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Death toll nears 600 as missing soar over 2,400 in Nepal, China floods

NUWAKOT, Nepal — The number of people missing in Nepal and China leaped to more than 2,400 Friday, underscoring the scale of the disaster days after a tsunami-like wall of water and debris swept away villages and killed hundreds. Rescuers were battling through mud even as the threat of new floods loomed, with emergency teams recovering 584 bodies so far — and some of the dead swept downstream as far away as India. The new figures came as Nepal's disaster authority added 933 hydropower workers to a missing list already including trekkers and pilgrims to Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash. Relatives have crowded hospitals in Nepal's capital in a painful hunt for their loved ones, with posters on the walls bearing photos and names of the missing, AFP journalists saw. "Today is the third day and we don't know anything. Hopefully he (my brother) is in a safe place," Samjhana Thing, 27, told AFP. "We lost everything, he is our everything." The U.S. Geological Survey said the disaster — the deadliest for Nepal since a 2015 earthquake — was caused by a glacial collapse that triggered a vast flo

3 MIN READ
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Why are young Koreans so hooked on Buddhism?

The most striking aspect of the 2026 Busan International Buddhism Expo was its demographic: Hundreds of people in their 20s and 30s packed the booths at BEXCO’s Exhibition Center 1 in Busan on Aug. 9. Young visitors took part in hands-on Buddhist cultural experiences like preparing temple food and performing 108 prostrations. The atmosphere was markedly different from that of other religious events, many attendees said. It was also a far cry from just four or five years ago. The new trend shows young people are experiencing traditional Buddhist culture as something novel and embracing values such as compassion and self-reflection, rather than finding them difficult to understand. Much of this change cannot be discussed without mentioning Haetal Company, a Buddhist merchandise brand that reinterprets Buddhist teachings through online memes familiar to millennials and Generation Z and prints them on clothing and household goods. The company's strategy is to present Buddhism in a cheerful and contemporary way, rather than in the solemn manner conventionally associated with the religion

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Trump could discuss 'tacit' NK nuke acceptance with Kim in possible summit: ex-official

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump could put on the table the "tacit" acceptance of North Korea's nuclear program, a peace treaty and an end to South Korea-U.S. military exercises should a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un take place, a former U.S. official has said. Anthony Ruggiero, who served as the National Security Council's (NSC) director for North Korea during the first Trump administration," made the comment in an opinion piece published by The Hill, a U.S. media outlet, on Thursday as Trump recently expressed his intention to meet Kim later this year. Speculation has continued that Trump could seek a meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported. "Negotiations with Kim will likely include at least a tacit acknowledgement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program," he said. Ruggiero went on to say, "In addition to Washington's acceptance of North Korea's nuclear program, Trump could offer a peace treaty formally ending the K

2 MIN READ
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Interview'Cosmetics ODM's role is creating what's not out there yet,' Cosmax makeup research head says

SEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province — Cosmax, one of Korea’s largest beauty original development manufacturing (ODM) companies, has to stay ahead of market trends as it develops products for some 5,000 beauty brands worldwide. Working with clients ranging from major European labels to emerging boutique brands, the company seeks not just to follow demand but to help shape the next beauty trend. At its research center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the company is working on what it hopes will be the next market breakthroughs. While many basic consumer needs and desires are relatively obvious, the paths to providing those solutions can be creative and innovative. According to Woo Young-hwa, director of the Cosmax Makeup Research & Innovation Center, there are three technologies currently under development that could emerge as major trends in the global beauty industry. Gel-type formulas are one of the technologies Cosmax sees as potentially reshaping product lines. After introducing a gelatinous lipstick this summer that leaves little residue after use, Woo is now focusing on developing form

3 MIN READ
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Formula for love: How dating reality shows achieve quick attraction

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. If you watch dating reality shows closely, you’ll notice several recurring devices that seem designed to accelerate intimacy. Interestingly, these familiar “dating-show formulas” overlap with psychological effects known to increase attraction and feelings of closeness. Time seems to move unusually fast on dating shows. After just a few dates, conversations about marriage can emerge. In real life, that might be around the time two people are exchanging phone numbers and waiting to see when they’ll meet again. So why do contestants seem to fall in love so easily? It may not be entirely by chance. Behind the scenes are carefully designed “love-inducing” mechanisms. Putting feelings into words Dating-show producers don’t simply leave contestants alone with their emotions. They repeatedly ask questions such as, “Who are you drawn to?,” “Why do you think you’re interested in that person?” and “Were you jealous?.” Eventually, contestants have to put into words emotions that had previously been floating around in their heads.

