https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/323439/feed News and features from the Korea Times, South Korea's oldest English-language newspaper. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea has surpassed its 2027 target of attracting 300,000 international students a year ahead of schedule, and universities must now find ways to retain and develop them, a new rankings assessment has shown. First launched last year and described as the country’s most internationalisation-focused assessment to date, The Korea Times University Rankings assess institutions on seven indicators, including the ratio of exchange and international students to total enrolment, diversity of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3368268/south-korea-beats-foreign-student-target-struggles-keep-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3368268/south-korea-beats-foreign-student-target-struggles-keep-them?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:30:36 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times More consumers are choosing whole wheat bread over white bread in the interest of health. But many products sold as whole wheat bread are not what they appear to be. To identify genuine whole wheat bread, consumers should check whether whole wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient. Some “whole wheat” bread products are made primarily with refined wheat flour, with a small amount of whole wheat added and caramel colouring – or other colourants – to give the bread a darker... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366353/whole-wheat-bread-isnt-always-what-it-seems-dangers-flour-fakes-and-how-spot-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366353/whole-wheat-bread-isnt-always-what-it-seems-dangers-flour-fakes-and-how-spot-them?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 07:15:05 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea is preparing to overhaul the rules governing technical qualification exams after five candidates were caught using AI-powered smart glasses to cheat in just over two months. The five cases, reported between May and June, were disclosed in data submitted to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea by opposition politician Kim So-hee, according to a report by The Korea Herald on Monday. In two of the cases – in Gwangju and Daegu – the candidates were caught because examiners... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365192/ai-smart-glasses-force-south-korea-rewrite-its-exam-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365192/ai-smart-glasses-force-south-korea-rewrite-its-exam-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:37:34 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Blackpink have headlined Coachella, as have Stray Kids at Lollapalooza, while Seventeen have rocked Glastonbury and Le Sserafim have dazzled Summer Sonic. Yet Korea has no equivalent – there is no festival that sees music fans around the world book flights to K-pop’s birthplace every year. But that is about to change. “Fanomenon”, a K-culture mega-event unveiled this week by South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, is the most ambitious attempt to fill that gap. More... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362243/korea-plans-coachella-style-giant-k-pop-festival-bring-200000-global-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362243/korea-plans-coachella-style-giant-k-pop-festival-bring-200000-global-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A Malaysian factory worker who had spent nearly seven years building a life in South Korea was killed after going to help a friend caught up in a late-night confrontation, his family said – prompting an online fundraiser that collected about 80,000 ringgit (US$19,600) within a day to bring his body home. Ahmad Shah Ahmad Ros, 26, died in the early hours of Sunday in Daeso-eup, Eumseong county, about 130km (80 miles) southeast of Seoul. Local police have arrested a Malaysian man in his forties on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3362070/newlywed-malaysian-killed-south-korea-thousands-raised-bring-him-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3362070/newlywed-malaysian-killed-south-korea-thousands-raised-bring-him-home?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:44:00 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Baek Byung-yeul A viral video of a Japanese calligraphy teacher’s reunion with her famous student offered an interesting glimpse at one of South Korea’s fastest-growing tourism trends. In a YouTube video uploaded on June 28, Minami, a Japanese member of the rising K-pop girl group Rescene, visited her hometown in Chiba and reunited with her former calligraphy teacher. During their conversation, the teacher revealed that she had flown back to Japan that day after undergoing a cosmetic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361143/why-tourists-are-flocking-south-koreas-pharmacies-and-wellness-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361143/why-tourists-are-flocking-south-koreas-pharmacies-and-wellness-services?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times When enjoying a Korean stew or hotpot, many people find it hard to resist adding noodles. Whether it is instant ramen or chewy glass noodles, the choice often comes down to taste. But for those trying to lose weight, the question naturally arises: which is the less calorie-heavy option? Despite appearances, the two differ in their nutritional profiles and health considerations. Glass noodles, known as dangmyeon, are typically made from potato or sweet potato starch. A 100-gram (3.5 oz) serving... