Society

Jeju residents unsettled by rise in Chinese tourist crimes

A bustling evening in Nuwemaru Street, a popular tourist spot in Jeju Island’s Yeon-dong area, was disrupted on March 21 when police whistles pierced through the noise. Officers wielding red batons stopped two women who had jaywalked across a four-lane road. The women turned out to be Chinese tourists in their twenties. Moments later, four more Chinese tourists were caught attempting to jaywalk from the opposite side. “It’s common to find Chinese tourists jaywalking during evening patrols,” one officer said. “Most say they didn’t know it was illegal.” With international tourists returning to Jeju after a pandemic-induced lull, the island has seen renewed vitality in businesses, along with renewed public safety concerns. Police have ramped up crackdowns as crimes involving foreigners have risen, especially among some Chinese nationals accused of offenses ranging from violent crimes and urn thefts to illegal tourism operations. Violent crimes raise alarm The nature of the crimes has also become more violent and sophisticated. On Feb. 24, three Chinese nationals were arrested fo

Standalone Photo Gearing up ahead of ruling

Korea's cosmetics exports reach record $2.6 bil. in first quarter

Korea’s cosmetics exports surged to a record high of $2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025. However, U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff plan is expected to complicate the industry’s prospects. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Wednesday that the figure marks a 13 percent increase from the previous record set in the first quarter of 2024. China was the largest importer, purchasing $520 million worth of cosmetics, followed by the United States at $440 million. The U.S. accounted for 16.9 percent of Korea’s total cosmetics exports, with first-quarter exports to the country increasing by $60 million compared to the same period last year. Many Korean cosmetics companies have entered the U.S. market in recent years. This year, beauty retail giant CJ Olive Young launched a U.S. subsidiary in Los Angeles to enhance its presence in one of the world’s largest beauty product markets. Meanwhile, cosmetics contract manufacturer Kolmar Korea plans to expand its Pennsylvania factory by adding a new facility to increase the production of popular sunblock and skincare products. A

Acting president calls for nat'l unity on anniv. of Jeju uprising

Acting President Han Duck-soo called for national unity on Thursday as he marked the anniversary of a civilian uprising on Jeju Island in 1948. Han issued the call during a ceremony commemorating the April 3, 1948, uprising that formed part of a seven-year-long struggle by Jeju islanders against U.S. military-led rule in the wake of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation. "National cohesion is extremely urgent at this time," the acting president said in a speech from the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park on the island, citing difficulties at home and abroad and "significant tasks" that could sway the nation's future. "If we are unable to overcome the conflicts of ideologies and generations, and regions and classes, the current crisis will be difficult to overcome and the sustainable growth of the Republic of Korea will be impossible," he said, referring to Korea by its formal name. The protests left an estimated 14,000-30,000 civilians, or up to 10 percent of the island's population at the time, killed in armed crackdowns. A set of historical archives documenting the uprising was recently recommen

Police boost security alert as verdict on Yoon's impeachment nears

Police have placed their forces on the second-highest alert Thursday, a day before the Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on impeachment case of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid. The "Eulho" alert put half of all available police forces on emergency standby, while the highest alert, "Gapho," will be issued on Friday and assigns the entire force to the situation. Already, police completed the "vacuum zone" operation near the Constitutional Court by sealing off the area within a 150-meter radius around the court with police buses. On Friday, police plan to deploy some 14,000 personnel in Seoul. Meanwhile, protesters calling for and against Yoon's impeachment were set to hold overnight sit-ins Thursday. A progressive group calling for Yoon's ouster will rally in front of Anguk Station at 7 p.m. and march toward the Constitutional Court. The group plans to hold an overnight sit-in in front of Anguk Station, near the Constitutional Court, and watch the impeachment ruling set for 11 a.m. on Friday with other protesters. Separately, protesters opposed to Yoon's impeac

