The Korea Times

1 in 9 int’l students in Korea become unauthorized residents: study

More than 1 in 9 international students here became unauthorized residents by overstaying their visas or working beyond permitted levels, a recent study found, suggesting a shortcoming in the government’s focus on quantitative growth rather than sustainable integration. According to a report by Gangneung-Wonju National University associate professor Kim Gyu-chan, 34,267 people who had come to Korea to study at universities or language institutes overstayed their visas or worked beyond permitted levels in 2024. That number was more than five times the figure recorded in 2014 (6,782). Citing data from the Ministry of Justice, Kim said 9,580 of the students had previously held D-2 student visas, while 24,687 had D-4 language trainee visas. Among those visa holders, the proportion of foreign students who had overstayed their visas or worked beyond permitted levels rose from 7.8 percent in 2014 to 15.7 percent in 2022, before falling slightly to 11.6 percent in 2023 and 2024. “This suggests that while the overall number of foreign students has grown, the stability and legality of their s

Jan 15, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

1 in 9 int’l students in Korea become unauthorized residents: study

World

Asia Journalist Association urges Iran to halt violence, ensure press freedom amid deadly unrest

The Asia Journalist Association (AJA) urged Iranian authorities to halt the use of force against civilians and ensure press freedom amid intensifying nationwide protests that have left scores dead and shaken the country’s stability. In a statement issued Thursday, the Seoul-based journalist network expressed “deep concern” over the escalating situation in Iran, where demonstrations against rising prices and repressive state policies have been met with mass arrests and violent crackdowns. “AJA expresses its deepest sorrow over the continued loss of precious human lives,” the network said, condemning the heavy-handed suppression of protests and “indiscriminate detention of journalists.” The group warned that the attempts to silence the media would “only deepen mistrust and exacerbate the crisis.” The statement also cautioned that the turmoil could open the door for external interference, which might undermine Iran’s sovereignty and ignite broader instability across the Middle East — with potential consequences for peace throughout Asia. Calling for a peaceful resoluti

Jan 15, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Asia Journalist Association urges Iran to halt violence, ensure press freedom amid deadly unrest

Society

'Korea should stand on Iranian people's side'

Amid intensifying and often deadly crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations in Tehran and around Iran, some Iranian residents in Korea are pleading for both Korean government and citizen support for the Iranian people. For Niusha, an Iranian national who has lived in Korea for six years, the current crisis has sparked questions about Korea's role in international affairs. “I chose Korea because I believed in its commitment to human dignity,” Niusha told The Korea Times in a written interview. “But it is shocking to see a G7-level democracy remain silent while our people are being massacred.” She pointed to the stark contrast between Seoul’s caution and the substantive diplomatic actions taken by other major democracies, including Canada, France and Germany, and urged Korea to cut ties with the current regime. “Korea is a country that won democracy through sacrifice,” said Sarah, another Iranian who has lived here for eight years, who asked to be identified using an alias. “For that very reason, I sincerely hope it will neither remain silent nor stand by as a spectator

Jan 14, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

'Korea should stand on Iranian people's side'

Society

Grade 1 enrollment falls below 300,000 for 1st time as Korea's population shrinks

For the first time, fewer than 300,000 children are expected to enter first grade in Korea this year, underscoring the effects of the country’s persistently low birthrate on its education system. According to the Ministry of Education’s revised projection report, released Tuesday, an estimated 298,178 children are expected to start first grade this year. The ministry had earlier projected that first grade enrollment would fall below 300,000 in 2027. But officials said that recent shifts in birthrates and school attendance as well as overall population decline now make it likely that the threshold will be crossed this year. The rapid decline in the number of first graders reflects the steep drop in school-age population over the past two decades. Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) data shows that the number of first graders dropped below 700,000 in 2000, down from 713,500 in 1999. The figure fell even faster after 2008, plummeting from 534,816 in 2008 to 468,233 a year later. In recent years, the pace of decline has accelerated again from 401,752 in 2023 to 353,713 in 202

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Grade 1 enrollment falls below 300,000 for 1st time as Korea's population shrinks

Society

New Assembly takes up anti-discrimination bill, reigniting equality debate

Korea has seen the formal introduction of a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill at the 22nd National Assembly, reviving a long-stalled debate over equal rights and hate speech. The move follows the scrapping of multiple similar bills in previous Assemblies and comes amid growing pressure from international bodies to address the country’s legislative vacuum. Korea remains one of only two OECD member nations, alongside Japan, that has yet to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Rep. Son Sol of the left-leaning Progressive Party said Monday that she had submitted the bill, describing it as “the top priority voiced by the public” for sweeping social reforms. Son emphasized that the issue has been debated since the Kim Dae-jung administration (1998-2003) and can no longer be postponed, urging the Assembly “not to be swayed by baseless distortions and agitation about this law.” For decades, the primary hurdle to such legislation has been fierce opposition from conservative Protestant groups, who argue that the law would lead to “reverse discrimination” and infringe u

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

New Assembly takes up anti-discrimination bill, reigniting equality debate

Society

4 in 10 Seoul women returning to work after career breaks face lower pay, longer job searches than men