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358976/instant-ramen-vs-glass-noodles-which-healthier-if-you-are-trying-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358976/instant-ramen-vs-glass-noodles-which-healthier-if-you-are-trying-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:22:53 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times For many, instant noodles are a quick, cheap meal designed for convenience. But for Ji Young-jun, Korea’s pioneering “ramyeon critic”, they represent a lifetime of history, complex food science and a rapidly growing cultural phenomenon. Ji’s unconventional journey into the world of noodles began during a period of personal frustration. After enduring consecutive failures on Korea’s gruelling college entrance exam, he enlisted in the military. It was while wandering the aisles of the military... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358309/hes-reviewed-over-2300-varieties-instant-noodles-meet-south-koreas-ramyeon-critic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358309/hes-reviewed-over-2300-varieties-instant-noodles-meet-south-koreas-ramyeon-critic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jun 2026 06:15:06 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao This article was first published by The Korea Times in a partnership with the South China Morning Post. Two of China’s leading memory-chip makers are moving closer to public listings, posing a significant long-term challenge to South Korean giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, despite a limited immediate threat, according to analysts. ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s leading dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) producer, won approval last week for its nearly 30-billion-yuan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3356130/chinese-memory-makers-step-challenge-koreas-chip-champions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3356130/chinese-memory-makers-step-challenge-koreas-chip-champions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:00:13 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Pyo Kyung-min Three years after their first full-length record, K-pop girl group Le Sserafim are ready to tell a different story about fear. The five-member group dropped Pureflow Pt.1, their second studio album, on May 22, built around a premise that inverts the group’s debut message. While the group’s first record declared strength through fearlessness, this one argues the opposite – that fear, faced directly, is what makes you stronger. “When we first debuted, the message was that we were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354760/new-album-pureflow-pt1-le-sserafim-are-facing-their-fears-and-are-stronger-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354760/new-album-pureflow-pt1-le-sserafim-are-facing-their-fears-and-are-stronger-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 04:15:04 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times From an early age, Ahn Hyo-seop has had a burning passion for music. After school, he would talk about music and even produce tracks with his friends for fun. This passion led him to train under JYP Entertainment with the hopes of becoming a K-pop idol. However, Ahn decided to follow a different career path as an actor, becoming a household name in South Korea with performances in Dr Romantic (2016) and Business Proposal (2022). After starring in films and shows for over 10 years, Ahn recently... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354461/k-drama-actor-ahn-hyo-seop-something-special-his-new-single-us-rb-star-khalid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354461/k-drama-actor-ahn-hyo-seop-something-special-his-new-single-us-rb-star-khalid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 08:15:05 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times For decades, the arrival of summer in South Korea was heralded by the rhythmic hum of cicadas and the predictable onset of monsoon season. But as climate change rewrites the country’s seasonal script, the government is bracing for a new reality. On Wednesday, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced a sweeping overhaul of its national weather warning system, the first major restructuring in nearly two decades. The centrepiece of the plan is the introduction of a top-tier “extreme heat... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3353402/south-korea-adds-extreme-heat-emergency-first-major-alert-update-18-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3353402/south-korea-adds-extreme-heat-emergency-first-major-alert-update-18-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 07:17:20 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times There is a particular kind of calm that comes from having already been through it. Walking into a room with Naze, the seven-member K-pop boy band whose official Korean debut was released on May 4, that sense of calm is the first thing one notices. These are not nervous trainees – they are young men who have already stood on stages in Japan, filmed a prime-time TBS drama, recorded four original soundtracks and gone on a showcase tour before most Korean fans even knew their names. “We’ve already... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3352348/how-k-pop-boy-band-nazes-multinational-members-found-natural-chemistry-debut-album?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3352348/how-k-pop-boy-band-nazes-multinational-members-found-natural-chemistry-debut-album?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 09:15:04 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times The notes of one of Chopin’s nocturnes drifted up through the deep underground air inside Noksapyeong station in Seoul on a recent Monday afternoon, echoing off curved walls and bouncing against translucent glass banisters. A commuter sat at an upright piano in the concourse – one of the station’s cultural fixtures – and for a few unannounced minutes, the cavernous hall felt less like a subway station and more like a dream that missed its exit. That is precisely the effect Noksapyeong station... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3352311/story-seouls-strangest-subway-station-failed-hub-plans-wedding-and-art-venue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3352311/story-seouls-strangest-subway-station-failed-hub-plans-wedding-and-art-venue?