The Korea Times

Lee Geun-an, infamous torture interrogator, dies at 88

Lee Geun-an, a former police investigator who became a symbol of state violence under Korea's military dictatorship and was known as the regime's "master torturer," died Wednesday. He was 88. Lee joined the police force in 1970 and later served as a counter-espionage investigator. During the 1980s, he extracted false confessions from suspects through electric shock and water torture while investigating cases involving alleged communist sympathizers. Among his victims was the late Kim Geun-tae, a former health and welfare minister who suffered lasting health complications. His name and face became publicly known only in 1988 through media reports, prompting him to submit his resignation by mail and vanish. After 11 years as a fugitive, he turned himself in in 1999 and was tried on charges of illegally detaining and torturing fishermen abducted to North Korea and sentenced to seven years in prison. Released in 2006, he briefly served as a Protestant pastor before being removed from the ministry in 2012, the same year he drew public outrage at a memoir launch saying, “At the time, I thou

Mar 27, 2026By Park Ung

Lee Geun-an, infamous torture interrogator, dies at 88

Society

AMCHAM questions Incheon bridge toll exemption policy that excludes foreign residents

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) raised concerns Thursday over the toll exemption policy of the newly opened Cheongna Sky Bridge in Incheon, which excludes foreign residents. In a statement, the chamber warned that unfair and inconsistent policy measures across several similar cases may weigh on Incheon's ability to maintain a competitive business environment and attract foreign residents. The controversy, first reported by The Korea Times last December, has prompted questions about the use of nationality — rather than residency or economic contribution — to determine access to public benefits in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), one of Korea's most globally engaged business hubs. Opened in January, the 4.68-kilometer bridge links Incheon International Airport, Korea's main international gateway, with Cheongna International City, a major business hub. Vehicles registered to residents of Yeongjong Island, Cheongna and the islands of Bukdo Township qualify for unlimited toll exemptions, and starting next month, the policy will be expanded to all Incheon resident

Mar 26, 2026By Park Ung

AMCHAM questions Incheon bridge toll exemption policy that excludes foreign residents

Society

1 in 5 babies born in Seoul conceived through fertility support

After three years of failed attempts and an infertility diagnosis, a couple in their 40s from western Seoul's Gangseo District faced mounting medical bills and emotional strain. With city subsidies easing the burden, they pushed through 19 rounds of in vitro fertilization over nearly four years and finally brought home a baby boy last December. Their story illustrates the growing reach of Seoul's fertility support program, which contributed to around 20 percent of the 46,401 babies born in the city last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that 9,234 babies were born through fertility support in 2025, a 31.8 percent increase from the year before. The city funded 66,906 fertility procedures — up 24 percent from 2024 — for 26,283 individuals. Recipients in their 30s accounted for the largest share at 63.5 percent, followed by those 40 and older at 35 percent. While central government guidelines cap subsidized procedures by type, Seoul's program does not. Under Ministry of Health and Welfare rules, couples may receive up to 25 procedures per birth, with no more than 2

Mar 25, 2026By Park Ung

1 in 5 babies born in Seoul conceived through fertility support

People & Events

Im Jae-chul, critic who championed art cinema in Korea, dies at 65

Im Jae-chul, a film critic who championed filmmakers little known to the Korean public, died Sunday. He was 65. Born in South Jeolla Province in 1961, Im graduated from Seoul National University and joined JoongAng Ilbo, where he mostly wrote about movies from 1988 to 1996. After leaving the paper, he earned a master's degree in film theory from the City University of New York. Back in Korea, he chaired the steering committee of the Seoul Cinematheque, an organization dedicated to screening films, and served as chief programmer of the Gwangju International Film Festival (GIFF), where he introduced films with little exposure in Korea, along with their directors and film theories, to local audiences. In a 2002 interview from his time leading the GIFF's programming, Im said, “In this age of visual media, there is meaning in looking back at the genre films that were once popular in theaters.” Im also founded the film journal "Film Culture" and runs Film Forum, an art house cinema in western Seoul's Seodaemun District that offers film enthusiasts a deeper understanding of the genre. He int

Mar 25, 2026By Park Ung

Im Jae-chul, critic who championed art cinema in Korea, dies at 65

Society

Koreans may lose free access to World Cup 2026 as broadcast talks deadlock

With roughly 80 days until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off across Canada, Mexico and the United States, talks between cable channel JTBC and Korea's three major terrestrial broadcasters remain deadlocked, raising fears that millions of Koreans could be shut out of free-to-air coverage, as they were during the recent 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. In a statement Monday, the sole domestic rights holder JTBC made a final proposal to split the remaining broadcast fees — after deducting digital resale revenue — with JTBC absorbing 50 percent and KBS, MBC and SBS each covering roughly 16.7 percent. The company also urged the three broadcasters to finalize resale negotiations by month's end, citing logistical deadlines such as commentary booth installation at host venues. In 2024, JTBC secured exclusive rights to broadcast the 2026 and 2030 men's World Cups and the 2027 Women's World Cup in Korea — paying $125 million for the 2026 tournament alone — then sought to resell them to terrestrial broadcasters. The three networks, however, contend that JTBC broke with industry practic

