Lifestyle - The Korea Times

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

Exhibition spotlights American who made folk song 'Arirang' global

A special exhibition in Seochon, a historic enclave in central Seoul, is shedding new light on Homer B. Hulbert, the American educator who introduced Korea’s traditional folk song “Arirang” to an international audience. The Hulbert Memorial Society said Thursday that the exhibition, titled “Arirang, Discovering Korea’s Treasure 130 Years Ago,” will run for a month beginning March 19 at the headquarters of Hamkkebom in Seoul's Jongno District. The exhibition marks the 130th anniversary of Hulbert’s transcription of “Arirang” into Western musical notation. An American educator and advocate for Korean independence, he is credited with introducing the folk song to an international audience in 1896 by arranging it on a Western scale — a step that helped bring global attention to Korea’s traditional music. The event also coincides with the 140th anniversary of Hulbert’s arrival in Korea on July 5, 1886, adding further significance to the exhibition. Organizers said the exhibition will feature a range of materials highlighting Hulbert’s life and achievements. In additi

Mar 19, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Exhibition spotlights American who made folk song 'Arirang' global

‘The King’s Warden’ success sparks interest in Joseon-era documents

The National Library of Korea will publicly reveal for the first time a rare historical document detailing the loyalty of Eom Heung-do, a Joseon-era official, as public interest in his story surges following the massive success of the film “The King’s Warden.” The Seoul-based library said Wednesday that the special exhibition, scheduled to run from March 24 to April 19 at its main building in Seocho District, centers on a 1733 document. Issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs under the special command of King Yeongjo (1694-1776) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the record grants Eom’s descendants exemptions from military service and labor as a reward for their ancestor’s loyalty to the deposed King Danjong (1441-57). The document is considered a highly valuable historical resource as it shows how the state officially recognized and rewarded Eom’s courageous act of burying the exiled king at a time when others feared to do so. The artifact was deposited at the library in 2019 by a descendant of Eom’s and is being shown to the public for the first time with the family's

Mar 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

‘The King’s Warden’ success sparks interest in Joseon-era documents

Gov’t expands 'Culture Day' to every Wednesday to boost public access

Korea is expanding its “Culture Day” program from once a month to every Wednesday starting April 1 to encourage more people to enjoy cultural activities in their daily lives, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. First launched in 2014, the Culture Day is a national welfare program that provides various benefits and discounts on cultural activities. The expansion of this program was legally finalized following the approval of an amendment during a Cabinet meeting last month. To ensure the success of this transition, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with 11 major organizations representing the cultural and economic sectors in Seoul. The partnership includes the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Federation of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and various associations for museums, libraries and performing arts. Under the new initiative, the government aims to move beyond a state-led model and establish a sustainable cultural ecosystem through private sector cooperation. Participating institutions will offer disco

Mar 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Gov’t expands 'Culture Day' to every Wednesday to boost public access

Off-duty firefighter saves co-passenger on honeymoon return flight

A firefighter rushed to help a passenger who collapsed just minutes before takeoff on a flight home from his honeymoon, quickly recognizing the emergency and restoring her breathing. According to the Haenam Fire Station in South Jeolla Province, Jeong Mu-woong, a 34-year-old firefighter assigned to a 119 safety center in Haenam, encountered the emergency on Feb. 14 aboard a flight from Sydney to Incheon. A Korean woman in her 40s suddenly collapsed after showing seizure-like symptoms and lost consciousness, as flight attendants prepared to perform CPR. Jeong immediately checked her pulse and determined that she was not in cardiac arrest but that her airway was blocked by her tongue. “With cases like this, every second matters,” Jeong said. “I focused on securing the airway first because breathing had to be restored quickly.” With the patient’s jaw stiffened following the seizure, he used a jaw-thrust maneuver to open her airway. He then worked with a nurse on board and used a device to keep her airway open and help maintain her breathing. The passenger regained spontaneous breath

Mar 18, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Off-duty firefighter saves co-passenger on honeymoon return flight

Go Youn-jung’s blanket exit from Chanel show sparks online debate

Actress Go Youn-jung has become the subject of online debate after a short clip from Paris Fashion Week showed her leaving a Chanel runway show wrapped in a blanket — a moment that quickly went viral and divided viewers between those calling it a cute mishap and others criticizing her professionalism as a brand ambassador. Go attended the Chanel 2026–2027 fall-winter collection show in Paris as a global ambassador for the French luxury brand. Shortly afterward, footage of her leaving the venue began circulating online. In the clip, Go is seen walking out with the help of a security guard while wearing a white-tone Chanel tweed two-piece outfit. A blanket is draped over her short skirt as she exits the venue. Based on the video, staff members asked Go to remove the blanket. She appeared to hesitate briefly — seemingly saying “It’s cold” — before eventually taking it off and walking down the stairs. The footage has attracted significant attention online, approaching 750,000 views across social media platforms. Online reactions have been sharply divided. Some viewers described

Mar 12, 2026By Xportsnews

Go Youn-jung’s blanket exit from Chanel show sparks online debate

Korea is cool, trendy country to Spaniards: cultural center chief

When Korea was named guest of honor at La Mar de Musicas, an annual music festival in the southern Spanish city of Cartagena, the Korean Cultural Center in Spain saw an opportunity to do more than play a few songs. It turned the stage into a window to Korean culture, drawing some 40,000 visitors and wide local media coverage. That effort helped earn the center a special recognition from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which recognized it alongside centers in Vietnam, Thailand, China and Japan at its annual gathering of representatives from roughly 40 Korean cultural centers worldwide. The Seoul meeting, held each year, gives center directors a chance to share experiences and learn from one another. Korean Cultural Center in Spain Director Shin Jae-kwang said the recognition reflected the work his center carried out over the past year. “For many Spaniards, Korea is seen as a cool and trendy country with much to offer. I feel honored to be part of introducing different aspects of Korean culture to Spanish audiences,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times Wednes

Mar 12, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Korea is cool, trendy country to Spaniards: cultural center chief

Korean churches unite for historic joint Easter service

Korean churches are preparing for a historic joint celebration this Easter, which falls on April 5, bringing together 72 denominations to mark the holiday with a parade and a unified worship service, according to the organizing committee. The organizer for the Easter joint service announced that they will have the 2026 Easter Parade at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on April 4. The event will feature around 8,000 participants from 40 teams and include various programs such as Easter Village experience zones and a celebratory concert. The Easter joint service will take place the following day at Yoido Full Gospel Church. The service is particularly significant as it falls on the same date as the arrival of American missionaries Horace G. Underwood and Henry Appenzeller in Incheon in 1885, which marks the beginning of Protestantism in Korea. Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, who serves as the chairperson for both the service and the parade, emphasized the importance of the gathering during a press briefing Thursday. "I offer my sincere repentance for the divis

Mar 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

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