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  • Society

    Behind bars in Cheonan, foreign inmate weighs past and future

    CHEONAN, South Chungcheong Province — Joe, identified by a pseudonym, is serving an 18-month sentence at Cheonan Correctional Institution, Korea's only prison tasked with handling foreign inmates. His name, age and nationality are being withheld at his request. “I caused a car accident while out with friends and entered prison last August,” Joe told The Korea Times. “I'm very sorry to my parents and the victim, who suffered great pain and harm because of me.” Inside the prison, his days follow a strict routine. He wakes up at 6 a.m., prepares for inspection, eats breakfast and waits for the next inspection. He spends his time studying English and religion, drawing and writing letters to friends. “At first it was hard to adjust, but the correctional officers helped a lot, so I haven't had any difficulties. I'm also adjusting to the culture here. Before coming to prison, I was too busy working to pick much up, but now I've been attending a prison program called 'Good Morning Korea,' learning about Korean culture.” Culture is one thing, but sharing a cell with strangers is ano

    2 MIN READBy Park Ung
    Behind bars in Cheonan, foreign inmate weighs past and future
  • Society

    WEEKENDER Inside Korea's only prison tasked with handling foreign inmates

    4 MIN READBy Park Ung
    [WEEKENDER] Inside Korea's only prison tasked with handling foreign inmates
  • Society

    After 14 years with foreign inmates, correctional officer says crime has no nationality

    4 MIN READBy Park Ung
    After 14 years with foreign inmates, correctional officer says crime has no nationality
  • South Korea

    Lee meets SK chairman for possible discussion on chip projects: sources

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee meets SK chairman for possible discussion on chip projects: sources
  • South Korea

    Drinking trend shift: Why more young Koreans are avoiding company dinners

    2 MIN READBy Kormedi.com
    Drinking trend shift: Why more young Koreans are avoiding company dinners
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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

Bathhouses save Seoul's vulnerable residents during extreme weather

"This year, I can take a shower at the bathhouse and sleep somewhere with air conditioning, so I don't have to worry about anything." Those were the words of 60-year-old Seo Jeom-yeol, a resident of a "jjokbang" (tiny room) village, whom we met at 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Dongnam Sauna, located in the basement of a commercial building near Yeongdeungpo Market in western Seoul. As the city's nighttime low reached 29.1 degrees Celsius, Seo smiled and said, "You start sweating just by standing outside. Here, I can sleep comfortably in the cool air, wash up in the morning and head out. I don't have to worry about waking up because it's too hot." About 10 residents from nearby jjokbang communities had gathered at the sauna that evening. Using vouchers distributed by a local counseling center, they are allowed to use the facility free of charge every night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day. Although the overnight stay normally costs 12,000 won, Seoul Metropolitan Government subsidies allow jjokbang residents to use the sauna at no cost throughout July and August. Amid this summer's extreme

Aug 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
Bathhouses save Seoul's vulnerable residents during extreme weather
Defense

USFK says no white phosphorus found at Osan base after suspected leak alert

No white phosphorus has been found at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday, after an emergency alert was issued in the region last week over a suspected white phosphorus leak at the base. The USFK disclosed the findings on the Osan Air Base website after the Pyeongtaek city government issued the alert on July 28 notifying the public of a possible white phosphorus leak at the base following a report from the U.S. military. "Following thorough inspection and testing, we can confirm that the crystallization and residue identified during a routine munitions inspection on July 28 was not white phosphorus nor contained traces of white phosphorus," the USFK said. "After follow-on analysis, we are confident that the residue was non-hazardous surface corrosion resulting from environmental exposure over time," it said. Emergency response professionals responded immediately to ensure full containment of the munitions and base operations are proceeding normally, with no injuries, the USFK also noted. "We deeply value the trust of our Pyeongtaek neighbors an

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
USFK says no white phosphorus found at Osan base after suspected leak alert
Environment & Animals

Seoul's pop-up heat shelters draw more than 30,000 visitors in first 2 months

A new type of mobile outdoor shelter Seoul introduced this summer to help people escape the heat has drawn more than 30,000 visitors to Gwanghwamun Plaza alone since June, city officials said Thursday, prompting municipal officials to consider extending the program. The shelters, called "Haepiso" — a name that combines the Korean words for "a place to escape the sun" and "happy" — are meant to supplement Seoul's existing network of indoor cooling centers by placing air-conditioned rest spots directly along routes where people already walk, such as plazas and parks, rather than requiring them to seek out a dedicated building. Anyone can use them free of charge. Between June 10 and July 31, the Gwanghwamun Plaza shelter drew 30,405 visitors — an average of about 596 people a day — with usage climbing sharply as the summer heat intensified. It recorded its single busiest day on July 17, when 1,426 people stopped by to cool off. The Gwanghwamun shelter, built from materials including air-dome fabric and polycarbonate panels, covers 64 square meters and stands four meters tall, with

Aug 6, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul's pop-up heat shelters draw more than 30,000 visitors in first 2 months
Politics

PM calls for drone, AI, cyber attacks in Ulchi exercise scenarios

This year's Ulchi civil defense exercise should reflect scenarios for drone and cyber attacks and other new types of threats as well as compound disasters amid a rapidly changing security environment, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday. The annual nationwide exercise will kick off on Aug. 18 for a four-day run, involving some 580,000 officials from about 4,000 central and local government agencies and public institutions, to check and enhance readiness for war and other contingencies. A nationwide air raid evacuation drill is set for Aug. 20. "Recently, the security environment has been changing rapidly," Han said during a meeting convened to check preparations for the upcoming exercise. "The war Russia-Ukraine war and armed conflicts in the Middle East show that modern warfare goes beyond military conflicts and can directly threaten the people's daily lives." "New types of threats, such as artificial intelligence, drones and cyber attacks, are also becoming a reality," she said. Participating agencies should actively reflect AI, drone and cyber attacks, and compound threats in e

