my timesThe Korea Times

South Korea

PoliticsDefenseGlobal CommunityEnvironment & AnimalsLaw & CrimeHealthSocietyEducationOthers
  • Law & Crime

    Q&A Korea's 'fake news' law is in force — what you need to know

    Korea’s revised Information and Communications Network Act, also dubbed the “fake news” law, came into force on Tuesday, reshaping how unlawful information is handled online. Under the new rules, “false or manipulated” information is defined as content whose whole or partial substance is untrue, or altered in a way that misleads audiences into believing it is factual. The revision also introduced a new category of illegal hate or discriminatory expression which covers posts that incite violence, discrimination or hatred against individuals or groups based on traits such as race, nationality or gender. Amid concerns over vague legal definitions and potential conflicts with constitutional free-speech protections, the state-run Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) provided answers to frequently asked questions to address key issues. Q. What should I do if I suffer harm from false or manipulated information? A. Anyone who encounters information suspected of being false or manipulated can file a report with a large online service provider, including the location of the c

    3 MIN READBy Jung Min-ho
    [Q&A] Korea's 'fake news' law is in force — what you need to know
  • Law & Crime

    Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for ex-presidential security aide over alleged role in martial law

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for ex-presidential security aide over alleged role in martial law
  • South Korea

    Korea's Earth observation satellite successfully put into orbit

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea's Earth observation satellite successfully put into orbit
  • Law & Crime

    N. Korea-born ex-lawmaker's son faces 5-year prison demand over crypto fraud

    2 MIN READBy Baek Byung-yeul
    N. Korea-born ex-lawmaker's son faces 5-year prison demand over crypto fraud
  • Others

    Gyeonggi Province launches generative AI portal to help immigrants

    2 MIN READBy Lee Kyung-min
    Gyeonggi Province launches generative AI portal to help immigrants
Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Read more

Law & Crime

Ex-oceans minister appears for questioning over alleged bribes from Unification Church

Former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo appeared before police Friday to undergo questioning over allegations he took bribes from the Unification Church. Chun arrived at Seoul's Seodaemun Ward police station after being summoned as a suspect in a case dating back to 2018 when he is accused of receiving 20 million won ($13,560) in cash and a Bulgari watch worth 10 million won from the church. At the time, Chun was a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and he remains a lawmaker though he resigned as oceans minister last week following a former church official's disclosure of the allegations. "I state clearly that there was no illegal acceptance of money and goods from the Unification Church whatsoever," he told reporters outside the police station. According to the former church official, Yun Young-ho, the money and watch were given in exchange for Chun's help in pushing church projects, including the potential construction of an undersea tunnel connecting Korea and Japan. "The Korea-Japan undersea tunnel was designed so that if Japan made 100 in profits, Busan would make not

Dec 19, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-oceans minister appears for questioning over alleged bribes from Unification Church
South Korea

Korea to build new airport in 'TK' region; 7.8 times bigger than existing Daegu airport

Korea will build a new airport in the southeastern region, marking the first time a civilian and a military airport will be relocated simultaneously, the land ministry said Friday. Under the plan, the government will invest 2.7 trillion won ($1.8 billion) to construct a joint civilian-military airport in the so-called TK region, which includes Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. Daegu International Airport and a military airport in the city will be relocated to the new site in the nearby counties of Uiseong and Gunwi, the ministry said. "The new TK Airport is not a typical social infrastructure project," said Shin Yoon-geun, a ministry official, adding that it will serve as a catalyst for new growth engines and help the region overcome the risk of population decline. The new facility will be significantly larger than the current Daegu International Airport, with the site roughly 7.8 times bigger and the passenger terminal about 4.5 times larger. The new airport site will cover 1.34 million square meters, with a passenger terminal spanning 123,650 square meters. To prevent redundant invest

Dec 19, 2025By Yonhap
Korea to build new airport in 'TK' region; 7.8 times bigger than existing Daegu airport
Law & Crime

Special prosecutors search BOK over allegations surrounding missing banknote strap

A newly launched special counsel team searched the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Friday as part of their investigation into allegations surrounding a missing banknote strap, officials said. Special counsel Ann Gweon-seob's team, which launched earlier this month, executed a search-and-inspection warrant at the BOK's issuance department to check its production and management of official banknotes. The team is tasked with investigating allegations surrounding the missing banknote strap — first discovered by prosecutors in December last year when they raided the home of a shaman implicated in a bribery case involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office had secured bundles of cash through the raid, including the BOK's sealed banknotes worth 50 million won ($33,900) but later lost the strap containing the banknotes' identifying information, such as the inspection date. The prosecutors office has maintained the strap was lost by accident when the banknotes were being counted. It later transferred the case to special counsel Min Joong-ki's team investigatin

Dec 19, 2025By Yonhap
Special prosecutors search BOK over allegations surrounding missing banknote strap
Society

Why do Western premium burgers struggle in Korea?

