-
AmCham chief receives honorary doctorate from Korea Aerospace University
James Kim, chair and CEO of AmCham Korea, received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Korea Aerospace University on Thursday for his contributions to South Korea-US economic cooperation. The university cited Kim’s role in connecting the two countries’ governments and businesses, promoting trade and investment and advancing cooperation in high-tech industries. It also recognized his efforts to attract investment to Korea and improve the business environment. The ceremony took p
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Mountain trail closed for nearly 60 years opens in Seoul
For nearly six decades, a stretch of mountain behind Cheong Wa Dae, Korea's presidential compound, remained off-limits to the public. Starting Saturday at 9 a.m., visitors will be able to explore the last restricted section of Bugaksan, a forested peak north of central Seoul, along a trail offering sweeping views of the city. The newly opened 1.32-kilometer route winds along the mountain's southwestern slopes in Cheongun-dong, Jongno-gu. From four newly built viewing areas, hikers can look out t
Oct. 16, 2026 -
S. Korea weighs reinforcing anti-piracy naval unit amid rising maritime threats
South Korea is weighing plans to bolster its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit with additional military assets, as maritime security threats mount in the Gulf of Aden, ahead of a likely request for parliamentary approval to extend the unit's overseas mission. The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia have increased sharply compared with previous years, heightening security concerns in the region where the Cheonghae Unit has been operating sinc
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Man gets 20 years for killing colleague in Daejeon
A man who fatally stabbed a colleague during an argument at their company dormitory in Daejeon has received a final sentence of 20 years in prison. The Supreme Court recently rejected the 41-year-old’s appeal against his murder sentence, according to local media reports Friday. The man was convicted of killing his colleague, then 36, in Yuseong-gu in the early hours of Dec. 1 last year. Both men were Philippine nationals. The two had argued after the victim said he suspected the defendant of rep
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Korea's manufacturing jobs rise for first time in 27 months
South Korea's manufacturing employment rose for the first time in 27 months in September despite a slowdown in overall job growth, government data showed Friday. Manufacturers employed 4.36 million people last month, up 16,000 from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The increase was the first since June 2024, ending 26 consecutive months of job losses. The sector had shed 38,000 jobs in August and 68,000 in July. "Employment fell in automobiles and textiles, but in
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Crush, IU to drop new single next week
Crush is set to drop a new digital single, “Seesaw,” featuring IU on Wednesday, agency P Nation announced Friday. The agency released a teaser video showing the singers working together in a studio, with a snippet of the new song playing in the background. The two have collaborated since 2019, when they appeared as guests at each other’s concerts. In 2022, Crush was a guest on IU’s music talk show, “IU’s Palette.” The forthcoming single will be Crush’s first new material in over a year, after hi
Oct. 16, 2026 -
BTS 1st group ever to log 10b annual streams on Spotify
BTS has become the first group to accumulate 10 billion annual streams on Spotify, according to label Big Hit Music on Friday. The group's fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” drove the achievement, generating 5 billion streams since its release in March, the most for an album dropped this year. On the day the album rolled out, all 14 tracks, including the all-instrumental track, “No. 29,” swept the top 14 spots on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart. Meanwhile, the seven-piece act is in Santi
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Incheon Queer Culture Festival wins first approval to use City Hall plaza
The Incheon Queer Culture Festival will be held Saturday at Incheon Aetteul, the plaza outside City Hall, after the city approved the venue for the first time since the event began in 2018. The ninth edition is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. under the theme “A Rainbow by Your Side.” About 1,900 people are expected to attend the festival and parade, police said Thursday. The city approved the venue subject to certain conditions, including a ban on tents and other long-term structures on t
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Lee defends live Cabinet broadcasts, rejects claims of silenced ministers
President Lee Jae Myung on Friday reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Cabinet meetings open to the public, expressing "deep regret over false claims" that live broadcasts were preventing ministers from speaking freely. Lee defended the practice, insisting that broadcasting Cabinet meetings live did not prevent ministers from openly challenging him or expressing dissent. "We are making part of the Cabinet meetings open to the public, in whom sovereignty rests, and I cannot agree with calls from
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Hyosung Heavy Industries doubles circuit breaker capacity with new plant
Hyosung Heavy Industries completed a new ultra-high-voltage circuit breaker plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday to meet rising global demand for power equipment. Hyosung Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon, Rep. Heo Seong-moo of the Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Kim Jong-yang of the People Power Party, and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute President Kang Sang-hee attended the opening ceremony. The 18,996-square-meter plant will manufacture 420 kV, 550 kV and 800 kV export
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Kia launches Korea’s first remote-driving car-sharing trial
Kia has launched Korea’s first car-sharing trial using remote vehicle operation, aiming to assess its commercial viability and accelerate next-generation mobility solutions. The program began Thursday for employees of businesses in the Second Pangyo Techno Valley, using its PV5 model. Operations will continue through the end of the year. Customers reserve a vehicle through a dedicated app, prompting it to travel to their requested location without a driver. The customer then drives the vehicle t
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Lee's approval rating rises after dipping to lowest level: poll
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose slightly to 39 percent after weeks of decline, a weekly poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,003 people aged 18 and older, showed that positive assessments of Lee's performance increased 2 percentage points from the previous week. The figure marks a slight recovery from his record low of 37 percent recorded in the previous two Gallup polls, following a downward trend since late August. Those wh
Oct. 16, 2026 -
HD Hyundai Electric, LG CNS team up on data center power
HD Hyundai Electric has partnered with LG CNS to pursue power infrastructure projects for artificial intelligence data centers and expand factory automation, the power equipment maker said Friday. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding that combines HD Hyundai Electric's expertise in power equipment and distribution systems with LG CNS' experience in designing, building and operating data centers. For AI data centers, the companies plan to offer power and distribution equipment a
Oct. 16, 2026 -
An autumn stroll full of flowers
Visitors stroll along a path lined with colorful chrysanthemums at Peace Park in Nam-gu, Busan, on Friday. The park is hosting the Gukhwa Culture Festival, which aims to bring colorful chrysanthemums and a touch of autumn to the southern port city from Friday through Nov. 8. (Photos: Yonhap)
Oct. 16, 2026 -
Seven injured in Bucheon factory fire
Four firefighters were seriously injured, with one in cardiac arrest, while battling a major fire at a metal parts painting factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday, authorities said. The fire broke out at about 8:38 a.m. at a four-story factory in Nae-dong, Ojeong-gu, the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters said. Flammable liquids were reportedly stored inside the building. Firefighters rescued one person, while four others, including factory workers, evacuated on their own. The fir
Oct. 16, 2026