my timesThe Korea Times

Park Ung

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

I cover a wide range of stories about Korean society — one of the most dynamic places in the world. To me, journalism means being on the ground, uncovering untold stories and amplifying marginalized voices, especially in an era when AI is reshaping the media landscape. That’s why I’m always here to listen. Tips and stories are welcome — feel free to reach out via email. Before becoming a journalist, I traveled through 24 countries over 702 days, served two years as a military police officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and later studied filmmaking at the Korea National University of Arts.

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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
Korean students, parents face uncertainty over tightened US visa rules
Society

Foreign workers flex rare collective clout at HD Hyundai over 'unfair' contract

About 200 foreign workers at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI) Ulsan shipyard joined a labor union in a rare collective move this month, after the company allegedly forced unfair labor contracts. The dispute is one of the largest labor actions by foreign workers in Korea, drawing international solidarity and exposing how workers' ability to raise concerns can differ depending on whether they are directly employed by a company or by its subcontractors. The collective union membership came in response to HHI's new wage system, which the company demanded workers sign in May. The system cuts base pay by 170,000 won ($114) to 200,000 won and introduces a fixed overtime allowance based on 30 hours of monthly overtime, along with a performance-based pay scale. It also makes meals, previously deducted from workers' pay, free of charge. The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) said the new contract was deeply flawed and that workers were coerced into signing it through threats of contract non-renewal and being unable to find jobs at other companies. About 320 of the roughly 1,600 foreign workers d

Jul 16, 2026By Park Ung
Foreign workers flex rare collective clout at HD Hyundai over 'unfair' contract
Society

Court overturns conviction of defector who helped send money to family in North Korea

A court has overturned a lower court's guilty verdict against a North Korean defector who helped other defectors send money to family members back in the North, marking the latest ruling to push back against a string of prosecutions targeting such remittances. The Uijeongbu District Court on Tuesday acquitted a 54-year-old North Korean defector on charges of violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, reversing a lower court ruling that had handed the defector a suspended fine. A police investigation found the defector helped North Korean escapees send money to family members left behind in the North in 2021, using their own bank account and that of an acquaintance in China a total of 11 times. The Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, ruling in February last year, acknowledged that the defector's method of sending money had been unavoidable, but still found the defector guilty. Legally sending money abroad requires currency exchange and transfer through a licensed foreign exchange bank, but that route is unavailable to North Korea. Defectors instead rely on broker accounts

Jul 15, 2026By Park Ung
Court overturns conviction of defector who helped send money to family in North Korea
Society

'30 Days in Seoul' turns confused newcomers into confident residents

For Nadine Hummel, a 23-year-old German from a small town near Frankfurt, Seoul is the first big city she's ever lived in. Coming to study at Ewha Womans University for four years, she's having the time of her life. “There's so much more going on in Korean university life. The campuses are huge and there are university festivals, so many school clubs to join, activities planned by the students,” she told The Korea Times. “If it's possible, maybe I would like to pursue a career here.” Helping her navigate that whirlwind journey and settle in Seoul in the long run is “30 Days in Seoul,” a city government program that helps global residents adjust quickly and put down roots for the long term. Launched in 2025, it is open to international students at universities and graduate schools in the capital, as well as job seekers who graduated within the past two years. This comes as more international students are choosing to study in Korea, with many hoping to stay long term. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of international students in Korea reached 308,838 as of Decem

Jul 15, 2026By Park Ung
'30 Days in Seoul' turns confused newcomers into confident residents
Society

Court suspends FTC order naming Coupang founder Bom Kim as controller

A court on Tuesday suspended a Fair Trade Commission (FTC) decision naming Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk, better known as Bom Kim, as the company's legally designated controller. The Seoul High Court partially granted an injunction filed by Coupang and Kim against the FTC, suspending the commission's decision to name Kim as the company's controller and a related request for him to submit documents. The FTC's May 1 decision shifting the controller status from Coupang to Kim will stay suspended until 30 days after a ruling in the main case, as will its April 8 document request to Kim. “There appears to be an urgent need to prevent irreparable harm to the applicants,” the court said. “There is no evidence suggesting the suspension would seriously affect public welfare.” The change stemmed from this year's process of designating business groups subject to disclosure obligations. The FTC said Coupang did not meet the exception criteria that would have allowed the corporation to be treated as the controlling entity because Kim's younger brother, Kim Yoo-seok, holds substantial influence

Jul 14, 2026By Park Ung
Court suspends FTC order naming Coupang founder Bom Kim as controller
Society

Why political neutrality rules leave teachers unable to address classroom hate speech