American hamburgers became a staple for Lee U-chan, a 29-year-old office worker, during his 18-day journey across the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast in 2023. Back in Korea, however, he finds U.S. chain burgers too expensive to enjoy. “In Korea, the difference in taste between U.S. chain burgers and Korean brands isn’t big enough to justify the price gap,” Lee told The Korea Times. “If I’m going to spend that much, I’d rather go to an independent restaurant that serves really good food.” At Lotteria, one of Korea’s largest homegrown burger chains, single burgers typically cost about 6,000 won ($4.06) to 9,000 won. At Five Guys, a U.S. burger chain, prices in Korea are twice as expensive, ranging from about 13,000 to 17,000 won. Lee’s viewpoint is one explanation for the limited success of Western burger chains in Korea, with many consumers regarding their higher prices as burdensome amid rising living costs. On Wednesday, Hanwha Galleria, the operator of Five Guys in Korea, agreed to sell the business to a private equity firm, just two and a half year

Dec 19, 2025By Park Ung
Why do Western premium burgers struggle in Korea?
Law & Crime

65 police officers internally inspected over martial law imposition

More than 60 police officers have come under scrutiny by their own agency in connection with former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law last December. According to data submitted Thursday by the National Police Agency (NPA) to Rep. Chai Hyun-il of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 65 officers were placed under inspection over the past year. Of the four officers indicted on charges including allegedly playing key roles in insurrection, the NPA said three were referred to the disciplinary committee following internal investigations. One of them was Kim Bong-sik, former chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Earlier in the day, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the NPA. With the ruling, Cho was immediately removed from office, a year after he was impeached by the National Assembly for allegedly blocking lawmakers from entering the parliamentary compound on Dec. 3, 2024, to vote to lift the decree.

Dec 18, 2025By Yonhap
65 police officers internally inspected over martial law imposition
Defense

Defense ministry seeks talks with US on nuclear-powered sub fuel, aiming to conclude in 2 years

The defense ministry said Thursday it will seek to hold negotiations with the United States to gain access to fuel to build nuclear-powered submarines, with the aim of completing the envisioned talks within two years. The ministry outlined the plan during a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung earlier in the day, as Korea's push for nuclear-powered submarines has gained momentum with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Granting access to nuclear fuel for submarines requires a revision of a bilateral nuclear energy agreement between Korea and the U.S., but Korean officials have hinted at a standalone deal. Under the plan, the ministry will draw up a detailed blueprint next year covering Korea's principles for developing nuclear-powered submarines, construction plans and its stance on nuclear nonproliferation. It also plans to establish a pangovernment body to designate the project as a national strategic initiative, while preparing safety regulations and ordinances related to the use of nuclear reactors in submarines. The ministry also vowed to make progress

Dec 18, 2025By Yonhap
Defense ministry seeks talks with US on nuclear-powered sub fuel, aiming to conclude in 2 years
Defense

President rejects blanket punishment for troops mobilized for martial law

Korea’s military pledged Thursday that it would never again be used as a president's tool to impose martial law. The pledge came after a policy briefing by the Ministry of National Defense with President Lee Jae Myung. The ministry outlined measures aimed at preventing any recurrences of the martial law incident that plunged the country into political and social turmoil last year. When former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law last December, troops were mobilized to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting to lift the decree. “Our military offers a deep and painful reflection on its involvement in the illegal martial law of Dec. 3, 2024, which caused national confusion and damaged the constitutional order,” Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said during a press briefing following the report. “We will ensure that the armed forces are never again consumed or exploited as a tool of illegal martial law.” He added that the ministry would pursue sweeping institutional reforms while maintaining full-spectrum defense readiness. “We will strengthen democratic and inst

Dec 18, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
President rejects blanket punishment for troops mobilized for martial law
Campus

Kyung Hee University releases admissions plan for 2026

Kyung Hee University announced its 2026 regular admissions plan, or Jeongsi, saying it will admit 2,415 students, representing 44.9 percent of its total enrollment quota. Of these, 2,217 will be selected through the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)-based track and 198 through practical arts evaluations. Applications will be accepted from Dec. 29-31, over a three-day period through the university’s admissions portal. According to the university, results for most general admissions categories will be released on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. Remaining admissions results are scheduled to be published on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. Final enrollment numbers reflecting early admissions carryovers will be posted on the university's admissions website ahead of the regular application period. For the 2026 cycle, the university transitioned the English subject from an absolute grading evaluation to a grade-based score deduction system. Under the new method, students achieving English Grade 1 or 2 will receive full credit without deduction, reducing the impact of difficult English sections. Students receiving En

Dec 18, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kyung Hee University releases admissions plan for 2026
Politics

President Lee pushes Daejeon-South Chungcheong merger to ease capital overcrowding

President Lee Jae Myung proposed integrating the administrative jurisdictions of Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province in a comment during a luncheon meeting with ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers from the two regions on Thursday, calling the move a potential breakthrough in addressing excessive concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, President Lee emphasized that the population's overconcentration in the capital region is one of the nation’s most pressing challenges, describing a potential administrative merger between Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province as a necessary step toward solving the issue. “The president suggested that integration between Daejeon and the South Chungcheong region could help pave the way for easing overcrowding while advancing balanced regional growth,” Kang said. Kang said the president also called for an open and forward-looking approach to resolving issues such as the location and naming of administrative institutions, envisioning the integrated region as a central hub for Ko

Dec 18, 2025By Anna J. Park
President Lee pushes Daejeon-South Chungcheong merger to ease capital overcrowding
Environment & Animals

Cafe owners, customers skeptical of government’s new plastic cup policy

Public frustration is reemerging over Korea’s latest attempt to curb plastic waste by banning free disposable plastic cups at cafes. Coffee drinkers and cafe owners voiced skepticism toward the policy plan, saying it will only add to the financial burdens of small businesses and consumers who are already weary of inconsistent environmental measures. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced during a presidential policy briefing on Wednesday that eateries and coffee shops will no longer be able to offer free single-use cups for takeout orders. Instead, customers who choose disposable cups must pay a separate fee, expected to range between 100 won ($0.07) and 200 won. The ministry plans to unveil the policy draft as part of a comprehensive "de-plasticization" strategy on Tuesday. Despite the policy’s environmental message, online and offline reactions have been negative. Small business owners, recalling the confusion and costs from previous plastic reduction measures, say they are bracing for a customer backlash once they start charging for cups at the counter. "Over t

Dec 18, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Cafe owners, customers skeptical of government’s new plastic cup policy
previous page
331332333334335
next page

Most Read in South Korea