Seoul Grand Park showcases nature's botanical predators

The Korea Times - Sep 29, 2026

Long a sanctuary for native flora and exotic animals, the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden is turning the spotlight on nature’s most cunning hunters: carnivorous plants. Starting Oct. 2, the park will host its 20th annual carnivorous plant exhibition, a 10-day Exploring North American Carnivorous Plants with JBS showcase. Set in the Welcoming Garden near the main entrance, the event features more than 700 specimens across 16 species native to North America — ranging from the iconic Venus flytrap and dew-beaded sundews to cobra lilies and butterworts. To make the botanical science accessible to families, park organizers are framing the exhibit around JBS (Jabasseu), a whimsical fictional mascot group created to celebrate the botanical garden’s 40th anniversary. Made up of five characters modeled after insect-eating plants — including Fly, Taeyang-i and Sara — JBS acts as a pop-idol-style guide, leading visitors through an interactive journey tracing how these plants thrive in the wild. Carnivorous plants are evolutionary marvels. By adapting to nutrient-poor soils like peat bog

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Korea-born twin pandas to be transferred to China in December

Sep 30, 2026

Korea-born twin pandas to be transferred to China in December

Twin pandas born at a Korean amusement park in Yongin, just south of Seoul, will be sent to China in the third week of December, a park official said Wednesday. China has ownership of all pandas, including those born outside of China, and sends them to other countries only on a lease basis. Rui Bao and Hui Bao, who were born in Korea on July 7, 2023, will leave before they turn four, when pandas' reproductive maturity begins, as required. Everland amusement park said the exact travel date and destination will be finalized based on factors including their health. The park plans to host farewell programs for visitors. "We ask for your great interest and warm support for the twin pandas' new start," a park official said. Previously, their older sister, Fu Bao, who triggered a massive fandom craze in Korea, returned to China in April 2024 before reaching her fourth birthday.

Defense chief visits naval command center to inspect military readiness

Sep 30, 2026

Defense chief visits naval command center to inspect military readiness

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul on Wednesday visited the command and control center of the Navy to inspect the military readiness posture and encourage troops, his office said. Kang visited the command center of the Republic of Korea Fleet in the southeastern port city of Busan, where he was debriefed on the maritime operational situation, according to the defense ministry. "The waters you defend are the very source of Korea's national strength and future, and these waters are a sea of victory that your fellow seniors guarded with their blood and sweat," he said, urging the troops to "firmly" respond without hesitation in the event of enemy provocation. The defense chief was also briefed on preparations for the dispatch of the 49th contingent of the Cheonghae unit to Somalia early next month as part of its rotational deployment. The unit is currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast. He called on the troops to follow through on their mission with the mindset that they are on the front lines to safeguard the lives of the people and international peace.

Lee visits soldiers injured by land mine in DMZ, pledges due compensation

Sep 30, 2026

Lee visits soldiers injured by land mine in DMZ, pledges due compensation

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday paid an unexpected visit to the soldiers injured in last week's land mine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and pledged to provide due compensation, a presidential spokesperson said. Lee visited the wounded soldiers at a military hospital and offered words of comfort to them and their family members, presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said. On Sept. 21, two mine explosions on the southern side of the DMZ, a military buffer zone between the two Koreas, left three soldiers wounded, two with serious injuries. A joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC) has determined the mines had been planted there by North Korean forces in what the UNC called earlier Wednesday a "violation" of the Korean armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, earlier dismissed the outcome of the South Korea-UNC investigation, accusing Seoul of "cooking up" such results with a malicious intent. Lee told the soldiers to focus on recovering, and promised to

Sungkyunkwan University climbs 19 places to 68th in THE World University Rankings 2027

Sep 30, 2026

Sungkyunkwan University climbs 19 places to 68th in THE World University Rankings 2027

