Pension owner fined after peacock attacks 4-year-old guest

A pension owner has been fined 3 million won ($2,038) after a peacock roaming on the property attacked and injured a 4-year-old guest. The Chungju Branch of Cheongju District Court on Friday said that it found the 58-year-old owner guilty of occupational negligence that resulted in the child's injury. The owner kept peacocks, rabbits and parrots at the pension in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, for guests to interact with. But in August last year, one of the peacocks, which had been allowed

2026-07-24 10:12:53:00

‘Are you sure he’s the father?’ Jeju gynecologist faces backlash over alleged remarks

A male gynecologist on Jeju Island has come under fire after multiple women accused him online of making insulting remarks during consultations, according to local media reports Thursday. One woman recounted her experience in a webcomic, saying the doctor asked whether she was married, where she lived and when she planned to have a baby while she was sitting in a gynecological examination chair during a recent visit. The doctor then asked why she had not yet had a baby and what method of contrac

2026-07-23 14:06:52:00

Crocodile found in Yeoju stream turns out to be one of world’s rarest reptiles, Siamese crocodile

A 50-centimeter-long crocodile pulled from a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, over the weekend was identified as one of the world’s rarest reptiles. An examination conducted by the National Institute of Biological Resources found that the reptile, which has an olive-brown body with a long, narrow snout and a lightly armored back covered in rough, rectangular scales, is a Siamese crocodile. Native to Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the Siamese crocod

2026-07-22 11:34:01:00

The pain you don't always call in sick for

Once a month, millions of women across the globe wake up knowing the day ahead will be shaped by the discomfort or pain of menstruation. Menstrual cramps can range from a dull ache to debilitating pain, severe enough to force a person to miss work or classes. Yet many women still feel the expectation to carry on as if nothing is wrong. While South Korea is among a relatively small number of countries that legally recognize menstrual leave, many women say taking it remains far easier in theory th

2026-07-21 17:46:39:00

Two-Michelin-starred restaurant owner facing jail for serving ants

Prosecutors on Monday sought a one-year prison term for the owner of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant accused of serving ants that are not approved for use as food ingredients in South Korea. The owner, whose identity has been withheld, is accused of violating the Food Sanitation Act. Prosecutors also sought a fine of 20 million won ($13,525) for the restaurant’s operating company. The owner and the company were indicted for allegedly importing dried ant products from the US and Thailand and u

2026-07-21 11:35:22:00

Psy's iconic horse dance lives on as 'Gangnam Style' hits 6 billion views on YouTube

South Korean musician Psy’s global megahit “Gangnam Style” has surpassed 6 billion views on YouTube, becoming the first K-pop music video to reach the milestone, the singer’s agency said on Monday. The video crossed the mark on Friday, nearly 14 years to the day after it was released on July 15, 2012. It took about two years and seven months for the video to gain its latest 1 billion views, after surpassing the 5-billion-view mark on Dec. 30, 2023. Powered by its catchy lyrics, iconic horse-ridi

2026-07-20 11:08:47:00

You came for an old song. Then stayed for someone’s life story

Music lovers often arrive on YouTube looking for a tune. Then they find themselves reading about someone’s first love, an ode to a mother or father or about a parent’s unconditional love for their child. The comment sections under a YouTube video from an old Korean ballad, a 1990s or 2000s pop hit or a nostalgic drama soundtrack often feel less like a place for reveling in the music itself and more like a shared diary where strangers leave their memories of love, grief and moments that certain s

2026-07-20 08:00:00:00

S. Korea’s top Go player Shin Jin-seo becomes first pro to beat KataGo

South Korea’s top-ranked Go player Shin Jin-seo pulled off a victory over artificial intelligence program KataGo on Sunday, becoming the first professional player to do so. The 26-year-old clinched a 4.5-point victory over KataGo after a grueling five-hour match. It was the second game of the three-match series that kicked off on Friday in Seoul. Although Shin began the match with a two-stone head start, the victory made him the first professional player to defeat KataGo in an official match. U

2026-07-19 17:56:54:00

BTS' Jimin walked like Haaland, and fans can't get enough

Jimin of BTS delighted K-pop and soccer fans across the globe by imitating Norwegian star player Erling Haaland's signature walk during the group's recent world tour in Germany. The playful tribute came during the K-pop band's concert at Munich's Allianz Arena on June 11 as part of its "Arirang" world tour, according to ESPN Mexico on Sunday. During a preconcert soundcheck, Jimin spotted a fan holding a poster featuring three blond icons: Marvel superhero Thor, Haaland and himself. The poster la

2026-07-19 12:46:49:00

50-centimeter-long crocodile pulled from stream in Yeoju

A 50-centimeter-long crocodile was spotted near a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday, prompting an emergency response to capture the reptile. Fire authorities received a report at around 11:27 a.m. that a crocodile had been spotted in Soyangcheon in Chang-dong, Yeoju. Seven firefighters and two emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene, and the crocodile was captured 30 minutes later, at around 12:06 p.m. The crocodile measured about 50 centimeters long, though its species has

2026-07-19 10:48:04:00