Schools with multicultural students increasing in Korea

The number of schools with more than 30 percent of students from international backgrounds has sharply surged in the past five years, a recent study showed Friday. Research conducted by the Korean Educational Development Institute revealed Friday that multicultural students accounted for more than 30 percent of the student population at 350 elementary, middle and high schools in the country. This is equivalent to 2.96 percent of all such schools in Korea. The number of schools has increased by 4

Social AffairsAug. 2, 2024

Korea may compensate W150b annually to dog farm owners

South Korea is poised to announce compensation plans for dog meat sellers in September, in a follow-up to its passage of a bill in January banning the eating and selling of dog meat. The country seeks to end the centuries-old yet controversial practice amid growing support for animal welfare. "We will announce the basic plan in September after consulting with financial authorities," the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement Friday. "Nothing specific h

Social AffairsAug. 2, 2024

Impeachment motion for top broadcasting regulator passes

The National Assembly on Friday voted to pass the impeachment bill against Lee Jin-sook, the contested chair of South Korea’s top broadcasting regulator, the Korea Communications Commission. The bill passed just two days after President Yoon Suk Yeol confirmed her nomination. The lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party walked out of the session to boycott the bill led by the Democratic Party of Korea and minor opposition parties, whose seats take up a majority in the Assembly. The bill&

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

Seoul shares crash to 2-month low on US slowdown fears

Seoul shares tumbled by more than 3.5 percent on Friday as data fueled concerns over the US economy despite the Federal Reserve's rate-cut signals. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plummeted 101.49 points, or 3.65 percent, to close at 2,676.19. The KOSPI has fallen 2 percent this week. Trade volume was heavy at 523.78 million shares worth 12.87 trillion won ($9.38 billion), with decliners far outnumbering gainers 868 to 58. I

EconomyAug. 2, 2024

Hybe announces 'Hybe 2.0' strategy, emphasizes commitment to fans

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, has unveiled its new business strategy, "Hybe 2.0," aiming to secure "superior leadership" in the global K-pop scene while underscoring its dedication to fans. The strategy was announced through a letter sent to Hybe's shareholders recently, which has been in preparation since the latter half of last year to ensure long-term business competitiveness, the company said on Thursday. "Based on Hybe 2.0, which focuses on nurturing f

K-popAug. 2, 2024

Taipei hosts meeting of foreign lawmakers, South Korea absent

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Foreign lawmakers from 24 countries gathered in Taipei, Taiwan to discuss China’s growing belligerence in the region at an annual meeting Tuesday. There was no South Korean representation at the meeting. South Korea currently has no member lawmakers on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group bringing together lawmakers from dozens of countries concerned about how democracies deal with Beijing. Both of the South Korean inaugural co-chairs -- former lawmakers Ji

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

COVID-19 hospitalization surge fivefold in 3 weeks

The number of patients hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19 surged fivefold in three weeks to late July, government data showed Friday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the fourth week of July reached 465, up over five times from the first week of the month at 91. Through the first four weeks of July, 929 patients were hospitalized for the highly contagious disease affecting the human respiratory sys

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

Ruling party seeks expulsion of opposition lawmaker over defector remarks

South Korea's ruling People Power Party filed a motion Friday to expel opposition Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Rep. Choi Min-hee over alleged discriminatory comments against a North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker. The controversy came about at a Monday confirmation hearing for state broadcasting regulator chief Lee Jin-sook. Choi, chairing the Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, reportedly told People Power Party Rep. Park Choong-kwon, who defected fr

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

SM reveals first British K-pop group 'Dear Alice'

K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment introduced their first British K-pop boy band “Dear Alice” on Thursday at the Soho Hotel in London, the agency said Friday. The group is a collaborative effort between SM Entertainment, the North American corporation of Kakao Entertainment, and the British entertainment company Moon & Back. The British company handled casting in the UK, while SM Entertainment provided K-pop expertise in music, vocals and choreography. "Training at SM has bee

PerformanceAug. 2, 2024

US, allies discuss new restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles

As the US government intensifies efforts to regulate Chinese technology in connected vehicles over national security concerns, South Korea and other key allies are coordinating to balance these security goals with potential supply chain disruptions. The US State Department convened a meeting Wednesday with representatives from allied governments and industry leaders, including officials from South Korea, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom.

