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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
  • Politics

    Ruling party slams opposition for attacking Lee over nat'l security

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Ruling party slams opposition for attacking Lee over nat'l security
  • Health

    Busan to host 2026 Medical Tourism Fair next week

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Busan to host 2026 Medical Tourism Fair next week
  • Politics

    DPK leader vows support for Lee's efforts to promote dialogue with N. Korea

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    DPK leader vows support for Lee's efforts to promote dialogue with N. Korea
  • Politics

    Cheong Wa Dae says N. Korea's derogatory remarks unhelpful to building mutual trust

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Cheong Wa Dae says N. Korea's derogatory remarks unhelpful to building mutual trust
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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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Campus

9 national universities partner with Ministry of Education, IBK to advance technology commercialization

Nine regional national universities have signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education and the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) to promote technology commercialization and startup creation for regional innovation and growth. Chungnam National University said the agreement was signed by the presidents of the nine universities, Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin and IBK CEO Chang Min-young at IBK’s headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday. “This agreement will serve as an important turning point in transforming the universities’ research achievements into new growth engines for local communities,” said Kim Jeong-kyoum, president of Chungnam National University and chairman of the Korean National Universities’ 10 Presidents Council. He added, “Going forward, regional national universities will take the lead in revitalizing university technology holding companies and supporting the growth of startups so that outstanding research outcomes can contribute to the development of local industries as key drivers of regional innovation.” The agreement calls for fostering regional in

Jul 29, 2026By Park Yoon-bae
9 national universities partner with Ministry of Education, IBK to advance technology commercialization
Politics

EXPLAINER Why debate over Lee's possible second term resurfaced

Political circles are once again in a heated debate over accusations that President Lee Jae Myung has ambitions to seek another term, even the Constitution forbids it. Critics, especially those from the opposition, say the ruling bloc's pursuit of a constitutional amendment is aimed at helping Lee extend his administration, while presidential aides deny the speculation. The issue resurfaced this week after National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik said Tuesday that whether an incumbent president can seek another term “is ultimately a matter for the people to decide.” The remark immediately caused a stir. Cho, who is considered a loyalist of the president, made the remark during a press conference when asked about the constitutional reform sought by the ruling bloc. Article 128, Paragraph 2, of the Constitution stipulates that amendments extending a presidential term or permitting reelection do not take effect for the president in office when the amendment is adopted. Lee made a 2025 presidential campaign pledge to change the presidential system under the Constitution from the current si

Jul 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
[EXPLAINER] Why debate over Lee's possible second term resurfaced
South Korea

Seoul opens 'My Soul' brand lounge at Seoul Forest during garden fair

Visitors to Seoul Forest this summer and autumn can immerse themselves in the Korean capital’s official brand through a new interactive pop-up hub blending local snacks, souvenirs and urban lifestyle design. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will open the "Seoul My Soul" Lounge along Seoul Forest’s central lawn from July 31 through Oct. 27. Timed to coincide with the ongoing Seoul International Garden Expo, the launch transforms the city's standard promotional booth into an expanded, multizone experiential pavilion designed for both local residents and the growing wave of international travelers visiting the urban park. The lounge is organized into four distinct experiential areas. A garden-themed merchandise section features eco-friendly lifestyle goods tailored specifically to the garden expo’s natural concept, while a dedicated food zone highlights popular culinary collaborations with regional businesses. Featured menu items include "Seoulppang," a signature bread developed with historic bakery Koryodang that sold over 80,000 units within its first 100 days,

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul opens 'My Soul' brand lounge at Seoul Forest during garden fair
Defense

Army guards western border without loaded ammunition: sources

An Army unit has been conducting guard operations along the western front lines without live ammunition loaded, military sources said Wednesday, sparking concerns over lax military readiness and security posture. The 1st Corps, responsible for the western front, has revised its guard duty instructions in the first half of this year, under which they use unloaded K6 heavy machine guns, with live ammunition placed next to the firearms, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The K6 machine guns, the largest caliber firearm used by the Army, are capable of firing 12.7 millimeter rounds at a rate of 600 rounds per minute, with an effective range of around 1.8 kilometers. It is a key weapon deployed at front-line posts. The machine guns are supposed to be kept belt-fed with the live rounds loaded into the weapon to ensure an immediate response in emergency situations. The altered policy suggests the measure was intended to prevent accidental discharges, as such incidents involving loaded machine guns have often occurred at front-line posts near the border with North Korea. The mili

Jul 29, 2026By Yonhap
Army guards western border without loaded ammunition: sources
Environment & Animals

Busan establishes disaster protocol for foreign residents, visitors

As international tourism rebounds and the number of foreign residents increase across Korea’s bustling maritime hub, officials in Busan have issued a citywide operational playbook aimed at closing a critical vulnerability during urban emergencies by addressing the language barriers and bureaucratic gaps that leave foreign populations vulnerable when disaster strikes. Municipal leaders in the southern port city published the "Disaster Relief and Support Operational Guide for Foreign Residents and Visitors," Wednesday, the first systematic protocol developed by a Korean metropolitan government to institutionalize emergency care for non-citizens. The manual creates binding administrative procedures for municipal agencies, district offices and frontline emergency responders during every phase of a crisis, spanning from real-time alert broadcasts to long-term financial recovery. The initiative responds directly to shifting demographics in Korea's second-largest city. Busan recorded over 88,000 registered foreign residents in late 2024 and welcomed more than 3.6 million international travel

