The Korea Times

'K-glasses' boom: More foreign tourists flock to local opticians for fast, affordable eyewear

Move over, K-pop and K-beauty. There’s a new craze sweeping the streets of Seoul and it’s all about getting your eyesight sorted and your style updated. Foreign tourists are ditching the typical itinerary to hit up local optical shops, turning the "K-glasses tour" into the newest must-do experience alongside their beauty and medical tourism stops. They're lining up for trendy frames and quick, convenient eye exams, making designer eyewear the ultimate travel souvenir. On a Monday afternoon in central Seoul's Myeong-dong shopping district, a three-story optical shop displayed signs in multiple languages, while staff members guided international visitors in English, Chinese and Japanese from frame displays to vision-testing rooms. The store also featured a snack bar and seating areas, giving it a feel more like an airport lounge than a clinic. Around 200 pairs of glasses are sold daily, and staff say roughly 70 percent of sales come from international visitors. Katherine Wu, visiting from Taiwan, discovered the store on social media and stopped by to buy contact lenses. "This is a great

Dec 2, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

'K-glasses' boom: More foreign tourists flock to local opticians for fast, affordable eyewear

Politics

Bill to ban protests near presidential office passes committee, drawing backlash

A bill that would expand no-protest zones to include the presidential office has cleared a key parliamentary committee, triggering backlash from minor parties and civic groups who say it rolls back fundamental freedoms. The National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on Thursday approved amendments to the Assembly and Demonstration Act that would ban outdoor rallies and protests within 100 meters of the presidential office. The current law already prohibits such gatherings within 100 meters of the presidential residence, the speaker of the National Assembly’s residence, the chief justice’s residence and the Constitutional Court president’s residence. If passed by the plenary, the revision would effectively bar protests near both the current Yongsan presidential office and the office that will reopen at Cheong Wa Dae. The change is meant to address what ruling bloc lawmakers have called a "legal blind spot" created when the presidential office was moved to Yongsan under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, separating the office and residence and complicati

Nov 30, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Bill to ban protests near presidential office passes committee, drawing backlash

Society

Why do workplace fatalities in Korea keep rising despite gov't crackdown?

Korea recorded a rise in industrial accident fatalities in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the country’s persistent workplace safety crisis despite a high‑profile government crackdown. The latest official data showed fatal accidents increasing both in number and rate, with large industrial sites and construction remaining the deadliest workplaces. Experts and industry officials believe the increase reflects chronic problems at small and subcontracted worksites and argue that real progress will require not just tougher penalties but sustained investment in safer equipment, more inspectors and practical, on-site support for employers and workers. According to third‑quarter industrial accident statistics released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 457 workers were killed in 440 fatal accidents, up 3.2 percent from 443 deaths in 411 accidents a year earlier. Construction remained the most dangerous industry. It recorded 210 deaths in 200 accidents, a 3.4 percent increase in fatalities from 203 a year earlier, even as the number of fatal cases stayed the same at 200. Manu

Nov 27, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Why do workplace fatalities in Korea keep rising despite gov't crackdown?

Travel & Food

Kangwon Land unveils 3 tril. won plan to build landmark integrated resort

JEONGSEON, Gangwon Province — Kangwon Land, the only casino in Korea that admits local residents, is working to shift its identity as a redeveloped mining area toward a broader role as a hub for wellness, leisure and year-round tourism. Originally established at the shuttered Sabuk coal mine near the Baekdu-daegan mountain range, Kangwon Land has become a model for regional revitalization since its founding in 1998. The company’s latest strategy, called the K-HIT (High1 Integrated Tourism) Master Plan, details a 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) vision through 2035 to position the High1 Resort as both an entertainment landmark and a flagship destination for "healing" tourism. At a briefing at High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Nov. 20, acting CEO Choi Cheol-kyoo outlined plans to attract 13.2 million annual visitors and generate 3.6 trillion won in yearly revenue by expanding entertainment, wellness and sports offerings — all while breathing fresh life into the former mining area. Central to this effort is the Grand Core Zone, which is set to receive 71 percent of total inve

Nov 27, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Kangwon Land unveils 3 tril. won plan to build landmark integrated resort

Health

Korea’s mental health-related deaths exceed OECD average: report

Korea continues to have the highest rate of mental health-related deaths among the 38 OECD member countries, according to a government policy brief released Wednesday. Despite gains in overall health care and longer life expectancy, the national suicide rate has remained stubbornly high. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea recorded 6.9 suicides per 1,000 for psychiatric patients within one year after discharge from hospitalization. The figure is nearly double the OECD average of 3.4 per 1,000, highlighting the need for stronger postdischarge follow-up and community-based support. OCED’s "Health at a Glance 2025" report, which the ministry quoted in the brief, shows that Korea recorded 26.2 suicides per 100,000 people in 2024, far exceeding the OECD average of 10.8. This disparity places the country at the top of the global ranking for mental health mortality. Since 2003, Korea has consistently led the world in suicides among advanced economies, with rates steadily hovering above 23 per 100,000 for the past decade. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizop

Nov 26, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s mental health-related deaths exceed OECD average: report

