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ICOMOS Korea urges joint impact assessment for high-rise project facing Jongmyo Shrine

Heritage experts in Korea on Monday urged the Seoul city government to undergo a Heritage Impact Assessment for a contentious redevelopment project near Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, warning that unchecked construction could threaten the area's historical integrity. The Korean National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Korea) also proposed a joint review involving the Seoul metropolitan government, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), and independent experts to examine the effects of redeveloping the Sewun District 4 area and explore alternative plans. Last month, the Seoul city government approved raising the building height limit in the area to 145 meters — more than double the previous cap — directly across from the shrine. The decision has ignited a standoff between local and central authorities. The central government argues that ultra-high-rise buildings would diminish the shrine's historical landscape, while the city contends the project would improve the surroundings by introducing a broad green space rather than harming the v

Nov 24, 2025By Yonhap
ICOMOS Korea urges joint impact assessment for high-rise project facing Jongmyo Shrine

Use 'em or lose 'em: Gov't vouchers expire on Nov. 30

The government is urging the public to use the remaining balance on state-issued consumption coupons before the program expires on Nov. 30, when all unused funds will be forfeited. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the coupons from the first and second phases of the consumption coupon initiative can be used until midnight on Nov. 30, emphasizing that any unused amount will automatically expire. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said the coupons have played a meaningful role in helping revive local economies. “Thanks to the active use of consumption coupons by citizens, neighborhood businesses have regained vitality,” he said. “For those who have not yet used their full coupon balance, please make sure to spend it before the deadline.” The ministry said it has been notifying users of the approaching deadline via the National Secretary Service, text messages, mobile apps and websites, in cooperation with credit card companies and local governments. As of midnight on Nov. 16, users had spent 8.8407 trillion won ($6 billion), amounting to 97.5 percent of the total 9.0688 trill

Nov 24, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Use 'em or lose 'em: Gov't vouchers expire on Nov. 30

Death of London Bagel Museum worker reignites debate over mandatory work-hour records

The suspected overwork death of a 26-year-old employee at the popular bakery chain London Bagel Museum has reignited a fierce debate in Korea over whether employers should be required to track work hours. At the heart of the controversy are questions about the employee’s actual working hours. The 26-year-old, who had been stationed at the company’s Incheon branch, was found dead in the staff dormitory in July, a day after finishing a late shift. The bereaved family alleges he had been pushed to work nearly 80 hours a week, often skipping meals and getting only a few hours of sleep. The company denied the claim, insisting his schedule did not approach 80 hours. It argued that as it operates within fixed business hours, prolonged overtime is unlikely to occur on a regular basis. The labor ministry began an inspection of London Bagel Museum and its Incheon branch on Oct. 29. The government is pushing ahead with plans to mandate work-hour recording, and the labor minister has stressed the need to implement the requirement without delay. “It makes no sense that a country with advanced IT

Nov 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Death of London Bagel Museum worker reignites debate over mandatory work-hour records

Starbucks customer stirs debate in Korea after charging electric unicycle inside cafe

A photo of a Starbucks customer with an electric unicycle plugged into a store outlet has spread online, sparking debate over safety and cafe etiquette. On Nov. 19, an online post on the community site Bobae Dream titled “Electric unicycle spotted at Starbucks, where does charging end?” included a photo taken inside a Starbucks store. The image shows an electric unicycle charger connected to a power outlet installed beneath a window seat. The poster said, “How far does charging at Starbucks go?” adding that “charging an electric unicycle indoors looks very dangerous.” Online users are divided. Those critical of the act say, “Electricity in cafes is offered as a convenience for phones and laptops, not for charging personal transportation devices,” and call it “a typical case of mistaking goodwill for a right.” Others worry that “this could lead to people charging electric bicycles or even electric cars next,” raising concerns about the safety risks of charging large batteries indoors. Some users, however, say the criticism is premature. One commenter asked, “Wha

Nov 22, 2025By Hankookilbo
Starbucks customer stirs debate in Korea after charging electric unicycle inside cafe

Working mothers on rise amid growing financial strain on households

Choi, a 42-year-old woman who lives in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, quit the trading company where she had worked for more than a decade as soon as she became pregnant. As an older expectant mother, she was worried that the job might put too much strain on her pregnancy. After giving birth, she stayed home to focus on child care, but recently returned to the workforce when her child turned three, taking a position at an IT-related startup. “With the rising cost of living and the growing burden of child care and education expenses, it became clear that we could no longer rely on my husband’s income alone,” she said. “Plus, the flexible work culture typical of startups made it an ideal environment for working mothers.” The number of working mothers juggling both work and household responsibilities has risen rapidly over the past year. In contrast, the number of women who leave the workforce due to marriage, childbirth, child care or family care has fallen to an all-time low. A survey by the Ministry of Data and Statistics showed that 64.3 percent of married women aged 15 to 54 who li

