Woman under probe for allegedly eavesdropping on singer Cha Eun-woo

Woman under probe for allegedly eavesdropping on singer Cha Eun-woo

Sep 19, 2026

A woman is being investigated on suspicion of eavesdropping on singer-actor Cha Eun-woo by installing a recording device under a cafe table last month, police said Friday. The woman in her 50s was caught by police on Aug. 30 while removing the device from the cafe in Seoul's Yongsan Ward where Cha was meeting with an acquaintance, according to the Yongsan Police Station. She allegedly used the same method twice last month to eavesdrop on Cha's conversations. Police are reportedly determining whether she had any accomplices and how she got hold of the device by conducting a forensic analysis of her phone, among other measures.

Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination

Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination

Sep 19, 2026

"I want to take my shirt off and exercise like my friends do, too!" Lim Jae-i, 80, cannot forget her grandson's anguished cry years ago. Lee Hyun-seo, 25, was exposed to humidifier disinfectant — an antibacterial liquid added to humidifier water — while still in the womb and was born prematurely. He cycled in and out of hospitals with nontuberculous lung disease, a chronic lung condition unrelated to tuberculosis, and he almost never complained. Then adolescence arrived and he reached a breaking point. Facing a mirror, he saw a chest left concave by years of drug treatment and labored breathing and a body that remained thin. He realized that his life would never resemble those of his peers. The infants who bore the brunt of Korea's humidifier disinfectant disaster have reached young adulthood. A 2025 Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment survey of victims drew 1,213 responses, 321 (26.5 percent) of which came from victims in their 20s or younger. A tragedy the public still associates primarily with infant fatalities now runs through its survivors as an unfinished daily grind o

Cho, Rubio agree to work together for 'good' results from talks on US investment projects

Cho, Rubio agree to work together for 'good' results from talks on US investment projects

Sep 19, 2026

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed to work together for "good" results from bilateral talks on the Asian country's investment projects in the U.S. during their meeting in Washington on Friday, the foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department as the two countries have been in talks over the investment projects as part of efforts to implement last year's bilateral trade deal under which Seoul committed to investing $350 billion in the U.S. Seoul and Washington were initially expected to announce Korea's first investment project on Friday (Korea time). But the announcement has reportedly been postponed until next week after a related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed. "I called on (Secretary Rubio) to make joint efforts to ensure that ongoing consultations related to strategic investment projects in the U.S. will yield good results, while asking the secretary to play a role in that process," Cho said during a press meeting with South Korean correspondents. "Secretary

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Sep 19, 2026

'My Hell Could Not Kill Me': A defector's journey from home and back

In May 2016, Kim Kang-woo, then 21 years old, risked his life crossing North Korea's border into China to defect to South Korea in search of freedom, thinking he might never be able to return to the isolated country ever again. But three years later, in May 2019, he did not hesitate to jump back into the Amnok River — also known as the Yalu River in Chinese — and smuggle himself back into the North to save his mother. "I knew that I could die or face up to five years in prison in South Korea ... But in the end, what made my determination clear was the realization that my mother had raised me for over 20 years, so sacrificing four or five years of my life in prison was the right thing to do. That very evening, I crossed over," Kim told The Korea Times in an interview marking the release of his first book in June. He was born and raised in Ryanggang Province, North Korea, a border region near China. Titled "My Hell Could Not Kill Me" (translated title), the Korean-language memoir recounts his initial defection, his extreme re-entry into North Korea to rescue his mother, his second es

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Sep 19, 2026

NK leader calls for 'most concentrated and destructive' artillery capability

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for his country's artillery forces to have the "most concentrated and destructive" capabilities as he visited major munitions factories earlier this week, state media reported Saturday. Kim inspected munitions enterprises from Wednesday to Friday, accompanied by senior officials, including Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "Our artillery should have the most concentrated and destructive, massive and versatile offensive capability and responsibly perform the two missions of deterring and fighting war," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. Kim said the munitions industry should play a bigger role in carrying out the strategic policy of the ruling Workers' Party to build the "most powerful army," according to the KCNA. He outlined policy tasks, including enhancing the level of artificial intelligence of offensive and defensive weapons, upgrading the armor and automation of artillery weapons, and improving production conditions, it said. Kim appears

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Sep 19, 2026

N. Korea rejects IAEA resolution, vows to maintain nuclear force amid US threats

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Saturday rejected a recent resolution by the U.N. nuclear watchdog against Pyongyang's nuclear program, vowing to maintain the credibility of the country's nuclear capabilities in the face of what she called nuclear threats from the United States and others. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted the resolution at its 70th General Conference in Vienna on Thursday, reaffirming that North Korea cannot have nuclear-weapons-state status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and calling on Pyongyang to immediately cease all related activities. "The IAEA forcibly adopted an anti-DPRK 'resolution' that takes issue with our country's self-defensive and legitimate nuclear activities while turning a blind eye to the grave reality that our security environment is constantly exposed to external nuclear threats," Kim said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim's statement came two days af

