South Korea - The Korea Times

Kookmin University to start collaborative project on mobility design with UK firm

Kookmin University has unveiled a plan to launch an industry-academia collaboration project with PriestmanGoode (PG), a London-based design firm, in the field of mobility design. The university said Monday that the Department of Automotive and Transportation Design at the College of Design will work with PriestmanGoode on mobility design research. A school official said the project aims to develop mobility solutions that can help Seoul address challenges related to urban expansion and severe traffic congestion in its metropolitan area. The initiative focuses on building a user-centered mobility ecosystem aligned with the city’s 2050 Seoul Grand Plan. Kookmin explained that both parties will jointly analyze changes in mobility environments and transportation issues resulting from urban sprawl, a phenomenon widely observed in major cities around the world. The project seeks to propose innovative solutions to these challenges. Over the course of the one-year collaboration, the two sides will conduct in-depth research on user travel experiences and service systems, with a particular focus

Apr 28, 2026By Park Yoon-bae

Kookmin University to start collaborative project on mobility design with UK firm

Prosecution rejects arrest warrant request for HYBE chairman

Prosecutors rejected on Friday a police request for an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman and founder of K-pop powerhouse HYBE Labels, who is accused of unfair stock trading, citing insufficient evidence. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office sent back to the police the arrest warrant request filed against Bang earlier this week on charges of fraudulent unfair trading under the Capital Markets Act. Bang was suspected of deceiving investors in 2019 into selling their shares in HYBE before the company held an initial public offering (IPO), through which he allegedly pocketed about 260 billion won ($175.28 million) in illegal profits. "At this stage, there is insufficient evidence to justify the necessity of detention, and we have therefore requested a supplementary investigation," the prosecution said. Police said they will review whether to reapply for the warrant after conducting further investigation, adding that decisions will be made "in accordance with due process." The Capital Markets Act prohibits obtaining financial gains through false statements or by using decept

Apr 24, 2026By Yonhap

Prosecution rejects arrest warrant request for HYBE chairman

Runaway wolf’s 'mukbang' draws national attention in Korea

Five days have passed since Neukgu, a 2-year-old male wolf that escaped from O-World theme park in Daejeon and evaded capture for nine days, was returned to the zoo. Yet public fascination with the runaway wolf has only intensified — so much so that some have begun calling for the attention to be toned down so the animal can rest. In a “mukbang” (eating broadcast) clip posted on O-World's Instagram account, Neukgu emerges warily from his enclosure, scans his surroundings and slowly approaches a pile of ground beef and minced raw chicken. He is then seen taking small bites while continuing to glance around cautiously. O-World said the young wolf is still recovering and has begun eating more. Fans and other netizens responded immediately with messages of support. By Wednesday afternoon, two days after it was posted, the footage had drawn 1.46 million views and 51,000 likes, along with 1,300 comments expressing hopes for Neukgu’s speedy recovery and excitement about seeing him again soon. Another video of Neukgu feeding, uploaded on Tuesday, had also drawn over 390,000 views — an

Apr 22, 2026By Hankookilbo

Runaway wolf’s 'mukbang' draws national attention in Korea

K-hiking boom drives up subway traffic near Seoul's mountains

Subway stations nearby major Seoul mountains saw a rise in traffic as more tourists took to the hiking trails. Seoul Metro said on April 17 that ridership at six major subway stations that serve as key hiking access points — Dobongsan Station, Suraksan Station, Achasan Station, Gyeongbokgung Station, Yangjae Station, and Seoul National University Station — rose by an average of 11.5 percent on April 11 compared with the same day a year earlier. Achasan Station saw the sharpest increase, with average daily passenger traffic reaching 34,000, up 21.9 percent from a year earlier. Dobongsan Station followed with a 16.6 percent increase. Passenger traffic at stations near Mount Inwang and Mount Bugak also posted double-digit gains, with Gyeongbokgung Station up 12.8 percent and Suraksan Station up 12.7 percent. Seoul National University Station, which serves Mount Gwanak, a popular hiking destination among younger people, saw an 8.8 percent increase. Yangjae Station, near Mount Cheonggye, also recorded a 6.6 percent rise. Seoul Metro attributed the increase to the spring hiking season and t

Apr 17, 2026By Hankookilbo

K-hiking boom drives up subway traffic near Seoul's mountains

Incheon pushes to bring Formula One back to Korea with 2028 Grand Prix plan

Incheon is pushing to host a Formula One Grand Prix race in 2028 after a study found that a five-year hosting run would generate revenues exceeding costs. According to the results of the “Basic plan and preliminary feasibility study for the Incheon Formula One Grand Prix,” released by the city April 16, expected revenue over a five-year period is estimated at 1.16 trillion won ($790 million), while projected costs came to 802 billion won, indicating economic feasibility. The Incheon Formula One plan also appeared financially viable in an analysis that factored in inflation and value-added tax. Revenue was estimated at 1.13 trillion won, including 623.8 billion won from ticket sales and 237.1 billion won from national and municipal funding, while costs were projected at 1.04 trillion won. The study, jointly conducted by German circuit design firm Tilke and the Korea Industrial Development Institute, projected that 120,000 domestic and international visitors would attend the three-day event per day, generating approximately 580 billion won in tourism revenue and creating around 4,800

