How social aid could fund green jobs and reforestation

Inquirer.net - Nov 12, 2026

Despite the Philippines spending hundreds of billions of pesos annually on social assistance programs, poverty, environmental degradation, watershed decline, biodiversity loss, flooding and climate vulnerability persist. At the same time, decades of reforestation efforts have produced mixed results because success has frequently been measured by the number of hectares planted rather than the number of

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Korea has much to gain from helping refugees, UNHCR official says

Nov 12, 2026

Korea has much to gain from helping refugees, UNHCR official says

Korea has much to gain from supporting refugees, including making a safer and more stable international environment, according to the United Nations' refugee agency representative in Afghanistan. During an interview with The Korea Times during his visit to Seoul, Tuesday, Arafat Jamal, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) representative in Afghanistan, said supporting countries such as Afghanistan is not simply an act of charity, but an investment in a more stable world. "Korea is a responsible member of the international community. And helping a country like Afghanistan is for global public good. I think that we can only gain if countries are more open and more willing to build international solidarity and to look beyond themselves," he said. Jamal expressed deep gratitude to the Korean government and people for their continued support, urging them "to continue to build solidarity with the world." Afghanistan's strategic location, bordering seven countries including China, Pakistan and Iran, makes its stability a matter of wider international concern, the U.N. official said. A

Ruling party lawmaker accused of defamation for calling journalists 'pack of hyenas'

Nov 12, 2026

Ruling party lawmaker accused of defamation for calling journalists 'pack of hyenas'

A police complaint was filed Thursday accusing ruling party Rep. Choi Min-hee of defamation for referring to journalists as "a pack of hyenas." The complaint against Choi of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was filed with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency a week after the lawmaker made the comment in a KakaoTalk group chat while referring to an image of photo and video journalists covering a general meeting of DPK lawmakers. She also described the journalists as "doing everything to take videos that sow discord." The complainant, Lee Jong-bae, a former Seoul city councilmember affiliated with the main opposition People Power Party, said Choi's comments revealed her perception of the press and exposed a double standard that chants democracy but scorns journalists that cause discomfort. Choi held a press conference at the National Assembly on Wednesday and apologized for her remarks.

HUFS institute hosts policy dialogues on diplomatic strategies in Singapore, Malaysia

Nov 12, 2026

HUFS institute hosts policy dialogues on diplomatic strategies in Singapore, Malaysia

A research institute affiliated with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) hosted policy dialogues in Singapore and Malaysia last week to strengthen cooperation between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The university said Wednesday that the HUFS Institute for International Strategy (HIIS) organized the dialogues in collaboration with leading overseas universities and policy research institutions ahead of its official launch. The events brought together diplomatic, security and economic experts from Korea and ASEAN member states as part of the International Eminent Persons’ Track 1.5 Dialogue on Foreign Policy Strategy, an initiative led by Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Participants explored strategic responses to the rapidly changing international order and discussed ways to deepen Korea-ASEAN ties. The Singapore Policy Dialogue was held Nov. 2 at Hotel Waterloo Singapore under the theme “Rethinking Foreign Policy Strategies in a Changing International Order: Perspectives from South Korea and ASEAN.” The event drew faculty members of the S

Joint research team develops new method to produce high-efficiency perovskite LEDs

Nov 12, 2026

Joint research team develops new method to produce high-efficiency perovskite LEDs

A joint research team from Kookmin University, Sungkyunkwan University and Hanyang University has developed highly efficient perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without the need for a separate post-synthetic ligand-exchange process. The findings were published in Advanced Functional Materials, an international journal in the field of materials science, under the title “Direct Integration of Conductive, Emissive Perovskite Nanocrystals into Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes Without Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange.” The team was led by Kim Young-hoon, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Kookmin University; Lee Bo-ram, a professor in the Department of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University; and Lee Tae-kyung, a professor in the Department of Organic and Nano Engineering at Hanyang University. The three professors served as co-corresponding authors of the collaborative study. Lee Yu-bin, who has completed her master’s coursework at Kookmin University, also participated as a co-first author alongside Kim Ji-geon, a researcher at the university,

