Drones, chilled-water trucks join Korea’s fight against extreme heat

Temperatures have neared or exceeded 40 degrees Celsius across South Korea, prompting local governments to send drones over farmland and refrigerated trucks through city streets to protect residents from the prolonged heat wave. The measures mark a shift from waiting for vulnerable residents to visit cooling shelters to finding them before they fall ill. Asan in South Chungcheong Province has deployed drones equipped with cameras that use artificial intelligence to detect people working in field

2026-08-05 13:45:36:00

Greater Seoul under expanding highest-level heat warning

The Greater Seoul area faced worsening heat conditions Wednesday as South Korea’s weather authorities expanded the highest-level heat wave warning across the region, a day after it was first issued in the capital area. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, an Emergency Heat Wave Warning was in effect in 30 of 46 zones across Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. The 30 zones include all of Seoul, nearly all of Incheon and large parts of Gyeonggi Province. T

2026-08-05 11:16:04:00

Summer returns, so does debate over shirtless runners

Shirtless male runners may be a common sight in some overseas cities and beach resorts, but the practice remains relatively unfamiliar and controversial in South Korea. Yet as summer temperatures climb, a growing number of men are taking off their shirts along the Han River and in other public spaces, fueling complaints and debate over public etiquette. While some view it as a matter of personal freedom, local governments continue to receive complaints from residents who say shirtless running ca

2026-08-05 07:00:00:00

Korea wants young immigrants, but overlooks those raised here

Foreign-national young adults who grew up in South Korea lack adequate support as they transition into adulthood, despite the government’s push to attract more young immigrants amid a demographic crisis, the National Youth Policy Institute said Tuesday. The findings came from a survey conducted last year of 410 foreign nationals aged 19 to 34 who had grown up in Korea. Among the respondents, 73.4 percent said they needed Korean-language education after graduating from high school, while 42.7 per

2026-08-04 15:03:14:00

Highest-level heat wave warning issued for Greater Seoul area

Seoul and parts of Gyeonggi Province came under the capital region’s first Heat Wave Emergency Warning on Monday, as record-breaking heat in southeastern South Korea spread westward. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued the warning at 4 p.m. for Tuesday, when the daily maximum perceived temperature is expected to exceed 38 degrees Celsius and the daytime high is forecast to surpass 39 C. The warning, the highest level in the KMA’s heat alert system, applies to all Seoul districts south

2026-08-03 18:19:12:00

Police offer W100m reward in search for Tongyeong killing suspect

Police on Monday released new details about a man suspected of killing a woman in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, as the search for the suspect entered its 55th day. According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, enhanced surveillance footage indicates that the man is about 175 centimeters tall and of average build. Police released footage of the suspect last week and offered a reward of up to 100 million won ($68,000) for information leading to his arrest. They have since received 1

2026-08-03 17:18:31:00

Freshwater snail hunt turns fatal for 7

A series of drowning accidents linked to gathering marsh snails, or daseulgi, has prompted renewed safety warnings in South Korea after at least seven people died over the past week. According to local authorities and media reports on Monday, the deaths occurred between July 26 and Sunday across the country, including accidents in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, on Sunday and Inje, Gangwon Province, on Saturday. Most of the victims were in their 60s or older. They were either collecting the

2026-08-03 15:26:37:00

Korean women gain a bigger say in contraception: study

Women in South Korea are using contraception more consistently, while a growing share say they have the primary say in deciding whether to use it, according to a study released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The findings, published in the institute’s July journal, were drawn from a nationwide survey of 6,174 women aged 13 and older conducted in 2025 and compared with a similar survey from 2022. The contraceptive-use figures were based on respondents who had had sexual inte

2026-08-03 15:06:03:00

Korea braces for prolonged heat wave as typhoon adds uncertainty

South Korea’s record-breaking heat wave is expected to persist through the coming week, though the path of Typhoon Dolphin could determine whether conditions worsen or ease temporarily. Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius at 1:26 p.m. Sunday, the highest temperature ever measured in South Korea, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. With heat wave warnings expected to remain in effect across much of the country, the Ministry of the Interior and Safet

2026-08-02 15:41:16:00

Can Korea's birth rebound close its demographic gap?

South Korea’s fertility rate is extending a tentative recovery from its record low, raising hopes that the annual figure could top 0.9 for the first time in seven years. The rebound, however, is unlikely to alter the country’s demographic trajectory on its own. Even as births rise, Korea’s child population continues to shrink while the number of older people grows rapidly, prompting calls for fiscal reform and a broader immigration strategy. The total fertility rate, or the average number of chi

2026-08-02 12:32:00:00