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Sep 19, 2026

Stray Kids' Bang Chan donates $143,915 for rehabilitation patients, Nepal relief

Bang Chan of K-pop boy band Stray Kids has donated 200 million won ($143,915) to help patients requiring rehabilitation and support Nepal flood relief efforts, his agency said Saturday. JYP Entertainment said that Bang has delivered 100 million won each to the Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital and the Korean Committee for UNICEF. The funds will be used to establish rehabilitation centers tailored to the ages and specific medical conditions of patients at the hospital, and to support UNICEF Korea's flood relief operations in Nepal. "I wanted to offer a little comfort to those going through exhausting and difficult times," Bang said in a release. "I sincerely hope many people can regain their peaceful daily lives as soon as possible." This is not the singer's first charitable contribution. On Oct. 3 last year, marking his birthday, he donated 100 million won to pediatric and adolescent patients and another 100 million won to support children worldwide. Also last year, he contributed funds alongside his bandmates to support recovery efforts for massive forest fires in the Gyeongsang provinces, a

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Sep 19, 2026

BTS, Cortis land 3rd nomination at 2026 MTV Video Music Awards

K-pop supergroup BTS and rookie Cortis have secured a third nomination at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), entering the race for Best Group alongside fellow K-pop acts BLACKPINK and Katseye. The additional nominations, announced Friday (U.S time), bring BTS' total to three. The group was previously nominated for Song of the Year and Best K-pop for "Swim," the lead track of its fifth studio album, "ARIRANG." The septet won the category for four consecutive times from 2019 to 2022, making it the most decorated act in the awards' history. Eight acts will compete for Best Group, including the four K-pop acts and British girl group Flo, this year. Cortis was previously nominated for Best New Artist and Best K-pop. The 2026 VMAs will be held on Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast live on major U.S. channels. The awards are considered one of the four major music award ceremonies in the United States.

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Sep 19, 2026

Cheong Wa Dae says Lee's 'no war intervention' remark not a rejection of Trump's Hormuz request

Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday that President Lee Jae Myung's remarks ruling out troop dispatches that could involve the country in a war were not a refusal of U.S. President Donald Trump's request for Seoul to send forces to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The presidential office clarified the position after the New York Times reported that Lee's comments at a press conference Friday amounted to a rejection of Trump's appeal for Seoul's military cooperation in the Middle East. "Lee did not turn down Trump's request for Korea's cooperation on Middle East-related issues during yesterday's press conference," a presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "The government has been reviewing practical ways to contribute in close communication with the international community, including the United States, in order to protect our citizens and safeguard national interests." Seoul will continue to examine concrete options under its stated principle of not intervening in a war or combat, the official added. On Friday, Lee said during the nationally televised press conference that "

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Sep 19, 2026

Kim withdraws as justice minister nominee

Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Saturday following allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. “After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for justice minister. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations,” Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly. The move comes after a parliamentary committee adopted his confirmation hearing report Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party over the allegations. Kim, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs. He was elected to the 21st National Assembly in 2020 and later served as DPK's legal affairs committee chief.

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Sep 19, 2026

Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to suc

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Sep 19, 2026

'The Scandal': Netflix's take on uniquely Korean story raises expectations

The 2003 film "Untold Scandal" is being reborn as a Netflix series. The new production goes beyond a simple remake, reinterpreting the original story from a contemporary perspective. Released on Netflix on Friday, "The Scandal" follows Lady Jo, a woman of exceptional talent who finds life in the Joseon era too confining, and Jo-won, Joseon’s most notorious womanizer, as they engage in a provocative and dangerous wager over love. The story also centers on Hee-yeon, a woman who becomes entangled in their bet. The French writer Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses," which was adapted into the 2003 film "Untold Scandal" by relocating the story to the Joseon era, is once again being brought to the screen. The film, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Mi-sook and Jeon Do-yeon, drew widespread attention and attracted 4.15 million moviegoers despite receiving an adults-only rating. This time, Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana take on the roles of Lady Jo, Jo-won and Hee-yeon, respectively. One of the most notable aspects of the new production is its “new interpretation of

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Sep 19, 2026

S. Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday (Korea time), as Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environm

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Sep 19, 2026

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdraws from candidacy

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Saturday following allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. “After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for minister of justice ministry. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations,” Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly. Kim, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs. He was elected to the 21st National Assembly in 2020 and later served as DPK's legal affairs committee chief.

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Sep 19, 2026

China drafts guidelines to strengthen online protection for minors

The Cyberspace Administration of China has drafted a set of guidelines to ensure healthy and safe internet use by minors, laying out a series of regulations for relevant service providers.

