In photos: ‘King’s Warden’ director treats public to free coffee after surprise box office hit

Jang Hang-jun, director of South Korea’s latest box-office phenomenon, “The King’s Warden,” treated fans to free coffee in central Seoul on Thursday at an event celebrating the film’s surpassing of the 10 million admissions milestone. Standing beside a “coffee truck” parked in front of the Korea Press Center, Jang thanked moviegoers for their support and expressed hope that the film’s success would help revive South Korea’s struggling film industry. “I’m grateful for the overwhelming support,” h

March 12, 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

Late snow in Seoul as cold returns for weekend

Cold weather will return over the weekend, following snow and rain on Friday morning in Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration said Friday that temperatures are expected to drop sharply Saturday as cold air moves in from the north. Morning lows are expected to fall to between minus 8 and 1 degree Celsius nationwide, with strong winds making it feel even colder. Sunday will remain chilly but mostly sunny, with morning lows ranging from minus 7 to 1 degree and daytime highs of 6 to 12 degr

March 6, 2026

Former 'Chungju Man' nears 1m subscribers with single video

Kim Seon-tae, the former official behind the Chungju city government's wildly popular YouTube channel, is drawing explosive attention after launching his own channel following his resignation from public service. As of noon Thursday, Kim’s YouTube channel “Kim Seon-tae” had about 961,000 subscribers despite having only a single video uploaded. The number has surged rapidly, approaching the 1 million mark just three days after the channel was launched. In the video, which racked up 5.6 million vi

March 5, 2026

Back to school

From elementary schools to universities, institutions across South Korea began the new academic year on Tuesday. In Korea, the school year typically starts on March 2, following Independence Movement Day, a national holiday celebrated on March 1. This year, however, the new term began on Tuesday, due to a substitute holiday. Among the high school students returning for the new semester at Sewha Girls' High School in Seoul were stars from the Winter Olympics in Milan: gold medal-winning snowboard

March 3, 2026

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

SNU welcomes 7,573 new enrollees

Seoul National University, one of the country's leading universities, held its 2026 entrance ceremony at the university gymnasium in Gwanak, Seoul, on Thursday, welcoming 7,573 new students. The incoming class includes 3,958 undergraduate students, 2,823 master’s and combined master’s-doctoral students, and 792 doctoral candidates. Among the most high-profile first years was Lim Dong-hyun, the son of Lee Boo-jin, president of Hotel Shilla, and a member of the Samsung Group family. Lim’s grandmot

Feb. 26, 2026

Seoul happiness index rises, but foreign residents cite hurdles

Seoul residents’ overall happiness index rose 0.07 points in 2025 from a year earlier to 6.61 out of 10, with satisfaction increasing in green space, though foreign residents reported continued difficulties navigating public services, according to the city’s annual survey released Wednesday. The Seoul Survey, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government since 2003, measures citizens’ quality of life and changes in values amid shifting social conditions. This year’s survey covered 20,000 househ

Feb. 25, 2026

Two teenagers behind breach of 4.62m Seoul bike users’ data

Two teenagers were found to be behind the leak of personal information belonging to 4.62 million users of Seoul’s public bike-sharing service “Ttareungi”, police said Monday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s cybercrime investigation unit said it had apprehended two high school students on charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act. The suspects were forwarded to prosecutors without detention. The data breach occurred between June 28 and 29, 2024, involving 4.62 mil

Feb. 24, 2026

Police weigh holding parents accountable in fixie crackdown

Police are reviewing measures to hold parents accountable as fixed-gear bicycles, commonly known as "fixies," have gained popularity among teenagers and increasingly pose a danger on roads, according to local reports Monday. Authorities said Sunday they would intensify enforcement against illegal riding of personal mobility devices, including unlicensed e-scooters and fixies, on public roads. They added that repeated violations could lead to investigations involving shared mobility operators and

Feb. 23, 2026