Is Korea safe from landslides as climate change intensifies?

South Korea’s slopes face a growing threat from intense downpours and wildfires, but experts warn that landslide forecasts remain too rooted in the past. With roads and homes built close to hillsides, slope failures can quickly turn heavy rain into a deadly disaster. Wildfires can leave slopes vulnerable for years, while changing rainfall patterns are bringing heavier rain over shorter periods. Experts say forecasting models need to account for future climate conditions, and prevention efforts m

2026-09-11 12:17:45:00

Korea to double daytime services for adults with developmental disabilities

The South Korean government will double access to daytime services for adults with developmental disabilities by 2030 and expand round-the-clock care for those with the highest support needs, seeking to ease a burden long shouldered by their families. The measures are part of a comprehensive plan unveiled Thursday to establish a continuum of support from infancy through adulthood, minimizing gaps in care as the number of people with developmental disabilities continues to rise. That population h

2026-09-10 15:48:13:00

Smilegate founder ordered to make Korea’s largest-ever divorce payout

A Seoul court granted the wife of Smilegate founder Kwon Hyuk-bin a divorce Wednesday and awarded her 35 percent of his shares in the gaming company plus 65 billion won in cash. If upheld, the 2.55 trillion won ($1.9 billion) property division would be the largest ever reported in South Korea. The Seoul Family Court valued Kwon’s Smilegate shares at about 7.1 trillion won. It ordered him to transfer 35 percent of the stock to his wife, surnamed Lee, in kind rather than pay its value in cash. The

2026-09-09 15:29:43:00

Just 1.2% of non-Koreans with disabilities eligible for support

Nearly 99 percent of foreign nationals registered as having disabilities in South Korea cannot apply for eight major disability welfare programs, including disability pensions, personal assistance and rehabilitation services, government data showed Tuesday. Of the 9,703 registered foreign nationals with disabilities as of June, only 113, or 1.2 percent, fell within eligible categories, according to Health Ministry data obtained by Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea. Eligibility is

2026-09-08 15:46:15:00

Samsung profit-sharing strike could have been illegal under new guidance: minister

South Korea’s labor minister said Tuesday that a strike planned by Samsung Electronics unions over their demand for a fixed share of the company’s operating profit would have been illegal under new government guidelines. The labor activist-turned-minister’s comments came after the Ministry of Employment and Labor issued implementation guidelines on Thursday for the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. While the revised law broadened the scope of labor disputes to cover changes

2026-09-08 14:35:46:00

‘Suwon zombie’ suspect faces new warrant bid after meth found at home

Police have applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s who is alleged to have been the focus of the viral “Suwon zombie” video, after investigators reportedly found methamphetamine at his home, authorities said Monday. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said the warrant application was based on allegations the man possessed a small amount of methamphetamine and used a controlled psychotropic drug supplied by an acquaintance. The application does not cover the suspected methamphe

2026-09-07 15:37:18:00

Jeju Island invites global visitors for safer, longer stay

Jeju Island has long been known as a resort destination. Gov. Wi Seong-gon wants to turn it from a place to visit into a place to stay, with particular emphasis on safety. As the island draws a growing number of international visitors, Wi is seeking to position Jeju Island as a destination where travelers spend more time, venture beyond its famous attractions and engage with local communities. “Our goal is to encourage visitors to stay longer, making Jeju a place where they want to spend more ti

2026-09-06 11:22:48:00

Unleashed dog at Busan beach sparks criticism

A video circulating online shows a large dog rushing at a smaller dog on Haeundae Beach in Busan after slipping out of its owner’s control, drawing criticism over the owner’s failure to keep it leashed. In the video shared on Friday, a large white dog can be seen running around a couple and their smaller dog on the beach, while its owner repeatedly tries to catch it and put it back on a leash. According to local media reports describing the incident, a beach safety official repeatedly asked the

2026-09-04 17:13:39:00

Korea’s tap water scores well. So why does almost no one drink it?

Josh Doyle, 29, stopped drinking tap water after developing a stomachache the first time he drank it at his residence in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The Scot had regularly drunk tap water at home. In Korea, he switched to a Brita filter. There is no way to know whether the water caused his stomachache. But his hesitation is hardly unusual, particularly among foreigners living in or visiting Korea. Similar concerns have surfaced among US service members. In 2024, US Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeo

2026-09-04 17:12:55:00

Will foreign residents qualify for Korea’s $370 marriage subsidy?

South Korea plans to give each spouse 500,000 won ($370) for registering a marriage starting next year. Whether foreign nationals will receive the money remains undecided. The cash subsidy, intended to encourage marriage and family formation, will replace a marriage tax credit that was available to both foreign residents and Korean nationals. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Tuesday unveiled a 166.3 billion won budget for the program. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, couples will receive a co

2026-09-03 17:50:18:00