The Korea Times

Korean men drinking less, women 30 and up drinking more

High-risk drinking rates among Korean men declined overall across all age groups while those among women aged 30 and older rose, highlighting a growing divergence in the country's drinking habits. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released an analysis Monday, aiming to raise awareness of excessive drinking during the summer vacation season. The findings are based on the 2025 Community Health Survey, an annual survey of about 230,000 adults aged 19 and older that tracks health behavior and chronic disease prevalence. The KDCA defines high-risk drinking as consuming seven or more shots of soju or five or more cans of beer in a single sitting for men. For women, the threshold is five or more shots of soju or three or more cans of beer. Both apply to drinking at least twice a week over the past year. Monthly binge drinking refers to the same amounts consumed at least once a month, while monthly drinking refers to drinking at least once a month over the past year. In Korea, 57.1 percent of adults drank at least once a month, 33.7 percent binge drank and 12 percent engaged

Jul 27, 2026By Park Ung

Korean men drinking less, women 30 and up drinking more

Society

Police officers' decadeslong community ties fuel calls for wider rotation

About 17,000 police officers have worked at the same station for more than 10 years, amid a government push to expand its police rotation policy over concerns about local cronyism. According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 5,209 senior inspectors, 8,697 inspectors, 3,211 assistant inspectors and 13 senior patrol officers had worked at the same station for over 10 years as of this month. At the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, 8.4 percent of 31,302 officers at the rank of senior inspector or below had worked at the same station for over 10 years. The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency in North Jeolla Province posted 23.8 percent of 5,136 officers, and the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency in North Chungcheong Province posted 21.7 percent of 3,954 officers. Senior inspectors and inspectors, the two ranks that lead frontline operations, made up 18 percent and 24.2 percent of their ranks nationwide, giving officers local familiarity that aids community policing but could also breed collusion between officers and lo

Jul 27, 2026By Park Ung

Police officers' decadeslong community ties fuel calls for wider rotation

Society

Young Koreans' homeownership falls to record low, widening generational gap

Young people in Korea are falling further behind in wealth, as the homeownership rate and the resulting generational gap widen to a record high. According to the Korean Statistical Information Service on Sunday, the homeownership rate for those 39 and under fell to 27.7 percent last year, down 2.4 percentage points from 2024. The rate is the lowest since 2017, a 13 percentage point drop from the record high of 40.7 percent set in 2018 and 2019. By contrast, older age groups saw far smaller declines. The rate for those in their 50s slipped 0.6 percentage points to 63.5 percent, while the rate for those 60 and older dropped 0.4 percentage points to 68.5 percent. The result is the widest generational gap in homeownership since 2017. The gap between those in their 50s and those 39 and under grew to 35.8 percentage points, while the gap between those 60 and older and those 39 and under reached 40.8 percentage points. That divide extends to net assets. Households aged 39 and under held 219.5 million won ($150,000) last year, down 0.9 percent from a year earlier, while those in their 50s held 5

Jul 26, 2026By Park Ung

Young Koreans' homeownership falls to record low, widening generational gap

Society

Beyond mud festival: Boryeong plans to become Korea's next tourism hub

Rounded pebble beaches, hiking trails and sunsets over the West Sea — Boryeong Mayor Uhm Seung-young rattles off the city's coastal assets with the confidence of someone certain the rest of the world just hasn't caught on yet. “Anyone who has visited Boryeong's islands knows they offer scenery that rivals anywhere abroad," Uhm said in an interview with The Korea Times, pointing to beaches, trails and sunsets that characterize the area. That confidence underpins his belief that the city can draw more visitors who stay longer, building on the natural beauty of its coast and islands. Located in South Chungcheong Province, Boryeong has long put that coastal beauty to use through tourism. Its best-known showcase is the Boryeong Mud Festival, held every summer around Daecheon Beach. The festival drew 1.69 million visitors last year, including roughly 90,000 foreign visitors. This year's event, beginning Friday and running through Aug. 9, will feature a new mud massage zone with 20 facilities and a Mud Infinity Pool overlooking the sea, along with a Mud on the Beach segment featuring electr

Jul 24, 2026By Park Ung

Beyond mud festival: Boryeong plans to become Korea's next tourism hub

Society

Siamese crocodile caught in Yeoju stream, exposing exotic pet risks

A crocodile caught in a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, has been identified as a Siamese crocodile, reviving concerns over abandoned exotic pets threatening Korea's ecosystem. The city of Yeoju said Tuesday that an analysis by the National Institute of Biological Resources confirmed the animal as a Siamese crocodile. It is listed as a Class 1 internationally endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The crocodile, measuring 50 centimeters, was captured Saturday after the fire department received a report of what appeared to be a pet crocodile. It is now being temporarily housed at a privately run animal protection center under the city's care. Adult Siamese crocodiles typically grow 2 to 3 meters long and inhabit rivers and swamps across Southeast Asia. Poaching and habitat destruction have driven down their population, prompting international restrictions on commercial trade in the species. Yeoju initially planned to post a notice and search for the owner over a 10-day period, but is now reportedly weighing how to h

