Davao ‘Saba’ bananas enter Australian market

Inquirer.net - Sep 23, 2026

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) reported on Wednesday about the first export shipment of Frozen Whole Steamed Saba (Cardava banana) to Australia on Sept. 22. The exportation was facilitated through the DA-11’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD). In a statement, DA-11 regional technical director for operations Marie Ann

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BARMM forming task force to protect schools, learners

Sep 23, 2026

BARMM forming task force to protect schools, learners

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is spearheading the creation of a multi-sectoral School Safety Task Force (SSTF) to protect learners, educators, and the general public against school violence across the region. Lawyer Abubakar Katambak, MBHTE deputy minister, said Wednesday

WATCH: Impeachment court lowers conviction threshold

Sep 23, 2026

WATCH: Impeachment court lowers conviction threshold

MANILA, Philippines – In a major procedural development in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the Senate impeachment court voted to sustain Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo’s Sept. 8 motion to reconsider how the two-thirds conviction threshold should be calculated. The court voted 13-1, with six senator-judges refused to participate, to adopt Tulfo’s motion. /dp READ: Watch:

How to lighten the mood at Chuseok family gatherings

Sep 23, 2026

How to lighten the mood at Chuseok family gatherings

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. During the Chuseok holiday, families and relatives who have not seen one another for a long time often greet each other with warm words and questions about their lives. But what may seem like a harmless remark to one person can unexpectedly hurt another or add to their stress. Family members may feel comfortable asking personal questions that they would hesitate to ask others because of their close relationship. To avoid lingering hurt feelings after the holiday, it may be worth thinking not only about what to say this Chuseok, but also about what not to say. Avoid questions that are difficult to answer Questions about marriage, employment and education are among the most common topics to avoid during holiday gatherings. Questions such as “Are you seeing anyone?” “Why haven't you found a job yet?” or “Which university are you planning to attend?” can put pressure on people, especially when the issues are beyond their immediate control or are things they may already be struggling with. Questions about having children should be treated

Love in Korean War: Wartime bride's son traces mother's journey from Wonju to America

Sep 23, 2026

Love in Korean War: Wartime bride's son traces mother's journey from Wonju to America

On the wooden veranda of a traditional Korean house, its lattice doors covered in paper, a young couple sits facing each other and smiling. The American husband, hair cropped short, has lather on his face and is about to shave. His younger Korean wife holds up a mirror for him. Last summer, their granddaughter shared 10 of the black-and-white photographs on Reddit, the American online forum. They were taken in the early 1950s in Wonju, Gangwon Province, at the height of the Korean War, and the couple in them is Park Yoo-sun and Ralph Smith. The photos drew widespread attention from users in both countries. The marriage carried a price. Women in Korea who married American servicemen in that era were labeled "yanggongju," literally "Western princess," a derogatory label used against women associated with U.S. troops. By the granddaughter's account, the couple settled in the United States in the 1960s. Their son, Charley Smith, now 74, published "Yoo-sun and Ralph" through the Korean publisher Positive Thinking. The book traces a family history intertwined with the turbulent course of mode

UNESCO Peace Walk marks 150th anniversary of independence leader Kim Koo

Sep 23, 2026

UNESCO Peace Walk marks 150th anniversary of independence leader Kim Koo

To mark the International Day of Peace and honor one of Korea’s most revered independence leaders, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO hosted a landmark event in Seoul on Monday, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth. The "2026 70GETHER Walking Campaign" — the name is pronounced "together" — took place around Hyochang Park in Yongsan District, co-hosted by Woori Bank, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Kim Koo Museum & Library. Kim Koo (1876-1949) was a leader of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which campaigned for independence during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. UNESCO has designated the 150th anniversary of his birth as one of the anniversaries it commemorates in 2026. He is buried in Hyochang Park, which also houses the museum dedicated to him. The International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations, is observed annually on Sept. 21. Commission Secretary-General Hong Hyun-ik, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Yun-jin attended, along

Blindfolded walks, K-pop dances and romance: Inside Korea's Buddhist matchmaking program

Sep 23, 2026

Blindfolded walks, K-pop dances and romance: Inside Korea's Buddhist matchmaking program

Participants gathered at the Korea Culture Training Institute in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, on Saturday for the latest edition of "I'm Solo at the Temple," a matchmaking program for singles organized by the Social Welfare Foundation of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism inspired by Korea's hit dating reality series "I Am Solo." Under a clear autumn sky, men and women paired off for a blindfolded walk. The women covered their eyes with black blindfolds, and the men guided them. Reaching the trail's halfway point, they swapped roles, with the men putting on the blindfolds and the women guiding. When one person hesitated to take a step, their partner gently guided them by the elbow. Soon, some were holding hands naturally. "It was nice to walk while relying on the other person," a 32-year-old participant surnamed Kang said. "It feels like affection blossomed through small moments of physical contact." The foundation selected 20 participants from 513 applicants to spend the day together, getting to know potential matches. Organizers arranged activities to foster connection, ranging

