 pilot program for multipurpose patrol vehicles, winning an order for 50 vehicles. Renault Korea said it secured an additional order for 60 vehicles under the 2026 program, following what it described as strong feedback from officers and a competitive evaluation of the vehicle's features as the agency works to diversify and modernize its patrol vehicle lineup. The Grand Koleos model chosen for the program uses BorgWarner's sixth-generation four-wheel-drive system paired with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system, designed to provide stable handling across varying road and weather conditions. It also includes six driving modes and advanced driver-assistance features. The 50 vehicles from the 2025 order have completed police mod

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Renault Korea enters police patrol vehicle market with Grand Koleos
Travel & Food

Lotte Hotel & Resorts overhauls loyalty program, adds top-tier Diamond status

Lotte Hotel & Resorts said it will overhaul its free loyalty program, Lotte Hotel Rewards, starting in September, expanding member benefits and adding a new top-tier "Diamond" status. The company recently unified its hotel and resort websites, bringing roughly 4.7 million members under a single rewards system as it works toward 5 million members. The program allows members earn and redeem points at more than 40 hotels, resorts and golf courses worldwide, as well as through its e-SHOP online mall. The overhaul expands membership tiers from four to five — Member, Silver, Gold, Platinum and the newly added Diamond — with Diamond reserved for members who log 60 nights or 110,000 points annually. The company also eased the requirements to reach each tier: Silver now requires two nights instead of five, Gold 12 nights instead of 25 and Platinum 30 nights instead of 50. Benefits are also expanding. Gold members will newly receive breakfast vouchers, while Diamond members get up to 15 percent off at dining outlets, 3 p.m. late checkout, room upgrades, welcome amenities and club lounge access

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Lotte Hotel & Resorts overhauls loyalty program, adds top-tier Diamond status
Health

No family, no funds: Seeking relief for vulnerable foreign patients

For six years and four months, a hospital bed in the southern industrial hub of Ulsan was the site of a silent tragedy and an escalating financial dilemma. A Chinese national, identified only by his surname Li, had arrived in Korea on a 90-day tourist visa in September 2019. Just nine days into an informal dishwashing job at a local restaurant, he suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage and collapsed into an unrecoverable coma. Under Korean medical legislation, institutions are legally obligated to deliver life-saving care regardless of a patient’s residency status or financial standing. Hospital D, a private healthcare facility, fulfilled its moral and legal mandate without hesitation. Physicians stabilized Li, transferred him to an intensive care unit, and provided round-the-clock life support. Year after year, the medical equipment hummed, nursing staff maintained his care, and the unpaid ledger steadily expanded. By the time Li passed away on April 25, 2026, the accrued medical debt had surpassed 840 million won ($600,000). For the hospital’s administration, the ordeal exposed

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
No family, no funds: Seeking relief for vulnerable foreign patients
People & Events

Seoul's emerging fashion brands make 1st appearance at Hong Kong trade show

Over the past decade, Seoul’s ambitious public fashion incubator has quietly transformed homegrown talent into global runway contenders. Now, HiSeoul Showroom is taking its biggest international victory lap yet. As HiSeoul Showroom marks its 10th anniversary, 12 emerging designer brands it has nurtured will make their collective debut at CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong, Asia's premier fashion trade show running Sept. 2 to 5 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The milestone comes as Korea has been named the event’s official Country of Honor for the first time. Operating under the theme "SEOUListic: The Future is Sustainable," the 12 selected labels — including doucan, RE RHEE and HOLYNUMBER7 — will present a unified pavilion, host a joint runway show and conduct targeted buyer networking to expand their global reach. Launched in 2016 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, HiSeoul Showroom was built as a comprehensive launchpad for emerging designers, offering help with everything from buyer matchmaking and international trade shows to

Jul 28, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul's emerging fashion brands make 1st appearance at Hong Kong trade show
Travel & Food

No more 2nd chances: Korea cracks down on overcharging guesthouses

For years, international tourists seeking an authentic Korean stay at traditional hanok guesthouses or urban homestays faced an unpredictable gamble: transparent pricing or hidden markups. That ambiguity is coming to an abrupt end. Cabinet passed a key revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act Tuesday, taking a hard-line stance against price-gouging across the country's hospitality sector. Effective Aug. 4, guesthouses and traditional stay operators caught overcharging or failing to post official rate sheets will face an immediate five-day operational suspension on their first offense. Under previous rules, traditional hanok guesthouses caught inflating prices received little more than a gentle corrective warning for initial infractions, while urban homestays catering to foreign visitors slipped through a regulatory loop with no requirements to post prices at all. The new measure closes these loopholes, turning what used to be a slap on the wrist into a business-halting penalty. The crackdown forms a key pillar of the government’s broader campaign to eliminate pr

Jul 28, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
No more 2nd chances: Korea cracks down on overcharging guesthouses
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