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New campaign for Seoul residents calls for cutting 1 trash bag per person annually

The Seoul Metropolitan Government launched a citizen-led campaign Monday, encouraging residents to reduce household waste by one trash bag per person each year, with the goal of cutting 40,000 tons of waste over the next two years. Under the campaign, each resident is asked to cut waste by the equivalent of one standard 10-liter city-issued garbage bags. Currently, the average Seoul resident uses about 48 such bags annually. If all 10 million residents participate, the city estimates the effort will reduce waste by about 60 tons per day, which is roughly half the daily household waste generated by a single district in the city, which averages 120 tons. Achieving the target would result in a reduction of about 44,000 tons of household waste over two years. The campaign follows a ban on direct landfilling of household waste in the Seoul metropolitan area that took effect Jan. 1. Since then, Seoul has been forced to ship some of its waste to regions outside the capital area because of limited treatment capacity within the city. As of this month, 0.9 percent of household waste generated in

Jan 26, 2026By Anna J. Park
New campaign for Seoul residents calls for cutting 1 trash bag per person annually

Korea turns to viral cookies, K-pop photo cards to address chronic blood shortage

Choi Sang-hun, a 21-year-old office worker who regularly donates blood, had never tried a Dubai chewy cookie known as “dujjonku,” even as it surges in popularity to become one of the hardest treats to find in Korea. He finally got a taste at the Gwanghwamun Blood Donation Center in Jongno District, central Seoul, where the cookies were handed out to the first 100 people to donate blood that day. “I don’t know yet whether it tastes good because I haven’t tried it, but it feels great to get one,” Choi told The Korea Times. His story points to a broader effort by the Korean Red Cross, which oversees the nation’s blood supply, and has turned to a growing list of incentives — from viral cookies to K-pop — as it struggles to ease a chronic blood shortage. The Korean Red Cross has not met this year's benchmark for adequate daily blood supplies of at least five days’ worth, meaning it remains at the “alert monitoring” stage. The strain of an inadequate supply follows a recent slide in reserves: Blood supplies met the adequate level for 242 days in 2023 and 304 days in 2024

Jan 24, 2026By Park Ung
Korea turns to viral cookies, K-pop photo cards to address chronic blood shortage

Korea's older adults pushed aside in bid to beautify public park

Last year, Seoul’s Jongno District announced plans to remove all janggi (Korean chess) and baduk (Go) tables at Tapgol Park — a decision that sparked controversy, with critics viewing it as a de facto policy to push older people out of the public spaces surrounding the park. The move was not an isolated incident. City authorities pursued what they called a “sanctification project” at Tapgol Park 25 years ago, during which older people were pushed aside in the name of improving the park’s appearance. Now, critics say little has changed in how the city treats its older residents. While disruptive behavior should be addressed, they argue, enforcement must be more carefully calibrated — one that respects seniors’ autonomy rather than simply displacing them. Lee Kang-won, a professor of Japanese regional culture at Incheon National University who conducted field research in the Tapgol area in the early 2000s, says older people have repeatedly been pushed aside by administrative measures. In 2001, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the “sanctification project” at Tapg

Jan 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korea's older adults pushed aside in bid to beautify public park

Seoul Botanic Park named national hub for rare, endemic plant conservation

Seoul Botanic Park on Friday held a plaque ceremony marking its designation as a national conservation institution for rare and endemic plants, joining a small group of facilities tasked with safeguarding Korea’s plant genetic resources. Designated by the Korea National Arboretum, “national rare and endemic plants conservation organization” status is granted to arboretums that manage at least 30 rare or endemic plant species and employ at least two professional curators to support plant genetic resource conservation and research. Nationwide, 31 institutions hold the designation, with Seoul Botanic Park becoming the second in the capital after Pureun Arboretum. Located in the southwestern Gangseo District, Seoul Botanic Park opened in 2019 and has built ex situ, or off-site, conservation capacity by conducting ongoing research on native plants. The park currently maintains around 6,600 plant genetic resources, including rare and endemic species designated by the Korea Forest Service. Building on that role, it plans to strengthen management and research for long-term preservation, exp

Jan 23, 2026By Park Ung
Seoul Botanic Park named national hub for rare, endemic plant conservation

ExclusiveKorea to track English-taught university courses for 1st time

The Ministry of Education will begin tracking the number of English-taught courses at universities this year, in line with a surge in international student enrollment. The move marks the government’s first nationwide effort to collect such data, which until now had been left to individual universities. An education ministry official told The Korea Times recently that the data will serve as a key reference for overseas students, as Korea attracts not only full-time degree seekers but a growing number of short-term exchange and visiting students from an expanding range of countries. Once disclosed annually, the data could serve as a barometer of the government’s growing policy emphasis on English-taught instruction for universities nationwide. Universities broadly agreed with the rationale, as Korea’s school-age population shrinks and institutions expand international student recruitment under the government’s regional university initiative. Increasing the number of English-taught courses is widely seen as a necessary step. However, they also urged caution, saying the issue requires

Jan 23, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korea to track English-taught university courses for 1st time

