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US Midterms

Decisive Democratic victory could bring tougher OPCON transfer conditions: experts

The Democratic Party’s victory in the U.S. midterm elections could complicate Seoul’s push to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, with experts warning that the new congressional majority may seek tougher conditions for the transfer. Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, putting Congress in a stronger position to scrutinize U.S. President Donald Trump’s security policies, including U.S. troop deployments and defense cooperation with Seoul. Shin Beom-chul, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute and former vice defense minister, warned that the Democratic victory could create new hurdles for Seoul’s OPCON ambitions. “If Democrats take control of Congress, they could impose tougher conditions on the OPCON transfer through the National Defense Authorization Act,” Shin said. Seoul seeks to retake OPCON by 2028, with the allies set to decide on the timeline at a security consultative meeting slated for early next year. The election outcome gives Democrats greater leverage over defense legislation. Any new restrictions on OPCON trans

3 MIN READ
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Seoul stocks face fresh uncertainty as Democrats retake US Congress

Korean stocks face growing policy uncertainty after Democrats regained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections, according to market analysts, Wednesday. They say obstacles to extending corporate tax cuts and the prospect of stricter oversight of Big Tech and artificial intelligence (AI) could fuel volatility in Korea’s tech-heavy stock market. However, sweeping policy changes remain unlikely given U.S. President Donald Trump’s veto power and ability to issue executive orders, the analysts said. Over the medium term, Korean stocks are expected to be driven more by returns on AI investment, semiconductor demand and foreign investor flows than by the election outcome itself. KOSPI closed slightly higher after a volatile session as investors assessed the implications of the Democrats’ victory. After rebounding 2.24 percent in the previous session, the benchmark opened at 5,786.13, up 137.34 points, or 2.43 percent, and climbed as high as 5,828.13, a gain of 3.17 percent. It then reversed course, falling as much as 4.02 percent to 5,421.

3 MIN READ
Seoul stocks face fresh uncertainty as Democrats retake US Congress thumbnail

Democrats seize US Congress in sweeping midterm repudiation of Trump

WASHINGTON — Democrats seized control of both the Senate and House on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations as tens of millions of voters delivered a scathing rebuke to President Donald Trump. Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the unpopular war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago. In South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate. And in Texas, the biggest Republican state, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak in seismic fashion, winning a Senate seat and ousting three-term Governor Greg Abbott. The results will usher in a new era of divided government in Washington, following two years in which the Republican-controlled Congress rarely exercised

4 MIN READ
Democrats seize US Congress in sweeping midterm repudiation of Trump thumbnail

Yoon loses appeal in election law case, putting PPP campaign reimbursement at risk

An appellate court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's conviction of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign. If the ruling becomes final, it could require the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to repay 39.7 billion won ($30 million) in campaign reimbursements. The Seoul High Court upheld the lower court’s sentence of 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, over statements Yoon made before his election in March 2022. “By making false statements during the campaign, he infringed on voters’ right to make an informed decision and undermined the fairness of the election and the integrity of the electoral process,” judge Baek Seung-yeop said. The verdict leaves the party facing a substantial financial liability, although the repayment obligation depends on the conviction becoming final. Under the election law, presidential candidates who win or receive at least 15 percent of the vote qualify for full reimbursement of eligible campaign expenses. But the funds must be returned if a candidate receives a prison senten

2 MIN READ
Yoon loses appeal in election law case, putting PPP campaign reimbursement at risk thumbnail

SK hynix faces dilemma between Solidigm investment, Chinese plant expansion

SK hynix is facing a growing dilemma over U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductor equipment for its NAND flash plant in China, as Washington's reluctance to approve equipment shipments slows the chipmaker's plans to generate revenue from the Chinese plant to finance new production facilities for its NAND flash unit Solidigm in the United States. Reuters reported on Wednesday that U.S. officials have held up approval for American chipmaking equipment needed by SK hynix to expand production in its NAND plant in Dalian, China. The Dalian plant is a key production hub for Solidigm, manufacturing NAND flash memory and enterprise solid-state drives used in smartphones and data centers. SK hynix is seeking to resume investment in its second Dalian plant to expand NAND production capacity. SK hynix had its Validated End User status expanded by the U.S. Commerce Department in 2023, effectively allowing it to bring American chipmaking equipment into its Chinese plants indefinitely. However, Washington revoked the status at the end of 2025 and replaced it with annual export licenses that al

