[Exclusive] How not guilty verdict is delaying treatment of US student's mental illness

An American exchange student acquitted of minor offenses committed during an acute psychiatric episode remains unable to leave South Korea while prosecutors appeal the verdict, delaying his return home for treatment, according to his lawyer. The case involved an attempted entry into a dental office, the theft of delivered goods and damage to a pair of glasses, with losses totaling 232,400 won ($174). The student, a US national in his 20s, had been studying at Jeonbuk National University on a D-2

2026-09-09 14:03:29:00

Teacher dismissed after exposing school sexual violence to return to classroom on Wednesday

A Seoul teacher who was transferred and later dismissed after reporting that multiple female students had been sexually harassed will return to school Wednesday, ending a more than two-year solo protest. Ji Hye-bok reached an agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on Tuesday, clearing the way for her to resume her duties. “I wanted to return to the classroom to protect the victims and help establish a culture of gender equality, but all of the victims have already graduated,”

2026-09-08 17:31:26:00

Korea shifts international student policy from numbers to quality

South Korea is shifting its international student policy from attracting numbers to improving the quality of education, protecting students and helping more graduates find jobs and settle in the country. The Ministry of Education unveiled the strategy Tuesday after Korea surpassed its goal of hosting 300,000 international students a year ahead of schedule. According to ministry data, 307,464 international students were studying in Korea in 2026, up nearly 70 percent from about 182,000 in 2023. T

2026-09-08 15:33:13:00

Seoul schools to ramp up language support as classrooms diversify

Seoul's education office plans to open a second multicultural education support center and expand Korean-language preparatory schools as the number of migrant-background students attending schools in the city rises past 22,000. Details of the expansion were included in a policy road map for Seoul Education Superintendent Jung Geun-sik’s second term, released Monday by his campaign pledge implementation committee. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it would review the proposal’s feas

2026-09-07 16:47:36:00

Seoul to subsidize middle, high school students’ public transit costs by 2030

Middle and high school students commuting on public transportation in Seoul could receive up to 160,000 won ($119) a year toward their fares by 2030 under a phased plan proposed by the city’s education office. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to test the program with high school seniors in 2028, before expanding it to all high schoolers in 2029 and middle school students the following year. The proposal was outlined in a recently released white paper from a committee tasked with

2026-09-07 13:11:12:00

Families of Korea, US soldiers and officials enjoy culture event at Camp Humphreys

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education held a cultural exchange event on Saturday for young children from Korean and American families affiliated with Camp Humphreys, the largest US military installation overseas, in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The event, organized by the Gyeonggi Office of Education’s Southern Early Childhood Experience Center, drew some 120 participants, including Korean and American children aged 3 to 5 and their families related to soldiers and officials working at t

2026-09-06 15:08:37:00

Uzbek student arrested for fatal hit-and-run

An Uzbek student in his 20s was placed under emergency arrest after allegedly fatally striking a cyclist in his 80s with a car and fleeing the scene, police said Sunday. According to Iksan Police Station, the student struck the victim at around 1:40 a.m. Saturday while driving in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. The victim had been riding a bicycle on the road ahead of the student's vehicle. The cyclist died at the scene, while the student allegedly fled, leaving the car behind. He turned himself i

2026-09-06 12:40:48:00

Lawmaker calls for review after 35% of police misconduct cases end in light sanctions

People Power Party Rep. Park Sang-woong has questioned why fewer than two-thirds of officers found guilty of offenses related to their duties were given heavy punishment. Data obtained by the conservative opposition lawmaker from the Korean National Police Agency showed that 209 police officers were indicted over the past five years for offenses including falsifying public records, leaking investigative information and using violence during investigations. Judges handed 112 of them heavy discipl

2026-09-06 11:08:31:00

New acting police chief apologizes over botched cases, vows sweeping reforms

South Korea's new acting police chief on Thursday apologized for a series of botched police responses to high-profile murder and missing person cases and promised sweeping reforms to restore public trust. “There is no reason for the police to exist if we lose the public’s trust,” said Kim Jong-chul, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency. “We will not stop at empty rhetoric. We will demonstrate our commitment through concrete change and action.” Kim made the remarks dur

2026-09-03 15:30:14:00

Justice minister nominee vows smooth rollout of new criminal justice system

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won said Thursday he had no intention of directing prosecutors to withdraw the indictments against President Lee Jae Myung, responding to opposition concerns over his previous support for dropping the cases. “The justice minister does not have direct authority over the matter, and I have no intention of issuing directions through the prosecutor general,” Kim told reporters as he arrived at a temporary office set up to prepare for his confirmation hearing. The m

2026-09-03 13:54:33:00