my timesThe Korea Times
South KoreaSociety

Society

At least 7 injured after student goes on stabbing rampage in Cheongju

At least seven people were injured after a knife-wielding student went on a rampage in a high school classroom on Monday in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, according to police and local education authorities. The attack, which occurred at 8:41 a.m., left the school's principal and two staff members with stab wounds to the chest, abdomen and back. They were transferred to hospitals for treatment, while four others sustained minor injuries. None of the injuries is known to be life-threatening. The student, who reportedly has borderline intellectual functioning, wielded a weapon against school staff members he encountered in the hallway after breaking away from a classroom where he had a counseling session. The counselor reportedly suffered difficulty breathing due to shock from the incident and is being treated at a hospital. After the attack, the student jumped into a reservoir at a nearby park. He was arrested after being taken to a hospital. Police will investigate the exact circumstances of the crime, including his motives. Until last year, he had been in a special education class

Apr 28, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
At least 7 injured after student goes on stabbing rampage in Cheongju

Ex-president’s dogs become financial burden for Seoul Grand Park

Two Central Asian shepherd dogs gifted to former President Yoon Suk Yeol by Turkmenistan during his state visit have become an unexpected financial burden on Seoul Grand Park, as it bears annual care costs totaling nearly 6.7 million won ($4,656). Although the two dogs, Happy and Joy, are officially classified as assets of the presidential office and eligible for archival status, their care expenses have been assigned to Seoul Grand Park rather than the Presidential Archives under the presidential office and the Ministry of Interior and Safety. According to the data submitted Sunday to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea, the park's annual expenses for managing the dogs are expected amount to approximately 6.69 million won. This includes 1.36 million won for food, 1.32 million won for veterinary care and about 4 million won in labor costs. The park has been caring for the dogs since November last year, following an agreement signed on Nov. 8 with the Presidential Archives. Happy and Joy would normally be transferred to the Presidential Archives, but since they lack the fac

Apr 28, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Ex-president’s dogs become financial burden for Seoul Grand Park

Two paws up! Korea eases ban on pets inside restaurants

Park Youn-su, who raised a Chinese Shar-Pei for about 10 years, still vividly remembers the cold winter days when she had to eat outside with her dog. “Bringing dogs inside the restaurant was strictly forbidden, so I had to eat outside under the parasols,” she told The Korea Times. “If I could bring my dog inside a restaurant, it would be better for the dog too, and for pet owners, it would create more opportunities to spend time together and even increase places to spend money.” Her dream could soon come true. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on Friday that it will issue a legislative notice for a new law allowing companion animals in restaurants, aiming to improve convenience for pet owners and broaden their dining options. Under the current law, areas where food and beverages are consumed must be separate from spaces where pets are allowed, making it illegal to bring companion animals into the dining areas of regular restaurants. However, under the newly proposed laws, establishments that meet specific facility standards could allow pets and their owners to share

Apr 27, 2025By Park Ung
Two paws up! Korea eases ban on pets inside restaurants

Marathon mania leaves Seoul residents fuming on the sidelines

As spring marathons take place across Seoul, residents in the capital are growing increasingly frustrated with the constant road closures and traffic disruptions that have become a frequent inconvenience. One of those affected was Kim Ji-hoon, a 34-year-old office worker living near southeastern Seoul's Jamsil. He was invited to a close friend's wedding last month, but faced difficulties reaching the venue due to marathon-related road closures. The 2025 Seoul Marathon caused significant traffic disruptions, with major roads in Jamsil being closed for nearly six hours from 7:45 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. "I don’t understand why they have to designate major roads as marathon courses. Even if it’s a hobby or an event, constantly inconveniencing others is inconsiderate," Kim said. "I left home early, but I was still late for the wedding because of the heavy traffic." Marathon-related road closures in Seoul frequently affect areas like Jamsil, Yeouido, Jongno and Gwanghwamun — some of the city’s busiest districts. As a result, people who need to travel through these areas on weekends often enc

Apr 27, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Marathon mania leaves Seoul residents fuming on the sidelines

YouTuber Johnny Somali’s legal troubles in Korea deemed ‘self-inflicted’ amid backlash

YouTuber Johnny Somali's struggles with legal fees in Korea are being described as "self-inflicted misery" by a longtime advocate for Korean culture, following a series of actions by the controversial content creator aimed at provoking Korean nationals. Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, is a 24-year-old American YouTuber who sparked outrage in Korea after kissing a statue last October symbolizing Korean victims of wartime sexual slavery. The incident was just one in a series of provocative acts he carried out in the country. He has been charged with obstruction of business and is currently banned from leaving Korea. He is now reportedly facing serious financial difficulties as a result of his actions. The situation came to light when fellow YouTuber Legal Mindset, who has been documenting Somali’s legal case, shared a Telegram message he received from someone close to Somali. The message stated: “Johnny has a travel ban, Korea doesn’t let him work and doesn’t give him any support. Johnny is out of money now and I’m supporting him. There is no choice. He w

Apr 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
YouTuber Johnny Somali’s legal troubles in Korea deemed ‘self-inflicted’ amid backlash