2 MIN READ
SK hynix faces dilemma between Solidigm investment, Chinese plant expansion thumbnail

Korean actors take on fictional fantasy monarchy in 'The Remarried Empress'

“I accept the divorce. And I request approval to remarry.” Korean actors portray a palace romance set in an imaginary empire in an unspecified time and place, where love and betrayal intertwine with power and desire in the Disney+ original series “The Remarried Empress.” Released Tuesday, the series is based on a hit web novel turned webtoon. The series opens the door to live-action adaptations of Korean romantic fantasy works. Can the bold experiment push genre boundaries and expand storytelling horizons? In Korea, the romantic fantasy genre typically combines fantasy elements with an imaginary aristocratic society reminiscent of medieval Europe. This has made live-action adaptations particularly challenging. When KBS adapted the web novel “The First Night With the Duke” into a drama, it relocated the story to the Joseon era and gave its characters Korean names to make the setting more familiar to viewers. “The Remarried Empress,” however, takes a different approach, focusing on recreating the original fantasy world on screen. Moving the story to a specific period in Ko

2 MIN READ
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Seoul to curb downtown marathons after road closures disrupt 190 bus routes

Seoul plans to tighten oversight of downtown marathons through a joint consultative body with police and other government agencies, responding to mounting complaints about road closures, traffic congestion, noise and litter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will work with city police authorities to review race schedules, routes, traffic diversions and safety management plans for 2027. Detailed arrangements will be announced in December. Organizers preparing next year’s events were asked to refrain from recruiting participants until consultations on safety plans and traffic restrictions are complete. “While we recognize the contribution marathons make to the health of many residents, the disruption caused by downtown races has recently become a growing concern for others,” said Cho Sung-ho, director general of the city’s tourism and sports bureau. “We ask event organizers to take the initiative and work with us to address the issue.” The latest such disruption occurred on Sunday, when marathons prompted extensive road closures from Gwanghwamun to Olympic Par

2 MIN READ
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Jamsu Bridge car-free festival draws record crowds before pedestrian-only conversion

Seoul’s car-free festival on Jamsu Bridge drew a record 2.38 million visitors this year, the city said Wednesday. That brings attendance over five years to 7.68 million as the bridge gets ready to become a pedestrian-only crossing. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said this year’s Car-free Jamsu Bridge Ttubeok-ttubeok Festival ended on Oct. 25. “Ttubeok-ttubeok” is a Korean word for the sound of footsteps. Jamsu Bridge opened in 1976. It sits just above the Han River’s surface, under the upper deck of Banpo Bridge, making it the bridge closest to the water. Cars have been kept off it on festival Sundays since 2022. This year’s festival ran on 15 Sundays from April to June and from September to October, drawing an average of 159,000 visitors a day. Attendance was about 1.4 times last year’s and about 2.1 times that of 2022. Food trucks, a handicraft market and a farmers’ market sold about 2.58 billion won ($1.8 million) worth of goods. That is a record, about 1.7 times the previous high set in 2024. Food truck operators donated 53.27 million won of their earnings. The busi

2 MIN READ
Jamsu Bridge car-free festival draws record crowds before pedestrian-only conversion thumbnail

Hotel manager accused of tricking BTS fan into canceling booking, reselling rooms at 7 times the price

A hotel manager in Busan has been referred to prosecutors on fraud charges after allegedly tricking a guest into canceling a reservation for a BTS concert weekend, then reselling rooms at up to seven times their normal rates. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit said Wednesday that it had referred the manager, a person in their 50s, to prosecutors without detention. According to police, the manager allegedly contacted a guest in mid-May who had booked a hotel room at the regular rate in mid-January to attend BTS concerts scheduled for June 12 and 13 in Busan. The manager, who was responsible for handling reservations and cancellations, allegedly falsely told the guest that the hotel had been overbooked. "We have dozens of overbooked reservations right now, so there's nothing we can do. Please cancel your reservation through the booking website," the manager allegedly told the guest. However, a police investigation, including a search and seizure operation and interviews with people involved, found that rooms were still available for

