Lottery winner says dream of Yoo Jae-suk led to $340,000 jackpot

A South Korean lottery winner said a vivid dream involving TV personality Yoo Jae-suk, one of the country’s most popular television hosts, preceded his 500 million won ($340,000) jackpot win. According to Donghaeng Lottery, the first-prize winner of the 104th round of the scratch-off lottery Speetto 1000 shared the story in an interview. In the dream, Yoo rescued the winner from being swept away in dirty water. “I had a good feeling after the dream, so I immediately bought a scratch ticket,” sai

2026-04-19 16:21:52:00

Police officer who inspired Don Lee character in ‘Roundup’ suspended, indicted for drunk driving

A police officer who served as the real-life model for the tough cop character in 2017 action comedy "The Outlaws," played by actor Don Lee, has been indicted on charges of drunk driving, local reports said Friday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office indicted the officer, a lieutenant formerly assigned to Suseo Police Station, without detention on April 15 on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act, multiple media outlets reported. The officer is accused of driving under the influen

2026-04-17 16:39:26:00

First S. Korean tanker navigates alternative Red Sea route amid Hormuz blockade

A South Korea-owned vessel has departed from the Red Sea, the first Korean ship to use it as an alternative route to transport crude oil amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government said Friday. “It is welcome news that, for the first time since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a South Korean vessel is safely transporting crude oil via the Red Sea,” President Lee Jae Myung said on X, praising officials and crew for their efforts. Although some oil already comes to Korea via the R

2026-04-17 14:32:07:00

Sri Lankan who saved crash pilots granted legal status in Korea

A Sri Lankan worker who helped rescue fighter jet pilots after a crash has avoided deportation and secured legal residency with the help of the South Korean Air Force, local media reported Thursday. According to Kookbang Ilbo, a military-run publication, the incident occurred in August 2022, when an Air Force F-4 Phantom jet on a mission crashed into waters near Jebudo in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, after an engine fire. The two pilots ejected safely but fell into the sea. The crash was witness

2026-04-16 16:23:37:00

Four teens taken to ER after drinking adrenaline from school lab

Four high school students in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, were treated at a hospital emergency room on Wednesday after consuming adrenaline provided for a science class experiment, local media reported Thursday. According to the Kyeonggi Ilbo, a local newspaper, emergency services were dispatched at around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday to the school after receiving a report that students had ingested adrenaline. Three students were transported to a nearby university hospital. A fourth student later came

2026-04-16 09:04:35:00

Blackpink’s Jennie, Japanese PM Takaichi and Chloe Kim among TIME’s 100 most influential list

Jennie of the K-pop group Blackpink is the only Korean included in TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year. According to the annual list released by the US weekly magazine on Wednesday, the artist was included in the artists category. Gracie Abrams, a singer-songwriter and the daughter of filmmaker J.J. Abrams, introduced Jennie in TIME, saying, “To put it simply, she is a star,” and adding, “There is magic at her core. Whether you see her through a screen, in a stadium filled wi

2026-04-16 08:29:30:00

Driver fined after fatally striking man lying in road at 1:30 a.m.

A South Korean court on Tuesday fined a 33-year-old driver 5 million won ($3,374) for fatally striking a man who was lying in the road at night. The Gwangju District Court found the defendant guilty of negligent driving, while taking into account that the accident may have been difficult to foresee and that he had separately paid 200 million won ($134,889) in settlement to the victim’s family. The driver fatally struck a 72-year-old man with a passenger car at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2024, a

2026-04-14 13:40:52:00

Funeral held for two firefighters killed in Wando fire

A funeral service was held Tuesday morning for two firefighters who died while battling a blaze at a seafood cold storage facility in Wando, South Jeolla Province. The ceremony honored the late Senior Fire Lt. Park Seung-won and Fire Sgt. Noh Tae-young, who were killed while responding to the fire at the facility in Gunoe-myeon on Sunday. The government posthumously recognized their deaths as line-of-duty casualties and granted both firefighters one-rank promotions. Park, 42, began his service a

2026-04-14 12:52:03:00

Ex–Super Junior member Kang In credited with saving comedian Lee Jin-ho

Kang In, a former member of the K-pop group Super Junior, is reported to have been the first to call emergency services after comedian Lee Jin-ho collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage. According to local media reports on Tuesday, he was on the phone with Lee on April 1 when Lee began to lose consciousness. Sensing the urgency, Kang In quickly called emergency services. When responders arrived, they found Lee collapsed and transported him to a hospital. Lee, after receiving care in the intensive c

2026-04-14 12:25:44:00

Ex-Super Junior Kang In to release single after 7-year hiatus

Kang In, formerly of Super Junior, has announced a return to music with a new release. The 41-year-old singer shared the news via his YouTube channel on Monday, speaking about his upcoming digital single, “Love Is Pain.” “It’s been a long time since I last greeted you,” Kang In said in the video. “Thankfully, I was able to start a fan meeting tour this year, beginning in the Philippines.” He added that while the song has not been fully finalized, he had the chance to perform it for fans during t

2026-04-14 11:29:56:00