The Korea Times

The Korea Times
My TimesLatest

Lee says Ukraine breached non-disclosure agreement on 2 NK soldiers

MEXICO CITY — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed regret that Ukraine has disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, calling it a breach of a non-disclosure agreement that he said may lead to many problems. "It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so," Lee said in a post on his X account, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine recently sent the two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Shortly after Zelenskyy's speech, the Ukrainian presidential office said the transfer of the two North Korean prisoners to South Korea was carried out through direct dialogue with Seoul. "(Ukraine) disclosed the transfer in breach of a non-disclosure agreement," Lee wrote. "I don't know the reasons (for the disclosure), but I regret it." Lee said the issue is a very sensitive matter that could immensely affect diplomacy and national security, as well as th

2 MIN READ
Lee says Ukraine breached non-disclosure agreement on 2 NK soldiers thumbnail

Trump hails 'truly great friendship' with Xi as Chinese leader begins state visit

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the “truly great friendship” he has forged with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader began his highly anticipated state visit. While Trump has many thorny issues to discuss with the president of America’s biggest economic rival, he focused on his long relationship with Xi as the two gathered with aides for opening remarks before formal talks. “From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump said. Trump and Xi have no shortage of difficult issues to cover when they sit down for the private discussions. Xi speaks of a ‘healthy’ competition and says Chinese pandas are coming to Atlanta China has resisted the Trump administration's urgings — and economic threats — to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the nearly seven-month war. Xi wants to see Trump permanently halt arms sales to Taiwan and loosen export restrictions on cutting-edge advance

5 MIN READ
thumbnail

Asian Games Artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong wins gold in women's vault at Asian Games

NAGOYA, Japan — South Korean artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong won gold in the women's vault at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday, giving the country its first title in the sport. Yeo scored an average of 14.483 points after two attempts, beating defending Asiad champion North Korea's An Chang-ok, who scored 13.666 points, in the women's vault final of artistic gymnastics at Nagoya General Gymnasium in Nagoya, central Japan. The bronze medal went to Du Siyu of China, who scored 13.450 Thursday's gold was Yeo's second career Asian Games title in the women's vault, following her victory at the 2018 Asian Games. She skipped the 2022 edition to focus on the world championships. Yeo now stands alongside her father, Yeo Hong-chul, who won gold medals in the men's vault at the 1994 and 1998 Asian Games. The father-daughter duo have also won Olympic silver and bronze medals, respectively. Yeo was unrivaled in the final, as she was the only gymnast among the eight finalists to score above 14 points on both attempts, thanks to her outstanding takeoffs, twists and landings. In her first attempt,

1 MIN READ
[Asian Games] Artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong wins gold in women's vault at Asian Games thumbnail

Lee, Sheinbaum hold summit to discuss deepening cooperation

MEXICO CITY — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico City on Thursday as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation in various areas, from supply chains to artificial intelligence (AI). Lee arrived here Wednesday on a three-day state visit, becoming the first South Korean president in 16 years to make a state visit to Mexico. Following their summit, Lee and Sheinbaum are set to attend a ceremony for the signing of agreements between the two countries and make a joint press announcement of the outcome of their bilateral summit. In an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal, released Wednesday, Lee said combining South Korea's technology with Mexico's strong industrial base can create new growth, citing AI and supply chains among areas for cooperation. He also said South Korea and Mexico have considerable room to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, citing semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles as prospective sectors for cooperation. Ahead of the summit, Lee paid his respects to the fallen

1 MIN READ
Lee, Sheinbaum hold summit to discuss deepening cooperation thumbnail

Chuseok food delivery booms as orders for holiday menus soar

Ordering food through delivery apps has become an everyday routine in Korea, and the trend is rapidly reshaping how people prepare for traditional holidays, as demand for Chuseok dishes soars on delivery platforms. On Thursday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, Woowa Brothers said delivery orders for "songpyeon," or traditional Korean rice cakes, surged 4.8-fold on Chuseok Day last year compared to the same day of the previous week. Other holiday food staples also saw sharp increases in demand during the same period, according to Woowa Brothers, the operator of Korea’s top delivery app Baedal Minjok (Baemin). Orders for "modumjeon," or assorted Korean pancakes, jumped 270 percent, while "namul," or seasoned vegetable dishes, rose 135 percent. Orders for "galbijjim," or braised beef ribs, and traditional sweets such as "yakgwa" and "hangwa" grew 39 percent and 44 percent, respectively. Rather than spreading out over the holiday period, delivery orders were heavily concentrated on Chuseok Day itself. It is interpreted that consumers want convenience, so they choose ready-to-eat meals