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How will 13-member SEVENTEEN navigate military hiatus with just 5 members?

For SEVENTEEN, a group that has built much of its identity around the chemistry and synchronized performances of all 13 members, the looming absence of eight members due to mandatory military service poses an unusual challenge. Beginning in October, only five members will be available for activities as eight are either currently fulfilling their military duties or are set to begin service. The scale of the absence could be particularly noticeable for SEVENTEEN. Since its debut, the group has emphasized the identity created by all 13 members performing together. Last month, all 13 members renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment for a second time, reaffirming their commitment to remaining together as a group. SEVENTEEN debuted in 2015 and first renewed its contracts in 2021, with no member leaving the agency in either round. The group's identity has long been closely tied to its 13-member lineup. Since their debut, the members have worn matching team rings, while their performances have become known for tightly synchronized choreography involving all members. Some productions hav

3 MIN READ
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K-LIT REVIEW Minyoung Kang's 'Plant Lady' gets comfortable with 'cozy horror'

A lush plant shop tucked away in an unassuming residential neighborhood; a lone woman snipping and pruning, enveloped by leaves and shoots she cares for with motherly tenderness; a small cast of ordinary characters each bearing issues the resolution of which promised happy endings; and lastly, the must-have feature — some cats. "Plant Lady" by Minyoung Kang has all the essential ingredients of a typical cozy read. If you disregard the murders, that is. My advice for this book is to skip the blurb. Do not read it at all. This is coming from someone who sorely regrets scrutinizing the blurb from start to finish before diving into the book. Had I ignored the synopsis of events, the preposterous juxtaposition of a soothing neighborhood plant shop and the gruesome plot that unfolds in it would have been 10 times more impactful. Instead, this book is best approached from the following angles: feminine rage, cozy horror and a fast-paced plot that takes no prisoners. Start with feminine rage. In her author’s note, Kang explained that she had read too many books in which unnamed women died

4 MIN READ
[K-LIT REVIEW] Minyoung Kang's 'Plant Lady' gets comfortable with 'cozy horror' thumbnail

Fed Chair Warsh signals rate hikes may be needed as inflation stays high

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said Friday that inflation is still too high and suggested the central bank may have to raise interest rates in the coming months to bring it down, a clearer signal than he had sent previously about his economic outlook. In his first high-profile speech at the Fed’s annual conference at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Warsh acknowledged that recent U.S. data show inflation has cooled a bit, but “they do not tell me that underlying trends have meaningfully improved.” “We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed,” Warsh said. “Otherwise, we have work to do.” The Fed chair, who replaced his predecessor, Jerome Powell on May 22, faces high stakes with his speech as questions swirl around Wall Street about his focus on fighting inflation. Those concerns may have contributed to rising bond yields, which can increase the cost of borrowing for the government and everyone else. Yet Warsh has said he doesn’t want to provide what analysts call “forward guidance” abou

3 MIN READ
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WEEKENDER Talented but with nowhere to play: Korea's baseball girls forced to leave sport

The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) opened its season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, on Aug. 1 with a game between the New York Heights and Los Angeles Queens. The matchup carried historic significance as the first game of the U.S. professional women's league, revived after 72 years. At the top of the first inning, a short-haired pitcher in the Heights’ pinstriped uniform confidently took the mound. It was Kim Ra-kyung, 26, who made history as the first girl to hit a home run in Korean Little League baseball at age 15 and, in the same year, became the youngest player ever selected for the Korean women’s national baseball team. Kim is not the only Korean competing at the highest level of women’s baseball. Catcher Hyeonah Kim, 26, joined the Boston Hunters, while infielder Jua Park, 22, made it to the San Francisco Firebells. Their success, however, is hardly evidence of a strong development system for women’s baseball in Korea. Players such as Kim Ra-kyung are outliers who have reached the world stage through extraordinary talent and effort despite the lac

5 MIN READ
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COVER STORY International students, Korean companies find fit at Hanyang University career fair

