Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Korea Foundation endows $2.7 mil. Korean digital media professorship at SOAS

The Korea Foundation (KF) is set to establish an endowed professorship at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, backed by a gift of 2 million British pounds ($2.7 million), to create a new chair in Korean studies. The first endowed professorship of its kind at the institution, the post marks a strategic expansion of Korean studies into digital culture and the creative industries. Formalized through an agreement signed in December 2025, the chair is a permanent position funded jointly by KF and SOAS on a 50-50 basis, with the university drawing on investment income from the endowment to sustain it. It will be based in the SOAS School of Arts under Korean art history professor Charlotte Horlyck, who leads the department. The School recently launched an undergraduate program in Korean digital media and the new chair will anchor its growing teaching and research in K-content, digital culture and creative industries at both undergraduate and doctoral level. SOAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Habib welcomed the development, saying, “The Korea Foundation’

Feb 26, 2026By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea Foundation endows $2.7 mil. Korean digital media professorship at SOAS

GIST professor named associate editor of IEEE TGRS

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) said Monday its professor Kim Hyung-lok of the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering has been appointed as an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (IEEE TGRS), a leading international journal in earth science and remote sensing. Kim will serve at least three years from 2026 to 2029, overseeing the entire peer-review workflow, managing manuscript evaluations and issuing editorial recommendations to help maintain the journal’s quality and fairness. Founded in 1962, IEEE TGRS is regarded as one of the most prestigious journals in the field, covering a broad range of topics including Earth observation, satellite remote sensing, electromagnetic-based surface sensing, Earth system physics, signal processing and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Its editorial board includes globally recognized scholars in each subfield. Kim was appointed to join the board in recognition of his academic contributions in satellite microwave remote sensing, soil moisture and hydroclimate interactions and A

Feb 23, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee

GIST professor named associate editor of IEEE TGRS

PHOTO The Korea Times, DECOC collaborate to support Congolese community in Korea

Congolese Ambassador to Korea Atoki Ileka, center, poses with Ahn Seong-jin, left, project manager at The Korea Times, and Reagan Ingoma, president of the Dynamic Congolese Elite Community in Korea (DECOC), a nonprofit organization of Congolese students, workers and executives in Korea, during a ceremony marking the collaboration between the two organizations at the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Jang Hwi-seong

Feb 20, 2026By Ahn Seong-jin

[PHOTO] The Korea Times, DECOC collaborate to support Congolese community in Korea

Global Elim Foundation grants scholarships to 33 int'l students

The Global Elim Foundation, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church to support multicultural communities, granted scholarships to 33 international students from 27 different countries on Friday, with the aim of helping them grow into global leaders and settle successfully into Korean society. Since its launch in 2022, the foundation has supported approximately 240 international students. It serves as a hub for multicultural support by offering counseling and education, and plans to expand its programs to help more students and immigrants settle into Korean society. Lee Young-hoon, the chairman of the foundation and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, congratulated the scholarship recipients and said the foundation was created to bring people together regardless of their country or culture. "Today’s gathering is more than a luncheon because our hearts build the boundaries of nation, culture and language," Lee said. "Studying abroad is never an easy journey as the challenges of language barriers, financial burdens and loneliness can be overwhelming." He further encouraged the stud

Feb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Global Elim Foundation grants scholarships to 33 int'l students

BTS J-Hope donates $207,000 for child welfare on his birthday

J-Hope, a member of the global superstar group BTS, donated a total of 300 million won ($207,000) on his birthday to help children in need, according to Asan Medical Center and ChildFund Korea, Wednesday. Asan Medical Center announced the singer provided 200 million won ($138,000) to support the development of its children's hospital. On the same day, ChildFund Korea said the singer delivered 100 million ($69,000) won to the organization, which specializes in child welfare. The medical center funds are expected to be used to improve medical facilities for young patients and to support home care and psychological therapy programs for children with serious illnesses. "I trust that these children will one day step into a future full of hope," the singer said through the hospital. "It is my sincere wish that they can leave their pain behind and feel free to dream big." J-Hope has been a consistent supporter of Asan Medical Center since 2022, when he donated 100 million won. His total contributions to the hospital have now reached 500 million won. His donation to ChildFund Korea is intended fo

Feb 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

BTS J-Hope donates $207,000 for child welfare on his birthday

Korean professor selected as member of new UN AI panel

A Korean expert has been selected as a member of a new U.N. body on artificial intelligence (AI) tasked with assessing various aspects of AI and its impact on human lives, the foreign ministry said Friday. Kim Ju-ho, a professor at the School of Computing of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), was among the 40 experts selected to the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, the ministry said. Kim is known for his expertise in the human-computer interaction and human-AI interaction research. The panel was established under a U.N. resolution adopted in August last year. It has been mandated to assess opportunities, risks and impacts of AI in the non-military domain and produce an annual report, which will be presented at the U.N. dialogue on AI governance.

