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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Education ministry says 43 Rhee Park School instructors taught at elementary schools

The Ministry of Education said Monday 43 instructors affiliated with Rhee Park School, a conservative education group, have taught in after-school programs at 57 elementary schools nationwide for up to four years. The education group, named after former conservative Presidents Rhee Syng-man and Park Chung-hee, has been under police investigation on suspicion of operating a team of online commentators to sway public opinion in favor of the conservative candidate in the run-up to the June 3 presidential election. The ministry wrapping up a two-week field survey on Rhee Park School-related instructors said 32 of the 43 instructors are still teaching in after-school programs, called Neulbom School. The ministry said it will conduct an on-site investigation of the schools in question and take legal action against five education organizations, which have been involved in the process of dispatching instructors to the Neulbom School programs at elementary schools.

Jun 16, 2025By Yonhap
Education ministry says 43 Rhee Park School instructors taught at elementary schools

Want to study in Korea? Add this prestigious tech university to your college list

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) will open applications for international students to their undergraduate programs beginning with the fall 2026 semester. It is the first time for POSTECH, one of country’s best-known science and technology institutions, to open its doors to international undergraduate students. Korean language proficiency is not an essential requirement for application. However, applicants are required to submit their English proficiency scores, official graduation certificate or certificate of expected graduation, official transcript, personal statement and recommendation letter. Applications for international undergraduate students will open on Sept. 26 with a deadline of Nov. 3. Admissions decisions for the class of 2030 will be announced on Jan. 5, 2026. POSTECH will hold its admissions Q&A session online at 4 p.m. June 23. Those applying through the International Admissions I track must hold foreign citizenship, while students applying through the International Admissions II track must have completed their entire education course — from first

Jun 16, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Want to study in Korea? Add this prestigious tech university to your college list

Seoul Queer Culture Festival sees record turnout with enhanced solidarity

Over 170,000 people took to the hot asphalt roads in downtown Seoul, Saturday, to participate in the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), with sexual minorities celebrating their existence and allies showing support for them. Despite the scorching heat and opposing rallies by conservative Christian groups, the 26th edition of the annual event had record-high turnout, according to organizers — compared to its inaugural event in 2000 when only about 50 people attended. Under the slogan “We Will Never Stop,” the event brought out those who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) and their allies in solidarity. This year’s event kicked off with a group blessing by “Rainbow Jesus,” a coalition of religious leaders in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. “We dream of a world with love instead of hatred, mercy instead of discrimination,” prayed 40 Protestant pastors wearing rainbow-colored shawls standing in a circle. “May love, friendship and solidarity fill the lives of everyone gathered here today.” Several organization

Jun 15, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Seoul Queer Culture Festival sees record turnout with enhanced solidarity

Not a luxury: How inclusive insurance provides stability for LGBTQ lives

Worried about your insurance after a legal gender change? Want to leave life insurance to your partner? Taking medication for depression or ADHD? Although insurance plays a vital role in financial security, these complex and deeply personal questions can make navigating the sector overwhelming for members of the LGBTQ+ community. "Insurance requires sharing sensitive health and personal information, yet many people in the LGBTQ+ community said they had no safe space to seek advice in these situations," Park Ju-hyun, an insurer who participated in Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) on Saturday, told The Korea Times. "Yet if you don’t have family or a social safety net, private systems like insurance can help fill that gap," Park added. "Insurance isn’t a luxury. It's even more essential for people like us." Park is the team leader of PRISM, a branch office affiliated with a domestic insurance company that aims to promote inclusive financial support. The branch's eight employees set up a booth at the SQCF in downtown Seoul. Park declined to identify the company’s name for this artic

Jun 15, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Not a luxury: How inclusive insurance provides stability for LGBTQ lives

Seoul to expand unmanned late-night cab service to all of Gangnam district

The Seoul city government said Sunday it will expand the late-night operation of unmanned taxis to include all of Seoul's Gangnam district starting this week. The autonomous late-night cab service, which was launched as part of a pilot program in September, will begin providing services near Apgujeong, Sinsa, Nonhyeon and Cheongdam subway stations from Monday, according to the city. Currently, the cabs are available in Gangnam's Yeoksam-dong, Daechi-dong, Dogok-dong and Samseong-dong. The initiative, the first of its kind to be introduced by the city, currently operates three cabs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays. Users can summon the cabs like a regular taxi through the Kakao T app, with up to three people allowed to board at a time. The service had been free of charge during the pilot program. The city said it had serviced a total of 4,200 rides since its first operation on Sept. 26, equivalent to an average 24 rides per day. Citing a successful pilot program with zero accidents in Seoul's Gangnam district, renowned for its complex roads, the city said it could open a path for self-dri

Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
Seoul to expand unmanned late-night cab service to all of Gangnam district