Nov 21, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Working mothers on rise amid growing financial strain on households

Many Korean investors pull out of home market, drawn by US stocks

Korea’s benchmark stock index, the KOSPI, recently soared past the 4,000 mark for the first time, a surge that would signal exuberant confidence in most major economies. Yet, beneath the number, a sense of anxiety persists, fueled by a long history of stagnation and a deep-seated fear among domestic investors that they are better off betting on Wall Street than on Seoul. For years, the index had been stuck between 1,800 and 2,100 — a long stretch of stagnation in the early 2010s that earned it the nickname “BoxPI,” a play on “box pattern.” Shaped by their personal experiences in the domestic market and a deep belief in U.S. stocks, many young investors remain drawn to Wall Street. Lee Sang-min, a 30-year-old consultant, said his portfolio is now entirely in U.S. stocks. “When I started investing at age 20, I put my money into the Korean stock market. Now, my entire portfolio is in U.S. stocks,” he told The Korea Times. The shift reflects a broader trend: Younger Koreans, frustrated by limited domestic returns and drawn by global opportunities, are increasingly moving capita

Nov 21, 2025By Park Ung
Many Korean investors pull out of home market, drawn by US stocks

PM orders swift, safe evacuations in response to wildfire

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday ordered local authorities to ensure the swift and safe evacuation of residents after a wildfire broke out in Inje, Gangwon Province. After being briefed on the situation, Kim instructed municipalities to mobilize all necessary administrative resources to support the evacuation of residents in affected areas. He also ordered the Korea Forest Service to work with the provincial government, the fire agency and the defense ministry to secure required response equipment, focus on early containment and prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby regions. Kim called on local authorities to ensure that evacuation shelters and emergency relief supplies are sufficiently prepared to minimize inconvenience for evacuees. The wildfire broke out at around 5:29 p.m. on a hillside in Inje, 132 kilometers east of Seoul, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Authorities have built firebreaks along the ridge where the wildfire is spreading in an effort to halt its advance. With nightfall making helicopter deployment impossible, authorities plan to dispat

Nov 20, 2025By Yonhap
PM orders swift, safe evacuations in response to wildfire

Outsmarted by AI? Video backlash exposes teachers' rising anxiety

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education came under fire after a promotional video for its AI learning platform portrayed teachers as inferior to artificial intelligence (AI), triggering an outcry among educators and reigniting a broader discussion about human oversight in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The two-minute video, posted on social media on Nov. 14, was meant to raise awareness of “Hi-Learning,” a pilot system introduced this semester for “future-oriented education.” It allows AI to grade student answers in subjects like Korean, social studies and science. In the video, a bewildered teacher struggles to answer a student’s question about an exam result, only for “Hi-Learning AI” to jump in with quick, insightful explanations. When the student asks for further details, the teacher looks helplessly at the AI, which promptly gives an answer. In another scene, the teacher tries to reassure the student by saying, “If you work harder, you will get a good result.” But the AI interrupts by saying, “Those are empty words. Your pupils are trembling and

Nov 20, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Outsmarted by AI? Video backlash exposes teachers' rising anxiety

Labor minister voices need to pass bill to raise retirement age by year-end

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon called for legislative efforts Thursday to raise the statutory age of retirement by the end of this year, while emphasizing that both companies and labor groups should reach a compromise amid the nation's rapidly aging population. Speaking to reporters at the government complex in the central city of Sejong, Kim emphasized that extending the retirement age is "a path that must be taken," while acknowledging challenges in narrowing differences between the two sides. "Raising the legal retirement age could lead to clashes when it comes to jobs at large companies and public institutions, which are strongly favored by the youth," he said. "If the retirement age is extended in these areas, companies will have no choice but to cut back on hiring the youth, so we need to find a middle ground where both generations can coexist." Labor groups have been pushing for the legislation to be passed within this year, citing the rapidly aging population and financial burden on retirees during the five-year gap before national pension benefits begin at 65. Business groups, ho

Nov 20, 2025By Yonhap
Labor minister voices need to pass bill to raise retirement age by year-end
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