Jul 23, 2026By Park Ung

Siamese crocodile caught in Yeoju stream, exposing exotic pet risks

Society

Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

Shark sightings off Korea's east coast have nearly quadrupled this year as climate change pushes more of the predators into Korean waters, prompting coastal municipal authorities to step up beach safety measures. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), 46 large sharks were spotted off the east coast from January to June this year, compared with 12 in the same period last year. Shortfin mako sharks, rated “high” for the risk of attack in the agency's shark classification guide, were the most common, with 23 sightings. The surge in shark sightings tracks a broader warming trend in Korean waters. As temperatures climb, warm-water fish move further north along the east coast, and the large sharks that prey on them follow. The average sea surface temperature around the Korean Peninsula from January to June this year was 17.17 degrees Celsius, the highest level in 26 years. That marks an increase of 1.17 degrees from last year and 0.52 degrees from the previous record set in 2020, according to NIFS. Along the east coast, the average sea surface temperature from Apr

Jul 22, 2026By Park Ung

Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

Society

Novartis to invest $95 mil. in Korea cancer radiotherapy supply chain

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis is set to invest about 140 billion won ($95 million) to build a domestic radioligand therapy (RLT) ecosystem in Korea, covering research, production and treatment. Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong and Novartis Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa President Judith Love signed a memorandum of understanding on the plan in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. RLT is a treatment that uses a radioactive substance attached to a molecule designed to target proteins on cancer cells, damaging their DNA to kill them. “Novartis has invested in and cooperated with Korean pharmaceutical companies in areas including technology transfer and clinical research,” the ministry said in a statement. “This investment extends that cooperation into the advanced bio sector and is expected to strengthen research, development and manufacturing capabilities in Korea's radiopharmaceutical industry.” Under the agreement, Novartis will build a domestic RLT manufacturing facility with an advanced cold chain logistics network. The company also aims to expand hospitals

Jul 21, 2026By Park Ung

Novartis to invest $95 mil. in Korea cancer radiotherapy supply chain

Society

Foreign worker doxed by interpreter after fleeing armed threats, civic groups say

Dozens of civic groups joined together to file a complaint Monday with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea seeking an investigation into alleged retaliation against a seasonal worker who fled his workplace after being threatened by a Korean coworker. The case highlights broader problems in Korea's seasonal worker program, which was introduced to ease chronic farm and fishing labor shortages by bringing in foreign workers. The complaint centers on a Filipino worker who came to Korea in April to work at a fishing business in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. He fled the workplace last month after a Korean coworker repeatedly cursed at him and threatened him with a weapon. After he left, an interpreter who helped manage seasonal workers' entry and employment warned his family by text message that he could face deportation, a reentry ban and a fine if caught. The interpreter also cited his departure to pressure other seasonal workers and their sponsors into notarizing family guarantee contracts requiring a payment of 50 million won ($33,500) if they left their workplace without

Jul 20, 2026By Park Ung

Foreign worker doxed by interpreter after fleeing armed threats, civic groups say

Society

Heavy rain expected for greater Seoul, Gangwon this weekend

Up to 300 millimeters of rain will fall this weekend across the greater Seoul area and in central and southern Gangwon Province, with downpours forecast across the country into next week. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, extreme rainfall is forecast early Saturday morning due to atmospheric instability. Expected rainfall for Saturday through Sunday is 100 to 200 millimeters in the greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province, with more than 300 millimeters possible in inland and mountainous parts of central and southern Gangwon and the greater Seoul area. The Chungcheong provinces will see 80 to 150 millimeters, topping 250 millimeters in parts of Sejong, northern South Chungcheong Province and central and northern North Chungcheong Province. Central and northern North Gyeongsang Province will get 50 to 100 millimeters, with more than 150 millimeters possible in the north. Islands in the West Sea, North Jeolla Province, Daegu, southern North Gyeongsang Province, and Ulleung and Dokdo islands will see 30 to 80 millimeters, topping 100 millimeters in areas that see the most

Jul 17, 2026By Park Ung

Heavy rain expected for greater Seoul, Gangwon this weekend

Society

Korean students, parents face uncertainty over tightened US visa rules

Korean students preparing to study in the United States are now grappling with growing uncertainty after the Trump administration announced a new visa rule capping the duration of international students' stay to four years. On Thursday (local time), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a rule tightening the permitted length of stay for foreign students, journalists and participants in exchange programs. The DHS said the measure "restores integrity to the nation's immigration system, combats rampant visa abuse and strengthens national security through regular vetting." Under the new rule, nonimmigrant students on F visas and exchange visitors on J visas will be admitted for the duration of their specific academic program, up to a maximum of four years. The rule could take effect as early as September. "My child is preparing for college applications, and I'm getting more worried by the day," one user wrote on an online forum for parents navigating U.S. college admissions. "If the four-year limit on F-1 visas is strictly enforced, it could cause a lot of problems." "Studyi

Jul 17, 2026By Park Ung

Park Ung

Read more

Korean men drinking less, women 30 and up drinking more

Police officers' decadeslong community ties fuel calls for wider rotation

Young Koreans' homeownership falls to record low, widening generational gap

Beyond mud festival: Boryeong plans to become Korea's next tourism hub

Siamese crocodile caught in Yeoju stream, exposing exotic pet risks

Shark sightings off east coast nearly quadruple as waters warm

Novartis to invest $95 mil. in Korea cancer radiotherapy supply chain

Foreign worker doxed by interpreter after fleeing armed threats, civic groups say

Heavy rain expected for greater Seoul, Gangwon this weekend

Korean students, parents face uncertainty over tightened US visa rules

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