'Super El Niño' could bring roller-coaster winter weather to Korea

The Korea Times - Oct 15, 2026

Wild temperature swings are expected to continue through the winter, with what could be the strongest El Niño on record forecast to peak toward the end of the year, raising the likelihood of a “roller-coaster winter” marked by mild spells interrupted by sudden cold snaps. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), morning lows on Wednesday plunged by around 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, reaching 9 degrees in Seoul and 3 degrees in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise above the seasonal average over the weekend before plunging again, with lows reaching 3 degrees by the middle of next week, pointing to continued sharp fluctuations. The erratic weather is typical of autumn, when migratory high- and low-pressure systems pass through the Korean Peninsula in succession. Cold winds blowing down from the north are battling warm, humid southerly winds originating over the western Pacific, where sea temperatures are higher than normal, causing weather conditions to fluctuate sharply. Such unpredictable conditions are expect

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Korea opens 1st national sports museum to preserve historic triumphs

Korea opens 1st national sports museum to preserve historic triumphs

Korea opened its first national museum dedicated to sports on Thursday, bringing together thousands of artifacts documenting historic victories, Olympic milestones and moments that have shaped the country’s sporting identity. The National Sports Museum, located in Olympic Park in southern Seoul’s Songpa District, was established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to collect, preserve and showcase Korea’s sporting heritage. The museum houses about 70,000 sports-related artifacts and records, offering visitors a chance to revisit achievements that have inspired athletes and spectators across generations. Among its featured items are the gold medal won by marathon runner Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, soccer shoes belonging to Korean soccer pioneer Kim Yong-sik, the competition uniform worn by Yang Jung-mo, Korea’s first Olympic gold medalist, and the Olympic torch from the 1988 Seoul Games. The collection also includes the hoop used in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Olympics, recalling one of the event’s most memor

Fingerprint experts from 42 nations challenge skills in Korea-Interpol contest

Fingerprint experts from 42 nations challenge skills in Korea-Interpol contest

Fingerprint examiners from 42 countries tested their skills in an online competition co-hosted by the Korean National Police Agency and Interpol, the international police cooperation body, the agency said Thursday. Long before artificial intelligence and algorithms transformed modern crime-fighting, police work relied on a far simpler, time-tested tool: human eyes searching for minute patterns etched onto skin. Last month, that fundamental forensic art took center stage as 279 latent print specialists worldwide stepped away from their automated software to go head-to-head in a high-stakes test of pure human observation. The third annual International Fingerprint Examination Competition, held online on Sept. 17, offered no assistance from computer matching databases. For two grueling hours, contestants were faced with 20 complex fingerprint puzzles, tasked with matching obscure, incomplete latent prints against a field of 50 possible candidates. To mirror the unforgiving reality of real-world casework — where a single misidentification can lead to a wrongful arrest — the scoring syst

Kookmin University professor named among World's Top 2% Scientists for 3rd straight year

Kookmin University professor named among World's Top 2% Scientists for 3rd straight year

Ravi Gupta, a professor at Kookmin University’s College of Transdisciplinary Studies, has been included in the 2026 World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the third consecutive year. Compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier, the list identifies leading researchers in each academic field based on citation indicators derived from Elsevier’s Scopus database. Gupta studies plant physiology, biochemistry and functional genomics, focusing on how plants respond to environmental stress and regulate plant immunity, according to Kookmin University. He uses mass spectrometry-based proteomics to study proteins and post-translational modifications involved in plant defense against pathogens and responses to environmental stress. He has published more than 190 papers, which have collectively received over 5,500 citations. “I am honored to have been included in the World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the third consecutive year,” Gupta said. “This achievement reflects the contributions of the researchers and students I have worked with and motivates me to continue studying plant immunity and

New bridge between China, North Korea opens

New bridge between China, North Korea opens

DANDONG, China — A big new bridge linking China and North Korea opened on Thursday, 12 years after its completion, deepening economic ties between the Asian giant and its isolated nuclear-armed neighbour. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the reclusive nuclear state, although ties have not always been smooth. Hundreds of people gathered on Thursday on the Chinese side for the opening of the 3,026-metre (9,927-feet) New Yalu River vehicle bridge. Trucks bearing the nations' flags began moving in both directions late morning, AFP reporters at the scene said, some of the North Korean vehicles decorated with flowers. "It's great," one woman who came to watch told AFP in the quiet northern border town of Dandong, which is dotted with a mish-mash of Chinese and Korean shops and restaurants. "It's already been over 10 years. It's certainly going to be good for business," she said, without wishing to be named, accompanied by her friend and her dog. The opening came a day after North Korea test-fired two types of cr

Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for murdering mother-in-law

Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for murdering mother-in-law

DAEGU — A district court sentenced a man to a 45-year prison term Thursday for murdering his mother-in-law and abandoning her body in the southeastern city of Daegu. The Daegu District Court handed down the sentence to Cho Jae-bok, 26, for murdering the 54-year-old victim in March at his home in the city located some 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul. He was also convicted of throwing away the victim's body in a suitcase. The court noted that the victim had faced repeated violence that left her unable to even speak by the time of her murder. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Cho, who was also charged with abusing, monitoring and financially controlling his wife and mother-in-law.

