Korean police block sales of Trader Joe’s bagel seasoning

Police have blocked the sale of a foreign seasoning product on an online secondhand marketplace after finding it contained narcotic substances and was prohibited from being brought into South Korea. Mapo Police Station in Seoul said Tuesday that it had identified listings for Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend on Karrot, a major secondhand trading platform, and worked with the company to block transactions involving the product. Some sellers had brought the seasoning in

2026-08-04 16:12:38:00

Before you bring that medicine into Korea

Something considered legal or even harmless in another country can carry serious consequences under South Korean law. The Gangnam Global Village Center is offering a free workshop to help foreign residents understand Korea’s drug laws and avoid unexpected legal risks, such as receiving a package for someone else or bringing certain medicines into the country. The two-hour, activity-based session will explain how Korean law applies to such situations and offer practical guidance on recognizing su

2026-08-03 13:21:55:00

Feeling lonely in Seoul? Try a convenience store for the mind

Seoul is operating 19 community spaces where foreign residents and other citizens experiencing loneliness can talk with others, assess their emotional well-being and receive information about counseling and support services. Called Seoul Maeum Convenience Stores, the facilities are not retail stores but informal spaces designed for people seeking emotional support or social connection. “Maeum” means mind or heart in Korean. Visitors can take a self-assessment on loneliness, speak with staff or p

2026-08-03 11:07:18:00

Man found dead in hot car as temperature hits 35 C

A man in his 50s was found dead inside a hot car in central South Korea amid a heat wave, with police suspecting heatstroke. The man was discovered at about 3 p.m. Saturday in a parking lot near the Wollyubong trail in Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, police said Sunday. He had traveled to the area with acquaintances to collect freshwater snails in a nearby stream. After complaining of dizziness at around 7:40 a.m., he went to rest in the vehicle. The air conditioner was off and all

2026-08-02 14:07:32:00

Where do foreign students in Korea work?

Foreign students working while studying in South Korea are overwhelmingly concentrated in retail, restaurants and lodging, with most earning less than 2 million won ($1,390) a month. About 83 percent of employed international students worked in wholesale and retail, accommodation or food services as of May 2025, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics’ latest survey on immigrants’ living conditions and employment. The figures offer a snapshot of how international students are participat

2026-08-02 13:46:23:00

Childhood trauma may fuel teen smartphone addiction

Childhood abuse may leave teenagers more vulnerable to smartphone addiction by eroding self-esteem and deepening depression, according to a Korean study that suggests excessive phone use can reflect trauma rather than a lack of self-control. Adolescents who reported higher levels of physical, verbal or emotional abuse by parents or caregivers also tended to show stronger signs of smartphone addiction, the study found. Lower self-esteem and more severe depressive symptoms were each associated wit

2026-08-02 13:16:15:00

Police expand crackdown on foreign-linked drug trafficking

South Korean police are broadening their drug enforcement campaign to focus more heavily on cross-border supply networks and online distribution, as foreign nationals account for a growing share of suspected suppliers. The National Office of Investigation said Sunday that police arrested 848 foreign nationals for drug offenses between March and June, 114 more than in the same period last year. Nearly half of them — 400 — were suspected of manufacturing, smuggling or selling drugs. Suppliers acco

2026-08-02 11:12:25:00

Ex-councilor in minor sex case gets paid for 16-day term

A councilor who briefly served on the city council of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, received about 2.3 million won ($1,570) in pay for his 16 days in office. He resigned just over two weeks after his term began amid a police investigation into alleged sex offenses involving a middle school student. Police allege that Choi Young-jung had sexual contact with the student two or three times in a vehicle and a motel between October 2024 and May 2025 and produced sexually exploitative material

2026-07-24 16:35:16:00

Soccer ball-sized rare mushroom found in Korea

A giant mushroom described as a globally rare species has been found for the 13th consecutive year at a farm near Mount Jiri in southwestern South Korea, local officials said Thursday. The white, ball-shaped mushroom, known in Korean as daenggual, was discovered recently by 63-year-old farmer Ju Ji-hwan at his black raspberry farm in Sannae-myeon, Namwon, North Jeolla Province, according to the city government. The mushroom typically measures about 30 centimeters in diameter and has a white surf

2026-07-24 14:48:05:00

Woman dies from burns after Gyeongsan arson

A woman in her 50s who suffered burns across her body in an arson-related explosion at an apartment management office has died while receiving treatment. The woman was pronounced dead at a hospital at about 11:10 a.m. Friday, a day after the incident, according to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency. She had initially been treated at a burn center in Daegu before being transferred to Seoul as her condition worsened. Police upgraded the 71-year-old suspect’s alleged offense from arson c

2026-07-24 12:07:21:00