Shutdown leaves Korean families in US scrambling for groceriesAcross the U.S., low-income families are tightening their grocery budgets as the federal government shutdown drags into its sixth week. With food stamp benefits in limbo, many are unsure whether they will get money for groceries this month, and community centers from Los Angeles to New York are fielding anxious calls from families worried about how to put food on the table. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to about 42 million Americans, including thousands of Korean American households. But as the shutdown continues without a spending agreement, several states have warned that November deposits could be delayed or reduced. The White House said Monday that it would release limited emergency funds to provide partial food benefits this month, though officials cautioned the money would cover only a fraction of normal payments and could take weeks or even months to reach recipients. For many who rely on food aid from SNAP, the uncertainty has turned into panic. “They say EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) payments in California are delayNov 8, 2025By Jane Han
Korea welcomes Trump with top-level protocolU.S. President Donald Trump arrived at Gimhae International Airport Wednesday morning, marking the start of his highly anticipated state visit during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. His arrival marks Trump’s first visit to Korea in eight years and his second face-to-face summit with President Lee Jae Myung, after their meeting in Washington two months ago. This makes Trump the first foreign leader to be received twice as a state guest in Korea. The Korean government announced "top-level protocol and security" for all heads of state attending the APEC summit, with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun personally greeting Trump upon arrival. The official welcoming ceremony included a 21-gun salute, underscoring Korea’s commitment to honoring the visiting leader. Trump then boarded his presidential helicopter, Marine One, headed to Gyeongju, where his itinerary remains tightly guarded by Korean and U.S. security services. Local police reinforced security perimeters around major sites, including the Hilton Hotel, where Trump will stay durinOct 29, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Presidential office considering gifting ancient crown replica to TrumpGYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The presidential office said Tuesday it is considering gifting U.S. President Donald Trump a replica of an ancient gold crown when he visits South Korea this week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event. Trump is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday for a two-day state visit, during which he will hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju on the sidelines of the APEC gathering. "(We) are considering a specially manufactured gold-plated model as a gift," a presidential official said. The model is expected to be a replica of an acclaimed gold crown of the Silla kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), which ruled about two-thirds of the Korean Peninsula at its height, with Gyeongju as its capital. Lee earlier gifted Trump a model of a turtle ship, a type of Korean traditional warship, when they met for talks in Washington in August.Oct 28, 2025By Yonhap
China blocks S. Korean survey ship near West Sea structures in 2nd standoff this year: reportChinese coast guard vessels blocked a South Korean ship last month in an overlapping sea zone of the Yellow Sea while it was inspecting Chinese-built structures, causing a standoff, a U.S. think tank has said. The incident was revealed in a report titled "Korea-China Standoff in the Provisional Measure Zone (PMZ)," published on Monday (U.S. time) by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Citing data from maritime analytics firm Starboard Maritime Intelligence, CSIS said the South Korean research vessel Onnuri entered the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), an overlapping sea zone between the two countries, in the Yellow Sea on Sept. 24 to inspect steel structures installed by China. About six hours later, a Chinese coast guard vessel approached the Onnuri, followed by two additional ships from a port in Qingdao. In response, a South Korean coast guard vessel moved to the area to provide support. The following day, the Onnuri and the South Korean coast guard ship approached two Chinese aquaculture structures, identified as Shenlan No. 1 and Shenlan No. 2,Oct 28, 2025By Yonhap
POLL APEC summit expected to elevate diplomacy, culture, but public awareness lowKorea’s role as host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit has stirred a range of public expectations, reflecting both optimism on national prestige and concerns over awareness. A recent survey commissioned by The Korea Times shows that citizens see the international gathering as a prime opportunity to bolster the nation’s global standing, especially in diplomacy and culture, although people differ in how they interpret its significance by political affiliation. However, despite the summit’s high profile, many Koreans remain only vaguely familiar with its purpose and significance, highlighting a gap between public optimism and awareness. Anticipating diplomatic, cultural gains The survey, conducted Thursday and Friday via phone with 1,004 randomly selected participants aged 18 and older nationwide, found that the most common expectation was a significant boost to Korea’s diplomatic profile on the global stage, accounting for 25 percent of responses. With APEC meetings bringing together political and business leaders from major economies across the Asia Pacific regOct 27, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