Korean traditional culture meets modern retail at Seoul festival

Nov 12, 2026

Korean traditional culture meets modern retail at Seoul festival

The 2026 Today’s Tradition Festival opened Thursday at Culture Station Seoul 284, a cultural complex housed in the historic former Seoul Station building in central Seoul, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. Co-hosted with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, the four-day event runs through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with last admission at 5:30 p.m. Now in its fourth year, the festival aims to integrate Korean heritage into contemporary lifestyles and modern consumer tastes. This year’s theme, “Bokjak Bokjak, Today’s Tradition,” plays on a Korean expression evoking a lively, bustling crowd while hinting at making and sharing “bok,” or good fortune. At the heart of the event is a pop-up market featuring 104 brands — including 39 traditional culture startups — selling home goods, fashion, food, beverages and handicrafts. Highlights include rugs woven with reimagined traditional motifs, color-changing glassware inspired by celadon and white porcelain, and hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, redesigned for everyday wear. An adjacent exhibition sho

Women flock to Seoul's Namdaemun Market for viral 'Scarf Man'

Nov 12, 2026

Women flock to Seoul's Namdaemun Market for viral 'Scarf Man'

“Take a few. I can come back again.” “Oh, thank you, sis. Bless you.” At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, middle-aged women gathered outside Hanyangsa, a scarf shop at Namdaemun Market in central Seoul, were sharing scarves with one another. The shop had already closed for the day, but women who had purchased scarves earlier were handing them to those leaving empty-handed. Some visitors had traveled by train from cities such as Daegu and Daejeon. Namdaemun Market has been swept up in the craze for the “Scarf Man.” A merchant identified only as A, who sells scarves at the market, has become an online sensation for his witty banter on social media, drawing huge crowds eager to see him in person. At 1 p.m. that day, the real-time population indicator for the Namdaemun Market area stood at approximately 25,000, classified as severely crowded. When A emerged from his shop after closing, a barrage of smartphone camera flashes greeted him. He made his way through the crowd with help from privately hired security guards. His appeal lies in his down-to-earth personality and gruff, humorous way of

Seoul to spend $14 mil. to turn Mount Nam into eco-tourism hub by 2031

Nov 12, 2026

Seoul to spend $14 mil. to turn Mount Nam into eco-tourism hub by 2031

Seoul will spend 19.2 billion won ($14.2 million) through 2031 to restore forests on Mount Nam and build new attractions there, including a 360-degree observatory at the summit, the city government said Thursday. Located in central Seoul, Mount Nam is one of the capital city’s best-known landmarks. The city formally announced an urban regeneration plan for Mount Nam and nearby areas, including the Myeong-dong shopping district and Yejang Park, on Thursday. The plan covers about 3.11 million square meters and has 15 projects in four areas. Eight of them are early-stage projects meant to spur further development with the allotted funding. A key part of the plan is a gondola that will run about 832 meters from Yejang Park, near Myeongdong Station, to the summit. It is designed to carry more than 1,600 passengers an hour, over three times as many as the existing cable car. The city said the gondola will make the summit easier to reach for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility. Its operating profits will go toward restoring the mountain’s ecosystem. Construction of the gondola

European film festival brings record 23 countries to Seoul

Nov 12, 2026

European film festival brings record 23 countries to Seoul

Seoul is preparing for an unusually wide-ranging cinematic journey through Europe, with films from a record 23 countries set to take over Seoul Museum of History for this year's European Film Festival. The 12th edition of the festival, organized by Seoul Museum of History in partnership with EUNIC Korea and the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, will run from Nov. 20 to Dec. 6, with 23 films screened free of charge. This year's theme, "Memories of Past, Visions of Future," explores history, identity, migration, generations, gender and human rights through stories from across Europe. The participating countries include Poland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Britain, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland and 14 others, marking the largest international lineup in the festival's history. Screenings will take place at Yajugae Hall inside the museum on nine Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with evening sessions added to make the program more accessible to workers and students. The festival opens Nov. 20 with "VIKA!," a 2024 Polish documentary directed by Agnieszka Zwiefka about an 84-