Until last year, Angelina Chrysanta Antolis, a 21-year-old Indonesian student at Hanyang University (HYU), did not have a specific plan for which companies she wanted to join in Korea and did not know what job positions were available. That changed at last year's HYU Global Career Fair, where she met recruiters from various companies in person and discovered her dream career: a global marketer who plans advertising campaigns. On Thursday, she returned to this year's fair with that goal in her sights. “When you look for job information online, you can't ask questions directly, so you end up just guessing. But at a job fair like this, you get solid information about what companies are looking for,” Antolis told The Korea Times. “Even if I don't get hired right away, the company gets to know me and can reach out later if I'm a good fit.” Launched in August last year, the HYU fair connects companies with international students looking for jobs here. It has gained attention quickly. The first edition saw 560 students join, followed by 1,021 at the second edition in March this year and

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Less salt, more soul: Korea blends heritage, health at national museum

In a culture where rich, fermented stews and deeply seasoned side dishes define the everyday table, public health officials face a delicate balance: honoring a beloved culinary identity while gently nudging the public toward lighter, lower-sodium eating. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety offered its latest vision Friday at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, partnering with cultural leaders to frame low-sodium, low-sugar cooking not as a compromise, but as a thoughtful evolution of traditional heritage. At the center of the promotional showcase is "Samsamhan Bapsang" ("The Light & Savory Table"), an annual series of recipe booklets the food safety agency has published since 2012. Derived from the Korean adjective "samsamhada," the name describes a delicate, subtle flavor profile — dishes seasoned just enough to be satisfying without feeling overly salty or heavy. The event coincides with the museum's ongoing special exhibition, "Our Table," which traces the historical, artistic, and folkloric roots of Korean food culture through ancient artifacts. Visitors entering th

2 MIN READ
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As deepfake sex crimes surge, Korea's response struggles to keep pace

Korea has strengthened criminal penalties and takedown systems for digital sex crimes, but experts warn that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating widening gaps between the speed of online abuse and the ability of institutions to stop it. At a forum on the issue, hosted Thursday by Amnesty International Korea, a police officer, a legislative researcher and a media regulator said deepfake technology has made it possible to create and distribute sexualized images of real people with little technical knowledge, often through overseas platforms beyond the reach of Korean authorities. “Crimes exploiting new technologies erupt across society, but the law is always running behind them. While the justice system is still trying to identify and punish offenders, victims’ lives are already being devastated online,” said Heo Min-sook, a researcher at the National Assembly Research Service. Police data presented at the forum showed that deepfake-related offenses were the largest category of cybersex crimes detected during a 2025 crackdown, accounting for 1,553 cases, or 35.2 per

2 MIN READ
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Cheong Wa Dae, top court clash over justice nomination

Cheong Wa Dae said Friday that President Lee Jae Myung rejected Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s request to appoint his recommended nominee as a new justice — an unprecedented refusal that departed from the customary coordination between the two sides. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Lee asked Cho to recommend another candidate instead of Son Bong-gi, a senior judge at the Daegu District Court, to succeed former Justice Noh Tae-ak, who retired in March. Cheong Wa Dae also said it would not submit an appointment consent motion for Son to the National Assembly. “The recommendation of a successor to former Justice Noh failed to fully meet procedural requirements,” Kang said during a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. Kang went on to say that the recommendation was submitted in writing on Aug. 18 without substantive prior consultation with Cheong Wa Dae. Kang noted that the nominee would become the first Supreme Court justice appointed under the Lee administration, which she described as “founded on popular sovereignty.” She stressed that the selection process therefor

2 MIN READ
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Monetary, fiscal policies out of sync as BOK hikes rates, gov't boosts spending

Concerns are growing that the country's monetary and fiscal policies are moving out of sync, as the central bank accelerates its tightening cycle while the government pursues an expansionary fiscal policy with next year's budget proposal expected to exceed 800 trillion won ($581 billion), experts said Friday. The Bank of Korea (BOK) on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3 percent, delivering a second consecutive hike following its July increase, as it sought to contain inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Planning and Budget is in the final stages of preparing next year's budget proposal. Last month, the ministry suggested a spending increase of 10 percent or more from this year's 729.9 trillion won budget, signaling that next year's budget could exceed 800 trillion won. This would mark the first double-digit increase in total expenditures since 2009, when spending rose 10.9 percent amid the global financial crisis. Experts warned that the BOK's tightening monetary policy and the government's expansionary fiscal policy could clash, weake

2 MIN READ
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AI can translate words, but doesn't bear responsibility, experts say

