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  • Politics

    Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation

    Han Seong-sook, Korea’s soon-to-be prime minister, arrives at the post with high expectations that she will leverage her technological expertise to help accelerate the country's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation. The parliamentary confirmation hearing committee approved a report, Tuesday, clearing Han as qualified for the post, with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leading the approval after she was nominated on June 7. Han is now just one step away from officially taking office, with her appointment to be finalized once the National Assembly approves the confirmation motion at a plenary session. The process leading to Han’s likely appointment comes as President Lee Jae Myung pushes to position Korea among the world's top three AI powers, alongside the United States and China. The blueprint has become increasingly concrete since Lee outlined the vision last year, with initiatives such as the government's allocation of a record 9.9 trillion won ($6.3 billion) for AI this year and public-private plans to build four new semiconductor plants in southwestern Korea to m

    2 MIN READBy Yi Whan-woo
    Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation
  • Defense

    Defense minister backs push for unified military academy as fundamental reform for future

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Defense minister backs push for unified military academy as fundamental reform for future
  • Law & Crime

    Outgoing North Chungcheong governor raided over bribery allegations

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Outgoing North Chungcheong governor raided over bribery allegations
  • Education

    Kookmin University student wins 2nd place at IBM Bob Hackathon

    2 MIN READBy Park Yoon-bae
    Kookmin University student wins 2nd place at IBM Bob Hackathon
  • Defense

    Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy

    3 MIN READBy Bahk Eun-ji
    Ukrainian outlet's critique exposes gaps in Korea's counter-drone strategy
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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.

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South Korea

Rare buncheong bottle among artifacts set for National Treasure designation

A boldly abstract buncheong ware bottle, once taken overseas and later returned to Korea, is among seven cultural artifacts newly proposed for National Treasure designation, officials said Thursday. The Korea Heritage Service said it has given preliminary notice to designate the “Buncheong flattened bottle with incised fish and line design,” along with six other works, as state-designated cultural properties. The buncheong bottle, believed to date to the 15th or 16th century in the Jeolla region, features a flattened body shaped on a potter’s wheel and refined by hand. White slip was applied before intricate patterns were carved using a sharp tool, creating expressive linear and fish motifs. The piece is noted for its abstract yet balanced composition across both faces and sides. The artifact was taken abroad during the Japanese colonial period by a Japanese collector and was repatriated in 2018 after a Korean collector purchased and disclosed it, officials said. Its relatively well-preserved condition and distinctive artistry underpin its value, they said. Among the other items, m

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Rare buncheong bottle among artifacts set for National Treasure designation
Defense

Korea to assume command of naval forces in RIMPAC exercise for 1st time

Korea will command naval forces of multinational countries for the first time during a U.S.-led combined maritime exercise scheduled for later this year, the Navy said Thursday. An admiral of the Korean Navy will take on the role of commanding the combined maritime component forces of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), set to take place in and around Hawaii from June 24 to July 31. It marks the first time for Korea to take the command of the maritime component forces in the RIMPAC exercise. In the previous drill in 2024, Korea took on a deputy commander position. The U.S. Third Fleet has also announced Korea's role for this year's exercise, along with Canada commanding the air component. Launched in 1971, the biennial RIMPAC is designed to enhance cooperation among participating countries in securing sea lines of communication and countering potential security challenges at sea. Korea joined RIMPAC in 1990. This year, the exercise will feature a multinational force involving more than 25,000 personnel, about 40 surface ships, five submarines and 140 aircraft, according to the U.S.

