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Confused command leaves South Korea unprepared as wildfires spread out of control: report

As South Korea recovers from its worst wildfire disaster on record, a National Assembly report warns that a fragmented and confusing command structure left firefighting efforts slow and disorganized. In March more than 20 wildfires broke out across the peninsula's southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, fueled by strong winds and dry weather. The fires burned over 104,000 hectares of forest, killed 31 people, and damaged nearly 8,000 homes and facilities. Also affected were 33 cultural heritage sites
Seoul bus ridership drops 19% in 10 years even as city spends billions in subsidies

Seoul’s public buses are carrying fewer passengers than they used to, and the city is paying billions to cover their losses, data shows. Over the last 10 years, average daily bus ridership in Seoul has fallen by 19 percent, from 4.57 million in 2014 to 3.73 million in 2024, according to official city data released in April. “Maeul” buses, smaller vehicles that operate on shorter, community shuttle routes, saw an even steeper drop, down one-third over the same period, from 1.22 million to 840,000
Should drivers crawl through school zones at 4 a.m.? Lawmaker proposes time-based limits

South Korea is considering relaxing school zone speed limits during late-night hours, as lawmakers and legal experts question whether current rules are unnecessarily strict when no children are present. The proposed bill, introduced by Rep. Kim Seung-soo of the conservative People Power Party, would allow authorities to adjust school zone speed limits based on factors like pedestrian traffic, time of day, and road conditions. Current South Korean law enforces a 30 kilometers per hour limit in de
US-Korea air show returns after 6 years

Osan Air Power Days kicked off Friday at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, reopening to the public for the first time since 2019. Running through Saturday, the two-day event showcases the strength of the US-South Korea alliance with joint aerial demonstrations and on-base exhibits. A key highlight is the performance by the “Black Eagles,” the Republic of Korea Air Force’s elite aerobatic team. Flying eight black, white and gold T-50B “Golden Eagle” jets, the team has operated since 2013 as the 53rd A
Delight Seoul 2025 reimagines the city

A media preview on Wednesday unveiled Delight Seoul 2025, an immersive digital exhibition that explores everyday sights and symbols of Seoul through large-scale projections, animations and interactive displays. The exhibition officially opens to the public on Thursday and runs through Nov. 15 without any scheduled closures. The exhibition takes place at Dohwaseogil D1, a six-story cultural complex located near the historic palaces in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, between Inwangsan and Bugaksan mount
Korea wraps up rare long weekend

South Korea’s four-day May holiday came to a close Tuesday, with families and travelers across the country wrapping up their extended break. The long weekend, created by the overlap of Children’s Day and Buddha’s Birthday, spanned from Saturday to Tuesday. Major transportation hubs like Incheon International Airport saw heavy crowds throughout the day as travelers returned from domestic and overseas trips. According to travel booking platform Klook, outbound travel surged roughly 30 percent from
When YouTube replaces TV, news and politics: what South Korea learned the hard way in 20 years

When YouTube launched its Korean-language service on Jan. 23, 2008, it entered a nation ready to embrace it — and be transformed. Seventeen years later, South Korea has become one of the most YouTube-centric societies in the world, using the platform not just for entertainment, but to wage political battles, reshape pop culture, and redefine the public square. Now, as YouTube marks its 20th anniversary globally, the scale of its influence in South Korea is almost unmatched. According to a 2024 g
Credit card spending by foreign residents in Korea jumps 65% in 4 years, hitting W56tr

Foreign residents are emerging as a significant force in South Korea’s consumer economy, contributing an estimated 56.3 trillion won ($39.3 billion) in domestic credit card spending in 2023, according to a December 2024 report by the state-run Migration Research and Training Center (MRTC). The figure, which marks a 65 percent increase from 34.1 trillion won in 2019, is based on credit card usage data provided by Shinhan Card, South Korea’s leading issuer. The report used Shinhan Card’s data to e
ISS astronaut Jonny Kim turns NASA rations into Korean-inspired burger in space

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, the first Korean American to serve on a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station, is drawing attention for adding a personal and cultural twist to space food — by making a burger with Korean gochujang. Kim posted photos on social media this week showing a floating burger made from standard NASA rations: beef steak, wheat snack bread, cheese spread and potatoes au gratin. The key ingredient was a generous squeeze of gochujang, a spicy Korean red peppe
Korea’s intelligence agency urges SKT USIM card replacements across all ministries

South Korea’s top intelligence agency has ordered all government ministries and public agencies to replace SK Telecom USIM cards used in official devices, following a cyberattack that compromised the core systems the company uses to verify mobile users on its network. The National Intelligence Service confirmed to The Korea Herald that it issued the directive on Tuesday, requiring USIM replacements in all SKT-connected work phones, tablets, and even mobile routers that support essential services
Monthly rentals hit record 64.6% of Seoul housing leases as 'jeonse' system fades

Monthly rental contracts now make up nearly 65 percent of all new housing leases in Seoul, reaching a record high as South Korea’s traditional lump-sum rental system, "jeonse," continues to disappear. According to the latest data by the Supreme Court’s Integrated Registration Information System, Seoul registered 233,958 residential lease contracts between January and March this year. Of those, 151,095 — roughly 64.6 percent — were monthly rental deals, the highest share since data collection beg
SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears

What was meant to reassure customers after a major security scare quickly turned into long lines, delays and frustration, as SK Telecom’s free USIM card replacement program struggled to meet overwhelming demand on its first day. Earlier this month, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier disclosed that it had discovered malware inside a key internal system, the Home Subscriber Server — the database that manages mobile user identities and network authentication. The discovery raised concerns that se
Wildfire forces evacuations and major highway closure in northeastern South Korea

A rapidly spreading wildfire in northeastern South Korea has forced expanded evacuations and a broader highway shutdown, as authorities escalated their emergency response Saturday. The fire broke out around 1:11 p.m. local time in a mountainous area near Inje County, about 150 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Fueled by dry conditions, the blaze quickly spread smoke toward nearby communities, prompting officials to send evacuation alerts and direct residents to designated shelters. By mid-afternoon
North Korea launches 5,000-ton warship

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the launch of a new 5,000-ton destroyer on Friday in Nampho Shipyard, underscoring his ambition to transform the country into a maritime power capable of extended-range operations. The destroyer, named Choe Hyon after a revered anti-Japanese revolutionary figure, was revealed during a high-profile ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Attend
Flexible work schedules for S. Korean parents only 1/3 of EU levels, study warns

A new study has found that the number of parents with flexible work arrangements in South Korea is just one-third of that observed in major European countries — a shortfall experts say may be hampering efforts to combat the country’s record-low birthrate. The research, published by Dr. Jung Sung-mi of the Korean Women’s Development Institute on Wednesday, reveals just how far behind Korea is when it comes to giving employees with young children real control over their schedules. The study focuse