South Korea - The Korea Times

Mother of late Coupang worker calls for truth behind workplace death

The mother of a late worker at a Coupang logistics center appeared before police Tuesday as a witness amid allegations the e-commerce giant attempted to cover up an industrial accident. The worker, Jang Deok-jun, died of acute myocardial infarction in 2020 after returning home from an overnight shift in 2020, with his death presumed to be linked to overwork. "Our family cannot contain our rage as to why a young man in his 20s was driven to such an unjust death," Jang's mother said, calling for the truth behind his death to be fully uncovered. The National Courier Workers' Union has accused the company of downplaying Jang's death and filed a complaint with the police against Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk last month, claiming that Kim instigated destruction of evidence to cover up the incident.

Jan 6, 2026By Yonhap

Mother of late Coupang worker calls for truth behind workplace death

Seoul approves Hyundai Motor’s revised headquarters plan

Seoul city officials have approved a redesign of Hyundai Motor’s planned headquarters in the southern part of the capital, reviving a project that had been mired in delays by setting a new 2031 completion target and replacing the original single-tower plan with three separate buildings. Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that negotiations triggered by the company’s request to alter the original plan wrapped up on Dec. 30, clearing procedural hurdles that had kept the Global Business Complex (GBC) project in limbo. The development on the former Korea Electric Power Corporation site near COEX was originally envisioned as a single 105-story “super tall” tower that would house offices, a hotel and cultural facilities. But objections from the military over potential interference with operations, combined with changing market conditions, pushed Hyundai to abandon the plan in favor of slimmer and shorter office towers. The negotiations resulted in an agreement that allows for three buildings on the 79,341 square meter plot, each 49 stories and about 242 meters high, Kim

Jan 6, 2026By Jung Min-ho

Seoul approves Hyundai Motor’s revised headquarters plan

Facing labor shortage, gov't enlists more foreign laborers to farm seafood

Faced with a shrinking workforce and a rapidly aging population, the Korean government last week began dramatically expanding its visa program for foreign workers, opening 15 sectors of the country’s struggling aquaculture industry to overseas labor. Aquaculture involves the controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms — such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed — and is often described as the "farming of the sea." It provides a sustainable alternative to traditional wild-capture fishing. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Justice said Monday that eligibility for foreign aquaculture workers, previously limited to only farming sea cucumbers, was expanded to include laver (edible seaweed), kelp and mussels, among others. About 200 foreign workers can be employed in Korea annually and are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in a fisheries-related field or an associate degree coupled with at least two years of relevant experience, while those without a degree must have a minimum of five years’ experience. Employers must pay wages of at least 80 percent of the previ

Jan 6, 2026By Park Ung

Facing labor shortage, gov't enlists more foreign laborers to farm seafood

Seoul moves to broaden use of autonomous buses to fill late-night transit gaps

Seoul is expanding its self-driving bus network to bolster late-night public transportation and improve transit in underserved neighborhoods, as city officials move this year to transition semiautonomous services from pilot projects into a permanent part of the public transportation system. So far, the city’s autonomous bus operations have been limited to a small number of pilot routes, including services in specially designated zones such as Sangam-dong. Now, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is scaling up the number of both vehicles and routes, focusing on time periods and areas where conventional bus services are insufficient. One of the most visible changes will be the expansion of autonomous buses operating in the predawn hours. Currently, the A160 — which stands for Autonomous 160 — runs once a day ahead of the normal 160 bus, servicing early morning commuters. The A160 leaves Dobongsan Station Metropolitan Transfer Center at 3:30 a.m. and travels to Yeongdeungpo Station, covering about 50 kilometers. What began as a single route is being expanded to four that will link key r

Jan 6, 2026By Jung Min-ho

Seoul moves to broaden use of autonomous buses to fill late-night transit gaps

Civic groups rally against Trump's capture of Venezuela's Maduro near US Embassy in Seoul

A coalition of civic groups on Monday chanted anti-U.S. slogans to protest against the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro outside the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, condemning U.S. President Donald Trump over a military strike. The rally involving 38 civic organizations took place after Trump announced Saturday that Maduro and his wife were taken into U.S. custody through a military raid in Caracas. Acting Venezuelan Ambassador to South Korea Natasha Faria Fernandez attended the rally and called for Maduro's immediate release while accusing the U.S. government of violating the U.N. Charter. Kwon Young-kook, leader of the left-wing Justice Party, called on the South Korean government to voice opposition to what he called the U.S. invasion of the South American nation at the rally. On Sunday, South Korea's foreign ministry urged all involved parties in the situation in Venezuela to ease tensions in the region. Another rally involving an umbrella group representing 267 civic organizations took place near the embassy the same day, with participants strongly condemning the U.S. milita

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap

Civic groups rally against Trump's capture of Venezuela's Maduro near US Embassy in Seoul