Sungkyunkwan University climbed 19 places to 68th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, strengthening its position as a leading research-intensive university. The university said Wednesday that the rise was driven by across-the-board improvements in all five categories: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry partnerships and international outlook. The result marks the university’s fourth consecutive year of climbing the rankings released by the U.K.-based global university rankings agency, underscoring its rapid growth on the global stage. The university made significant gains in both teaching and research in the academic reputation survey conducted among scholars worldwide. Indicators reflecting the quality and impact of the university’s research showed clear upward trends. The university also ranked first among private universities in Korea and third overall among Korean universities. “This achievement is a meaningful result of the collective dedication of all members of the university, including students, faculty and staff, to enh

3 professors win Best Paper Award from American Society of Civil Engineers

Sep 30, 2026

3 professors win Best Paper Award from American Society of Civil Engineers

Three professors from Kookmin University, Chung-Ang University and Texas A&M University have won the Best Paper Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for their international collaborative research. Kookmin University said Tuesday that the award ceremony was held Monday at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The award recipients are Ko Tae-woo, a professor at Kookmin University’s School of Architecture; Lee Jee-hee, a professor at Chung-Ang University’s School of Architecture and Building Science; and H. David Jeong, a professor in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University. Their paper appeared in the Journal of Management in Engineering, an academic journal published by ASCE. Each year, ASCE selects one paper published in the journal for its Best Paper Award in recognition of outstanding academic and practical contributions, innovation and impact. The award-winning paper presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology that automatically assigns roles and responsibilities to different departments by analyzing requirements specified in c

Publishing industry lays down AI rules to counter 'click-to-publish' books

Sep 30, 2026

Publishing industry lays down AI rules to counter 'click-to-publish' books

One of South Korea’s two major publishing organizations has announced a set of principles for the use of artificial intelligence (AI), seeking to address mass-produced books created with AI, often referred to as “click-to-publish” books. The Korea Publisher Society said the principles aim to ensure that books remain trusted in the AI era by clearly defining human responsibility and roles throughout the publishing process. The organization said it will use the establishment of the principles as a starting point for further efforts to improve systems protecting the rights of authors and publishers. The Korea Publisher Society held a publishing and AI policy forum at Mapo Central Library in Seoul on Tuesday, where it unveiled the “Principles for the Use of AI by Publishers and Authors for Readers,” consisting of five chapters and 20 articles. Eleven organizations, including the Korea Publisher Society, the Writers Association of Korea and the Critics Alliance, participated in drafting the principles. It marks the first time the publishing industry has established AI-related guide

Classrooms in Korea try building connections through snacks, dance

Sep 30, 2026

Classrooms in Korea try building connections through snacks, dance

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday launched a six-month national campaign aimed at reshaping school culture. Today, more than 210,000 students enrolled in primary and secondary schools come from multicultural or immigrant backgrounds — a figure that continues to hit record highs year after year. Running through February 2027, the initiative, launched with the National Institute for Lifelong Education, pivots from passive lectures about abstract cultural awareness toward structured, shared experiences between immigrant and nonimmigrant youth. Findings from the 2024 National Multicultural Acceptance Survey, published by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, revealed a stark generational divide: Younger Koreans who regularly interact with peers from varied backgrounds demonstrate significantly higher levels of cultural openness (69.77 points) compared to older adults (53.38 points). To foster these essential daily interactions, the new campaign introduces monthly interactive programming designed to bring students together inside the classroom. In October, schools will host Small

Asian journalists share firsthand accounts of war, loss, division

Sep 30, 2026

Asian journalists share firsthand accounts of war, loss, division

Journalists and other voices from across Asia are drawing attention to stories often overlooked by mainstream coverage, sharing firsthand accounts of war, division and migration at a book talk in Seoul. The event, held Tuesday at the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, centered on Korean journalist Lee Sang-ki’s new book, "Why Asia Again? Journalist Lee Sang-ki Asks, Asia Answers." The author began his journalism career in 1988, founded the Asia Journalists Association (AJA) in 2004 and launched the news outlet The AsiaN in 2011 to convey perspectives from across the continent through an Asian lens. In his book, which covers roughly 50 Asian countries, Lee said the COVID-19 pandemic made him feel the existing world order was giving way to a new era, prompting him to take a fresh look at Asia. "Much of the news from Asia is not properly reported and many people are not interested," Lee said, adding that even when it is reported, coverage is often one-sided. The author introduced AJA journalists who are still reporting from the ground across Asia. "One journalist in Lebanon is a

