The Korea Times

Luxurious yet practical? ‘Dualism’ to shape Korea’s tourism in 2026

Forget simple vacations. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced Monday that the nation’s 2026 travel buzzword is “dualism,” reflecting travelers’ desire for two contrasting experiences on the same trip: luxury and practicality, as well as cutting-edge technology and raw, unfiltered emotion. At the recent 2025 Data Utilization and Convergence Analysis Conference, the KTO introduced “D.U.A.L.I.S.M.” as the framework for its 2026 tourism outlook. The outlook is based on three years of macroenvironmental analysis, telecommunications and card-spending data, social media trends and surveys of both experts and travelers. The seven major trends identified are digital humanity, cultural unity, adaptive resilience, local re-creation, individualized value spectrums, spatial experience and multi-generation flow. Each trend points to a shifting tourism model shaped by social, environmental and technological factors. In the era of “digital humanity,” artificial intelligence becomes an emotional guide of sorts, taking over complex planning so travelers can devote their attention

Dec 8, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Luxurious yet practical? ‘Dualism’ to shape Korea’s tourism in 2026

Society

Koreans’ love-hate relationship with ‘first snow’: Romance, wishes, military hardships

Koreans greeted this year’s first snowfall on Thursday with a mix of delight and dread, as "cheotnun," or the first snow of the season, has come to symbolize both romance and hardship. Heavy snow blanketed Seoul and surrounding regions through the evening, turning commutes into major ordeals, while couples and families ventured outdoors to take photos and enjoy the special moment. Central regions, including the capital area, witnessed unusually heavy snowfall, with several centimeters accumulating on roads and sidewalks during rush hour. Authorities issued advisories about icy roads and urged drivers to slow down, as congestion on the roads worsened through the night. At the same time, the first snow has come to mark an annual cultural occasion. K-pop group EXO’s winter ballad "First Snow," released in 2013, has once again surged on major streaming charts, as listeners pair its nostalgic melancholy with scenes of snow-covered streets. The boy band even uploaded a "First Snow challenge" video on their social media, dancing to the song wearing Christmas accessories. In Korean pop cultur

Dec 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Koreans’ love-hate relationship with ‘first snow’: Romance, wishes, military hardships

Law & Crime

Korea bans neglectful parents from receiving child’s survivor pensions under revised law

Korea has enacted a major reform to its pension system that prevents parents who abandoned their children from claiming survivor benefits after the child’s death — a move that challenges long-standing social norms about unconditional parental rights. The revised National Pension Service Act, passed by the National Assembly this week, bars parents who failed to meet their legal duty to support a minor child from receiving any economic benefits tied to that child’s death. The change mirrors a shift in Korean society toward fairness and accountability over traditional ideas of entitlement based on blood ties. For decades, family law in Korea was heavily influenced by Korean moral ethics, which emphasized filial duty and parental authority as sacred bonds. Under this moral code, parental rights, including inheritance and benefit claims, persisted even when a parent had neglected or abandoned a child. The underlying assumption was that biological ties could not be severed, regardless of parents’ actions or responsibility. That sentiment was tested by several high-profile cases that sp

Dec 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea bans neglectful parents from receiving child’s survivor pensions under revised law

Travel & Food

Outdoor boom: Seoul Hiking Week sees sevenfold jump in foreign visitors

A growing number of international tourists are flocking to Seoul’s mountain trails, where nature meets the city in what officials are calling “K-hiking.” According to the Seoul Tourism Organization, foreign visitors to its hiking tourism center on Mount Bukhan surged 760 percent this year compared to the same period last year, signaling a sharp rise in the activity’s appeal. The increase follows the success of this year’s Seoul Hiking Week, jointly organized by the tourism board and the outdoor Korean apparel brand Black Yak. The event featured sunrise hikes to Baegundae Peak on Mount Bukhan and trail-running programs through Uiryeong’s maple-lined paths, attracting more than a thousand participants. Officials say many visitors are drawn to Seoul’s unique geography — a metropolis where forested peaks stand alongside clusters of glass towers and centuries-old palaces. From the summit of Mount Bukhan, hikers can watch dawn spill over Gyeongbok Palace and the Han River, a view that captures the city’s dual identity as both ancient and modern. The Seoul Hiking Tourism Cente

Dec 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Outdoor boom: Seoul Hiking Week sees sevenfold jump in foreign visitors

Politics

A year after martial law scare, Koreans recall shock, call for safeguards

Nearly a year has passed since then President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law, plunging the country into confusion. Many Koreans say the memory still feels unreal. In interviews with The Korea Times, people of all ages described their initial reactions as disbelief, fear or sheer bewilderment. Most said they remain unconvinced by the justification offered for such an extraordinary measure. Kim Ja-min, a 25-year-old student in Busan, said he was studying for an exam in his dormitory lounge when an alert appeared on his phone. “At first, I thought it must be fake,” he said, adding that he could not believe that something he had only ever read about in history textbooks was happening in real time. A consultant in her 30s said she considered the declaration “unimaginable in this era,” arguing that a leader’s political frustrations could not justify a decision that had such a profound impact on financial markets and people’s lives. A woman in her 60s said her first thought was simply, “Why martial law?” She could not fathom what could possibly justify it. Others reco

Dec 3, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji, Lee Hae-rin and Anna J. Park

A year after martial law scare, Koreans recall shock, call for safeguards

Travel & Food

'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

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

Luxurious yet practical? ‘Dualism’ to shape Korea’s tourism in 2026

Koreans’ love-hate relationship with ‘first snow’: Romance, wishes, military hardships

Korea bans neglectful parents from receiving child’s survivor pensions under revised law

Outdoor boom: Seoul Hiking Week sees sevenfold jump in foreign visitors

A year after martial law scare, Koreans recall shock, call for safeguards

'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

Top 5 stories