Gwangju officials rig system to get ‘golden’ license plates

A supposedly random license plate system in Gwangju was manipulated hundreds of times by district office employees to secure coveted “golden numbers” such as 7777 and 5555, an internal audit found. Gwangju’s Seo-gu Office said Thursday that it would seek disciplinary action against employees who improperly reserved and assigned highly sought-after license plate numbers between 2023 and February 2026. The audit, conducted between February and last month, examined 16 employees in the district’s tr

2026-06-18 14:13:20:00

Dead fish washing up on Korea's east coast may be linked to tuna surge, warming seas

An unusual sequence of fish die-offs along South Korea's east coast is raising questions about whether one of the region's most productive fishing grounds is undergoing a significant ecological shift. Officials and local media said Wednesday that hundreds of fish, including mackerel and herring, were found dead along Yeongok Beach in Gangwon Province. Some carcasses were seen floating offshore before being pushed onto the sand by waves, leaving behind a strong odor and prompting complaints from

2026-06-17 13:29:25:00

Labor, businesses clash over industry-specific minimum wages

South Korean labor and business groups clashed Tuesday as the state wage-setting panel opened talks on a variable minimum wage, a proposal backed by employers and fiercely opposed by unions. The talks came a day after labor groups proposed raising the 2027 minimum wage by 16.3 percent to 12,000 won ($7.93) an hour. The sixth plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission in Sejong focused on proposals to have different minimum wages depending on industry, one of the most divisive issues in this

2026-06-16 17:52:11:00

Can Korea afford a 12,000 won minimum wage?

South Korean labor and business groups clashed Tuesday as the state wage-setting panel opened talks on industry-specific pay floors, a contentious proposal backed by employers and fiercely opposed by unions. The talks came a day after labor groups proposed raising the 2027 minimum wage by 16.3 percent to 12,000 won ($7.93) an hour. The sixth plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission in Sejong focused on differentiated rates, one of the most divisive issues in this year's negotiations. Labor

2026-06-16 15:22:31:00

Politically active youth find community at Seoul protests

As demonstrations over ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections entered their second week, the rallies in Jamsil in southern Seoul began drawing attention for another reason: the growing presence of young participants who say they are finding a rare sense of community among people with similar concerns. The gatherings, held near a vote-counting center, began after ballot paper shortages at polling stations triggered accusations that voters’ rights had been infringed. Election authorities h

2026-06-15 15:33:58:00

Foreign tourists to get cheaper bus trips beyond Seoul

South Korea is launching a monthlong discount program for overseas tourists using intercity and express buses, as the government seeks to make regional travel easier and reduce the concentration of tourism in Seoul. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said Monday that they will offer discounts on long-distance bus tickets for international visitors from June 15 through July 14, in partnership with global travel platform Klook and cross-border payment se

2026-06-15 15:31:19:00

[팟캐스트] (801) 결혼 전 장례식 방문?

진행자: 최정윤, Tannith Kriel Getting married soon? Some Koreans say skip the funeral 기사 요약: 최근 한 직장인 익명 커뮤니티에서는 결혼을 앞두고 장례식장에 가는 것이 적절한지를 두고 갑론을박이 벌어지며 “미신일 뿐”이라는 반응과 “큰일을 앞둔 만큼 조심해야 한다”는 의견이 맞서고 있다. [1] Every wedding season, online communities for newlyweds in Korea buzz with a familiar question: Is it a bad idea to attend a funeral before my wedding? newlyweds: 신혼부부 [2] Rooted in a traditional belief that attending a funeral before major life events can bring bad luck, the superstition remains surp

2026-06-15 06:00:00:00

Lee seeks Vatican support for Korean peace efforts during Rome visit

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday called for stronger support for peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula and invited young people from around the world to attend the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, saying the gathering could serve as a symbol of reconciliation beyond borders and conflict. Lee made the remarks during a special Mass for peace and solidarity at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Vatican City, part of his visit to the Holy See following his attendance at the G7 summit and a

2026-06-14 20:26:07:00

Court orders election commission to explain disposal of ballot storage box

A Seoul court ordered election authorities to provide details on the disposal of a ballot storage container from a polling station in Songpa-gu, after finding that the container had been discarded despite an earlier request to preserve it as evidence. The Seoul Eastern District Court on Friday partially granted an additional evidence preservation request filed by Kim Jeong-cheol, a senior member of the minor Reform Party who ran in the Seoul mayoral election. Kim had previously asked the court t

2026-06-12 17:37:17:00

Australian hiker rescued in series of Seoraksan accidents

One hiker died and two others were rescued in separate incidents on Seoraksan in Gangwon Province, authorities said Friday, as emergency crews responded to a series of mountain accidents within about 24 hours. According to fire authorities, an Australian hiker in his 40s became lost while hiking in the Seorak-dong area of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Thursday. Mountain rescue personnel conducting a nighttime search located him and accompanied him down the mountain. The hiker showed sig

2026-06-12 14:18:05:00