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Hong’s time is surely over

Whatever happens in the coming days, Hong Myung-bo’s time as head coach of South Korea is surely over. Regardless of whether the team squeezes into the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, there has to be a change. The coach’s two-year spell will be defined by the question posed by a reporter after the 1-0 loss to South Africa in Monterey in the final game of Group A. He wanted to know if there had been an outbreak of food poisoning or some other issue behind the scenes that could explain such a dismal performance. The video has gone viral around the world, and many see it as amusing. For Korean fans, however, it is hard to smile. Just to recap: The tournament started with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic that had people talking of the Taeguk Warriors as dark horses. Then came a poor defeat against Mexico, when the tactics seemed to be to play for a draw. Still, only a point was needed against South Africa to secure second place and a game in Los Angeles in the next round. Instead came a truly terrible performance against one of the lowest-ranked teams in the tournam

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Ex-first lady sentenced to 7 years in prison for taking gifts for job appointments

A Seoul court on Friday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for taking expensive gifts in return for job appointments and business favors. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence to Kim, the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, after she was indicted on charges of accepting bribes for mediation, including over 100 million won ($64,750) worth of jewelry in exchange for a government job for a son-in-law of a construction company chairman. In total, she was charged with taking approximately 300 million won worth of gifts, and the court found her guilty on all counts. "The defendant disregarded the social responsibilities associated with the position of first lady and used it merely as a means to pursue her private interests," presiding judge Cho Sun-pyo said during the hearing, which was televised live. Kim was indicted in December on charges of receiving a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and other jewelry from the construction company chairman between March and May 2022; a golden turtle ornament in April 2022 from Lee Bae-yong, former h

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InterviewEx-Japanese PM calls on Seoul to mend Japan-China rift

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — South Korea should take the lead in reviving trilateral diplomacy with China and Japan by pushing for a three-way summit as soon as possible, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Friday. Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Korea Times on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Hatoyama said Seoul is uniquely positioned to bridge a deepening rift between Tokyo and Beijing. "What I expect the most is that South Korea will take the lead in holding a trilateral summit by talking to China as early as possible, as the current relations between Beijing and Tokyo are not easy. I hope South Korea could create that mood," said Hatoyama, the 93rd prime minister of Japan and current president of the East Asian Community Institute. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated sharply following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who said Japan could respond to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan. China, which considers Taiwan its own territory under the One China principle, responded by slashing the number of flight

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Korea cuts fuel price cap by 150 won per liter as oil prices retreat

Korea will lower its fuel price cap by 150 won ($0.09) per liter starting Saturday, reflecting the recent decline in global crude oil prices and easing tensions in the Middle East, the government said Friday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced that the seventh round of the country's fuel price cap system will take effect at midnight Saturday, lowering the ceiling for gasoline, diesel and kerosene by 150 won per liter from the previous level. The move came after Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said earlier Friday that the government would adjust the cap system while maintaining emergency measures aimed at stabilizing consumer prices. "The government will adjust the emergency measures currently in place in phases by closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and the Korean economy," Koo said during a meeting of economy-related ministers. Under the new cap, refiners will be allowed to supply gasoline at up to 1,784 won per liter, diesel at 1,773 won and kerosene at 1,380 won. The government expects retail fuel prices at gas stations to fall from the low-2,000 won

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KOSPI slides nearly 6% amid profit-taking in chips

KOSPI tumbled nearly 6 percent on Friday, as the index came under pressure from profit-taking after recent gains, in addition to a sharp overnight decline in U.S. equities. The benchmark index opened down 117.12 points, or 1.31 percent, at 8,813.18 and swung between gains and losses before closing at 8,411.21, down 519.09 points, or 5.81 percent, from the previous session. Heavy losses in large-cap technology stocks amplified the decline, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix falling 5.29 percent and 8.36 percent, respectively. As selling intensified, pushing KOSPI down more than 8 percent from the previous day’s close for one minute, the Korea Exchange imposed a circuit breaker at 12:10 p.m., halting trading on the main board for 20 minutes. Earlier, a sidecar was triggered at around 11:12 a.m. after KOSPI 200 futures fell more than 5 percent, briefly curbing program-driven selling. The KOSPI circuit breaker was triggered for the fifth time this year, with nearly half of all 11 activations since the mechanism was introduced now occurring this year. In a rare sequence, the safeguard was

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Korea launches joint drone headquarters