MobilityAug. 2, 2024

Investors join forces to secure Qxpress management rights: report

Qoo10 Group CEO Ku Young-bae could lose control over the group’s logistics arm Qxpress, as its financial investors are reportedly mulling taking over his management rights. According to a local news report Friday, a group of private equity firms, including Crescendo Equity Partners, Corstone Asia, Metistone Equity Partner, Cactus Private Equity and Korea Development Bank Private Equity, are discussing ways to exchange their rights in the company to common stock. The investors are said to h

IndustryAug. 2, 2024

Grammy-winning producer David ‘Yungin’ Kim sets to bridge gaps between music and cultures

David "Yungin" Kim, a Grammy Award-winning mix engineer, hopes to create a bridge between Korea and the US music industries as he continues on his professional and personal journey in both countries. Kim, who goes by his artist name Yungin, is the first Korean-born person to win a Grammy outside of classical music. As a mix engineer, he has worked with many big names including BTS, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Hit-Boy, Post Malone and Ariana Grande. And earlier this year he debuted as a produc

CultureAug. 2, 2024

Opposition-led Assembly passes W13tr cash handout bill

A bill to dole out cash-equivalent vouchers universally to every South Korean citizen gained parliamentary approval at the opposition-controlled National Assembly on Friday, about four months after opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung proposed the scheme. The 13 trillion-won ($9.4 billion) bill, designed to offer 250,000 won cash coupons to the entire 50 million population across the country, won 186 votes from 187 lawmakers present at the National Assembly. In South Korea's political lands

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

University leaks 320,000 identifications, warns of subsequent scams

Identification data of 322,425 students and graduates of Jeonbuk National University was stolen Sunday, as the university suffered hacking attacks on its integrated information system managing students’ academic affairs, according to reports Thursday. The university in North Jeolla Province posted an apology message on its website Thursday, confirming that it suffered data leakage a total of three times from the attacks, which took place at 3 a.m., 10 p.m. and 11:20 p.m. JBNU detected the

Social AffairsAug. 2, 2024

Han tightens grip on ruling party

Han Dong-hoon, chair of the ruling People Power Party, nominated four-term lawmaker Rep. Kim Sang-hoon as the new policy chief of the ruling party, which would also make him one of the nine members of the party's supreme council, in an apparent move to tighten his grip on the party's decision-making body. The nomination of Kim will likely be confirmed at a general assembly of the People Power Party lawmakers next week. Han told reporters Friday that Kim is "highly competent."

PoliticsAug. 2, 2024

Zyx Technology, Vietnam’s CTC1 team up to infuse AI into construction

South Korean design software developer Zyx Technology said Friday that it has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Construction Technical College No.1 (CTC1) to expand its presence in the Vietnamese market. CTC1, an institution under Vietnam's Ministry of Construction, is tasked with developing and offering education in alignment with the ministry's policies on the construction industry. The latest partnership aims to forge a long-term collaboration on joint research and

IndustryAug. 2, 2024

Food trade agency secures more kimchi for Korean athletes at Olympics

As the world tunes into the Paris Olympics, the Korean national team has received a boost from home -- not just in spirit, but in flavor. The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., or aT, on Friday said it had delivered an additional shipment of Korea’s beloved culinary staple kimchi to the athletes, providing a taste of home with the aim to inspire peak performance. The official kimchi handover ceremony took place on July 31 at the Team Korea Paris Platform in Fontainebleau, a sub

IndustryAug. 2, 2024

Film inspired by 'spin kick' crime in Busan ready to film

A film is being produced based on a notorious 2022 case that took place in Busan, where an assailant viciously attacked a female stranger with the intent to rape her. To be titled "I Had No Reason But To Become Evil," the film has finished preproduction and is awaiting filming, according to a local media outlet. Jun Hyo-seong, who is also the leader of K-pop girl group Secret, has reportedly been tapped to play the main protagonist in the film. This will mark Jun's first lead role

FilmAug. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM spotted at local festival

RM of BTS was spotted at a local festival in Gangwon Province Thursday. He is serving his mandatory military service as a member of the 15th Infantry Division’s marching band, which is set to perform at a tomato festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province where the division is based. The artist was seen preparing for the stage alongside fellow soldiers, according to local media reports. The fest will run until Sunday. Meanwhile, RM uploaded a photo of himself Thursday sharing the news that he m

K-popAug. 2, 2024

Samsung’s unionized workers to return to work but continue guerrilla strikes

  Samsung Electronics’ labor union said Thursday it would return to work by next Monday but vowed to continue guerrilla strikes amid their stalled talks for wage hikes. “It is the time to shift to a long-term plan,” the National Samsung Electronics Union said via its YouTube channel. “We will proceed with sustainable guerrilla strikes while adhering to legal standards to ensure our success. You can return to work from today. You can join our guerrilla strikes anytime

IndustryAug. 2, 2024