2 MIN READ
Hotel manager accused of tricking BTS fan into canceling booking, reselling rooms at 7 times the price thumbnail

BMW Korea unveils facelifted 7 Series luxury sedan to take on Mercedes-Benz S-Class

BMW Korea unveiled its redesigned 7 Series luxury sedan, Wednesday, seeking to build on its growing presence in the higher-end market, as the flagship model gains ground rapidly against the long-dominant Mercedes-Benz Korea’s S-Class. The launch carries significance beyond the arrival of an updated model. The 7 Series has emerged as one of BMW Korea's key growth drivers, capitalizing on weakening demand for its archrival Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the large luxury sedan segment that BMW has traditionally struggled to dominate. The changing sales balance between the two models illustrates the shift. According to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), the S-Class recorded 1,839 sales in Korea during the first half of this year, 1,238 fewer than the 7 Series' 3,077. The BMW luxury sedan also topped sales of imported large sedans in Korea in both 2024 and 2025, displacing the S-Class from its long-held position as the segment leader and dealing a blow to Mercedes-Benz's core identity as a super luxury carmaker. Against this backdrop, BMW Korea is position

2 MIN READ
BMW Korea unveils facelifted 7 Series luxury sedan to take on Mercedes-Benz S-Class thumbnail

Korea draws record $2 bil. foreign investment pledges in AI, semiconductors

Korea secured a record $2 billion in foreign investment pledges from seven global companies, primarily in semiconductors, advanced materials and energy industry, as the government seeks to position the country as a key investment destination amid growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said the pledges were announced at its annual Invest Korea Summit 2026, a three-day investment promotion event jointly hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, which opened in Seoul on Wednesday. The event brought together 267 foreign investors and companies, along with around 2,000 business officials globally. The investment commitments mark the largest amount ever secured at the annual summit in its 22-year history, with about 97 percent of the pledged funds earmarked for regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area. "The record-high investment pledges demonstrate global companies' confidence in the Korean economy," KOTRA President and CEO Kang Kyung-sung said. "Korea, with its solid manuf

2 MIN READ
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Regulator finalizes $276 mil. penalties on banks, securities firms over mis-selling of HK-tied derivatives

Seven banks and six securities firms were slapped with a combined 370 billion won ($276 million) in penalties by the financial regulator Wednesday over their mis-selling of equity-linked securities (ELS) products tracking Hong Kong's H Index. The amount is a sharp cut from the initial 1.4 trillion-won fine on the five lenders — KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, NH Nonghyup and SC Korea — which had already suffered massive losses as they had compensated customers over the mishap, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Seoul's financial regulator finalized the penalty after ordering the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the country's financial watchdog, to further review some legal issues. Earlier, the FSS had proposed a 600 billion-won penalty on the banks. The regulator imposed 361 billion won in penalties on the seven lenders. Banks and brokerages had sold a combined 19.3 trillion won worth of ELS products, tracking Hong Kong's H index since 2021, according to earlier data from the watchdog. KB Kookmin Bank sold the largest amount of HK-tied ELS products wort

1 MIN READ
Regulator finalizes $276 mil. penalties on banks, securities firms over mis-selling of HK-tied derivatives thumbnail

IES Global eyes expansion of study abroad, internship programs in Korea

As Korea emerges as a popular destination for international students, global education organization Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Global is looking to expand two-way student exchanges and internship opportunities, connecting more international students with Korea while opening new pathways for Korean students to gain experience abroad. In an interview with The Korea Times in September, IES Global President and CEO Gregory Hess emphasized that Korea is rapidly gaining ground as a study abroad destination for American students, attracting growing interest not only for its cultural appeal but also for its technological prowess and world-class universities. "Korea is one of the hot countries," he said. "Students are attracted not only to its culture, its entrepreneurial culture, the prominence of its products, but also the great universities that are here." While K-pop and Korean dramas often serve as an entry point for international students, Hess said Korea's appeal extends well beyond popular culture to its strengths in advanced technology and higher educati

