Gender equality stalls as structural barriers persist, experts warn

Experts urged coordinated efforts to tackle structural discrimination that continues to shape women’s lives across society during an event hosted by the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Center in the Republic of Korea. They stressed that true equality requires dismantling entrenched barriers, not merely helping women navigate around them. The center, supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, held a commemoration marking the 2026 International Women’s Day in Seoul on Wednesday u

March 11, 2026

Korean ring smuggled bulk cigarettes to Australia, making $6m in profit

South Korean customs authorities have uncovered a smuggling ring that bought cigarettes in bulk from domestic convenience stores and illegally exported them to high-priced markets such as Australia and New Zealand, generating about 10 billion won ($6.78 million) in profit. The Korea Customs Service’s Incheon regional office said Wednesday that it had referred 11 suspects, including a ringleader in his 30s, to prosecutors without detention on charges of violating the Customs Act. The group allege

March 11, 2026

Jamsil mega convention center, dome stadium set for 2032 completion

A 3.3 trillion-won ($2.2 billion) sports and convention complex featuring South Korea’s largest domed baseball stadium is planned for completion in Seoul by 2032 after the city finalized long-delayed negotiations for the Jamsil Sports and MICE Complex redevelopment. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it had concluded four years of negotiations with Seoul Smart MICE Park, a consortium led by Hanwha Construction Division selected as the preferred bidder for the privately funded proje

March 11, 2026

Senior US diplomat to discuss alliance issues in Seoul

Michael DeSombre, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, is scheduled to visit South Korea on Wednesday for talks on a range of alliance issues, officials said. According to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and diplomatic sources, DeSombre will stay in the country through March 15, with his official schedule beginning Thursday. During the visit, he is expected to meet with senior South Korean officials, including Jeong Yeon-doo, Seoul’s chief representative for Nor

March 11, 2026

In Busan's Gijang, spring comes with anchovies

Spring comes in many forms: cherry blossoms, pale pastel outfits appearing after months of winter drab, or the first green shoots on the dinner table. In a fishing town of Gijang, Busan, however, the season announces itself with a far more pungent sign: the salty, briny smell of fresh anchovies. Dae-byeon Village and its bustling namesake port account for about 60 percent of South Korea’s anchovy catch, harvested using drift-net fishing. Anchovies, which live for only one year, are caught primar

March 11, 2026

[Key points] NK leader oversees cruise missile test

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March 11, 2026

US Senate Democrats warn Trump policies unsettling South Korea-US alliance

Democratic members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee warned the South Korea-US alliance is facing mounting strain under the Donald Trump administration, citing a series of recent developments ranging from the detention of Korean workers in Georgia to pressure on Seoul to approve massive investments in the US. In a 56-page minority report titled “The Price of Retreat 2.0: Undermining America’s Economic Edge and Alliance Advantage,” released Tuesday in the US, committee Democrats argued

March 11, 2026

S. Korea, Ghana leaders meet to broaden cooperation on maritime security, climate

The leaders of South Korea and Ghana met in Seoul to expand cooperation in the areas of the economy, maritime security and climate change, among others. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama held a summit at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday afternoon during Mahama’s working visit to South Korea. As the outcome of the summit, the two sides also signed a series of agreements aimed at broadening cooperation in maritime security, climate change and digital innovat

March 11, 2026

Patriots, THAAD may be shipped to Middle East. Is South Korea safe without them?

Speculation about the possible redeployment of US missile defense assets stationed in South Korea to the Middle East has been growing, along with concerns about the potential impact such a move could have on the country’s defense posture. The speculation comes as Washington seeks to reinforce missile defense coverage for US bases and allies in the Middle East, amid a possibly prolonged confrontation with Iran. The Washington Post reported Monday, citing US officials, that the Pentagon is moving

March 11, 2026

Ruling party seeks parliamentary probe into 'politically motivated' indictments

The Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday submitted a formal request for a parliamentary probe into what it claims to be politically motivated indictments through the manipulation of evidence in seven criminal cases against liberal figures. The request was submitted by Reps. Park Sung-joon, Yang Bu-nam, Lee Geon-tae and Lee Ju-hee with the National Assembly. The request will be reported to the plenary session of the National Assembly on Thursday. Among the figures affected by an allegedly wrong

March 11, 2026

Different electricity bills for different regions? Plan raises concerns

South Korea’s plan to introduce regionally differentiated electricity prices is raising concerns that inland provinces and public utilities in the greater Seoul area could face higher power costs, as the government pushes ahead with reforms to ease regional imbalances in energy supply. The proposal centers on offering cheaper electricity to areas near major power generation facilities to encourage industries to relocate from the capital region to provincial areas. Many of these regions have beco

March 11, 2026

Korea helps end dog slaughter in Indonesia

Two long-running dog slaughter and meat-selling businesses in Indonesia have been shut down, marking what activists say is the first overseas application of South Korea’s dog meat industry transition model. Humane World for Animals, a South Korea-based nonprofit, said Wednesday it supported the closure of a dog meat restaurant and slaughterhouse, rescuing 10 dogs that were awaiting slaughter. The operation in Kupang, on Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara island, was conducted in partnership with Jak

March 11, 2026

Who's running to become next Seoul mayor?

The race for Seoul mayor, the most high-profile of local government posts, remains clouded less than three months before the election. From the ruling bloc, several big names as well as relative unknowns have declared their bids, while the incumbent Seoul mayor and other conservative heavyweights are still weighing their options. From the ruling Democratic Party, five have made their bids official and will now have to go through primaries to enter the local election on June 3. One of the hopeful

March 11, 2026

Rights watchdog urges broader stimulus aid for foreign residents

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Wednesday that it had advised the interior minister and other relevant officials to expand eligibility for government relief payments, including the so-called “consumption coupons for livelihood recovery,” to cover more foreign residents. The government distributed coupons worth up to 550,000 won ($375) to Korean residents in 2025 as part of efforts to stimulate domestic consumption. The policy largely excluded foreigners, though it allowed limi

March 11, 2026

Kim supervises destroyer cruise missile test amid Seoul-Washington drills

Click here for: [Key points] NK leader oversees cruise missile test North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon destroyer, state media reported Wednesday, roughly a week after a similar launch from the same vessel. The latest test is widely seen as a show of force against the ongoing South Korea-US joint military exercises, with the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency saying it was intended to underscore Pyongyang’s nuclear det

March 11, 2026