South Korea - The Korea Times

InterviewHUFS nurtures global talent, bridging nations through language and innovation

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is redefining its role — evolving beyond a language-focused institution to become a global talent incubator, blending linguistic expertise with emerging technologies and strengthening its international alumni network. HUFS President Park Jeong-woon underscored the school’s efforts to transition from a provider-centered to a learner-centered model, with the aim of helping students more effectively pursue their individual aspirations. "We’re focusing more on what students truly need — creating an environment where they can explore and pursue their own dreams," Park said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Learner-centered education allows students to define their own paths. Our university is building programs that integrate language and technology to help students grow into globally competitive, cross-disciplinary experts." HUFS was honored with the "Most Innovative Project" award in the 2024 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), following a sweeping academic overhaul that merged overlapping language majors and introd

Jul 11, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

HUFS nurtures global talent, bridging nations through language and innovation

Commission raises minimum wage by 2.9% for 2026

The Minimum Wage Commission said Thursday it has reached an agreement to raise next year's minimum wage by 2.9 percent to 10,320 won ($7.51) per hour. The decision was made by the tripartite panel, which consists of nine representatives each from labor, management and the general public. It marks the first agreement reached among the three sides in 17 years. Based on a standard monthly workload of 209 hours, the new minimum wage translates to a monthly income of 2,156,880 won. The commission is obliged to complete its review on the new minimum wage by mid-July for a formal announcement by the labor minister by Aug. 5 every year.

Jul 11, 2025By Yonhap

Commission raises minimum wage by 2.9% for 2026

Warming waters draw tropical species north, changing Korean fishing

An unusual sight unfolded off the coast of Jeju Island on Monday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., sea surface temperatures approached 30 degrees Celsius — 7 to 8 degrees higher than at the same time last year, according to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province's Ocean and Fisheries Research Institute. But the heat wasn’t the only surprise. Fishermen hauled in a manta ray nearly 1.8 meters long, a species typically native to tropical and subtropical waters. The manta ray, listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and rarely caught this far north, is one of many warm-water species now appearing in Korean waters as ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, sea surface temperatures in Korean waters rose by about 1.35 degrees Celsius between 1968 and 2021 due to climate change. As a result, abnormal temperature patterns have become more frequent, leading to increased sightings of toxic jellyfish and subtropical fish species. Last year, the average annual surface temperature

Jul 10, 2025By Park Ung

Warming waters draw tropical species north, changing Korean fishing

‘My husband opened a credit line just to order chicken’: Can gluttony be grounds for divorce?

Can a spouse’s excessive appetite become grounds for divorce? On Tuesday, the YTN legal advice program “Lawyer Cho In-seop’s Counseling Room” featured the story of a woman, identified as Ms. A, who has been married for three years. She said her husband’s insatiable eating is placing a financial burden on their household and causing ongoing marital strife. “My husband eats more than just one chicken a day. He vacuums up all the food like a machine,” Ms. A said. “I don’t know whether I should be angry at him or at the chicken.” She admitted that her husband’s appetite wasn’t a surprise. “He was like this when we were dating, and back then I actually found it endearing,” she said. “But about a year into our marriage, I started to see him as a pig blinded by gluttony.” One evening, she ordered fried chicken on her way home from work so they could enjoy it together. But when she arrived, there was nothing left. Her husband had eaten all the chicken, tteokbokki and even the pickled radish that came with it. His appetite didn’t stop at casual meals. On a holiday

Jul 10, 2025By Hankookilbo

‘My husband opened a credit line just to order chicken’: Can gluttony be grounds for divorce?

Deadly heat wave sparks urgent calls for worker protections

An unprecedented heat wave in Korea has led to a sharp rise in heat-related illnesses and deaths among outdoor workers, prompting growing calls for stronger legal safeguards and stricter enforcement. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1,228 cases of heat-related illness and eight suspected deaths were reported nationwide between May 15 and Tuesday. Among them, 238 cases occurred Tuesday. The figure is a 2.5-fold increase from the 486 cases from the same period last year, underscoring the mounting toll of the global climate crisis. The surge has been especially pronounced since early July, when heat wave advisories covered much of the country. It also signals an urgent threat to human life, especially for those most vulnerable to extreme heat. A Vietnamese day laborer in his 20s died at a construction site in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on Sunday, his first day of work. He was found unconscious, with a body temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius, sitting on the ground. Two other fatal heatstroke cases have been reported in the province this year, including farm

Jul 9, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Deadly heat wave sparks urgent calls for worker protections

