Korea’s medical school competition pushes applicants overseas

As competition for admission to South Korea’s elite medical schools intensifies, more are looking overseas for an alternative path to help their children become doctors. According to overseas study agencies, interest in so-called “medical study abroad” programs has surged, especially in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district, where parents have long invested heavily in private education in hopes of securing admission to top universities. But domestic medical schools accept only a fraction of applican

2026-05-20 15:37:53:00

Why everybody is talking about stocks in Korea, and why it's worrisome

At lunch tables, office coffee breaks and weekend family gatherings, conversations increasingly revolve around which shares surged overnight, which semiconductor stock might be the next to double and who made how much money in a single day. Social media feeds are flooded with screenshots of investors’ portfolios showing eye-popping gains. Bookstores have turned bestseller sections over to investing guides and stock market strategy books. Even teenagers are joining the frenzy. The fever comes as

2026-05-20 13:25:30:00

Police review easing school zone speed limits at night

South Korean police are reviewing whether to change speed restrictions in school zones, currently set at 30 kilometers per hour around the clock, amid growing criticism that the limits are unnecessary late at night. The National Police Agency commissioned the Korea Road Traffic Authority earlier this month to conduct a study on possible reforms to school zone speed regulations. The changes would not require revisions to the Road Traffic Act. The move came after the government’s recently launched

2026-05-19 14:57:32:00

Seoul Subway app revamped to improve access for foreign riders

Seoul Metro said Tuesday it has overhauled its Seoul Subway mobile app to help foreign residents and tourists navigate the city’s subway system with ease by expanding language support, including for live updates. The app now supports four languages, with Chinese and Japanese added to its existing Korean and English services. The app’s user interface and guidance system were also redesigned to help first-time subway users navigate the system more easily, according to the public transit operator.

2026-05-19 13:20:47:00

Seoul opens Korean-Chinese speech contest

Applications are open for the fifth Korean-Chinese bilingual speech contest, which invites youths from elementary through high school across Korea to speak under the theme “My Dream.” Participants are asked to deliver speeches in both Korean and Chinese, sharing stories about the dreams they hope to achieve, the experiences that inspired them, or the efforts they are making toward their goals. Organizers say the event aims to create a space where migrant youths and Korean youths can grow togethe

2026-05-19 12:14:43:00

Language exchange with Korean grandparents

Most language exchanges in Seoul take place among students and young professionals. This one brings together foreign residents and senior Koreans, with life stories and decades of Korean history at its center. A volunteer program organized with the Gangnam Senior Welfare Center invites foreign residents to spend afternoons chatting with senior Koreans in English, Japanese or Chinese. Rather than structured lessons, the sessions are designed as relaxed conversations on topics ranging from daily r

2026-05-19 11:28:39:00

Mental health talk for Chinese-speaking foreign residents in Seoul

For many foreign residents in Korea, talking about mental health can be especially difficult when language and cultural barriers are added to the mix. The Gangdong Foreign Resident Center is hosting a small-group mental health lecture this month, led by a psychiatrist fluent in Chinese, to offer a more accessible space for support. The session will focus on depression and psychiatric medication, while also opening up broader conversations about emotional well-being, stress and mental health care

2026-05-18 15:27:55:00

Gangdong center offers acupuncture, cupping session at no cost

Foreign residents looking to relieve stress, muscle tension or fatigue may want to check out a free traditional Korean medicine clinic hosted by the Gangdong Foreign Resident Center on Saturday. The one-day event will introduce participants to treatments commonly used in Korean medicine clinics, including acupuncture and cupping therapy, along with herbal medicine and wellness consultations. Acupuncture involves placing thin needles at specific points on the body to help improve circulation, eas

2026-05-18 11:26:03:00

Got K-pop moves? This Seoul dance contest could be for you

Foreign residents and international students with a passion for K-pop dance are being invited to compete in this year’s “K-Pop Vibe Seoul” dance competition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in July. Open to participants aged 17 and older, the competition welcomes both solo performers and teams of up to 10 members, with no restrictions on genre. Applicants must submit a dance video of under three minutes through an online application form by June 30. Finalists will be announced on July 3, and the final

2026-05-18 11:08:08:00

Shortage of Ativan sparks fears of pediatric emergency crisis

Several pediatric hospitals in South Korea have reported a shortage of Ativan injections, a critical emergency drug used to stop seizures in children and stabilize psychiatric patients, touching off concerns over a potential medical crisis. Twelve hospitals had already exhausted their supplies of Ativan injections and another 13 are expected to run out within one to two months, according to a survey of 35 pediatric hospitals nationwide by The Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals released Sa

2026-05-17 14:45:07:00