2 MIN READ
Chuseok food delivery booms as orders for holiday menus soar thumbnail

Global students choose Seoul for dynamic opportunities, safety despite high costs, competition

Seoul is increasingly becoming a top destination for international students, driven by its high level of safety, efficient public services and rich culture, according to a recent survey conducted by The Korea Times among its Global Supporters. In the survey, international students shared their firsthand experiences of studying and living in the Korean capital. They said the city has various appealing points, but at the same time, pointed out challenges like expensive housing costs, intense competition and limited institutional support. The survey findings show a broader shift in global education trends. British newspaper Financial Times recently reported that Seoul is surging in popularity among international students as the capital city offers a unique lifestyle and relatively manageable living costs compared to major Western cities such as New York, London and Paris. Why students pick Seoul Safety, administrative efficiency and a dynamic academic environment emerged as primary reasons for choosing Seoul over other global study destinations. To capture the insights and lived realities o

4 MIN READ
Global students choose Seoul for dynamic opportunities, safety despite high costs, competition thumbnail

Finding the heart of Chuseok beyond Seoul

As millions of families across Korea prepare to pack highways and train stations as they move around the country for the Chuseok holiday, tourism officials are encouraging travelers to look past predictable destinations toward the country’s rich cultural heartlands. The Korea Tourism Organization launched a national campaign this week through its official travel portal VisitKorea, highlighting sites with free admission, outdoor nature reserves and immersive heritage programs tailored or multigenerational families. The curated list arrives at a time when domestic travelers are increasingly seeking authentic cultural experiences over expensive international getaways. Key destinations featured in the initiative span both historical and contemporary cultural landmarks. Travelers heading through Gyeonggi Province can visit the majestic Yeongneung Royal Tombs in Yeoju, the resting place of King Sejong the Great, while art enthusiasts can venture south into central Korea to explore the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Cheongju. Further off the beaten path in the mountainous

2 MIN READ
Finding the heart of Chuseok beyond Seoul thumbnail

InterviewDon't outsource your thinking to AI, NUS president warns

SINGAPORE — National University of Singapore (NUS) has built its global competitiveness not only on research excellence, but also on a strong focus on teaching and preparing students to succeed beyond the classroom. For NUS, the quality of a university should ultimately be measured by how well it equips students with the knowledge and skills they need after graduation — an emphasis that has placed teaching and employability at the heart of the university’s strategy. “We take teaching very seriously, and many of these things that we do actually do not count toward the rankings — but yet it’s the mission of our university,” NUS President Tan Eng Chye said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. He emphasized that research remains an essential mission of a leading university, but global rankings — which tend to place heavy weight on research performance — do not always capture what universities accomplish in the classroom. For NUS, graduate employability is one of the key measures of whether the university is delivering on its educational mission. “The employability o

4 MIN READ
Don't outsource your thinking to AI, NUS president warns thumbnail

From 'M' to 'Infinite Challenge': Korea's nostalgia revival takes over streaming

In 1994, Korean television history was rewritten when the legendary horror drama "M" hit the airwaves, eventually peaking at a staggering 52.2 percent viewership rating. Starring iconic actor Shim Eun-ha, the series mesmerized the nation with a groundbreaking visual feat in the ominous glowing green eyes of its possessed protagonist, marking one of Korean television’s earliest uses of computer-generated special effects. Beyond its chilling aesthetic, "M" sent shockwaves through society by tackling the deeply sensitive and taboo subject of abortion, framed through a dark supernatural lens. Over three decades later, that iconic green glow is coming back to life. Tving has officially announced "M: Reboot," a modernized psychological horror thriller that revives the core identity of the 1994 classic while reframing it for contemporary audiences. The original's narrative centered heavily around demonic possession and the social taboo of abortion, with Ma-ri (Shim) possessed by the soul of an aborted fetus seeking vengeance in a supernatural medical horror with a clear social message. The new