Seoul tops Coldplay's LED wristband return rate in world tour

Ninety-nine percent of Coldplay fans in Korea returned their LED wristbands at the band’s world tour concerts in Seoul as of Thursday, setting a world record for the band’s global sustainable efforts. The British rock band returned to Korea for the first time since 2017 to perform six gigs in Seoul between April 16 and Friday as part of its “Music of the Spheres” world tour, with an estimated 50,000 attendees per show. As part of Coldplay's eco-conscious approach to live music, the band provided attendees with reusable, plant-based LED wristbands called “Xylobands.” Similar to K-pop light sticks, they illuminate in different colors and rhythms in accordance with the show, and fans are encouraged to return them afterward for recycling. The band has been motivating global fans by tracking the recycling rate by city and displaying the ranking of every performance. Triggered by that “friendly rivalry,” Koreans went all in to set a world record — and beat neighboring Japan. Previous top-ranking cities were Tokyo and Helsinki at 97 percent and Hong Kong at 97 percent. Seoul rec

Apr 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Seoul tops Coldplay's LED wristband return rate in world tour

Company issues shower reminder: ‘Don’t fool yourself — you smell’

A Korean company has gained attention online for posting an internal memo urging employees to shower at least once a day, as summer approaches and concerns over personal hygiene in shared office spaces grow. A user on the social media platform X uploaded a screenshot of the notice with the caption, “Our admin team just issued a ‘one shower per day’ announcement.” The post quickly went viral, prompting a wave of reactions. “As the hot summer approaches, we kindly ask all employees to strictly follow personal hygiene guidelines," the company's administrative support team wrote in the memo, according to the post. Recommendations included showering at least once a day, wearing clean clothes, using deodorant or wet wipes and dressing in breathable attire for work. The notice also emphasized office ventilation, asking staff to air out rooms before work and after lunch, and to use air conditioning and purifiers when necessary. “Don’t assume you don’t smell — your coworkers just aren’t telling you,” it wrote, warning employees to be mindful of cigarette odors, sweat after ex

Apr 25, 2025By KTimes
Company issues shower reminder: ‘Don’t fool yourself — you smell’

Korea’s fiery tradition of nakhwa ritual reemerges as contender for cultural heritage status

Once a fading ritual, the traditional Korean fire art "nakhwa" is blazing back into national consciousness on the back of social media and soaring attendance at local festivals. With crowd sizes rivaling major heritage events, cultural authorities are now considering the potential of the falling fire ritual for designation as an official national intangible heritage, possibly even to match the status of Korea’s "Yeondeunghoe," also known as Lotus Lantern Festival, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020. According to Sejong City officials, the Nakhwa Preservation Association and Haman County in South Gyeongsang Province, nakhwa festivals will take place on Saturday at Sejong Central Park and on May 5 at Mujinjeong Pavilion in Haman. Traditionally held as a Buddhist purification rite during Yeondeunghoe, the nakhwa ritual involves lighting fire wands — bundles of "hanji" (traditional Korean paper) and charcoal — hung from pine branches. As the fire crackles and burns, sparks float in the wind, creating a dreamlike spectacle that has evolved into

Apr 25, 2025By KTimes
Korea’s fiery tradition of nakhwa ritual reemerges as contender for cultural heritage status

Could world see its first Korean pope? Cardinal You gains attention

Following the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy, has emerged as a potential candidate for the next pontiff. As a high-ranking prelate from Asia, where the Catholic Church is rapidly growing, You is being considered a compelling figure to carry forward the pope’s legacy, and possibly become the first Korean and first Asian pope in history. On Thursday, Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper named 12 likely papal contenders, of whom only three are from outside the Western world: Cardinal You, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Tagle and Besungu have previously been mentioned as front-runners, this marks the first time You has entered the list. The Italian daily described him as a member of the Focolare Movement, known for its emphasis on unity and peace, traits that align with his symbolic status as a figure for inter-Korean reconciliation. Though some say the global Church is not yet ready for a non-Western pope, the unpredic

Apr 25, 2025By KTimes
Could world see its first Korean pope? Cardinal You gains attention

Fire at COEX exhibition center put out after 2 hours

A fire at the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul was put out Friday two hours after it began, forcing some 1,200 evacuations, firefighting officials said. The fire broke out inside a restaurant on the second floor of the exhibition center. Firefighters responded to a fire report shortly after 11 a.m. and put out the main flames around 11:40 a.m. before completing extinguishing the blaze at 1:14 p.m., according to the officials. There were no casualties except for four people who were treated at the scene after inhaling smoke. More than 1,200 people evacuated the exhibition center and nearby buildings as smoke billowed out into the surrounding neighborhood. The World IT Show 2025, which was under way at COEX, was suspended but it later resumed. More than 120 firefighting personnel and 33 fire engines were deployed to the scene. Police and firefighting authorities suspect the fire started in a kitchen hood inside the restaurant and are investigating the exact cause. The main flames of a fire at the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul have been contained, firefighting officials sa

Apr 25, 2025By Yonhap
Fire at COEX exhibition center put out after 2 hours
previous page
172173174175176
next page

Most Read in South Korea