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Busan establishes disaster protocol for foreign residents, visitors
Politics

Parliamentary committee refers bill scrapping prosecution's investigative authority to coordination panel

A bill aimed at stripping the prosecution of its supplementary investigative authority was referred to a parliamentary agenda coordination committee Wednesday amid disagreements between rival parties. The National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee referred the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act to the agenda coordination committee earlier in the day amid protest from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). An agenda coordination committee is formed when mediation is needed over contentious bills between political parties. The committee can deliberate on legislation for up to 90 days. However, if at least four of its six members vote in favor, the bill is referred to the standing committee for immediate voting. Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who chairs the judiciary committee, plans to appoint three DPK lawmakers, two PPP lawmakers and one legislator from a minor party to the six-member panel. If all three DPK members, along with the minor party member, vote in favor, the bill will be sent to the committee's plenary meeting for appr

Jul 29, 2026By Yonhap
Parliamentary committee refers bill scrapping prosecution's investigative authority to coordination panel
Society

Southeastern city of Yangsan hits 40.3 C; Busan reports highest temperature in 122 years

Temperatures soared to record highs in southeastern parts of Korea on Wednesday, with Busan reporting an all-time high in 122 years, as a sweltering heat wave gripped the nation. The southeastern city of Yangsan reached 40.3 degrees Celsius at 3:34 p.m. — the highest ever recorded by the state weather agency in the 18 years it has been collecting weather data in the city — according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The city had previously logged 39.3 degrees on Sunday, matching the previous record set in 2024. Temperatures in the nearby port city of Busan stood at 38.8 degrees at 2:56 p.m., surpassing the previous record of 37.3 degrees in 2016 to mark the highest since weather tracking for the city began in 1904. The agency attributed the heat wave to the dual influence of the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High pressure systems, projecting the heat wave to persist through the end of next week. Earlier in the day, the KMA upgraded a heat wave advisory to a full warning for eastern and southwestern parts of Seoul, marking the capital's second heat wave warning thi

Jul 29, 2026By Yonhap
Southeastern city of Yangsan hits 40.3 C; Busan reports highest temperature in 122 years
Defense

InterviewPhotographer spends 13 years documenting Korean War veterans worldwide

For photographer RAMI, what began as a simple portrait session with Korean soldiers has evolved into a decadelong mission to document those who dedicate their lives to protecting others and preserve their sacrifices for generations to come. The founder of the nonprofit Project Soldier has spent the past 13 years photographing active-duty service members, military families and 1950-53 Korean War veterans from around the world. Along the way, the project has evolved from an artistic endeavor into what he now describes as a form of historical preservation and, increasingly, healing. "I wanted to tell them, 'You are a great soldier. You have lived an honorable life,'" RAMI said in an interview with The Korea Times. "That was how everything started." His interest in the military was not rooted in patriotism at first. After growing up in Korea and completing his military service, RAMI moved to San Francisco in the early 2000s to study documentary and editorial photography. Drawn to extreme subjects, he originally dreamed of becoming a war photographer, documenting military units, law enforcem

Jul 29, 2026By Anna J. Park
Photographer spends 13 years documenting Korean War veterans worldwide
Society

Mounjaro prescriptions top 1.5 mil. in 10 months, teen use surges

Obesity treatment drug Mounjaro has been prescribed more than 1.5 million times in the 10 months since its domestic launch, reflecting surging demand for the weight-loss treatment. Concerns are growing about abuse among younger patients, as more than half of prescriptions were concentrated among people in their 20s and 30s, while prescriptions for teenagers rose 1.5 times this year alone. According to drug utilization review (DUR) data submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Rep. Han Zee-a of the People Power Party on Wednesday, Mounjaro was prescribed 1,501,161 times between its domestic launch last August through May this year. Mounjaro, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, is a once-weekly injectable that acts on GLP-1, a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, to aid weight loss. Monthly prescriptions rose about 14.7 times, from 18,579 in August last year to 273,140 in May this year. By age group, people in their 30s accounted for the largest share at 36 percent, followed by those in their 40s at 27.1 percent, those in their 20s at 16

Jul 29, 2026By Park Ung
Mounjaro prescriptions top 1.5 mil. in 10 months, teen use surges
Law & Crime

Ex-President Yoon referred to prosecution on new election law violation charges

Police said Wednesday they have referred former President Yoon Suk Yeol to the prosecution on new election law violation charges over alleged false statements he made ahead of the 2022 presidential election Yoon is accused of falsely claiming that his wife, Kim Keon Hee, was not involved in a stock price manipulation scheme when he ran as the main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate between October 2021 and February 2022. A special police investigation team determined that the alleged false statements violated the election law and sent the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office. The move comes after an appellate court in April found Kim guilty for her role in the stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in Korea. The case is currently on appeal at the Supreme Court. Yoon has already been convicted of separate election law violations. A Seoul district court sentenced him to a suspended prison term on Monday for making other false claims ahead of the election in March 2022. The jailed former president has been standing multiple

Jul 29, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon referred to prosecution on new election law violation charges
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