Korean teachers say the growing problem with hate speech among teenagers in the classroom could be addressed by expanding educators' political rights, while experts stress that adults must model responsible language first. Concern has intensified following a series of controversies, including an incident last month when Paichai High School students chanted a phrase condemned as a direct reference denigrating the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, prompting calls for a broader look at how schools address the issue. A survey by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, released last week, found that 89.3 percent of 1,109 elementary, middle and high school teachers nationwide had witnessed or heard about students engaging in hate speech, discrimination, historical distortion or anti-democratic expressions in their remarks, assignments or presentations over the past year. The most commonly encountered expressions mocked politicians or historical figures, cited by 88.9 percent of teachers, with 58.2 percent saying they heard such remarks repeatedly and often. That reality is fami

Jul 13, 2026By Park Ung
Why political neutrality rules leave teachers unable to address classroom hate speech
Society

Korea issues 1st-ever heat wave emergency warning for southeast

A heat wave emergency warning — the highest alert level — was issued for Gyeongsan and Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province at 10 a.m. Sunday, marking the first activation of the alert since it was introduced under the revised advisory system last month. The warning is issued when a region that has already had a perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least two consecutive days is expected to have a perceived temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or an actual temperature of 39 degrees or higher, for at least one more day. Heat at that level carries a high risk of heat-related illness, so residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid outdoor activities, particularly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. when temperatures peak, and to rest in a shaded area or shelter. Water or sports drinks are recommended over caffeinated beverages or alcohol. Sunday marked the warning's first activation since it was introduced last month to alert the public of extreme heat, which the previous heat wave warning could not adequately convey. Under the earlier two-tier system, a heat wave a

Jul 12, 2026By Park Ung
Korea issues 1st-ever heat wave emergency warning for southeast
Society

How Koreans' hate culture differs from West

A Gyeonggi Province teacher, who asked to be identified only by the surname Park, has taught middle and high school students for six years. During that time, hate speech has become a regular part of his classroom, including remarks about the 2009 death of liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun. “Students often use expressions related to Roh's death in class and some even write such content in their assignments,” Park told The Korea Times. “These kids weren't even born during Roh's time, meaning they don't know much about his policies or failures.” Cases like Park's reflect a broader pattern emerging in Korean classrooms, where hate speech rooted in far-right online rhetoric has crept into students' everyday language, alarming teachers who say they are increasingly at a loss for how to respond. A survey by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, released Tuesday, found that 89.3 percent of 1,109 elementary, middle and high school teachers nationwide had witnessed or heard about students using hate speech, discriminatory language, historical distortions or anti-democratic

Jul 8, 2026By Park Ung
How Koreans' hate culture differs from West
Society

Korea's push to raise retirement age raises fears over youth job market

In Korea's superaged society, where those aged 65 or over account for more than 20 percent of the total population, a renewed debate has emerged over what the retirement age should be. The discussion resurfaced last month after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floated the idea of raising the retirement age from 60 to 65. The party, however, is taking a cautious approach and avoiding railroading the policy plan since it is closely related to youth employment. The issue now is balancing longer careers for older adults with the potential cost of fewer job opportunities for young workers. Income cliff A retirement age of 60 is usually observed in the public sector and most private companies, although some companies set their own ages under a labor-management agreement. At the heart of the issue is the income cliff between the retirement age and the national pension eligibility age, which ranges from 60 for those born in 1952 or earlier to 65 for those born in 1969 or later. For those at the higher end, that gap can mean five years without receiving national pension payments after re

Jul 7, 2026By Park Ung
Korea's push to raise retirement age raises fears over youth job market
Society

Murder suspect's father evades charges, fueling debate over Korea's family evidence-tampering exemption

The father of Jang Yoon-gi, a suspect in the murder of a high school girl, allegedly destroyed evidence in the case, renewing debate over Korea's criminal code exemption shielding family members from evidence-tampering charges. Last month, prosecutors indicted Jang, 23, on charges of stabbing and killing the girl in Gwangju in May after following her with intent to rape. He was also indicted on charges of attacking another student with a knife when they tried to intervene. Investigators later found that Jang's father, an active-duty police officer, had disposed of items from his son's residence, including several mobile phones and a sex doll whose chest and neck areas showed concentrated damage. The father was not indicted, however. Under current law, destroying evidence in another person's criminal case carries penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 7 million won ($4,530), but relatives or family members living with the offender are exempt. Lee Yung-hyeock, a professor of police science at Konkuk University, said the exemption exists in Korea because of questions whe

Jul 3, 2026By Park Ung
Murder suspect's father evades charges, fueling debate over Korea's family evidence-tampering exemption
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