Travel & Food

Weifang, 'world capital of kites,' kicks off tourism push in Seoul

Weifang, a major city in China’s Shandong Province known as the "world capital of kites," brought its vibrant culture and craft to Seoul this week in a bid to attract more Korean travelers. The city’s culture and tourism bureau hosted its first inbound tourism promotion event in Korea at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel on Monday, signaling a full-scale push to tap into the postpandemic rebound in international travel. The event drew around 100 participants from the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Seoul Tourism Association, major travel agencies, airlines, cultural groups and local media, underscoring growing industry interest in emerging Chinese destinations under the new visa-free policies. Led by Gao Qiang, director of Weifang’s culture and tourism bureau, the Chinese delegation introduced themed itineraries covering cultural experiences, ecological and wellness retreats, rural homestays and the city’s signature kite and lantern traditions. A live indoor kite performance showcased Weifang’s identity, while a joint concert by Chinese guqin (traditional string intrument) master

Nov 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Weifang, 'world capital of kites,' kicks off tourism push in Seoul

Travel & Food

Hotels showcase luxury Christmas cakes to celebrate year-end festivities

Seoul’s top hotels are welcoming the holiday season with an array of high-end festive cakes designed to elevate Christmas celebrations. Pastry chefs at 23 premier hotels have unveiled limited-edition creations, blending artistry with premium ingredients to set new trends for the year-end dessert table. At Andaz Seoul Gangnam, the Festive Tree Cake is a visual showstopper, featuring layers of ganache, cherry compote, and cacao sponge crafted over three days. Accompanied by a strawberry shortcake bursting with fresh berries and a hazelnut log cake, the trio sets a luxurious tone for the holiday celebrations. Early birds who book by Dec. 7 will enjoy a 10 percent discount. Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas has launched 12 cakes, including the limited-edition chocolate Merry-Go-Round Melodie, which plays carols and contains assorted bonbons. Only 50 of these delicious treats are available. Other options feature bear designs and travel-themed cakes, with prices ranging up to 350,000 won. Grand Hyatt Seoul’s bakery is offering five festive cakes, including a raspberry-chocolate tree cak

Nov 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Hotels showcase luxury Christmas cakes to celebrate year-end festivities

Society

Price-gouging feud deepens at Gwangjang Market as visitor numbers fall

A recent feud within Seoul’s Gwangjang Market erupted into legal hostilities this week, as shop owners announced plans to file a multimillion-won lawsuit against street vendors following renewed allegations of overcharging foreign and domestic visitors. The allegations turn what might be seen as minor consumer complaints into a significant economic and cultural dilemma for the capital city, raising questions about whether Seoul can preserve the authenticity of its most treasured landmarks amid mass tourism and global media attention. At the center of the controversy is a viral YouTube video, uploaded earlier this month by a popular food reviewer with more than 1.5 million subscribers, which appeared to show a street vendor charging 10,000 won for a dish listed at 8,000 won. The discrepancy frustrated the creator and sparked a wave of calls for a boycott. This is not the first time overcharging allegations have surfaced at the market, where food stalls and eateries offering hearty, affordable dishes such as noodles and bindaetteok (Korean mung bean pancakes) have attracted celebrities,

Nov 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Price-gouging feud deepens at Gwangjang Market as visitor numbers fall

Politics

‘Jongmyo war’ revives long history of battles over development

The capital is once again the stage for a familiar political feud as Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s bid to construct a high-rise opposite the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine has set off a fresh round of sparring with the central government. The confrontation is hardly unprecedented. It is the latest — and perhaps most consequential — chapter in Seoul’s long history of political friction over marquee development projects. It also underscores a broader dilemma the city has struggled to resolve for decades over how to pursue growth without erasing the traces of its ancient identity. This tension has repeatedly placed the mayor’s drive for modernization at odds with the central government’s responsibility to safeguard national heritage. The Sewoon redevelopment project — now sometimes referred to as the “Jongmyo war” — has become a showdown between urban renewal and cultural preservation. After Seoul moved to ease height limits and permit buildings up to 141.9 meters, cultural authorities warned that the plan could jeopardize the shrine’s World Heritage status and took the matter to

Nov 20, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

‘Jongmyo war’ revives long history of battles over development

Travel & Food

Souvenir Fair at DDP spotlights Korea’s top travel keepsakes

Souvenir Fair 2025, Korea’s largest festival for traditional and contemporary keepsakes, is set to return to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul Friday through Sunday. The expanded event reflects both the rising global profile of “K-goods” and growing interest among international visitors in locally made souvenirs. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the three-day event is expecting a record 134 exhibitors, representing regional governments including Incheon and Busan, as well as major industry players such as BC Card. Themed zones will line the DDP Art Hall, inviting visitors to experience the diversity of Korean mementos across seven categories: stationery and office supplies; beauty and cosmetics; crafts; home essentials; fashion accessories; processed foods; and regional tourism clusters. The KTO’s main pavilion will feature a retrospective exhibit on the country’s annual souvenir contest, which dates back to 1988. The exhibit will feature this year’s President Award-winning souvenir: "Joseon royal wine stopp

Nov 19, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

'K-glasses' boom: More foreign tourists flock to local opticians for fast, affordable eyewear

Bill to ban protests near presidential office passes committee, drawing backlash

Why do workplace fatalities in Korea keep rising despite gov't crackdown?

Kangwon Land unveils 3 tril. won plan to build landmark integrated resort

Korea’s mental health-related deaths exceed OECD average: report

Weifang, 'world capital of kites,' kicks off tourism push in Seoul

Hotels showcase luxury Christmas cakes to celebrate year-end festivities

Price-gouging feud deepens at Gwangjang Market as visitor numbers fall

‘Jongmyo war’ revives long history of battles over development

Souvenir Fair at DDP spotlights Korea’s top travel keepsakes

Top 5 stories