KTO picks 6 promising tourism startups at investor demo day

The Korea Times - Nov 11, 2026

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has recognized six emerging tourism startups for their business potential at an event aimed at connecting innovative companies with investors, the state-run agency said Wednesday. The 2026 Tourism Venture Final Demo Day, held Tuesday in central Seoul, brought together about 100 participants, including startup founders, investors and aspiring entrepreneurs. Fourteen companies presented their business models and growth strategies to potential investors, including managers of tourism-focused funds and funds backed by pension funds. The six selected companies were chosen through a mock investment evaluation. Their businesses span travel technology, retail and marine tourism. RavenL, for instance, developed a tool that analyzes tourist spending patterns using travel videos filmed by foreign visitors, alongside a system that helps retailers turn customer behavior data into sales. Another winner, About Fishing, operates a marine leisure platform combining fishing information, boat reservations and equipment purchases. A third company offers an integrated v

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Korea warns of rare vision-loss risk linked to GLP-1 drugs

Nov 11, 2026

Korea warns of rare vision-loss risk linked to GLP-1 drugs

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued a safety alert Wednesday to medical professionals and patients over a potential risk of a rare eye condition associated with GLP-1 obesity drugs, including popular obesity treatments Wegovy and Mounjaro. The move follows safety measures by overseas regulators concerning nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve that can lead to sudden, potentially permanent vision loss. In June last year, the European Medicines Agency classified it as a very rare side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, estimating it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 users. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers Monday to add a possible increased risk of NAION to the warnings and precautions on GLP-1 drug labels. The letter advises medical professionals to stop treatment and have patients examined immediately if NAION is suspected in those taking GLP-1 drugs, which aid weight loss by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. Patients with related symptom

Police chief nominee's confirmation hearing set for Nov. 18

Nov 11, 2026

Police chief nominee's confirmation hearing set for Nov. 18

The National Assembly will hold a confirmation hearing for Kim Jong-chul, nominee for commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), next week, officials said Wednesday. The parliamentary public administration and security committee adopted a plan to hold the hearing next Wednesday during a plenary meeting earlier in the day. The KNPA commissioner general nominee can be appointed by the president even without parliamentary consent following the confirmation hearing. If appointed, Kim would fill a post that has remained vacant for nearly two years since former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in late 2024.

Lee vows to reflect farmers' voices in decision on CPTPP membership

Nov 11, 2026

Lee vows to reflect farmers' voices in decision on CPTPP membership

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday vowed to accommodate farmers' opinions in deciding whether to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The president made the remarks in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on the 31st Day of Farmers, reiterating his pledge to take farmers' interests into account when deciding to join the Indo-Pacific trade bloc. "On important issues, including farmland reform ... and the CPTPP, the government will work toward faithfully reflecting voices from the (agricultural) field so as to be helpful to farmers," Lee wrote in the post. The president has previously said that Korea's entry into the CPTPP would be "unavoidable," but has pledged to focus on finding complementary measures to implement when seeking CPTPP membership. While CPTPP membership is expected to help boost Korea's overall exports, the agricultural and fisheries sectors are likely to take a hit from market opening due to imports of cheaper products. Lee has ordered the government not to apply for CPTPP membership this year, expressing the need for sufficie

Nat'l Assembly speaker vows push for constitutional revision, rules out Lee seeking 2nd term

Nov 11, 2026

Nat'l Assembly speaker vows push for constitutional revision, rules out Lee seeking 2nd term

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for a constitutional revision, rejecting opposition claims that the revision would be aimed at allowing President Lee Jae Myung to seek a second term. Cho's remarks came as opposition lawmakers have questioned whether he had left open the possibility of Lee seeking another term after he told a press conference in July that an incumbent president's eligibility to seek another term would be up to the people to decide. "As stipulated in Article 128 of the Constitution, the extension of a sitting president's term is not a subject of discussions for a constitutional revision," Cho said during a discussion hosted by the Kwanhun Club, a senior journalists' association. "This should no longer be used for political conflict." Cho said the National Assembly should take the lead in pursuing constitutional reform, adding that he plans to launch an advisory committee under his office soon to set the direction and key priorities for the revision. "As no nationwide elections are scheduled for next year, it would b