Apr 30, 2026By Yonhap
Korea to assume command of naval forces in RIMPAC exercise for 1st time
Global Community

Kelly's Irish pub helps put Nowon on Seoul’s cultural map

For many foreign Seoulites, the name “Nowon” is more familiar as a punchline than a place. Beyond the long-running joke that the northeastern district’s name sounds like “no one,” there isn’t a whole lot that’s known about it. For most, it’s regarded as a quiet residential district, known more for its apartment blocks and cram school clusters than for nightlife or cultural flair. But Kelly’s Pub, nestled above a street near Gongneung Station, is a sign that Nowon District is no longer a blank spot on the city’s cultural map. The small, wood-trimmed bar, run by Irish American expat Brendan Kelly and his wife, has become a surprising gathering place for locals as well as the steadily growing foreign community finding its footing in northeastern Seoul. Kelly’s Pub isn’t a themed bar, nor is it trying to import the heavy, old-world aesthetic of a classic Irish tavern. “Honestly, I just wanted a lot of wood,” Kelly said with a laugh. The interior is brighter than a traditional pub — intentionally so. “We’re on the second floor and a little hard to spot, so I

Apr 30, 2026By Alice Hong
Kelly's Irish pub helps put Nowon on Seoul’s cultural map
South Korea

SK hynix vest becomes Korea’s hottest status symbol

In Korea’s latest viral meme, the ultimate status look is simple: an SK hynix employee vest. The joke has spread across social media and online communities, where the company-issued layer is recast as an all-purpose upgrade for blind dates, shopping trips or any moment when a little visible status might help. No styling required. The logo says enough. The joke gained wider attention after Saturday Night Live Korea played on the idea in a recent sketch. In the scene, a man entering a luxury clothing store is treated coldly until he reveals an SK hynix vest under his jacket, prompting the clerk’s attitude to suddenly change. Behind the humor is a surge of attention on SK hynix, whose employees have been making headlines for unusually large bonuses tied to the artificial intelligence chip boom. Media reports have estimated this year’s profit-sharing bonus pool at 23 trillion won, or an average of about 700 million won (approx. $477,000) per employee, based on projected operating profit. The figure has turned the chipmaker into one of the country’s most talked-about companies, not onl

Apr 30, 2026By Jane Han
SK hynix vest becomes Korea’s hottest status symbol
South Korea

Trump Jr. attends Seoul concert, highlighting ties with Shinsegae chairman

Donald Trump Jr. attended a Seoul concert Wednesday by flutist Han Jee-hee, the wife of Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, underscoring his close relationship with one of Korea’s most prominent retail executives. Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, was seen at Lotte Concert Hall in Jamsil, southern Seoul, for Han’s Deutsche Grammophon album release concert, which began at 7 p.m. Reports say Chung waited in the lobby before the performance and greeted Trump Jr. and his partner, Bettina Anderson, with handshakes and brief embraces. Chung’s side then handed Trump Jr. a red “Make America Great Again” hat bearing the Trump name, which Trump Jr. signed and returned. The appearance drew attention because of the close ties between Trump Jr. and Chung. The Shinsegae chairman and his wife attended President Trump’s inauguration earlier last year and were later invited to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The concert was also attended by many high-profile figures from business, entertainment and sports, including Shinsegae Chairwoman Chung Y

Apr 30, 2026By Jane Han
Trump Jr. attends Seoul concert, highlighting ties with Shinsegae chairman
Policy & Trends

STEM professors take helm of Korean universities in AI era

A growing number of professors with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are being appointed as university presidents, demonstrating a rapid shift in the leadership landscape that underscores a broader refocusing of institutional priorities toward research and advanced technology. As the government ramps up support for industry-academia collaboration and pushes to expand the advanced tech workforce, even universities long known for their strengths in the humanities are pivoting to expand their focus on natural sciences and engineering. Among institutions ranked in the top 30 of The Korea Times K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026, 19 institutions — a clear majority — are led by presidents with backgrounds in natural sciences or engineering. Hanyang University’s ERICA campus, ranked 19th, was excluded as it shares the same president as the main campus. To account for 30 distinct university leaders, the analysis was extended to include the 31st-ranked institution. The trend shows a sharp reversal from a decade ago. In 2016, 17 of the 30 pre

