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  • South Korea

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

    Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will invest 800 trillion won ($519 billion) to establish a semiconductor complex in the country's southwestern region, as part of government-private sector plans to strengthen Korea's position as one of the world's leading semiconductor powerhouses amid a boom in artificial intelligence (AI) industries. SK Group, GS Group and Naver will also spend 550 trillion won to set up AI data centers to increase the total capacity to 18.4 gigawatts by 2035. The government, Samsung Electronics, SK Group and other large businesses announced the massive investment plans Monday, as part of the government's three flagship megaprojects focusing on semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers, designed to meet surging demand for AI infrastructure as the technology reshapes the global industrial landscape. The projects are also intended to promote high-tech investment across the country's southwestern, central and southeastern regions as part of a broader push for balanced regional development, while relevant plants and infrastructure are currently concentrated around t

    4 MIN READBy Yi Whan-woo
    Samsung, SK hynix pledge $519 bil. for southwestern chip hub
  • Law & Crime

    Investigators indict Shincheonji sect leader over forced PPP memberships

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Investigators indict Shincheonji sect leader over forced PPP memberships
  • Law & Crime

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

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    3 PPP lawmakers booked for obstructing Yoon's arrest over martial law bid
  • South Korea

    Gov't unveils power, infrastructure plans to back megaprojects

    3 MIN READBy Lee Gyu-lee
    Gov't unveils power, infrastructure plans to back megaprojects
  • Politics

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

    3 MIN READBy Bahk Eun-ji
    Lee's southwestern semiconductor cluster draws corporate arm-twisting accusations
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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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Society

Boy found dead after going missing in mountain park

Authorities on Tuesday discovered the body of a boy who had gone missing in a southeastern mountain park earlier this week. The 11-year-old went missing Sunday after hiking alone at Juwangsan National Park, about 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after visiting a Buddhist temple at the park with his family. Rescue authorities discovered the boy's body at about 10:25 a.m., about 100 meters from the mountain's peak, after deploying more than 350 personnel on the third day of the search around a hiking trail. The mountain has an elevation of 720.6 meters. Officials suspect the boy may have suffered a fatal accident after losing his footing. They plan to conduct an investigation into the exact circumstances of his death. Authorities were considering deploying a helicopter to transport the body, depending on the conditions at the scene. The boy had set out on a hike to the mountain peak without a mobile phone from a midpoint where his parents waited. The parents reported their child missing at 5:53 p.m. Sunday as he did not return even after a considerable amount of time. While authorities car

May 12, 2026By Yonhap
Boy found dead after going missing in mountain park
Defense

Concerns of delay loom over KF-21 fighter jet program as production costs likely to rise

Korea's first homegrown fighter jet program may face delays as costs for follow-on production are projected to sharply rise from the original estimate, a document drafted by the state arms procurement agency showed Tuesday. The "Block-II" production of the KF-21 Boramae fighters was projected to cost 18.44 trillion won ($12.5 billion) as of March, an increase of 29.5 percent, or 4.19 trillion won, from the initial estimate of 14.24 trillion won made in August 2024, according to the document by the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) submitted to a lawmaker. DAPA largely attributed the cost overruns to economic factors, such as inflation, a weak Korean currency and global supply chain disruptions, the document showed. South Korea launched the fighter jet project in late 2015 to develop an advanced supersonic aircraft intended to replace now-retired F-4 fighters and aging F-5 jets still in service. Following the rollout of the first KF-21 prototype in April 2021, DAPA began the "Block-I" production phase aimed at producing 40 fighters focused on air-to-air capabilities fo

May 12, 2026By Yonhap
Concerns of delay loom over KF-21 fighter jet program as production costs likely to rise
Politics

Lee vows to address predatory financial practices tormenting debtors

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday pledged to address what he called predatory financial practices burdening low-income debtors, referring to cases of defaulters excluded from a government debt cancellation program. The president made the remarks on his X account, posting a link to a news article highlighting cases of defaulters struggling with snowballing debts due to crushingly high interest rates. The article said that a privately run bad bank that had taken over the debts of the defaulters did not participate in the Lee administration's debt cancellation program for low-income borrowers, leaving its debtors ineligible for benefits, while pocketing huge profits. "I did not know this primitive, predatory financing has survived to this day to strangle ordinary people," Lee said. "Why have the authorities in charge not discovered this absurdity until now?" the president noted, vowing to find ways to resolve the issue. The president said there are "limits" in companies' profit-seeking activities, stressing the importance of coexistence.

May 12, 2026By Yonhap
Lee vows to address predatory financial practices tormenting debtors
2026 local elections

Just 2 women in 25 district chief races exposes Seoul's political glass ceiling

Seoul's district chief races remain heavily male-dominated ahead of the June 3 local elections, even as female candidates gain ground in neighboring Gyeonggi Province. Among the 25 district chief races in the capital, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have so far confirmed only two female candidates combined, both incumbent district heads seeking reelection. The lack of new female contenders has renewed criticism that Seoul's political scene remains difficult for women to break into. According to party nominations finalized so far, the DPK’s Kim Me-kyung, the incumbent chief of Eunpyeong District, and the PPP’s Lee Soo-hee, the incumbent leader of Gangdong District, are the only confirmed female candidates from the two major parties. Kim is seeking a third consecutive term and could become Seoul’s first three-term female district head if reelected. Lee is also running for reelection after winning Gangdong in the 2022 local elections. The number could rise to three if former Chuncheon MBC announcer Lee Yoo-won wins the PPP pri

May 12, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Just 2 women in 25 district chief races exposes Seoul's political glass ceiling
Law & Crime

Police clear ex-first lady of wrongdoing over naval ship party

Police said Monday they will not pursue charges against former first lady Kim Keon Hee over a party held aboard a naval ship in 2023. Kim and her husband, ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, have been under investigation for allegedly using military assets for private purposes during the naval ship party at the Jinhae Naval Base in August 2023. A special police investigation team said in a notice to the press that they decided to close the case without pursuing charges due to a lack of evidence. The team has been looking into various corruption allegations involving the former first lady that were previously unresolved by a special counsel team. Police did, however, refer Kim Yong-hyun, a former chief of the Presidential Security Service, to the prosecution on suspicions of instigating abuse of power, along with his former deputy Kim Seong-hoon for abusing power by organizing the party. The former deputy chief of the security service is accused of instructing staff to purchase premium fish, install karaoke equipment and prepare firecrackers for the party, among other allegations.

