The Korea Times

Fans push for Liberation Day pardon to end Steve Yoo’s 23-year exile over draft evasion

Fans of Steve Yoo, the Korean American pop icon who has lived outside Korea for more than two decades over his evasion of mandatory military service, are urging President Lee Jae Myung to grant a presidential pardon ahead of Korea’s Aug. 15 Liberation Day — a date long associated with high-profile acts of clemency and national reconciliation. Known in Korea as Yoo Seung-jun, he was one of the country’s biggest pop stars in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He debuted in April 1997 and quickly rose to fame with a string of chart-topping hits, dynamic performances and wholesome image. However, his career collapsed in 2002, shortly before his scheduled enlistment, when he left for a concert tour and acquired U.S. citizenship. The move exempted him from mandatory military service, sparking public outrage in a country where conscription is a civic duty for men. The Ministry of Justice swiftly barred him from reentering the country, citing draft evasion. He has been banned from entry ever since, except for a brief return in 2003 to attend his father-in-law’s funeral. Despite two Supreme

Aug 10, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Fans push for Liberation Day pardon to end Steve Yoo’s 23-year exile over draft evasion

Society

Fewer than 10 babies born in 38% of cities, counties in Korea last year

More than 1 in 3 cities and counties in Korea saw fewer than 10 childbirths last year, statistics showed Sunday, highlighting deepening regional disparities in births. The rate is mainly driven by a smaller number of births than before amid population decline, along with the fact that some regions, especially in rural areas, do not have obstetric facilities at all, forcing expectant mothers to give birth in neighboring regions. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the country saw 237,484 births in small to large hospitals and midwifery centers last year. Out of 251 cities, counties and districts, 97 — or 38.6 percent — recorded fewer than 10 births. These so-called "childbirth deserts" span both sparsely populated counties and some small cities. They included Gwacheon, Dongducheon, Uiwang, Anseong and Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province. There are also Taebaek in Gangwon Province; Gyerong in South Chungcheong Province; Gimje in North Jeolla Province; Naju in South Jeolla Province; and Mungyeong and Gyeongsan in North Gyeongsang Province. The ratio of such regions w

Aug 10, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Fewer than 10 babies born in 38% of cities, counties in Korea last year

Society

Abortion reemerges as hot-button issue as ruling party eyes dormant bill

Debate over the legalization of the abortion pill has come under renewed scrutiny in Korea, as lawmakers move to address the legal gray zone surrounding women's health that has persisted since the country’s Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban six years ago. On Wednesday, the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee convened a major forum on the issue. Participants included lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, with Rep. Nam In-soon, who recently proposed bills aimed at removing restrictions on both surgical and medical abortions and extending national health insurance coverage to these procedures. “Women face significant difficulties in the absence of clear and official information and safe access to medication, despite abortion's decriminalization in 2019,” Nam said. She emphasized that the intent behind the proposed amendments is to ensure women’s safety and remove legal obstacles to proper medical care. Rep. Park Ju-min, chair of the committee, added, “In the absence of clear legal protections, women are often compelled to make unsafe

Aug 8, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Abortion reemerges as hot-button issue as ruling party eyes dormant bill

People & Events

Jin and Hattie’s leap to fame as Korea’s top international couple

When Harriet Emily Heo, better known as Hattie, found herself lost in the heart of Seoul one summer day in August 2019, she had no idea her life was about to change forever. Freshly arrived from the U.K. as an English teacher, Hattie waited for a new Korean friend, Heo Jin-woo, or Jin, inside a convenience store, unaware that she was standing on the very street where Jin’s parents had first met decades earlier. That serendipitous meeting marked the start of a remarkable journey. Together, they would soon become Korea’s most-followed international couple on YouTube. Five years after their fateful meeting, Hattie, 29, and her husband Jin have become prominent symbols of a multicultural Korea, amassing a YouTube following of 9.8 million subscribers. “Honestly, we never knew it would get this big,” Hattie said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “I thought I would stay in Korea for a year, then go to acting school back home. We made our first video for fun. We just wanted to make each other smile, and maybe a few others too. I never imagined this would become our life.

Aug 7, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Jin and Hattie’s leap to fame as Korea’s top international couple

Law & Crime

Middle schooler arrested after Shinsegae Department Store bomb threat

A middle school student was arrested on Jeju Island Wednesday, one day after an online bomb threat prompted the evacuation of some 4,000 people from a major department store in central Seoul, police said. According to Jeju police, the suspect — identified only as a boy in his teens — was apprehended at his home in Jeju City around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities tracked him down by tracing his internet protocol address after the threatening post appeared on the online forum dcinside around noon. The message, titled “Shinsegae Department Store Bombing Notice,” claimed that explosives had been planted on the building’s first floor and warned of a detonation at 3 p.m., urging the public to avoid the store that day. Police received a report about the post about an hour later at 1:43 p.m. and by 2:25 p.m., police officers and special forces had evacuated approximately 3,000 shoppers and 1,000 employees, sealing off both the main and annex buildings. Over 240 police personnel and emergency responders were deployed, and a search continued for around an hour until 3:59 p.m. No explosives w

