Monthly rentals hit record 64.6% of Seoul housing leases as 'jeonse' system fades

Monthly rental contracts now make up nearly 65 percent of all new housing leases in Seoul, reaching a record high as South Korea’s traditional lump-sum rental system, "jeonse," continues to disappear. According to the latest data by the Supreme Court’s Integrated Registration Information System, Seoul registered 233,958 residential lease contracts between January and March this year. Of those, 151,095 — roughly 64.6 percent — were monthly rental deals, the highest share since data collection beg

April 29, 2025

SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears

What was meant to reassure customers after a major security scare quickly turned into long lines, delays and frustration, as SK Telecom’s free USIM card replacement program struggled to meet overwhelming demand on its first day. Earlier this month, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier disclosed that it had discovered malware inside a key internal system, the Home Subscriber Server — the database that manages mobile user identities and network authentication. The discovery raised concerns that se

April 28, 2025

Wildfire forces evacuations and major highway closure in northeastern South Korea

A rapidly spreading wildfire in northeastern South Korea has forced expanded evacuations and a broader highway shutdown, as authorities escalated their emergency response Saturday. The fire broke out around 1:11 p.m. local time in a mountainous area near Inje County, about 150 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Fueled by dry conditions, the blaze quickly spread smoke toward nearby communities, prompting officials to send evacuation alerts and direct residents to designated shelters. By mid-afternoon

April 26, 2025

North Korea launches 5,000-ton warship

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the launch of a new 5,000-ton destroyer on Friday in Nampho Shipyard, underscoring his ambition to transform the country into a maritime power capable of extended-range operations. The destroyer, named Choe Hyon after a revered anti-Japanese revolutionary figure, was revealed during a high-profile ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Attend

April 26, 2025

Flexible work schedules for S. Korean parents only 1/3 of EU levels, study warns

A new study has found that the number of parents with flexible work arrangements in South Korea is just one-third of that observed in major European countries — a shortfall experts say may be hampering efforts to combat the country’s record-low birthrate. The research, published by Dr. Jung Sung-mi of the Korean Women’s Development Institute on Wednesday, reveals just how far behind Korea is when it comes to giving employees with young children real control over their schedules. The study focuse

April 23, 2025

Does your phone eavesdrop to target ads? A Samsung engineer and Korean regulators weigh in

You casually mention needing new shoes. Hours later, you’re served a sneaker ad on Instagram. Coincidence? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely. Moments like this have fueled one of the most persistent digital-age suspicions: that your smartphone is secretly listening to your conversations to deliver eerily relevant ads. It feels too accurate to be anything else. But is that really what’s happening? According to interviews conducted by The Korea Herald with a current Samsung AI engineer, an information sec

April 23, 2025

Young borrowers in Korea crushed by illegal loan rings charging over 15,000% interest

A growing wave of illegal high-interest lending in South Korea is leaving young borrowers trapped in cycles of debt and fear. A recent investigation by a coalition of civic groups reveals that some underground lenders charge borrowers effective annual interest rates of over 15,000 percent, using anonymous chat apps and blackmail tactics to keep victims paying indefinitely. The findings were presented this week by Financial Consumer Solidarity, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and

April 22, 2025

Can Korea clean up its streets by electrifying old motorcycles? Government study begins

South Korea is exploring whether gas-powered motorbikes — widely used for delivery services — can be converted to electric models as a cleaner, quieter alternative for its cities. The Ministry of Environment announced earlier this month it is funding a new eight-month research project to evaluate the practicality of retrofitting existing motorbikes with electric motors. “The project is not a new policy rollout, but rather a groundwork effort to understand if such conversions could make environme

April 21, 2025

Seoul citizens launch DIY sinkhole risk maps as city withholds full data

With sinkholes increasingly appearing across Seoul and city authorities declining to release detailed risk maps, concerned residents are stepping in—building their own tools to inform and protect the public. Two citizen-led interactive maps have recently gained attention for visualizing sinkhole-prone areas using public data, news reports, and geospatial tools. These efforts emerged in response to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s refusal to share its sinkhole risk assessments, citing concerns

April 20, 2025

Depreciated won draws foreign tourists to South Korea as medical spending jumps 80%

Foreign tourism to South Korea has surged in recent months despite being in the wake of one of the country's most severe political crises in decades, according to recent statistics by the state-run tourism agency. Between December 2024 and February 2025, South Korea welcomed over 3.5 million foreign visitors, a 19.6 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Korea Tourism Organization. That growth has been unexpected given that these months typically mark th

April 20, 2025