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Korea Times

Korea Times
Korea Times
News and features from the Korea Times, South Korea's oldest English-language newspaper.
An empty classroom in a South Korean high school, with rows of desks and a blackboard. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

South Korea’s record low birth rate leads to mass school closures

With student counts half of 1980 levels, South Korea confronts a crisis of empty classrooms and abandoned sites, raising worry over wasted assets.

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South Korea

In South Korea, vouchers to curb county’s falling population draw new residents

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South Korea

US to grant Seoul exception on nuclear submarine fuel supply

World of performing arts

Meet the Korean viral ‘dancing conductor’ who says he’s not actually dancing

Some conductors are visibly moved by the music, but Korean maestro Baek Yoon-hak takes that concept a step or two further.

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South Korea’s “dancing conductor” Baek Yoon-hak uses his energy-filled moves to get the whole audience joining in.
South Korea

‘Widespread cheating’ scandal hits South Korean universities amid AI concerns

Seoul National and Yonsei universities face new cheating scandals despite tighter controls, signalling need for stronger online exam and AI rules.

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South Korea

South Korea reopens debate on lifting ban on North Korean media

Lawmakers move to ease North Korean web access. Supporters cite freedom of information, but critics fear propaganda risks.

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South Korea

Chinese tourists pivot to South Korea, Thailand amid Japan travel ban

Spat began when Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi suggested potential military intervention in Taiwan Strait, leading Beijing to issue a travel warning.

An alley crowded with tourists in central Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village. Photo: Korea Times
Blackpink

How K-pop idols are helping Korea’s ‘kimjang vest’ make a comeback

The iconic vest, long associated with older women making kimchi in the countryside, is being revived by young consumers embracing the ‘grandma-chic’ aesthetic.

South Korea

South Korea high-rise fire safety under scrutiny after Hong Kong tragedy

Safety concerns spike as many of South Korea’s ageing buildings lack both essential sprinklers and noncombustible cladding.

South Korea

‘Don’t trust the pension system’: why young South Koreans back later retirement

Facing pension doubts, young South Koreans increasingly back extending the retirement age from 60 to 65, viewing it as vital for financial stability.

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Rising living costs and pension doubts drive young South Koreans to support extending retirement age, ensuring income stability for future generations. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

Hundreds of South Korean workers to sue ICE over raid at Hyundai-LG plant

About 200 detainees seek compensation and plan to sue for racial discrimination, human rights violations, and excessive force during the arrests.

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Detainees are made to stand against a bus before being handcuffed, during a raid by federal agents in Ellabell, Georgia, in September. Photo: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Reuters
South Korea

South Korea’s growing crisis of illegal puppy sales on YouTube spark concerns

One advocate group claims many animals are bred in poor conditions, with dogs kept in cramped, unsanitary cages and bred repeatedly for profit.

South Korea

‘Reject it altogether’: sex tourists from South Korea drive up rents in Laos

A South Korean civic group is calling for cultural change to combat exploitation and protect children from sex work.

Japan

Nose length is best indicator of penis size, Japanese researchers find

The researchers suggested that male hormone exposure in the womb during fetal development may influence both traits.

Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

South Korean bill aims to limit English education for preschoolers

The bipartisan bill aims to ban private English tuition due to concerns about academic pressure in preschool and its effect on child development.

A group of kindergarten students focus on their teacher at the Seoul International Book Fair in 2017. Photo: Shutterstock
Tourism

Seoul’s Gwangjang Market has become hip. Where to eat and shop there

From Starbucks to Kodak to The North Face, big brands are opening in the century-old Seoul market, attracting a new generation of shoppers.

Wellness

He barely left his room for 5 years. Now he helps others re-enter society

You Jin-kyu, who spent nearly five years barely leaving his room in his 20s, helps socially isolated young Koreans reconnect with the world.

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Food and Drinks

Why are Koreans going crazy for bread? How bakeries have become destinations

From Seoul to Jeju, from bagels to buns, bread is so popular in Korea that the phrase for ‘bread pilgrimage’ has entered everyday language.

Sungsimdang bakery is a symbol of the Korean city Daejeon. Many other establishments around the country are attracting long queues as bread transcends a normal food to become a symbol of taste and lifestyle. Photo: courtesy of Sungsimdang
Art

Art meets the afterlife at this year’s Seoul Mediacity Biennale

The biennale summons back all the ‘dead’ stories and presences purged by Western modern rationalism, from the mystical to the transcendent.

South Korea

South Korea university rankings show rising appeal for international students

The K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 by The Korea Times is the country’s most internationalisation-focused assessment to date.

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Asia travel

Why is Quanzhou one of China’s hottest domestic travel destinations?

Explorers once called Quanzhou one of the world’s greatest ports. Today, the city continues to enchant visitors with its history and culture.

Travellers dressed in traditional garb pose at Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, China. The city enchants visitors with its history and culture. Photo: The Korea Times
Food and Drinks

In Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, ‘the real protagonist is the cooking itself’

Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, a K-drama starring Im Yoon-ah as a time-travelling chef, has kick-started a global Korean food craze.

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Lee Chae-min (left) as King Lee Heon and Im Yoon-ah as Yeon Ji-young in a still from Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. The series has showcased a variety of fusion dishes that highlight the flavours of Korean cuisine. Photo: tvN
Asia travel

Why Shanghai is now more popular than Hong Kong or Tokyo for young Koreans

Shanghai’s architecture, food and coffee culture make it a magnet for South Koreans, who are enjoying visa-free entry to China in 2025.

South Korea

‘Rocket man’? South Korean detainee says ICE agents mocked nationality

One worker says US agents failed to inform detainees of their rights, placed them in crowded, unsanitary cells and mocked their nationality.

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Wellness

‘A serious public health issue’: Korea’s adult obesity hits 38%

Research shows alarming rises in obesity in Korea since 2014, with the highest levels recorded among people in their thirties and forties.

An analysis of Korean health data shows obesity rose by seven percentage points among adults from 2013 to 2024. Childhood rates more than doubled during the same period, with children more likely to be obese if their parents were. Photo: Shutterstock
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Fans of KPop Demon Hunters are recreating the experience in Seoul

Through dance, food and immersive tours, fans of Netflix’s hit animation from around the world are visiting Seoul to relive the show.

Tourists dance to a song by the Saja Boys from KPop Demon Hunters at a Seoul Tourism Organisation dance class. The film is inspiring tourists to dance, eat and explore filming spots in the city. Photo: courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organisation
TV shows and streaming video

‘I felt a thrill’: Aema actress Lee Hanee on Netflix’s provocative K-drama

Korean actress Lee Hanee talks about her role in Netflix’s Aema and reflects on the challenges of bringing 1980s Korean cinema to life.

Gen Z

Bye, AirPods? Gen Z’s love affair with the retro charm of wired earphones

Apple’s AirPods launch in 2016 prompted Samsung and LG to create wireless earbuds of their own ... but now wired earphones are making a comeback.

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