South Korea - The Korea Times

Fire at Kumho Tire plant in Gwangju brought under control

Firefighters on Tuesday extinguished a massive fire that ravaged Kumho Tire's plant in Gwangju, about three days after it first broke out. Fire authorities had fully put out the fire as of 11:50 a.m. after it began Saturday morning at the plant in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul. The fire's main blaze had been contained Sunday, but firefighters had struggled with extinguishing the remaining flames burning various flammable material at the plant. A total of three people were injured from the fire, including two firefighters and a Kumho Tire employee, who suffered a bone fracture during evacuation. Gwangju's Gwangsan District, where the plant is located, received 1,236 reports of damage from nearby residents, including 603 reports of headaches, nausea and other physical harm. About 50 to 65 percent of the western plant of Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory is estimated to have burned down. The plant in question is tasked with key tire manufacturing processes, such as combining raw rubber with chemicals. Recovery work at the plant is expected to take at least several months. The fire is

May 20, 2025By Yonhap

Fire at Kumho Tire plant in Gwangju brought under control

Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-ready thinkers through purposeful education

Branksome Hall Asia draws promising students through an International Baccalaureate (IB) education that fosters conceptual understanding, creative problem-solving and the ability to connect ideas across disciplines. Nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Jeju Island, the school is the only sister school of the prestigious Branksome Hall in Toronto, Canada, founded in 1903. It opened at the island’s Global Education City in October, 2012, accommodating students from junior kindergarten to Grade 12 under its education philosophy of “Love Learning, Shape a Better World.” “Traditional teaching methods are becoming increasingly outdated,” the school said in a press release. “What matters is not just knowing the right answers but cultivating the intellectual curiosity to ask meaningful questions, synthesize knowledge across disciplines and apply it to real-world challenges.” Jeju’s only full-continuum IB World School delivers education from the Primary Years Program (PYP) through the Middle Years Program (MYP) to the Diploma Program (DP). Each program is designed ba

May 20, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-ready thinkers through purposeful education

Bullying confirmed in late Oh Yoanna’s case, but no legal recognition as ‘worker’

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has concluded that Oh Yoanna, the late weathercaster formerly employed by broadcaster MBC, was subjected to workplace bullying. However, officials said the Labor Standards Act does not apply in her case because she was not legally classified as an employee. The ministry said Monday that a special labor inspection conducted by the ministry's district offices found that Oh had suffered repeated mistreatment that went beyond acceptable workplace behavior. According to the ministry, although Oh received routine guidance from senior colleagues after joining MBC in 2021, some of their actions exceeded the bounds of professional instruction and would not be considered necessary under general social norms. One incident cited by the ministry involved a senior forecaster who allegedly said to Oh in public, “What could you possibly say on ‘You Quiz on the Block?’” after she was selected to represent MBC on the popular variety show. Authorities noted that Oh was new to the industry, had been repeatedly subjected to emotionally charged remarks and had expre

May 20, 2025By KTimes

Bullying confirmed in late Oh Yoanna’s case, but no legal recognition as ‘worker’

Son Heung-min blackmail suspect’s appearance sparks privacy debate

Controversy has erupted online after a woman accused of blackmailing South Korean football captain Son Heung-min over a pregnancy claim appeared in public without a hat, with only her lower face concealed by a mask while being escorted to court, according to Newis and other outlets on Monday. The woman, surnamed Yang and in her 20s, is under investigation for extorting 300 million won ($220,000) from Son after sending him an ultrasound image and threatening to reveal the alleged pregnancy. She and a male accomplice, Yong, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Sunday for a warrant hearing. Judge Yoon Won-mook granted arrest warrants for both, citing concerns over possible destruction of evidence and flight risks. During her appearance, Yang was photographed wearing a mask and a tracksuit, but without a hat — an accessory commonly used to further shield the identity of suspects. She tried to shield her face with police documents, but officers stopped her. Many online users said the police failed to uphold her rights, especially since the charges are not yet confirmed. Since 2005

May 19, 2025By KTimes

Son Heung-min blackmail suspect’s appearance sparks privacy debate

Firefighters combat fire at Kumho Tire plant for 3rd day

Firefighters on Monday made efforts to completely put out a fire at Kumho Tire's plant in Gwangju, officials said, with about 90 to 95 percent of the blaze believed to have been contained. The blaze first broke out Saturday morning at the factory in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, and firefighters contained the main fire the next day, nearly 32 hours after it began. Firefighting efforts resumed around 7 a.m. after firefighters were unable to extinguish the remaining fires the previous day. Authorities expect the blaze to be completely put out later in the day by using heavy equipment to remove debris and put out the remaining flames. About 50-60 percent of the western plant at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory is estimated to have been destroyed. The fire reportedly began after sparks flew during a tire manufacturing process at the plant. Authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire once it is fully extinguished.

