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  • Law & Crime

    Police starting to track down person behind Gwangju high school bomb threat

    Police said Sunday they have launched a search for an individual who wrote an online post claiming that an explosive device had been planted at a high school in the southwestern city of Gwangju amid a controversy over baseball trash talk. The Korean National Police Agency said an investigation was launched after police and fire authorities received a report Saturday regarding an online message that claimed a bomb had been placed at Gwangju Jeil High School. "This act is an obvious crime that infringes on students' right to study and undermined the people's peaceful daily life," the police agency said. Police searched the high school Saturday, but an explosive device was not found. A controversy involving school baseball teams erupted after some players of Pai Chai High School in Seoul derided opponents of Gwangju Jeil with insensitive trash talk during a recent high school baseball tournament. Some Pai Chai players were heard yelling toward the Gwangju Jeil dugout, "Let's go to Starbucks!" and "Tank Day!" in reference to a controversial promotion by Starbucks Korea on May 18, the annivers

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Police starting to track down person behind Gwangju high school bomb threat
  • South Korea

    S. Korea's yearly working hours fall by 32 hours last year but remain longer than OECD average

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    S. Korea's yearly working hours fall by 32 hours last year but remain longer than OECD average
  • South Korea

    Advanced AI uses 136.5 times more electricity than standard chatbots, study warns

    2 MIN READBy Lee Kyung-min
    Advanced AI uses 136.5 times more electricity than standard chatbots, study warns
  • Education

    Researchers identify molecular subtypes of pediatric brain tumor, paving way for treatment

    2 MIN READBy Park Yoon-bae
    Researchers identify molecular subtypes of pediatric brain tumor, paving way for treatment
  • Education

    Sejong University ranks 10th in Korea, 64th in Asia in Asia University Rankings 2026

    2 MIN READBy Park Yoon-bae
    Sejong University ranks 10th in Korea, 64th in Asia in Asia University Rankings 2026
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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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Politics

National Assembly likely to vote on regional merger bills later this month

The National Assembly is likely to vote later this month on special bills to merge major cities and provinces into single administrative entities, in a move that would reshape the upcoming local elections in June. The Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee passed the merger bills during a plenary session Thursday, clearing the way for a floor vote at a full Assembly session. The proposed legislation seeks to integrate Daegu with North Gyeongsang Province, Busan with South Gyeongsang Province, Gwangju with South Jeolla Province and Daejeon with South Chungcheong Province to establish integrated local governments. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority at the National Assembly, said earlier it will push to pass the bills by the end of February. If approved by a majority vote at a plenary session later this month, the bills would pave the way for completing the regional mergers in time for the June 3 local elections to allow voters to elect the first governors of the newly integrated entities. Under the proposal, a so-called integrated special city would

Feb 17, 2026By Yonhap
National Assembly likely to vote on regional merger bills later this month
Environment & Animals

3 in 10 households in Korea raise pets, mostly dogs

Nearly 3 out of 10 households in South Korea raise pets, mostly dogs, government data showed Tuesday. A survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs showed that 29.2 percent of households were raising pets at home in 2025. Among these households, 80.5 percent raised dogs, while 14.4 percent raised cats and 4.1 percent fish. Pet owners spent an average of 121,000 won ($84) per month on their pets. The survey marked South Korea's first nationally approved statistical survey on pet ownership. In a separate survey on animal welfare, also conducted by the agriculture ministry, a little less than half of respondents said pet owners appear to be properly complying with pet-related requirements, such as using leashes and identification tags. Still, there existed a wide perception gap depending on the respondents' pet ownership, with 86.9 percent of those who own pets saying they comply with the rules, while only 39.9 percent of non-owners gave the same response. Regarding the penalty for animal abuse, 93.2 percent of respondents agreed with a need for stronger punishment for those

Feb 17, 2026By Yonhap
3 in 10 households in Korea raise pets, mostly dogs
Defense

