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  • Society

    Police officers' decadeslong local ties fuel calls for wider rotation

    About 17,000 police officers have worked at the same station for more than 10 years, amid a government push to expand its police rotation policy over concerns about local cronyism. According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 5,209 senior inspectors, 8,697 inspectors, 3,211 assistant inspectors and 13 senior patrol officers had worked at the same station for over 10 years as of this month. At the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, 8.4 percent of 31,302 officers at the rank of senior inspector or below had worked at the same station for over 10 years. The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency in North Jeolla Province posted 23.8 percent of 5,136 officers, and the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency in North Chungcheong Province posted 21.7 percent of 3,954 officers. Senior inspectors and inspectors, the two ranks that lead frontline operations, made up 18 percent and 24.2 percent of their ranks nationwide, giving officers local familiarity that aids community policing but could also breed collusion between officers and lo

    2 MIN READBy Park Ung
    Police officers' decadeslong local ties fuel calls for wider rotation
  • Politics

    PM vows to defend freedom, peace based on solid alliance with US

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    PM vows to defend freedom, peace based on solid alliance with US
  • Society

    Korean men drinking less, women 30 and up drinking more

    2 MIN READBy Park Ung
    Korean men drinking less, women 30 and up drinking more
  • Politics

    72 turnout corrections reported to election watchdog on June 3 election day

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    72 turnout corrections reported to election watchdog on June 3 election day
  • Defense

    Korea named inaugural chair of ISO drone cybersecurity working group

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Korea named inaugural chair of ISO drone cybersecurity working group
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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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Law & Crime

Man sentenced to 12-year prison term for arson on Seoul subway

A Seoul court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for attempted murder in setting fire to a subway train in May. The 67-year-old man, surnamed Won, was charged with attempting to murder 160 passengers, including himself, and injuring six of them by pouring gasoline on the floor of a moving train and setting it on fire in the Yeouinaru Station-Mapo Station section of Seoul's Subway Line 5 on May 31. The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Won to the prison term as well as three years of probation. Prosecutors had demanded a 20-year prison term. The fire caused chaos in the train as passengers scrambled to escape, leading to 23 being transferred to hospitals due to smoke inhalation and 129 people receiving on-site treatment. Won reportedly committed the crime in order to take his own life after feeling unhappy about the result of his divorce suit and chose the subway as his target to draw more attention to himself.

Oct 14, 2025By Yonhap
Man sentenced to 12-year prison term for arson on Seoul subway
Defense

Allies stage only 5 out of 20 UFS field training drills postponed to Sept.

The militaries of Korea and the United States carried out only five out of some 20 field training drills in September after rescheduling them from August as part of the annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, a lawmaker said Tuesday. The allies earlier decided to partially push back around half of some 40 planned field training exercises set for August by a month, citing the ongoing heat wave. However, they only conducted five field drills out of the 20 such exercises planned for September, according a report submitted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The JCS said it plans to conduct the remaining drills by the year-end, noting that the rescheduled field exercises are normally under way. The South's military has attributed the rescheduling to "multiple factors," such as a heat wave and the benefit of spreading such drills throughout the year for enhanced readiness. But speculations have it that some of the field training drills were pushed back in what appeared to be a reconciliatory gesture in line with the

Oct 14, 2025By Yonhap
Allies stage only 5 out of 20 UFS field training drills postponed to Sept.
Law & Crime

Gov't rejected request to increase police personnel at embassy in Cambodia: lawmaker

The interior ministry rejected a request by the foreign ministry last year to send additional police personnel to the Korean Embassy in Cambodia to tackle growing crimes against Koreans, a lawmaker said Tuesday. Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the ruling Democratic Party said documents from the two ministries showed the interior ministry rejected the request on the grounds that "the increase in the workload, including the number of cases, falls short of the level needed to increase personnel." The revelation comes amid reports of a growing number of Koreans abducted and detained in Cambodia after falling victim to job scams. The case of a college student who was tortured to death made headlines, prompting a governmentwide response. According to official data, crimes against Koreans in Cambodia rose sharply from 81 cases in 2022 to 134 in 2023 and 348 last year. In the first half of this year, the number was 303. The police personnel at the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh currently consists of one official and two assistants. The assistants were dispatched in October last year and last month, respectiv

Oct 14, 2025By Yonhap
Gov't rejected request to increase police personnel at embassy in Cambodia: lawmaker
Campus

InterviewJeonbuk National University banks on physical AI field to boost global competitiveness

Confronting demographic decline and intensifying global competition, Jeonbuk National University has set its sights on becoming a campus where international and domestic students study in equal numbers by 2035. For Yang O-bong, the university’s president, realizing that vision hinges on building globally competitive strengths in specialized fields such as physical artificial intelligence (AI) — areas he believes can draw top students from both Korea and abroad. “Some say we should cut university seats as student numbers fall, but shrinking enrollment only signals decline,” Yang said during an interview with The Korea Times. “Instead, we should count international students within the quota, making them part of the core campus community.” Yang, who also chairs the Korean Council for University Education, said the real risk to national competitiveness comes from cutting university enrollment in response to demographic decline. “Higher education drives national strength through research and talent,” he said. “That’s why international students should be part of the officia

Oct 14, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Jeonbuk National University banks on physical AI field to boost global competitiveness
South Korea