The Ministry of National Defense unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the military’s drone operations Friday, shifting combat responsibilities from a centralized drone command to individual service branches while creating a new defense drone headquarters under the ministry. Under the restructuring, operational control of drone units will be distributed across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The existing drone operations command headquarters will be reorganized into a defense drone headquarters focused on force development, procurement support and cooperation with the private sector — no longer commanding combat units directly. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East had demonstrated that drones had become game changers on the battlefield. “In the past, a small number of expensive weapons systems dominated the battlefield. Now, large numbers of low-cost drones are fundamentally changing the way wars are fought,” Ahn said. Ahn said the policy is intended to strengthen the military’s defense capabilities against unmanned aerial veh

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2 foreigners flee to Brunei after vandalizing Busan subway

Police said Friday they have identified and are pursuing two foreign nationals accused of vandalizing a subway train with graffiti at a rail depot in Busan before fleeing to another country. The Busan Gangseo Police Station said the suspects are an Australian man in his 20s and a Belgian man in his 30s, facing charges of trespassing and property damage. They allegedly entered the depot in Gangseo District at around 2:51 a.m. on Tuesday and spray-painted a two-car subway train. CCTV footage showed them scaling a fence before carrying out the graffiti attack. Officers said the painting itself took only about three minutes, although the two men remained inside the depot for roughly 18 minutes before leaving. After the incident, the suspects boarded a KTX train bound for Seoul. Police believe they deliberately attempted to evade detection by wearing face masks, changing clothes multiple times, paying with cash and getting off at different locations. Investigators said the pair flew to Brunei the following day. Police tracked their movements by reviewing CCTV footage before confirming through

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SK hynix Nasdaq ADR listing seen as potential support for won amid prolonged weakness

SK hynix’s planned American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on the Nasdaq next month is drawing attention as a potential catalyst for easing the won’s prolonged weakness, with the won-dollar exchange rate having remained above the 1,500 won level for nearly a month. Market experts estimate the listing could bring in as much as $30 billion to Korea. Should those funds be converted into won, the resulting increase in dollar supply could help ease upward pressure on the exchange rate and support the local currency. The major chipmaker’s board approved the issuance of new shares for the ADR offering and the Nasdaq listing last Thursday. The ADRs are scheduled to begin trading on July 10, with the subscription and settlement set for July 14. ADRs allow shares of foreign companies to be traded on U.S. stock exchanges, improving access for global investors. SK hynix plans to issue as many as 17.79 million new shares, or about 2.5 percent of its outstanding stock, as part of the Nasdaq ADR listing. Based on the company’s closing share price before the board approved the transaction, the

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GM Korea’s union on verge of strike as carmaker bears nearly all tariff burden

GM Korea’s labor union is on the verge of a strike after wage negotiations reached an impasse, with tensions exacerbated by the automaker’s decision to shoulder the vast majority of the cost from U.S. auto tariffs that have weighed heavily on its earnings last year. The carmaker’s labor union has moved closer to the labor action, after an overwhelming majority of members voted in favor of a strike. The status quo is feared to worsen the carmaker’s already deteriorating financial performance amid mounting tariff-related costs. Korean automakers, including GM Korea, face an auto tariff of 15 percent when exporting vehicles to the United States. Some 86.5 percent of GM Korea’s union members favored the walkout last week. The carmaker’s union and management had held nine rounds of wage negotiations, but failed to find a breakthrough. The conflict between the two sides escalated after it turned out that GM Korea did not share its tariff burden with its U.S. headquarters, instead taking on the full burden. The union argued that the tariff-related costs should be shared with headquar

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US professor questioned over alleged defamation of President Lee

Morse Tan, a Korean American professor at U.S.-based Liberty University, has been questioned by police over his alleged defamation of President Lee Jae Myung, his lawyers said Friday. The U.S. professor underwent a two-hour private questioning session Thursday, according to his lawyers. Tan is accused of falsely claiming at a press conference in the United States last year that Lee was involved in murder as a teenager and had been sent to a juvenile detention center for the crime. "We believe further questioning to be highly unlikely," the lawyers said in a notice to the press. Tan was originally scheduled for questioning Wednesday but demanded a change in schedule, citing concerns of media exposure. After entering the country on May 28 to observe the June 3 local elections, Tan had failed to comply with earlier police summons. Consequently, police requested a travel ban on the professor, and the justice ministry earlier barred him from leaving the country until Tuesday.