Rail workers threaten indefinite strike from Dec. 10

Nov 11, 2026

Rail workers threaten indefinite strike from Dec. 10

Unionized workers of Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) said Wednesday they will launch an indefinite general strike at 9 a.m. on Dec. 10, demanding improvements to the promotion system and the employment of more safety-related personnel. The Korean Railway Workers' Union announced the plan in a news conference at Seoul Station, warning the walkout will proceed unless its demands are met. In a statement, the union criticized the current promotion system for "unfairly" excluding field workers and said staff shortages in railway operations are directly compromising safety. The union plans to hold a large-scale rally at Seoul Station on Saturday, followed by a two-week safe-operation campaign and a series of regional nighttime rallies beginning Nov. 23. The walkout could disrupt KTX and conventional train services nationwide, as well as subway services in the capital area. Its impact could be greater than that of previous strikes following the integration of high-speed rail operator SR Co. into KORAIL in September.

Korea climbs 8 spots to rank 10th in global digital, AI competitiveness

Nov 11, 2026

Korea climbs 8 spots to rank 10th in global digital, AI competitiveness

Korea jumped eight places to rank 10th out of 70 nations in the 2026 World Digital and AI Competitiveness Ranking (WDAIR), published Wednesday by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) — the prestigious Swiss business school known for its benchmark global competitiveness evaluations. Among nations with populations exceeding 20 million, Korea secured fourth place, trailing only the United States, Canada and China. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that Korea achieved comprehensive improvements across all five evaluated categories: Governance, Technological Infrastructure, Efficiency, Human Resources Development and Societal Attitudes & Values. Notably, Korea jumped 10 places to rank third globally in Efficiency and climbed four spots to third in Technological Infrastructure. Korea demonstrated unmatched leadership in government execution and technological foundation, claiming the top spot worldwide in both the Government Core Systems Index and total research and development (R&D) expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. The nation also mainta

Bus rams into 32 vehicles in Bundang, leaving 57 injured

Nov 11, 2026

Bus rams into 32 vehicles in Bundang, leaving 57 injured

SEONGNAM — A bus plowed into more than 30 vehicles waiting at a traffic stop in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, during morning rush hour Wednesday, officials said, leaving 57 people injured. The city bus, driven by a man in his 60s, struck four other buses, a cargo truck and 27 passenger cars before coming to a stop after hitting a traffic barrier in Seongnam's Bundang Ward at 7:34 a.m. The bus reportedly hit the vehicles over a distance of about 100 to 150 meters The incident left nine people seriously hurt and 48 others with minor injuries. None of the injuries were reported to be life threatening. The bus driver reportedly told police that the brakes did not work, with investigators looking into the exact cause of the crash. Police said the driver was not under the influence of alcohol, but plan to check whether he had taken drugs.

Saving tomorrow's memory: Korea names 6 modern artifacts to national preservation watchlist

Nov 11, 2026

Saving tomorrow's memory: Korea names 6 modern artifacts to national preservation watchlist

Under the traditional framework of cultural preservation, an artifact typically had to weather decades — if not centuries — of history before earning state protection. But as modern history moves at a relentless pace, Korea is taking a proactive stance to ensure that the physical relics of its turbulent 20th-century journey toward democracy, industrialization and global recognition are not lost to time. The Korea Heritage Service designated six key modern historical artifacts as preliminary cultural heritage on Wednesday. Introduced as part of a national framework to safeguard items under 50 years old that possess high preservation value, the designation system aims to protect recent heritage from destruction or neglect long before it reaches formal registered status. The newly recognized items capture pivotal moments across politics, sports, fine arts and popular culture from the late 1970s through the 2000s. Among the most notable selections are original manuscripts documenting the nation's fight for democracy against the autocratic regime of President Park Chung-hee, whose 18-yea