Apr 17, 2026By Hankookilbo

Incheon pushes to bring Formula One back to Korea with 2028 Grand Prix plan

Korea ranks 3rd globally in key AI models, securing top spot for patents

Korea is strengthening its position among the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence (AI), ranking third in notable AI models released last year and first in patents per capita, according to a new report from Stanford University. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Monday that the AI Index 2026 report from Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI Institute ranked Korea third in notable AI models last year, with five, trailing the United States with 50 and China with 30. The ranking marks a rise from fourth place the previous year, putting Korea ahead of countries such as Canada, France and the United Kingdom, each of which produced one model. Korea also ranked first globally in AI patents with 14.31 per 100,000 people, maintaining its top position for a second consecutive year. Luxembourg came next at 12.25, followed by China at 6.95 and the United States at 4.68. The report also highlighted Korea’s broader adoption of artificial intelligence, ranking the country fourth in industrial robot installations, with 30,600 units. China led with 295,000 units, followed by Japan

Apr 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Korea ranks 3rd globally in key AI models, securing top spot for patents

Why Korean engineering professor assigned his students to photograph cherry blossoms

“Take and submit pictures of cherry blossoms.” An engineering professor drew attention on social media after giving his students that unusual assignment. Later, he explained why he had been giving out the assignment seemingly unrelated to his field for six straight years. “My heart ached seeing young students so weighed down by worries about the future,” he said. According to posts on social media, the assignment was given by Kang Dong-woo, a professor in the department of engineering chemistry at Chungbuk National University, to students taking his Engineering Mathematics course this semester. “Visit cherry blossom spots in Cheongju or other areas where you live during the April blooming season, take photos and submit them,” the notice said. It also explained the purpose of the assignment: to nourish the souls of engineering students worn down emotionally, while adding, “Shouldn’t we take at least one day off from studying and enjoy the warmth of spring for once?” The notice then gave one strict instruction: students were not allowed to visit cherry blossom spots on camp

Apr 13, 2026By Hankookilbo

Why Korean engineering professor assigned his students to photograph cherry blossoms

KBO club’s missing YouTube award appears on second-hand trading platform for $80

Nearly a year after it went missing, the Silver Creator Award presented to the official YouTube channel of Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) club Hanwha Eagles appeared on the online secondhand marketplace platform Karrot on Thursday, prompting the team to file a theft report with police. The Silver Creator Award is presented by YouTube to channels that surpass 100,000 subscribers. Hanwha Eagles’ official YouTube channel, Eagles TV, received the award after reaching the milestone in May 2022. The channel later released a video showing players unboxing the award on the stadium grounds. The club displayed the award at Eagles Park until 2024. It reportedly discovered that the award was missing in March last year, after relocating its office to the newly built Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, but did not disclose the loss publicly at the time. The initial asking price for the Silver Creator Award was 120,000 won ($80). The post has since been deleted. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea

Apr 10, 2026By Hankookilbo

KBO club’s missing YouTube award appears on second-hand trading platform for $80

Labor board recognizes 'employer status' of principal contractors for 1st time since new labor law enactment

A labor relations board Thursday recognized for the first time the "employer status" of principal contractors since the enforcement of a new labor law aimed at broadening workers' bargaining rights. The Yellow Envelope Act took effect last month, making prime contractors more accountable for subcontracted workers by expanding the definition of "employer" to a company that substantially controls working conditions even if it does not directly hire workers. The Chungnam National Labor Relations Commission reviewed cases involving the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korea Asset Management Corp., and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science. The four have not posted notices of negotiation requests from subcontractor unions despite the new law requiring principal contractors to put them up for seven days from the day they receive them. The contractors have argued the notices were not posted as the unions did not outline the agenda items or working conditions they want to negotiate, which they say is required in order to determine

Apr 2, 2026By Yonhap

Labor board recognizes 'employer status' of principal contractors for 1st time since new labor law enactment

New multilingual safety guide aims to protect foreign students in Korea

A new government guide to help international students navigate and respond to sexual harassment and violence is being rolled out across Korea, as officials confront rising foreign enrollment and persistent gaps in victim support. The Ministry of Education said Wednesday it had developed and distributed a “Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence SOS Guide” for international students at universities nationwide, aimed at helping them prevent incidents and respond effectively, particularly when language and cultural barriers complicate matters. The initiative comes as the number of foreign students in Korea has risen sharply in recent years, from 153,000 in 2020 to 209,000 in 2024 and 253,000 in 2025, according to government data. Officials said that while the increase reflects Korea’s growing appeal as a study destination, it has also exposed vulnerabilities, including cases in which students struggle to seek help after experiencing sexual misconduct. The guide outlines key concepts and common types of sexual harassment and violence, offering step-by-step responses for different scenar

Apr 1, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Others