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German author reflects on kindness, loss and caring for aging parents

German author Volker Kitz met readers in Seoul Thursday, during the 2026 Seoul International Book Fair, sharing the deeply personal story behind his Der Spiegel bestseller "Aging Parents: On Caretaking and the Time We Have Left" — a direct translation from its German title — newly published in Korea under the title "I Decided to Be Kind to You Until the End." Invited by the German Embassy in Korea and Korean publisher Gimmyoung, it was Kitz 's first visit to Korea. The Berlin-based writer, lawyer and columnist has authored 10 books, with "The Laws of the Mind" selling more than 100,000 copies in Korea. The latest book draws on Kitz's experience caring for his father, who lived with dementia. Introducing the event, a Gimmyoung editor said the book initially appeared to be about aging parents and caregiving, but ultimately revealed itself to be a meditation on kindness. “Although we cannot stop our parents from growing old or stop time itself, what we can choose is our attitude,” the editor said. “And in this book, that attitude is kindness.” Kitz opened the event by reciting t

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Long road ahead for Korea-US nuclear sub cooperation, says ex-US official

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines still faces a long road ahead despite Seoul's hopes of producing tangible results with Washington, according to Eliot Kang, former US assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation. “It may take more than a year. This is not simply up to the executive branch of the United States government,” Kang said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum, Friday. He said the initiative requires significant changes to the fundamental civil nuclear cooperation between the two allies. “In order to have supply nuclear material from the US for military use, we must have another separate agreement,” he added. “It’s probably a mutual defense agreement.” His remarks come as Seoul and Washington continue discussions on Korea's goal of acquiring its first nuclear-powered submarine following a security agreement reached by President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump last October. Seoul's foreign ministry on Monday expressed optimism that the two sides can make meaningf

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Seoul court upholds 6-month prison sentence for US streamer Johnny Somali

A Seoul appeals court upheld a six-month prison sentence Thursday for American YouTuber Johnny Somali, rejecting appeals by both prosecutors and the defendant in a case involving disruptive public acts and sexually explicit deepfakes. The Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Appeals Division 1 maintained the lower court's sentence of six months in prison and 20 days of detention for the streamer, whose legal name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael. However, the court set aside an earlier order to confiscate a mobile phone used in the crimes, stating the confiscation lacked legal grounds. Somali faced charges including interfering with business operations and distributing sexually explicit deepfakes under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The content creator drew widespread public anger after kissing the Statue of Peace, a memorial to victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery. The formal charges stemmed partly from an October 2024 incident at a convenience store in Seoul's Mapo District. He played loud music and spilled cup noodle broth on a table, disrupting bu

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UK envoy publicly backs Hanwha Ocean's bid for Canada's submarine project

The British ambassador to Korea publicly expressed support for Hanwha Ocean's bid to win Canada's next-generation submarine program during a recent meeting with President Lee Jae Myung, signaling the U.K. government's willingness to cooperate with the Korean shipbuilder on the multibillion-dollar defense project. British Ambassador Colin Crooks told Lee during a reception for the diplomatic corps at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday, in Korean, that "the U.K. government would like to work with Hanwha on the Canadian submarine project." Lee responded with a smile, saying, "Yes, I hope it succeeds." The comments are widely seen as more than a diplomatic courtesy, given the United Kingdom's growing involvement in Hanwha Ocean's campaign to secure the Canadian contract. Hanwha Ocean has partnered with Babcock Canada, a subsidiary of British defense contractor Babcock International, through a memorandum of understanding and a teaming agreement for the Canadian program. Under the arrangement, Hanwha Ocean would supply the submarine platform and oversee construction, while Babcock would provide in-count

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Hyundai Motor unveils redesigned AI-driven Avante sedan

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the all new Avante, the eighth-generation version of its best-selling compact sedan, at the 2026 Busan International Mobility Show, marking the global debut of the model that reflects the automaker’s accelerating shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobility, the carmaker said Friday. The redesigned Avante came about six years after the launch of its predecessor in 2020. Long regarded as one of Korea’s most popular passenger cars, the Avante has been comprehensively redesigned with a stronger focus on connectivity, digital services and next-generation in-car experiences. The new model becomes Hyundai Motor’s second sedan to feature the firm’s up-to-date infotainment platform, Pleos Connect, following its flagship Grandeur sedan. It also adopts Gleo AI, Hyundai Motor Group’s generative AI-based voice assistant, extending advanced conversational AI capabilities to a broader range of customers. Hyundai Motor said the all new Avante represents a new chapter in the evolution of mobility by integrating soft