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 11:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Yongsan in central Seoul was once the capital of electronics in South Korea. For those shopping for gadgets, a visit to the area was a must. However, with the widespread adoption of online shopping leading to a decline in physical electronics sales, the neighbourhood has found a new identity. The area, centred around I’Park Mall, is now emerging as a major hub for subculture content and pop-up events, drawing a growing number of visitors seeking offline experiences. I’Park Mall embodies that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350990/seoul-mall-one-best-places-buy-anime-and-fan-merch-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350990/seoul-mall-one-best-places-buy-anime-and-fan-merch-city?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times On game days, queues outside a rice cake shop near Gwangju Songjeong Station can stretch more than 50 metres (164ft), a familiar scene that even local taxi drivers anticipate, often naming the destination before passengers finish asking. “In my whole life, it is my first time seeing people line up like this at a rice cake shop,” one taxi driver says. The draw is pumpkin injeolmi, a sticky rice cake from the bakery Changeok Tteok that has become a viral sensation, drawing crowds rivalling the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350101/best-things-do-gwangju-south-korea-viral-food-trends-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350101/best-things-do-gwangju-south-korea-viral-food-trends-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times The award-winning Netflix series Beef, which swept categories at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, returns on April 16 with its second season. Korean-American director and writer Lee Sung-jin said in an online interview that he was excited but found season two “even harder than the first” season to make as he aimed to “take some big swings and risks while retaining what is special about the show”. Unlike season one’s road rage feud between lonely strangers, season two unfolds... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3349605/netflixs-beef-season-2-bridge-between-west-and-east-says-director-lee-sung-jin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3349605/netflixs-beef-season-2-bridge-between-west-and-east-says-director-lee-sung-jin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times On a recent Tuesday evening in Seoul, the Myeongdong branch of Bantianyao Kaoyu, a Chinese restaurant specialising in whole simmered fish dishes, is already filling up well before the dinner rush. Inside, large trays of whole simmered fish arrive one after another, each landing in a bath of deep-red chilli-laced broth, sending up a cloud of steam over the tables. Despite it only being 5.30pm – early enough at most restaurants to avoid the usual queues of hungry commuters – almost all of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349535/why-are-young-koreans-going-crazy-chinese-restaurants-inside-growing-trend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349535/why-are-young-koreans-going-crazy-chinese-restaurants-inside-growing-trend?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:45:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Pyo Kyung-min On a recent weekend afternoon, Hwang In-woo, a university student in his 20s, found himself standing in line for something called “butter rice cakes” – yet another trending dessert he never intended to try. Hwang said he has been eating his way through South Korea’s latest food crazes largely at the urging of his girlfriend, who regularly discovers new items on social media and insists they try them together. “I wouldn’t usually go out of my way to buy these if it weren’t for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348793/crispy-chewy-soft-why-texture-not-taste-rules-south-koreas-current-viral-food-trends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348793/crispy-chewy-soft-why-texture-not-taste-rules-south-koreas-current-viral-food-trends?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Pyo Kyung-min Now that K-pop juggernaut BTS have officially made their comeback – having just staged a free performance at the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21 and with three more dates at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12 – fans from around the world are once again planning journeys that extend far beyond a single night of music. For many members of Army, BTS’ official fandom, travelling to South Korea is also about stepping into the physical landscapes that shaped the group’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3347533/10-bts-pilgrimage-spots-south-korea-every-army-fan-should-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3347533/10-bts-pilgrimage-spots-south-korea-every-army-fan-should-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Bereket Alemayehu Kim Wan-jun, who calls himself a “soju artist”, published the English translation of his book, How to Drink Soju: A Guide to K-Drinking Culture & Games, last month. The 300-page book provides an in-depth look at the history of soju, a Korean distilled alcoholic drink, while exploring its cultural significance and the customs surrounding it. Kim, a self-proclaimed upcycling artist known as Funnyjun, has been documenting South Korea’s drinking culture since 2014 and sharing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346853/drinking-soju-south-korea-english-guide-will-teach-you-rules-you-may-not-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346853/drinking-soju-south-korea-english-guide-will-teach-you-rules-you-may-not-know?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times The Korea Times is hosting its third Korean Language Speaking Contest, offering participants a chance to showcase their Korean language skills and compete for prizes worth a total of 12 million won (US$8,150). The contest, which runs until May 7, drew about 1,800 applicants last year, reflecting growing global interest in Korean language and culture, according to The Korea Times. This year, one award recipient currently enrolled in a Korean university or graduate school will be offered a summer... