The Korea Times

Upcoming conference to spotlight Homer Hulbert’s legacy

An academic conference in Seoul next week will shine new light on the legacy of Homer Hulbert (1863–1949), the American educator who devoted himself to Korea’s independence movement. The Hulbert Memorial Society and the Seoul YMCA said Friday they will co-host the “140th Anniversary Academic Conference Commemorating Dr. Hulbert’s Arrival in Korea” next Tuesday in Seoul. Under the theme “Hulbert’s Study of the Korean People and the Impact of His Independence Activities on Later Generations,” scholars and activists will examine how the missionary and educator’s work on Korean history and culture and his advocacy on the international stage shaped the modern Korean identity and inspired future independence figures. Kim Dong-jin, chairman of the Hulbert Memorial Society, will deliver the keynote address, outlining Hulbert’s major contributions as a teacher, historian and advocate for Korea. Subsequent presentations will be given by Bok Ki-dae, a professor at Inha University, linguist Choi Yong-gi, and Yonsei University's Professor Emeritus Seol Seong-gyeong. Seol is set to

Jul 3, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Upcoming conference to spotlight Homer Hulbert’s legacy

Others

Pope Leo willing to visit N. Korea for peace on Korean Peninsula, Cardinal You says

Cardinal You Heung-sik said Friday that Pope Leo is willing to visit North Korea in an attempt to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, yet whether the papal visit to the North can happen will "depend entirely on what stances it chooses to take." Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, where he spends his summer vacation, the Vatican Dicastery for Clergy prefect said Leo “has the will to be ready for anything for the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula.” The cardinal's comments came about two weeks after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited Vatican City, where he requested the pope visit North Korea. Lee was among a small number of South Korean presidents who have asked for a papal visit to Pyongyang. No such visit has yet happened. “(Since the pope's inauguration) whenever I had the chance, I shared this hope with him,” You added. “The pope replied that he too hoped it would turn out that way — if there is anything he can do for peace on the Korean Peninsula, he is ready to do it.” You said the pope now “waits for that day to come quickly,” and that the papal

Jul 3, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Pope Leo willing to visit N. Korea for peace on Korean Peninsula, Cardinal You says

Trends

Blooming trumpet vines become symbol of Korean summer

Neungsohwa, or trumpet vine, is emerging as a summer icon for young Koreans, who increasingly treat its blooming season as an experience to savor. Part of the trumpet creeper family, the plant produces clusters of large flowers in vivid shades of yellow and orange. It sends long, flexible stems up walls, fences and tree trunks, reaching heights of up to 10 meters. It typically blooms from July to September, peaking around August. Its blooms spill over theatrically, highlighting even small spaces and creating a sense of drama. The plant is hardy, tolerating heat, rain and wind, and has long been cultivated at homes and gardens around Korea. The flower’s recent popularity roots in its name and symbolism. The name of the flower can be translated as "insulting the sky." Essays have gone viral on social media playing with the idea of “laughing at” or “defying” the harsh summer sky, along with the season's monsoon rains, typhoons and oppressive heat. Old stories describe the flower as a sign of dignity and integrity even in decline, as its blossoms drop intact rather than scattering

Jun 30, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Blooming trumpet vines become symbol of Korean summer

Sports

Korea's World Cup elimination intensifies scrutiny of tactics, criticism of KFA

Korea’s failure to reach the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has unleashed a wave of fury back home. Fans and experts say the result was not a sudden collapse but the inevitable outcome of years of mismanagement, elitism and controversy surrounding the Korea Football Association (KFA). The team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, finished third in Group A on Wednesday (local time) despite what many saw as the “easiest” World Cup draw in the country’s modern football history. The team then slipped to ninth among all group runners-up, missing out on the expanded knockout stage, which allowed the top eight third-placed teams to go through. The final blow came Saturday (local time) when the Democratic Republic of Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in their last Group K match, a result that mathematically confirmed Korea’s elimination. The manner of exit has sharpened criticism of Hong’s tactical approach and the KFA’s governance. “Maybe we’ve been expecting this for years,” former national team captain and commentator Park Ji-sung said in JTBC’s broadcast after the game.

Jun 28, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Korea's World Cup elimination intensifies scrutiny of tactics, criticism of KFA

Films

From bar owner to village chief: director Lee Yu-jin’s ‘Manok’ puts middle-aged lesbian in charge

A middle-aged queer woman rarely leads Korean films, let alone cheerful political comedies set in a sleepy village. With “Manok” (2025), director Lee Yu-jin wanted to start right there — with what she calls an “imperfect hero” charging toward a “too much” happy ending. Middle-aged queer hero Lee began with a simple desire: make a queer comedy with a happy ending. Out of that goal, the idea of self-admitted “kkondae lesbian,” Manok, took shape. “Stories about young queer characters often revolve around first love or identity crisis,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday. “I was more interested in someone who has already lived as a queer person and now has to deal with everything else life throws at her.” Equally important was avoiding the “model minority” trap that queer characters often fall into. “I didn’t want her to be a good, exemplary person,” Lee said, mentioning that she has watched how real-life queer figures who come out publicly are often held to an unusually high moral standard. “Why do you have to be perfect just to exi

