The Korea Times

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Overseas wildfires were among the causes of Korea’s heavy ultrafine dust episode on Nov. 24 last year, when advisories were issued in multiple central and western regions, according to the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment on Friday. The institute said a detailed chemical analysis of fine dust that day showed smoke from biomass burning abroad had mixed with local emissions and long-range industrial pollution to worsen air quality. Using a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer, the institute detected a clear fingerprint of biomass burning organic aerosol, or BBOA, in samples collected during the episode, confirming that overseas wildfires were one of several contributors. An official said there were no major wildfires burning in Korea at the time, while large forest fires were reported in China with winds blowing toward the Korean Peninsula, making it likely that the smoke traveled from there. Seoul’s ultrafine dust concentration that day averaged 76 micrograms per cubic meter, peaking at 92 micrograms per cubic meter. The advisory issued on Nov. 24 lasted for 11 hours and

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Society

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Korea’s streets, parks and even travel itineraries are being redrawn by the sound of pounding feet, as a nationwide running trend shows no sign of slowing. Once a preserve of a small group of enthusiasts, running has evolved into a mass hobby, with some 10 million people — roughly double the figure from 2015 — now estimated to identify themselves as runners and lace up regularly, according to industry and tourism data. Marathons and road races are multiplying across the country, and running-themed trips, dubbed "run trips," that combine travel and races are emerging as a new form of leisure. For office worker Yoo Jae-moon, 38, the trend began last fall with a suggestion from a colleague. "I used to struggle even with walking fast," Yoo said. "Now I run 5 kilometers very slowly after work or on weekends, and just hitting 30 or 40 minutes feels like a big achievement." Running, he added, has helped him lose weight and feel stronger in his back and shoulders, and he is now considering his first half marathon this year. The appeal for many lies in simplicity and autonomy. After the COVI

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Travel & Food

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Seoul opened snow sledding hills at three Han River parks on Wednesday, offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy winter recreation in the heart of the city. The seasonal venues in Ttukseom, Jamwon and Yeouido feature snow slopes made from the swimming pools that are open during the summer season. They also feature play zones and character-themed attractions designed for visitors of all ages. This year’s themed areas will feature popular children’s characters. Yeouido Park will host Zanmang Loopy, Jamwon will showcase Pororo and Friends and Ttukseom will present Pororo and Tayo’s travel adventure zone. The facilities will operate for 50 days without any off days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 18. Operations will pause for one hour at 1 p.m. each day for slope maintenance and snow grooming, city officials said. Admission is 6,000 won ($4) for all visitors, granting access to sledding activities, a play area for kids, rest spaces and live character performances. Discounts of 50 percent are available for people with disabilities and their caregivers, people aged 65 and

Jan 1, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Travel & Food

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

The Year of the Red Horse, which comes around once every 60 years in the traditional zodiac cycle, invites residents and international visitors to seek out journeys that feel as bold and restless as the animal itself. Leaning into that fiery momentum, the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) spotlights a trio of horse-themed urban walks in the capital, while beyond Seoul, classic sunrise peaks and "island of horses" Jeju offer their own ways to greet the new year's zodiac animal on the road. New Year dawn hike on Mount Yongma On Seoul’s eastern edge, Mount Yongma rises as one of the city’s most beloved and accessible sunrise hikes — an ideal spot to usher in the new year with energy and promise. Its name, meaning "dragon horse," recalls legends of a mythical steed said to have taken flight from Yongma Park, as well as its historic link to royal stables in the foothills during the 1392-1910 Joseon era. Despite its urban surroundings, Mount Yongma retains much of its natural landscape, where hikers may even spot mountain goats along the trail. Accessibility is another draw: proximity to

Dec 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

People & Events

Marketing veteran appointed new head of Korea Tourism Organization after 2 years of leadership vacuum

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism appointed Park Sung-hyeuck, a former vice president and corporate adviser of Cheil Worldwide, as the new president of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Wednesday, filling a post that had been vacant for nearly two years. The ministry said Park, 57, will serve as the KTO’s 27th president and begin work immediately, and his official appointment ceremony will take place at a later date. A graduate of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a master’s degree in journalism from Chung-Ang University, Park is pursuing a doctoral degree in media communication at his alma mater. Over his 30-year career at Cheil, he led the company’s global operations, including posts overseeing Europe and North America. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Park is "a leader with international marketing expertise and strong management skills," expressing confidence that he will help the KTO reach its goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors and redefine the "K-Tourism" brand. Park’s appointment came as a surprise to many in the tourism sector, as he h

Dec 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Marketing veteran appointed new head of Korea Tourism Organization after 2 years of leadership vacuum

Society

Will Hongdae’s busking zone survive Seoul’s new rail plan?

