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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Korea’s higher education push stalls as foreign faculty numbers decline

Student enrollment at Korean universities is becoming more internationally diverse than ever before. Yet in contrast, the number of foreign instructors continues to decline, exposing structural limits in the country's globalization drive. Various factors, from low pay and rigid employment rules to visa constraints and housing costs, are undermining universities' efforts to attract and retain global faculty members. At the same time, universities face a delicate balancing act — easing barriers to bring in more foreign faculty while ensuring they are not hired merely to boost rankings, but can make meaningful contributions to research and teaching. Pay gap widens under tuition freeze Data from the Korean Educational Development Institute showed that the number of full-time foreign instructors surged from 1,671 in 2005 to a peak of 5,358 in 2013, before dropping below 5,000 in 2017 and declining further to 4,013 as of 2025. The trajectory tracks the budgetary strain universities began feeling after a tuition freeze. The freeze has its roots in the early 2000s, when criticism over steep tui

Apr 22, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s higher education push stalls as foreign faculty numbers decline

Unionized cargo workers blast BGF Retail, police over fatal truck accident during rally

Unionized cargo workers on Tuesday denounced the police and BGF Retail, the operator of the CU convenience store chain, blaming them for the death of a union member hit by a truck that ran into a group of rallygoers this week. On Monday, the 2.5-ton truck struck participants of a cargo worker rally under the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union near a CU logistics center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, killing a 50-something man and injuring two others. Authorities believe the collision happened as people tried to block the vehicle from exiting the site. Union members have accused police of recklessly facilitating trucks' exit from the area at the time of the rally, which was calling for negotiations with BGF Retail. The unionized cargo workers gathered outside the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency's headquarters in the nearby city of Changwon earlier in the day, calling for a thorough investigation into the accident. "(We) will not overlook BGF that refused dialogue and oppressed the union and police," the union said, accusing them of committing a "murderous act." Som

Apr 21, 2026By Yonhap
Unionized cargo workers blast BGF Retail, police over fatal truck accident during rally

Klook launches real-time rail booking service for foreign tourists in Korea

Global travel platform Klook launched a real-time train ticket booking service for international visitors in Korea, aiming to boost regional tourism through expanded rail access. The service, which went live Monday, is based on a ticket sales agreement signed in October 2025 between Klook and Korea Railroad (KORAIL). Through the platform, foreign travelers can check real-time train schedules and seat availability across all KORAIL routes and purchase tickets instantly via Klook’s mobile app and website. They can also board trains directly using digital vouchers, without exchanging them for paper tickets at a station counter. Klook supports more than 20 languages, over 40 currencies and a range of global payment methods, removing some of the friction that has made rail travel difficult for visitors unfamiliar with the Korean booking system. Klook's new service is expected to simplify the booking process for international visitors. The initiative aims to improve rail access for inbound tourists and encourage regional travel, with the broader goal of supporting local economies. “Railways

Apr 21, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Klook launches real-time rail booking service for foreign tourists in Korea

Seoul targets illegal foreign delivery riders as numbers quadruple over 2 years

With an increasing number of foreign nationals illegally working in delivery, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch a dedicated counseling and reporting channel in an effort to curb traffic safety risks and protect the livelihoods of domestic riders. Delivery work is permitted for foreign nationals only under select visa categories, including long-term residency (F-2), permanent residency (F-5) and marriage immigration (F-6). However, a growing number of foreign riders are illegally taking delivery jobs, the city said, raising concerns over income losses for domestic workers and traffic safety risks. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of foreign nationals caught illegally working in delivery and courier services more than quadrupled from 117 in 2023 to 486 in 2025. Following industry consultations, the city unveiled plans for a prevention and support-based approach, looking to strengthen counseling and guidance alongside enforcement. Under the initiative, Seoul will operate dedicated counseling and reporting channels through the Seoul Labor Center, where full-time l

Apr 21, 2026By Park Ung
Seoul targets illegal foreign delivery riders as numbers quadruple over 2 years

AI use triples among Seoul residents, but generational divide persists

Four in 10 Seoul residents have used a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, nearly triple the share recorded two years ago, but a sharp divide between younger and older users persists, according to a survey released Monday by the Seoul AI Foundation. The foundation's 2025 Seoul Citizens' Digital Competency Survey — conducted biennially since 2021 — polled 5,500 residents aged 19 and older, including 2,500 aged 55 and above, through in-person household interviews. Overall digital competency improved across all five measured areas — device use, service use, information literacy, ethics and safety — compared to 2023. The largest gain came in digital information literacy, which rose 3.8 points to 57.6, while digital safety climbed 2.1 points to 51.7. Older residents showed improvement as well, although their scores remained at roughly 64 percent of the overall average in device and service use, indicating a persistent gap. Generative AI use rose sharply, with 43.2 percent of residents reporting experience with the technology, up from 15.4 percent in 2023. Among those under 5

Apr 21, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
AI use triples among Seoul residents, but generational divide persists

