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Butane gas explodes while grilling meat in Haeundae hotel room, injures 3

A fire that broke out at a hotel near Busan’s Haeundae Beach on July 20 was caused by a butane gas explosion inside a guest room, authorities said Sunday. According to the fire department, the blaze began around 6:50 p.m. on the eighth floor of a 16-story hotel in U-dong, Haeundae District, where a family of three was grilling meat on a portable gas stove inside their room. Approximately five minutes after igniting the stove, the butane gas canister exploded, injuring the 40-year-old man and his family members with burns to their arms and faces. The explosion triggered a fire alarm and forced 40 guests and hotel staff to evacuate. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene with 130 personnel and 38 pieces of equipment. Thanks to the room’s sprinkler system and the occupants’ use of a fire extinguisher, the flames were quickly contained and fully extinguished by 7:04 p.m., just 14 minutes after the initial report. Though a large-scale disaster was avoided, the incident left the hotel guests shaken and caused an estimated 3.2 million won ($2,300) in property damage. Fire officials stres

Jul 22, 2025By Hankookilbo
Butane gas explodes while grilling meat in Haeundae hotel room, injures 3

Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee's doctoral degree canceled amid thesis plagiarism scandal

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee's doctoral degree has been revoked following the cancellation of her master's degree over revelations of plagiarism in her thesis, Kookmin University said Monday. In June, Sookmyung Women's University announced it had canceled Kim's master's degree after concluding she plagiarized her thesis, prompting Kookmin University to begin procedures to invalidate Kim's doctoral degree. Kookmin University said Kim no longer met the university's admissions requirement with the cancellation of her master's degree, resulting in the revocation of her doctorate. Kim, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, earned the doctoral degree from Kookmin University in 2008 and a master's degree from Sookmyung Women's university based on a thesis submitted in 1999. (Yonhap)

Jul 21, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee's doctoral degree canceled amid thesis plagiarism scandal

Release of Jeju Air crash report delayed amid families’ rejection of findings

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) is facing intense criticism from the families of victims, after releasing interim findings on the Jeju Air passenger plane crash attributing the Dec. 29 tragedy primarily to pilot error. Before a planned press briefing on Saturday, the bereaved families were informed of the preliminary assessment but protested strongly, arguing that the interim report regarding the crash that killed 179 people blamed the pilot prematurely. As a result of their outcry, the press conference was canceled and the release of the report was postponed. According to ARAIB and victim families on Monday, the preliminary report suggested that after a severe bird strike critically damaged the right engine, the pilot might have mistakenly shut down the still-functioning left engine while following emergency procedures. That decision led to stopping the integrated drive generator (IDG), a critical component that generates and supplies electrical power to all of the plane’s systems. The failure of the IDG meant that some vital equipment ― including the

Jul 21, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Release of Jeju Air crash report delayed amid families’ rejection of findings

Army deploys over 2,500 personnel for recovery work from heavy rain damage

The Army has deployed some 2,500 military personnel and equipment to areas hit hard by the recent torrential rain to help recovery work, the armed services said Monday. A total of around 2,500 emergency personnel and 20 equipment have been deployed in the southwestern city of Gwangju, parts of the South Chungcheong Province and the South Gyeongsang Province since Thursday, according to the Army. The heavy rains and landslides that began last week have killed 18 people and left nine others missing so far, displacing more than 14,000 people across 15 major cities and provinces. The recovery efforts centered on overhauling houses and stores flooded from the rains, including removing soil and organizing household items, the Army said, adding that it will continue to assist recovery efforts.

Jul 21, 2025By Yonhap
Army deploys over 2,500 personnel for recovery work from heavy rain damage

Nearly 60% of mid-sized firms have no hiring plans in 2nd half

Nearly 60 percent of Korea's mid-sized companies have no plans to hire new employees in the second half of the year due to an economic slowdown, a local business lobby group said Monday. In a recent survey of 800 mid-sized companies, the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK) found that 56 percent do not plan to hire in the second half. Respondents cited worsening business performance, rising labor costs and the economic downturn as the main reasons for not hiring. In Korea, companies with total assets between 500 billion and 10 trillion won are classified as mid-sized businesses. The remaining 44 percent said they plan to hire in the second half, though some expect to reduce the scale of hiring compared with the first half due to sluggish demand. Companies urged the government to increase financial support for hiring, create a more flexible job market and offer additional tax benefits. "The government needs to come up with solutions to key labor issues such as extending the retirement age, reorganizing ordinary wages and adjusting working hours," a FOMEK official said.

