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InterviewHow shy Cambodian student became AI developer in Korea through GKS

Studying, finding employment and settling down in a foreign country is rarely a smooth process — even for recipients of the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), a government-funded program that covers tuition, living costs and language training for outstanding international students. What it cannot guarantee is that they stay. Sereimony Sek, a GKS alumna who arrived from Cambodia at 17 and now works as an artificial intelligence (AI) developer at a Seoul telecommunications company, says the difference often comes down to something simpler: whether students ask for help. “I think it’s important to seek help when we need it because I’ve seen some GKS students give up their scholarships and return home for various reasons,” she told The Korea Times in a recent interview. “Because we come here through the GKS program, we already have a strong support network around us, so students shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to others or ask for help.” Sek believes that such support systems and alumni networks can play an important role in helping international students adapt to life in Korea

May 27, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
How shy Cambodian student became AI developer in Korea through GKS
Law & Crime

Investigators quiz ex-JCS chairman over alleged role in martial law

Kim Myung-soo, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), appeared before special prosecutors Wednesday for questioning over his alleged involvement in an insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law. The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young began questioning Kim as a suspect in the morning on suspicion of performing key duties under the short-lived martial law imposed Dec. 3, 2024, which a Seoul district court has ruled had led to an insurrection, sentencing the former president to life imprisonment. Kim, a retired admiral, is accused of taking part in the alleged insurrection by forming a martial law command even after watching the controversial deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly. Kwon's team views Kim's alleged issuance of a fragmentary order to the Army Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command to prioritize martial law affairs as an act of complicity in insurrection. The team reportedly found indications during questioning of Lee Seung-oh, former chief director of operati

May 27, 2026By Yonhap
Investigators quiz ex-JCS chairman over alleged role in martial law
Law & Crime

Kim Soo-hyun's agency says 'truth proven' through arrest of YouTuber charged with defamation

Actor Kim Soo-hyun's agency said Wednesday that "truth has been proven" following the arrest of a conservative YouTuber charged with spreading false and fabricated information about the actor over his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron. On Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court granted the arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui, operator of the YouTube channel Hover Lab, who is accused of defaming the actor by falsely claiming that the actor had dated the late actress while she was a minor and that pressure from his side to repay a debt led to her death early last year. The YouTuber is also accused of creating doctored audio recordings of the late actress using artificial intelligence technology to falsely claim she had sexual relations with the actor when she was in middle school. "At last, the truth has been proven through a legally established process and a thorough probe. ... (We) deeply thank investigative authorities for their efforts in uncovering the truth based on objective evidence," Gold Medalist, which represents the actor, said in a statement. The agency noted that the vari

May 27, 2026By Yonhap
Kim Soo-hyun's agency says 'truth proven' through arrest of YouTuber charged with defamation
South Korea

Services of over 120 KTX trains disrupted due to Seoul overpass collapse

Operations of more than 120 KTX high-speed trains have been suspended or undergone route changes after the partial collapse of an overpass near Seoul Station earlier this week, the state-run rail operator said Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Seosomun Overpass, undergoing demolition in Seoul's western ward of Seodaemun, partially collapsed, killing three people and injuring three others. The falling debris impacted power lines for the railway between Seoul Station and Sinchon Station, suspending KTX services between Seoul Station and Haengsin Station in Goyang, north of Seoul, according to the Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL). It also halted Gyeongui Line services between Seoul Station and Susaek Station in northwestern Seoul. Due to the incident, more than 120 KTX trains on the Gyeongbu Line, which connects the capital and the southeastern port city of Busan, Honam Line, Gyeongjeon Line, Donghae Line and Jeolla Line have either been suspended or undergone route changes. In order to mitigate crowding at Seoul Station, KORAIL will also operate Mugunghwa trains on certain sections, such as between t

May 27, 2026By Yonhap
Services of over 120 KTX trains disrupted due to Seoul overpass collapse
South Korea

Prosecution launches team to probe deadly Seoul overpass collapse

The prosecution said Wednesday it will launch a team to investigate the collapse of an overpass in Seoul that killed three people and injured three others the previous day. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office said in a notice to the press that the 11-member team, including four prosecutors and six investigators, will work closely with the police and labor officials to determine the cause of the accident and who is responsible, and provide swift assistance to the victims. The Seosomun Overpass in western Seoul partially collapsed during demolition work Tuesday, killing the chief supervisor of an engineering company, the site manager and an outside expert. The three injured were workers who suffered injuries to the waist, head and ribs, officials said. "We will ensure the investigation proceeds smoothly as the team works together with the police from the warrant application stage," a prosecution official said. Police said they carried out a forensic examination of the site from midnight until 4 a.m. together with the National Forensic Service and the Korea Occupational Safety and

May 27, 2026By Yonhap
Prosecution launches team to probe deadly Seoul overpass collapse
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
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