S. Korea, Japan lead Asia in life expectancy at 84.1 years: study

The high-income Asia-Pacific region, which includes South Korea and Japan, recorded Asia’s highest average life expectancy at 84.1 years in 2023, a study showed. The research team led by Korea University professor Kang Ji-seung and Kyung Hee University professor Yon Dong-keon analyzed life expectancy, cause-specific mortality and health risk factors across 34 Asian countries from 1990 to 2023. The study, published in Nature on Wednesday, found that life expectancy increased across Asia during th

2026-07-23 11:40:18:00

Chung-Ang alumnus becomes first Korean to win Toru Takemitsu Composition Award

South Korean composer and Chung-Ang University alumnus Choi Jae-hyeok has become the first Korean to win first prize at the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award, the university said Wednesday. Choi took the top prize for his orchestral work “Supernova,” which was performed at the competition’s final concert at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall on July 12. The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performed the work under conductor Yoichi Sugiyama. German composer and clarinetist Jorg Widmann, who served as the c

2026-07-22 17:00:08:00

Thailand courts Korean investment in biotech, wellness sectors

Thailand’s deputy prime minister called for greater Korean investment in biotechnology, healthcare, wellness and future food industries Wednesday as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on agriculture and expand into higher-value sectors. “We seek to support Thailand’s partners through joint incubation programs, joint investment and business matching in areas such as medical devices, the medical industry and vaccine development,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Scienc

2026-07-22 13:52:32:00

Students from Egypt, US guide Korean children through Korea’s wartime past

Sherry Nasrat, a 23-year-old Egyptian student at Pusan National University, stands before a group of Korean children, her hair pinned back in a bun and a microphone in hand. “It was difficult for people to live here, so they decided to flee,” she tells them in Korean, pointing to a map showing the Nakdong River defensive perimeter during the Korean War. Several children nod as they follow her explanation. “Since my first year of university, I’ve always enjoyed trying new things and challenging m

2026-07-22 11:30:58:00

Over 100 Chinese nationals caught in TOPIK cheating ring

South Korean police have uncovered an organized cheating scheme involving 113 Chinese nationals who allegedly used proxy test-takers, forged identification documents and concealed electronic devices to obtain high scores on the Test of Proficiency in Korean exam. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s international crime investigation unit said Tuesday that it arrested a Korea-based Chinese broker and referred the suspect to prosecutors on Jan. 29 on charges of obstructing official duties throug

2026-07-21 15:01:01:00

Police, prosecutors raid National Office of Investigation in parallel Gwangju murder probes

Police and prosecutors raided the police command body that oversees and directs criminal investigations nationwide Tuesday, following the body's alleged interference in the initial investigation into the killing of a teenage girl in Gwangju. The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office began searching the office of the chief of the National Office of Investigation’s violent crime division and other locations at around 6:15 a.m. A special police investigation team launched its own search-and-seizure

2026-07-21 14:39:43:00

KAIST gives 3D comic characters room to move

A comic character’s next line appears only when the reader looks directly at them, as three-dimensional figures, speech bubbles and sound effects appear nearby. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed an extended reality platform that turns comics and webtoons into spatial experiences shaped by a reader’s gaze, movement and physical surroundings. KAIST said Tuesday that its ComiXR platform was designed to explore how digital comics could move beyond f

2026-07-21 11:47:02:00

Acting police chief promises overhaul as collusion scandal deepens

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung on Monday pledged sweeping reforms as controversy continued over allegations of a botched investigation and collusion among police officers in the case involving suspect Jang Yoon-gi. “The police will take this case as an opportunity to overhaul their investigative practices with a deep sense of urgency and do their utmost to regain public trust,” Yoo said during a press briefing at the Government Complex Seoul. The briefing came am

2026-07-20 15:12:06:00

Sulbing under fire over hygiene in viral video

Sulbing, one of South Korea’s largest shaved ice dessert chains, is facing criticism after a video appeared to show an employee preparing desserts while wearing the same gloves used to wash dishes and handle food waste. The footage, which spread across social media over the weekend, was originally uploaded by a part-time employee as a workplace vlog. The original video has since been deleted. In the video, an employee wearing blue nitrile gloves is seen placing cookies and mango slices on shaved

2026-07-20 13:36:54:00

AI lets Korean lectures speak students’ languages

When Korea University professor Hur You-kyoung prepared for class during the spring semester, she did more than pull up a PowerPoint presentation. She logged into Tkita Caption, an artificial intelligence-powered real-time interpretation service, opened seven subtitle windows in different languages and clipped a microphone to her shirt. Only then was she ready to begin teaching. When Hur explained the Korean idiom “ilseokijo,” the subtitles provided an explanation along the lines of “a proverb d

2026-07-20 13:03:56:00