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
PM calls for drone, AI, cyber attacks in Ulchi exercise scenarios
South Korea

Global volunteers mobilize to fix misinformation about Korea

Mislabeled historical facts, mistranslated cultural terms and distorted narratives circulating abroad have long posed a challenge for Korea’s global image. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism took a major step Thursday toward setting the record straight, officially launching the 21st batch of "Friends of Korea" — a specialized civilian volunteer corps dedicated to tracking down and correcting overseas misinformation. The kickoff ceremony took place at the KOCIS Center, located on the 10th floor of the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, welcoming both in-person participants and overseas members joining virtually. Established in 2013 under the initial title "Global Monitoring Group for Error Correction," the Friends of Korea program has evolved into a vital civilian outreach campaign. Over the past decade, more than 780 dedicated volunteers have scoured both online and offline platforms worldwide to safeguard the accuracy of Korean history, language and culture. Whenever inaccuracies are identified, members report them through the government’s dedicated portal, "Facts Abo

Aug 6, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Global volunteers mobilize to fix misinformation about Korea
Society

Scorching heat to peak Friday before easing over weekend

The scorching heat wave in Korea is expected to reach its peak, Friday, before easing slightly over the weekend, although forecasters warned that temperatures will remain well above seasonal averages and the respite is likely to be short-lived. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast Seoul's daytime high to remain at 39 degrees Celsius, Friday, after reaching the same temperature, Thursday, leaving it just 0.6 degrees Celsius shy of the city's all-time record of 39.6 degrees Celsius, set on Aug. 1, 2018. The agency said temperatures could again exceed 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the capital region after topping that mark, Thursday, while widespread tropical nights — when overnight lows remain above 25 degrees Celsius — are expected to persist. Elsewhere, daytime highs are forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius on Friday in Incheon and Gwangju, 37 degrees Celsius in Daejeon and Daegu, 35 degrees Celsius in Busan and 34 degrees Celsius in Ulsan. Temperatures are expected to ease over the weekend nationwide, with daytime highs ranging from 27 to 36 degrees Celsius, Satur

Aug 6, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Scorching heat to peak Friday before easing over weekend
Defense

Army's K1E1 tank catches fire during live-fire drills

A K1E1 tank operated by the Army caught fire during live-fire drills in the border city of Pocheon early Thursday, officials said, with no casualties reported. The blaze reportedly started in the engine compartment of the tank, affiliated with the 5th Armored Brigade of the 5th Corps, at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, just 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border, according to officials. No casualties were reported, as troops aboard the tank immediately fled for safety. Military and firefighting authorities were looking into the exact cause of the fire and plan to take appropriate follow-up measures. The K1E1 is an upgraded version of the K1 tank, featuring digitalized and advanced key components. It has been introduced in phases since 2014.

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
Army's K1E1 tank catches fire during live-fire drills
Environment & Animals

5 indicted in wildlife smuggling ring bust

Prosecutors said Thursday they have indicted five members of an illegal wildlife trafficking ring that smuggled exotic and endangered animals, including Chinese alligators, into Korea. The individuals face charges of violating customs and wildlife protection laws for illegally trading animals brought in from overseas, according to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. The ringleader is accused of smuggling 200 non-native animals into Korea from November 2023 to August 2024 and selling 54 endangered animals. The four others are suspected of being complicit in the scheme. The prosecution said the traffickers bought animals from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, before smuggling them into Korea to sell on online reptile forums. The animals were sent to buyers nationwide via parcel delivery. In order to avoid customs, the traffickers smuggled in young animals using tin or plastic cases and taped their mouths to prevent them from making noise, the prosecution said, adding that many animals died due to stress. Customs officials at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, refe

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
5 indicted in wildlife smuggling ring bust
Politics

Main opposition party slams Lee for suggesting coup risk from Army elite

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday criticized President Lee Jae Myung for suggesting that the Korea Military Academy was at the center of the country's past military coups. During a policy briefing by the defense ministry the previous day, Lee called for the swift integration of military academies, pointing out that graduates of the Army academy had been behind all of the country's military coups in the past and warning about the risk of another coup by Army elites. "(Lee's comments) are akin to labeling the current and future cadets as a potential coup force," Rep. Han Ki-ho told reporters at the National Assembly. Five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun criticized Lee for using past incidents as grounds to hold the Korea Military Academy and its graduates accountable, saying it undermines the rule of law. "The president's remarks have prompted questions over whether an overhaul of the military academies is politically motivated retaliation against the Korea Military Academy based on a few past incidents rather than strengthening joint operations," he wrote on Facebook. P

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
Main opposition party slams Lee for suggesting coup risk from Army elite
Defense

Korea stages defense drills near Dokdo for 1st time this year

The Korean Navy on Thursday conducted defense drills near the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo, marking the first such exercise this year, the armed service said. "Our military has conducted East Sea defense drills on a regular basis each year," the Navy said, adding the exercise was aimed at responding to threats against the country's territory, people and property. The latest exercise was similar in scale and method compared to previous drills, according to the Navy. It marked the third such exercise under President Lee Jae Myung. The drills came days after Japan renewed its territorial claim to Dokdo in its latest defense white paper, prompting Seoul's foreign ministry to lodge a protest. The Japanese government has long protested against the drills near Dokdo in the past.

Aug 6, 2026By Yonhap
Korea stages defense drills near Dokdo for 1st time this year
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