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Gyeonggi Province moves to close health care gap for uninsured foreign residents

In an ambitious effort to close a gap in its health care system, Korea’s most populous province passed a landmark ordinance to provide medical services to undocumented and uninsured foreign residents, framing the measure as a critical defense for wider public safety. The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly approved the bill this week, establishing a formal legal framework to connect marginalized foreign workers with regional public health resources. Officials announced the bill's passage Friday, emphasizing that the initiative is designed to prevent preventable medical emergencies and contain potential infectious disease outbreaks before they compromise the broader community. Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital city of Seoul, serves as Korea's industrial and agricultural heartland, relying heavily on a vast network of foreign laborers. Yet, those without valid visas or traditional employment are locked out of the country's National Health Insurance system. For these residents, a routine hospital visit can result in astronomical fees under international billing rates. Combined wit

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKKorean language morphs from cultural curiosity into lifelong opportunity

Watching the winners of the third Korean Language Speaking Contest on stage at the Korea Cyber University on Wednesday brought a wave of quiet emotion to the hall. The winners delivered their speeches with highly impressive and fluent Korean. However, the real emotion came from their personal stories of growth, which connected different parts of the world to Seoul, thanks to their command of the Korean language. Organized by The Korea Times, this year’s contest drew a record-breaking 3,908 entries from 110 countries, a massive 120 percent jump from the previous year. The diversity of the participants clearly reflected the growing global popularity of the Korean language. While Asia still represented the largest group of applicants at 72.3 percent, a significant number came from Europe, with 12.8 percent, followed closely by a growing presence of applicants from Africa, with 6.8 percent. This wide geographic spread showed the language is becoming a practical tool for youth worldwide. Viewed through the lens of national pride, it is easy to simply celebrate these record numbers. However,

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Korea mobilizes young diaspora across 8 cities in global networking drive

Seeking to transform a historically scattered diaspora into a tightly woven global network, Korea’s Overseas Koreans Agency announced Friday a sweeping expansion of its initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of ethnic Korean leaders living abroad. The program, known as the Future Leader’s Conference (FLC) Reunion, will stage successive networking conventions across eight major global hubs this year. Designed for young professionals aged 25 to 45, the initiative marks a concerted effort by Seoul to deepen ethnic identity, amplify geopolitical influence and build robust networks among the millions of ethnic Koreans worldwide. The global tour kicked off in New York this March and will head to Osaka, Japan, this Saturday, before moving to Munich, Germany, on July 4. Subsequent forums are scheduled throughout autumn in Tashkent, Moscow, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Paris. Unlike traditional top-down government programs, these reunions are conceived, structured and executed directly by local diaspora participants, allowing them to collaboratively tackle localized challenges. The up

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Lee's approval rating sinks to lowest point since taking office: Gallup poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 51 percent, marking its lowest level since he took office in June last year, a poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,000 people aged 18 and older, showed that the positive assessment of Lee's performance fell 6 percentage points from the previous survey released two weeks earlier. His negative assessment rose 6 percentage points to 41 percent, marking the first time his disapproval rating exceeded 40 percent in Gallup polls. The economy, housing policies and alleged irregularities involving the National Election Commission, the country's election watchdog, were cited as the main reasons for the negative assessment. Support for the ruling Democratic Party remained the same at 41 percent from the previous survey, while that of the main opposition People Power Party fell 2 percentage points to 27 percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

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Late rescue volunteer recognized as Itaewon disaster victim

The former owner of a store in Itaewon who killed self after suffering from a traumatizing experience of helping others killed in the 2022 crowd crush in the Seoul district was Friday named a victim of the disaster, the government said. The deceased, identified only as Park, operated a bar near the site of the accident that left 159 people killed, according to the interior ministry. Park helped transport injured people to hospitals at the time of the disaster, but had since suffered from physical and psychological trauma before being found dead at the age of 37 in April 2025. "The government will continue to make sure all necessary support is provided to the victims and their bereaved families while protecting their honor and privacy," a ministry official said.

