South Korea

Photo demands from parents are changing kindergarten classrooms in Korea

Day care teachers in Seoul are spending hours each day photographing students, a growing administrative mandate that has become routine in many early childhood classrooms. While children folded paper carnations and made coupons for Parents’ Day last week, teachers focused on photographing them for their parents. "On days with special events, like field trips, we take as many as 100 photos," the teacher said. "It’s not as if we take only 10 pictures just because there are 10 children in the class. We have to upload the good ones. Otherwise, parents complain that their child’s expression looks bad or that only their child had their eyes closed." For about a decade, day care centers and kindergartens have used parent communication apps such as Kids Note and Schoolbell-e to send parents photos of their children. The apps were meant to show parents what young children do at school or day care. Teachers now say the practice has become expected work, adding to their workload and reducing instructional and caregiving time. Smiling photos, strained classrooms Teachers say the reality outsid

May 13, 2026By Hankookilbo

Photo demands from parents are changing kindergarten classrooms in Korea

Politics

Ruling, opposition parties rally support for 'judgment' in upcoming elections

Korea's ruling and main opposition parties are making similar calls in rare unison for voter support that the outcome of the upcoming local elections will serve as judgment against the other side, political observers here noted Wednesday. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is wooing support for what it calls a "harsh judgment" against "insurrectionist forces" tied to ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his failed martial law attempt. The conservative People Power Party (PPP), too, is calling for judgment against what it claims is a criminal organization and its leader, the DPK and President Lee Jae Myung, respectively. The DPK has framed the June 3 local elections as a crucial election to "normalize" the country and root out what it calls lingering insurrectionist forces linked to Yoon's short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024. "The insurrection is not over, and the insurrectionist forces behind it, who have shown no sign of remorse, are still active in various places," DPK leader Jung Chung-rae said Sunday in a ceremony marking the launch of the party's electi

May 13, 2026By Yonhap

Ruling, opposition parties rally support for 'judgment' in upcoming elections

2026 local elections

Immigrant groups demand rights as residents, not just workers ahead of local polls

Migrant rights groups called on politicians to drastically expand social rights and protections for more than 2.8 million migrants living in Korea, accusing policymakers of treating them as workers but not as residents, neighbors or — where eligible — voters. At a press conference in Seoul ahead of the June 3 local elections, representatives of the groups said everyone who lives and works in the country should be guaranteed equal access to welfare and public services, including health care and education, regardless of nationality. They claimed both central and local governments build their economies on migrant labor while systematically excluding migrants from tax-funded benefits. They called on candidates to present concrete pledges to remove legal and institutional discrimination, strengthen local migrant support systems and embrace migrants — including undocumented workers and children — as members of society whose rights must be protected. “This election will decide our region’s future — and migrant workers must be part of it,” said Udaya Rai, head of the Migrants’

May 13, 2026By Jung Min-ho

Immigrant groups demand rights as residents, not just workers ahead of local polls

South Korea

Foreign residents emerge as Korea’s unexpected tourism ambassadors

Foreign residents living in Korea are rapidly becoming a powerful new force in the country’s tourism economy, with many traveling frequently across the nation and encouraging friends and relatives abroad to visit. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said Wednesday that a new survey of foreign residents found that nearly 7 in 10 respondents had taken domestic day trips over the past year, while nearly 6 in 10 had traveled overnight. The report comes as Korea’s foreign resident population reaches 2.58 million, roughly 5 percent of the country’s total population, prompting tourism officials to view expatriates, international students and migrant workers as a growing tourism market rather than simply long-term residents. The survey of 1,000 foreign residents showed that respondents averaged 3.7 day trips and two overnight trips annually between November 2024 and October 2025. Nature and food ranked among the most popular activities. About 85.7 percent said they enjoyed sightseeing focused on scenery and landscapes, while 64.2 percent said food

May 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Foreign residents emerge as Korea’s unexpected tourism ambassadors

South Korea

Seoul deploys AI, 'climate sanctuaries' to combat brutal summer weather

As the Korean peninsula braces for a summer season defined by increasingly erratic and extreme weather, Seoul city officials are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and an expanded network of "climate shelters" to protect a vulnerable urban population. The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled a comprehensive five-month safety mandate on Wednesday, a strategic pivot aimed at hardening the capital against the dual threats of extreme heat and flash flooding. The plan, which runs through October, represents a significant escalation in the city’s technological response to the climate crisis. Central to the initiative is the deployment of AI-powered surveillance along Seoul’s major streams, including Jungnang Stream. These intelligent CCTV systems are designed to detect stranded pedestrians in real-time and issue automated warnings during the sudden, torrential downpours that have increasingly plagued the region. Further inland, AI will analyze weather radar data to predict flooding risks on 15 notorious thoroughfares, including the low-lying districts around Gangnam Station that h

May 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Seoul deploys AI, 'climate sanctuaries' to combat brutal summer weather

South Korea

Seoul, Ediya Coffee brew new career opportunities for multicultural family members

For many immigrants in Korea, the distance between arriving in a new country and finding a place in its workforce can feel insurmountable. Language barriers and cultural nuances often relegate talented individuals to the sidelines. However, a collaborative initiative between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Ediya Coffee, one of the nation's largest coffee chains, is proving that the path to integration can be found in the art of the perfect pour. The program, titled "I Am a Barista!", has transitioned from a pilot project into a structural pillar for multicultural families. By pairing government oversight with private-sector expertise, the initiative provides marriage immigrants and their children with rigorous vocational training, moving beyond simple theory to provide a direct pipeline into the service industry. The results of the 2025 cycle underscore the program’s efficacy: Every single one of the 30 participants successfully obtained a Level 3 barista certification. More importantly, the program is delivering on its promise of economic mobility. Several graduates have alread