Jul 21, 2025By Yonhap
Nearly 60% of mid-sized firms have no hiring plans in 2nd half

KAIST professor wins L'Oreal Korea-UNESCO Award for Women in Science

Lim Mi-hee, a chemistry professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), was honored with the Academic Advancement Award at the 24th L'Oreal Korea-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science. During a ceremony in Songpa District, Seoul, Wednesday, five recipients were announced, with Lim recognized for her contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research. Lim is an endowed chair professor at the school’s department of chemistry. She is internationally recognized for her research into the molecular causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Her work has shed light on the links between biological networks and the cause of dementia. Her study has identified how multiple risk factors for Alzheimer’s are interconnected, and she is focused on suppressing their harmful activity and toxicity to improve cognitive function. Through this research, she is paving the way for the development of next-generation treatments and new therapeutics for dementia. Her track record includes several global accolades. She was given the RIGAKU-Asian Conference on Coordination Chemistry Award in 2023, which

Jul 21, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
KAIST professor wins L'Oreal Korea-UNESCO Award for Women in Science

Solo diner mistreatment leads Yeosu restaurant to apologize

A well-known restaurant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, has issued a handwritten apology after facing public uproar for pressuring a solo female diner to eat quickly. A photo of an apology note posted at the restaurant’s entrance began circulating on online communities on Sunday. Written in Korean, the note reads, “We are sorry for the trouble caused. We will greet guests more kindly and gently from now on. We apologize.” The controversy began when a female YouTuber uploaded a video on July 3 titled, “Ordered two servings alone, but rushed after just 20 minutes.” In the video, the YouTuber said she was told by the restaurant that solo dining was not allowed, so she ordered two servings. Despite there being no visible line outside and other guests still eating, the staff began pressuring her about 20 minutes after she sat down. According to the video, a restaurant employee said things like, “You’re not the only one who comes here,” “You need to eat quickly” and “If you stay like this, the time is indefinite,” in a tone that appeared scolding and impatient. When the

Jul 21, 2025By Hankookilbo
Solo diner mistreatment leads Yeosu restaurant to apologize

Grieving families face new trauma amid online abuse in Korea

As public concerns mount over a surge of malicious online posts targeting victims of national disasters and their bereaved families, President Lee Jae Myung directed law enforcement to establish a permanent investigative unit to combat what he called “secondary victimization.” The directive, issued on Wednesday, reflects a recurring pattern in Korean society, where large-scale tragedies are often followed by online attacks targeting those directly affected. One of the most painful examples remains the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, in which a vessel carrying mostly high school students capsized off the southwest coast, killing 304 people. In the aftermath, the victims’ families faced a wave of unfair criticism and misinformation. According to the Special Commission on Social Disaster Investigation, nearly 200 people had been investigated as of 2022 for making defamatory or insulting remarks about the Sewol ferry victims. Many of the cases involved mocking or blaming the victims, or downplaying the tragedy by calling it a “traffic accident.” Such remarks have come not only from anon

Jul 21, 2025By Park Ung
Grieving families face new trauma amid online abuse in Korea

Korean goods boom triples direct overseas buys

Fueled by the global rise of K-pop and the recent buzz around Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” overseas demand for direct purchases of Korean goods is surging. According to secondhand marketplace Bungaejangter (Bunjang), the platform’s global transaction volume in the first half of this year jumped 333 percent year-on-year, while the number of transactions surged 345 percent over the same period. “The number of direct overseas purchases of Korean goods through the platform jumped 78 percent from the same period last year, while total transaction value rose 56 percent,” said Cho Sun-joo, head of the platform’s data division. The company attributed the recent surge in global demand for Korean products in part to the popularity of “KPop Demon Hunters.” The Netflix animation has gained immense global popularity, drawing 37 million views in less than a month since its June release. As of Sunday, its soundtrack ranks No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200, underscoring the film’s worldwide cultural impact. Reflecting this global popularity, the top 10 countries by sales

Jul 20, 2025By Park Ung
Korean goods boom triples direct overseas buys

KORAIL gradually resumes train services after heavy rain

Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) said Saturday it has gradually resumed train services that had been suspended or adjusted due to heavy rain. KORAIL said all sections of the Gyeongbu, Jeolla, Janghang, Seohae and Chungbuk lines have returned to normal operations as of 10 a.m. The company said it has confirmed operational safety through emergency repair work, facility inspections and test runs. However, services remain suspended on several other routes, including parts of KTX routes on the Honam and Gyeongjeon lines.

Jul 19, 2025By Yonhap
KORAIL gradually resumes train services after heavy rain
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