The Korea Times

Experts call for preemptive, systematic responses to ‘killer heat’

A Vietnamese construction worker, just 23 years old and on his first day at a site in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, was found dead while working in scorching heat earlier this month. His body temperature had soared above 40 degrees Celsius ― a clear sign of fatal heat stroke ― by the time other workers found him. The tragedy serves as a stark warning about the dangers of extreme heat. On July 8, the day after the death, Seoul recorded a daytime high of 37.8 degrees Celsius ― the highest early July temperature since data collection began in 1907. Temperature in Gumi also went up to as high as 37.2 degrees the same day. The incident was also a sobering reminder that certain groups ― such as outdoor workers ― are especially vulnerable to the dangers of extreme heat. As climate experts warn that the intensity and frequency of heat waves are only expected to grow more severe in the future, activists are calling for stronger legal protections and targeted policies for those most at risk. “Many migrant workers are unable to quickly understand heat wave alerts because they are se

Jul 27, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Experts call for preemptive, systematic responses to ‘killer heat’

Society

Release of Jeju Air crash report delayed amid families’ rejection of findings

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) is facing intense criticism from the families of victims, after releasing interim findings on the Jeju Air passenger plane crash attributing the Dec. 29 tragedy primarily to pilot error. Before a planned press briefing on Saturday, the bereaved families were informed of the preliminary assessment but protested strongly, arguing that the interim report regarding the crash that killed 179 people blamed the pilot prematurely. As a result of their outcry, the press conference was canceled and the release of the report was postponed. According to ARAIB and victim families on Monday, the preliminary report suggested that after a severe bird strike critically damaged the right engine, the pilot might have mistakenly shut down the still-functioning left engine while following emergency procedures. That decision led to stopping the integrated drive generator (IDG), a critical component that generates and supplies electrical power to all of the plane’s systems. The failure of the IDG meant that some vital equipment ― including the

Jul 21, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Release of Jeju Air crash report delayed amid families’ rejection of findings

Global Community

Only 8% of Koreans would accept immigrants as family: study

While a growing proportion of Koreans say they would accept immigrants as members of society, few are willing to welcome them into their own families, according to a new report. The report, released earlier this month by state-run think tank Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, shows that less than 8.4 percent of respondents said they would accept an immigrant as a spouse or family member. In response to the question, “To what extent are you willing to accept immigrants?,” 38.7 percent of 3,011 respondents said they would accept immigrants as neighbors, followed by as colleagues (30.51 percent), close friends (18.35 percent), family members (8.37 percent) and not at all (4.07 percent). This underscores a notable reluctance to embrace immigrants beyond public or professional spheres, with openness dramatically decreasing for closer relationships. Younger Koreans (ages 19-34) demonstrated a greater willingness to befriend immigrants, with 30.2 percent open to close friendships ― exceeding the national average. However, only 8.6 percent said they would accept immigrants as f

Jul 19, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Only 8% of Koreans would accept immigrants as family: study

Law & Crime

Unification Church raided as investigators target ex-first lady

The special counsel team investigating allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee raided premises belonging to the Unification Church on Friday, intensifying a probe into claims that she received luxury gifts from a church official in exchange for business favors. Investigators executed search warrants at the group’s headquarters in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, its main Seoul office and the residence of a former senior church official surnamed Yun. He is accused of giving a Chanel handbag and jewelry to an associate of the former first lady between April and August 2022, during the presidency of her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol. The investigation also points to the associate, Jeon Seong-bae ― also known as Geon Jin, a shaman close to Kim ― who is suspected of acting as an intermediary in the delivery of the gifts. In exchange, the Unification Church is alleged to have sought government support for its business ventures, including backing for a Mekong River development project in Cambodia, the acquisition of cable news channel YTN and invitations to high-profile state events such

Jul 18, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Unification Church raided as investigators target ex-first lady

People & Events

Lawmakers form committee to combat online hate, misinformation

A National Assembly committee has been established to address online hate speech, fake news and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven misinformation, while promoting a culture of constructive and respectful communication. A total of 22 lawmakers — including co-chairpersons Lee Hack-young, Lee Hun-seung, Min Hong-chul, Jin Sun-mee, Yun Jae-ok and Lee In-seon — along with Sunfull Foundation Chairman Min Byoung-chul, marked the committee’s launch at a ceremony in Seoul Wednesday. Under its new mandate, the Sunfull Committee will operate through three key subcommittees: the AI Digital Response Committee, the Global Peace Committee and the Local Government Committee. Their mission includes tackling the dangers of malicious online comments, AI-generated disinformation and algorithmic bias — all growing concerns in the digital age — while also promoting peace in Korea and beyond. “In this era of digital transformation, the National Assembly will take the lead in fostering exemplary language culture and politics of coexistence,” Rep. Lee Hack-young said. “The 22nd Sunfull Committe

