How a paralyzed activist wrote a master’s thesis with half a million blinks—and rewired his world

For disability activist Jang Ik-sun, hope isn't just a feeling — it’s the eye-tracking software he has mastered to draft policy proposals, the half-million blinks that earned him a master’s degree, and the gaming system he engineered to keep playing despite being almost completely paralyzed GWANGJU --- Jang Ik-sun wrote his master’s thesis one blink at a time. About half a million times, to be exact. For most people, blinking is an unconscious act — something they do effortlessly 20,000 times a

March 29, 2025

Deadly Seoul sinkhole raises alarm as Korea sees 1,345 cases since 2018

A fatal sinkhole that opened in the middle of a busy street in Seoul on Monday is raising new alarms about the growing risk of ground collapses in South Korea’s ever-developing urban centers. As cities across the country expand underground infrastructure — from subways to drainage systems — concerns are growing over whether safety regulations are keeping pace. The most recent incident occurred Monday evening, when a massive sinkhole, roughly 20 meters wide, suddenly swallowed a section of road s

March 26, 2025

Pilot killed in firefighting helicopter crash in Uiseong

Helicopter operations halted across all wildfire zones as investigation into deadly crash begins A firefighting helicopter crashed during wildfire containment efforts in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, killing the pilot onboard, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The crash occurred around 12:54 p.m. as wildfires in the region continued to spread for a fifth consecutive day. According to the Korea Forest Service, the helicopter went down in a mountainous area near Gyoan-ri, Sinpyeong-myeon, whi

March 26, 2025

In photos: Wave of wildfires leave trail of destruction in S. Korea

Multiple wildfires continue to ravage South Korea's southeastern regions, leaving a trail of destruction. Images from Uiseong-gun, Eonyang-gun, Sancheong-gun and other areas in North and South Gyeongsang Province show strong winds spreading the flames, hampering firefighters' efforts to combat the blaze.

March 25, 2025

Growth hormone injection spending soars as South Korean parents ‘invest’ in kids’ height

Parents in Korea are paying up to 10 million won ($6,800) a year for growth hormone injections given nightly for up to three years In South Korea, height is increasingly seen not just as a physical trait, but as a lifelong asset — and parents are spending thousands of dollars on growth hormone injections to give their children even the slightest edge. Originally designed for children with serious hormonal disorders or genetic conditions, these treatments are more widely used by kids growing norm

March 25, 2025

South Korea's wildfire crisis exposes alarming reliance on aging, part-time responders

Nearly 1,000 wildfire responders — mostly part-time and with an average age of 59 — form the backbone of South Korea’s seasonal firefighting force As fast-moving wildfires sweep across southeastern South Korea, attention is turning not only to the scale of the devastation but also to the country’s reliance on an aging, largely part-time wildfire response workforce — many of whom are senior citizens. On Tuesday, two wildfire responders — both in their 70s — were injured while trying to contain a

March 25, 2025

Retirement leads to self-employment for many in Korea — yet half earn below minimum wage

With 48.8 percent of older self-employed earning below minimum wage and 23.2 percent of the workforce self-employed, South Korea mirrors middle-income economies more than wealthier OECD peers In South Korea, growing numbers of older workers find themselves squeezed out of the traditional job market and forced to turn to self-employment as a last resort. But far from offering a path to financial independence, new research reveals that nearly half of them are now earning less than the legal minimu

March 24, 2025

Korea’s rise in 'used-new hires' shows experience is the new entry-level

A record 82 percent of Korean companies rank prior experience as top entry-level qualifier In a telling sign of how much South Korea’s job market has changed, more and more “new hires” are not new at all. Facing a tough economy and limited hiring budgets, Korean companies are increasingly filling entry-level positions with people who already have full-time work experience. Locally, the trend is referred to as "jung-go shin-ip" — which translates to “used-new hire” — an ironic term that captures

March 23, 2025

Korea to launch crackdown on organized crime involving foreign nationals

South Korea’s National Police Agency will launch a nationwide crackdown targeting organized criminal activity involving foreign nationals, starting Monday and running through June 30. Authorities from the National Office of Investigation say the operation comes in response to a recent rise in highly organized and increasingly sophisticated criminal operations linked to foreign nationals, particularly in areas such as drug trafficking and vehicle theft. The police announced that the focus will be

March 23, 2025

Envoy highlights growing Korea-Kazakhstan ties as GBF kicks off

7th Global Biz Forum sets sail with AI, trade and US policy shifts in focus The seventh edition of Global Business Forum, organized by The Korea Herald and Herald Business, launched in Seoul on Wednesday, bringing together business leaders, diplomats and industry experts to discuss investment, artificial intelligence and global trade trends. The forum, themed “Next BIZ Model,” will run every Wednesday until June 25 at The Ambassador Seoul — A Pullman Hotel. During the opening session of the 15-w

March 20, 2025