3 MIN READ
IES Global eyes expansion of study abroad, internship programs in Korea thumbnail

'They just need a chance': Mother of twins with autism calls for more inclusive schools

ULSAN — “Chae-a, do you like drawing?” “Yes!” “You won an award for your drawing. What did you do with your picture at school?” “I showed it off.” “How did you feel when you showed it to everyone?” “Happy. Excited.” The eight-year-old's answers were brief, but her drawings were filled with endless stories. Jang Chae-a, 8, a second-grader at Samdong Elementary School in Ulsan, won the gold prize in the 8-10 age category at the 2026 International Youth Art Contest (IYAC), a global competition for children and teenagers. She met with the Hankook Ilbo on Oct. 29 in Ulsan. Chae-a, who is on the autism spectrum, has difficulty expressing her thoughts spontaneously through speech. But her mother, Lee Kyung-geum, 43, said this does not mean her daughter lacks the desire to communicate or the determination to do things well. “It's as though all the stories she cannot fully put into words pour onto the drawing paper,” Lee said with a smile. Chae-a's award-winning work, titled “My Wonderful World of Stories,” is filled with images of children in traditional Korean clothi

4 MIN READ
'They just need a chance': Mother of twins with autism calls for more inclusive schools thumbnail

Sunken treasures reveal secrets of Goryeo Korean maritime route

Off the rugged, wave-swept coast of Taean, a treacherous marine graveyard known historically as the "Racecourse of the Sea" has yielded two newly discovered Goryeo Dynasty shipwrecks, offering an unprecedented window into 13th-century statecraft, commerce and seafaring. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage said Wednesday that underwater archaeologists have fully identified the wreckage of the Mado No. 5 ship and spotted the traces of a brand-new wreck, Mado No. 6, nearby. Together, the finds illuminate the sophisticated tax-grain shipping networks that once fed the Goryeo capital of Gaegyeong. The excavation of the Mado No. 5 vessel recovered 54 artifacts, including bronze vessels, rope, anchors and bundles of preserved rice straw. Most crucially, archaeologists unearthed 26 inscribed wooden tags, or "mokgan," that meticulously document the cargo's journey, according to the institute. Deciphering the texts revealed that the cargo was collected in December 1207 — the dead of winter, when freezing gales typically kept sailors ashore. Experts deduce that Mado No.

2 MIN READ
Sunken treasures reveal secrets of Goryeo Korean maritime route thumbnail

Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] President, first lady to get new passports after personal data exposure

COVER STORY President, first lady to get new passports after personal data exposure

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung are having new passports issued after their passport and other personal information were leaked, the foreign ministry said, Tuesday. The government and the police are investigating how the data was exposed, although they believe it was a leak, not an external cyberattack. “The foreign ministry is swiftly taking measures to ensure the smooth reissuance of passports for all affected individuals, including the president and first lady,” ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said during a briefing. The measures came after it was known that sensitive personal information of 168 people who were aboard the presidential jet for Lee’s trip to Europe in June had been uploaded on a security-related paid website. The leak affected not only the presidential couple but also ranking officials, including then-chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, current Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and several Cabinet members, as well as senior officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry, security personnel and

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Han River autumn concert brings jazz, classical music, Korean favorites to Yeouido

Han River autumn concert brings jazz, classical music, Korean favorites to Yeouido

As autumn deepens in Seoul, the Han River will become an open-air concert hall Saturday, with four musical acts bringing classical, jazz and popular music to Yeouido for a free evening performance against the city's illuminated skyline. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it will host Autumn Night on the Han River, Filled With Music at Yeouido Mulbit Stage in Yeouido Hangang Park, beginning 5 p.m. this Saturday. The approximately two-hour program will feature four acts: singer Choi Seung-yeol and Kim Chang-ki of the band Zoo, jazz duo Park Jeong-in and Lee Gyu-ri, vibraphone player Yoon Hyun-sang and string quartet Ensemble Allegri. Choi gained attention as a runner-up on the second season of the television program "Hidden Singer," where he performed songs by the late singer Kim Kwang-seok. Kim Chang-ki, a singer and songwriter who performed with Kim Kwang-seok in Zoo, wrote popular songs including "On the Street" and "I'll Love You." Park and Lee will offer jazz performances, while Yoon will move between classical, jazz and pop through vibraphone arrangements. Ensemble Allegri,