Trade minister calls for Georgia governor's support to address visa issuesTrade Minister Yeo Han-koo called on visiting Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday to support Korean firms based there and drum up support to address visa issues for them and workers. In a meeting with Kemp earlier in the day, Yeo asked the Georgia governor to make efforts to prevent further incidents similar to the September immigration raid. Kemp also said his state will support Korean firms' stable operations and their investment. Last month, more than 300 Korean workers were arrested and detained in a U.S. immigration raid in Georgia in early September. The workers were released after a week following negotiations between Seoul and Washington. In response, the two sides agreed to set up a working group dialogue and install a visa desk at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul solely for Korean businesses.Oct 23, 2025By Yonhap
Chinese personnel spotted on structure in disputed waters near Korean PeninsulaEscalating a long-simmering maritime dispute, Chinese personnel have for the first time been identified on a contentious offshore structure built by Beijing in the West Sea’s Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) — an overlapping area of the two nations’ exclusive economic zones. The revelation, disclosed Wednesday by a Korean lawmaker, swiftly prompted calls in Seoul for the government to take countervailing measures against what was described as an increasingly assertive move by China. Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) disclosed recent photographs of the Chinese installation ahead of a parliamentary audit of the Coast Guard. According to Yi, the photos show five individuals on the structure known as Sunlan No. 2, installed last year. Two people are visible on the upper deck, two are on the mid-left section, and one wearing a diving suit appears to be maintaining oxygen tanks near the waterline, he said. Tensions in the Provisional Measures Zone have mounted as China intensifies its “gray zone” tactics in the area, including the construction of new strOct 22, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Southeast Asia's scam industry threatens stability of Indo-Pacific regionThe remains of a Korean university student, identified only by his surname Park for privacy reasons, were returned to Korea on Tuesday, more than two months after he was found dead near a criminal compound in the Bokor Mountain area of Cambodia. Local police said Park had been brutally tortured which ultimately led to cardiac arrest. Korean forensic experts who traveled to Cambodia on Monday conducted an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Witnesses reported that Park’s body showed extensive bruising, indicating severe physical abuse prior to his death. He was cremated following the autopsy. Park had left Korea on July 17, telling his parents he would attend an exhibition in Cambodia. Shortly after his arrival, his family lost contact with him. News of his death surfaced nearly a month after his departure, sending shockwaves through Korea. Park’s death has sparked widespread outrage. Survivors of similar experiences at criminal compounds in Cambodia have been sharing harrowing testimonies online, exposing the systemic abuse occurring in these locations. Their stories gainOct 22, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Presidential office urges swift repatriation of Koreans from Cambodia amid surging abuse casesNational Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on Monday stressed the need to swiftly repatriate South Koreans from Cambodia amid a rise in job scams and illegal detentions targeting nationals, the presidential office said. Wi made the remarks while presiding over the inaugural meeting of a pangovernment task force established to devise countermeasures amid public outcry and safety concerns, especially following the torture and death of a South Korean college student in the Southeast Asian country in August. "Wi said that the immediate return of citizens in danger must be prioritized on humanitarian grounds, urging the authorities to respond without delay, while legal action against any criminal activities committed by detained individuals is to be expected," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a press briefing. "He also instructed officials to consider a phased repatriation, if necessary. To prevent further harm, the government is reviewing the option of dispatching investigative personnel to Cambodia to coordinate with local authorities for investigation and to assess the situation regOct 13, 2025By Yonhap
Number of overseas Koreans missing or out of contact rises over past 5 yearsThe number of overseas South Koreans who remained missing or out of contact has steadily increased over the past five years, foreign ministry data showed Sunday. A total of 52 South Koreans were unaccounted for after going missing or losing contact between 2020 and 2024, according to the data obtained by the office of Rep. Hong Kee-won of the ruling Democratic Party. The figures rose from just two in 2020 to six in 2021, three in 2022, 18 in 2023 and 23 last year. Of them, 47 were in Asia-Pacific regions, three in the Americas and two in Europe. The ministry told Hong's office that it is taking measures to address the issue, including maintaining communication with investigative authorities in the host countries. Hong described the disappearances of overseas Koreans as critical accidents affecting public safety and urged the ministry to develop measures to minimize such incidents.Oct 5, 2025By Yonhap