May 11, 2026By Yonhap
Police clear ex-first lady of wrongdoing over naval ship party
Environment & Animals

Lovebugs return to Korea earlier this year

Lovebugs — small, black-bodied flies named for the way mated pairs fly while attached to each other — are expected to swarm Korea slightly earlier than last year and for a shorter period due to higher temperatures, the state forest science institute said Monday. The Korea Forest Service said in a statement that the National Institute of Forest Science forecast the outbreak will begin on June 15, two days earlier than last year, and end on June 29, with activity peaking on June 24. Last year's major outbreak lasted from June 17 to July 4 — a longer window that suggests this year's swarms may be denser over a more concentrated period. “It is slightly earlier than last year and the reflection of higher spring temperatures recently,” the agency said in a statement. The insects are cold-blooded, meaning their growth rate varies depending on ambient temperatures. The agency added that the continued warm weather appears to have accelerated their development from larvae to pupae to adults, bringing forward the expected outbreak. The analysis is based on 439 records from the online plat

May 11, 2026By Park Ji-won
Lovebugs return to Korea earlier this year
South Korea

Seoul’s Jung District launches 1st disaster manual for int'l residents, visitors

As international tourism figures climb to prepandemic heights, a central district in Seoul is moving to close a critical gap in emergency services: how to care for foreigners when disaster strikes. On Monday, Jung District announced the creation of the nation’s first comprehensive "Foreigner Disaster Response Manual." The initiative marks a significant shift in local governance, moving beyond simple notifications to a specialized, multistage protocol designed to navigate the linguistic and bureaucratic hurdles that often leave non-Koreans vulnerable during crises. The new manual divides disaster response into three pillars: initial intervention, logistical support and financial compensation. While previous national guidelines focused largely on reporting basic casualties, Jung District’s protocol mandates the immediate tracking of passport details, visa statuses and flight schedules to be shared with embassies. Communication serves as the backbone of the plan. In a city where emergency alerts often flash across phone screens exclusively in Korean, the district will now mandate Engli

May 11, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul’s Jung District launches 1st disaster manual for int'l residents, visitors
South Korea

Korea seeks next breakout export as global drive intensifies for K-goods

From royal-themed wine stoppers to keyboards inspired by traditional temple paintings, Korea is launching a nationwide search to find its next breakout cultural export. The Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday the opening of the "2026 Korea Tourism Souvenir Contest," a high-stakes competition aimed at transforming local craftsmanship into global commodities. Under the slogan "K-Goods, Heading to the World," the government-backed agency is seeking to identify souvenirs that can capture the same international fervor currently enjoyed by the country’s music and cinema. The competition is divided into two categories: a general section focusing on national icons and a local specialty section designed to highlight the distinct history and nature of Korea’s diverse provinces. The stakes for participants are significant. A total of 25 winners will be selected, with the top Presidential Award carrying a 10 million won prize ($6,790). This year’s contest features a notable pivot toward international appeal. Organizers have tripled the number of "Global Popularity Awards" — voted on

May 11, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea seeks next breakout export as global drive intensifies for K-goods
Law & Crime

Nat'l Police Agency to train Southeast Asian investigators to combat online scams

Korean police are launching a specialized training program this month for law enforcement officials from Laos and Cambodia, part of a broader effort to dismantle the growing network of online scams and cybercrime syndicates operating across Southeast Asia. The initiative, conducted under the "K-Police Wave" project, will bring 20 investigators to Korea for intensive technical workshops. Ten middle managers from the Lao General Department of Police are scheduled to train through May 23, followed by 10 investigators from Cambodia’s "Korea Desk" and intelligence units, who will attend sessions at the National Police University and other facilities through the end of the month. The curriculum is designed to address the increasingly sophisticated methods used by transnational criminal organizations that have found a foothold in the region. During the training, participants will focus on advanced technical skills including the tracking of hidden criminal proceeds and the monitoring of complex cryptocurrency transactions. The program also provides specialized tactics for investigating onlin

May 11, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Nat'l Police Agency to train Southeast Asian investigators to combat online scams
Society

Police to scale back riot police at rally, protest sites

Police said Monday they will reduce the presence of riot police at rallies and demonstrations and grant organizers greater autonomy. Under the revised policy, organizers of assemblies and demonstrations will bear greater responsibility for maintaining order, while police will take a "reactive and supplementary role" focused on supporting order maintenance and ensuring safety. Park Jun-hyun, chief of the Korean National Police Agency's Situational Intelligence Division, unveiled the new policy during a forum on improving assembly and demonstration culture at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul. Except for essential needs, mobile police units will be deployed at all times to public safety sectors, such as crime prevention and response, and crowd and disaster management, Park said. "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has piloted the new policy since Feb. 19. Although the number of rallies held between February and April was similar to previous years, the deployment of riot police decreased by 62 percent from a year earlier," said Park, adding there were no illegal or v

May 11, 2026By Yonhap
Police to scale back riot police at rally, protest sites
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