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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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South Korea

Magnitude 3 earthquake hits northern Gyeonggi Province

A magnitude 3 earthquake struck an area northeast of the border county of Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province early Sunday, according to the country's weather agency. The quake occurred in an area 4 kilometers northeast of the county at 4:13 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. It marked the most powerful earthquake reported on the Korean Peninsula this year. The epicenter was at latitude 38.13 degrees north and longitude 127.1 degrees east at a depth of 9 km, it said. The previous earthquake with a magnitude of over 3 reported within the 50-km radius of where the quake occurred Sunday took place May 10 last year, when a magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck the area. A total of 19 earthquakes have occurred in the area since 1978. Sunday's earthquake marks the first time that one with a magnitude of over 3 was reported on the Korean Peninsula and in waters surrounding it this year.

Feb 15, 2026By Yonhap
Magnitude 3 earthquake hits northern Gyeonggi Province
Laughing through History

LAUGHING THROUGH HISTORY 24 'A Truly Dumbfounding Fate'

Traditional Korean society valued boys over girls, in part because a male heir was considered necessary to continue the family line. But because parents couldn’t choose a baby’s sex, this became a significant point of anxiety when a baby was born. (It’s worth pointing out that this preference has decreased in contemporary Korean society.) And since one role of humor is to express social tensions, this lead to the appearance of a particular humor figure — the man with many daughters but no sons. The two jokes below feature such characters. These jokes depend on the social background knowledge that having daughters but no sons is considered a terrible misfortune. In other words, the humor is sexist by definition. The goal of translating them isn’t to make readers laugh (they probably won’t), but to provide a window to the era they come from, and possibly to provide insight into how humor from our own era works. The second joke here mentions a theater called Gwangmudae, which existed from 1898 to 1930 and would have been in operation when this book was published. It was one of

Feb 15, 2026By G.S. Hand
[LAUGHING THROUGH HISTORY 24] 'A Truly Dumbfounding Fate'
Environment & Animals

Korea reports 15th African swine fever case this season

Korea confirmed the 15th case of African swine fever (ASF) this season, Saturdy, prompting quarantine authorities to step up efforts to prevent further infections during the five-day Lunar New Year holiday. The new case was reported at a pig farm in the county of Changnyeong in South Gyeongsang Province, some 263 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the central disaster management headquarters for ASF. Authorities dispatched quarantine officials to the affected farm to conduct an epidemiological investigation and restricted access to the site. All pigs at the farm will be culled to prevent further spread. They urged owners and employees of pig farms and butcheries to fully comply with quarantine and standstill guidelines to curb the spread of the animal disease.

Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Korea reports 15th African swine fever case this season
Law & Crime

Ex-interior minister appeals 7-yr prison term for martial law involvement

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has appealed a court ruling sentencing him to seven years in prison for playing a key role in an insurrection in connection with former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched bid to impose martial law, according to legal sources Saturday. Lee's lawyers filed the appeal the previous day, two days after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of involvement in Yoon's failed attempt, Dec. 3, 2024, and perjuring himself during the former president's impeachment trial last year. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had demanded a 15-year prison term for Lee, accusing him of giving instructions to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration on the night of Yoon's martial law declaration. Lee is the second member of the former president's Cabinet to be convicted over the emergency order after former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison sentence last month for his role in the short-lived attempt.

Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-interior minister appeals 7-yr prison term for martial law involvement
Global Community

How Korean-Irish creative agency CMR is helping shape Seoul's new creator economy

Seoul-based creative agency CMR leverages its global background and its carefully selected talent to create genuine, fashion-driven moments for its clients — whether they are fashion brands, touring musicians or beauty brands. Think of CMR as that one friend who seems to know everyone trending on Instagram. The Korean-Irish creative agency thrives in its attention to detail and sharp eye for trends, even in a fast-paced environment like Seoul. The two founders first met in London while working in the fashion industry. “Since London is one of the world’s most competitive fashion and beauty hubs, we’ve been exposed to a huge range of trends, top brands and the global influencer scene over the years. We like to think that experience gives us a sharper eye not only to spot trends as they’re starting, but to anticipate what’s coming next in Korea’s fast-moving market," co-founders Chad Lee and Robin Te McGonigle said in a statement to The Korea Times. “We believe we’re only as strong as our people, so we take great pride in our talent roster and hugely appreciate and value e

Feb 14, 2026By Daniela P. Solano
How Korean-Irish creative agency CMR is helping shape Seoul's new creator economy
Health

Korea's Lunar New Year holiday travel warning: Calf pain when flexing ankle could signal dangerous clot

As the Lunar New Year holiday began, many people began traveling long distances, whether returning to their hometowns or heading overseas on long-postponed trips. Health experts warn that spending extended hours in cramped airplane, train or car seats can increase the risk of so-called “economy class syndrome.” The formal medical term for economy class syndrome is deep vein thrombosis, a condition in which blood clots form in the legs due to poor circulation after prolonged sitting in confined spaces such as airplane economy seats. The risk is not limited to flights. Anyone sitting in a fixed position for hours in traffic jams, on trains or buses can develop the condition. When blood flow slows and pools in deep leg veins, clots may form. Byun Jae-ho, a professor of cardiology at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, said, “Sitting or lying in the same position for a long time increases the risk of blood clot formation. Those with a history of blood clots, cancer patients, pregnant women and people taking hormone therapy are in high-risk groups and need especially careful management.”