Korea attracted 1.17 million foreign medical tourists last year

Approximately 1.17 million foreign patients visited Korea last year to receive medical treatments, the highest number since Seoul launched its medical tourism initiative in 2009, reinforcing the country’s push to become a leading health care destination in Asia. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that the surge in the number of East Asian tourists drawn to Korea's cosmetic medical services was particularly striking. The number of visitors from Taiwan, China and Japan seeking cosmetic medical treatments in Korea last year more than doubled compared to 2023, with approximately 67,000 from Taiwan, 172,000 from China and 308,000 from Japan. Korea has been ranked the leading country in the beauty industry among 19 competitors, highlighting the strong global demand for its products and services, according to last year's survey by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Japan and China ranked first and second among 202 countries of origin for foreign patients, accounting for 37.7 percent and 22.3 percent, respectively. The ministry noted that Japanese and Chinese pati

Indonesian sailor who aided wildfire evacuation may receive residency

The Ministry of Justice announced that it is considering granting long-term residency status to Sugiyanto, a 41-year-old Indonesian sailor who helped evacuate older residents during a recent wildfire in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province. The F-2 long-term residency visa may be granted at the discretion of the justice minister to individuals recognized as having made a special contribution to the Republic of Korea or who have served the public interest. Sugiyanto assisted in the emergency evacuation on the night of March 25, when a wildfire that began in Uiseong County spread to his coastal village in Yeongdeok. Working alongside village fishery head Yoo Myung-shin, Sugiyanto went door-to-door to alert residents, many of whom are elderly, and help them escape to safety. Having come to Korea eight years ago on a work visa, Sugiyanto is fluent in Korean and is well-known among local residents. He shouted, “Grandma, there’s a fire in the mountain! You need to evacuate now!” as he banged on doors to wake sleeping villagers. Given the steep terrain and narrow coastal roads, eva

No. of foreign visitors to Korea for medical treatment hits record high last year: data

The number of foreigners traveling to Korea for medical treatment reached a new high in 2024, government data showed Wednesday, with their visits believed to have created an economic value of up to 14 trillion won ($9.55 billion). More than 1.17 million foreigners visited the country for medical treatment last year, nearly doubling from the 605,768 tallied in 2023, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The spike was partly attributed to a government-initiated project to attract more foreign patients. The visiting patients are forecast to have spent some 8 trillion won at hospitals, generating an overall economic effect of some 14 trillion won, according to the ministry. In 2023, foreign patients paid 3.9 trillion won in medical expenses here, creating an economic impact worth 6.9 trillion won. An accumulated 5.05 million foreign nationals visited Korea for medical services from 2009 to 2024. Last year, 37.7 percent of the patients were from Japan, followed by 22.3 percent from China, 8.7 percent from the United States, 7.1 percent from Taiwan and 3.3 percent

US Embassy advises citizens in Korea to avoid large gatherings ahead of Yoon's impeachment verdict

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul advised American citizens in Korea on Wednesday to avoid large crowds or demonstrations ahead of the Constitutional Court's verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. The notice came as the top court is set to rule on Yoon's impeachment over his brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. "In connection with the Constitutional Court's verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon, U.S. citizens should anticipate large-scale demonstrations and an increased police presence," the embassy said in a posting on X. "Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place, and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large crowds, gatherings, protests, or rallies," it said. The advisory follows a similar notice issued by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul the previous day, in which it called for its citizens to take caution regarding safety and security. The Chinese Embassy warned of "possible extreme incidents" and advised its people to "keep their distance from" and "not participate in, stay near, or watch" political demonstrations near the court and other areas in Seoul. (Yon

Palaces, museums near Constitutional Court to close on impeachment ruling day

Major cultural sites near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul will close on Friday when the court delivers its ruling on the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk Yeol. Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Deoksu Palace and Unhyeon Palace — all located in Jongno District — will be closed to the public that day to ensure public safety and protect national heritage, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. Changdeok Palace and Unhyeon Palace are located within a 1-kilometer radius of the court, while concerns over crowding due to expected rallies prompted the closure of Gyeongbok Palace and Deoksu Palace. Authorities said the closures may be extended depending on how the situation unfolds. Nearby public museums and facilities will also close. The National Folk Museum of Korea, located inside Gyeongbok Palace, and the National Palace Museum of Korea, located on its western side, will both be closed. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Seoul branch, along with the nearby Cheong Wa Dae (former presidential office) and the National Museum of Korean Con