Mar 25, 2026By Park Ung

Koreans may lose free access to World Cup 2026 as broadcast talks deadlock

Society

Over half of migrant youth pushed into low-wage jobs, study finds

More than half of young adults from migrant families in Korea entered low-barrier occupations immediately after high school, a government-affiliated research institute found, with nationality-based eligibility rules in key support programs identified as a major structural driver limiting access. A study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs analyzed 2022 data from 422 respondents aged 19 to 24 and found that 37.2 percent went into service jobs upon graduating, while 19.7 percent entered sales. These findings reflect broader challenges facing young people from migrant backgrounds who already grapple with language barriers, identity struggles and information gaps, with nationality-based support policies often placing them at a structural disadvantage. The report attributed these outcomes to systemic flaws in the support system, noting that eligibility for the Korea Student Aid Foundation's National Scholarship is tied to Korean citizenship, shutting out those without Korean nationality, including the children of migrants. Vocational training and continuing education, by cont

Mar 23, 2026By Park Ung

Over half of migrant youth pushed into low-wage jobs, study finds

Society

With rise of Korean wave, being Korean means something different than it did decade ago

Watching Saturday's BTS concert in Seoul — and speaking with the group's fandom, ARMY, who converged in the historic Gwanghwamun Square from across the globe — unexpectedly took me back to a decade ago, when being Korean abroad meant something different than it does today. Between 2014 and 2015, I worked in Australia for a year to save money for travel. I spent another year traveling through 24 countries, mainly in Latin America. Back then, few could have imagined people from around the world would fly to Seoul to see a Korean artist. Having crossed continents where the Korean wave was already a phenomenon and some where it was virtually unknown, I came to understand how a country’s cultural standing shapes what it means to be from there. The Korean wave, or “hallyu,” had yet to make its mark in Australia at the time. Being Korean was hardly an advantage there. I still remember washing dishes when a coworker asked if my country ate dogs and if I had ever tried one. (Of course, I also remember all the Aussies who welcomed me, Brisbane's blue skies and the outback sunsets of the

Mar 22, 2026By Park Ung

With rise of Korean wave, being Korean means something different than it did decade ago

Society

Seoul sends 1st-ever English public safety alert ahead of BTS concert

The Seoul local government on Friday sent out a public safety alert in English for the first time as part of safety measures ahead of BTS' comeback concert this Saturday, which is expected to draw up to 260,000 people. The Seoul Metropolitan Government sent an English-language alert on traffic controls ahead of BTS' show at Gwanghwamun Square which read: "Mar 20 9PM~22 6AM Sejongdaero closed; Mar 21 4~11PM Sajikro, 7~11PM Saemunanro closed [SEOUL]," accompanied by a Korean version of the message. “If foreign attendees only receive alerts in Korean, that could pose a real safety risk in an emergency,” an official from Seoul's disaster and safety office told The Korea Times. “We wanted to ensure they receive the same information as locals at the same time.” The official added that the alert reached all phones in Seoul regardless of roaming status, though those moving outside the coverage area at the time of sending may have missed it. English alerts will continue Saturday, targeted at those in and around the Gwanghwamun area, with prepared scenario-based messages covering crowd di

Mar 20, 2026By Park Ung

Seoul sends 1st-ever English public safety alert ahead of BTS concert

Society

Korea's rights body urges safer undocumented migrant crackdowns after Daegu death

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea urged authorities to take stronger safety measures when planning crackdowns on undocumented migrants, citing concerns over possible clashes during enforcement operations. The commission said Friday it recommended to Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho in January that enforcement plans include measures to block access to areas prone to falls or other accidents. It also called for immigration officer ID cards — currently worn on lanyards, which can be grabbed or snagged — to be redesigned in a form and material that better protects the physical safety of both officers and foreign nationals subject to enforcement. Authorities have faced repeated criticism over heavy-handed enforcement tactics. Last October, Tu Anh, a 25-year-old Vietnamese, was found dead after falling from a building while hiding from immigration officers during a crackdown at an industrial complex in Daegu. In a separate case in 2024, an unidentified complainant alleged that immigration officers raided a restaurant without presenting documents or identifying themselves to the o

Mar 20, 2026By Park Ung

Korea's rights body urges safer undocumented migrant crackdowns after Daegu death

Society

Stage, security, anticipation all falling into place ahead of BTS concert

Jane, a 67-year-old American, flew to Seoul specifically for K-pop juggernaut BTS' concert this Saturday. As a longtime BTS fan, she attended Jin’s solo concerts in Tampa and London, and J-Hope’s in San Antonio — but has never seen all seven of them together on one stage. When BTS announced its return as a full group for the first time in nearly four years with a comeback concert set for central Seoul's iconic Gwanghwamun Square, she booked a flight. “This is my first BTS group concert,” she told The Korea Times at the square, Thursday, two days before the show. “BTS is paving the way. This is amazing what they’re doing with the hallyu (Korean wave) — they've really taken it to the next level,” she added. The venue reflected the scale of what was coming — stage nearly complete, steel barriers extending well beyond the square into surrounding streets, crew members speaking a mix of languages rushing around with quiet urgency. Gwanghwamun Square, a space more often used for protests and public rallies, was now operating under unprecedented restrictions, with up to 260,0

Mar 19, 2026By Park Ung

Park Ung

Read more

Lee Geun-an, infamous torture interrogator, dies at 88

AMCHAM questions Incheon bridge toll exemption policy that excludes foreign residents

1 in 5 babies born in Seoul conceived through fertility support

Im Jae-chul, critic who championed art cinema in Korea, dies at 65

Koreans may lose free access to World Cup 2026 as broadcast talks deadlock

Over half of migrant youth pushed into low-wage jobs, study finds

With rise of Korean wave, being Korean means something different than it did decade ago

Seoul sends 1st-ever English public safety alert ahead of BTS concert

Korea's rights body urges safer undocumented migrant crackdowns after Daegu death

Stage, security, anticipation all falling into place ahead of BTS concert

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