May 19, 2025By Yonhap

Firefighters combat fire at Kumho Tire plant for 3rd day

Firefighters contain main blaze at Kumho Tire plant

Firefighters on Sunday contained the main blaze of a fire at Kumho Tire's plant in Gwangju, nearly 32 hours after it started. Authorities put out the main fire at 2:50 p.m. after it broke out Saturday morning at the factory's plant No. 2 in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. Firefighters have contained about 90 to 95 percent of the entire blaze and are expected to completely extinguish it before 5 p.m. With the move, authorities have lowered the firefighting response to level 1 after issuing a nationwide mobilization order the previous day. About 460 personnel and 170 pieces of equipment were mobilized to put out the fire. Authorities have suspected that the fire may have started from equipment used for heating raw rubber. As part of efforts to contain the blaze at the 140,000-square-meter factory, firefighters installed water cannon systems at the site. They also mobilized 18 vehicles to spray firefighting foam on burning raw rubber to cut off oxygen and suppress the fire. Kumho Tire has halted production at the plant, with about 50-60 percent of plant No. 2 believed to have burn

May 18, 2025By Yonhap

Firefighters contain main blaze at Kumho Tire plant

China's land grab in key area of Seoul sparks fury

The Chinese government’s purchase of approximately 4,000 square meters of land in one of Seoul’s most strategically sensitive districts has sparked a firestorm of controversy in Korea. The revelation has reignited calls for reciprocal regulations on cross-border real estate transactions, deepened national security concerns and drawn sharp criticism of political leaders over their continued inaction. According to an exclusive report by a local media outlet on Tuesday, supported by Seoul's official certified copy of the land registry, the Chinese government purchased 11 plots totaling 4,162 square meters in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan District, for 29.92 billion won ($21.4 million) in December 2018. The final payment was completed in July 2019. Land registry records list the buyer as the People’s Republic of China. What makes the deal particularly sensitive is the location. The property lies just over one kilometer away from several of Korea’s most sensitive security sites, including the Office of the President in Yongsan District, the planned relocation site of the U.S. Embassy at Camp

May 18, 2025By Anna J. Park

China's land grab in key area of Seoul sparks fury

‘Sorry for holding sports day’: Children apologize ahead of possible noise complaints before fun begins

In South Korea, May is traditionally the season for elementary school sports days — a time when entire student bodies gather outdoors for games, music and cheering that lasts a few hours. But this year, one school’s attempt to celebrate was met with an unexpected twist that has sparked debate online: students apologizing in unison to nearby residents before beginning their event. On Thursday, a video titled “These days, elementary school sports days start with an apology” began circulating on multiple online communities. Originally uploaded to Instagram, the clip shows students assembled on a field next to an apartment complex. Before the festivities begin, they collectively chant after the emcee: “We’re sorry. Please let us play just a little today. Thank you.” The act appears to be a preemptive gesture of goodwill, acknowledging the noise the event might cause and seeking understanding from nearby residents. But to many online observers, the sight of children apologizing for playing struck a nerve. “Let them have their sports day,” the original poster wrote, lamentin

May 17, 2025By Hankookilbo

‘Sorry for holding sports day’: Children apologize ahead of possible noise complaints before fun begins

Showman or visionary? Flamboyant politician sentenced to prison

In a world ruled by Huh Kyung-young — a Korean politician who ran for president three times, claimed an IQ of 430 and said he could levitate — the United Nations headquarters wouldn’t be in New York. It would be in Korea, a utopia where every adult receives 100 million won ($71,000). That world is now gone for good. On Friday, a court issued an arrest warrant for Huh, charging him with fraud, violations of the Political Funds Act, and harassment involving coercion. Many Korean politicians have made exaggerated claims and far-fetched promises, but Huh was always in a league of his own. He became such an iconic figure that when he didn’t run for president this time, some media outlets published analysis pieces trying to explain his absence — a testament to the public’s enduring fascination with him. In short, it's because he lied, and he lied a lot. Huh was born in 1947 in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. He ran for president for the first time in 1997. That election made Nobel Peace Prize winner Kim Dae-jung the president, while Huh got only 0.15 percent of the votes. His cul

May 17, 2025By Park Ung

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