Jun 25, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

From bar owner to village chief: director Lee Yu-jin’s ‘Manok’ puts middle-aged lesbian in charge

Travel & Food

Korean swimming culture explained: Guide to local pools and etiquette

Swimming in Korea is not just about finding a pool and diving in. For many locals and long-term residents, it means crash course in bureaucracy, unspoken rules and shared shower culture. As Seoul slips into summer, as the city begins to feel hotter and more crowded by the day, there's no better time to learn about Korea's rules for the pool. This guide brings together the experiences of Korean and foreign swimmers in Korea to help you navigate like a local, from registration and etiquette to a few recommended places to dip your toes. Why swimming in Korea feels confusing Compared with many countries, swimming in Korea comes with a noticeably high entry barrier. Fees can be steep, free-swim hours are limited and registration systems are often designed with Korean-speaking, tech-saavy users in mind. “Even Koreans struggle to find information about pools, free-swim slots and lessons. There’s even less information in English, so I imagine it could be confusing for foreigners,” said Lee Da-eun, a Gyeonggi-based amateur swimmer who started after a new pool opened next to her home in Uiwa

Jun 25, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Korean swimming culture explained: Guide to local pools and etiquette

Society

Seoul moves to raise subway free-ride age to 70, include bus access

Public transportation passengers aged 65 and older can ride the subway for free, but that age may soon be raised to 70. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it will move forward with a public hearing on a proposed plan to raise the age threshold, while expanding transportation support for older residents. City officials said they received an official request from the Korean Seoul Senior Citizens Association earlier in the day to jointly host a public forum on senior transportation welfare policies. The city plans to accept the proposal and organize a hearing that allows broader citizen participation. Details on the schedule and venue will be announced on the city’s website. The plan comes as the city pushes to adjust the current free ride system, which grants unlimited free access to all residents aged 65 and older under the Welfare of Older Persons Act. Making the change was a key pledge by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in his recent reelection campaign earlier this month. The move follows a June 19 meeting between Oh and the association’s leadership, where both sides discussed ad

Jun 22, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul moves to raise subway free-ride age to 70, include bus access

Arts & Theater

French, Korean artists to reimagine sound at Sejong Center

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will open its contemporary “Sync Next 26” season with an ambitious Franco-Korean sonic theater project that blurs the boundaries between music, language and everyday sound. Titled “Wind Alone, Sand Alone — Make No Sound,” the world premiere brings together three artists from Korea and three from France who treat sound not as a finished product but as a living process shaped by encounters and relationships. The performance is part of celebrations in Korea and France for the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Haegeum performer Kim Ye-ji, geomungo player Sim Eun-yong and jeongga singer Cho Yoon-young, sound artist Remi Klemensiewicz, viola d’amore player Olivier Marin and vocalist Christian Ploix will share the Sejong S Theater stage from July 3 to 5, before touring France and the United Kingdom in October. Jeongga is a genre of Korean vocal music that developed in aristocratic and court circles that is characterized by slow tempos, subtle ornamentation and a close relationship with poetic texts. The haegeum is a traditional two-stringed

Jun 22, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

French, Korean artists to reimagine sound at Sejong Center

Sports

Fans' swelling cheer for national football team continue despite heat, defeat

Korea’s first heat wave of the season did little to cool the nation’s football fever Friday, as tens of thousands of fans in red shirts flooded central Seoul to cheer on the national team in its World Cup group match against Mexico — even as the team fell to defeat. By 11 a.m., midway through the lunchtime kickoff, an estimated 18,000 supporters had packed Gwanghwamun Square, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, transforming the stone plaza and surrounding streets into a sea of red. Fans in official jerseys and red T-shirts shielded themselves from the blistering sun with handheld fans, wide-brimmed hats, sun umbrellas and cooling patches, chanting “Dae-han-min-guk” under a relentless 32-degree Celsius sun. “I sneaked out from work just in time for the match,” said Kim Seung-hyun, an office worker from a nearby building, his company ID still hanging around his neck. “People say this World Cup isn’t getting much attention because of controversies surrounding coach Hong Myung-bo and the football association, but when you see this many people out here on a hot w

Jun 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Fans' swelling cheer for national football team continue despite heat, defeat

Music

Baritone Matthias Goerne, pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon bring Schubert's songs to Seoul

German Baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon will guide Seoul audiences through the stark emotional landscape of Schubert’s “Winterreise” on Sunday, bringing the wintry song cycle to life during the sweltering Korean summer. The concert is part of the Hansae Yes24 Foundation’s “Hansae Classic Lied” series, which aims to popularize the German art song repertoire by pairing leading international vocalists with top Korean pianists. This year’s edition reunites Schubert’s 24-song masterpiece with one of its most acclaimed interpreters and a homegrown star pianist who calls the composer “the most personal and human” in his music world. “For me, Schubert is maybe, next to Bach, the most important composer,” Goerne told reporters at a press conference in Seoul Thursday. “Without Shubert, I think I would say I never would have become a singer.” The baritone recalled discovering the composer’s music as a child and now estimates he has performed it at least 250 times for nearly four decades on every continent. Goerne described “Winterreise” as a “re

Jun 18, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

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