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Massive fire devastates Kumho Tire's Gwangju plant; nat'l response order issued

Kumho Tire suspended production at its Gwangju plant on Saturday after a massive fire engulfed a major section of the facility, prompting authorities to issue a nationwide firefighting mobilization order as the blaze continued to spread. The fire, which started around 7:11 a.m. at the factory in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has rapidly spread through plant buildings, with flames reportedly reaching as high as 100 meters, according to fire officials. By 5 p.m., about 70 percent of the western section of the factory, roughly equivalent to five football fields in size, was consumed by the blaze. Firefighters were focusing on keeping the flames from spreading to the southern section, which is separated from the west. The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide fire mobilization order, allowing firefighting personnel and equipment from neighboring regions to be deployed to the site. Kumho Tire, Korea's second-largest tire maker, said all production has been halted at the plant. About 400 workers on duty at the time were evacuated, but one male employee in his 20s suffered

May 17, 2025By Yonhap
Massive fire devastates Kumho Tire's Gwangju plant; nat'l response order issued

Seoul to postpone launch of Han River Bus service to September

The Seoul metropolitan government said Friday it would postpone the launch of its water bus service along the Han River from June to September, citing a delay in the ship-building schedule. The Han River Bus service, designed to shorten commute times between Jamsil and the financial district of Yeouido during rush hour, was initially slated to begin commercial operations in October last year. The launch was first pushed back to March, then again to June. To make up for the latest delay, the city plans to operate test rides for citizens and experts alike to inspect the ship's safety and perfect its service before its launch later this year. Under the plan, vessels and marine technical experts will conduct safety checks on the ships in June, while disabled people, seniors and pregnant women will check for inconveniences in boarding or during the ride. From July to August, people who work near the seven stops from Magok to Jamsil will also test ride the river bus. The five other stops are Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu and Ttukseom. "We plan to have not just experts, but also Seoul citizen

May 16, 2025By Yonhap
Seoul to postpone launch of Han River Bus service to September

Litterbugs beware: Seoul's new trash reporting initiative aims to help clean up expressways

Seoul Facilities Corp. announced Friday a new campaign aimed at curbing illegal dumping along the city's major expressways, offering cash rewards to citizens who report violations through a dedicated mobile app. The initiative targets 12 major expressways in the capital, including Olympic-daero, Gangbyeonbuk-ro, Dongbu Expressway and Naebu Ring Road, which have long been blighted by illegal dumping. According to the corporation, an average of 160 metric tons of waste has been illegally dumped on these roads annually over the past five years. The waste found along these expressways varies widely and often poses safety risks. In addition to common trash like disposable containers and cardboard boxes, authorities frequently discover discarded furniture, household appliances and even construction materials dumped along road shoulders and embankments. Officials warn that such illegal dumping not only degrades the environment but also poses a significant risk to traffic safety. Debris left on or near roadways can lead to accidents, particularly during inclement weather or low visibility. In re

May 16, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Litterbugs beware: Seoul's new trash reporting initiative aims to help clean up expressways

Black market for bull semen thrives as demand for premium Korean cattle surges

A growing black market for Hanwoo bull semen — used to breed Korea’s prized native cattle known for their premium beef — is drawing criticism from livestock producers, as government-supplied breeding material is being resold online at prices up to 40 times its original cost. Despite being intended to improve the genetic quality of Korea’s premium cattle, the system is now drawing criticism for fueling speculation rather than supporting livestock development. On online platforms like Naver’s used goods marketplace and KakaoTalk’s open chatrooms, hundreds of listings for Hanwoo semen can be found, with prices ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 won ($73 to $365) per dose — far above the official rates of 3,000 to 10,000 won. Some sellers even offer bulk deals, listing 100 doses for as much as 35 million won. With no expiration date, semen collected from bulls slaughtered over a decade ago is still being resold. The vast majority — 98 percent — of Hanwoo semen in circulation is produced by the Hanwoo Improvement Center under the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, wh

May 16, 2025By KTimes
Black market for bull semen thrives as demand for premium Korean cattle surges

ExclusiveInspire, Korea’s largest foreigner-only casino resort, up for sale

Inspire Entertainment Resort, a sprawling integrated complex in the port city of Incheon, has been put up for sale — a move that raises fresh concerns about the profitability of such ventures within Korea’s tightly regulated gaming sector. Private equity firm Bain Capital, which assumed management control in February of the resort’s holding company, MGE Korea Limited — the Korean subsidiary of U.S.-based Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment — recently initiated the sale process. An official notice obtained by The Korea Times confirmed that the resort, which opened last year, has been put up for sale. The notice describes the proposed deal as a rare opportunity to acquire a newly built, high-end resort complex with a fully approved casino license. Situated near Incheon International Airport on Yeongjong Island, the integrated resort boasts three five-star hotel towers with a total of 1,275 rooms, the nation's largest foreigner-only casino and a convention center. It also features Korea’s first 15,000-seat multipurpose arena dedicated to live entertainment and a glass-domed indoor wa