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Trump retains 'very strong interest' in Kim Jong-un: ex-White House official

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Former White House national security official Alex Wong said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump continues to have a "very strong interest" in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, suggesting the U.S. leader could create conditions for renewed engagement with Pyongyang next year. "President Trump is a world historical actor, the one who is active, who engages, who takes action on the world stage. He could change the conditions in the short term — in the next year — to make the conditions conducive for engagement," Wong said during an interview with local media on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, when asked about the prospects for renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy. "When the conditions are right, I think all powers should be ready for engagement," he added. Wong, who currently serves as global chief strategy officer at Hanwha Group, was deeply involved in North Korea policy during Trump's first administration, leading working-level negotiations with Pyongyang. He later served as principal deputy national security adviser during Trum

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How Korea's strict waste management confuses new foreign residents

“Are onion skins not food waste?” “Do I have to remove the cap from a glass bottle before throwing it out?” These questions came quickly during a waste sorting workshop for international students at Dongguk University’s Hyehwa Hall in central Seoul on June 17. About 20 participants followed the session in Korean and English, learning how to sort general waste, food waste and recyclables, as well as when to put trash out for collection. Many nodded as instructors explained rules that can feel routine to Koreans but confusing to newcomers. Cristina, 31, from Peru, said the system was difficult to understand when she first arrived because waste is not separated the same way in her home country. “In Peru, we don’t sort trash, so when I first came to Korea, I didn’t know what counted as general waste and what could be recycled,” she said. “I thought I had gotten used to waste sorting after living here for two years, but this was the first time I learned that chicken bones should go into general waste, not food waste.” Tan Yong Xin, 22, from Malaysia, who has been living

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N. Korea's Kim oversees tests of key weapons seen as aimed at S. Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen tests of a new multiple rocket launcher and other weapons, stressing the need to bolster the "deadly and destructive" offensive posture against the enemy, state media reported Friday. North Korea conducted the weapons tests Thursday, the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, in an apparent bid to demonstrate its ability to target major facilities in South Korea, which the North has labeled its "primary foe." The North's leader supervised the test of "important weapons" as part of the country's project to modernize the artillery and missile forces under a five-year defense development plan, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The tests involved an upgraded version of the 240mm-caliber 24-tubular multiple rocket launcher system, "special mission" warheads for tactical ballistic missiles and the extended-range shells for a 155mm self-propelled howitzer, according to the KCNA. With the latest tests, North Korea appeared to be focused on upgrading the performance of striking means that could put South Korea wit

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Why Netflix relies on fresh faces over celebrity star power

The Korean content market is struggling to discover new actors. While familiar pairings ensure reliable entertainment, audiences have increasingly voiced fatigue over predictable A-list casting. In the midst of this stagnation, Netflix original series "If Wishes Could Kill" and "Teach You a Lesson" are drawing viewers by using fresh faces to enhance their narratives. Released June 5, "Teach You a Lesson" retained the top spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) list for a second week. This success has driven growing interest in the cast. Viewers are focusing not only on the leads but also on the performers anchoring individual episodes. In Episode 5, Park Ji-yeon garnered widespread attention for her role as an overzealous parent who corners a teacher with malicious complaints. The actors portraying antagonists for the series have successfully provoked viewer anger, driving overall engagement with the series. Released earlier in April, "If Wishes Could Kill" succeeded by placing newcomers at the forefront. The series featured a rare ensemble of rising actors, including Jeon So

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235 people dead, 4,300 injured in Venezuela earthquakes

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed around 235 people and left at least 4,300 people injured. “Unfortunately we have received around 235 patients who arrive without vital signs or die when they arrive at our health facilities,” Health Minister Carlos Alvarado told state media Thursday. The number of dead and injured is expected to rise with thousands reported missing after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening, which was among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century and was felt throughout the region. Thousands were reported missing and buildings were evacuated as far away as Brazil’s Amazon. In response to the devastation, the U.S. Treasury on Thursday moved to waive some sanctions until Oct. 23 to allow transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela that would otherwise be prohibited. Meanwhile, in cities across northern Venezuela, panicked residents poured i

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Editor's Pick

[ON FAKE NEWS] The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

ON FAKE NEWS The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

New revisions to the Information and Communications Network Act, which will take effect in July, will hand Korea one of the most decisive legal tools yet devised against online falsehoods. For a country that has watched deepfakes and manipulated clips spread faster than fact-checkers can debunk them, this is surely a step worth welcoming. But it also deserves to be implemented with care, so that a sound principle does not curdle into overreach. The revision targets influential online information producers, such as YouTubers with more than 100,000 subscribers or creators averaging over 100,000 monthly views. If such creators knowingly spread false or fabricated information and cause harm, they now face punitive financial damages of up to five times the loss incurred. Large platforms, defined as those with over a million daily users on average, must also establish formal reporting and response systems for disinformation. The case for action is persuasive. The Hyundai Research Institute has estimated that fake news costs the Korean economy roughly 30 trillion won annually, about 1.9 perce