May 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Seoul, Ediya Coffee brew new career opportunities for multicultural family members

Law & Crime

$25.5 mil. cybercrime ringleader targeting BTS' Jung Kook extradited from Thailand

The suspected ringleader of a cybercrime network accused of stealing the personal data of wealthy individuals — including BTS member Jungkook — to withdraw funds from their financial accounts has been extradited to Korea and placed in custody by authorities. According to the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency (NPA), the 40-year-old Chinese national arrived at Incheon International Airport from Bangkok, Wednesday. He is the second key suspect in the case, following a 36-year-old Chinese accomplice who was extradited to Korea, indicted and detained in August last year. The group is suspected of running a cybercrime network based in several countries but primarily operating out of Thailand. From August 2023 to April 2024, it allegedly siphoned off more than 38 billion won ($25.5 million) by using illegally obtained personal data to gain access to victims’ bank and cryptocurrency accounts. Investigators said the group hacked multiple websites to obtain personal data, then used the stolen identities to open low-cost mobile lines and pass identity verification, allowing

May 13, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

$25.5 mil. cybercrime ringleader targeting BTS' Jung Kook extradited from Thailand

Law & Crime

Court wraps up hearings on Samsung injunction bid against strike

A court on Wednesday concluded hearings on Samsung Electronics's request for an injunction to block a strike threatened by its unionized workers. The Suwon District Court said it will decide whether to grant the injunction before the general strike scheduled to begin May 21, after hearing arguments from both labor and management. Samsung filed the injunction case on April 16 against two labor unions, leading to the second closed-door hearing on Wednesday morning, which was attended by about 30 people, including lawyers and officials from both sides. The hearing lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes, proceeding with presentations by the two unions opposing the injunction request, followed by a rebuttal from management. The court said at the end of the hearing that it will make a decision after careful consideration. Typically, injunction cases are handled based on the gravity and urgency of the matter. In Samsung's case, it is expected that the impact of the planned industrial action, as well as its necessity and legitimacy, will also be reviewed. Samsung's labor and management failed to reac

May 13, 2026By Yonhap

Court wraps up hearings on Samsung injunction bid against strike

Politics

Lee slams reports on aide's 'public dividend' remark as 'malicious fake news'

President Lee Jae Myung accused some media outlets Wednesday of distorting his aide's remarks to make it appear that he suggested distributing the excess profits of artificial intelligence (AI) companies among the public. Lee wrote on his X account that certain outlets were distributing "malicious fake news," when the intent of his chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom was to propose sharing the surplus tax revenue generated by the recent boom at AI companies, such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. "When some news outlets distributed malicious fake news by editing (Kim's) remarks ... he denied it and kindly explained that he was arguing for a review of distributing surplus tax revenue," Lee wrote. "What is the reason they are still carrying such malicious reports? It must be remembered that political accusations and criticism harm democracy if they are not based on facts." Kim wrote on Facebook the previous day that a "public dividend" system could be considered as a way of sharing with the people "the fruits of the AI infrastructure era." The remark prompted fierce backlash among c

May 13, 2026By Yonhap

Lee slams reports on aide's 'public dividend' remark as 'malicious fake news'

Society

Busan moves to protect fans from price gouging ahead of BTS concerts

Whenever global K-pop phenomenon BTS announces a performance, a familiar gold-rush mentality tends to seize the host city. But as the group prepares to descend on Korea's second-biggest city for its "ARIRANG" world tour concerts in June, local authorities are moving to ensure that fans aren't fleeced by the local hospitality industry. The Busan Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday a sweeping crackdown on price gouging, mobilizing an interagency task force to inspect hotels and guesthouses across the southern port city. The initiative, which includes the city’s Special Judicial Police and the Korea Fair Trade Commission, is a preemptive strike against the predatory pricing and unilateral reservation cancellations that have historically marred major cultural events in the region. The inspections will target establishments flagged by the city’s "tourism inconvenience" reporting system. Under the Public Health Control Act, inspectors will be looking for a range of infractions, from the failure to display mandated rate schedules to the operation of entirely unregistered lodgings.

May 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

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South Korea

Samsung, SK hynix pledge $519 bil. for southwestern chip hub

3 PPP lawmakers booked for obstructing Yoon's arrest over martial law bid

Gov't unveils power, infrastructure plans to back megaprojects

Lee's southwestern semiconductor cluster draws corporate arm-twisting accusations

Remains of 7 fallen soldiers from Korean War laid to rest in burial ceremonies

Read more

Photo demands from parents are changing kindergarten classrooms in Korea

Ruling, opposition parties rally support for 'judgment' in upcoming elections

Immigrant groups demand rights as residents, not just workers ahead of local polls

Foreign residents emerge as Korea’s unexpected tourism ambassadors

Seoul deploys AI, 'climate sanctuaries' to combat brutal summer weather

Seoul, Ediya Coffee brew new career opportunities for multicultural family members

$25.5 mil. cybercrime ringleader targeting BTS' Jung Kook extradited from Thailand

Court wraps up hearings on Samsung injunction bid against strike

Lee slams reports on aide's 'public dividend' remark as 'malicious fake news'

Busan moves to protect fans from price gouging ahead of BTS concerts

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