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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

'Teacher of priests' Monsignor Jeong Ha-gwon dies at 99

Monsignor Floriano Jeong Ha-gwon, a Catholic priest who helped train more than 700 seminarians to be priests and came to be known as a “teacher of priests,” has died. He was 99. The Diocese of Masan announced on its official website the passing of Monsignor Floriano Jeong, who died at around 8 a.m. on Sunday. In the Catholic Church, the title Monsignor is an honorary distinction granted by the Pope to priests who have rendered long and distinguished service, held important roles or made significant contributions to their diocese or the Vatican. Born in 1927 in Gunwi County, North Gyeongsang Province, Jeong was ordained a priest in 1951 and began his ministry as pastor of Changnyeong Parish. He was also a classmate of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, with whom he was ordained in the same year. He later studied philosophy and theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and the University of Paris in France. After returning to Korea in 1966, he resumed parish ministry while also beginning to teach at seminaries. From 1975, he served as a professor and dean at Gwangju Dae

Mar 31, 2026By Anna J. Park
'Teacher of priests' Monsignor Jeong Ha-gwon dies at 99

From idol to dad: Shinhwa member Eric turns heads at wedding

Shinhwa member Eric Mun is going viral in South Korea — not for a comeback, but for his appearance as a hands-on father. Photos from fellow Shinhwa member Lee Min-woo’s wedding, held March 29 in Seoul, have been circulating widely online, drawing attention to Eric’s fuller face and relaxed, family-focused image — far removed from his once-polished celebrity persona. Lee tied the knot with Lee A-mi, a single mother who had been raising her daughter alone. The couple made headlines last year after announcing both their relationship and pregnancy, later welcoming their second daughter in December. With the marriage, Lee becomes the fourth married member of the six-member group. Eric previously married actress Na Hye-mi, while Jun Jin married former flight attendant Ryu Yi-seo, and Andy Lee married announcer Lee Eun-joo. A group photo shared by renowned photographer Cho Sun-hee captured Shinhwa members and their spouses, including Eric, Na, Jun Jin, Ryu, Andy, Lee Eun-joo and Kim Dong-wan. Member Shin Hye-sung did not attend. But it was Eric who stole the spotlight, six years removed

Mar 31, 2026By Xportsnews
From idol to dad: Shinhwa member Eric turns heads at wedding

PHOTO Sharing medicine with El Salvador

The Korea Love Sharing Community (KOLOS) holds an event in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, alongside like-minded organizations and El Salvador’s Ambassador to Korea, Federico Guerrero, fifth from left, to mark the delivery of $2.5 million worth of medical goods to El Salvador. The donations, provided by leading Korean pharmaceutical companies including Yuhan, CMG Pharma, Sin Sin Pharm, YooYoung Pharm and Chong Kun Dang, were presented in a ceremony attended by Kim Hyun-soo, third from left, head of the Korea-El Salvador Chamber of Commerce, and KOLOS Chairman Lee Eun-deok, fourth from left. The event was hosted by KOLOS in partnership with El Salvador’s Ministry of Welfare and the Korea-El Salvador Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy of KOLOS

Mar 30, 2026
[PHOTO] Sharing medicine with El Salvador

Cleared of drug allegations, actor Lee Sang-bo found dead at 45 — cause undisclosed

Lee Sang-bo, an actor who had recently returned to television after being cleared of drug allegations, has been found dead at his home. He was 45. According to police in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Lee was discovered at his residence around 12:40 p.m. on March 27 after a family member reported the incident. The authorities said no signs of foul play have been identified, and an investigation into the exact circumstances of his death is ongoing. His agency, Korea Management Group, initially said it was “currently confirming the situation” following reports of his death. The agency later confirmed, saying, "We inform you that our actor Lee Sang-bo has passed away," and added, "We ask for your understanding that the cause of death cannot be disclosed at the request of the bereaved family." The agency also urged restraint, saying, "We respectfully ask for cooperation in refraining from coverage and visits in order to protect the family." Lee’s sudden death has renewed attention on his turbulent personal history, including a high-profile controversy that once derailed his career. Born

Mar 28, 2026By Xportsnews
Cleared of drug allegations, actor Lee Sang-bo found dead at 45 — cause undisclosed

Jeju tea house brings wellness experience to Seoul

Hoesoodaok, a tea house rooted in the local traditions and natural landscape of Jeju Island, has opened a pop-up store in central Seoul to celebrate its recent designation as a top wellness travel destination. The Jeju-based tea house is hosting its pop-up store at Seochon Lounge, a public hanok space run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, from Wednesday through May 31. The event comes after the tea house was selected as one of the four new Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations for 2026 by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). Among the 88 sites reviewed by the KTO annually for their quality of service and facilities, Hoesoodaok was the only newcomer from Jeju to earn the official title this year. The pop-up offers a reinterpreted version of the brand’s signature tea course. Visitors can experience a variety of seasonal teas made from ingredients grown on the island, served alongside tea snacks made from local crops. Starting April 7, the venue will host a special tea program that changes its lineup according to the harvest season. In April, the program features two types of flowe

