Korea Times K-Culture Reporter
Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
As winter approaches, knitted covers adorn trees in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Korea braces for its coldest morning of the season Tuesday, with temperatures in Seoul plunging to minus 3 degrees Celsius. Forecasters say the chill will begin to ease by Thursday afternoon. Yonhap
The ruling bloc and Seoul City are clashing again as the former voices its opposition to the latter’s plan to establish a new memorial for the 1950-53 Korean War at Gwanghwamun Square in the center of the capital. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Monday he would look into whether there were any procedural or legal flaws in pursuing the project. It was the ruling bloc’s latest criticism of projects led by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, a prominent People Power Party (PPP) politician who is seeking another term in next June’s local elections. Speculation is that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is moving to constrain Oh and take back the Seoul mayorship, and that Kim himself is planning to run for the post, since it is rare for a prime minister to intervene in a local government’s affairs. "Gwanghwamun is Korea’s symbolic face and the heart of its democracy and future. It is questionable whether transforming it in this way has public support," Kim said while looking around the planned site, as the city government began construction for the project. “In matters like this, I th
Seoul’s Hangang Bus service came to an abrupt halt again when one of its vessels ran aground 118 meters from Jamsil dock on Saturday evening. The incident took place less than two weeks after resuming operations following a monthlong service suspension due to repeated breakdowns. The hybrid-powered ferry, carrying 82 passengers, stopped after striking the riverbed at 8:15 p.m. All aboard were safely evacuated within an hour by fire and police rescue teams. No injuries were reported. City officials, led by Park Jin-young, head of Future Han River Headquarters, explained that the ferry’s propeller and protective skeg likely scraped the bottom of the riverbed, transferring a shock to the hull. "The accident occurred close to the dock, and most passengers were seated, minimizing harm," Park said, adding that divers will be deployed to inspect the vessel and riverbed for debris or sediment buildup, which may have accumulated more than usual due to an early dry season and low river flow. City officials confirmed on Sunday that the ferry deviated from its authorized regular path right befor
Beneath Seoul’s soaring skyline, where the city’s restless pulse seldom slows, the golden hush of autumn settles over a place largely untouched by time or trends: Deoksu Palace’s storied Stone Wall Road or Doldam-gil. This 1.1-kilometer promenade, lovingly known as Doldam-gil, is more than a historic pathway; it is a living symbol of romance, resilience and the delicate balance between Seoul’s past and progress. Running along the outer wall of Deoksu Palace — one of Seoul’s five grand palaces from the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty — the Stone Wall Road forms a tranquil urban haven, sandwiched between the palace’s aged masonry and canopies of ginkgo and maple trees. Unlike the vast grandeur of Gyeongbok Palace or Changdeok Palace, Deoksu Palace stands apart — compact, approachable and steeped in unique history as the only palace to serve as the imperial residence during the Korean Empire era lasting from 1897 to 1910. A striking blend of neoclassical columns, European-style gardens and traditional hanok structures reveals King Gojong’s bold embrace of modernization. Today,
The number of students in Korea from multicultural backgrounds surpassed 200,000 for the first time this year, yet many continue to face challenges in the classroom, according to recent government data. Data released Sunday by Rep. Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party showed that students from multicultural families accounted for 477 high school dropouts during the 2023 academic year, a 2.22 percent dropout rate, according to the Ministry of Education. The rate has gone up steadily — from 1.36 percent in 2020 to 1.93 percent in 2021 and 1.99 percent in 2022 — surpassing 2 percent for the first time last year. This figure is higher than the nationwide high school dropout rate, which reached 2.0 percent in 2023. The most common reason students from multicultural backgrounds cited for leaving school was difficulty adapting, according to the data. In 2023, more than 200 students pointed to challenges in school life — including struggles with Korean-language classes — as a key factor. Educational experts estimate that the majority of students from multicultural backgrounds s
