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2026 local elections

No vision, just vouchers? School chief candidates woo voters with cash promises

The education superintendent elections were once a battleground for dueling visions of philosophy and big ideas. A decade ago, conservative and liberal candidates clashed over whether to prioritize increasing student rights or preserving teachers’ authority and how far to expand parental choice alongside public schooling. That debate has all but disappeared. Ahead of the June 3 elections, the most visible campaign promises have little to do with teaching and learning. Leading candidates across the nation, regardless of their political views, are competing on how much cash or financial support they can channel directly to students and parents. In Seoul, incumbent Superintendent Jung Geun-sik pledged to move beyond the existing tuition-free system by making education for children aged three to five effectively free, while also eliminating many out-of-pocket costs for older students. Currently, parents pay no public school tuition but still cover expenses such as transport and field trips. Under his plan, the education office would fully fund education, meal, after-school and care costs

May 27, 2026By Jung Min-ho
No vision, just vouchers? School chief candidates woo voters with cash promises
South Korea

Israeli Embassy denies detention, mistreatment of Korean activists

The Israeli Embassy in Korea claimed Tuesday that Israeli forces had neither detained nor mistreated South Korean activists who were released last week after being captured aboard aid vessels bound for the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the embassy asserted that the two Korean citizens were not held in detention. "Upon their arrival at the port of Ashdod, the two individuals were processed immediately and deported through an expedited procedure. This further calls into question the allegations they have made," the embassy said. The two Korean activists returned home Friday. Kim Ah-hyun was aboard an aid vessel seized by Israeli forces in waters off the Gaza Strip, while Kim Dong-hyeon's ship was intercepted near Cyprus, both earlier last week. They were released Wednesday and flew home together. Kim Ah-hyun had earlier attempted to enter the territory via an aid flotilla in October without authorization. She had been detained by Israeli forces during her first attempt and was later released. Before her latest attempt, the Korean government had revoked her passport. The activist claimed she had

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Israeli Embassy denies detention, mistreatment of Korean activists
South Korea

Korea, EU to push for stronger cooperation in critical minerals, supply chains

Korea and the European Union agreed Tuesday to push for deeper cooperation in critical minerals, supply chains and other economic security issues, Seoul's trade ministry said. The two countries held the second round of the special committee meeting on economic security and emerging trade issues virtually, jointly led by Vice Trade Minister Park Jung-sung and his EU counterpart Denis Redonnet, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. In the meeting, the two sides agreed on the need to deepen bilateral cooperation in supply chain and technology security amid heightened global supply chain volatility and an intensifying technology war among major economies. In the critical minerals sector, they agreed to push for stronger cooperation in supply chain diversification as well as the stockpiling and recycling of critical minerals as both South Korea and the EU have a high dependence on imports of such materials, according to the ministry. The ministry said Park also asked the EU to consider granting a grace period for the planned implementation of its battery regulations, hig

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, EU to push for stronger cooperation in critical minerals, supply chains
K-universities

Handong Global University showcases future of AI education

Handong Global University hosted a showcase of artificial intelligence (AI)-based education initiatives earlier this month, drawing more than 100 university faculty, staff and administrators from across the country to the Kim Young-gil Grace School Chapel on campus. The event, organized by the university's AI Innovation Center under its broader Glocal University project, featured five sessions covering AI-integrated curriculum design, competency-based education models, AI courseware applications, personalized learning support systems and security protocols for generative AI tools in academic settings. Two international experts delivered keynote presentations. Dale Johnson, director of digital innovation for the University Design Institute at Arizona State University, outlined structural shifts in the learning environment in the AI era, drawing on nine months of joint development with Handong on the High Touch High Tech education model. Philippa Kim, director of partner programs for Asia at the Minerva Project — an educational organization that licenses its rigorous, seminar-style curri

May 26, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Handong Global University showcases future of AI education
South Korea

Korea mulling timing of oil release with possible supply crisis in August: official

Korea is taking a cautious approach with the timing of its oil stockpile release under the agreement among International Energy Agency (IEA) members amid concerns there could be a global oil crisis in August, an industry ministry official said Tuesday. Earlier this year, Seoul pledged to release 22.46 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves by June 9 under a joint plan adopted by 32 member nations of the IEA as part of efforts to help address disruptions in oil markets sparked by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in late February. But Yang Ghi-wuk, deputy minister for trade, industry and resources security, told reporters in a regular press briefing that the Seoul government is trying to cautiously determine the timing of the release as the option should be used as a "final" card for the worst situation. "Concerns over (a possible oil crisis) have somewhat eased recently with news that the situation in the Middle East may get better, but until just a few days ago, there have been projections that oil supplies may suffer disruptions if the effective closure of the Strait of Ho

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Korea mulling timing of oil release with possible supply crisis in August: official
Society