From pork to tangerines: 3 foods to try on Jeju autumn trip

Nov 11, 2026

From pork to tangerines: 3 foods to try on Jeju autumn trip

Travelers heading to Jeju Island for a last look at this year’s autumn scenery can round out their trip with the island’s local specialties. Here are three food items that represent Jeju. Black pork Pork is Jeju’s signature meat, central to the island's food culture and long served at family occasions such as weddings and funerals. Today, the island’s black pigs are known to yield meat with more intramuscular fat and red meat than common breeds, giving it a rich, savory flavor. Locally, it is often sold in thick cuts by “geun,” a traditional Korean unit equal to 600 grams. The meat is typically grilled over coal briquettes or charcoal and dipped in anchovy sauce, called “meljeot” in the local dialect. Other popular pork dishes include “dombae gogi,” boiled sliced pork served on a wooden cutting board, and “gogi guksu,” noodles in pork-bone broth. Omegi-tteok "Omegi-tteok," a millet and mugwort rice cake, is a traditional Jeju treat made from sticky foxtail millet. Paddies are rare on the volcanic island, so rice was scarce and residents brewed alcohol from millet in

Fall foliage peaks on Jeju, silver grass rounds out scenery

Nov 11, 2026

Fall foliage peaks on Jeju, silver grass rounds out scenery

Although autumn foliage has largely passed its peak across Korea this year, those who missed the season still have one last chance on Jeju, the country’s southernmost region, where the colors have yet to reach their height. According to a 2026 autumn foliage forecast released by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum, ginkgo trees and oak species at Halla Arboretum on Jeju are expected to peak — defined as when 50 percent or more of their leaves have changed color — on Nov. 16 and maples on Nov. 19. Around the same time, silver grass blankets Jeju’s "oreum," or small volcanic cones, and its coastlines. Here are some of the best places on Jeju Island to catch the year’s last autumn scenery. Halla Arboretum Opened in 1993 in Jeju City, this public arboretum displays about 100,000 plants representing 1,321 species, including native Jeju and subtropical plants. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment designated it in 2000 as a conservation center for endangered wild plants outside their natural habitats. Its forest bathing area offers a refreshing a

MMCA exhibition to highlight iconic American modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe

Nov 11, 2026

MMCA exhibition to highlight iconic American modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe

Celebrated as the "Mother of American Modernism," Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) is known for her pioneering works featuring motifs of flowers, animal bones and desert landscapes. She was a leading figure in a new artistic wave in the first half of the 20th century that turned to American cities and landscapes when Paris was largely considered the center of the art world. "Georgia O'Keeffe and American Modernism," an upcoming exhibition by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), brings together O'Keeffe's own paintings, as well as works by other key figures in American modernism. The exhibition, set to begin Thursday at the Gwacheon branch of the MMCA, features nearly 120 artworks, including 16 paintings by O'Keeffe, according to the museum. It also highlights the works of other artists, including Alfred Stieglitz, O'Keeffe's husband and an accomplished photographer; Arthur Dove; Marsden Hartley; and Charles Demuth. The exhibition comprises three sections, beginning with the Alfred Stieglitz Collection, which O'Keeffe donated to the Art Institute of Chicago after his deat

Seoul rolls out 6 night coupon packs to keep tourists exploring after dark

Nov 11, 2026

Seoul rolls out 6 night coupon packs to keep tourists exploring after dark

Seoul is looking to turn its nights into a bigger draw for international visitors, introducing six themed discount packages designed to encourage tourists to stay out longer and spend more across the city. The Seoul Tourism Organization announced Wednesday that it is expanding nighttime attractions available through its Discover Seoul Pass and launching six Night Coupon Packs covering dining, shopping, wellness, sightseeing and cultural experiences. The initiative follows growing demand for after-dark activities among foreign visitors. According to the organization's analysis of pass usage, nighttime visits between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. accounted for 14 percent of partner-facility visits in 2024 and 15.2 percent in both 2025 and 2026, as of Nov. 1. The pass recorded 98,880 nighttime visits over the past three years, with observation decks and Han River cruises drawing particular interest, alongside spas, saunas and water-based leisure facilities. The six packages are designed to make those experiences easier to discover. They include the Seoul Night Taste Pack for Korean food and dining, Nig

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