The Korea Times

For Koreans, ‘good death’ means comfort, easing burden on family, study shows

A growing number of Koreans now see a “good death” less as a family-centered moment and more as one free of pain and financial strain, a shift highlighted in a study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA). The report, published in the latest issue of the institute’s journal, Health and Social Welfare Review, analyzed responses from 1,021 adults aged 19 and older who took part in an online survey conducted between April 23 and May 7, 2024. Led by Oh Jong-min of Ewha Womans University’s School of Medicine, the research examined public attitudes toward death and preparations for one’s final years. Results showed that an overwhelming 97 percent of respondents considered minimizing physical pain essential to a good death, followed by easing families’ financial burden at 96.2 percent and sparing them from prolonged caregiving at 95.3 percent. These figures show that growing openness to hospice care here is driven less by acceptance of palliative medicine than by harsh financial realities. The data is also supported by a rise in so-called “caregiving traged

Jan 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

For Koreans, ‘good death’ means comfort, easing burden on family, study shows

Politics

Tool of justice or political weapon? Debate grows over exit bans in Korea

Korea’s “exit ban,” a sweeping tool used to stop suspects from leaving the country, is coming under mounting scrutiny. Long seen as a cornerstone of investigative authority, the system is now under attack both as an instrument of arbitrary state overreach and a system riddled with gaps that appears to spare well-connected figures, including a Seoul city councilor under investigation for corruption and the acting head of one of the country’s biggest online retailers. Recent lapses involving Kim Kyung, the city councilor accused of bribery, and Coupang’s interim CEO Harold Rogers, have exposed a systemic double bind: Authorities are increasingly decried as being heavy-handed with ordinary suspects, yet indulgent toward the powerful. Police, who are behind the 30 percent rise in ban requests since 2020, face mounting pressure to reform. Critics argue the "ban-first" culture has become a default tactic rather than a last resort, even as high-profile figures continue to slip through the cracks. However, experts note such incidents are the exception and that more often, exit bans hav

Jan 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Tool of justice or political weapon? Debate grows over exit bans in Korea

Society

Seoul sets stricter rules for city-sponsored marathons

The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled a new set of guidelines tightening regulations on marathons organized or sponsored by the city, aiming to reduce traffic disruptions, noise and public inconvenience as citizens' love of running shows no sign of slowing. Under the new rules, races requiring traffic control must now begin before 7:30 a.m. and finish around 10 a.m., moving up start times from the previous 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., according to the city government. The earlier ending is intended to ease commuter complaints caused by prolonged road closures. The city also banned alcohol companies from sponsoring events, citing a mismatch between the spirit of athletics and alcoholic branding. Until last year, beverage makers such as OB Beer and HiteJinro sponsored marathons and distributed nonalcoholic beer to runners. To maintain public order and safety, the guidelines set capacity limits for major public venues: 15,000 participants at Gwanghwamun Square, 12,000 at Seoul Plaza, 9,000 at Yeouido Park and 7,000 at World Cup Park. Organizers who fail to clean up litter on roads after races wi

Jan 18, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul sets stricter rules for city-sponsored marathons

Travel & Food

Why Korean airports ban most battery-heated gadgets in cabin and checked bags

Korea is tightening restrictions on battery-heated gadgets on airplanes, effectively banning most cordless hair tools and similar devices from both carry-on and checked luggage amid mounting fears over in-flight lithium-ion battery fires. The issue drew fresh attention after Australian traveler Ellie Tran was forced to abandon a wireless hair straightener worth around 500,000 won ($399) at Incheon International Airport before boarding a flight home to Sydney. Tran told British outlet Daily Mail that she had checked in the same model multiple times without incident and had even flown into Korea with it, only to be told on departure that it had to be discarded. The device contained a built-in lithium-ion battery that cannot be removed, which security officials flagged as a fire risk. Korean airlines now prohibit cordless straighteners, curling irons, portable irons and rechargeable hand warmers with non-removable batteries in both cabin and checked baggage on all routes. The crackdown isn’t limited to hair tools. Security officials at Incheon and other major Korean air hubs are increasin

Jan 17, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Why Korean airports ban most battery-heated gadgets in cabin and checked bags

Society

BTS comeback sparks astronomical hotel price hikes in Busan

BTS’ long-awaited full-group comeback concert in Busan is still months away, but hotel prices in the southeastern port city have already hit exorbitant levels, rekindling anger over “rip-off” room rates whenever mega-events come to town. Some properties have reportedly hiked prices by up to 10 times and even asked guests with existing bookings to cancel so they can resell at higher prices. The group will return as a full act for the first time since all members completed their mandatory military service, kicking off a world tour in April that will stop in North America, Europe, South America and Asia. Busan is the only domestic venue outside Seoul, with shows slated for June 12 and 13 — the latter doubling as BTS’ debut anniversary and a homecoming for Busan-born members Jimin and Jung Kook, intensifying demand from both local and overseas ARMY, their official fan base. As of Friday, on local booking platforms, many hotels across key tourist areas such as Haeundae, Gwangalli and Gijang were already sold out for the concert dates within hours of the schedule dropping. Remaining

Jan 16, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

BTS comeback sparks astronomical hotel price hikes in Busan

Global Community

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

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

For Koreans, ‘good death’ means comfort, easing burden on family, study shows

Tool of justice or political weapon? Debate grows over exit bans in Korea

Seoul sets stricter rules for city-sponsored marathons

Why Korean airports ban most battery-heated gadgets in cabin and checked bags

BTS comeback sparks astronomical hotel price hikes in Busan

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

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