From lobster to Norse god: How Korean weapons get new names abroad

Korean weapons systems are often sold overseas under different names, reflecting localization efforts and industrial partnerships with purchasing nations. A key example is seen in the K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system developed by Hanwha Aerospace Co. Chunmoo roughly translates to "sky dance" in Korean, evoking the image of multiple rockets soaring through the air. In Poland, the Chunmoo is referred to as Homar-K, part of Warsaw's Homar-branded rocket artillery program. Homar means lobster in Polish. Warsaw's Homar artillery family also includes Homar-A, the Polish version of the M142 HIMARS produced by Lockheed Martin of the United States. In Norway, Hanwha Aerospace's K9 self-propelled howitzer is called the K9 Vidar. Vidar is the name of a son of Odin in Norse mythology, associated with strength and survival. The name aligns the system's image with Norwegian heritage. Vidar also stands for versatile indirect artillery. The Polish version of Hyundai Rotem Co.'s planned K2 battle tank, to be produced locally starting in 2029, has been renamed K2PL, with the PL standing for Poland

Feb 17, 2026By Yonhap
From lobster to Norse god: How Korean weapons get new names abroad
Politics

Lee vows to become 'president for all' in Lunar New Year's message

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday he will continue efforts to better serve people and promote national unity as he marked the Lunar New Year in his second year in office. "This morning, as the Lunar New Year of the Red Horse dawns, I renew my commitment as a 'president for all,' who embraces and serves every citizen," Lee, dressed in traditional hanbok, said in a video message that also featured first lady Kim Hea Kyung. Lee, who took office in June last year following months of political turmoil triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in December 2024 and subsequent impeachment, expressed gratitude to the people for overcoming the crisis together last year. "Thanks to the people's concerted efforts over the past year, we are seeing a return to normalcy in every corner of society more quickly than expected," he said. "I extend my deepest gratitude to all of our sovereign citizens for safeguarding this nation, whether on the streets, at home or at work." Lee reaffirmed his commitment to building a country people desire despite differing perspectives and opi

Feb 17, 2026By Yonhap
Lee vows to become 'president for all' in Lunar New Year's message
Global Community

American folk musician Seth Mountain goes 'Over the Mountains' in latest EP

Seth Martin, better known in Seoul's music scene as folk singer Seth Mountain, has released a five-song mini-album titled "Over the Mountains." This is the latest installment in his push to complete what he calls the "Mountain Trilogy." This follows "This Mountain" (2016), which focused mostly on U.S. politics and social struggles, and "Through Dark Valleys" (2021), which turned inward and tuned into Korea. There are some new additions to some of the songs, but these five newly released recordings trace their origins way back to 2016, when Mountain was working on the first album in Portland, Oregon. After 10 years, he plans to complete the "Mountain Trilogy" with one more full-length album, on which he plans to include these five songs. He pictures that one being "less topical and more personal, philosophical, spiritual... but still acting as a sort of summit for the trio and making it all one mountain, so to speak." He added, "As for this EP, I want it to stand on its own as a project. But the songs used here will also feature on the third full-length mountain album, but mixed different

Feb 17, 2026By Jon Dunbar
American folk musician Seth Mountain goes 'Over the Mountains' in latest EP
Politics

Lee, PPP leader engage in clash over multi-homeowner policy

President Lee Jae Myung and main opposition People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok clashed Monday over the government’s approach to regulating multi-homeowners, escalating a war of words during the Lunar New Year holiday. In a post on X, Lee said housing rentals should be handled mostly by the public sector, citing the “national importance and public nature” of the issue. “Some argue that multi-homeowners supply rental properties and that if they sell, rental supply will shrink, pushing up monthly rents,” Lee said. “They insist that we should encourage and protect multi-homeowners and even provide tax and financial benefits.” However, Lee argued it is “fair and reasonable” to impose a certain level of responsibility and burden on multi-homeowners in the face of social problems arising from housing speculation. The president has in recent days repeatedly posted messages on social media, stressing the need to curb multi-home ownership to address real estate speculation, which he has described as a deeply sensitive public issue. Lee also shared a media report on Jan