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Life in Korea

Busan uses K-pop to woo int'l students to stay after graduation

Busan uses K-pop to woo int'l students to stay after graduation

Looking to convert international students into permanent residents, Korea’s second-largest city is launching a major cultural festival, pairing its pitch for regional settlement with the gravitational pull of K-pop. Busan will host the 2026 Foreign Student Festival, Saturday, at Busan Asiad Auxiliary Stadium, the Busan Metropolitan City said Friday. Operating under the banner "Stay in Busan, Connecting the World," the festival is strategically synchronized with the Busan One Asia Festival, a massive K-pop concert drawing thousands of international fans to the main stadium. By placing the student event directly in the concert's holding area, city officials hope to spark natural networking between local residents, international tourists and the city’s foreign students. The initiative comes as provincial Korean cities grapple with steep demographic declines, prompting local governments to aggressively pursue efforts to recruit and retain international students to stabilize regional labor markets. Rather than relying purely on administrative job fairs, Busan’s festival utilizes a gamif

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Lifestyle

French author urges Korean readers to follow inner calling over material success

French novelist Bernard Werber encouraged readers to pursue their unique calling rather than material success, arguing that true happiness comes from discovering the talent each person is born to develop. Speaking at a special lecture during the 2026 Seoul International Book Fair, Thursday, where France is this year's guest of honor, the bestselling author shared his lifelong fascination with spirituality, a recurring theme in many of his novels. Werber said he began exploring yoga, Buddhist meditation and other spiritual practices at the age of 13, leading him to believe there are two fundamentally different ways of living: one driven by materialism and another guided by spirituality. "A materialistic life revolves around finding a job, earning money, building a family and repeating the same cycle," he said. "A spiritual life begins by asking why we were born, why we are here and what only we can contribute to the world." Werber sees spirituality not as a collective doctrine but an individual journey of finding one's vocation. Each person, he said, possesses a unique talent and purpose

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French author urges Korean readers to follow inner calling over material success

K-Culture

K-pop rookie CORTIS' debut album racks up 600 mil. Spotify streams

K-pop boy band CORTIS' debut album, "Color Outside the Lines," has surpassed 600 million streams on Spotify, the group's agency said Thursday. The feat comes after the album surpassed the 100 million mark a month after its release in September, according to BigHit Music. Physical album sales have so far reached 2.1 million units, it added. The five-member group's second EP, "GreenGreen," ranked No. 61 on the Billboard 200 in the latest tracking week, after peaking at No. 3 last month.

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K-pop rookie CORTIS' debut album racks up 600 mil. Spotify streams

Celebrities

Lisa's rumored breakup with LVMH heir resurfaces after Vanity Fair profile

Rumors that BLACKPINK's Lisa has split from Frederic Arnault, the son of luxury goods titan Bernard Arnault, are gaining renewed attention after a recent Vanity Fair profile suggested the pair may have gone their separate ways. In its summer cover story, "The Life of a K-Pop Showgirl," published Tuesday, Vanity Fair explored Lisa's life as a global superstar, her growing influence beyond music and the personal challenges that come with worldwide fame. The magazine briefly addressed the singer's long-rumored relationship with Arnault, the fourth son of the chairman of LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate. "She was rumored to have been in a relationship with Frederic Arnault, son of LVMH billionaire Bernard Arnault, since mid-2023," the article read. "They seem to have now called it quits." The comment immediately reignited speculation among fans, as neither Lisa nor Arnault has ever publicly confirmed their relationship. According to the profile, Lisa declined to discuss her personal life during the interview. Vanity Fair said her publicist warned the reporter twice not to bring u

2 MIN READ
Lisa's rumored breakup with LVMH heir resurfaces after Vanity Fair profile

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. How one foreign entrepreneur is building a future in Korea — on his own terms

  2. Petition calls for Korea head coach's immediate dismissal after World Cup setback

  3. Korea coach unable to pinpoint reasons behind deflating loss

  4. Hong’s time is surely over

  5. How Korea's strict waste management confuses new foreign residents

  6. Korea in 6th among 3rd-place teams with 2 matchdays left

  7. Ex-first lady sentenced to 7 years in prison for taking gifts for job appointments

  8. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKKorean language morphs from cultural curiosity into lifelong opportunity

  9. Lee's approval rating sinks to lowest point since taking office: Gallup poll

  10. Late rescue volunteer recognized as Itaewon disaster victim

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