Feb 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korea's Lunar New Year holiday travel warning: Calf pain when flexing ankle could signal dangerous clot
Politics

Lee says real estate policy aimed at reclaiming 'unfair privileges' from speculation

President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday his administration's push to stabilize the real estate market is intended to reclaim "unfair privileges" linked to investment and speculation, stressing that the government is not forcing homeowners to sell their houses. In a post on social media platform X, Lee said his policy direction is aimed at ensuring those benefiting from speculative practices bear corresponding due responsibilities. "While we protect those who own homes for living purposes, those who hold multiple homes for investment or speculation purposes without living in them cause harm to homeless young people and ordinary citizens," Lee said. "It is fair that they bear responsibilities and burdens corresponding to that impact." Lee's remarks came a day after he raised concerns over the market practice of extending loans for multiple homeowners. The president's comments drew criticism from the main opposition party, accusing the government of "intimidating" the real estate market. The remarks were the latest in a recent series of social media posts by Lee on his views on the heated prop

Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Lee says real estate policy aimed at reclaiming 'unfair privileges' from speculation
Society

Nearly 720,000 Koreans expected to travel abroad during Lunar New Year break

Nearly 720,000 people are expected to travel overseas through Incheon International Airport during Korea’s six-day Lunar New Year holiday, with Japan emerging as the most popular destination amid a relatively short break, airport officials said Friday. According to Incheon International Airport Corp., a total of 718,880 passengers, including transfer travelers, are projected to depart the country between Feb. 13 and 18. The Lunar New Year holiday, one of Korea’s most significant travel periods, runs for six days this year. Japan accounted for the largest share of outbound travelers, with an estimated 185,432 passengers expected to visit the neighboring country. China followed with 123,486 travelers. Southeast Asian destinations collectively attracted about 204,084 travelers, while European countries accounted for 35,740 passengers. Passenger traffic is expected to peak on the second day of the holiday, Saturday, when about 130,675 travelers are forecast to depart. The lightest traffic is projected for the final day of the holiday on Feb. 18, with 104,721 passengers expected to leave

Feb 14, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Nearly 720,000 Koreans expected to travel abroad during Lunar New Year break
Society

Highway traffic eases slightly on 1st day of Lunar New Year holiday

Traffic on major highways eased slightly across Korea on Saturday afternoon, the first day of the five-day Lunar New Year holiday. The nation will mark the major holiday, known as Seol, on Tuesday. Celebrated by family reunions and ancestral rites, the holiday period began over the weekend and runs through Wednesday. As of 5 p.m., a drive from Seoul to the southeastern port city of Busan, 330 kilometers away, was expected to take approximately four hours and 30 minutes, down slightly from nearly seven hours in the morning, according to the state-run Korea Expressway Corp. A trip to the southwestern city of Gwangju, some 260 kilometers south of the capital, was expected to take three hours and 20 minutes. Travel times heading toward Seoul were similar, with the drive from Busan expected to take four hours and 30 minutes, and the trip from Gwangju estimated at three hours and 20 minutes. The agency estimated that 4.85 million vehicles would travel nationwide Saturday, including 460,000 cars leaving the greater Seoul area and 370,000 heading toward it.

Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Highway traffic eases slightly on 1st day of Lunar New Year holiday
Society

Playing Sherlock Holmes: Rise of escape rooms in South Korea

“Please place your hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you and close your eyes. Follow me carefully inside. Once I leave, the game will begin. If there’s an emergency, contact us immediately. Good luck escaping.” When the door shuts and I open my eyes, I find myself standing in what looks like a neighborhood alley. For the next 60 minutes, I am a detective tasked with identifying the culprit in a murder case. My first challenge is unlocking a cabinet that contains files on potential suspects. Scenes like this are common inside so-called “escape room cafes.” Despite the name, these venues do not sell beverages. Instead, they offer themed puzzle experiences in which participants solve clues to escape a locked space within a set time limit. Themes range from horror and fantasy to action, mystery and comedy. Participation typically costs about 20,000 won ($15) per hour. The games can be played alone or in groups, and their role-playing element — allowing participants to feel like protagonists in a drama — has fueled their popularity. That helps explain why reservat

Feb 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
Playing Sherlock Holmes: Rise of escape rooms in South Korea
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