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3345659/korean-language-speaking-contest-offers-prizes-and-internship-non-native-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3345659/korean-language-speaking-contest-offers-prizes-and-internship-non-native-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Hankook Ilbo The second season of Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars has turned Korean temple food into a highly competitive global spectacle, bringing the Venerable Seonjae a flood of offers to capitalise on her new-found fame. South Korea’s first designated master of temple food has refused the commercial hype, choosing to educate international and younger audiences about a cuisine rooted in mindfulness and ecological concerns. “I stopped my lectures in June last year and I am currently... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3345272/culinary-class-wars-ven-seonjae-being-currently-unemployed-temple-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3345272/culinary-class-wars-ven-seonjae-being-currently-unemployed-temple-food?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A year after his work The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won the 2025 Laurence Olivier Award for best new musical, Jethro Compton has big Hollywood studios calling to ask for meetings. He declines them all. Instead, the British writer and director is working as dramaturge on an English adaptation of The Last Man, a South Korean one-person zombie musical set in a tiny bunker – and the last project most people would expect from the hottest name in West End theatre. “I’m saying, ‘No, no, I’m busy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344590/why-did-olivier-award-winner-jethro-compton-turn-down-hollywood-korean-zombie-musical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344590/why-did-olivier-award-winner-jethro-compton-turn-down-hollywood-korean-zombie-musical?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:15:09 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Park Jin-hai Undeterred by criticism of her previous acting roles, Blackpink’s Jisoo now has her eyes set on romcom queen status in the coming Netflix series Boyfriend on Demand. The singer-actress will portray Seo Mi-rae, an exhausted webtoon producer who finds escape in a mysterious app that delivers a custom-fit heartthrob boyfriend each month to tend to her emotional needs. “Virtual reality didn’t feel like a distant future, and my character, Mi-rae, is about my age,” Jisoo says. “I chose... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344839/mi-rae-so-lucky-why-blackpinks-jisoo-jealous-boyfriend-demand-character?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344839/mi-rae-so-lucky-why-blackpinks-jisoo-jealous-boyfriend-demand-character?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 04:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A wave of online backlash against South Korea is spreading across Southeast Asia, fuelled by a dispute over fan behaviour at a K-pop concert and intensified by controversial comments from public officials, highlighting how quickly digital tensions can take on a regional dimension. Posts accusing Koreans of discrimination have circulated widely on social media in recent days, with users from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand sharing calls to boycott Korean products and culture. A hashtag invoking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344189/southeast-asians-unite-digital-boycott-south-korea-seabling-trends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344189/southeast-asians-unite-digital-boycott-south-korea-seabling-trends?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:20:40 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times When Drew Binsky stepped into a gosiwon in Seoul, the doorway alone offered a clue to the life inside. The entrance measured barely 61cm (24 inches) across – narrow enough to require a slight turn of the shoulders to pass through. Binsky, an American travel YouTuber with millions of subscribers, documented his experience in his video “Inside Korea’s smallest apartment,” posted on February 1. The video tours several gosiwon facilities across Seoul and drew more than 1.9 million views within days... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343051/inside-seouls-closet-homes-youtube-tour-reveals-reality-gosiwon-living?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343051/inside-seouls-closet-homes-youtube-tour-reveals-reality-gosiwon-living?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:43:45 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea is tightening Korean-language screening for incoming migrant workers under its Employment Permit System, placing greater emphasis on speaking skills amid concerns that language barriers can contribute to worksite accidents and hinder communication at factories, farms and construction sites that increasingly rely on foreign labour. The Human Resources Development Service of Korea, a public agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labour, announced on Monday that it would revise the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342947/seoul-tightens-migrant-language-screening-over-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342947/seoul-tightens-migrant-language-screening-over-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:26:25 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Kim Se-jeong Netflix’s romance series Can This Love Be Translated? has drawn attention for many reasons, including the casting of Japanese actor Sota Fukushi as Hiro, a Japanese superstar whose initial contempt for Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung) gradually turns into love as the story