Seoul serves up steamed rice as next big tourist attraction

Nov 12, 2026

Seoul serves up steamed rice as next big tourist attraction

A bowl of steamed rice, an everyday staple in Korea, could become an unexpected draw for international tourists as Seoul looks to turn its traditional food culture into a new form of culinary tourism. The Seoul Metropolitan Government held a K-Rice Pairing Experience on Wednesday at Seoul Herbal Medicine Center, inviting 12 international students from Korea University to explore the flavors, aromas and textures of Korean rice. The event was part of the city's efforts to develop tourism experiences rooted in local culture and everyday life, moving beyond conventional sightseeing destinations. Participants sampled three Korean rice varieties — Samgwang from Chungcheong Province, Sindongjin from North Jeolla Province and Golden Queen No. 3 from Gyeonggi Province — comparing their textures, aromas and levels of stickiness. They also paired the rice with salted pollock roe, roasted seaweed and kimchi before sampling three traditional alcoholic beverages made from rice. The experience began with participants opening rice cookers to appreciate the aroma of freshly cooked rice, alongside intr

[PHOTO] Dior CEO receives honorary doctorate from Ewha

Nov 12, 2026

[PHOTO] Dior CEO receives honorary doctorate from Ewha

Christian Dior Couture CEO Delphine Arnault, right, poses with Ewha Womans University President Lee Hyang-sook after receiving an honorary doctorate in business administration at the university in Seoul, Thursday. The school recognized Arnault, Dior’s first female CEO, for her leadership in the global luxury industry and contributions to nurturing female talent. Ewha has partnered with Dior since 2022 on programs including internships to cultivate the next generation of women leaders. Yonhap

Why Koreans eat boiled pork with fresh kimchi — and what it does to the body

Nov 12, 2026

Why Koreans eat boiled pork with fresh kimchi — and what it does to the body

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As Korea's annual kimchi-making season approaches, one traditional food pairing is drawing renewed attention for its potential health benefits: freshly made kimchi served with steaming slices of boiled pork. Known as "suyuk," the tender boiled pork has long been a staple at the end of "kimjang," the traditional Korean practice of preparing large quantities of kimchi for the winter. In the past, families and neighbors would gather to salt napa cabbage, prepare seasonings and pack kimchi into containers. The labor-intensive process often ended with a shared meal of freshly made kimchi and boiled pork, offering a welcome reward after hours of physical work. But the pairing may offer more than comfort and flavor. Pork provides nutrients involved in energy metabolism, while cabbage and kimchi seasonings contribute fiber and antioxidants. A fading winter tradition Despite its cultural significance, kimjang is becoming less common in Korean households. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, 58.6 percent of households surveyed this year said th

Lee says Korean capital market undervalued; urges measures to boost competitiveness

Nov 12, 2026

Lee says Korean capital market undervalued; urges measures to boost competitiveness

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that Korea's capital market remains undervalued, calling for measures to boost its global competitiveness and attract long-term investments. The president made the remarks at a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, as Korea's stock market has experienced significant volatility in recent months. After reaching an all-time closing high of 9,114.55 points in late June, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 5,342.73 points on Thursday, leaving many investors on edge. The president said the country's capital market has been significantly affected by recent external uncertainties. Given the country's economic fundamentals and corporate competitiveness, Korea's capital market "is an attractive investment destination that still remains undervalued," Lee told the meeting. He said government efforts should be focused on creating an environment in which the capital market receives its fair valuation, allowing its sound development to translate into increased household wealth and improved livelihoods for the public. The

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