Disability rights activists stage road protest in Seoul

A disability rights advocacy group staged a road occupation protest in central Seoul during Tuesday's morning rush hour, causing severe traffic congestion and injuring a police officer who attempted to maintain order. About 40 members of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination began the protest near Jonggak Station in the central ward of Jongno at 8:15 a.m., occupying bus lanes on both sides of the main road for about 35 minutes. The protesters called for the expansion of disabled-friendly low-floor buses and other measures to guarantee mobility rights for people with disabilities. A protester climbed onto a stopped bus and unfurled a banner with a slogan demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for the disabled. One police officer sustained rib injuries after colliding with a wheelchair while attempting to snatch the banner and was transported to the National Medical Center. Other members of the group simultaneously staged similar protests at two other locations of the capital, occupying roads and bus stops on Sejongdaero and Gwanghwamun Square.

Apr 21, 2026By Yonhap
Disability rights activists stage road protest in Seoul

K-water turns to AI in setting up Asia-wide water cooperation platform

Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) is tapping the Asia Water Council, the region’s water cooperation platform, to accelerate the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for water management and pave the way for Korean firms to expand into regional markets. As the council’s chair organization, K-water strengthened Asian collaboration networks to create more partnership opportunities for Korean water companies during a board meeting held in the Philippines from Monday to Tuesday. Asia’s demand for innovative water management is rising rapidly amid population growth, urbanization, the climate crisis and the need to upgrade aging infrastructure. The council is the largest water cooperation body in the region, currently bringing together more than 180 member organizations from 27 countries. K-water used a corporate technology expo held Monday to showcase domestic firms’ water management technologies and real-world applications to officials from governments, public agencies and businesses. Among the participating companies were those offering AI- and big data-based leak

Apr 21, 2026By Jung Min-ho
K-water turns to AI in setting up Asia-wide water cooperation platform

Korean students abuse ADHD meds more than cigarettes

Driven by intense academic pressure, more Korean teenagers abuse prescription stimulants now than smoke cigarettes. A recent National Youth Policy Institute survey of 3,384 middle and high school students nationwide found that 5.2 percent of respondents admitted to taking at least one prescription drug without a prescription. In contrast, only 4.2 percent reported smoking a cigarette at least once. The study highlights a dangerous shift toward the misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Among teenagers who reported taking unprescribed drugs over the past six months, 24.4 percent consumed methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant prescribed for attention problems and ADHD. Appetite suppressants were the second-most misused drug at 20 percent, followed by sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications at 13.3 percent each. The frequency of methylphenidate abuse is particularly severe. Among those who misused the ADHD medication over a six-month period, 23.1 percent took the drug 20 or more times a month, while 7.6 percent consumed it 6 to 19 times a month. T

Apr 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean students abuse ADHD meds more than cigarettes

95% of Seoul high school students watch YouTube, averaging 10 hours a week: study

Some 95 percent of freshman and sophomore high school students in Seoul use YouTube, spending an average of 10.8 hours a week watching videos on the platform, a new study found. A report released by the Seoul Institute on Saturday found that YouTube was the most widely used social media platform among first- and second-year high school students in Seoul, with 95.4 percent of the 500 respondents saying they used it. Instagram followed at 85.7 percent, while TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) trailed at 48.9 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively. The survey, based on individual interviews conducted in August last year, examined how high school students use social media and video-streaming platforms. High school students were found to spend an average of 10.8 hours a week watching YouTube, followed by 7.5 hours on Instagram and 2.6 hours on TikTok. Girls spent more time than boys on some platforms. On Instagram, girls logged 8.8 hours a week on average, compared with 6.4 hours for boys. On X, girls spent 1.2 hours, more than twice as long as boys, who spent 30 minutes. About 51 percent of resp

Apr 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
95% of Seoul high school students watch YouTube, averaging 10 hours a week: study

From YOLO to 'maps for beggars': How inflation impacts Gen Z spending

Consumer prices in Korea have surged this year, driven by soaring food and raw material costs. The increase burdens consumers, with many saying the cost of living outpaces official inflation statistics, forcing young adults to cut spending. In response, younger consumers are turning to extreme frugality, a survival strategy called "jjantech" — a portmanteau of the Korean words for "stingy" and "tech" — that replaces the previous generation's "YOLO" (you only live once) consumption. Driven by a prolonged economic recession and high exchange rates, people in their 20s and 30s are turning to digital platforms like "rooms for beggars" (geojibang) and "map for beggars" (geojimap) to gamify their penny pinching. On domestic mobile platforms such as KakaoTalk, participants share their daily expenses on public group chats and praise one another for completing the "no-spend challenge." "I purchased green tea teabags for 3,100 won ($2.10)," one user wrote. Another said, "Let's brew and drink them two or three times." When another user said, "I plan to spend 75,000 won for a marathon participa

Apr 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
From YOLO to 'maps for beggars': How inflation impacts Gen Z spending
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