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

'Knockout drink' returns after 11 years, and young Koreans can't get enough

Captain Q, the legendary liquor brand, has made a comeback after 11 years, sparking a nationwide craze. For middle-aged and older consumers who enjoyed it in the past, the relaunch evokes nostalgia. For younger generations who never got to try it, the brand has become an object of curiosity, fueled by notorious hangover tales that have evolved into entertaining internet memes. The product is now so hard to find that it is reportedly changing hands on the secondhand market for several times its retail price. Captain Q was first launched in 1980 by Lotte Chilsung Beverage, then known as Lotte Liquor, and is considered one of the original mass-market Korean liquors. Such products were developed at a time when liquor imports were restricted. They were essentially imitation spirits made by blending neutral alcohol (ethanol) with coloring, flavoring and small amounts of liquor concentrates to mimic the taste and aroma of imported spirits. Captain Q was one such product, containing a small amount of rum concentrate. Its affordable price made it particularly popular among college students and

3 MIN READ
'Knockout drink' returns after 11 years, and young Koreans can't get enough

K-Culture

BTS concerts in Taiwan, Indonesia to be screened at movie theaters in over 80 countries

Two shows from K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming tour in Taiwan and Jakarta will be livestreamed at movie theaters in more than 80 countries and regions, the group's agency said Tuesday. The live viewings will feature the group's second-day show in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 21 and its third-day show in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Dec. 29, BigHit Music said in a notice posted on K-pop fan community platform Weverse. The Kaohsiung and Jakarta concerts will be shown on about 3,300 and 2,800 large screens worldwide, respectively. In South Korea, audiences can watch them at three major cinema chains — CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox. BigHit Music said screening times will be adjusted for different time zones, meaning viewers in some regions will watch delayed broadcasts one to two days later. The shows are part of the Asian leg of the group's "ARIRANG" tour, set to kick off in Kaohsiung on Nov. 19. The septet will hold a total of 15 performances across five cities that also include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The group completed its South American tour in Sao Paulo late last month, selling o

1 MIN READ
BTS concerts in Taiwan, Indonesia to be screened at movie theaters in over 80 countries

Celebrities

Song Joong-ki's son steals attention with striking resemblance to actor dad

Actor Song Joong-ki has drawn attention after photos of a family outing with his wife, Katy Louise Saunders, and their two children spread across Chinese social media, with fans particularly surprised by how much his 3-year-old son has grown. Photos and witnes accounts of the family of four recently circulated on Chinese social media platforms, showing Song enjoying a casual outing with Saunders, their son and their daughter, who is approaching her second birthday. The family was spotted in an underground pedestrian passage leading to Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. In the photos, Song is dressed casually and wearing a cap as he pushes a stroller. What particularly caught fans' attention was the couple's firstborn son, who has grown considerably and now appears to reach nearly his father's waist. According to eyewitness accounts, the boy displayed a cheerful, outgoing personality, smiling and greeting people around him. The couple's younger daughter reportedly sat quietly in the stroller, which Song pushed himself throughout the outing. Chinese social media users also pointed out the boy's re

1 MIN READ
Song Joong-ki's son steals attention with striking resemblance to actor dad

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Democrats seize US Congress in sweeping midterm repudiation of Trump

  2. Polls begin to close in midterm elections as voters pass judgment on Trump's second term

  3. N. Korea says dialogue with US option but not must for national interest

  4. Viral 'text hip' trend boosts bookstore sales, brings literature to food aisles

  5. Beyond sovereignty: Why OPCON transfer matters for South Korea's security

  6. Trump deflects blame for midterms rout but says accepts results

  7. N. Korea fires multiple missiles toward East Sea: JCS

  8. Yoon loses appeal in election law case, putting PPP campaign reimbursement at risk

  9. Binance hackers used fake job interview in $6.3 bil. attack

  10. Cost of living, corruption top issues and voters deeply unhappy with Trump: Early election takeaways

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