Aug 6, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Middle schooler arrested after Shinsegae Department Store bomb threat

Society

Bomb threat sparks alarm at Shinsegae Department Store

Police and firefighters search the main branch of Shinsegae Department Store in central Seoul, Tuesday, after some 4,000 shoppers and employees evacuated the building following an online bomb threat. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Aug 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Bomb threat sparks alarm at Shinsegae Department Store

Travel & Food

Korea Beauty Festival draws record 145,000 international visitors

The Korea Beauty Festival attracted a record 145,000 visitors from 151 countries during its month of events, according to the Visit Korea Committee (VKC) Tuesday. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the VKC and the Korea Tourism Organization, the monthlong event concluded on July 18, reflecting growing international interest in Korean hair care and makeup, fashion, health and wellness. This year’s turnout marks a 30 percent increase in attendance compared to last year, underscoring Korea’s growing status as a worldwide beauty and lifestyle leader. A total of 527 companies took part — 128 more than 2024 — signaling broad industry engagement across beauty, travel and shopping sectors, the committee said. The festival launched on June 19 with an opening ceremony at Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s K-Beauty Town and rolled out a series of immersive events at key Seoul destinations, including Myeong-dong, Hongdae, Seongsu, Dongdaemun, Cheonggye Stream and Gangnam. Attractions ranged from one-on-one business consultations and hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) experi

Aug 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea Beauty Festival draws record 145,000 international visitors

Law & Crime

Ex-president’s defiance underscores weaknesses in legal process

A high-profile standoff is exposing legal ambiguities in Korea’s legal system as authorities struggle — and fail — to retrieve jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from his prison cell for questioning, despite a valid court-issued arrest warrant and mounting pressure from special prosecutors. The unusual standoff has sparked debate over what some legal experts describe as a significant loophole in Korea’s detention laws. Yoon, currently incarcerated at the Seoul Detention Center on multiple allegations related to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, has repeatedly refused to comply with summonses from a special prosecutor team. Last Friday, a team led by prosecutor Min Joong-ki attempted to execute the warrant but was turned away after Yoon, reportedly clad only in underwear, lay on the floor of his cell and refused to cooperate for nearly two hours. Prosecutors returned at 20- to 30-minute intervals to repeat their request but ultimately abandoned the effort, citing safety concerns and legal limits on the use of force. Yoon’s defense maintains the incident was not

Aug 4, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Ex-president’s defiance underscores weaknesses in legal process

Travel & Food

Incheon airport launches real-time departure hall wait time service

Incheon International Airport, Korea’s largest and busiest air hub, has unveiled a new real-time service that provides departing passengers with estimated processing times for each departure hall, the airport operator announced Friday. The newly introduced feature gives travelers to-the-minute predictions on how long the entire departure process will take — from entering the terminal’s departure hall, to getting through security screening and finishing with immigration inspection. The data is continuously updated using big data sensors installed throughout the airport, which track the actual flow of passengers through the terminal. Passengers can now compare estimated waiting times for each departure area before entering based on the LED electronic boards displaying real-time information above the departure entrances. This allows travelers to choose a less crowded hall, potentially reducing waiting and processing times. Additionally, the airport has upgraded its existing flight information display system (FIDS) to further assist passengers after they clear immigration. The monitors

Aug 1, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Incheon airport launches real-time departure hall wait time service

Society

Cheong Wa Dae closed to public for maintenance ahead of Lee’s return to historic presidential office

Cheong Wa Dae, Korea’s historic presidential compound commonly known as the Blue House, officially closed its doors to the public on Friday, as preparations begin for President Lee Jae Myung’s planned return to the site later this year. The Cheong Wa Dae Foundation, responsible for public operations of the compound under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced that all tours and public entry have been fully suspended starting Friday to allow for comprehensive security and safety inspections, as well as facility maintenance. The closure follows more than three years of public access, which saw the landmark transformed from the nation’s seat of power into a Seoul tourist destination. Cheong Wa Dae first opened to the public in May 2022 under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, drawing 8.52 million visitors in the period since. At the time, Yoon’s transition committee had ambitious expectations for visitor numbers and economic impact, estimating that the opening of Cheong Wa Dae would generate an economic ripple effect of approximately 200 billion won ($142.9 million) ann

Aug 1, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

Fans push for Liberation Day pardon to end Steve Yoo’s 23-year exile over draft evasion

Fewer than 10 babies born in 38% of cities, counties in Korea last year

Abortion reemerges as hot-button issue as ruling party eyes dormant bill

Jin and Hattie’s leap to fame as Korea’s top international couple

Middle schooler arrested after Shinsegae Department Store bomb threat

Bomb threat sparks alarm at Shinsegae Department Store

Korea Beauty Festival draws record 145,000 international visitors

Ex-president’s defiance underscores weaknesses in legal process

Incheon airport launches real-time departure hall wait time service

Cheong Wa Dae closed to public for maintenance ahead of Lee’s return to historic presidential office

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