Mar 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jeju tea house brings wellness experience to Seoul

From batik to Lao silk: ASEAN Culture House opens textile exhibition in Busan

A major exhibition spotlighting Southeast Asian textile heritage opens Wednesday at the ASEAN Culture House in Busan's Haeundae District. The exhibition, presented by the Korea Foundation (KF), will feature traditional fabrics, weaving tools and video installations that together will present the evolution and cultural significance of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) textile traditions. Titled “Weaving Hands, Women’s Time: Textile Traditions in ASEAN,” the exhibition brings together textile traditions from 11 Southeast Asian countries, offering a comprehensive look at both historical and contemporary practices. The exhibition aims to illuminate both the artistic value and everyday cultural significance of textile crafts, with particular focus on the role of women, according to KF. It highlights how generations of women’s labor have shaped Southeast Asia’s textile culture, preserving communal memory and cultural identity through continuous, repetitive craft practices. The exhibition also introduces textile traditions from the ASEAN region that have been inscribed on

Mar 25, 2026By Anna J. Park
From batik to Lao silk: ASEAN Culture House opens textile exhibition in Busan

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

First baby in 17 years, 4 new students: A rural Korean town’s rare moment of hope

A shrinking rural township in Korea celebrated two rare demographic milestones this month with its first newborn in 17 years and the enrollment of four students at its only elementary school. Hongseong County officials said Tuesday that Sreydani, an immigrant from Cambodia, and her husband Jeong Hae-deok welcomed a baby boy named Yong-jun on March 19. The birth was the first in the village of Eunha-myeon in 17 years. The community celebrated the news. Local organizations hung banners across the village. One banner read, "A special gift that came to Eunha-myeon in 2026. We celebrate the birth of baby boy Jeong Yong-jun of Jeong Hae-deok and Sreydani." The township also saw four students enroll in first grade at the local elementary school this month. The new arrivals brought the school's total student body to 17. The celebrations contrast with the country's broader demographic crisis. Eunha-myeon has recorded a decade of population decline. Data shows the number of residents dropped from 2,628 in 2015 to 2,197 in 2022 and 2,153 in 2023. The population fell to 2,057 in 2024 before falling

Mar 25, 2026By Hankookilbo
First baby in 17 years, 4 new students: A rural Korean town’s rare moment of hope

‘Emotion is goal of AI’: Samsung design chief

Mauro Porcini, president and chief design officer of Samsung Electronics, believes that the next era of innovation will not be defined by the cold efficiency of technology but by its ability to amplify human experience. During a masterclass at the 10th Italian Design Day in Seoul, Monday, the Italian designer laid out a road map to bridge the gap between the logic of artificial intelligence (AI) and human emotion. Humanizing technology through emotional intelligence Porcini, who joined Samsung’s Device Experience Division in April 2025, introduced a specific framework for innovation that he calls “AI x (EI+HI).” In this equation, AI is multiplied by emotional intelligence (EI) and human imagination (HI) because Porcini believes true competitive advantage lies in the human ability to empathize and imagine as AI becomes a commodity as accessible as the internet. “If you outsource everything to AI, the result will be the same as everyone else,” Porcini told the audience. “Whether you are a designer or a journalist, you need human imagination and empathy to create something origina

Mar 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Emotion is goal of AI’: Samsung design chief

Rev. Robert Brennan, dedicated advocate for the poor, dies at 84

The Rev. Robert John Brennan, a New Zealand-born Catholic priest who dedicated six decades to serving the urban poor and marginalized in Korea, died Saturday. He was 84. According to the Missionary Society of Saint Columban’s Korea branch, Brennan died at 4 a.m. at a nursing home in Seoul. Also known by his Korean name Ahn Gwang-hoon, the priest was a towering figure in the nation’s social welfare history and was recognized as a "godfather to the poor." Born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1941, he joined the Missionary Society of Saint Columban in 1959. The organization is a prominent international Catholic missionary society that has been active in Korea for decades. He was ordained in 1965 and arrived in Korea the following year. He spent his early years in the Diocese of Wonju in Gangwon Province, where he witnessed the devastating effects of high-interest private loans on local residents. To combat this, he established the Jeongseon Credit Union in 1972. He also opened the St. Francisco Clinic to provide affordable medical care. His activism extended to human rights during the dicta

Mar 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Rev. Robert Brennan, dedicated advocate for the poor, dies at 84
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