Korea's food, beverage prices rank 2nd-highest among OECD states

Korea's food and drink prices ranked the second highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member economies, data showed Sunday. Korea's food and beverage price index stood at 147 in 2023, 47 percent higher than the OECD average, according to the data based on the purchasing power in each country. This reading also marked the second highest among the 38 OECD countries, only trailing Switzerland at 163. The food and beverage price index of the United States stood at 94, with those of Japan and Germany coming to 126 and 107, respectively. Korea's consumer price index came to 116.03 in the first quarter of this year, marking a 16 percent increase over the past five years, according to data from Statistics Korea. The index for daily necessities — 144 items closely related to people's everyday lives, such as food, clothing and housing — came to 119.09 in the first quarter, while the index for food prices alone stood at 125.04. The Seoul government is working to come up with pan-government measures to stabilize consumer prices, with a central focus on the

Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
Korea's food, beverage prices rank 2nd-highest among OECD states

Monthly payments from National Pension Fund surpass $2.9 bil. for 1st time

Monthly pension payments from the National Pension Fund surpassed the 4 trillion won ($2.9 billion) mark in February, marking the first time monthly outflows crossed the threshold, due to the country's aging population, data from its operator showed Sunday. The monthly pension payments to subscribers of the public fund reached 4.02 trillion won in February, up 77.5 billion won from the previous month, according to data from the National Pension Service. If this trend holds, the pension fund's accumulated payments are expected to reach 50 trillion won this year. The fund's pension payments have been on the rise, as the country's aging population has led to increases in both the number of pension recipients and the size of their pension. Annual pension payments reached 11.5 trillion won in 2012, exceeding 10 trillion won for the first time. The figure nearly doubled to 20.7 trillion won in 2018, then rose further to 34 trillion won in 2022 and 43.7 trillion won last year. Since the public fund was established in 1988, it had taken 24 years to surpass the 10 trillion won mark in annual payme

Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
Monthly payments from National Pension Fund surpass $2.9 bil. for 1st time

Tight vote on dog-walking ban divides apartment residents in South Korea

A narrow vote on whether to ban dog walking in a residential complex has sparked heated debate among residents in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, highlighting growing tensions over pet etiquette in shared living spaces. According to KBS, Wednesday, a sign recently appeared in an elevator at an apartment complex in Yesan, notifying residents of a vote on a proposed ban on walking dogs in the complex’s ground-level park. The notice, issued by the residents’ representative council, invited all residents to participate in an electronic vote held over two days, June 10 and 11. The proposal emerged amid complaints from some residents about dog owners failing to clean up after their pets. Supporters of the ban argued that repeated issues with dog waste and leash violations left no choice but to impose restrictions. “If owners had simply leashed their pets properly and cleaned up after them, we wouldn’t be discussing a ban,” one resident in favor said. Opponents, however, criticized the proposal as excessive, saying the problem could be resolved through better enforcement and commu

Jun 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
Tight vote on dog-walking ban divides apartment residents in South Korea

As Korea ages, reports of elder abuse increase

Amid Korea's accelerating demographic shift toward an aging society, cases of elder abuse are alarmingly on the rise. A significant majority, nearly 60 percent, of identified perpetrators are victims' spouses or sons, reflecting deeply entrenched family dynamics. As these incidents grow, the average age of abusers is also increasing, highlighting a complex social challenge. According to a report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Friday, a total of 22,746 reports were filed through 38 regional senior protection agencies nationwide last year. Of these, 7,167 cases, or 31.5 percent, were officially confirmed as elder abuse. The number of abuse cases has steadily increased over the past four years, from 6,259 cases in 2020 to 7,167 in 2024, marking a 14.5 percent rise during the period. Of the confirmed abuse cases last year, 88.2 percent, or 6,323 incidents, occurred at home, while 647 took place in care facilities. Compared to the previous year, abuse in home settings rose by 4 percent, while cases reported in facilities declined by 4.7 percent. Physical abuse accounted for the larg

Jun 13, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
As Korea ages, reports of elder abuse increase

Seoul's queer parade ready to roll, unfazed by nearby protests

LGBTQ advocacy groups and conservative Christian organizations are set to stage opposing rallies in central Seoul on Saturday, highlighting deepening social divides over gender and minority rights. The organizing committee of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival — the country’s largest annual LGBTQ event since its launch in 2000 — will begin setting up stages and booths across Jung and Jongno districts in central Seoul starting at 11 a.m. A parade, now a hallmark of the event, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., starting from Exit 5 of Jonggak Station. The route will pass by Myeongdong Cathedral and Seoul Plaza before concluding near Euljiro 1-ga Station. Organizers have informed police they expect around 30,000 participants. Meanwhile, the Christian coalition Holy Breakwater of Unified Christian Rally plans to hold a counter-rally starting at 1 p.m. in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council building, about 600 meters from the festival site. The group, which opposes the enactment of an anti-discrimination law, also plans to march to Sungnyemun Gate and expects a crowd of 30,000. In a cou

Jun 13, 2025By Park Ung
Seoul's queer parade ready to roll, unfazed by nearby protests
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