Translators must defend their role not by competing with artificial intelligence (AI) on speed, but by taking responsibility for the cultural and ethical choices embedded in their work, experts said Friday at a conference on literary translation organized by the Literature Translation Institute (LTI) Korea. The International Translators' Summit brought together Lee Sang-bin, a professor of English interpretation and translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Korean American literary translator and poet Stine An; and novelist-translator Moon Ji-hyuk. The discussion wasn't about whether AI can produce fluent translation. Instead, the panelists focused on who should bear responsibility for a translation, how translators should use AI and what kind of work must remain human-led. Lee argued that translation is not simply the transfer of meaning from one language to another. “I want to say that translation is not the work of copying meaning, but an act of responding to the words of the other,” the professor said, adding that a translator can never completely know an author or sou

3 MIN READ
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SKT, KT, Kakao consortiums selected for free AI service for public

The government on Friday selected three consortiums, each led by SK Telecom, KT and Kakao, as the operators of the “AI for All” project, which will provide unlimited access to artificial intelligence (AI) tools and services for all Koreans without any fees. The Ministry of Science and ICT chose the three consortiums from six applicants following an evaluation of their service plans and technological capabilities. The selected operators will receive a combined 512 Nvidia B200 graphics processing units from the government this year and, from 2027, will receive government support for part of the costs required to provide the service nationwide. The project is aimed at developing public AI services based on Korean AI models. The selected operators will be required to use both their own models and those developed by other companies to provide general-purpose AI chatbot services, as well as public and specialized AI agents. The ministry plans to sign agreements with the three operators in September and officially launch the AI for All service by the end of this year following a beta servi

3 MIN READ
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More Koreans buy dollars as won strengthens against greenback

When the won-dollar exchange rate fell below the 1,400-won mark in mid-August for the first time in nearly a year, Park, an office worker in her 30s, began looking for ways to buy U.S. dollars and take advantage of the stronger won. “I came across some social media posts recommending Toss Bank’s foreign currency account as a way to make money from exchange rate movements, so I opened one,” she said. “There’s no exchange fee, and the interface is easy to use, which is especially nice for a beginner like me.” Park is also considering dollar repurchase agreements (RPs) after watching a friend put spare cash into them whenever he had some left over. RPs are short-term investments where investors effectively lend money to a financial institution in exchange for securities that are repurchased at an agreed price and date, allowing them to earn interest on their dollars. As the exchange rate falls, more Koreans are looking to lock in dollars for future use. The won’s recent gains have been fueled in part by a jump in dollar supply in Korea’s foreign exchange market, as exporters

2 MIN READ
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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] Trump's America is losing Koreans

COVER STORY Trump's America is losing Koreans

Koreans are increasingly viewing the U.S. unfavorably, with less trust as a partner than before, according to a recent survey released by Washington-headquartered Pew Research Center. Experts and Korean citizens say the unfavorable sentiment was driven largely by the Donald Trump administration’s unilateral policies that often put more importance on transactions rather than alliances with trade and security partners. The survey showed 55 percent of Koreans expressed unfavorable views of the U.S. during the survey period from March 3 to April 4, including 18 percent who held very unfavorable views. It was 16 percentage points up from the 2025 figure. At the same time, 45 percent said they held favorable opinions of the U.S., down 16 percentage points, according to the survey of 1,045 Korean adults. Favorability reached its peak at 89 percent in 2022 under the Joe Biden administration. This was the first time unfavorable views took the majority since 2002. It is also the second time that unfavorable views surpassed favorable views following 2003, when unfavorability stood at 50 percent co

4 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Australian punk rocker Ray Ahn embarks on long, hard journey back to Korea

Australian punk rocker Ray Ahn embarks on long, hard journey back to Korea

Australian punk band the Hard-Ons are coming to Korea for the first time in September, but for bassist-vocalist Ray Ahn, it's a return to his birth country. Ahead of the tour, the band released a Korean-language EP, with Ahn singing four of their most memorable songs in Korean, including "Where Did She Come From?" and "Suck and Swallow." Ahn was born in Seoul, and emigrated to Australia at age 9 in 1974 with his family. Now in his early 60s, he still plays for the Hard-Ons, a legendary Sydney punk band known for its multicultural lineup when it was formed in 1982. The band also became notorious because of the name — which shouldn't shock anyone in Korea, where there was once a mainstream band called DickPunks and nobody ever made it weird. For Ahn and his bandmates, who got sick long ago of having to keep justifying their name, calling themselves the Hard-Ons meant playing the music industry on a hard setting. They faced barriers where other bands might not have, and they seem to have thrived on controversy in their early days. "Our rudeness was wielded as performance art," Ahn said. "I

