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  • Politics

    PM says gov't should put top priority on reining in inflation

    Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday the government should focus on reining in inflation, after data showed that the country's consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in 30 months last month due to the lingering impact of the Middle East conflict. Despite easing tensions in the Middle East, the government should not let its guard down as the economy is still facing challenges, such as high oil prices and a weakened Korean won, Han said while presiding over an emergency economic response meeting on her second day in office. "More than anything else, we should make it our highest priority to concentrate on managing prices," Han said. "We should put in maximum efforts to stabilize prices, such as monitoring the prices of items closely related to people's livelihoods in real time and swiftly carrying out supply measures in a bold manner." Han said the government should also prepare measures in advance for economic cooperation with the Middle East, including restoring machinery and auto exports to the region and contributing to post-war recovery efforts. Earlier in the day, data from

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    PM says gov't should put top priority on reining in inflation
  • Society

    Scuffles break out among protesters ahead of parliamentary on-site probe into ballot shortages

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Scuffles break out among protesters ahead of parliamentary on-site probe into ballot shortages
  • Politics

    Lee vows to turn Chungcheong region into center of AI-led innovation

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee vows to turn Chungcheong region into center of AI-led innovation
  • South Korea

    Korea trims bureaucracy to woo elite global tech experts

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Korea trims bureaucracy to woo elite global tech experts
  • Society

    Disability rights activists resume subway protest in Seoul after 6-month hiatus

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Disability rights activists resume subway protest in Seoul after 6-month hiatus
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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

Korea channeling funds to regional universities to boost local economies

The government will direct new funding to regional universities to better align education, research and employment, the Ministry of Education said Wednesday, as it seeks to turn local campuses into engines of industry-led growth. The ministry's “Regional Talent Development Plan Linked to Growth Engines” program is targeting closer alignment between universities and key industries across five major regions and three special zones. Three flagship national universities will be selected this year for intensive support, including the creation of so-called “brand colleges” that integrate undergraduate and graduate education and research with industry demand. Each school will receive about 100 billion won ($68 million) in additional funding to strengthen its role as a regional education and research hub. The plan calls for industry-led curricula and joint research with companies, alongside new convergence research institutes connecting universities with corporations and public research bodies. To attract top talent, universities will expand scholarships, research opportunities and stipen

Apr 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea channeling funds to regional universities to boost local economies
South Korea

New zoo disease rules aim to curb outbreaks across Korea

The National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention issued a sweeping set of biosecurity protocols for the country’s 121 registered zoos, Wednesday, in an effort to strengthen defenses against zoonotic outbreaks that threaten both animal populations and public health. The new “Zoo Disease Management Guidelines,” released by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, establish standardized response triggers for the first time. The rollout is intended to tighten what has been a patchwork of local prevention measures, with a focus on limiting cross-species transmission and safeguarding the health of animals in captivity as the risk of wildlife-borne diseases rises globally. The guidelines were developed under the Zoo and Aquarium Management Act and are intended to support zookeepers, veterinarians and related personnel in carrying out their duties more effectively, the institute said. They outline step-by-step actions to take in the event of disease outbreaks, along with practical instructions for routine disease control. The document also includes checklists and

Apr 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
New zoo disease rules aim to curb outbreaks across Korea
Society

Digital scavenger hunt aims to draw hikers to Namsan Park

Lace up for a May to remember: Yongsan District is turning the slopes of Namsan Park — the forested mountain that divides the capital’s historic core from the Han River — into a monthlong scavenger hunt. Starting Tuesday, the district’s “Walking Stamp Tour Challenge” invites hikers to track their progress along trails with sweeping views of the old city walls to the north and the skyline of Yongsan District to the south. The “Springtime Namsan Walk” challenge will run from May 1 to 31. Participants can use the Walk On app to collect digital stamps at 10 designated locations across Namsan Park. The stamp sites include Namsan Library, Waryongmyo Shrine, Jamdubong Observatory, Hanyangdoseong Fortress Observatory, N Seoul Tower, Pildong Rest Area, the rest area in front of Namsan Seoul Tower Hanbok Culture Experience Center, Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden rest area, the entrance to the meditation garden known as Sesaek-ui Gongwon (translated as the Park of Three Colors) and the National Theater of Korea. To participate, users download the WalkON app, select the Namsan Park S

Apr 15, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Digital scavenger hunt aims to draw hikers to Namsan Park
Society

New early-morning Seoul bus route links residential northeast to major southern hub

Seoul is expanding its autonomous bus network with a new early-morning route connecting the residential Sanggye district in the northeast to the Express Bus Terminal south of the Han River, the city government said Tuesday. The service is designed to provide a predawn transit link for commuters before regular subway operations begin. The A148 bus route is scheduled to begin service at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, providing a new transit link across the city. The 22.1-kilometer line will connect residential neighborhoods in the northeast to commercial hubs south of the Han River, with stops at Mia Sageori and Gyeongdong Market before crossing into the Apgujeong district. Operating as an express service, the bus will pick up and drop off passengers only at 41 high-demand stops along the existing No. 148 corridor, allowing riders to reach their destinations roughly 15 minutes faster than the regular route. The route also extends service to the Sanggye Station-Suyu Station segment in northeastern Seoul not covered by the standard No. 148 line. The A148 uses a Hyundai’s Elec City 31-seat electric bu

Apr 15, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
New early-morning Seoul bus route links residential northeast to major southern hub
Society