3 MIN READ
From 'M' to 'Infinite Challenge': Korea's nostalgia revival takes over streaming thumbnail

From Olympic medal to Asian Games gold: Seong Seung-min's golden rise

Seong Seung-min has completed a rare sweep of modern pentathlon milestones: a world championship gold, an Olympic medal and, now, an Asian Games title. The 23-year-old Korean became the first Korean woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal in modern pentathlon on Saturday, scoring 1,492 points in the final at Anjo Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture. Her victory also delivered Korea’s first gold medal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games. Three years ago, however, Seong’s Asian Games story began with a failure she could hardly have scripted. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, her horse suddenly stopped during the riding event, resulting in her disqualification from the women’s individual competition. She went on to win a bronze medal in the team event, but the individual disappointment stayed with her. What followed was not a retreat, but a transformation. Seong focused intensely on riding, once considered one of her weaker disciplines, while also sharpening her fencing and shooting. By 2024, she had emerged as one of the leading figures in Korean modern pentathlon. She first made her

3 MIN READ
From Olympic medal to Asian Games gold: Seong Seung-min's golden rise thumbnail

Hwaseong-based Migration Stories Project gives migrant workers a space to create and connect

HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Hwaseong, a rapidly developing city southwest of Seoul, has become one of Korea’s major destinations for foreign residents, particularly migrant workers. In an area shaped by manufacturing industries and immigration, the everyday lives of migrant workers often remain largely ignored. The Migration Stories Project, located near Balan Manse Market in Hyangnam, was launched in 2020 to change that reality by creating a space where migrants can share their experiences, memories, cultures and creativity in their own voices. The project brings together music, storytelling, photography, sound, video and community-based cultural activities to explore the lives of foreign migrants. Korean artist Kim Yang-woo founded the project under the slogan “World is Our Home,” as an art initiative that brings together migrant communities and local residents through interviews, art, music and community activities. She began the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on movement forced her to stay close to her hometown and made her think more deeply about

5 MIN READ
Hwaseong-based Migration Stories Project gives migrant workers a space to create and connect thumbnail

Korean quadruped robot's marathon triumph featured in Nature

In the world of legged robotics, endurance has long been the ultimate hurdle. While four-legged machines can backflip, negotiate rubble and scale staircases with uncanny agility, their high-performance motors typically drain battery reserves in less than an hour. But along the rural stretches of North Gyeongsang Province, a dog-like machine spent over four hours trotting past orchards and cheering spectators to rewrite the limits of mechanical stamina. Engineers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed RAIBO2, a quadrupedal robot that completed a full 42-kilometer marathon on a single battery charge. The landmark feat, detailed this week in the flagship scientific journal Nature, marks the first time robotics research from Korea has graced the main pages of the prestigious publication, signaling a major leap forward for long-distance autonomous field machines. The milestone unfolded during the annual Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon — a local race named after the agricultural region’s famous fruit — where RAIBO2 lined up alongside human runners as

2 MIN READ
Korean quadruped robot's marathon triumph featured in Nature thumbnail

From 'Love Alarm' to 'Start-Up,' beloved K-drama pairings reunite years later

Some of K-drama's most memorable pairings are getting another chance to share the screen, years after their romances first captivated viewers. From Song Kang and Kim So-hyun of "Love Alarm" to Suzy and Kim Seon-ho of "Start-Up," actors who once generated buzz with their romantic chemistry are reuniting in a string of new projects — sometimes in relationships dramatically different from the ones fans remember. The reunions come anywhere from four to about 10 years after the stars first worked together, bringing nostalgia as well as curiosity over how their chemistry may have changed. Song Kang and Kim So-hyun reunite 5 years after 'Love Alarm' Song Kang and Kim So-hyun are set to reunite in MBC's upcoming drama "White Scandal," five years after the Netflix series "Love Alarm." Based on a webtoon of the same name, "White Scandal" follows Dan Yi-hyuk, played by Song, a third-generation chaebol heir who does not want to inherit his family's business empire, and Ji Eun-seol, played by Kim, a former child star whose career has fallen apart. The two enter a fake relationship to deceive the pub