Over 20% of Koreans 65 and older in 2025: data

A little over 1 in every 5 Koreans was 65 or older in 2025, data showed Sunday, as the country moved deeper into the "super-aged society" category. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, some 10.84 million people were aged 65 and older in 2025, accounting for 21.21 percent of the entire population of about 51.11 million. Based on the United Nations' demographic classification, a country where over 20 percent of the population is aged 65 and older is defined as super-aged. Korea became one in 2024. Of the entire female population, 23.39 percent were 65 and older, compared with 19 percent for the male population in that age group. By region, the 65-and-over group accounted for 18.82 percent of the population in the capital area, while the figure was 23.69 percent in the rest of the country. The ministry said the seniors had over a 20 percent share of the population in 11 provinces and cities, including Seoul for the first time. The ministry's data also showed that the number of single-person households went up by about 1.5 percent from a year earlier to 10.27 million in 2025

Jan 4, 2026By Yonhap

Over 20% of Koreans 65 and older in 2025: data

1 killed, 9 injured in car crash in downtown Seoul

A woman in her 40s was killed and nine others injured after a taxi crashed into two vehicles in central Seoul, police said Friday. The accident occurred at around 6:05 p.m. on a street in front of Jonggak Station, when the taxi first crashed into a car, subsequently collided with a traffic pole at a crosswalk and then hit another vehicle, according to the police. Pedestrians who were waiting to cross the street were hit by the taxi during the crash. Police said the taxi driver, in his late 70s, showed no signs of alcohol or drug use. The woman was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest but later died. Among the nine injured, four complained of pain in the pelvis and knee, and were taken to hospitals. Of them was one Indian national, while three of those who were not taken to hospitals were Indonesian nationals. A witness told Yonhap News Agency that he heard a loud noise from across the street and saw smoke, adding that an ambulance arrived immediately and took away a woman who was lying on the ground bleeding.

Jan 2, 2026By Yonhap

1 killed, 9 injured in car crash in downtown Seoul

UN envoy signals scrutiny over 'fake news' law as lawyers condemn 'state censorship'

A United Nations free speech envoy has signaled scrutiny of Korea’s new “anti-false information” law, as Korean lawyers warn it could amount to state censorship and a threat to digital trade. In response to a Korea Times inquiry addressed to Irene Khan, the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression, her secretariat confirmed that the mandate is actively monitoring the situation following President Lee Jae Myung’s approval of the law earlier this week. The law will come into force in July. “The Special Rapporteur is following this matter very closely. We regret that it was not possible to take action before, due to numerous other commitments, but we will continue to work on this matter,” the secretariat said, indicating that further U.N. engagement is under consideration. The law targets the spread of “false” or “manipulated” information online, covering news outlets as well as major digital platforms. It allows courts to order punitive damages of up to five times the proven harm when media organizations or large online channels are found to have intentionally

Jan 2, 2026By Jung Min-ho

UN envoy signals scrutiny over 'fake news' law as lawyers condemn 'state censorship'

Korea in talks with US over 'anti-fake news' law

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Korea’s streets, parks and even travel itineraries are being redrawn by the sound of pounding feet, as a nationwide running trend shows no sign of slowing. Once a preserve of a small group of enthusiasts, running has evolved into a mass hobby, with some 10 million people — roughly double the figure from 2015 — now estimated to identify themselves as runners and lace up regularly, according to industry and tourism data. Marathons and road races are multiplying across the country, and running-themed trips, dubbed "run trips," that combine travel and races are emerging as a new form of leisure. For office worker Yoo Jae-moon, 38, the trend began last fall with a suggestion from a colleague. "I used to struggle even with walking fast," Yoo said. "Now I run 5 kilometers very slowly after work or on weekends, and just hitting 30 or 40 minutes feels like a big achievement." Running, he added, has helped him lose weight and feel stronger in his back and shoulders, and he is now considering his first half marathon this year. The appeal for many lies in simplicity and autonomy. After the COVI

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Nation hit by severe cold wave with heavy snow forecast in southern regions

A cold wave continued to grip the nation Friday as temperatures plunged and heavy snow fell on southern parts of the country, including South and North Jeolla provinces and Jeju Island, the weather agency said. As of 8 a.m., temperatures stood at minus 11.2 C in Seoul, minus 11.4 C in the western city of Incheon, minus 7 C in the southwestern city of Gwangju and minus 6.1 C in the southeastern city of Busan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Temperatures fell to near minus 15 C in some parts of Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital, the eastern province of Gangwon and northeastern parts of North Gyeongsang Province. The daily highs are forecast to reach minus 5 to plus 4 C. The cold wave is expected to continue through Saturday morning, with temperatures forecast to reach as low as minus 14 C before easing later in the day as winds change direction and blow eastward. Meanwhile, heavy snow alerts have been issued for western parts of the southern provinces of South and North Jeolla, the southern resort island of Jeju, and the eastern islands of Ulleung and Dokdo. As