Korea moves to ban mobile phones during school hours

Starting as early as March next year, elementary, middle and high school students in Korea are expected to face a ban on using mobile phones and other smart devices during class, with additional restrictions likely to extend to school grounds outside of class hours. The move comes amid growing concerns from educators and parents regarding the pervasive influence of smartphones on student concentration and academic performance. Proponents of the ban argue that constant digital distractions hinder effective learning, reduce face-to-face interaction and contribute to issues like cyberbullying. However, the ban also raises significant questions about its practical implementation and long-term impact. On Monday, the National Assembly’s Education Committee passed a revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, establishing a legal basis for the new restrictions. The bill balances several competing proposals, including one calling for a total ban on smart devices in schools and another seeking to limit restrictions to elementary students only. Although similar measures have been in

Jul 9, 2025By Park Ung

Korea moves to ban mobile phones during school hours

One-of-a-kind dishes put Daejeon on culinary map

According to a character description on the Daejeon Metropolitan City website, Kumdori, an alien with a star-tipped antenna that connects him to the universe, arrived in Korea for the Daejeon Expo in 1993. Twenty-two years later, Kumdori has taken on a new identity — not in an expo hall, but in a bowl of noodles. Launched by the city as Korea’s first locally branded character noodle, Kumdori Ramyeon sales surpassed 500,000 packs just a month after the product hit shelves. While many regional specialties can now be found in Seoul through department store pop-ups and franchise outlets, Daejeon is attracting visitors with offerings available only locally — giving travelers a reason to experience the city firsthand. The product gained popularity in part due to its novel concept: character-themed instant noodles that have struck a chord with fans of design and nostalgia alike. Han Bom, a 27-year-old character designer, sampled Kumdori Ramyeon last week and praised it. “A coworker brought some back from a trip to Daejeon — both the jjamppong (spicy vegetables and seafood) and beef fl

Jul 8, 2025By Park Ung

One-of-a-kind dishes put Daejeon on culinary map

Incheon City going all out for APEC preliminary meeting

Incheon Metropolitan City is fully committed to hosting a preliminary ministerial meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the city said Tuesday. According to Incheon Metropolitan City, it will host the APEC 2025 Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) at Songdo ConvensiA for three weeks, starting July 26. The SOM3 meeting is one of the key gatherings in the lead-up to the annual APEC summit where senior officials from its 21 member economies discuss a wide range of issues including trade, investment facilitation, climate change cooperation and inclusive economic growth. Along with this year's SOM3 meeting, top officials are also expected to share their latest developments and ideas in digitalization, food security and anti-corruption strategies at the venue. The city estimated more than 5,000 representatives from 21 countries will visit Incheon to join some 200 discussion sessions. According to the city-funded Incheon Institute, the economic impact of the three-week meeting is estimated to reach 40.9 billion won ($30 million) while creating 410 jobs. The city said

Jul 8, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Incheon City going all out for APEC preliminary meeting

YouTuber Syuka World apologizes for using ‘Sea of Japan’ map

Syuka World, a popular South Korean YouTube channel focusing on economics and finance with 3.59 million subscribers, has issued an apology after displaying a map labeled "Sea of Japan" during a livestream and temporarily banning users who criticized the label. The creator also pledged a 30 million won ($22,000) donation to support descendants of Korean independence fighters. In a community post uploaded Monday, Syuka World acknowledged the controversy, saying, “During the livestream on July 6 covering the Japan earthquake, a map labeled ‘Sea of Japan’ was shown. It was a mistake caused by using materials from Japanese sources and is entirely my fault.” The creator explained that the error occurred when he replaced a previously vetted map just before the livestream with another that appeared more visually appealing. “Despite prior review, the incident happened as I swapped the image right before going live,” he said. “I find this mistake hard to forgive even for myself, and I sincerely apologize for causing concern,” he continued. “The East Sea is the East Sea, and Dokdo

Jul 8, 2025By Hankookilbo

YouTuber Syuka World apologizes for using ‘Sea of Japan’ map

Korea proposes letting teens decide on genetic testing

Beginning as early as next year, teenagers in Korea aged 14 and older may be required to provide their own consent — in addition to parental approval — to undergo direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing offered by nonmedical institutions. DTC kits, which are sold without a prescription or involvement from medical professionals, offer genetic insights such as an individual’s risk for certain diseases. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the government is pushing to introduce new guidelines aimed at preventing the misuse of genetic information and respecting minors’ right to self-determination. The proposed guidelines clarify the minimum age at which minors can manage their own genetic data and introduce a dual-consent requirement for DTC genetic testing involving adolescents. Experts recommend setting the age threshold at 14, in line with the Personal Information Protection Act, which designates the minimum age for consenting to the use of personal data. Under the proposed guidelines, both minors and their legal guardians would need to provide conse