4 MIN READ
From 'Love Alarm' to 'Start-Up,' beloved K-drama pairings reunite years later thumbnail

Petition calling for end to visa-free entry for Chinese tops 90,000 signatures

A petition calling for an end to visa-free entry for Chinese nationals and tighter screening for all noncitizens has garnered more than 90,000 signatures. The petition, posted on the National Assembly website on Aug. 31, has now been referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after surpassing the 50,000-signature threshold required for parliamentary review. As of Wednesday, it had received 92,000 signatures. The petition urges the government to abolish visa-free entry for Chinese nationals. The issue has drawn attention to Jeju’s separate visa-waiver program, which has been in place since 2002. “Promoting tourism and generating economic benefits are important, but they cannot take precedence over the lives and safety of the public. If visa-free entry is permitted, safeguards must be put in place to prevent blind spots that could make it difficult to adequately verify visitors’ identities and assess potential criminal risks before they enter the country,” said the petitioner. The petition also asks authorities to tighten entry screening for all foreign citizens, calling f

2 MIN READ
Petition calling for end to visa-free entry for Chinese tops 90,000 signatures thumbnail

China's 'mala' sauce breaks Korea's culinary boundaries

"Mala" is enchanting Korean palates across the domestic food industry. The tongue-numbingly spicy seasoning that is a traditional favorite in China's Sichuan province has become a popular ingredient for dishes beyond just Chinese cuisine, spreading to Korean and Western dishes in both the dine-in and takeout scenes. Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, the popularity of mala among Korean consumers began to grow more widespread in 2018, and has been on a consistent rise since. At Google Trends, online searches for “malatang" (mala-based hot pot) this month jumped 350 percent from 2022, while "mala rosé" (mala and creamy tomato sauce) jumped 250 percent during the same period. Korean's frenzy over mala has been evident in the country's dine-in landscape as well. Tanghuo Kungfu, the largest Korean malatang franchise, posted sales of 25.5 billion won ($19 million) last year, nearly tripling from 2022. Chunli Malatang enjoyed a sales increase of 134 percent from 2023, while Lahongbang saw a 32 percent rise from the previous year. This year, McDonald’s Korea, Binggrae, Otok

3 MIN READ
China's 'mala' sauce breaks Korea's culinary boundaries thumbnail

Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] President puts multilateralism at center of diplomacy on North Korea, Hormuz issue

COVER STORY President puts multilateralism at center of diplomacy on North Korea, Hormuz issue

President Lee Jae Myung has placed multilateralism at the center of his foreign policy at a time when North Korea refuses to engage South Korea and his government faces pressure to join a U.S.-led military mission in the Strait of Hormuz. His emphasis on multinational engagement with Pyongyang, including Beijing, has come as the reclusive regime continues to refuse to communicate with Seoul and while the anticipated Washington-Pyongyang dialogue has not resumed. Lee’s call for an alliance with other countries on the Hormuz issue also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump presses Seoul to make military contributions to help secure the vital waterway amid its monthslong war against Iran. Other U.S. allies have also been reluctant to deploy forces, leaving Lee to seek ways for South Korea to contribute without joining the fighting. Lee used his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (local time) to call for the North Korea issue to expand beyond U.S.-North Korea talks and instead toward discussions among all parties concerned with ending the Korean War and establishing

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Incheon's Baedari Secondhand Bookstore Alley bridges history, welcomes the world

Incheon's Baedari Secondhand Bookstore Alley bridges history, welcomes the world

INCHEON — When Incheon native Kim Ji-da opened an English bookstore in the Baedari Secondhand Bookstore Alley in the city’s eastern district, she joined a multigenerational used bookseller tradition that stretches back to the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Marking its second anniversary at the end of August, Kim's Najeun Munteok is one of eight bookstores currently operating in the alley. As a longtime English teacher and reading club organizer who also goes by her chosen French name Sophie, Kim understands the challenge that English books pose to Korean readers. Her store features many titles for adults and children. She named her store Najeun Munteok — meaning low threshold — to reflect accessibility and an open community spirit. “I never dreamed of opening my bookstore as a business,” Kim said. “Though it’s hard to make a profit and manage everything, I was inspired by the booksellers here and their love for books. I like to communicate through reading and talking about books, and it’s also very rewarding to introduce good books to others. So I am happy with my job

