South Korea - The Korea Times

Lee mourns death of Coast Guard officer during rescue of Chinese man

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday mourned the death of a Coast Guard officer sent to rescue a Chinese man during high tide. Lee sent his chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik to deliver a condolence message to the funeral home of the officer, Lee Jae-suk, a day after he died while rescuing a Chinese man in his 70s from a mudflat in Incheon, just west of Seoul. "The deceased, with only a sense of duty to save lives, ran without hesitation into the middle of a mudflat that was swelling in pitch darkness," the president wrote. "I express deep sadness and condolences over the death of assistant inspector Lee Jae-suk, who dedicated himself until the last moment to save a life." The officer was found to have taken off his life vest and put it on the Chinese man before getting lost while swimming to shore together. "We will never forget his noble spirit and sacrifice," Lee said. The president also extended his condolences to the officer's family and colleagues while recalling that the nation's safety depends on the dedication of "heroes in uniform." Kang said the government will do everything to determin

Sep 12, 2025By Yonhap

Lee mourns death of Coast Guard officer during rescue of Chinese man

InterviewPusan National University touts regional schools as engines of growth, global competitiveness

Rather than simply following the footsteps of other institutions, Pusan National University is carving out its own path to boost global competitiveness with a model it calls “the Pusan Way.” “Our goal is not to imitate other global universities but to establish our own model of internationalization,” Pusan National University President Choi Jae-weon said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. He explained that the university aims to stay rooted in the local community while remaining connected to the world, combining public responsibility with innovation. “As both a regional hub and a member of the global academic community, our university will continue to put forward a new model of leadership on the international stage,” he added. Choi also underscored the value of globalization for both the school and its members, stressing that international exposure is key to growth. “International experiences and active engagement on the global stage enrich an individual’s life,” he said. “For universities, globalization means providing opportunities for members to engage glob

Sep 12, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Pusan National University touts regional schools as engines of growth, global competitiveness

Foreign homeowner property sales surge in Seoul

The number of foreign homeowners selling properties in Seoul jumped sharply in August, particularly in the Gangnam area and the districts of Mapo, Yongsan and Seongdong. Analysts say the surge reflects efforts to realize gains while bracing for tougher regulations on foreign real estate transactions. According to data from the Supreme Court’s real estate registration system released on Sept. 11, a total of 248 foreigners filed applications for ownership transfers of housing units including apartments, villas and officetels last month. That figure is up 34.8 percent from July’s 184 and marks the highest monthly tally since November 2019, despite the reporting period not yet being closed. In contrast, sales by Korean owners edged down by 0.6 percent in the same period to 17,608 cases, highlighting a distinct trend among foreign sellers. Concentrated sales in high-demand areas By district, Gangnam recorded the most foreign sellers at 77, followed by Gwangjin with 21, Seongdong and Yongsan with 18 each, Songpa with 15, Seocho with 12, and Mapo and Jongno with nine each. Foreign sales volume

Sep 12, 2025By Hankookilbo

Foreign homeowner property sales surge in Seoul

In Korea, the ‘Gen Z stare’ is redefining how young people communicate

“Whenever I ask a question, they just look at me blankly without saying a word.” A growing phenomenon known as the “Gen Z stare” is attracting attention on social media in Korea and abroad, symbolizing a new communication style among Generation Z, the people born between 1997 and 2012. The term refers to a conversational behavior where someone maintains silence while maintaining eye contact. First popularized in the United States, the phrase was initially used to describe situations in which Gen Z employees silently gaze at customers or coworkers rather than replying. As personal anecdotes spread online, the “Gen Z stare” quickly evolved into a viral meme and a perceived generational trait. Instances of the phenomenon are increasingly common in Korea. A university staff member in Seoul said they once asked a student worker if they had any questions, only to receive a silent, blank stare in return. “I was so taken aback when the student didn’t respond at all,” the staff member said. “It turns out many of my colleagues have had similar experiences, and the ‘Gen Z star

Sep 12, 2025By Hankookilbo

In Korea, the ‘Gen Z stare’ is redefining how young people communicate

Heat waves leading to fewer babies? Why the concern is not exaggerated

For 36-year-old office worker Kim Jung-hoon, who plans to marry next March, his dream of becoming a father now comes with hesitation. After enduring suffocating heat waves this summer, he began asking himself, “Would it be safe to raise a baby in this kind of weather?” His fiancee shares the same concerns. Kim said his biggest fear is whether a newborn, unable to voice discomfort, could survive relentless summer heat. “Adults can drink water or turn on the air conditioner, but babies can only cry,” he said. “When the temperature rises close to 40 degrees Celsius, I worry a child would truly suffer.” Another parent, a 35-year-old mother of a 4-year-old, echoed similar anxiety. “Summers are hotter and winters colder, and even adults struggle to cope,” she said. “Every time I take my child outside, I wonder what kind of world awaits them.” Watching the recent drought in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, made her concerns more concrete. “When I hear about water shortages, I think about how parents with babies manage daily tasks like washing bottles or giving baths,” she s

