Fall creeps in

Fall is drawing closer across Korea, with cool mornings and warmer afternoons bringing wide temperature swings Friday. As of 9 a.m., morning temperatures ranged from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in northern parts of South Korea and from 15 to 20 C in southern regions, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Daytime highs were forecast at 24 to 29 C, close to seasonal averages of 24 to 28 C. "Morning temperatures dropped as cold air moved into Korea along the edge of a high-pressure sys

2026-09-11 10:34:43:00

German TikToker draws ire over DJ stunts on Seoul Metro

A German social media influencer has drawn criticism after posting videos of himself playing loud music through a large speaker and dancing on subway trains in Seoul. Known on TikTok as "Streichbruder," the influencer, who has some 3.3 million followers, uploaded seven videos of himself DJing aboard Seoul subway trains, including those running on Line No. 6 through Samgakji, Noksapyeong and Hyochang Park stations and on Line No. 2 through Sinchon Station. The videos also show him getting off the

2026-09-09 16:47:14:00

Data breach exposes sensitive data of 220,000 users on cosmetic procedure platform Gangnam Unni

How would you feel if records of your cosmetic surgery consultation — including the procedure you were considering, the doctor you wanted to see and even photographs you shared — were leaked? For about 220,000 users of Gangnam Unni, South Korea’s leading platform for cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, that is now a possibility. The platform’s operator, Healing Paper, said Tuesday that personal information belonging to 219,665 users was exposed in a data breach. The affected users include a

2026-09-08 13:17:22:00

Talking Korean cinema in France

President Lee Jae Myung met with South Korean film directors and actors during his state visit to France on Monday. Lee met with the cast of director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love," including actors Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Do-yeon, as well as other leading figures in Korea's entertainment industry, including Kim Min-young, vice president of content for Asia at Netflix. The film has been officially invited to compete for the Golden Lion at this year's Venice International Film Festiv

2026-09-08 11:06:50:00

He was given six months to live. He spent it finding a home for his autistic son

Jeon Gyeong-cheol, the author widely known as the "Peter Pan Dad" for documenting his search for a home where his disabled son could live after his death, died Saturday. He was 64 and had been fighting late-stage liver cancer. Jeong Yu-jin, head of the Developmental Disabilities Support Expert Forum, announced Jeon's death on social media Sunday, saying the funeral would be held without a formal wake, in accordance with his wishes. "He is currently at the hospital, and no separate memorial hall

2026-09-07 12:05:27:00

Savoring early autumn

Early autumn brought crowds outdoors over the weekend, with festivals and tourist destinations across the country bustling after weeks of intense heat and late monsoon rains. Families and couples embraced the changing season at a sprawling buckwheat field in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, enjoying the cool breeze as they rode a small train through a sea of white blossoms or strolled along flower-lined paths, stopping to take photos. The annual Hyoseok Cultural Festival, which began Friday and ru

2026-09-06 16:33:20:00

S. Korean man gets 20-year prison sentence in Japan for killing ex-girlfriend

A Japanese court has sentenced a 31-year-old South Korean man to 20 years in prison for stalking and killing a Korean woman he was dating in Tokyo, news reports said Sunday. The Tokyo District Court handed down the ruling Friday after finding him guilty of murder and violating Japan's anti-stalking law. The sentence takes the form of imprisonment without labor, a custodial punishment introduced under the revised Penal Code that took effect in June 2025. It marked the country's first penal reform

2026-09-06 14:08:39:00

Nepalis in Seoul mourn flood victims

Nepalese people living in South Korea light candles to honor the victims of Nepal's recent flash floods during a memorial ceremony in Seoul on Saturday afternoon. More than 1,200 people have been killed and over 4,000 remain missing across northern Nepal after a glacial collapse and avalanche-triggered flash floods and mudslides along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river valleys near the Nepal-Tibet border, causing widespread destruction to settlements and infrastructure, according to the National

2026-09-06 11:13:23:00

What sex doll showrooms say about Korea's once-hidden market

From cars and designer sofas to luxury watches, some big-ticket purchases are best judged in person rather than through a screen. In South Korea, life-size sex dolls are increasingly joining that list. Showrooms specializing in these products, commonly known as "real dolls," are popping up across the country, bringing what was once largely an online purchase into brick-and-mortar retail. Step inside a showroom for real dolls in Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul, and it could easily be mistaken fo

2026-09-05 16:00:00:00

Lindsay Clancy trial has US talking about postpartum depression. Korea is not so open

Expecting twins, Ahn Hye-young, 34, knew motherhood would be tough. But she did not expect the new phase of her life to weigh on her so heavily. She found herself feeling drained, struggling with mood swings and unhappy with herself. Her changing body was another source of frustration, adding to the overwhelming physical and emotional strain of caring for two newborns. “Exercise helped a little, but I could never fully get my old body back. Newborns need to be fed so often, and with household ch

2026-09-02 10:51:34:00