Why Koreans hold celebrities to sky-high moral standards

Korea’s harsh moral expectations for public figures have once again come under scrutiny, as star chef Im Seong-keun saw his hard-won fame evaporate almost overnight following revelations of past drunk-driving offenses. Sociologists say this goes beyond cancel culture, reflecting how Korean society views celebrities as moral proxies, emotional surrogates and symbols of justice in an unequal society. Im shot to national fame on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars" Season 2, where viewers praised his skill, humor and easy rapport with younger chefs. His simple, affordable recipes went viral on YouTube, and by early January his inbox was overflowing with collaboration requests and commercial offers from major broadcasters and brands. The momentum collapsed on Sunday, when he posted a YouTube video confessing to multiple drunk driving offenses over roughly a decade, saying he had "made mistakes because of my love for alcohol" and had even had his license revoked. Subsequent reporting revealed at least four DUI cases, including one involving riding a motorcycle while intoxicated and without

Jan 22, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Why Koreans hold celebrities to sky-high moral standards

Cha Eun-woo faces allegations of 20 billion won tax evasion

As allegations of large-scale tax evasion involving Chae Eun-woo — an actor and member of the idol group ASTRO — emerged, his agency released an official statement saying it will actively cooperate with authorities to clarify the matter. “The key issue is whether a company established by Cha’s mother qualifies as a legitimate subject of taxation,” Fantagio said in its statement regarding the allegation of 20 billion won ($13 million) in tax evasion. “The company will actively clarify its position through appropriate legal procedures concerning the interpretation and application of tax law.” The agency added, “Cha Eun-woo and his tax representatives will fully cooperate throughout the process to ensure it is concluded as swiftly as possible, and he will continue to faithfully fulfill all tax reporting and legal obligations as a law-abiding citizen.” Earlier in the day, Edaily reported that the National Tax Service had notified Cha of additional taxes — including income tax — totaling more than 20 billion won. According to the report, a company founded by Cha’s mothe

Jan 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo faces allegations of 20 billion won tax evasion

Seoul’s population outflow slows as young residents move in

Seoul has consistently seen more people in their 20s and 30s move in than relocate to other regions over the past 24 years, while the overall decline in number of people leaving the capital city has slowed. The Seoul Metropolitan Government released the data Thursday, based on a comprehensive analysis of population movement into and out of the capital from 2001 to 2024, including migration flows, reasons for relocation and age-specific mobility patterns. The data shows that Seoul continues to experience a net population outflow, with more people leaving the city than moving in. Still, the scale of the outflow has narrowed: In 2024, the city’s net loss fell to 44,692, less than half the 113,949 recorded in 2001. Among young adults, the trend has reversed. Since 2019, Seoul has attracted more residents in their 20s and 30s than it has lost. This age group saw a net inflow of about 19,000 in 2019 and has continued to record annual gains, with the sole exception of 2021. Employment has emerged as an increasingly important factor driving young people to move into Seoul. Among those relocatin

Jan 22, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Seoul’s population outflow slows as young residents move in

BTS comeback sparks tenfold hotel price hikes, forced cancellations

The return of K-pop juggernaut BTS is fueling an economic boom in local commercial districts, but it has also triggered a wave of price gouging, with hotel rates soaring tenfold and guests reporting forced cancellations. Local governments say they plan to crack down on such practices, but critics argue they lack effective tools to impose real sanctions. After the group’s 2026 world tour schedule was announced, accommodations in Goyang (Gyeonggi Province), Busan and Seoul — the confirmed Korean stops — sold out almost instantly. Major hotels near the stadium in Goyang are already fully booked for the concert dates of April 9, 11 and 12. According to industry sources Tuesday, rooms at Sono Calm — 826 rooms, 730,000 won ($500) per night — and the Gloucester Hotel — 422 rooms, 600,000 won per night — are fully booked. Smaller lodgings are also filling up fast as inquiries flood in. Local businesses are celebrating the BTS effect. “The local commercial district, which struggled after the pandemic, is vibrant again,” said Na Do-eun, a representative for small businesses in Goy

Jan 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS comeback sparks tenfold hotel price hikes, forced cancellations

Seungri and the shadow of 'Burning Sun': New allegations in Cambodia

Seungri, once one of the best-known K-pop stars and a former member of the idol group BigBang, was forced to retire after a massive scandal erupted in 2019. The incident came to be known as the “Burning Sun” scandal and involved several celebrities and police officers. Seungri was among those implicated, accused of being one of the ring leaders. Now allegations have emerged that he is pursuing another entertainment business in Cambodia. Journalist Oh Hyuk-jin made the claims on Tuesday on his YouTube channel. Citing multiple tips, he said Seungri was attempting to join the nightlife industry and may be holding business-related discussions in Cambodia. “He is making contacts with individuals linked to money laundering, voice phishing rings and casino operations,” Oh said, adding that there were reports of Seungri socializing with senior figures at so-called “crime compounds” in Cambodia. Those compounds are locations where organized criminal groups are believed to run voice phishing operations, luring job seekers from South Korea, Japan and China and subjecting them to coercion

Jan 22, 2026By Xportsnews
Seungri and the shadow of 'Burning Sun': New allegations in Cambodia
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