6 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Fusion rice cakes bring new energy to traditional markets

A few days before the Chuseok holiday, a long line of customers stretched past three neighboring stores outside Pungnyeon Tteok, a rice cake shop in Incheon’s Bupyeong Traditional Market earlier this week. They were not waiting for “songpyeon,” the traditional rice cake associated with Chuseok, but for “pizza seolgi,” a fusion rice cake topped with tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni slices on a base of steamed white rice cake. Despite a limit of four pieces per customer, the line showed no sign of letting up. Pungnyeon Tteok owner Hwang Seong-un, 50, said he has been selling pizza seolgi for about two months, with an average of around 1,000 people visiting daily. He said the rice cakes typically sell out between 5:30 and 6 p.m. That day, ingredients ran out at around 5:40 p.m., prompting the shop to put up a notice saying it had closed for the day. Traditional-market rice cake shops are bustling ahead of Chuseok, thanks in part to the popularity of unusual rice cake varieties such as pizza seolgi on social media, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s. New slang terms h

3 MIN READ
Fusion rice cakes bring new energy to traditional markets

K-Culture

Seventeen's new unit of Jeonghan, Joshua to debut with 'Dreamscape'

K-pop boy group Seventeen's vocalists Jeonghan and Joshua will launch the group's new unit with their first EP, "Dreamscape," next month, the group's agency said Wednesday. Pledis Entertainment said "Dreamscape," set for release Oct. 19, portrays a "dreamlike realm" in which two notions of dreaming — unconscious fantasies that surface during sleep and the ideals people pursue in waking life — endlessly intertwine and collide. "On the new release, Jeonghan and Joshua become dreamers, offering an audio-visual rapture through the unfamiliar beauty they discover at the point where the boundaries of the two dreams dissolve," Pledis said in a release.

1 MIN READ
Seventeen's new unit of Jeonghan, Joshua to debut with 'Dreamscape'

Celebrities

Oh Yoon-ah shares Chuseok recipes with less sugar, more veggies

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actress Oh Yoon-ah has introduced protein-rich diet recipes for Chuseok as the country celebrates the holiday, during which food plays a central role in family celebrations. Oh recently shared recipes for "galbi-jjim," or braised short ribs, and steamed vegetables in a video posted on her YouTube channel. The key to turning galbi-jjim, a Chuseok staple, into a diet-friendly dish lies in the ingredients used to add sweetness. Oh said she uses no sugar at all and instead adds alternative sweeteners like oligosaccharide syrup and green plum syrup. She also makes the marinade by blending pear and onion. She added that she prefers to season the dish on the salty side rather than make it particularly sweet. Her steamed vegetable recipe was also simple and focused on nutrition. She first seasons the meat with cooking wine and salt before grilling it, then cuts her choice of vegetables diagonally and steams them before serving them with a sauce. Oh explained that cutting vegetables diagonally helps them cook thoroughly even when the pieces are large. H

2 MIN READ
Oh Yoon-ah shares Chuseok recipes with less sugar, more veggies

Get key insights on Korea from the members-only personalized news service My Times.

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Asian Games Artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong wins gold in women's vault at Asian Games

  2. Lee says Ukraine breached non-disclosure agreement on 2 NK soldiers

  3. Russia invites N. Korean leader to visit: TASS

  4. Trump hails 'truly great friendship' with Xi as Chinese leader begins state visit

  5. 2 N. Korean POWs arrive in S. Korea after 20 months of captivity in Ukraine

  6. Lee, Sheinbaum hold summit to discuss deepening cooperation

  7. Wall Street slips as Middle East escalations lifts oil; Trump-Xi talks in focus

  8. Chuseok food delivery booms as orders for holiday menus soar

  9. Global students choose Seoul for dynamic opportunities, safety despite high costs, competition

  10. Finding the heart of Chuseok beyond Seoul

Video

Interesting contents

Taboola 후원링크