South Korea - The Korea Times

Seoul prepares safety measures ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun comeback show

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is rolling out a comprehensive crowd safety plan ahead of BTS’ long-awaited comeback performance next month, as officials brace for throngs of Korean and foreign fans in central Seoul. The K-pop group is scheduled to hold a live performance marking the release of its fifth full-length album at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 p.m. on March 21. “It is a big opportunity for Seoul that this event will be held at Gwanghwamun Square, the heart of the city, and we must make the most of it,” Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a Wednesday meeting about the BTS performance. “We sincerely welcome this event, and we must pay attention to safety issues, traffic flow and easing any inconvenience for residents.” Oh described BTS as “precious” partners who served as Seoul’s tourism ambassadors from 2017 to 2023, helping the city grow into a global tourism powerhouse, which attracts nearly 20 million foreign visitors a year. With fans expected to pack Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza and other central locations, the city government says it will focus on prevention‑oriente

Feb 4, 2026By Jung Min-ho

Seoul prepares safety measures ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun comeback show

Samsung scion says ‘no smartphone for 3 years’ led to admission at Korea’s top university

Lim Dong-hyun, the son of Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin and the grandson of late former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, entered Seoul National University in December. According to sources in the private education industry and reports by Maeil Business Newspaper, Lim appeared as a guest speaker at a private cram school in Daechi-dong, Seoul, during a briefing session for first-year students from Whimoon High School. He shared how he gained admission to the country’s most prestigious university, offering advice on preparing for the Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) and recommending students to refrain from using smartphones for three years. His advice included outlining strategies for managing grades and tips for the exams. The session reportedly included a presentation titled "A Regret-Free Whimoon High School Life," examples of exam problems he solved to illustrate his problem-solving approach and a Q&A session that drew participation from a sizable number of parents. Lim also shared his personal approach to preparing for the CSAT during the session. For the Korean languag

Feb 4, 2026By Hankookilbo

Samsung scion says ‘no smartphone for 3 years’ led to admission at Korea’s top university

Lee reiterates resolve to stabilize housing prices

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday stepped up his resolve to stabilize home prices, saying that people suffering from a jump in housing prices should get more consideration than owners of multiple homes. In recent weeks, Lee has delivered almost daily messages on his social media platform to cool home prices, as the government is set to end an exemption from heavy capital gains tax for multi-homeowners in May. In the latest message, Lee shared on X a link to a newspaper editorial highlighting the difficulties faced by multi-homeowners seeking to sell their properties before May 9, when the tax breaks are set to expire. Pointing out that the temporary exemption has been expected to expire each year since its introduction in 2022, Lee said responsibility for any resulting tax burden rests with multiple homeowners who failed to prepare for the possibility that the exemption would end. "People struggling with soaring housing prices deserve greater attention than multiple homeowners who unfairly expect that (the exemption) will be extended again while engaging in speculative real estate inv

Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap

Lee reiterates resolve to stabilize housing prices

Dubai chewy cookies have Koreans lining up once more

On a freezing January morning in Seoul, Jung Ha-ru stood shivering outside a bakery. She had been there since 8 a.m., all for a chance to snag a Dubai chewy cookie. “I saw it on Reels,” the 17-year-old said. “I had to see what the hype was about.” She wasn’t alone. By 8:55 a.m., the shop had already distributed all 75 waiting tickets to a diverse crowd ranging from students in padded jackets to middle-aged couples and retirees, all united by the same mission. The Dubai chewy cookie — a pistachio cream and kadayif-stuffed pastry wrapped in chewy marshmallow — has become a nationwide obsession, sparking a frenzy that defies logic. Dessert crazes are nothing new in Korea. From honey butter chips to tanghulu, the country has a track record of explosive, short-lived consumption crazes. In each instance, Koreans have shown a relentless dedication to the trend, braving hourslong “open run” lines and scouring the nation for the treats. But the Dubai cookie craze has reached unprecedented heights. Online users even crowdsourced a real-time Dubai chewy cookie map, updating which cafe

Feb 4, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Dubai chewy cookies have Koreans lining up once more

Honey Butter Chip, tanghulu, dujjonku: Rise and fall of Korea’s viral food trends

Lee to meet business leaders to discuss youth hiring, regional investment

President Lee Jae Myung will hold a meeting with major business leaders this week to discuss ways to expand youth employment and boost corporate investment outside the capital region, the presidential office said Tuesday. The meeting will take place Wednesday at Cheong Wa Dae, and will be attended by the heads and senior executives of Korea's top 10 conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, as well as executives from SK, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Group. Lee is expected to urge domestic companies to play a more active role in creating jobs for young people and increasing investment in regional production facilities, according to the presidential office. The gathering follows a similar meeting held last week when Lee invited leaders of foreign business chambers to Cheong Wa Dae and called for expanded youth hiring and greater investment in noncapital regions.

