MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province — Through the glass-paneled corridors of a pristine, state-of-the-art facility, rows of conveyor belts carry neat rectangles of wavy ramyeon, still glistening from a sixty-second plunge into boiling vegetable oil. This deep-frying marks the midpoint in the noodle-making process. "Each unit will soon be paired with its sauce packet, then sealed and sent through a final round of quality control," explained plant manager Oh Seung-yong. The final product bears a fa

On a radiant Tuesday morning, the schoolyard of an elementary school in Jongno, central Seoul, momentarily resembled a scene of carefree family life, as a couple swung their young daughter by her arms, laughter echoing across the grounds. But this was no ordinary school visit — the family came to cast their ballots in a critical by-election to choose Korea’s next president. The vote follows a tumultuous chapter in the nation’s political history. Six months earlier, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol d

MANILA, Philippines — A shared glass of liquor, known as tagay in the Philippines, has long been central to Filipino communal drinking. Yet while the drinking tradition has endured, what fills those glasses is shifting — especially among K-pop fans and spirit lovers — from familiar gin or rum to soju bearing the Jinro label from South Korea’s leading soju-maker, HiteJinro. The once-exotic green bottles now have greater visibility, not only in Korean barbecue joints, but also in supermarkets, con

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — “I’m earning credits, gaining real-world experience and spending my semester by the ocean. What’s not to love?” said Kim Seung-ju, a 20-year-old university student taking pictures in Seogwipo on the southern coast of Jeju Island. “This is nothing like school back in Seoul.” What began as a global shift toward workcations — blending work with leisure in picturesque settings — is evolving in South Korea into something more academic: the learncation, a fusion of learning and

By Hwang Joo-young and Joint Press Corps LANGKAWI, Malaysia — A group of small and mid-sized South Korean defense and technology firms participated in Southeast Asia’s largest defense exhibition, LIMA 2025 as part of the Korea Pavilion organized by the Korea Defense Industry Association. While not as high-profile as companies specializing in full-scale platforms or missile systems, these firms are making their pitch to expand from a domestic customer base into export markets, offering niche, nar

By Hwang Joo-young and Joint Press Corps LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Southeast Asia’s largest defense exhibition opened Tuesday on the island of Langkawi, with South Korea emerging as a dominant presence amid growing regional demand for cost-effective, adaptable and combat-proven weapons systems. The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, or LIMA 2025, kicked off its five-day run with some 510 exhibitors from 25 countries. Among them, South Korean defense firms Korea Aerospace Indus

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province — With less than a month left until the June 3 presidential vote, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Rep. Lee Jae-myung was halfway through a restless week on the campaign trail in the liberal stronghold of North Jeolla Province on Wednesday. Mid-campaign, reassuring news for Lee arrived. The Seoul High Court said it would postpone its ruling on Lee until after the election, after threats of impeachment from the Democratic Party. Last week, the Supreme Court sent L

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — A museum dedicated to historical records from the Joseon era (1392-1910) has reopened following a 10-month renovation, with a focus on outreach to community. The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty houses the original “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” and “Joseon Wangjo Uigwe.” “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” documents 472 years of Joseon’s history chronologically from 1392 to 1863, highlighting the accomplishments of Joseon kings, from the first king, Taejo, to the 2

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

Based in Daegu, Korea, Hansae Mobility is one of the world’s leading halfshaft suppliers, delivering to a wide range of global automakers from mass market brands, including Stellantis and Volkswagen, to luxury brands such as Porsche and Maserati. A halfshaft transmits rotational force from the engine or motor to the wheels, with flexibility that ensures its function remains unaffected by drivetrain twists. Despite growing concerns over potential tariffs on car parts in the US, the destination of