South Korea - The Korea Times

Long-term foreign residents increase to record high of 2.58 mil.

The number of long-term foreign residents in Korea increased to an all-time high of 2.58 million last year, accounting for about 5 percent of the nation's total population of 51.8 million, the interior ministry said Thursday. There had been 2,583,626 foreign residents staying in the country for at least three months as of Nov. 1, 2024, the ministry said, citing data from Statistics Korea's population census. This is the highest number since such statistics were first published in 2006. The number stood at 2.46 million a year earlier. If compared with the population of the nation's 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, the size of the foreign population was similar to that of North Gyeongsang Province, which ranks 6th with a population of 2,578,999, the ministry noted. In detail, the number of foreign residents who did not have Korean nationality increased 5.6 percent to about 2.04 million, and those with Korean nationality increased 4.7 percent to 245,578, it noted. The number of children of foreign residents born in Korea increased 1.9 percent, or 5,418, to 295,304. In particular, the nu

Oct 30, 2025By Yonhap

Long-term foreign residents increase to record high of 2.58 mil.

AI interpretation debuts at APEC — but does it work?

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — With thousands of visitors arriving in Gyeongju for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events this week, Korea has rolled out artificial intelligence (AI) interpretation services to support communication. However, questions remain over how effectively these tools are being used on the ground. Upon arrival, interpretation devices supporting up to 37 languages — including those of all 21 APEC member economies — are available at major transit hubs such as Gimhae International Airport and Gyeongju Station. About 140 accommodations, from hotels for heads of state to lodging for other delegations, are also equipped with these devices. Around 1,000 taxis in Gyeongju are now equipped with AI interpretation systems, and about 150 certified restaurants offer QR code-based multilingual menus and two-way AI interpretation devices. However, most of those services saw limited use in practice. “I haven’t used the government-provided AI interpretation system for APEC events because I already have my own apps,” said Ko Sung-woo, 67, a taxi driver, h

Oct 30, 2025By Park Ung

AI interpretation debuts at APEC — but does it work?

YouTuber revealed as tenant of record-high $5.5 mil. apartment lease in Seoul

The tenant behind the record-high 7.7 billion won ($5.5 million) "jeonse," or lump-sum deposit lease, at Nine One Hannam, one of Seoul’s most luxurious residential complexes, has been revealed as 35-year-old film YouTuber G Movie, whose real name is Na Hyun-gap. According to real estate registration records from the Supreme Court, Na signed the lease in July for a 206-square-meter unit in the Yongsan district complex, later registering the leasehold in September. The deal set a new record for the property size at Nine One Hannam, surpassing a previous 7 billion won lease signed just two months earlier. Completed in 2019, Nine One Hannam was developed on the former site of a U.S. military residential complex and is known for its high privacy and exclusivity. The property is home to celebrities and business figures including BTS members RM and Jimin, BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, actors Lee Jong-suk and Ju Ji-hoon, SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in and Hankook & Company CEO Cho Hyun-bum. Born in 1990, Na runs a popular film review channel, boasting 3.89 million subscribers. His most-viewed video

Oct 30, 2025By Hankookilbo

YouTuber revealed as tenant of record-high $5.5 mil. apartment lease in Seoul

Korea honors Itaewon disaster victims on third anniversary with first state memorial

For the first time since the Itaewon crowd crush claimed 159 lives three years ago, the Korean government held a memorial service Wednesday to honor the victims of the tragedy. The ceremony, held in Gwanghwamun Square and attended by around 800 people, marked the third anniversary of the Oct. 29, 2022, crowd crush that shocked the nation. For the first time, the government formally invited families of both Korean and foreign victims to attend. At 10:29 a.m., a memorial siren sounded across the capital, echoing the date of the tragedy and prompting a minute of silence. The foreign bereaved families — 46 members from 12 countries — joined Korean families, dignitaries, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, political leaders and citizens for the ceremony. President Lee Jae Myung, unable to attend in person due to the ongoing APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, issued an apology through a video tribute, twice bowing to honor the victims and acknowledging the state’s failure to protect its citizens. “On that day, the country was absent. Liv

Oct 29, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea honors Itaewon disaster victims on third anniversary with first state memorial

InterviewWith higher education at turning point, Korea University calls for proactive approach

After securing the top spot in The Korea Times’ K-Universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026, Korea University is now focusing on the next phase of globalization: developing a new model of higher education that blends international standards with uniquely Korean values. “The future of universities remains uncertain, as the rapid rise of artificial intelligence threatens to make traditional academic systems quickly outdated,” said Song Sang-kee, vice president for international affairs at Korea University, in a written interview with The Korea Times. “In this changing environment, our task is to rediscover and redesign the unique experiences that only a university can offer.” Confronted with demographic decline and swift technological shifts, higher education institutions now view globalization as an imperative rather than an option. Korea University views globalization not merely as expanding overseas exchanges, but as an innovation strategy embedded across education, research and social value creation. The university is expanding its cooperation in research with leading univ

Oct 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

With higher education at turning point, Korea University calls for proactive approach