Jul 17, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Lawmakers form committee to combat online hate, misinformation

Politics

Seoul mayor vows AI-driven transformation in governance

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced his strong commitment to using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the efficiency of administrative services and the quality of life for residents. At a press conference marking the third anniversary of his term on Wednesday, Oh declared this year to be a turning point in the city government’s “AI administrative revolution,” saying he will help make the new technology more accessible and useful to all Seoulites. “AI is reshaping every aspect of our lives, and this year will be recorded as the beginning of an AI-driven transformation in governance,” the mayor said at Seoul City Hall. While the central government focuses on AI development and broad policy strategy, Oh emphasized that local governments, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, must adopt a more citizen-centered approach. “For cities, the key mission is not just to adopt AI but to help citizens leverage it to improve their daily lives,” Oh said. “To achieve that, we will continue expanding programs like the Youth Employment Academy and the RISE (Regional Innovation Sys

Jul 16, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Seoul mayor vows AI-driven transformation in governance

Environment & Animals

Growing movement in Korea challenges tradition of bullfighting

A campaign to end traditional bullfighting in Korea is gaining momentum, driven by growing public concern and pressure from animal rights activists, as several municipalities move to withdraw funding for such events in response to evolving societal values. As of Tuesday, an online petition submitted to the National Assembly calling for a total ban on bullfighting had garnered more than 45,000 signatures — just 5,000 short of the threshold required for formal parliamentary review. “Cattle used in bullfighting suffer injuries and stress from training and collisions. Some suffer broken horns or internal injuries during fights and are left abandoned after the games,” the petitioner wrote. “Bulls were not born to fight. There is no reason they should be forced to ram into each other for human entertainment.” While the Animal Protection Act prohibits injuring animals for gambling or entertainment, bullfighting remains exempt, as the law does not apply to activities designated as “folk games.” In recent years, however, animal rights activists have increasingly challenged the ratio

Jul 16, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Growing movement in Korea challenges tradition of bullfighting

Politics

EXPLAINER Strike threat by major union spotlights demands over how to define workers, employers

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the country’s two largest labor groups with over a million members, is threatening a nationwide general strike Wednesday in an effort to pressure lawmakers to revise a key labor law at the heart of its demands. At a press conference earlier this month, KCTU representatives said their top demand is the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, calling the changes essential to achieving what it described as “labor justice.” Currently, an employer is legally defined as “a business owner, a person responsible for the management of a business or a person who acts on behalf of a business owner with regard to matters concerning workers in the business.” The KCTU seeks to expand the definition. A bill, proposed last month by 43 liberal legislators, mostly of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, would include not only employers who hire workers directly but also entities with “de facto control” over working conditions ― such as parent companies in subcontracting arrangements. The bil

Jul 15, 2025By Jung Min-ho

[EXPLAINER] Strike threat by major union spotlights demands over how to define workers, employers

Travel & Food

Apocalyptic manga fails to deter Koreans from traveling to Japan

Sensational speculation about an impending disaster in Japan sparked by a 1999 comic book has had only a limited impact on Korean travel demand this year, according to travel industry officials. Representatives from Korea’s two largest travel agencies, Hana Tour and Mode Tour, told The Korea Times that the number of prebooked customers for July ― rumored to be the month of a doomsday-like natural disaster ― was only slightly lower compared to the same period in 2024. “So far, the number of bookings was just slightly lower for July, with no noticeable change in the number of cancellations,” a Hana Tour official told The Korea Times. An official at Mode Tour said demand for travel to Japan has remained steady among vacationers, despite the doomsday prediction linked to the manga “The Future I Saw: Complete Edition” by Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki. The author became famous after a previous version of the same manga predicted a “great disaster” in March 2011 ― the same month Japan suffered the 9.0-magnitude Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. “The number of bookings decreased

Jul 14, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Apocalyptic manga fails to deter Koreans from traveling to Japan

Health

Medical students' return plan opens door to ending 17-month standoff

Thousands of medical students are planning to return to studies after 17 months of boycotting classes in protest of the government-led medical school quota hike, signaling an end to a prolonged standoff that strained the country’s health care system. Their return, however, is unlikely to be immediate, as their schools and the government need to decide whether to allow them to return without any disciplinary measures for the long-term absence. Moreover, full recovery of medical service disruptions will be possible only when junior doctors, who also left hospitals in protest, also return to work. The Korean Medical Student Association announced the decision to return on Saturday, blaming the prolonged standoff on the previous administration and expressing trust in President Lee Jae Myung, with whom they hope to open negotiations. However, the group offered no details on how or when students would return, casting doubt on whether a full resumption is imminent. “Korea’s medical system is in an unprecedented crisis. This devastating outcome was caused by the unilateral actions and polic

Jul 13, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

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