3 dead, 3 injured as Seoul overpass collapses under demolition

A collapse at an overpass demolition site left three people dead and three others injured in Seoul on Tuesday. According to fire and city authorities, the collapse occurred at around 2:33 p.m. at the site of the Seosomun Overpass demolition in Seodaemun District, central Seoul. Officials say part of the bridge deck suddenly caved in during safety inspection work, falling onto workers and vehicles below. Among the 12 workers present at the site, three men — one in his 50s and two in their 60s — were killed. Three others sustained injuries to the head, waist, ribs and other parts; all were transported to nearby hospitals. The incident occurred while engineers were carrying out a safety assessment following the discovery of a subsidence gap during slab-cutting work earlier in the day, according to officials. Lee Jong-un, head of the Seodaemun Fire Station’s disaster safety bureau, told reporters it appears that the girder collapsed while they were inside. Girders are structural beams that support the weight of a bridge deck. Emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes. At

May 26, 2026By Jung Min-ho
3 dead, 3 injured as Seoul overpass collapses under demolition
Politics

Rival party leaders, mayoral candidates halt campaigning after overpass collapse incident

The leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties stopped their campaign activities Tuesday after an overpass in western Seoul partially collapsed, killing at least 3 people. Rep. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party Korea (DPK), who was set to attend a campaign event in Andong, about 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, cancelled his campaign stop. "I hope the relevant authorities do their utmost in the rescue efforts. I canceled my campaign event in Andong and am on my way back to Seoul," he wrote on Facebook. During a campaign rally in western Seoul, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chief of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), also said he will cancel the remaining campaign activities for the day. Immediately after the incident, Seoul mayoral candidates suspended their election campaigns. "The top priority for now is swiftly rescuing the people and dealing with the accident," Chong Won-o, the DPK's candidate for Seoul mayor, wrote on Facebook, urging authorities to do their utmost to prevent further damage. Chong's camp officials told reporters he will immediately visi

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Rival party leaders, mayoral candidates halt campaigning after overpass collapse incident
2026 local elections

580 mil. sheets, largely unread: Election pamphlet waste problem returns ahead of June 3 vote

With the June 3 local elections approaching, election pamphlets are set to arrive at households nationwide, but concerns are growing that the mass mailings waste resources while going largely unread. Under the Public Official Election Act, election pamphlets must be mailed to every household no later than 10 days before election day. This year's election pamphlets were sent out by Sunday and are expected to arrive by month's end at the latest. The law caps pamphlets for local government heads at 12 pages and those for local council members at eight. The environmental cost is steep. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), election pamphlets for the 2022 local elections totaled 580 million sheets and weighed 12,853 tons, enough to consume some 210,000 trees. Yet few voters actually read them. A survey of 6,820 eligible voters by the Korean Government Employees' Union between February and March found that just 11 percent read the pamphlets in detail, while 52 percent skim them and 37 percent do not read them at all or throw them away unopened. Some lawmakers have tried to move

May 26, 2026By Park Ung
580 mil. sheets, largely unread: Election pamphlet waste problem returns ahead of June 3 vote
South Korea

From coffee grounds to animal fat, Korea turns to organic waste to power airplanes

Korea is moving to turn discarded coffee grounds and animal fat into a new type of aviation fuel, launching a major research program aimed at securing supply chains for sustainable jet fuel as global carbon rules tighten. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said last Wednesday that it will formally launch a national research and development initiative focused on producing high-quality biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), from organic waste generated by the food industry. The state-backed program comes as international aviation emissions frameworks prepare to mandate stricter carbon reduction targets, increasing pressure on airlines and fuel exporters to adopt low-carbon alternatives. To kickstart the initiative, ministry officials hosted an inaugural briefing last Wednesday at Withspace in western Seoul alongside key public agencies and corporate partners, including the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute and industrial developer LTM Metal. Under the program, the government will oversee an investment of 48.7 billion won ($32.3 million) through

May 26, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
From coffee grounds to animal fat, Korea turns to organic waste to power airplanes
Defense

South Korea pushes to build 1st nuclear-powered submarine by mid-2030s

Korea is seeking to build its first nuclear-powered submarine by mid-2030s, the government said Tuesday, adding that construction will be done domestically. It also pledged to use low-enriched uranium fuel and comply with international nonproliferation obligations. The Ministry of National Defense announced the country's first road map for the development of nuclear submarines, laying out the government’s approach to developing and acquiring the platform and publicly presenting the framework for the project. “This is the first official road map outlining how Korea will systemically develop and acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability,” Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said while presenting the plan during the inaugural meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee held at the submarine command at Jinhae in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The plan comes after an agreement reached during a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump last October, when Washington expressed support for Seoul's development of a nuclear submarine and its pursuit of c

May 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
South Korea pushes to build 1st nuclear-powered submarine by mid-2030s
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