Korea University’s global vision recognized with top spot in new university rankings

Korea University has solidified its position as a leader in the globalization of Korean higher education, taking the top spot in K-Universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER) — a new evaluation assessing how effectively Korean universities are adapting to an increasingly borderless academic landscape. Launched this year, the rankings are designed to serve as a reliable guide for international students considering Korea as a study destination, while helping local universities gauge and strengthen their global competitiveness. Developed by The Korea Times in cooperation with external experts, the assessment is based entirely on verified data from the Ministry of Education and Naver Scholytics, ensuring both transparency and credibility. The rankings assessed 54 universities nationwide across four categories — 60 points for education, 50 for research, 40 for student support and 40 for graduate outcomes. The university topped the list with an overall score of 144.86 points, outperforming Seoul National University and Yonsei University. It ranked first in education, fifth in rese

Oct 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Korea University’s global vision recognized with top spot in new university rankings

15-year-old Korean becomes youngest violinist to win Paganini prize

Fifteen-year-old violinist Kim Hyun-seo of Korea has won third prize at the 58th Premio Paganini International Violin Competition, becoming the youngest laureate in the history of the prestigious event, the Kumho Cultural Foundation said Sunday. Kim earned third place and two special prizes — the audience award and youngest finalist award — at the competition, which concluded Friday in Genoa, Italy. Born in 2010, she was the youngest participant this year and now the youngest prize-winner the event has ever recorded. She received a total of 15,000 euros ($17,400) in prize money, along with future performance engagements across Italy and beyond, including appearances with the Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra, Sicilian Symphony Orchestra and Teatro La Fenice, as well as at the Bologna Festival and Paganini Genoa Festival. Named after legendary violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini, the competition has been held biennially in the musician’s hometown of Genoa since 1954. It is open to violinists aged 15 to 30 and is widely regarded as a launchpad for major international careers. Kim

Oct 29, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

15-year-old Korean becomes youngest violinist to win Paganini prize

Gov’t probes London Bagel Museum on overwork allegations

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a special inspection into London Bagel Museum, a popular bakery chain, after the death of a 26-year-old employee raised allegations of overwork and labor law violations. The ministry said Wednesday that inspectors have begun reviewing the company’s headquarters and its Incheon branch, where the employee, identified as Jeong Hyo-won, had been working. Officials are examining working-hour records, payroll data and management practices to determine whether the Labor Standards Act was breached. “We will review whether employees were made to work beyond legal limits and if management took proper safety measures, a ministry official said. Jeong, who joined the company about 14 months ago, had been helping to open the Incheon store and oversee daily operations. His family said he had been working close to 80 hours a week, often skipping meals and sleeping for only a few hours at night. He was found dead in the company dormitory in July, a day after returning from a late shift. “The photo he took for his job interview ended up as his funeral

Oct 29, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Gov’t probes London Bagel Museum on overwork allegations

Commuter eating full meal on Seoul subway sparks debate over manners and empathy

A photo showing a passenger eating a full meal, including bossam (boiled slices of pork belly), kimchi and soup, on Seoul Subway Line No. 2 has gone viral, sparking mixed reactions online. The post, uploaded on social media on Saturday, read, “I saw someone eating on Line No. 2 — she had bossam, soup and kimchi laid out.” The accompanying photo showed a woman sitting on a subway seat with several side dishes on her lap and food pieces scattered on the floor. The post has drawn over 670,000 views as of Monday, igniting a debate among online users. Some criticized the behavior. “It’s rude to eat smelly food on public transport” and “She lacks public manners," they wrote. Others, however, expressed understanding, writing, “She must have been in a hurry,” “Sometimes I feel like doing the same,” and “If she had no other choice but to eat on the train, it’s understandable.” While there is no specific law prohibiting eating on the subway, Seoul Metro’s passenger transport regulations allow staff to restrict passengers from carrying “items that are unsanitary or ma

Oct 29, 2025By Hankookilbo

Commuter eating full meal on Seoul subway sparks debate over manners and empathy

Foreign families of Itaewon disaster victims demand truth, accountability

For the first time since the deadly crowd crush in central Seoul’s multicultural Itaewon area, families of foreign victims gathered in Korea on Tuesday to mark the disaster’s third anniversary. Thirty-six bereaved relatives from 10 countries convened at a memorial in central Seoul, calling for truth, accountability and stronger safety standards following the Halloween tragedy on Oct. 29, 2022, which claimed 159 lives, including 26 foreign nationals. Most victims were in their 20s and 30s and had come here to study or experience Korean culture, with families remembering their loved ones’ aspirations and their trust that Korea would keep them safe. "Accidents like this have never happened before. Why now? We still wake up every morning and hope this is just a bad dream," said Erik Evensen, the father of Norwegian victim Stine Roalkvam Evensen. Damira, the sister of Kazakh national Madina Shemiyazov, added, "Our children loved Korea and came here to study … We thought Korea was safe. We just want to prevent this from happening again — and hope for strong safety education from kin

Oct 28, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

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