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Sep 19, 2026

Taiwan compatriots help bring nearly 30 lost sculptures home

Taiwan compatriots help bring nearly 30 lost sculptures home

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Sep 19, 2026

Japan's military buildup disrupts the Asia-Pacific

Japan's military buildup disrupts the Asia-Pacific

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Sep 19, 2026

Chinese vice premier to lead delegation to US for trade talks

Chinese vice premier to lead delegation to US for trade talks

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Sep 19, 2026

The GI-AI4H holds annual meeting in China

The GI-AI4H holds annual meeting in China

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Sep 18, 2026

Top S. Korean, US diplomats discuss investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday, as the two countries have been in talks over the Asian country's planned investment in the U.S., its potential efforts to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and diplomacy toward North Korea. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department for their first bilateral talks since February, as the allies face various issues, including how Seoul will contribute to ongoing efforts to restore free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. In a press conference hours ahead of their talks, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that there will be no troop dispatch that might result in Seoul's involvement in an overseas conflict, but underscored the need for Korea to protect its citizens and national interests in the strait. During the meeting, Cho and Rubio were also expected to discuss South Korea's commitment to investing $350 billion in the U.S. as part of last year's bilateral trade agreement. Seoul and Washington were initially expected

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Sep 18, 2026

The Long March | One Death Trap After Another

During their long journey, the Red Army crossed towering snow-covered mountains and trekked across vast, uninhabited grasslands. Besides the Kuomintang enemy, they also had to battle unpredictable weather, swamps and hunger, pushing themselves to the limits of their endurance in some of the harshest environments on Earth.

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Sep 18, 2026

China hawks join forces in US Congress to pressure Trump ahead of Xi’s visit

US lawmakers critical of China had a busy week on Capitol Hill, stepping up their activity ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to President Donald Trump in Washington next week. China-focused members of Congress and commissions held multiple hearings on issues ranging from human rights to trade and supply chains – an apparent effort to put a range of issues on Trump’s agenda for his talks with Xi. A former senior US official said congressional Republicans had given Trump “a...

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Sep 18, 2026

Asia’s ateliers are cutting a new pattern for fashion

Asia’s ateliers are cutting a new pattern for fashion

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Sep 18, 2026

So-called voluntary export restraints violate WTO rules: spokesperson

China firmly opposes the so-called voluntary restrictions on China's hybrid vehicle exports to Europe, as it gravely violates World Trade Organization rules and runs counter to market economy rules and fair competition principles, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Friday.

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Sep 18, 2026

Why China is playing it cool amid Trump’s disruption and churn

When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the first part of a series, Mark Magnier looks at expectations in the US for the summit. Chinese planners have been frustrated for months at the slow speed of decision-making and limited engagement by a distracted US administration as the days tick down to next week’s...

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Sep 18, 2026

Patient who needed soft food dies after choking on regular meal at public hospital

A Hong Kong patient died after suffering a heart attack when he was fed a regular meal instead of the required soft food and choked at Prince of Wales Hospital. The public hospital in Sha Tin issued a public apology on Friday and said it had appointed an eight-person panel to look into the blunder. A report, along with recommendations for improvement measures, is expected in eight weeks. The 54-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning “due to deteriorated mental...

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Sep 18, 2026

Expert: TCM's holistic philosophy offers insights for global health

The holistic and preventive philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides insights for global healthcare, said Tong Xiaolin, academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Sep 18, 2026

Officials: Xi's instruction offers guidance for advanced manufacturing

Speaking to CMG, officials and industry insiders across various sectors have responded actively to Xi's remarks, stressing that the instruction has charted the course and provided fundamental guidelines for building a manufacturing powerhouse on the new journey, and pledging to place the development of advanced manufacturing as a key strategic task.

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Sep 18, 2026

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Hunger on the Grassland

On the Songpan Grassland, the Red Army faced a severe test from extreme temperature variations between day and night and treacherous bogs that could swallow the unwary without warning.

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Sep 18, 2026

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | The Three Armies Unite

In October 1936, the First Front Red Army (the Central Red Army), the Second Front Red Army and the Fourth Front Red Army joined up at two locations in northwest China – Huining in Gansu and Jiangtaibao in Ningxia.

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Sep 18, 2026

China's Canton Fair to feature more high-tech and green products

China's Canton Fair to feature more high-tech and green products

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Sep 18, 2026

Korea Times University Rankings focus on universities' internationalization capabilities

The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 focus on universities’ internationalization capabilities rather than their overall institutional strength. Unlike comprehensive rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education (THE), which place greater emphasis on reputation and research, The Korea Times rankings evaluate the diverse resources and achievements of universities from an internationalization perspective. Through the assessment, The Korea Times aims to help international students considering studying in Korea make informed choices and promote healthy competition among universities to strengthen their internationalization capabilities. Differences in evaluation method The Korea Times excluded the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from its University Rankings, although both rank among Korea’s top universities in global rankings. The exclusion was based on a comprehensive consideration of the number of international students, institutional size and regional balance among Korean universities. In the QS

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Sep 18, 2026

Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

The Korea Times has revised the evaluation criteria for its University Rankings 2027 to provide a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the internationalization of Korean universities. This year’s evaluation expanded its coverage from 54 universities last year to 60, while increasing the total score from 190 points across 18 indicators to 200 points across 19 indicators. Notably, The Korea Times introduced a new indicator measuring the proportion of full-time international faculty. It also changed the calculation method for the academic retention rate of international students, focusing the measure on degree-seeking students, and refined the evaluation period for research performance. The new international faculty indicator, worth 10 points, is designed to strengthen the assessment of internationalization in the education and research environment, marking the biggest change in this year’s rankings. Accordingly, the education category’s score increased from 60 points to 70 points. The category now consists of seven indicators, including the ratio of degree-seeking internationa

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