Busan’s scrapping of Pompidou, La Scala plans draws mixed response

Busan’s decision to scrap plans for a branch of France’s Centre Pompidou and an invitation performance by Italy’s La Scala theater has drawn a mixed response, with civic groups that call for protection of the natural environment welcoming the move while local politicians lamented the loss of opportunities for international collaboration. The decision, announced by Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo on Wednesday, followed years of debate over the projects’ costs, environmental impact and potential contribu

2026-10-15 13:55:10:00

President Lee visits Incheon police after stabbing attack

President Lee Jae Myung visited the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency on Tuesday evening to receive a briefing on an indiscriminate stabbing that left nine people injured in central Incheon earlier in the day, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The attack occurred at around 1:40 p.m. in Guwol-dong, downtown Incheon, where a 59-year-old man allegedly attacked people with a sharp object strapped to each hand while moving along an escalator inside a Homeplus hypermarket. The suspect was apprehended by ci

2026-10-13 21:59:51:00

Uzbek national in Korea sent to prosecutors on terror financing charges

An Uzbek national has been referred to prosecutors under arrest on suspicion of financing a terrorist organization designated by the United Nations while staying in Korea without legal residency status, the Gwangju Police Agency said Wednesday. The 33-year-old man, also wanted by Interpol, had been staying in Korea illegally for eight years, police said. He is accused of transferring cryptocurrency worth 5.9 million won ($4,400) in three transactions between October and November 2023 to a charit

2026-10-13 20:40:25:00

Foreign affairs, defense ministries included in Seoul's W3.1tr relocation plan

Defense and foreign affairs ministries, along with 42 other government bodies, will relocate to Sejong by 2031, the government announced Tuesday as Seoul pushes to accelerate relocation out of the capital region. The relocation would involve 9,929 employees and cost an estimated 3.1 trillion won ($2.3 billion), according to Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung. Seoul will also establish a presidential office and National Assembly building in Sejong by 2029 and 2033, respectively. The two bodies will n

2026-10-13 18:07:29:00

Reports of violence against migrant workers climb but labor inspections lag

Lawmakers are questioning whether workplace protections are keeping pace with the country’s growing foreign workforce as reports of violence against migrant workers continue to rise. According to Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, 35 cases of violence against migrant workers were reported to the Ministry of Employment and Labor from January to July, already exceeding the 34 cases recorded for all of last year. Reports fell from 40 in 2021 to 18 in 2024 before rising to 34 in 2025. Five

2026-10-13 15:13:05:00

Fire survivor reunites with firefighter 12yrs after rescue

A woman who survived the 2014 Goyang Bus Terminal fire has reunited with the firefighter who rescued her from an escalator where she had become trapped. Kim Ye-bin, 28, was rescued by firefighter Chae Jong-young, now 39, on May 26, 2014, as a fire spread through the terminal in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Smoke filled the building, and Kim lost consciousness, with her clothes and hair caught in the escalator mechanism. Chae used an ax to break open the escalator and free Kim before performing car

2026-10-13 11:56:49:00

Korean cybersecurity institute staff caught playing StarCraft while bosses away

Five employees at a state-run cybersecurity institute repeatedly accessed StarCraft game servers while their supervisors were away on vacation or business trips in 2024, according to a lawmaker Monday. According to Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, employees at the National Security Research Institute logged on to StarCraft’s Battle.net service between September and December 2024. The records showed a maximum of eight hours and 53 minutes of access in a single day and more than

2026-10-12 17:55:05:00

‘Bring an interpreter’: Migrant workers struggle to seek justice

Language barriers at labor offices leave many migrant workers unable to file complaints or track their cases, with some waiting years to receive answers. Kim Yi-chan, head of the Global Station Center, a civic group that supports Cambodian workers in Korea, said some workers struggle to understand even basic guidance from labor officials. “In some cases, workers do not file complaints because they cannot understand what officials at regional labor offices tell them,” Kim said. “Even when they re

2026-10-12 15:20:30:00

Over 1,100 foreign nationals caught working illegally as delivery riders: lawmaker

More than 1,100 foreign nationals were caught working illegally as delivery riders in South Korea during the first eight months of the year, according to a lawmaker, sparking concerns about potential blind spots in the country's work permit system for foreigners. Rep. Kim Gi-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea disclosed data from the Ministry of Justice during a parliamentary audit of the ministry on Thursday. The data shows that 1,132 foreign nationals were caught working as delivery riders wi

2026-10-09 13:01:06:00

Indian man alleges abuse by Korean immigration officers during deportation

An Indian national has accused immigration officers of subjecting him to physical abuse, including covering his mouth with duct tape and choking him during his deportation, a lawmaker revealed Thursday. Rep. Park Eun-jung of the Rebuilding Korea Party disclosed bodycam footage and related documents obtained from the Ministry of Justice during a parliamentary audit. It was also revealed that the victim's legal representative has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea

2026-10-09 11:03:53:00