Seoul flagged issues with Hyundai’s US investment plan

Korea's industry minister said on Monday that the government had expressed concerns over Hyundai announcing multibillion-dollar U.S. investment plans at the same time that Seoul was involved in delicate trade negotiations with Washington. "We told Hyundai that (its) conduct was deeply regrettable, especially considering that our efforts have been made for the sake of Hyundai and Kia's industry," Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan told the National Assembly in response to questions. "I believe that Hyundai now fully understands the Korean public sentiment," Kim said. He declined to comment on how Hyundai had responded to his concerns. Hyundai did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Independent lawmaker Kim Jong-min earlier criticized Hyundai for trying to gain favour with the Trump administration, thereby weakening Korea's leverage during the trade talks. The Korean carmaker announced last month it would raise its U.S. investment plan by 32 percent to $11.6 billion, only two weeks after its new electric car battery factory in Georgia was raided by U.S. immigration authorities. T

Oct 14, 2025By Reuters
Seoul flagged issues with Hyundai’s US investment plan
Health

Why you should never drink coffee right after waking up — and what to eat instead

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. After a night’s sleep, the body remains in a prolonged fasting state. If dinner was eaten early, that fast can last up to 12 hours by the time you wake up. How you manage this period can determine your physical rhythm for the morning. Here are several morning habits to follow – and others to avoid – to help your body start the day in balance. Bad breath occurs on an empty stomach — rinse or brush right after waking up Morning breath can damage a person’s first impression. It tends to appear right after waking up or when fasting for long hours. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, saliva production slows during sleep, which allows bacteria to multiply in the mouth. Ideally, you should brush your teeth immediately after getting up, or at least rinse your mouth with water. Bad breath becomes more common with age and can worsen during menstruation or pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Workouts on an empty stomach may help with weight loss — but pose danger for diabetics Some people believe exercising on an empty

Oct 14, 2025By Kormedi.com
Why you should never drink coffee right after waking up — and what to eat instead
Society

Cities across Korea racing to build ‘Korean Times Squares’

Local governments across Korea are rushing to create their own versions of New York's “Times Square,” unveiling massive outdoor screens and digital media facades in an effort to boost tourism and revitalize local economies. Inspired by iconic landmarks such as New York’s Times Square, London’s Piccadilly Circus, Toronto’s Dundas Square and Osaka’s Dotonbori, municipalities are competing to establish high-tech media zones that double as urban attractions. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Sunday, Seoul’s Gangnam District around Coex was first designated as a “free outdoor advertising zone” in 2016, followed by Gwanghwamun Square, Myeong-dong and Haeundae District in Busan in 2023. The government’s easing of regulations — once tightened to curb light pollution and visual clutter — has triggered what officials describe as a “new era” in the outdoor advertising market. Cities light up with mega screens In the designated free zones, billboard size, shape and installation methods are no longer restricted. Private companies install the screens, d

Oct 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
Cities across Korea racing to build ‘Korean Times Squares’
Law & Crime

Crime wave in Cambodia threatens Korean investments and bilateral trust

A surge in violent crimes targeting Koreans in Cambodia has sparked fear and outrage in both countries, straining bilateral ties and casting a pall over tourism and cultural exchange. In recent months, a string of high-profile cases in which Koreans were kidnapped, tortured and killed by Cambodian crime syndicates — often tied to Chinese criminal networks — has shifted public sentiment and brought tangible repercussions for both Korean residents and Cambodian migrants. "Restaurants and tour businesses have lost bookings, and many are cutting contact with partners in Korea," said Chung Myung-kyu, head of the Korean Association of Cambodia. "People are saying, ‘Keep your head down. Don’t draw attention to yourself.'" Local business owners reported canceled contracts and a drop in tourist numbers since reports of violence and scams began going viral on social media. For Park, a 48-year-old bank employee in Seoul, the anxiety became personal. Earlier this year, he traveled to Cambodia as part of a partnership project with a local bank, with a follow-up trip planned for later this year

Oct 13, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Crime wave in Cambodia threatens Korean investments and bilateral trust
Politics

Gov't eyes K-food, K-beauty to drive growth in AI age

The Lee Jae Myung administration reiterated its strong commitment to advancing Korea’s culture industry and enhancing the nation’s standing as a global cultural powerhouse through the expansion of K-culture exports, including K-food, K-beauty and other creative sectors. The topic took center stage during the 13th Senior Secretaries’ Meeting, held Monday at the presidential office in central Seoul's Yongsan District and presided over by the president. During the meeting, Lee described culture as “the core of a nation’s dignity, competitiveness and power in the 21st century.” Expanding on the traditional definition of culture, Lee said, “When we talk about culture, we often think of music or fine arts. But today, culture encompasses a much broader scope — dramas, films, food, beauty and more.” “At its heart, in the most comprehensive sense, culture is a value system rooted in democracy," he said. "The world now admires Korea not just for K-pop, K-dramas and K-movies, but also for K-food, K-beauty and even K-democracy.” Lee also emphasized that Korean culture is beginn

Oct 13, 2025By Anna J. Park
Gov't eyes K-food, K-beauty to drive growth in AI age
Law & Crime

Gov't seeks police probe of KT for allegedly obstructing data breach investigation

The Ministry of Science and ICT said Monday it has asked the police to investigate allegations that KT obstructed a government probe into the company's unauthorized mobile payment breaches. In late August, unauthorized mobile payments worth a combined 240 million won ($168,000) were reported in Seoul and nearby areas after the personal data of hundreds of KT users were compromised through illegal micro base stations. The government subsequently formed a joint public-private investigation team to scrutinize the incident. However, the ministry said KT failed to fully cooperate with the probe and interfered with the team's activities. "KT submitted false information regarding the timing of the server disposal and did not report backup logs for the disposed servers to the investigation team until Oct. 18," the ministry said in a statement submitted to the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee for an annual parliamentary audit. "We determined there was intentional misconduct to obstruct the government investigation, including submitting false materials and

Oct 13, 2025By Yonhap
Gov't seeks police probe of KT for allegedly obstructing data breach investigation
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