When Joseph Lee moved from Korea to the United States in the late 1980s, ordinary phone calls were among the hardest parts of daily life. Still learning English, Lee relied on closed captions to understand movies and television. But phone calls offered no such help. Before important calls, he would write down what he wanted to say and sometimes fax it in advance so he could follow the conversation more easily. The experience stayed with him. Years later, it became the basis for InnoCaption, a Ca

A phone can flash instead of ring. Glasses can turn speech into captions. A keyboard can work with foot pedals, and a mouse can be controlled by subtle lip movements and breathing. These tools look familiar at first, but they are built for workers many offices were not designed to accommodate. Together, they show a changing approach to disability employment, one that focuses less on asking people with disabilities to adjust to workplaces built without them and more on redesigning work so they ca

Cooler late June, delayed monsoon: Is Korea’s summer just warming up? 기사 요약: 예년보다 늦어진 장마의 영향으로 한국은 평년의 6월과 달리 비교적 선선한 날씨를 보이고 있다. 기온은 점차 오르고 있지만 아직 장마전선이 본격적으로 형성되지 않아, 당분간은 산발적인 소나기가 이어질 것으로 전망된다. [1] Summer is in full swing in South Korea, but it doesn't feel like the late June most Koreans have come to expect. in full swing: 한창 진행 중인, 절정에 접어든 [2] While temperatures are forecast to climb to 33 degrees Celsius in Seoul on Monday and exceed 30 degrees across much of the country's inland areas, a

진행자: 최정윤, Tannith Kriel Outgoing coach, players return home to boos after World Cup exit 기사 요약: 32강 진출에 실패한 월드컵 국가대표팀 홍명보 감독과 일부 선수들이 30일 새벽 인천국제공항을 통해 귀국했다. 탈락의 책임을 지고 사퇴한 홍 감독은 축구 팬들의 야유 속에 공항을 빠져나갔다. [1] Former head coach Hong Myung-bo and a few of his players for the South Korean men's national football team were met with boos from angry people as they returned home Tuesday from a short stay at the FIFA World Cup. be met with boos: 야유를 받다 [2] Hong and nine of his 26 players landed at Incheon

A series of high-profile overcharging incidents is raising fresh concerns over whether South Korea’s tourism infrastructure is keeping pace with its growing international reputation. The latest case involved a Taiwanese tourist who said he was charged nearly 700,000 won ($450) for a taxi ride from eastern Seoul to Incheon Airport — roughly 10 times the usual fare. The tourist said on social media that he used Uber on May 30 to travel from Jayang-dong in Seoul’s Gwangjin-gu to Incheon Internation

The South Korean cafe owner, whose message of support for victims of Venezuela's devastating earthquakes resonated with thousands of people online, said he hopes the unexpected attention will translate into real help for those affected. After Korean news outlets picked up his story, Yum Ji-hong, who runs a dessert cafe on the southern resort island of Jeju, shared a follow-up message on TikTok thanking viewers and reflecting on the response. "What started as a short video to check on my TikTok f

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon began a new term Wednesday as the first person in South Korea’s constitutional history to be elected Seoul mayor five times. Speaking at his inauguration ceremony at Seoul City Hall, Oh pledged to restore opportunities for young people and expand housing supply, and acknowledged the weight of his unprecedented mandate. “I am fully aware that being chosen five times carries more than five times the responsibility,” he said at his inauguration ceremony at Seoul City Hall. “I

Seoul took its K-architecture initiative to the global stage this week at the UIA World Congress of Architects, using one of the world’s largest gatherings of architects to showcase Korean architects and present its vision for the capital’s built environment. The participation was part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s broader push to promote Korean architecture globally under its K-Architecture Comprehensive Support Plan, according to Myung Nou-Jun, housing office director of the General o

South Korea has repeatedly tightened laws in response to stalking murders, digital sex crimes and intimate partner killings. But global experts say the country’s next challenge is focusing not only on how to punish violence against women, but how to prevent it. That requires treating violence against women as a systemic problem that demands long-term prevention across government, according to Melissa Alvarado, program specialist on Ending Violence against Women at UN Women’s Regional Office for

As Chobok, the first of Korea’s three traditional dog days of summer, approaches, the Seoul Foreign Resident Center is inviting foreign residents to learn how to make dak hanmari, a hearty chicken hot pot widely enjoyed as a summertime energy booster. The dish, made with a whole chicken, potatoes, garlic, green onions and other vegetables simmered in a rich broth, is considered one of Korea’s classic nourishing foods, traditionally believed to help cope with the summer heat. Participants will al

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday after a Seoul court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts in return for exerting influence over government appointments, in a high-profile influence-peddling case that prosecutors described as a “sale of public office.” The Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty of peddling influence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, ruling that she knowingly accepted valuables from businesspeopl

Starting July 1, passengers will no longer be allowed to bring lithium battery-powered personal mobility devices onto the Seoul subway, as authorities move to reduce fire hazards linked to battery-powered devices. Seoul Metro announced that it has revised its passenger transportation regulations to ban passengers from bringing such devices into subway stations and on trains. The ban applies to personal mobility devices powered by lithium batteries, including electric scooters, electric bicycles,

For generations, South Korea offered young people a clear bargain: study hard, enter a prestigious university, land a secure job at a major conglomerate and climb the corporate ladder. More young Koreans are now questioning whether that bargain still pays off — in money, autonomy, mental well-being and the ability to build a life that feels livable. When Lee Seung-jun graduated from one of South Korea’s top engineering schools and landed a job at Samsung Electronics, he appeared to have achieved

South Korea will cover the full cost of malpractice insurance premiums for doctors in critical medical fields, as the government seeks to ease the legal risks blamed for pushing physicians away from high-risk specialties such as obstetrics and emergency medicine. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said medical institutions employing eligible physicians can apply for the high-cost medical liability insurance support program starting Thursday. Under the program, the government will fully cover ins

A professor at Dongguk University has been dismissed over allegations that he repeatedly made sexually inappropriate remarks and engaged in unwanted physical contact with students during drinking gatherings, the university said. According to Dongguk University, its faculty disciplinary committee voted on June 16 to dismiss the professor from the Department of Cultural Heritage Studies. The dismissal took effect Sunday. The case first came to public attention in November, when the department’s st