South Korea - The Korea Times

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

1 in 3 women in Korea experienced violence at least once in their lifetime: survey

One in three Korean women have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once during their lifetime, a government survey showed Thursday. The gender ministry said the survey conducted in-person on 7,027 female adults nationwide from September to November last year showed that 36.1 percent of women had experienced violence at least once in their lifetime. This marked a 0.9 percentage-point increase from the equivalent rate in 2021, when the survey did not include stalking as a category of violence. The other categories were physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence and manipulation. Of them, sexual violence accounted for the largest proportion at 53.9 percent, followed by emotional violence at 49.3 percent, physical violence at 43.8 percent, manipulation at 14.3 percent, economic violence at 6.9 percent and stalking at 4.9 percent. Nearly 20 percent of women experienced such assault from their intimate partners or ex-lovers, according to the survey. "The reason for the increase in experiences of violence was the enhanced sensitivity to violence caused by the emergence of dat

Apr 24, 2025By Yonhap

1 in 3 women in Korea experienced violence at least once in their lifetime: survey

Soaring gold prices threaten Korea's first birthday ring tradition

In Korea, a gold ring carries deep meaning. Traditionally, it has been given by family or friends to wish a baby good health and fortune on their first birthday. It also serves as a financial safety net later in life — something to sell in times of hardship. But this long-standing tradition is now under threat as gold prices soar. “My son received a gold ring on his first birthday in 2015. This year, my friend’s son is turning one, and I can't ignore how much gold prices have risen," said a woman in her late 30s, who asked to be identified as Min’s mom. "Since I received a ring back then, I feel torn. Should I keep the tradition and give a gold ring, or would it be better to give cash instead?” The custom of giving gold rings on a baby’s first birthday traces back to Chinese immigrants who arrived in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Gold was believed to ward off bad luck and, thanks to its lasting value, symbolized an investment in the child’s future. Gold also holds historical significance in the Korean economy. During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, many families donated

Apr 24, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo

Soaring gold prices threaten Korea's first birthday ring tradition

Myeongdong Cathedral hosts memorial Mass for Pope Francis

A solemn Mass for the late Pope Francis took place Thursday at Myeongdong Cathedral, commemorating his legacy and praying for his eternal peace. The news of the pontiff's "sudden death" brought "profound sadness," Archbishop of Seoul Archdiocese Peter Chung Soon-taick said during the Mass at the cathedral. The atmosphere was one of solemn grief and gratitude as Catholics gathered to remember the late pope. "But we firmly believe the pope has entered into eternal life through the glory of the Lord's resurrection," Archbishop Chung said. "He had shown us the true life of real faith and tried to make the Church an open place of mercy and healing for everyone," he added, reflecting on the pope's contributions. He introduced the pope's special connection to Korea, demonstrated during his five-day visit to the country in 2014 where he met with those who were suffering or marginalized, including victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery — euphemistically referred to as "comfort women" — as well as people with disabilities. He comforted them and brought hope to Korean society, with his humble

Apr 24, 2025By Yonhap

Myeongdong Cathedral hosts memorial Mass for Pope Francis

Multivitamin supplement endorsed by Yoo Jae-suk recalled over excessive levels of iodine

A popular multivitamin supplement endorsed by TV personality Yoo Jae-suk has been recalled after health authorities found it contained more than twice the permitted level of iodine. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday, the Multivitamin All-In-One supplement by the health brand Korea Eundan was labeled as containing 60 micrograms of iodine. However, testing revealed 129.7 micrograms, which is 216 percent of the stated amount and well above the permitted tolerance range of 80 to 150 percent. The recommended daily intake of iodine for adults is 150 micrograms. While iodine is an essential mineral that plays a critical role in thyroid hormone production, excessive intake can lead to side effects such as hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of overconsumption include pain in the mouth, throat and abdomen, along with fever and vomiting. Marketed as Korea’s No. 1 multivitamin and once ranked as the top-selling product in its category, the supplement gained popularity in part due to Yoo’s high-profile endorsement. The product’s manufacturer, Korea Eundan, issued a statement o

Apr 24, 2025By KTimes

Multivitamin supplement endorsed by Yoo Jae-suk recalled over excessive levels of iodine

Nearly half of judges say they have faced external pressure during trials

Nearly half of Korea's judges say they have experienced external pressure while presiding over trials, according to a survey — the first to examine judges' perceptions of outside interference. The findings come amid growing concerns over a rise in attacks on the judiciary, from online doxxing and harassment to physical violence, including the recent attacks at the Seoul Western District Court. As public and politically sensitive cases increasingly fall into the hands of the courts, calls have grown for institutional measures to better protect judicial independence. In response, the National Court Administration has begun drafting measures based on the survey’s findings. According to the report, Analysis of Unjust External Pressure on Judges and Protective Measures, obtained by the Hankook Ilbo, 47.1 percent of judges surveyed said they had felt outside pressure while handling a specific case. The survey was commissioned by the National Court Administration and conducted by Seoul National University’s Research and Business Foundation between Nov. 14 and 24 last year, with responses

Apr 24, 2025By KTimes

Nearly half of judges say they have faced external pressure during trials

Koreans log fewest remote work days globally

Nam Do-hyeon, a 29-year-old manager at Beam, a Singapore-based mobility start-up in Seoul, divides his workweek between the office and home — spending three days in the office and two days working remotely. “Working from home can disrupt your routine, so it takes more self-discipline,” he told The Korea Times. “But by cutting out the commute, I can channel that time into more meaningful work.” However, Nam is one of the few in Korea who enjoys such flexibility. A recent Stanford University study found that on average, Koreans work remotely for just half a day per week — the lowest rate among the 40 countries surveyed. The research team surveyed 16,000 college graduates across 40 countries between November and February to examine post-COVID remote work trends. Respondents reported working from home an average of 1.27 days per week — similar to the figure in 2023. According to the research, remote work is most common in English-speaking countries, where people typically work from home 1.5 to two days a week. European countries follow with an average of one to 1.5 days, while A

Apr 23, 2025By Park Ung

Koreans log fewest remote work days globally

Population mobility slightly down in March

The number of Koreans relocating to different residences went down slightly in March, data showed Wednesday, amid population aging and a housing market slump. According to the data compiled by Statistics Korea, approximately 549,000 people moved last month, marking a 2.6 percent decrease from a year earlier. The population mobility rate, which refers to the percentage of people relocating per 100 residents, inched down by 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier to 12.7 percent. The agency said the population mobility is on a downward trend due to the prolonged slowdown in the housing market and aging of the population. By region, Seoul recorded a net inflow of 1,306 people in March, while the northwestern port city of Incheon posted a net inflow of 3,605.

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap

Population mobility slightly down in March

Korea's childbirths rise for 8th month straight in February

The number of babies born in Korea increased for the eighth consecutive month in February, data showed Wednesday, in a positive sign for a country struggling with a demographic crisis. A total of 20,035 babies were born in February, up 3.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. The figure has been on an upward trend since July 2024, while it marked the first time since 2014 that births in February have increased from the previous year. The report also showed that the number of couples getting married jumped 14.3 percent on-year to 19,370 in February. This is the highest number of marriages in February since 2017, and marks the 11th straight month of growth in marriage registrations. "Thanks to the rise in marriages and other factors, the increase in births continues," Kang Hyun-young, an official from the agency, said. She added that the number of newborns is expected to maintain its upward trend in the coming months. South Korea has been grappling with a persistent decline in its birthrate, as an increasing number of young people choose to delay o