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Gwanghwamun Square to transform into urban summer getaway
Gwanghwamun Square is home to many of Seoul's iconic cultural venues and host to crowd-drawing events. This summer, it'll be making a splash once again — literally. From late July to August, a variety of venues and programs, ranging from water parks to stamp tours and concerts, hope to beckon locals and overseas tourists alike to the famous square. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Friday that Gwanghwamun Square will be transformed into a summer retreat in the city where visitors can "
July 25, 2025 -
More young Koreans choosing mixed grains in ready-to-eat rice: data
As more young Koreans become health-conscious, mixed grain varieties are gaining popularity in the ready-to-eat rice market, recent data shows. According to NongHyup Bank, which analyzed 420 million purchases made at its Hanaro Mart supermarket chain between January 2022 and June 2025, sales of pre-cooked rice sold in microwavable packaging have shown a notable shift toward healthier options. While overall instant rice sales rose 4 percent in 2023 and 11 percent in 2024 year-on-year, the share o
July 25, 2025 -
Special counsel questions ex-interior minister in martial law probe
A special counsel team was questioning former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Friday over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition in December. Lee appeared before the team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk amid allegations that he ordered the National Fire Agency to cut power and water to some media outlets that were critical of the Yoon administration, on the night of the martial law declaration on Dec. 3. The team suspects that Yoon han
July 25, 2025 -
Special counsel attempts to raid ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee's home
A special counsel team was attempting to search the home of former first lady Kim Keon Hee on Friday as part of their investigation into corruption allegations surrounding her. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team was negotiating details of the raid with Presidential Security Service officials after arriving at Kim's residence in southern Seoul with a search-and-seizure warrant. The special counsel team has been looking into Kim's alleged acceptance of luxury goods from a shaman and her alleged m
July 25, 2025 -
Temperatures could soar to 38 C this weekend as record heat wave grips South Korea
South Korea is on track to see one of its hottest summers in history, as forecasters warn that the heat will intensify further over the weekend due to the combined influence of two high-pressure systems looming over the country. On Thursday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said that the country has already broken several summer weather records. During a press briefing, the KMA stated that average daily temperatures from June 1 to Wednesday reached 24.5 degrees Celsius nationwide — the hi
July 24, 2025 -
Search operation still underway after last week's torrential rain
From Wednesday to Thursday, authorities were able to confirm the deaths of five more people, but continue to search for those still missing after torrential rains battered South Korea for five days until Sunday. Two people, previously identified as a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s, remained missing in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The woman was believed to have gone missing due to a landslide near a local camping site, while the man was suspected to have been carried away by strong current
July 24, 2025 -
Baby born alive, then frozen: YouTuber, doctors indicted for murder in 36-week abortion case
A South Korean YouTuber who posted a video detailing what she said was an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and the doctors who performed it, have been indicted for murder. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said Thursday that they have indicted three on murder charges in connection with the death of the baby: A hospital director surnamed Yoon, a surgeon surnamed Shim and the YouTuber surnamed Kwon. Two brokers who introduced patients to the hospital were charged with violating the Medical Service
July 24, 2025 -
Young workers say raising retirement age will hurt efficiency, older people disagree
As South Korea mulls raising the legal retirement age from 60 to 65, a generational divide is growing, with younger and older Koreans split over the potential impact on productivity, employment opportunities and workplace dynamics. A recent survey by the Korea Enterprises Federation found that 59 percent of respondents aged 20-34 believe raising the retirement age will be detrimental to work efficiency, while 62.6 percent of those aged 45-59, who have been in the workforce for at least 15 years,
July 24, 2025 -
Overnight fix for color-coded voucher cards
More than 400 civil servants in Gwangju worked through the night from Wednesday into Thursday to fix color-coded welfare cards, following public outcry and a presidential rebuke over the city’s handling of a consumer voucher program seen as discriminatory. The city had distributed prepaid cards in colors of pink, light green and navy, each corresponding to recipients' income levels and subsidy amounts. It was part of the nationwide stimulus coupon program that launched Monday. Civil rights group
July 24, 2025 -
Police forming team to prevent abuse against families of tragedy victims: report
The South Korean police are forming a task force to prevent secondary victimization of people whose family members have died in disasters, in response to President Lee Jae Myung's directive. According to the Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, the National Police Agency has started recruitment of officers for the unit, tentatively named "investigative team against secondary victimization." The team will be headed by two superintendent-level officers — mid-level management position usually in charge
July 24, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon skips insurrection trial for 3rd straight week
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol did not attend his insurrection trial for the third consecutive week Thursday, again citing poor health. The 10th hearing of the trial opened at the Seoul Central District Court without the appearance of Yoon, who is currently under arrest at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just south of the capital. "Since he has not appeared consecutively, we will begin investigation proceedings in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and criminal procedure rules," t
July 24, 2025 -
LG Uplus unveils new lineup of foreigner-specific mobile plans
LG Uplus has rolled out a set of limited-time promotional mobile plans designed exclusively for foreign residents, offering generous international calling, data, and roaming perks tailored to their everyday needs. The new lineup, unveiled on Wednesday, includes seven monthly plans ranging from 37,000 won to 85,000 won (approximately $27 to $62). All plans come with free international calling of up to 90 minutes per month, as well as enhanced roaming benefits when subscribers travel abroad. Custo
July 24, 2025 -
Video of migrant worker tied to forklift sparks outrage in Korea
A video showing a Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift being lifted off the ground in a brick factory at Naju, South Jeolla Province, sparked public outrage in South Korea on Thursday. The short clip, filmed earlier in July and released by a migrant worker’s human rights network based in South Jeolla Province on Thursday, shows the man bound with vinyl wrap while a forklift hoists and transports him. Laughter can be heard in the background; no one is seen attempting to intervene. According to the g
July 24, 2025 -
Woman suspected of neglecting disabled brother, leading to death
A South Korean woman accused of letting her intellectually disabled and injured brother die through years of neglect is facing punishment, as the prosecution sought a seven-year prison term. Prosecutors in Daegu requested the Daegu District Court to convict the 47-year-old defendant on charges including death caused by neglect. It is alleged that she and her husband, who lived with the victim since 2011, willfully let her older brother die in 2015. The victim had suffered serious injuries from a
July 24, 2025 -
Heat wave warning reissued for Seoul after 11 days
A heat wave warning was issued for all of Seoul on Thursday, the state weather agency said. A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain above 35 C for two or more days or the heat is expected to cause large-scale damage, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The warning took effect for Seoul at 10 a.m. (Yonhap)
July 24, 2025