In almost any Korean neighborhood, news of a new subway station is greeted with celebration. In western Seoul's Hongdae area, however, a recent announcement has sparked rare rebellion. Merchants and buskers on Red Road, a landmark pedestrian strip at the heart of the neighborhood’s youth culture, are leading an unusually fierce campaign against the planned construction of the Daejang-Hongdae Line terminus there, even as commuters, nearby residents and property owners along the route hail the project as a long-awaited upgrade to western Seoul’s rail network. The Daejang-Hongdae Line is a roughly 20-kilometer metro project that will link Bucheon's Daejang-dong and Goyang's Deogeun-dong, both in Gyeonggi Province, with key hubs in Seoul’s Yangcheon and Gangseo areas, cross Gayang Bridge and reach Mapo District’s Hongdae area. Twelve stations are planned. The line, backed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and built by a private consortium with a 2.1 trillion won budget, is promoted as a "transportation revolution" for southwestern Gyeonggi Province and western Se

Dec 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Will Hongdae’s busking zone survive Seoul’s new rail plan?

Society

China delists 15 Korean universities from recognized overseas institutions

China has removed 15 Korean universities from its list of recognized overseas higher education institutions, raising fresh concerns in Korea’s academic community, where Chinese students make up one of the largest shares of foreign students in the country. The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), a body under China’s Ministry of Education that certifies foreign degrees for use in the domestic job market and civil service recruitment, updated its list of accredited overseas institutions in late October, striking 270 schools worldwide, including 15 from Korea. Among the Korean institutions removed are Korea National Open University, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Mokpo National University and Chungbuk Provincial University, according to sources in the local education sector. A number of the delisted schools are regional universities struggling with financial pressure and demographic decline, but the latest update also affected national universities. The removal means these universities are effectively shut out of the Chinese student market. The CSCSE will no lon

Dec 30, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

China delists 15 Korean universities from recognized overseas institutions

Society

Family of late Vietnamese graduate demands gov’t apology over fatal immigration raid

Two months after a young Vietnamese woman fell to her death during a government immigration raid, her grieving father on Tuesday continued a relay of 108 bows in front of the presidential office in Seoul, demanding an official apology and the suspension of what advocates call "human-hunting" crackdowns on migrant workers. The father of the late Tu Anh, 25, knelt before the fountain square near Cheong Wa Dae for a second consecutive day, joined by human rights activists urging the government to take responsibility for her death. "I regret not stopping my daughter when she decided to study in Korea," said Vu Van Sung. "Her mother still trembles every evening around 6:30 — the time she died. It feels like her soul is still wandering, and we cannot find peace." According to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Committee for Justice for Tu Anh and the Network to Eliminate Discrimination against Migrant Workers, Tu Anh fell from a third-floor factory building in Daegu’s Seongseo Industrial Complex on Oct. 28 at around 6:30 p.m. while trying to avoid an immigration enforcement team. She was pronounced dead

Dec 30, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Family of late Vietnamese graduate demands gov’t apology over fatal immigration raid

Society

Slow-aging guru’s wellness brand unravels amid authorship issues, sexual abuse dispute

Once hailed as the doctor who taught Koreans how to grow old slowly, Jung Hee-won is watching his "slow aging" brand fall apart. Allegations of stalking, sexual coercion and claims that he took credit for a former employee’s work have triggered corporate boycotts, the loss of prestigious public roles and a broader reckoning over power, gender and credibility in Korea’s latest wellness industry. From slow-aging guru to policy insider Jung, 41, rose to fame as a geriatrician at Seoul Asan Medical Center, turning complex data on frailty and chronic disease into a simple promise: slow aging. A graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, he built his authority treating and studying older patients as Korea grappled with rapid population aging and a growing national focus on healthy longevity. He packaged this philosophy as "slow aging," framing it as the opposite of "accelerated aging," and turned it into social media content and bestselling books offering practical routines on diet, exercise and daily routines for people in their 30s to 50s. Television and radio amplified hi

Dec 29, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Environment & Animals

PHOTO Winter wall of ice

People watch an ice climbing wall at Pandae Ice Park in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Sunday, as a cold snap persisted throughout the month, leaving the rocky surface encased in ice. While the mercury was expected to go up Monday, it will plummet again Tuesday and subzero temperatures will continue even during the daytime throughout the week. Yonhap

Dec 28, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

Marketing veteran appointed new head of Korea Tourism Organization after 2 years of leadership vacuum

Will Hongdae’s busking zone survive Seoul’s new rail plan?

China delists 15 Korean universities from recognized overseas institutions

Family of late Vietnamese graduate demands gov’t apology over fatal immigration raid

Slow-aging guru’s wellness brand unravels amid authorship issues, sexual abuse dispute

PHOTO Winter wall of ice

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