Sep 11, 2025By Hankookilbo

Heat waves leading to fewer babies? Why the concern is not exaggerated

Key facilities of upcoming APEC summit to be completed by next week

Construction of key facilities for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju is expected to be completed early next week, officials said Wednesday. The banquet hall, the main summit hall and the international media center are slated for completion next Monday, along with the installation of electricity, fire safety and telecommunications systems, according to the office of North Gyeongsang Province. The main summit hall will feature a VIP lounge, bilateral meeting rooms, interpretation booths and waiting rooms for the delegates, while the media center will house a press conference hall and other press-related facilities. The banquet hall will feature a stage for cultural performances and dining facilities, including a ballroom and exhibition space. The exhibition hall will showcase pavilions on South Korea's industrial history and future industries, along with exhibitions for Korean culture, including the Korean alphabet of Hangeul and Korean cuisine. Once the construction is completed, the facilities will undergo trial runs with the installation of furnitur

Sep 10, 2025By Yonhap

Key facilities of upcoming APEC summit to be completed by next week

Seoul police to restrict anti-China protests in Myeong-dong

Seoul police announced plans Wednesday to impose stricter restrictions on anti-China protests near the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong, aiming to prevent clashes and safeguard both diplomatic staff and tourists as demonstrations escalate. According to the Namdaemun Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area, authorities are reviewing formal notices of limitations on assembly for groups such as Free University, which have organized recurring protests in the embassy’s vicinity. Police said the measures will specifically prohibit actions likely to trigger friction, including verbal abuse and physical altercations targeting foreign diplomats and passersby. “Violations of these restrictions could result in dispersal orders, future bans on assemblies and even criminal prosecution for repeated infractions,” a police official said. “Police are prepared to make immediate arrests on site for acts that fall under criminal defamation or assault.” Most protest organizers come from five right-wing, youth-led groups that support former President Yoon Suk Yeol. They have regularly sta

Sep 10, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul police to restrict anti-China protests in Myeong-dong

Rise in Chinese nationals arriving by boat raises concerns in Korea

An unidentified inflatable boat drifted ashore on the west coast of Jeju Island on Monday. Inside the abandoned vessel were fishing rods, six life jackets, and emergency food packets with Chinese writing. After receiving a report, the Korea Coast Guard launched a joint investigation with the military and other agencies. Hours into the investigation, police arrested a Chinese man in his 40s, whose name was not released. On Tuesday, they apprehended another Chinese man in his 30s and were tracking four others believed to have arrived with them. What investigators uncovered next was startling. The men had crossed nearly 460 kilometers of open sea in an inflatable boat powered by a 90-horsepower engine, leaving Nantong in China’s Jiangsu Province on Sunday and arriving in Jeju early the next morning — a perilous journey undertaken in hopes of making money, they told police. It was not the first time Chinese nationals had braved the open seas to reach Korea. Driven by politics and economic hardship, similar crossings have increased in recent years. In March, the Korea Coast Guard intercepte

Sep 10, 2025By Park Ung

Rise in Chinese nationals arriving by boat raises concerns in Korea

Koreans anxious over stricter US entry checks after worker arrests

Concerns are mounting among Koreans planning trips to the United States amid fears that immigration authorities may tighten entry procedures after the recent detention of hundreds of Korean workers in Georgia. A 33-year-old office worker surnamed Goo, preparing for a honeymoon in Hawaii next month, said he is worried his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval may be delayed or denied. “It used to come through in a day or two without problems, but this time I’m nervous it could be rejected,” he said. Goo has booked nonrefundable flights and hotels, and said he plans to carefully note details of his stable job in Korea on the application to avoid raising suspicions of overstaying. The detention of more than 300 Korean workers for visa violations rattled would-be travelers, even though Seoul and Washington have since agreed to secure their release. Many of the workers had entered the U.S. under ESTA or on B-1 business visas. ESTA, available under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allows citizens of 40 countries, including Korea, to visit for up to 90 days without

Sep 10, 2025By Hankookilbo

Koreans anxious over stricter US entry checks after worker arrests

Korea adds 166,000 jobs in August; youth employment remains weak

Korea added nearly 170,000 jobs in August, but employment losses continued in the manufacturing and construction sectors, as well as among the younger population, data showed Wednesday. The number of employed people stood at 28.97 million last month, up 166,000 from a year earlier to mark the third consecutive month of over 100,000 employment growth, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. The August figure highlights a continued upward trend in employment following a brief contraction in December, when the country saw a net loss of 52,000 positions. Since then, the labor market has shown signs of modest recovery, adding 245,000 jobs in May before slightly easing to 183,000 in June and 171,000 in July. August also marks the eighth consecutive month of on-year growth. Despite the overall growth, the manufacturing and construction sectors remained sluggish. The manufacturing sector, often considered the backbone of the Korean economy, shed 61,000 jobs from a year earlier in August, extending its downturn to a 14th consecutive month. The construction industry also continued to stru