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap

Lee to meet business leaders to discuss youth hiring, regional investment

PHOTO Start of spring

Children hold up calligraphy bearing traditional greetings for Ipchun, the start of spring according to the 24 seasonal divisions, at a daycare center in Songpa District Office in Seoul, Tuesday, the day before Ipchun. Morning lows for today and tomorrow are forecast to be above freezing in many parts of the country, before another cold snap grips the country Friday. Yonhap

Feb 3, 2026By Park Han-sol

Vietnam to recognize Korea’s official language exam in university admissions

Vietnam will begin recognizing the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in its university admissions process this year, expanding the reach of the Korean government’s official language certification in international higher education. The Southeast Asian country is the second overseas jurisdiction after Hong Kong to adopt TOPIK as part of its university admissions process. The approval was granted through a ministerial decision issued on Jan. 12 by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training, according to Korea’s Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education on Tuesday. Vietnam’s university admissions system is centered on a nationwide high school graduation exam, much like Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test. Students are required to take exams in mathematics and Vietnamese, along with two additional subjects chosen from a pool of nine — including foreign languages and history — for a total of four. Under the new policy, TOPIK scores can replace the foreign language section of the high school graduation exam. Students who earn Level 3 or

Feb 3, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Vietnam to recognize Korea’s official language exam in university admissions

Woman gives birth in ambulance after 7 hospitals turn her away

A woman in her 34th week of pregnancy gave birth inside an ambulance in South Korea after being turned away by seven hospitals, underscoring ongoing strains on regional obstetric care. According to the Chungbuk Fire Department, a 119 emergency call was received at 8:23 a.m. Monday from a woman in her 20s reporting that her water had broken. Emergency dispatchers assessed that labor was imminent and contacted seven hospitals, including facilities with obstetrics departments in the region. All declined to accept the patient, citing a lack of available beds and other reasons. She gave birth inside the ambulance at 9:44 a.m., approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after the initial emergency call. She and the newborn were then transported at 10:11 a.m. to a hospital in Wonju, a neighboring city in Gangwon Province. Both the mother and child are in stable condition, according to authorities. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

Feb 3, 2026By Hankookilbo

Woman gives birth in ambulance after 7 hospitals turn her away

Seoul to deploy robots to improve disaster management

Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on Monday that it will use robots and new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) more proactively to address problems and improve its emergency response system. A key initiative under the plan is to expand the number of traditional markets covered by its fire patrol robots from two to four. These robots will autonomously patrol during late-night hours, using thermal sensors to detect high-temperature objects and send real time alerts. If their video analysis system determines that a fire has broken out, they report it to the local fire station and activate built-in dry chemical extinguishers to put it out. It will also deploy four-legged robots in dangerous underground spaces, such as tunnels that contain power lines, water pipes and gas lines, where toxic gases or smoke make human access difficult or unsafe. Equipped with LiDAR — a technology that uses laser light to build a detailed 3D image of the environment — and gas detectors, these robots can monitor hazards and search for people in real time. The city gov

Feb 3, 2026By Jung Min-ho

Seoul to deploy robots to improve disaster management

As towns shrink, municipalities compete to host new nuclear plants

As Korea’s rural towns empty out, an unexpected competition is emerging among struggling local governments vying to host new nuclear power plants. Once seen as dangerous and unwanted, nuclear facilities are now viewed as a last-ditch way to stem population decline and revive local economies. On Friday, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp., posted a notice inviting applications for new nuclear sites. It is inviting bids to host two large nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 2.8 gigawatts and a 0.7‑gigawatt small modular reactor (SMR). Municipalities that wish to participate are required to submit an application, including a consent resolution from their local councils, by March 30. The announcement follows the Lee Jae Myung administration’s decision to move ahead with additional nuclear construction to support the age of artificial intelligence (AI), which relies on energy‑hungry data centers and other power‑intensive infrastructure. In Ulsan’s Ulju County, some residents began campaigning even before the KHNP no