Korea less exposed to AI job shock, but productivity at risk

South Korea may face less immediate job disruption from generative artificial intelligence than other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. But its workers and businesses could also miss out on much of the technology’s productivity boost. According to a report released by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, Korea ranked 33rd out of the 34 OECD countries analyzed in terms of the share of jobs highly exposed to generative AI. An esti

2026-07-24 18:27:20:00

Forced tattoos and old loyalties: A 1950s gang legacy returns in Seoul

Police have apprehended 40 alleged members of four organized crime groups in Seoul on charges including participation in a criminal organization and violent assault, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday. The suspects included 21 members of the Dongdaemun gang and 19 members of three allied groups. Thirty-two were referred to prosecutors, including 14 who were detained, while arrest warrants were issued for two members believed to be staying in the Philippines and Cambodia. Most of

2026-07-24 15:22:13:00

Barefoot resident helps subdue teen suspect after Seoul stabbing

A resident and a passerby helped subdue a teenager accused of stabbing a female high school student in a residential neighborhood in western Seoul, police said Friday. The suspect was arrested at the scene at about 1 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder, according to Seoul Gangseo Police Station. Police said he knew the victim. After the attack, the suspect fled but was chased and restrained by the two men after the victim’s mother called for help. The victim was taken to a hospital wi

2026-07-24 14:17:56:00

Korea Optical workers lose appeal seeking jobs at Nitto affiliate

Dismissed workers from Korea Optical High-Tech, who staged a 600-day rooftop protest after the company shut its fire-damaged plant, suffered another legal setback Thursday as an appeals court rejected their claim that another Nitto Denko affiliate should have taken over their employment. The Seoul High Court upheld a ruling that Korea Nitto Optical did not commit unfair dismissal by refusing to hire the former workers, according to the Korean Metal Workers’ Union. The dispute began after a fire

2026-07-23 18:31:04:00

Venomous jellyfish sightings quintuple off Korean coast

Sightings of giant Nomura’s jellyfish in Korean waters have increased fivefold from a year earlier and spread across a wider area, the National Institute of Fisheries Science said Thursday. The institute said it has not yet determined the exact cause of the surge. Nomura’s jellyfish can grow up to 2 meters in diameter and deliver painful stings that may cause swelling, fever and numbness, or even shock in severe cases. The species typically drifts into Korean waters from the East China Sea durin

2026-07-23 17:31:53:00

Learn how to protect your invention in Korea

The Seoul Global Center is accepting applications for an introductory course on South Korea’s intellectual property system for foreign residents interested in starting a business. The two-day course will be held Aug. 25-26 and consist of six sessions covering how inventions are developed, how ideas are turned into patent applications and how intellectual property rights can be protected. The program will take place at the Seoul Global Center in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Classes will run for abou

2026-07-22 16:44:25:00

Seoul mayor fined over illegal campaign polls, could lose office

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was fined 10 million won ($6,800) Wednesday after a court found him guilty of having a longtime supporter pay for opinion polls conducted ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election. Under the Political Funds Act, Oh could lose his post if a fine of at least 1 million won is upheld in a final ruling. The first-trial ruling does not immediately affect his status as mayor. The Seoul Central District Court found that Oh had asked political broker Myung Tae-kyun to conduct the polls

2026-07-22 16:23:41:00

Free career support program for foreign nationals

The Seoul Global Center is accepting applications for a free career support program designed to help international residents find jobs in South Korea. The two-day program, titled “Seoul Global Career Survival,” will be held Aug. 22-23 at the center in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Up to 30 international residents seeking employment in Korea will be selected. Participants will receive career mentoring from professionals in their desired fields, feedback on resumes and portfolios, elevator-pitch train

2026-07-22 15:03:13:00

Narcotics found in gummies, drinks bought from overseas websites

A government inspection found controlled substances in 22 of 32 food products purchased from overseas websites, prompting authorities to warn that bringing such products into South Korea could lead to criminal penalties. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Wednesday, the inspection detected 11 types of controlled substances in products whose labels or advertisements featured terms such as “Cannabis,” “Hemp” and “Kanna,” or related plant imagery. The detected substances included

2026-07-22 14:24:30:00

Red panda twins born in Korea’s first successful natural breeding

Twin red panda cubs have been born at Seoul Grand Park in South Korea’s first successful natural breeding of the endangered species, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The cubs were born on June 19 to Ravi and Lian and are growing steadily, according to the city government. The birth followed sustained breeding efforts since Lian arrived from Japan in 2023. Natural breeding of red pandas is considered particularly difficult because females are typically receptive to mating for only

2026-07-22 11:52:37:00