Unlikely Seoul souvenir becomes next big trend on Japanese social media

Sep 23, 2026

Unlikely Seoul souvenir becomes next big trend on Japanese social media

A sleek cap featuring Seoul’s official logo has become an unlikely viral sensation in Japan, racking up millions of social media views and turning municipal merchandise into a sought-after fashion statement. A Japanese user posted a photo of herself wearing the Seoul My Soul Belt Cap on Sept. 7. The post recorded 2.7 million views, 32,000 likes, 7,900 reposts and 9,300 bookmarks without any paid advertising or promotions, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The cap, released Sept. 3 through a collaboration between Seoul’s SEOUL MY SOUL city brand and traditional fashion brand ONGO, combines modern headwear with details inspired by Korean traditional knotwork. Seoul said the post’s popularity in Japan has also generated interest in Korea, illustrating how products built around local designs can spread beyond their intended market through social media. The city government on Wednesday released its first Seoul Goods Top 10 ranking based on international shoppers’ purchases across online and offline sales channels this year. The analysis found that consumers in their 20s a

Seoul opens free Han River wedding program for young couples

Sep 23, 2026

Seoul opens free Han River wedding program for young couples

In a metropolis where soaring real estate prices and inflation have turned lavish nuptials into an agonizing financial milestone, a quiet change is taking place along the banks of the Han River. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it is expanding its signature "A Rosy Wedding on the Hangang" program, offering fully funded, open-air ceremonies to young adults struggling with wedding expenses. Jointly sponsored by KB Securities, the initiative covers every detail of a traditional wedding, from venue rental, photography, catering and floral arrangements to bridal gowns, hair and makeup — all completely free of charge. Previously reserved for low-income families, multicultural households and disabled residents, the public program is opening its doors to more young couples living in the capital. Up to two couples will be selected through an essay contest to exchange vows on Oct. 25 in the Gwangnaru Hangang Park Rose Garden, a scenic public venue established in 2022 that blends waterfront views with lush floral landscapes. The policy shift addresses a growing demographic c

'There are gay people in schools, too': Teachers form 1st LGBTQ+ committee

Sep 23, 2026

'There are gay people in schools, too': Teachers form 1st LGBTQ+ committee

“Schools have gay people, too!” That was the message of support from a teacher in a booklet published ahead of the launch of the Sexual Minorities Committee of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU). On March 1, the committee became the union’s first-ever body dedicated to sexual minorities. It brings together LGBTQ+ teachers and teachers who support them. Their shared hope is that LGBTQ+ students will encounter at least one teacher who supports them during their years at school. On the evening of Sept. 14, The Hankook Ilbo spoke by phone with “Mo,” the committee’s inaugural chairperson, who uses a pseudonym as an activist. Schools ask about gender every day Mo is a 13-year veteran elementary school teacher. At the first staff meeting held at the school where Mo currently works, Mo proposed eliminating a numbering system that divides students by gender. Under the system, the 30 students in a class are divided into boys and girls, with boys assigned numbers starting with 1 and girls from 16, in alphabetical order. The students are then divided into “boys’ team

Sungkyunkwan University, KIST researchers develop innovative anticancer platform

Sep 23, 2026

Sungkyunkwan University, KIST researchers develop innovative anticancer platform

A Sungkyunkwan University research team has developed an innovative cancer treatment platform in collaboration with researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Sungkyunkwan University said the platform is designed to simultaneously identify cancer cells and the surrounding cells that support them and block communication between the two at its source by suppressing the production of extracellular vesicles. The team was led by professor Yang Yoo-soo of the university’s department of integrative biotechnology. It collaborated with a KIST research team headed by Dr. Shim Man-kyu. Cancer does not grow through the efforts of cancer cells alone. Surrounding the cancer cells are cancer-associated fibroblasts and various immune cells that act like collaborators, forming a complex community known as the tumor microenvironment. These cells communicate with one another by exchanging tiny packages called extracellular vesicles, which carry signaling molecules between cells. Through this exchange, cancer cells gain advantages that promote their growth and spread to other orga

Seoul yet to decide on joint Olympic bid with North Jeolla

Sep 23, 2026

Seoul yet to decide on joint Olympic bid with North Jeolla

With North Jeolla Province pushing to co-host the 2036 Summer Olympics with Seoul, the capital city's government remains hesitant to respond to the proposal, following its own elimination from the domestic selection process. North Jeolla Province officials said the provincial government submitted a joint hosting proposal to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and is currently awaiting a response. Insiders, however, say it would be challenging for the two governments to iron out the details of the co-hosting arrangement as both would want to hold the major events, including the opening ceremony. “They will find it hard to narrow their differences because both sides would want the key events ... Seoul had already lost the initial domestic bid to North Jeolla Province. While Seoul would readily host the event on its own, a joint bid is a completely different matter, as it involves significant taxpayer money,” a government official familiar with the matter told The Korea Times. It has been reported that the metropolitan government told the province that under a joint bid, the capital would

[COVER STORY] North Jeolla Province's 2036 Olympic bid falters as it seeks to co-host with Seoul

Sep 23, 2026

[COVER STORY] North Jeolla Province's 2036 Olympic bid falters as it seeks to co-host with Seoul

North Jeolla Province has approached Seoul about joining its bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics as a co-host, fueling speculation that the province's bid for the provincial city, Jeonju, to host the games is losing momentum amid concerns about a lack of necessary infrastructure. Although the provincial government says it is not giving up its bid to host the Games on its own but is adopting a strategy to increase its chances of being selected, the co-hosting offer shows it is facing a growing burden over its lack of necessary facilities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has since postponed its review of the province's plan for the event hosting. Provincial government officials said North Jeolla Gov. Lee Won-taeg recently met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to discuss co-hosting the upcoming Olympics. “The governor met with Seoul officials to discuss the broader framework for a joint bid, and we are currently awaiting Seoul’s official response. At the working level, we have formally requested that they submit their proposal on the co-hosting arrangement, and working-level officia

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