Of all age groups, those in their 20s have the highest total amount in overdue mobile bills, followed by those in their 30s, according to government data Monday. The Ministry of Science and ICT data, obtained by Rep. Park Chung-kwon of the ruling People Power Party, revealed that as of the end of July, overdue mobile phone payments for people in their 20s reached 5.82 billion won ($4,454,189), with 39,839 overdue cases. Twenty-somethings had the most cases and highest total overdue amount of all

A large group of people wearing blue headphones, dance out in the open by the Han River. But no music is blaring. This is a silent disco. Instead of speaker stacks, DJs broadcast their sets directly to wireless headphones, allowing people to adjust the volume to their liking. This creates a more personalized, immersive experience while minimizing noise pollution, meaning people can gather and dance in places they normally couldn't. And in this case, it was the Han River's parks. More

South Korean police apprehended 48 Thai nationals involved in the trafficking and use of yaba, a synthetic drug referred to as “crazy medicine" in Thai. Yaba, typically in the form of pink tablets, is a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine. According to the North Chungcheong Provincial Police Wednesday, of the 48 suspects, 16 accused of selling the illegal substance were arrested for charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. The remaining 32 individuals suspected of purchasing

Cho, a 31-year-old cafe owner in Seoul who requested anonymity, used to run a popular spot for pet owners. Her cafe, known for its dog-friendly atmosphere and puppuccinos, a drink for dogs, regularly welcomed customers with their pets. Occasionally, she would bring her own dog to work. But recent government warnings have made it difficult to allow dogs on the premises. “I received a warning from the government about having dogs here,” Cho said. “They told me a complaint was fil

Kang Joo-hye is an artist who has a unique view of the world — literally. Blind in her right eye and experiencing double vision in her left, she chooses to communicate with the world through art. Created under the pen name “Migeung” — meaning crazily or beautifully positive — her drawings betray no hint of this struggle; they exude warmth and positivity. The survivor of two serious car accidents understands the media’s fascination with her story. However,

A court on Wednesday overturned a reprimand issued to an Incheon firefighter paramedic for being “impolite” to a patient who kept an ambulance waiting to take a shower. The Incheon District Court ruled in favor of the firefighter, citing procedural irregularities in the disciplinary process. The court found that the employer had not given adequate notice or allowed the firefighter a proper opportunity to present his case. "Given the procedural irregularities, we are overturning

Mapo-gu, a district in Seoul, is set to introduce a house call pet funeral service in collaboration with Petmun, a local pet services firm, district official said Tuesday. This service centers around a specialized vehicle equipped with a smokeless, odorless cremation facility. This vehicle will visit the home of the deceased pet, conduct a funeral service there and transport the pet’s body for cremation. Although the vehicle itself is a moving crematorium, the district plans to set a rul

Find the answer at the bottom. Hahoe is a traditional clan-based village in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, known for having the oldest surviving masks for mask dance dramas in South Korea. Eleven Hahoe masks have been passed down, representing different characters in a stage play, including a lion, a bride, a monk, a noble and a scholar. Traditionally, such masks were made from gourds or paper and burned at the end of the performance. However, Hahoe masks were crafted from wood and prese

A quiet revolution is sweeping through one of Korea’s most iconic street foods: tteokbokki. Once the beloved snack of schoolgirls and the young at heart, these chewy rice cakes drenched in sweet and spicy sauce have transcended their street food origins, thanks to the relentless innovation of the local meal kit industry. At an E-mart outlet in central Seoul, Korea's largest discount store chain, which this reporter visited on Aug. 27, there were over 20 different varieties of ready-to

Veterinary clinics will be required to disclose information on the cost of a wider range of treatments starting next year. After pet owners in Korea have complained about unexpectedly hefty bills from vet visits due to a lack of transparency, clinics have been required since January to disclose the costs of 12 veterinary services. This requirement will be expanded to 20 services starting Jan. 1 of next year, the government announced on Thursday. The eight new additions include computed tomograph

Public swimming pools along the Han River closed in the middle of heat waves this summer, even as the scorching temperatures persisted till the end of August. Next year, the outdoor pools will remain open till the end of August, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday. “We will do our best to prepare so that more people can enjoy swimming in the Han River pools throughout the summer next year,” said Joo Young-tae, an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In 202

  Oh Yoon-suk, a 43-year-old office worker in Busan, addresses his father -- but not his mom -- using honorifics. “I call my mother ‘eomma,’ but with my father, it’s always been ‘abeoji,’” he explained. “Eomma” is a less formal term for “mother,” while “abeoji” is a more respectful way of saying “father.” It’s similar to saying “father” instead of “dad.” Oh’s linguis

Find the answer at the bottom. In the center of the South Korean national flag, known as the Taegeukgi, there is a yin and yang symbol with red on the top and blue on the bottom. The four corners of the flag feature groups of black bars, each with a specific meaning: The top left bars, the “geon,” symbolize the sky. The top right ones, the “gam,” symbolize water. The bottom right “gon” bars stand for the earth, and the left “ri” bars fire. The wh

The number of elderly individuals with multiple nationalities receiving South Korea's basic pension has jumped fivefold over the past decade, according to government data released Monday. The data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare shows that the number of pension recipients with multiple nationalities has steadily risen, from 1,047 in 2014, the first year of the pension’s introduction, to 5,699 in 2023. Their proportion also grew from 0.02 percent in 2014 to 0.09 percent last ye

Viral Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji, who won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to appear in a one-time magazine photo shoot wearing Louis Vuitton, her agency said Monday. While the shoot is a one-off, the agency, Plfil, said they plan to continue supporting Kim’s modeling career. Several companies in Korea, from startups to established brands, have expressed interest in making her their brand ambassador, they added. “Nearly 20 brands want to use her in advertisement

Though the 2024 Paris Olympics have drawn to a close, the excitement of the Summer Games may have left you craving more athleticism and sports drama. Not to worry, sports enthusiasts: Enter the world of Korean drama series and films, where Olympic athletes and sports themes take center stage in stories that blend competition, romance and heartfelt drama. Here’s a lineup of six -- three TV series and three films -- to keep your competitive spirit alive. 1. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (Drama) &

A woman who shared her experience of undergoing an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy via YouTube could face criminal charges, along with the doctors who performed the operation, Korean police said Monday. “The YouTuber and the doctors of the hospital where she underwent the surgery are being investigated as criminal suspects,” a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official told reporters on Monday. In the since-deleted video, a woman who described herself as 24 years old claims to have

The Olympic Edition of Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is appearing on online secondhand marketplaces, according to the French news outlet Le Parisien on Tuesday. Samsung, the official sponsor of the ongoing Paris Olympics has distributed nearly 17,000 phones to athletes and their teams. According to the report, dozens of the phones are being sold as new and sealed on platforms like eBay and Leboncoin. Some listings even include the original welcome note and tote bag that came with the phone. P

Seoul Metro's trains have had priority seats reserved for pregnant women since 2013. These pink seats, located at the ends of some rows, however, have been a source of continuous controversy. Recently, debate erupted online and in local media when one individual proposed that the city install a sensor system to prevent ineligible passengers from sitting in them, so they remain readily available in the event that a pregnant woman might need one. Apart from practical issues associated with in

Local broadcaster SBS is under fire for pointing out a bow mark on the face of female Olympic multi-gold medalist archer Lim Si-hyeon during an interview. In a short video posted to SBS’ YouTube channel on July 27, the interview features Lim answering questions about her determination for the competition. At one point, the interviewer points out, “There is a bow mark on your chin.” Lim explains that where the bowstrings repeatedly hit her chin, the skin has developed pigmenta