Korea’s newly announced greenhouse gas reduction targets, unveiled Thursday, are drawing criticism from both environmentalists and industry leaders. Activists argue that the plan represents a retreat from previous climate goals, while manufacturing representatives contend it places unrealistic demands on the sector. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment presented two options for the nation’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): a 50 to 60 percent cut in emissions from 2018 levels, or a slightly stronger range of 53 to 60 percent. The target will be finalized next week after review by the presidential 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission and the Cabinet. It will be announced at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil. Minister Kim Sung-whan said the government sought a "balanced goal" that is both scientifically sound and economically feasible, reflecting sharply divided views: Civil society has demanded at least a 61 percent cut, while industries warn that even a 48 percent reduction is excessive. "President Lee Jae Myung promised
An Se-young is carving her name into sports history as one of the world’s longest reigning No. 1 badminton players, maintaining a stranglehold on the women’s singles ranking for 55 consecutive weeks. While she has not yet surpassed the all-time record set by Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan, An’s dominance throughout this year has left traditional badminton powerhouses China and Taiwan in awe. Her supremacy is underscored by extraordinary statistics: An has clinched nine major singles titles in 2025 alone, including triumphs at the Malaysia Open, India Open, Orleans Masters, All England Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, China Masters, Denmark Open and French Open. Her victory at the French Open, along with its $66,500 prize, pushed her total season earnings past 1 billion won — a first for any Korean badminton star — while her career prize money now exceeds $2.2 million. An boasts a season record of 63 wins and just four losses, driving her win rate up to 90 percent — outperforming even her impressive earlier records. Chinese sports media and fans have lavished praise on her, with Ne
Korea is grappling with an intense influenza season, with infections more than tripling from a year ago and showing pronounced peaks among school-aged children and adults over 50. Official data suggests a potentially severe season ahead. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the national outpatient influenza-like illness rate for the 43rd week of the year (Oct. 19-Oct. 25) climbed to 13.6 cases per 1,000 patients, a significant leap from the previous week’s 7.9 cases. The current rate decisively exceeds the national epidemic threshold of 9.1 cases and is nearly 3.5 times higher than the rate recorded during the same period 2024 (3.9 cases). The surge is most pronounced among younger age groups, with children aged 7 to 12 recording 31.6 cases per 1,000 outpatients and those aged 1 to 6 reporting 25.8 — the highest incidence rates this season. The dominant strain in circulation is influenza A (H3N2), the most prevalent and virulent type, known for its ability to infect both humans and animals and trigger global pandemics. By contrast, influenza B infects
Universities should overhaul their internationalization strategies to address the demands of a world rapidly changing due to political, social and technological shifts, Christopher Cripps, vice president of Europe and international affairs at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, said during a masterclass at the QS World University Rankings: Asia event at Korea University in Seoul, Tuesday. Cripps told academic leaders that higher education institutions must look beyond traditional, market-driven models and instead adopt focused, long-term partnerships built around shared values and mutual benefits. "The world is a messy place and will continue to be complex for the next several years," he said, emphasizing the need for strategies that directly address major global issues and anticipate future changes. He highlighted how the expectations of students and researchers are evolving, noting Gen Z’s growing demand for educational experiences with purpose and grounded in global citizenship. "Gen Z cares deeply about socially engaged and climate-aware mobility, and our strategies must align with th
Higher education experts speaking at the QS World University Rankings: Asia panel in Seoul urged universities to pair cutting-edge, AI-driven tools with a continued focus on human connection, stressing that the enduring value of personal interaction must remain central to their brand identity and communication. In a panel session moderated by Edward Harcourt, senior vice president of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, speakers stressed that while automation brings efficiency and personalization to the application and enrollment process, authentic human engagement and oversight are vital to maintaining institutional reputation and forging meaningful connections with prospective students. Panelists widely agreed that student expectations have dramatically changed over the past decade, especially in application speed and transparency. "Students in 2025 are totally different than students in 2015. They expect us to be very fast, very comprehensive, and to provide all the necessary information not only about the university, but even about their specified majors," said Prof. Sherine Farouk of Abu Dhabi