Women in Seoul who return to work after career breaks for pregnancy, childbirth, or caregiving face a steep “motherhood penalty,” as they are more likely than men to start new jobs with lower pay and after a longer job search, a report showed Sunday. According to a report released by the Seoul Foundation of Women & Family, 42.5 percent of women who took a career break and later found a new job saw their wages fall compared with their previous positions. In contrast, only 25 percent of men in the same situation reported earning less. The analysis is based on a survey of 2,754 employed Seoul residents aged 19 to 64. The time it took to find employment was equally stark. Women spent an average of 48.4 months securing a new job after a care-related break, more than double the 20.4 months recorded for men. Researchers noted that these breaks result in long-term career interruptions for women, cementing gender gaps in both pay and job stability. A notable finding in the report is the perceived improvement in work-life balance. While 32.2 percent of women said their work-life balance improv

Jan 12, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

4 in 10 Seoul women returning to work after career breaks face lower pay, longer job searches than men

Environment & Animals

PHOTO Heavy snowfall in southwestern Korea

A resident walks through heavy snow in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Sunday, as a heavy snow advisory was issued in the region. Some regions in the southwestern parts of the country received more than 25 centimeters of snow since Saturday evening. A cold snap is forecast to continue in the coming days, with daytime highs expected to hover near or below freezing in central areas amid lingering clouds and light snowfall. Yonhap

Jan 11, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

[PHOTO] Heavy snowfall in southwestern Korea

Law & Crime

EXPLAINER Life or death? Possible sentences for Yoon Suk Yeol’s insurrection charge

As Korea awaits a landmark sentencing against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, expected within months, prosecutors find themselves legally constrained by the country’s narrow range of possible punishments. Yoon faces charges of insurrection over his Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration, making him the first president in Korea’s democratic history to be indicted on such counts for actions taken while in office. Under the Criminal Act’s strict provisions governing insurrection ringleaders, sentencing options are limited to three: death, life imprisonment with labor, or life imprisonment without labor. The special counsel investigating the case will seek one of the three during the final hearing slated for Tuesday. Although South Korea has not carried out an execution in more than a quarter-century, the unprecedented nature of the case — compounded by Yoon’s steadfast denial of responsibility — has reignited a national debate over whether the ultimate penalty should be considered, nearly 30 years after it was last sought against a former head of state. Prosecutors and lawyers cl

Jan 11, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

[EXPLAINER] Life or death? Possible sentences for Yoon Suk Yeol’s insurrection charge

Travel & Food

What new KTO chief's appointment means for K-tourism

A nearly two-year gap in leadership at the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has been filled, with the appointment of a new figure whose experience lies more in global marketing boardrooms than in public service. On Jan. 1, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism named Park Sung-hyeuck, a former executive at advertising giant Cheil Worldwide, as the new president of the KTO, filling a post that had been vacant since January 2024, after his predecessor resigned to run for a National Assembly seat. The long-delayed appointment is more than a personnel change and marks a test of whether Korea can move beyond headline tourism figures toward a sustainable, strategy-driven approach. For years, the KTO has been described as the “command tower” of Korea’s tourism policy — the agency that translates government goals into on-the-ground campaigns, partnerships and products. Yet the captain’s seat on this ship has rarely been occupied by someone with firsthand experience in the tourism industry. Since 2000, not one of the agency’s chiefs has come from the tourism industry, and in its

Jan 8, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

What new KTO chief's appointment means for K-tourism

People & Events

Comedian’s hyperreal skit goes viral, stirring debate on misogyny in Korea

A hyperreal role-play skit by comedian Kang Yu-mi has gone viral on YouTube, touching off an emotional debate over pervasive gender bias and internalized misogynistic attitudes in Korean society. On Jan. 1, Kang uploaded a video titled “Middle-aged nammisae” to her YouTube channel, portraying a well-off, image-conscious mother obsessively devoted to her son and notably indulgent toward men. Nammisae is a derogatory Korean slang term, shortened from a phrase meaning someone “crazy about men.” Wearing luxury labels from head to toe, the character lavishes attention on male colleagues with mock concern — “Why are you dressed so lightly? You’ll catch a cold” — while harshly judging female co-workers as “fake innocents” and “girls who flirt with their eyes.” The character’s doting attitude toward her son and reproduction of patriarchal norms in the office have drawn criticism, with lines like “Girls are too emotional” and “If a girl hits you, hit her back” cited as normalizing gender stereotypes and trivializing male violence. Since her 2004 debut on a popu

Jan 8, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

1 in 9 int’l students in Korea become unauthorized residents: study

Asia Journalist Association urges Iran to halt violence, ensure press freedom amid deadly unrest

'Korea should stand on Iranian people's side'

Grade 1 enrollment falls below 300,000 for 1st time as Korea's population shrinks

New Assembly takes up anti-discrimination bill, reigniting equality debate

4 in 10 Seoul women returning to work after career breaks face lower pay, longer job searches than men

PHOTO Heavy snowfall in southwestern Korea

EXPLAINER Life or death? Possible sentences for Yoon Suk Yeol’s insurrection charge

What new KTO chief's appointment means for K-tourism

Comedian’s hyperreal skit goes viral, stirring debate on misogyny in Korea

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