Former first lady gets 7 years in influence-peddling case

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday after a Seoul court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts in return for exerting influence over government appointments, in a high-profile influence-peddling case that prosecutors described as a “sale of public office.” The Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty of peddling influence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, ruling that she knowingly accepted valuables from businesspeopl

2026-06-26 16:40:48:00

Seoul subway to ban e-scooters, large lithium batteries from July 1

Starting July 1, passengers will no longer be allowed to bring lithium battery-powered personal mobility devices onto the Seoul subway, as authorities move to reduce fire hazards linked to battery-powered devices. Seoul Metro announced that it has revised its passenger transportation regulations to ban passengers from bringing such devices into subway stations and on trains. The ban applies to personal mobility devices powered by lithium batteries, including electric scooters, electric bicycles,

2026-06-26 14:18:01:00

Why are more young Koreans walking away from elite careers?

For generations, South Korea offered young people a clear bargain: study hard, enter a prestigious university, land a secure job at a major conglomerate and climb the corporate ladder. More young Koreans are now questioning whether that bargain still pays off — in money, autonomy, mental well-being and the ability to build a life that feels livable. When Lee Seung-jun graduated from one of South Korea’s top engineering schools and landed a job at Samsung Electronics, he appeared to have achieved

2026-06-25 15:24:37:00

Korea expands malpractice safety net for doctors in high-risk specialties

South Korea will cover the full cost of malpractice insurance premiums for doctors in critical medical fields, as the government seeks to ease the legal risks blamed for pushing physicians away from high-risk specialties such as obstetrics and emergency medicine. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said medical institutions employing eligible physicians can apply for the high-cost medical liability insurance support program starting Thursday. Under the program, the government will fully cover ins

2026-06-24 14:46:01:00

Dongguk University professor dismissed over sexual harassment allegations

A professor at Dongguk University has been dismissed over allegations that he repeatedly made sexually inappropriate remarks and engaged in unwanted physical contact with students during drinking gatherings, the university said. According to Dongguk University, its faculty disciplinary committee voted on June 16 to dismiss the professor from the Department of Cultural Heritage Studies. The dismissal took effect Sunday. The case first came to public attention in November, when the department’s st

2026-06-24 13:40:29:00

Why more South Koreans are becoming ‘full-time children’

Job scarcity and climbing housing costs have fueled the emergence of a new family role: young adults who stay home, help run the household and, in some cases, care for aging parents. For years, achieving success in South Korea has been associated with a familiar life trajectory: graduate, find a stable job, move out, marry, start a family. For a growing number of young adults, however, that sequence is breaking down. Instead, some are embracing a new identity that has recently gained traction on

2026-06-22 15:43:05:00

Can Seoul afford free bus rides for seniors?

Seoul is considering free or subsidized bus rides for senior citizens aged 70 and older, expanding the decades-old system of free subway use for those aged 65 and above. The proposal cleared a Seoul Metropolitan Council committee on June 15 and is scheduled for a vote at the council’s plenary session on Wednesday. The subsidy would cover city and neighborhood buses, but exclude express and intercity buses. But the plan has drawn opposition from those concerned about the financial burden on a cit

2026-06-21 11:27:37:00

How squishies and nostalgia revived Seoul’s old markets

The line outside a toy wholesaler in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Stationery and Toy Street on a recent weekend looked more like one outside a trendy cafe than a decades-old market. Shoppers crowded around bins of squishies, comparing textures and squeezing them before making their choice. Nearby, others tested clicking keycap toys and cracked the wax shells of stress balls, delighting in the crisp popping sound. Most of the customers were not children. They were adults in their 20s and 30s. Just a few su

2026-06-20 16:00:00:00

For Korean singles, cleanliness matters most in a future spouse

When it comes to choosing a future spouse, cleanliness may matter more than a stable job or a healthy bank account for many young South Koreans, a survey indicated Friday. Some 32.5 percent of the respondents said cleanliness is the most important lifestyle factor they consider in a potential marriage partner, according to a recent survey by marriage agency Gayeon. The survey was conducted on 163 unmarried adults, 72 men and 91 women. Attitudes toward sharing household chores came next at 26.4 p

2026-06-19 15:21:59:00

Korea’s hair-loss insurance proposal sparks backlash

South Korea is weighing whether to extend national health insurance coverage to common hair-loss treatments, a proposal that has sparked growing backlash from doctors and patient advocacy groups. The debate centers on whether male-pattern hair loss, a common form of androgenetic alopecia, should be covered by the country’s public health insurance system, which is designed to prioritize medically necessary treatment. Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong recently named expanded insurance co

2026-06-18 14:58:32:00