Feb 13, 2026By Yonhap

Korean professor selected as member of new UN AI panel

Korea Foundation appoints Rami Kim as inaugural Korea Chair at UK’s IISS

Rami Kim, an expert in nuclear technology and East Asian security, has been appointed as the inaugural Korea Chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London. The Korea Chair at IISS is the first permanent Korea-focused research professorship established at a European policy institute. Korea Foundation, which created the position with support from Hanwha, said the appointment marks a milestone in strengthening Korea’s presence within European security and policy networks. IISS, founded in 1958, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading security think tanks. It publishes The Military Balance, a globally referenced assessment of defense capabilities, and hosts high-level international security forums including the Shangri-la Dialogue in Asia. Based at IISS headquarters, Kim will conduct research on advanced technologies and defense and security issues, areas expected to grow in strategic importance as geopolitical competition intensifies. Kim officially assumed the role Monday (local time). Before joining IISS, Kim served as a professor at the Daniel K

Feb 12, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Korea Foundation appoints Rami Kim as inaugural Korea Chair at UK’s IISS

Single, taken or somewhere in between? Korea has a day for you

Countless K-dramas and reality dating shows have introduced Korea’s dating culture to the world. From women making homemade sweets for Valentine’s Day to men giving gifts on White Day, Korea’s romantic traditions continue to pique the interest of global audiences through K-content. While Valentine’s Day is a major event for couples, Korea does not limit romance to just one day — or even just one relationship status. The country has special days where couples, friends and even singles celebrate love in its many forms. Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 is recognized worldwide as Valentine’s Day. While it originated as a Christian feast day for Saint Valentine, the holiday became widely celebrated by the 18th century, particularly by exchanging printed cards. Today, much of its original meaning has faded, turning it into a commercial holiday for couples. In the West, Valentine’s Day usually involves gift exchanges between partners, such as cards, chocolates, flowers or other presents. It’s a day for dinner dates or extravagant home-cooked meals. In Korea, however, the occasi

Feb 11, 2026By Kim Sur-hyun

Single, taken or somewhere in between? Korea has a day for you

IVE's Jang Won-young donates $137,400 to hospitals for pediatric patients

Jang Won-young of girl group IVE has donated 200 million won ($137,400) to Severance hospitals to support the treatment of children and adolescent patients, the hospital operator said Wednesday. Known for having a large fan base of children and teenagers, Jang reportedly decided to make the donation to help young patients with their treatment and recovery. The contribution will be divided equally, with 100 million won each going to Severance Children's Hospital and the department of pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Gangnam Severance Hospital, the Yonsei University Health System said.

Feb 11, 2026By Yonhap

IVE's Jang Won-young donates $137,400 to hospitals for pediatric patients

Culture ministry appoints Kang Jung-won as first tourism policy office chief

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism appointed Kang Jung-won, a former deputy minister-level official who oversaw culture and arts policy, as the inaugural head of its newly created Tourism Policy Office. The move marked the first deputy minister-level appointment since the ministry upgraded its Tourism Policy Bureau into an office-level unit, part of a restructuring intended to strengthen policy coordination and execution across the tourism sector. As the first chief of the Tourism Policy Office, Kang will lead key government priorities, including boosting inbound tourism and revitalizing regional destinations, the ministry said. Born in 1969, Kang graduated from the University of Seoul with a degree in public administration and entered government service in 1996. Within the ministry, he gained a reputation as a hands-on policy official, holding posts in both tourism and arts policy. He served in a range of senior roles, including sports bureau chief, spokesperson, deputy minister for culture and arts policy and most recently as director of the National Hangeul Museum, building

Feb 10, 2026By Kwon Mee-yoo

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