Remembering Lee Ok-seon, former 'comfort woman' and human rights activist

The funeral altar for Lee Ok-seon, a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery during the World World II, has been set up in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, following her passing on May 11. She was 97. With her passing, only six registered survivors remain in South Korea out of the 240 officially recorded by the Korean government. Born in Busan, Lee was forcibly taken at the age of 14 to frontline brothels run by the Japanese military, where she was subjected to three years of abuse until the en

May 14, 2025

A meal and a carnation

To mark Parents’ Day on Thursday, the civic group Dail Community, known for its decadeslong free meal program for the needy, invited hundreds of seniors — including homeless individuals and those from low-income households — for a special celebration in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Held alongside its regular meal service, the event featured volunteers pinning carnations on guests, a singing contest, quizzes and gift giveaways. Dail Community's "Babfor Sharing Movement" has been providing support to und

May 8, 2025

Long lines at airport for USIM cards

A crowd is seen gathered near a SK Telecom roaming center in Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport on Wednesday, as travelers rush to swap their USIM cards before traveling abroad. SK Telecom, a Korean mobile carrier with 25 million users, is offering free USIM card replacements as part of its response to a recent data hacking incident. The severity of the data breach is the worst in the history of the country's telecommunications industry, SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang said Wednesday. (Photo by Yonhap)

April 30, 2025

Why do so many Korean Gen Z still live with their parents?

Despite social pressure to leave home and “grow up,” a vast majority of Koreans in their 20s still live with their parents. A 2022 survey found that 81 percent of South Koreans in their 20s lived with their parents — the highest rate among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In Korea, these young adults, many of whom remain financially dependent on parents as well, are often labeled the “kangaroo tribe,” likened to baby kangaroos living in their mothers’

April 30, 2025

Spring at Metasequoia Road

April 29, 2025

Cattle markets reopen after foot-and-mouth outbreak

Cattle markets in parts of South Jeolla Province reopened Monday after weeks of closure due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, provincial authorities said. Markets in seven cities and counties — Suncheon, Damyang, Gokseong, Goheung, Boseong, Yeonggwang and Jangseong — resumed operations, following a downgrade of the foot-and-mouth alert level in these areas from "severe" to "caution." Markets in eight other regions — Naju, Hwasun, Jangheung, Gangjin, Haenam, Mokpo, Hampyeong and Sinan — w

April 28, 2025

Memorial Mass for Pope Francis

A memorial Mass for Pope Francis was held Thursday morning at Myeongdong Cathedral, the symbolic heart of Korean Catholicism in Seoul, with hundreds of mourners in attendance. The service was led by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, along with clergy from the Archdiocese of Seoul. Memorial services have been held at churches across the country since Wednesday. South Koreans continue to mourn the passing of the Pope, who made a visit to Seoul in 2014. As of Wedn

April 24, 2025

South Korean Army leads at US sniper competition

The South Korean Army's sniper team came out on top of all international participants, excluding the US, at the 2025 International Sniper Competition, South Korean Army officials said Wednesday. The event, hosted by the US Army and held from April 4-10 at the US Army Sniper School at Fort Moore, Georgia, had 35 teams competing from 9 countries, including the United States, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Representing South Korea, the only Asian nation invited to the annual competition f

April 23, 2025

Spring rain hits Korea

Rain clouds from the western part of the Korean Peninsula are bringing widespread spring rain across the nation on Tuesday. The mountainous regions of Jeju Island have been hit with heavy rainfall at a rate of 30 millimeters per hour, with total precipitation exceeding 160 mm. A heavy rain warning has been issued for the mountainous areas of Jeju. In the Yeongnam region, up to 80 mm of rain is expected, while the Seoul metropolitan area may see up to 50 mm. According to the Korea Meteorological

April 22, 2025

Remembering the Sewol ferry

South Korea on Wednesday marked the 11th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, with memorial events held nationwide to honor the 304 lives lost in the country’s worst maritime tragedy. On April 16, 2014, the passenger ferry, which was carrying 476 people, most of them high school students on a field trip to the southern island of Jeju, sank off Jindo, South Jeolla Province. The tragedy sparked a wave of grief and outrage, leading to changes in safety regulations and growing calls for greater

April 16, 2025