Korea seeks to expand pension credit for second child to 15 months

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday proposed increasing the National Pension childbirth credit for parents with a second child to 15 months as part of its policy agenda for the second half of 2026. The ministry said the change is intended to extend parents' recognized contribution periods, helping strengthen retirement income. Under the current system, introduced in January, parents receive 12 months of credited contribution time toward the National Pension for their first child and an

2026-07-21 14:35:30:00

Hoyeon makes surprise World Cup appearance

Hoyeon made an unexpected appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, becoming the first Korean actor to participate in a World Cup final ceremony. Ahead of the final World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Hoyeon, whose Korean full name is Jung Ho-yeon, walked onto the pitch alongside Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, carrying the World Cup trophy in a specially designed Louis Vuitton case. The pair presented the

2026-07-20 11:37:40:00

After rain moves out, hot and humid weather to return Thursday

South Korea is set for another spell of hot and humid weather, with temperatures expected to rise across much of the country after Wednesday's rain, according to forecasters. Rain and strong winds that swept across much of the country earlier this week, including Gyeonggi Province overnight Tuesday, are expected to ease by Wednesday afternoon, while high humidity is forecast to quickly drive up perceived temperatures. Heat advisories are expected to remain in place across much of the country, wi

2026-07-15 12:50:32:00

Homeplus falls silent as shoppers, workers await July 20 deadline

The banners still read, “We are open as usual.” But beyond the entrance, the reality is strikingly different. Where shopping carts would normally rattle across the floor and checkout counters buzz with customers, the store sits eerily still — as if time has stopped. Just steps away, at Homeplus’ culture center, staff spend the day making one phone call after another. “Hello, you heard we’re closed today, right?” one employee says, explaining that the day’s classes can no longer be held. With sto

2026-07-13 18:53:18:00

Temple matchmaking retreat pairs five couples

Twenty people were matched at a Buddhist temple stay event over the weekend, as the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism continued its efforts to encourage marriage amid South Korea's persistently low birth rate. The two-day matchmaking retreat was held at Naksa Temple in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, from Saturday to Sunday. Organized by the Jogye Order's Social Welfare Foundation and the Gangwon Tourism Organization, the event brought together 10 men and 10 women chosen from 1,655 male and 2,570 femal

2026-07-13 15:49:55:00

Why Korea is watching Erling Haaland's hair ties

To soccer fans, Erling Haaland is Norway's prolific striker. In China, AI-generated memes and parody videos have turned him into an internet celebrity. In crypto circles, his World Cup popularity has even inspired a meme token. In South Korea, however, the conversation has taken a different turn: the hair tie securing his signature man bun. During the ongoing World Cup, Haaland's trademark hairstyle has become one of the tournament's unlikely talking points. Fans have marveled at how it remains

2026-07-11 16:00:00:00

Anonymous shopper repays childhood theft nearly 20 years later

Most donations arrive quietly. This one? It came with a confession. An E-mart in Cheongju recently discovered a handwritten letter and 250,000 won ($165) left inside the city's "Dream Box" donation station. The anonymous letter contained a secret someone had been carrying for nearly two decades. "Back in the day as a thoughtless child, driven by curiosity and a childish prank, I once took a pencil case and some stationery from E-mart without paying for them," the confession began. "Even after ne

2026-07-10 11:04:42:00

With no end in sight, election protests enter second month

Protests alleging fraud in South Korea's June 3 local elections have continued for more than a month with no sign of ending, as demonstrators maintain a blockade of the Olympic Handball Stadium in Jamsil, central Seoul, one of the election's vote-counting centers. When The Korea Herald visited the site on Wednesday, the crowd was noticeably smaller than in the early days of the protests. Even so, demonstrators maintained a steady presence from morning until evening, with participants rotating th

2026-07-09 20:54:41:00

Hope, skepticism and cautious optimism: What Gwangju residents think about Korea's W800tr chip bet

GWANGJU — When the government announced plans for a whopping 800 trillion won ($519 billion) investment into building a new semiconductor belt centered on Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, the reaction in the region was not simply celebration. There was excitement, pride, but also hints of caution. Though initial debates largely revolved around why Gwangju was chosen, the conversation on the ground had already shifted to the practical realities of making such an ambitious project happen. “I was

2026-07-04 12:01:32:00

How a Swedish drinking song turned into K-pop

When Rose and Bruno Mars' "Apt." became a global hit last year, millions of listeners around the world found themselves singing along to a phrase they did not fully understand. To many Koreans, however, the song's central hook required no explanation. It was a chant used in a popular Korean drinking game played at university orientations, company dinners and late-night gatherings with friends. The song’s success sparked an unexpected question in Sweden. If a Korean drinking-game chant could beco

2026-06-23 18:13:23:00