Special counsel seeks new arrest warrant for jailed ex-first lady to keep her in custody

Special counsel seeks new arrest warrant for jailed ex-first lady to keep her in custody

A special counsel team said Thursday it has filed for a new arrest warrant for jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee as her detention period is set to expire later this month. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team submitted the request to the Supreme Court, citing the need to keep Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in custody before her detention expires Oct. 31. Kim, who has been in detention since August last year, awaits final rulings by the top court on two sentences delivered by appellate court benches: a four-year prison sentence on corruption charges, and a five-year prison sentence on bribery and other charges. A final ruling for the first case is unlikely to be delivered before her detention period expires, with the court scheduling a deliberation session for next Thursday. "As the expiration of defendant Kim Keon Hee's detention period nears, there is a need to keep her in custody, so we have submitted an application to issue an arrest warrant," the team said.

Seoul sticks to existing agreement on OPCON transfer as US signals new conditions

Seoul sticks to existing agreement on OPCON transfer as US signals new conditions

The South Korean military said Thursday it would stick to an existing agreement on conditions for wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer from Washington to Seoul, despite a warning from the top U.S. commander in Korea that changing security threats require new standards. It showed discomfort over U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s remarks on the need to change standards and conditions for the transition because “the transfer would never be possible” under the existing standards. The military said it has not decided whether to accept new conditions if the U.S. proposes new ones. “The principle that OPCON will be transferred once the conditions mutually agreed upon by South Korea and the United States are met remains unchanged,” ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said at a briefing. It said the two countries are closely consulting on the transfer issue according to the Conditions-based Operational Control Transition Plan (COTP), which was agreed upon in 2015. The allies have been verifying South Korea’s capabilities in three stages under the COTP, and

Lee vows to prioritize people's livelihoods ahead of 500th day in office

Lee vows to prioritize people's livelihoods ahead of 500th day in office

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday pledged to maintain his policy priorities of improving people's livelihoods, pursuing reforms and promoting national unity, a day before he is set to mark his 500th day in office. "Tomorrow marks the 500th day since the launch of our 'Government of Popular Sovereignty,'" Lee said at a meeting with key aides. "Without being swayed by any external influence or resistance, (the government) will unwaveringly follow the path toward improving people's livelihoods and pursuing practical reforms and inclusive national unity," he said. The president also pointed out that the national economy is achieving unprecedented success, but people's livelihoods remain grim, pledging to help spread the benefits of growth to people's everyday lives. "Our economy is registering remarkable outcomes in various fields. If this trend continues, we will likely become the sixth country with a (per capita) national income of $40,000 this year among nations with a population of over 50 million," the president noted. "Difficulties in people's everyday lives, however, do not seem to h

Parliamentary committee adopts confirmation hearing report for investigation body chief nominee

Parliamentary committee adopts confirmation hearing report for investigation body chief nominee

A parliamentary committee on Thursday adopted a confirmation hearing report for Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), amid opposition from some lawmakers. The parliamentary public administration and security committee approved the report, a day after his confirmation hearing. Kim's nomination has drawn opposition from some hard-line lawmakers within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, who have questioned his political neutrality and qualifications to lead the SCIA. They have argued the nominee had previously opposed prosecution reform and had close ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Earlier in the day, the Rebuilding Korea Party adopted the decision to oppose Kim's appointment as its official party line, warning that his appointment could undermine prosecution reform. In an interview with local radio station CBS, presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong said Kim had sufficiently addressed the concerns during his confirmation hearing. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as

Korea's favorite budget meal passes safety check but falls short on nutrition

Korea's favorite budget meal passes safety check but falls short on nutrition

In the fluorescent-lit aisles of Korea’s ubiquitous convenience stores, the humble "gimbap," or seaweed rice roll, has long served as a lifeline for cash-strapped students, busy office workers and night-shift commuters. Priced between 2,800 and 3,600 won ($2 to $3), these tightly wrapped cylinders of rice, seaweed and various fillings offer an unbeatable combination of speed and affordability. Yet as inflation drives more diners away from traditional restaurants and toward budget-friendly grab-and-go counters, a recent consumer watchdog report reveals that convenience comes with hidden nutritional compromises. According to a comprehensive quality and safety evaluation released Thursday by the Korea Consumer Agency, popular convenience store gimbap lines — spanning major chains like GS25, CU, 7Eleven and Emart24 — meet strict food safety standards but present a striking dietary imbalance. While laboratory testing confirmed that all 12 evaluated products are entirely free of harmful heavy metals, microbiological contaminants and excessive preservatives, the findings highlight a persi

Gov't legislation minister says Supreme Court chief justice required by Constitution to suggest new candidate

Gov't legislation minister says Supreme Court chief justice required by Constitution to suggest new candidate

The head of the Ministry of Government Legislation said Thursday that the president is not necessarily required to appoint a Supreme Court justice just as suggested by the chief of the top court. President Lee Jae Myung and Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae have been locked in a standoff after Lee rejected a justice candidate suggested by Cho. Lee asked the chief justice to make a new recommendation on the grounds that the candidate was proposed without sufficient prior consultation. Cho refused to budge, arguing Lee's demand lacks constitutional grounds and could be construed as undermining the judiciary's independence. Under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation by the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly. Legal scholars remain divided on how to interpret these constitutional provisions. On Thursday, Government Legislation Minister Cho Won-cheol sided with Lee. "The president is not bound by the recommendation and is therefore not obligated to appoint the recommended candidate," the minister said during

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