5 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Reimagining 'dancheong': French artist merges European graffiti with traditional Korean art

French artist Boyane Zelechowski is bringing a cross-cultural visual style to central Seoul's Hippie Hannam Gallery for a new solo exhibition, running through Sept. 19 as part of Seoul Art Week 2026. Titled "Neo Joseon," the show has Zelechowski blending European graffiti roots and comic book-styled illustrations with traditional Korean art forms. His background has always been built on this kind of contrast. Growing up in France, he was deeply involved in the European graffiti scene and spent the early 2000s tagging abandoned buildings and street corners. At the same time, he was studying formally at the École des Beaux-Arts de Saint-Étienne. Vandal by night, art student by day — that kind of dichotomy still shapes how he works today. In 2011, he relocated to Seoul and built a career as a muralist, silkscreen printer and fine artist. While his work retains its original street art grit, his years in Korea have transformed his approach, infusing it with a localized sensibility. Now, Zelechowski is drawing on that same sense of contrast for his newest solo exhibition, “Neo Joseon.”

3 MIN READ
Reimagining 'dancheong': French artist merges European graffiti with traditional Korean art

K-Culture

'A Bona Fide Killer': A working mom with a deadly secret wins over drama viewers

The void left by So Ji-sub's secret agent dad in "Agent Kim Reactivated" has been filled by “killer mom” Gong Hyo-jin, as MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “A Bona Fide Killer” surpassed a nationwide viewership rating of 10 percent after just six episodes, taking first place in its time slot. Playing a contract killer named “Kingfisher,” Gong's character returns to work as an assassin to target vicious criminals let off with light sentences. Unbeknownst to everyone, “Kingfisher” is actually Yoo Bo-na, a working mom with a 4-year-old daughter. She works on a sales team at Durumi Electronics, which is the front for an organized group of killers specializing in poisoning, stabbing and sniping. Having just returned from parental leave, Yoo Bo-na worries when a nighttime assignment is suggested: “Let’s do it during the day. I have to go pick up my kid.” The drama has drawn praise from critics for its fresh blend of genres, combining the catharsis of punishing villains and the struggle to juggle work and private life with a touching family drama. The premise of a family-orient

3 MIN READ
'A Bona Fide Killer': A working mom with a deadly secret wins over drama viewers

Celebrities

BOYNEXTDOOR's Sungho named new host of 'Show! Music Core'

BOYNEXTDOOR member Sungho has been named a new host of MBC's weekly K-pop music program "Show! Music Core." The position opened after ZEROBASEONE's Kim Gyuvin and TWS' Dohoon stepped down following the Aug. 22 broadcast, ending their approximately 17-month run as hosts. Sungho is set to host the show alongside another new host who has yet to be announced. Sungho debuted as a member of BOYNEXTDOOR in May 2023 and has since been active with the six-member boy group. The group has gained popularity with songs including "If I Say, I Love You" and "Hollywood Action," and released its first full-length album, "HOME," in June. BOYNEXTDOOR is also set to return Sept. 28 with a repackaged version of its first studio album. Sungho will become the latest BOYNEXTDOOR member to take on a hosting role for a major Korean music program. Fellow member Jaehyun previously hosted Mnet's "M Countdown," while Woonhak served as a host of SBS' "Inkigayo." Attention is now on whether Sungho can continue the group's run of music show hosting projects with his steady presenting skills and approachable personality. "

1 MIN READ
BOYNEXTDOOR's Sungho named new host of 'Show! Music Core'

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Korea issues travel advisory for 4 Nepal provinces over flood risks

  2. Why are young Koreans so hooked on Buddhism?

  3. Nepal declines foreign rescue help; Korea says it is negotiating

  4. Death toll nears 600 as missing soar over 2,400 in Nepal, China floods

  5. In multicultural Itaewon, Seoul launches free survival swimming lessons for all primary grades

  6. Korean response team continues search efforts for 9 missing in Nepal floods

  7. COVER STORY International students, Korean companies find fit at Hanyang University career fair

  8. Formula for love: How dating reality shows achieve quick attraction

  9. Fed Chair Warsh signals rate hikes may be needed as inflation stays high

  10. Trump says no hurry to end Iran war after once predicting quick finish

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