Apr 30, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
STEM professors take helm of Korean universities in AI era
  • Top 30 in K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026
  • New Korean university rankings unveiled for international students
Law & Crime

Ex-POWs sue North Korea over forced labor

Five former South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) have filed a compensation lawsuit against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un at a Seoul court, seeking damages for forced labor. According to the Korean POW Families Association on Wednesday, the five war survivors — Ko Kwang-myun, 95; Kim Jong-su, 95; Lee Sun-woo, 96; Lee Dae-bong, 95; and Choi Ki-ho, 98 — have recently filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court, each demanding 21 million won ($14,200) in compensation. The plaintiffs claimed they were forced to work in mines in North Korea even after the 1953 truce that halted the Korean War, before defecting to the South in the early 2000s. The case marked the third of its kind following two similar lawsuits filed in 2020 and 2023 by two and three former POWs, respectively. Currently, only six former POWs, including the five plaintiffs, remain alive in South Korea. In February, they issued a joint statement calling for the establishment of a truth commission on South Korean POWs and the designation of an official remembrance day, marking the 12th anniversary of the publ

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-POWs sue North Korea over forced labor
Defense

South Korea faces export-readiness trade-off amid Gulf defense push

South Korea’s presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said this week that Seoul has secured priority crude oil and naphtha supplies from Gulf producers through the end of the year, a development that highlights a growing constraint on the country’s defense export ambitions as rising demand from the same partners collides with limits in industrial capacity and domestic military requirements. Requests from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to accelerate deliveries of South Korean air defense systems are emerging at a time of heightened regional demand following sustained exchanges with Iran. On April 12, The Wall Street Journal reported that Riyadh had approached firms including Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Defense & Aerospace (D&A) about expediting deliveries for Cheongung-II medium range surface-to-air missiles, while Abu Dhabi sought additional interceptor missile supplies. The urgency reflects the depletion of air defense inventories across parts of the Gulf after weeks of retaliatory strikes. Systems that are already in production and have demonstrated operational effective

Apr 29, 2026By Korea Pro
South Korea faces export-readiness trade-off amid Gulf defense push
South Korea

Seoul steps up diplomatic outreach to Africa ahead of major June summit

Korea is deepening its diplomatic engagement with African nations, convening a high-level meeting with ambassadors on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a major ministerial gathering set for early June. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it held a trilateral meeting with the African Group of Ambassadors in Korea and the Korea-Africa Foundation to review preparations for the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for June 1 and a business forum on June 2. About 20 African diplomatic missions took part in the talks. Chung Kwang-yong, director general for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the ministry, said strengthening strategic ties between Korea and African nations has become increasingly important amid shifting global dynamics. He said the upcoming ministerial meeting will build on momentum from the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and a senior officials’ meeting held last year. Chafik Rachadi, ambassador of Morocco to Korea, said African nations welcomed the preparations for the upcoming ministerial meetings and will actively cooperate to ensure the talks produce substan

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul steps up diplomatic outreach to Africa ahead of major June summit
Politics

PM Kim calls for speedy housing supply

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok paid a visit to a large housing construction site near Seoul on Wednesday to check on progress of the massive project designed to build more than 300,000 units around the capital city amid President Lee Jae Myung's push to rein in real estate speculation. The project, named "Third New City Project," has been under way since 2018, and ground was broken in 2023 to build the likes of Budang, Ilsan and Pangyo — newly developed towns under the first and second new city projects — to supply a total of about 314,000 new homes in Namyangju, Hanam and four other areas on the outskirts of Seoul. On Wednesday, Kim visited Namyangju's Wangsuk district, the largest site of the project. "A key priority of the government is to supply quality housing in a speedy, safe and meticulous way," Kim said during the visit, asking those in charge of the project to increase communication with residents and related government agencies to resolve problems as early as possible. Kim also asked officials to take preemptive measures to secure raw materials amid the Mideast war, officials

Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
PM Kim calls for speedy housing supply
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