6 missing, 1 dead after tugboat capsizes off Busan

One crew member died and six remained missing Wednesday after a tugboat capsized off Busan, with strong waves and currents hampering rescue operations, according to the Busan Coast Guard. The TNS Catcher, a 286-ton tugboat, capsized at 1:29 p.m. about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo with eight crew members aboard. It had departed from a government vessel pier at Busan Port at 10:15 a.m. to tow a merchant vessel involved in an earlier accident, the Coast Guard said. The crew comprised six South

2026-09-02 17:09:23:00

An island county needed a doctor, so it tripled the pay

After five failed recruitment attempts, Shinan-gun finally found a senior doctor by tripling its original offer from 11 million won to a pretax monthly salary of 33 million won ($24,100). The island county in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City said Monday that it had selected a 61-year-old doctor from six applicants to work at its public health center. Korea's senior doctor program recruits experienced physicians aged 60 or older, including retired and soon-to-retire doctors, to work at h

2026-09-02 16:58:27:00

Fake Shinsegae bomb threat leaves man with W12.6m policing bill

A man in his 20s who posted a false threat to “blow up Shinsegae Department Store” has been ordered to pay the full cost of the police response. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the government in a civil damages suit Friday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Wednesday. The court awarded the entire 12,567,881 won ($9,170) sought by the agency, covering personnel costs, overtime pay, fuel and meals. According to police, it is the first ruling to grant full reimbursement o

2026-09-02 13:02:22:00

4-day bike expedition to take young riders along border trail

Young people from immigrant backgrounds are being invited to cycle 215 kilometers through Gyeonggi Province’s northern border region as part of a four-day expedition. The Gyeonggi-do Future Generation Foundation is recruiting about 25 participants for the “Hanaro Expeditionary Team,” which will travel the Pyeonghwa Nuri Bike Path from Daemyeong Port in Gimpo to Yeokgodeureum in Yeoncheon from Oct. 5-8. Participants will work in teams to design activities and missions before setting off. Along th

2026-09-01 17:17:45:00

Born and raised in Korea, Egyptian wrestler pursues citizenship for shot at Olympics

Fouda Faris Ahmed has won four consecutive wrestling tournaments in South Korea. But the 21-year-old, who was born and raised in South Korea, cannot enter the country’s national team trials. An Egyptian citizen, Ahmed is seeking special naturalization so he can compete under the Korean flag and, he hopes, one day hear South Korea’s national anthem from an Olympic podium. “Whenever I imagine winning the Olympics or another championship for a country other than Korea, my heart does not pound,” Ahm

2026-09-01 14:25:27:00

Police weigh naming lecturer accused of killing, dismembering Chinese student

Police are set to decide this week whether to disclose the identity of a university lecturer accused of killing and dismembering a Chinese international student who had taken his classes. The Gyeongsan Police Station in North Gyeongsang Province said Monday that an identity disclosure committee will meet this week to review whether to release the name, age and photograph of the suspect, a 31-year-old Chinese national identified by his surname Jeong. Police said the exact date of the meeting woul

2026-08-31 16:33:55:00

Heavy downpours forecast across much of S. Korea

Heavy rain swept across South Korea on Monday, with parts of the southwest recording more than 200 millimeters of rain and another round of intense downpours expected in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province Gangwon Province and the North and South Chungcheong provinces later in the day. As of 10 a.m., heavy rain warnings were in effect for parts of the Chungcheong and western Jeolla regions. Rain was falling at rates of 20 to 50 mm per hour in western North Jeolla Province, according to the Korea M

2026-08-31 12:45:35:00

Wheelchair-using YouTuber steps down as Seoul honorary ambassador after fall clip controversy

Popular YouTuber Park We, known for his YouTube channel "Weracle" about his life as a disabled person, decided to resign from his position as honorary ambassador of Seoul after his reveal of a wheelchair-related fall sparked public backlash. Park recently informed the Seoul Metropolitan Government of his intention to step down, according to city officials Thursday. The city said it would proceed with the necessary administrative steps. The decision follows criticism touched off by a recent video

2026-08-28 15:13:02:00

Upcoming FC Seoul match offers exclusive benefit for foreigners

Seoul Foreign Resident Center will hold an "International Fans' Day" promotion for FC Seoul's Sept. 5 match against Incheon United FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium. International fans can get a supporting-section ticket and a draft beer coupon for 11,000 won. Tickets will be available from 5:30 p.m. on matchday at the "foreigners-only ticket booth" near the North Gate third-floor ticket box. A passport, residence card or international driving permit is required.

2026-08-28 13:09:58:00

Chinese lecturer refuses to take psychopath test after killing former pupil

A Chinese university lecturer accused of killing one of his former students has refused to take a psychopathy test, police said Friday. The suspect initially agreed to take the assessment but later revoked his consent, according to the Gyeongsan Police Station in North Gyeongsang Province. The test is difficult to conduct without the subject's consent because it requires an interview, according to police. Police are considering the possibility that Jeong refused the test out of concern that its

2026-08-28 12:05:24:00