American YouTuber Johnny Somali sentenced to 6 months in prison for offenses in Korea

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced American YouTuber Johnny Somali to six months in prison and 20 days of detention on Wednesday for a series of disruptive and offensive acts committed in Korea. The court also barred him from working at institutions involving children, adolescents and people with disabilities for five years. Somali, who had been free throughout the trial, was taken into custody in the courtroom following the ruling over concerns that he is a flight risk. The 24-year-old, whose legal name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, was convicted of charges including obstruction of business and distribution of false sexual video content and had drawn widespread public anger for provocative and demeaning behavior. In February, prosecutors sought a three-year prison sentence and a 150,000 won ($101) fine for Somali, who was indicted for interfering with business by blasting music and spilling cup noodle broth at a convenience store in Mapo District, Seoul, in October 2024. That same month, he confronted pedestrians with a bag of foul-smelling fish and disrupted people on buses and sub

Apr 15, 2026By Park Ung
American YouTuber Johnny Somali sentenced to 6 months in prison for offenses in Korea
South Korea

Joseon heritage tour reopens with new focus on young monarch's tragic story

A popular heritage tour through the royal tombs of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty will return this month with an expanded itinerary, officials said Wednesday, including a newly added overnight route tracing the life and death of King Danjong, the teenage monarch who was overthrown and later killed after a brief reign. The Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said its Royal Tombs Eight Scenes program will operate 34 times from April 30 to Nov. 15, marking its sixth year, with guided tours taking participants through eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed Joseon royal tombs, paired with expert commentary and cultural experiences. The program is divided into two sessions, running from April 30 to June 13, and from Sept. 5 to Nov. 15. This year, the organizers have expanded the Path of Danjong course from a one-day itinerary to a one-night, two-day program, reflecting renewed public interest following the film “The King's Warden.” The route traces the tragic story of King Danjong and Queen Jeongsun. The program will accommodate 26 participants per session, with up to 30 pa

Apr 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Joseon heritage tour reopens with new focus on young monarch's tragic story
Defense

Lee calls Marine Corps 'vanguard' of military on founding anniversary

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday marked the 77th anniversary of the Marine Corps, saying the military branch stands at the "vanguard" of the armed forces, the Marine Corps said. "Since its establishment in 1949, the Marine Corps has firmly defended the freedom and peace of South Korea ... standing at the vanguard of the military," Lee said in a congratulatory message marking the anniversary. He called on the armed service to continue fulfilling its role based on strong combat power and firm unity, the Marine Corps said. Some 300 officials, including U.S. Marines based in South Korea, attended a ceremony marking the anniversary held at its headquarters in Hwaseong, south of Seoul.

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
Lee calls Marine Corps 'vanguard' of military on founding anniversary
South Korea

S. Korea expands direct air travel baggage transfer program to 3 US airports

South Korea has added two more U.S. airports to its program allowing travelers from Seoul's Incheon airport to connect to a transfer flight in the United States without having to claim and recheck baggage for the flight to their final destination, the transport ministry said Wednesday. The International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) program had been available only for passengers transferring at Atlanta, Georgia, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The program will be extended to two international airports in Detroit and Minneapolis starting Thursday, it said. The expansion was made in cooperation with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection, with the two sides also agreeing to further improve transfer procedures in the future. Under the system, X-ray images of baggage checked at Incheon are transmitted in advance to the U.S., allowing security officials there to screen luggage before the aircraft arrives. If no issues are detected, baggage is transferred directly to connecting flights. The program was first introduc

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea expands direct air travel baggage transfer program to 3 US airports
Society

Middle East crisis deals blow to Seoul's small manufacturers

When the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Jeong In-sun, who works at a small plastics manufacturer in central Seoul's Euljiro area, did not immediately realize that the war would reach her workshop. “The outer casings of clocks are made from plastic injection pellets, and since the Middle East crisis started, the prices of those materials have more than doubled,” the 60-year-old told The Korea Times Monday. Jeong's case illustrates how Korea's small manufacturers have taken a direct hit as the Middle East conflict chokes shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting supplies of key materials and driving up costs across the board. Tensions in the Middle East see no signs of easing despite a two-week ceasefire agreement, with a peace deal seeming elusive for now. “If this situation continues, we may have to suspend operations for the foreseeable future,” Jeong said. The crisis has placed small manufacturers like Jeong in a dilemma: Should they raise the prices of their products? Jeong said it is not a straightforward choice. “If we double our pri

Apr 15, 2026By Park Ung
Middle East crisis deals blow to Seoul's small manufacturers
South Korea

IMF holds S. Korea growth at 1.9%, raises inflation to 2.5%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday kept its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea unchanged at 1.9 percent despite the Middle East crisis, the finance ministry said. While keeping its outlook unchanged for Asia's fourth-largest economy, the institution revised down its growth projection for the global economy by 0.2 percentage point from its January forecast to 3.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. "Despite the impact of the Middle East situation, the country's growth outlook remained unchanged on the back of strong exports and offsetting effects from a supplementary budget," the ministry said, citing the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook report. "The government will maintain the current emergency response system amid heightened uncertainties and swiftly implement measures to stabilize prices, supply chains and financial markets," it added. As for prices, the IMF raised its inflation forecast for South Korea this year by 0.7 percentage point to 2.5 percent, citing rising global oil prices due to supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East cris

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
IMF holds S. Korea growth at 1.9%, raises inflation to 2.5%
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