South Korea seeks to phase out school uniforms

South Korea is moving to phase out traditional formal school uniforms, amid growing concerns over high costs. The Education Ministry said Thursday it will conduct a nationwide survey of middle and high school uniform prices and push to replace formal-style uniforms with more practical attire. The ministry plans to inspect about 5,700 middle and high schools through March 16. Officials will review uniform prices, bidding methods, selected contractors and contract amounts to assess whether prices

March 1, 2026

How immigrant women in danger can get help

Living in a foreign country can leave newcomers vulnerable, especially when they lack familiarity with the local language, culture or legal system. Women, in particular, face heightened risks of domestic, sexual and other forms of violence. An October report by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed 35,339 counseling cases involving immigrant women who were victims of a crime in 2024 — a steep rise from 9,613 cases in 2020. The increase suggests more victims are reaching out for help,

Feb. 28, 2026

More young Koreans turn away from civil service due to workload, low pay

Government data showed Friday that 59 percent of civil servants who left their posts in 2024 did so before their retirement age, indicating the long-held perception of a government job as one of the country’s most stable professions has changed. The ratio of early departures against the whole, which includes retirees, has been on a steady rise, from 48.5 percent in 2017 to 54 percent in 2018, 55.1 percent in 2022 and 57.5 percent in 2023, according to the data released by the Ministry of Personn

Feb. 27, 2026

AI mockery of independence activist fuels public anger

A generative AI video circulating on TikTok has sparked public backlash for allegedly defaming independence activist Yu Gwan-sun, but police said Friday that no formal investigation has been opened. Police told local media that they were aware of the video but have not begun a preliminary inquiry, an initial review conducted to determine whether a formal investigation is warranted. The video posted on Feb. 22 depicts Yu showing affection to the Japanese flag and being propelled into space after

Feb. 27, 2026

Man arrested for vandalizing victim's home in 'paid revenge service'

South Korean police officers said Friday they have arrested a man for allegedly conducting revenge for someone else in exchange for money. The suspect is accused of painting the front gate of an apartment in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday, and spreading food waste and human feces around it, according to the Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station. He also distributed fliers slandering one of the residents of the apartment, whom he was paid to "take revenge against." The suspect was arrested Thur

Feb. 27, 2026

28% of Koreans who use online shopping say they had their info stolen

Some 28.1 percent of the people who use online shopping platforms say they have had their personal information stolen, a survey conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government showed Friday. The survey also showed that 78 percent of the respondents fear having their information leaked, with 30.2 percent saying using they have already experienced problems with online shopping. These included faulty products (65.6 percent), delayed delivery (42.7 percent), and false or exaggerated advertisements (3

Feb. 27, 2026

Man detained for sending drone to North Korea

A civilian accused of sending a drone to North Korea was arrested Thursday, as Seoul District Court issued the warrant over concerns that the suspect may destroy evidence and flee from justice. The suspect surnamed Oh, a graduate student in his 30s, is among seven people being investigated for sending the drone over the inter-Korean border. The drone took off from Incheon, and was set to fly over Kaesong and Pyeongsan-gun in North Korea-controlled territory before returning to Paju, Gyeonggi Pro

Feb. 27, 2026

'Woman as 1st customer is bad luck': Jeju restaurant sparks sexism complaints

A controversy has been brewing over an alleged sexual discrimination of a popular beef soup joint on Jeju Island, where the owner was accused making disparaging comments about female customers. Those who visited the restaurant, which specializes in gomtang, a Korean-style soup made by boiling beef bones and intestines, said the elderly woman who owned the place discriminated against women. One person said she was forced to wait outside for an hour because the owner insisted it was bad luck for t

Feb. 27, 2026

Headquarters of main opposition party raided over alleged mass recruitment of Shincheonji religious group

Investigators on Friday raided the headquarters of the main opposition People Power Party over allegations of mass recruitment of followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, legal sources said. A joint team of police investigators and prosecutors carried out the search and seizure at the PPP's office in western Seoul to seize the party's membership list, according to the sources. The sect is accused of forcing its followers to join the PPP with the aim of influe

Feb. 27, 2026

How do dogs end up living in Korea's mountains?

When hiking in Seoul, you might be surprised to encounter dogs on the trail -- animals once kept as pets that have become fully feral after years of surviving in the mountains. Reports of these “wild dogs” near major trails and foothill neighborhoods have risen, prompting concern among residents and city officials. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, more than 880 wild dogs were captured between 2022 and last year, yet about 195 are still believed to roam mountain areas including Buk

Feb. 26, 2026

S. Korea vows zero tolerance for fake news ahead of June local elections

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday called for swift and thorough investigations into election-related fake news, warning that disinformation and smear campaigns pose a serious threat to democracy ahead of South Korea’s nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. Speaking at a government meeting of relevant ministers and agency chiefs on countering fake news, Kim said false information surrounding elections must be dealt with firmly under the law. “Fake news and smear campaigns that dis

Feb. 26, 2026

Inside Korea's immigration dragnet

Faisal, a 42-year-old man who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades, still remembers the night his friend was badly injured during an immigration crackdown in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. “My friend fell from the second floor and hurt his arm,” he said. “His arm was broken as he tried to escape from the officers.” He said immigration officers now conduct crackdowns around his workplace every one to two months, with the most recent raid occurring in January. The operations, he added, increasi

Feb. 26, 2026

Drug use suspected after Porsche careers off bridge, lands on Mercedes in hair-raising crash

A driver in her 30s has been arrested after driving her car off a Hangang River bridge and landing on another car on another bridge below, before falling landing on the river bank, police said Thursday. Officers found evidence suggesting illegal drug use at the scene of the accident. Both drivers escaped with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect caused the accident at around 8:44 p.m. on Wednesday when she was driving on the Banpo Bridge. She crashed through the guardrail and fell onto a M

Feb. 26, 2026

[Graphic News] Tea market expands on demand from young consumers

South Korea’s long-standing corporate drinking culture is rapidly giving way to a more mindful “tea culture” among younger consumers, industry data shows. According to local community platform Karrot, the number of tea-related gatherings and participants surged 200 percent as of January 2026 from a year earlier. The trend is largely driven by people in their 20s and 30s, with searches for “tea ceremony” and “tea utensils” on the platform spiking over the same period. The shift in lifestyle is mi

Feb. 26, 2026

S. Korea reports 1 new bird flu case; total rises to 49

South Korea has confirmed one additional case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a layer farm on the northern outskirts of Seoul, bringing the total number of cases this season to 49, officials said Wednesday. The new case was reported at a poultry farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. Authorities said they are currently controlling access to the farms, carrying out the culling of the

Feb. 25, 2026