unfolds. Fukushi’s role is smoothly woven into the narrative as a Japanese celebrity working alongside a top Korean star, with several scenes filmed in Japan. The casting of Japanese actors in Korean productions – and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/article/3342581/when-k-drama-meets-j-drama-sparks-fly-korea-and-japan-team-screen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/article/3342581/when-k-drama-meets-j-drama-sparks-fly-korea-and-japan-team-screen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 11:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Like many other things in Korea, K-pop rarely pauses to explain itself. New groups debut, concepts cycle, controversies surface and fade. The industry absorbs the moment, recalibrates and quickly moves on. That forward momentum has long been part of its appeal. It is also what makes the system difficult to read from the outside. However, beneath the choreography and camera-ready polish, a quieter question persists: why does K-pop feel so engineered, not just in sound or style, but in how its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3342461/stray-kids-aespa-k-pop-loving-business-expert-breaks-down-industrys-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3342461/stray-kids-aespa-k-pop-loving-business-expert-breaks-down-industrys-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:45:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea has emerged as one of the countries experiencing the world’s largest outflow of wealthy individuals, in part due to its rigid inheritance tax system. A recent analysis by British consultancy Henley & Partners showed on Tuesday that the net outflow of Korean millionaires last year was estimated at 2,400, double the 1,200 recorded in 2024. The figure was the fourth largest globally, following the United Kingdom, China and India. “Korea’s inheritance tax rate of up to 60 per cent may... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342272/south-koreas-inheritance-tax-sparks-millionaire-exodus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342272/south-koreas-inheritance-tax-sparks-millionaire-exodus?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:42:39 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times At the training centre for KD Transport Group, South Korea’s largest bus operator, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, boyish-looking men stood out among about 100 drivers gathered for safety training on January 20. According to the company, 47 of the 460 drivers at its Pangyo branch are in their 20s or 30s, accounting for roughly 10 per cent of the workforce. “Most of them joined within the last year or two,” a company official said. “It is unusual to see such a sharp increase in young... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341707/why-south-koreas-gen-z-steer-towards-bus-driving-job-market-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341707/why-south-koreas-gen-z-steer-towards-bus-driving-job-market-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:14:41 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Chung Sang-hwa, a towering figure in Korean modern art whose meticulously built and cracked monochrome surfaces turned a flat canvas into a signature grid, died on January 28 after a prolonged illness. He was 93. Over a career that stretched from the upheaval of the 1950-53 Korean war to the international rediscovery of dansaekhwa, or monochrome painting, in the 21st century, Chung pursued a single question with near-ascetic focus: how to push the two-dimensional plane beyond its limits without... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3341640/korean-artist-chung-sang-hwa-dies-93-leaving-behind-legacy-monochrome-painting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3341640/korean-artist-chung-sang-hwa-dies-93-leaving-behind-legacy-monochrome-painting?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:18:00 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Outside Jonggak Station in central Seoul on a chilly Saturday evening, the air carries a hum of anticipation as an escalator climbing towards the third floor of a downtown office complex funnels hundreds of League of Legends fans towards a single glowing destination: LoL Park, the home of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) competition and the beating heart of Seoul’s esports scene. An hour before the big match between KT Rolster and Gen.G begins, the concourse feels like a high-stakes... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340978/how-seoul-became-worlds-esports-capital-and-using-it-key-tourism-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340978/how-seoul-became-worlds-esports-capital-and-using-it-key-tourism-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A declining number of dog meat farms in South Korea, driven by government efforts to root out the centuries-old practice of dog meat consumption, has raised questions about what will happen to the dogs currently in the system between now and when the ban takes effect in February 2027. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that at least 468,000 dogs are currently kept on farms in cages nationwide, or at some 5,900 related businesses, including slaughterhouses,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340854/south-koreas-dog-meat-ban-leaves-half-million-lives-limbo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340854/south-koreas-dog-meat-ban-leaves-half-million-lives-limbo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:18:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Disney+’s new series Made in Korea dives deep into the dark underbelly of 1970s Korea, a decade that director Woo Min-ho calls an “age of barbarism”. Drawing from real events and personal ambition, the six-part drama follows the collision of two men: Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin), who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of money and power, and Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung), a stubborn prosecutor determined to bring him to justice. Woo set out to explore how the hunger for power and a corrupt system... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340623/how-made-korea-disney-shows-countrys-dark-underbelly-1970s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340623/how-made-korea-disney-shows-countrys-dark-underbelly-1970s?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times For the Korean American community, the first year of US President Donald Trump’s return to power has been defined by a sense of “pure fear”. According to Kim Dong-seok, head of the non-profit Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC), the institutional tolerance that once protected immigrants has vanished, replaced by a political environment that views non-citizens with a presumption of criminality. “Even though the US government says it distinguishes between lawful and unlawful immigrants,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340542/korean-americans-face-pure-fear-under-trumps-immigration-policies-activist-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340542/korean-americans-face-pure-fear-under-trumps-immigration-policies-activist-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:51:22 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea’s streets, parks and travel itineraries are being redrawn as a nationwide running trend shows no sign of slowing. Once the preserve of a small group of enthusiasts, running has evolved into a mass hobby, with some 10 million South Koreans now identifying themselves as runners, according to industry and tourism data. That is roughly double the figure from 2015. Marathons and road races are multiplying across the country, and “run trips” that combine travel and races are emerging as a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339692/whats-fuelling-south-koreas-running-boom-inside-countrys-growing-fitness-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339692/whats-fuelling-south-koreas-running-boom-inside-countrys-growing-fitness-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:05:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times The year 2026 sees Seoul museums turning to Korean masters and internationally active contemporary artists, while new art exhibitions examine queer art through the lens of the city’s own histories and neighbourhoods. New institutions are also joining the scene, including Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul, while the country’s major biennales – Gwangju and Busan – return to anchor the year. Read on to find out more about what lies ahead for Seoul’s art scene in 2026. Korean masters in focus This year,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3339538/damien-hirst-do-ho-suh-and-jonas-wood-among-top-artists-showing-seoul-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3339538/damien-hirst-do-ho-suh-and-jonas-wood-among-top-artists-showing-seoul-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Young people in South Korea are more likely than their peers in Germany, Japan, France and Sweden to agree that having children would bring great joy, but they also express far stronger concerns about the economic burden of childbirth, a study found. The findings, drawn from a survey of 2,500 adults aged 20 to 49 in each of the five countries, were published in a report titled “A Study on International Cases of Population Policies” by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339598/south-koreans-see-joy-parenthood-fear-economic-strain-study-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339598/south-koreans-see-joy-parenthood-fear-economic-strain-study-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:18:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Food is the starting point for romance in Gimbap and Onigiri, a new Japanese drama pairing Japanese actor Eiji Akaso and Korea’s idol-turned-actress Kang Hye-won. Set to premiere on January 12 on Japanese television station TV Tokyo, the series follows two young adults as they navigate uncertainty in their lives and experience romance despite their different cultures. Rather than centring on cultural clashes, the story unfolds through quiet encounters, creating a story of intimacy that is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3339181/how-netflix-japanese-drama-gimbap-and-onigiri-bridges-cultures-food-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3339181/how-netflix-japanese-drama-gimbap-and-onigiri-bridges-cultures-food-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:15:12 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Migrant rights and other civic groups have condemned a bill proposed by conservative South Korean lawmakers that would require immigration authorities to publish crime statistics on foreign nationals, broken down by nationality and visa status, warning that the measure could fuel xenophobia. Civic organisations said on Thursday that the proposal would stigmatise immigrants by singling them out as potential criminals, despite evidence showing that foreign residents are less likely to commit... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339202/south-koreas-proposed-foreign-crime-bill-sparks-xenophobia-fears-over-migration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339202/south-koreas-proposed-foreign-crime-bill-sparks-xenophobia-fears-over-migration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:50:33 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Emanuel Novo has become the Korea Professional Football League’s first foreign goalkeeper in 28 years, a milestone that signals a growing openness in a role long closed to non-Korean players. Yongin FC, named after its home city in Gyeonggi Province and set to enter the second-tier K League 2 this season, announced on Saturday that it had signed the Portuguese goalkeeper. The 33-year-old is the K League’s first foreign goalkeeper since the league lifted its long-standing ban on foreign... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3338665/portugals-novo-breaks-through-k-league-barrier-first-foreign-goalkeeper-28-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3338665/portugals-novo-breaks-through-k-league-barrier-first-foreign-goalkeeper-28-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 08:24:09 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times More than 4,000 elementary, middle and high schools across South Korea have shut their doors as the country’s student population shrinks, new data shows. According to the Ministry of Education’s latest figures, revealed on Sunday by Representative Jin Sun-mee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 4,008 schools under 17 regional education offices nationwide have closed so far as student numbers continue to decline. Junior schools account for most closures, with 3,674 shut down permanently,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337938/south-korea-closes-4000-schools-permanently-amid-demographic-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337938/south-korea-closes-4000-schools-permanently-amid-demographic-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:19:55 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A novel approach by South Korea to stop its rural areas from dying by paying people to live there appears to be working. Okcheon in North Chungcheong province saw its population grow by almost 1,000 in just over two weeks since it became a participant in the state-backed programme earlier this month, according to The Korea Herald newspaper. The farming community was officially designated a “population decline area” in 2021. By the following year, its population fell to below the 50,000... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337796/south-korea-vouchers-curb-countys-falling-population-draw-new-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337796/south-korea-vouchers-curb-countys-falling-population-draw-new-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 07:56:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg South Korea and the US have agreed to pursue a separate agreement to formalise Seoul’s right to build nuclear-powered submarines, and working-level talks will begin early next year, the Asian country’s national security adviser said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after visiting Washington, Wi Sung-lac said he discussed the issue and other security arrangements with senior US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. His trip was aimed at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337644/us-grant-south-korea-exception-nuclear-submarine-fuel-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337644/us-grant-south-korea-exception-nuclear-submarine-fuel-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:34:11 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times As an orchestra plays the overture from Jacques Offenbach’s opera Orpheus in the Underworld, the conductor turns from the podium to signal the audience to quieten down. Facing the orchestra again, he hops lightly with arms spread wide, his legs moving as if waltzing to the rhythm, in a YouTube video that went viral. As the piece builds toward its finale, the pounding drums grow louder and his movements more intense. His arms shake vigorously, as if he were a shaman attempting to connect with the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3337453/meet-korean-viral-dancing-conductor-who-says-hes-not-actually-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3337453/meet-korean-viral-dancing-conductor-who-says-hes-not-actually-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Mass cheating in online exams has resurfaced during finals at South Korean universities, exposing institutions’ incomplete preparedness and ongoing struggles to establish effective online test controls and guidelines for students’ artificial intelligence (AI) use. According to Seoul National University, on Sunday, the results of a final exam for a general education course offered by its College of Natural Sciences were invalidated after signs of cheating were detected among nearly half of the 36... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337333/south-korean-universities-face-widespread-cheating-after-ai-exam-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337333/south-korean-universities-face-widespread-cheating-after-ai-exam-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:54:47 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A group of lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is seeking to relax a decades-old ban on North Korean websites like the online Rodong Sinmun, reigniting debate over national security and freedom of information. The proposed revision, drafted by Representative Han Min-soo and 11 other lawmakers, would allow people in South Korea to freely visit North Korean websites, while maintaining existing bans on distributing or actively promoting content that violates the National Security... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3336763/south-korea-reopens-bitter-debate-lifting-ban-north-korean-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3336763/south-korea-reopens-bitter-debate-lifting-ban-north-korean-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:55:01 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times With rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo disrupting travel plans, Chinese tourists are actively seeking alternative destinations for their winter getaways. While South Korea hopes to capitalise on this diverted tourist flow, it faces fierce competition from popular hotspots like Thailand, Russia and other destinations, according to travel industry officials. The diplomatic spat began when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3335196/south-korea-thailand-emerge-top-choice-chinese-tourists-amid-japan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3335196/south-korea-thailand-emerge-top-choice-chinese-tourists-amid-japan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:06:12 +0000