Feb 16, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Lee, PPP leader engage in clash over multi-homeowner policy
Politics

Lee's approval rating rises for 3rd consecutive week: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose to 56.5 percent last week, a survey showed Monday, driven by the government's efforts to stabilize the property market. The rating was up 0.7 percentage points from the previous week, while the negative assessment fell 0.2 percentage points to 38.9 percent, according to the survey by Realmeter, commissioned by a local business news outlet. Realmeter attributed the increase to Lee's ongoing push to curb home prices by ending an exemption from the heavy capital gains tax for owners of multiple homes and the stock market's rise. The survey was conducted on 1,009 adults from Monday to Friday last week and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95 percent.

Feb 16, 2026By Yonhap
Lee's approval rating rises for 3rd consecutive week: poll
South Korea

Divorce rate goes up after national holidays due to family conflict, mental stress

Divorce filings tend to rise in the months following days of family gatherings, prompted by holiday-related stress and years of underlying tensions that remain unresolved, data showed Sunday. Many say divorce rarely results from a single event. Rather, major holidays that heighten pressure lead to a spike in mental stress that both spouses had previously kept unaddressed. A growing number of couples are choosing permanent separation, saying it is “not worth it” to try to have a conversation once they have reached the point where they no longer want to talk to each other. According to 2024 marriage and divorce statistics released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the total number of divorces last year remained in the low-90,000 range. What was notable was that January through March — which generally includes the Lunar New Year holiday — saw a relatively higher share of annual divorce filings than other months. January alone made up nearly 9 percent of the annual total. Couples married five to nine years accounted for the largest share of divorces, followed by those married fou

Feb 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Divorce rate goes up after national holidays due to family conflict, mental stress
South Korea

Cremation rate nears 95%; facility shortage feared amid rapid aging

The cremation rate in South Korea continues to be on a steady rise, data showed Sunday, prompting concerns over potential shortages of cremation facilities, especially in densely populated major cities, such as Seoul, amid the rapid aging of the population. The national cremation rate came to 94 percent in 2024, up from 92.9 percent a year earlier, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the welfare ministry. The figure has been on a constant increase over the past decades, rising from 33.5 percent in 2000 to 67.5 percent in 2010 and further to 89.9 percent in 2020. The supply of cremation facilities, however, has failed to keep pace with growing demand, with shortages particularly severe in Seoul and other major cities. The share of cremations conducted within three days of death fell from 86.2 percent in 2019 to 73.6 percent in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, standing at 75.5 percent in 2025. The rate in Seoul and Busan stood at 69.6 percent and 67.1 percent, respectively, last year, both below the national average. Experts say a

Feb 15, 2026By Yonhap
Cremation rate nears 95%; facility shortage feared amid rapid aging
South Korea

Major traffic congestion reported on outbound routes from Seoul amid Lunar New Year homecoming

Several sections of outbound routes from Seoul saw major congestion on Sunday as many South Koreans headed to their hometowns on the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday. The nation will mark the major holiday, known as Seol, on Tuesday, with the holiday period beginning over the weekend and running through Wednesday. Around 5 million vehicles were expected to hit the roads nationwide Sunday, causing the heaviest southbound traffic congestion, including 450,000 cars leaving the greater Seoul area and 380,000 heading toward it, according to the state-run Korea Expressway Corp. Several southbound sections of the Gyeongbu Expressway, the nation's most heavily traveled highway linking Seoul and Busan, saw vehicles at a standstill or moving at a crawl due to heavy traffic. Many parts of the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway, which runs north to south across the country, also saw traffic pile up. As of 5 p.m., the expected travel time by car from Seoul to the southeastern port city of Busan, about 330 kilometers away, was 4 hours and 50 minutes, while a trip to Daegu, some 240 km southeast of Seoul

Feb 15, 2026By Yonhap
Major traffic congestion reported on outbound routes from Seoul amid Lunar New Year homecoming
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