May 16, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Inspire, Korea’s largest foreigner-only casino resort, up for sale

Sejong City celebrates birthday of namesake king

Sejong City celebrated the birthday of King Sejong the Great on Thursday. Born on May 15, 1397, King Sejong is one of two kings in Korean history conventionally referred to using the title of ‘the great,’ along with King Gwanggaeto the Great of the ancient Goguryeo Dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty’s fourth monarch is famous for overseeing the invention of the Korean alphabet, hangeul. His reign is widely regarded as a golden age of governance, science and culture that continues to shape modern Korea nearly six centuries later. Commemorating his achievements, the government set his birthday as a national celebration day starting this year. Sejong City, named after King Sejong, jointly hosted a celebration event with the King Sejong Memorial Society in the city’s southern district of Hansol-dong. Korea University also organized a one-day event with the Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation and the Sejong Institute of Korean Language and Culture. “His achievements still symbolize many things in modern Korea,” a Sejong City official said in a press release. “The city will continuous

May 15, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan
Sejong City celebrates birthday of namesake king

Sookmyung Women’s University moves to retroactively revoke ex-first lady’s degree over plagiarism

Sookmyung Women’s University has begun the process of revising its academic regulations to allow for the retroactive cancellation of degrees obtained before 2015, in a move that could lead to the revocation of former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s master’s degree following a confirmed case of plagiarism. The university said Wednesday that it convened its Graduate School of Education committee the previous day and agreed to add a new provision to Article 25-2 of its graduate school bylaws on the revocation of degrees. The proposed revision would allow the regulation, enacted in June 2015, to be applied retroactively to degrees issued before that date. Sookmyung has enforced rules allowing the cancellation of degrees found to have been obtained through fraudulent means since 2015, pending review by the graduate school committee. However, Kim received her master’s degree in art education from the university in 1999, and the current rules could not be applied to her case. The university said the revision aligns with the national Higher Education Act, which permits the retroactive applica

May 15, 2025By KTimes
Sookmyung Women’s University moves to retroactively revoke ex-first lady’s degree over plagiarism

Paju builds anti-prostitution center in red-light district in bid to shut down 'Yongjugol'

In a move to clean up a notorious red-light district of Yongjugol, the city of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, has opened a new anti-prostitution center in its very heart. The center, marked with a sign reading “Gender Equality Paju,” stands in sharp contrast to the aging three-story buildings of the surrounding area — and is part of a broader municipal effort to close down the decades-old sex trade hub. Built on the site of two buildings purchased and demolished by the city, the new facility opened in late April and is already hosting exhibitions and educational programs on sex work and women's rights. It welcomed a group Tuesday from a women's rehabilitation center in Seoul. According to city officials, the space will be used for exhibitions, public education programs and as a community center — all designed to increase foot traffic and discourage illicit activities in the area. This is not the first time Paju has disrupted business as usual in Yongjugol, one of the country’s few remaining prostitution zones. In December 2023, the city opened a community education center just 100 m

May 15, 2025By KTimes
Paju builds anti-prostitution center in red-light district in bid to shut down 'Yongjugol'

Dongduk Women's University drops complaints against students over campus protest

Dongduk Women's University has withdrawn all criminal complaints filed against students who staged a sit-in protest last year against the school's proposed transition to a coeducational system. The decision comes roughly six months after the controversy began. According to a statement posted on Thursday by the university's student council emergency steering committee, the university president, deans and student representatives held a meeting Wednesday and agreed to submit documents to the police requesting the withdrawal of charges and expressing no intent to pursue punishment. The university is also expected to release a presidential statement outlining this decision, alongside a joint student statement and a cooperation agreement. A university official confirmed the move in a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency, saying, “Both sides recognized that prolonged conflict would negatively impact the school’s development. We hope this becomes a turning point for improved communication between the university and the student body.” The protest began in early November last year, when s

May 15, 2025By KTimes
Dongduk Women's University drops complaints against students over campus protest

Taiwanese nationals arrested for US base trespass in Korea, while Chinese suspects released for similar incident

Two Taiwanese nationals were recently arrested for illegally entering a U.S. Air Force base in Korea and photographing fighter jets and military facilities. Two Chinese nationals involved in a similar incident were released without being detained. According to police, the determining factor was whether the suspects had trespassed into a restricted military area. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police said Wednesday that they had requested arrest warrants for two Taiwanese nationals, in their 60s and 40s, who have since been detained on suspicion of violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. In contrast, two Chinese nationals previously investigated for the same charge were released shortly after questioning. According to police, the Taiwanese individuals entered Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on Saturday during the “Osan Air Power Days 2025,” despite having been denied entry by U.S. military officials. They used a gate reserved for Korean citizens and mingled with the crowd to gain unauthorized access. Once inside, they used telephoto lenses to photograph U.S. fighte

May 15, 2025By KTimes
Taiwanese nationals arrested for US base trespass in Korea, while Chinese suspects released for similar incident
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