Korean American artist Christine Sun Kim named MacArthur Fellow

Sep 30, 2026

Korean American artist Christine Sun Kim named MacArthur Fellow

Korean American artist Christine Sun Kim, known for her visual and sound works, has been named a recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowships, dubbed the genius grants, the MacArthur Foundation said. Kim was one of the 20 individuals selected to receive the $800,000 no-strings-attached grants given to individuals who have shown exceptional creativity and potential, according to the foundation Tuesday (U.S. time). "She engages with the complexities deaf people experience in a world that prioritizes sound and spoken forms of communication. ... Kim's work powerfully conveys the experiences of deaf people and opens up new ways of understanding sound and hearing," the foundation said. Born in California and currently based in Berlin, Kim has long explored the themes of sound, language and communication through her works across drawings, performances, videos and installations. Last year, she ranked No. 34 on British contemporary art publication ArtReview's "Power 100" list and recently made the Innovators list on U.S. weekly Time's "Time 100 Art" list. Kim's work "Have Many Dumb Fights Ag

Seoul takes Arisu tap water campaign to Han River banks

Sep 30, 2026

Seoul takes Arisu tap water campaign to Han River banks

Arisu, Seoul’s municipal tap water brand, is returning to the banks of the Han River for an autumn pop-up event designed to pair nighttime picnic culture with outdoor games, drinks, and illuminated city vistas. The “Beautiful Arisu” pop-up will begin Friday and run through Oct. 11 at Yeouido Hangang Park’s event plaza, operating from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The second pop-up follows its first edition in June, which drew 7,410 visitors, with 93.4 percent of survey respondents reporting a more positive perception of Arisu, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The new event is organized around an “autumn night picnic” theme and is intended to give office workers, evening walkers and other visitors more ways to spend time along the river after sunset. The pop-up features 10 areas, including game, cafe, healing and photo zones, along with information, video, DIY, promotional and voting areas and a Haechi art balloon. Visitors can play Arisu-themed games, while the cafe will offer coffee, corn silk tea and zero-sugar grapefruit drinks mad

Seoul unveils name display honoring missing US service members of Korean War

Sep 30, 2026

Seoul unveils name display honoring missing US service members of Korean War

A video listing the names of more than 7,400 U.S. service members from the 1950-53 Korean War who are still missing will be shown throughout October at the Garden of Gratitude, a Korean War memorial in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. The video will play on a media wall in Freedom Hall, the memorial's underground exhibition space, to mark Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 and United Nations Day on Oct. 24. The list was provided by a support group for families of missing U.S. troops, which handles the lists received from the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A separate space in the hall continues to display the names of those killed in the war. The memorial, which honors the countries that fought for or supported Korea during the war, drew more than 100,000 visitors in August. From Sept. 1 to 27, the above-ground "Light of Gratitude 23" light sculptures and Freedom Hall drew an average of 4,393 visitors a day, according to the city. The sculptures were lit in yellow on Monday to mark the anniversary of the recapture of Seoul, when Korea

Forest trails at 9 Joseon Dynasty royal tombs open for autumn walks

Sep 30, 2026

Forest trails at 9 Joseon Dynasty royal tombs open for autumn walks

Forest trails at nine royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty will open to the public beginning Thursday, giving visitors a chance to walk among autumn foliage at the UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Korea Heritage Service said Wednesday. The Joseon Dynasty ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. Forty of its royal tombs, located in Seoul and nearby areas, were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009. Much of the woodland surrounding the tombs is normally closed to visitors to protect the sites. The nine trails cover a combined 19.04 kilometers (11.8 miles). They are located at Donggureung in Guri; Gwangneung and Sareung in Namyangju; Taereung and Gangneung, and Uireung, in Seoul; Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong; Jangneung and Samneung in Paju; and Yeongneung and Nyeongneung in Yeoju. Apart from the two Seoul sites, all are in Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital. The longest route, at about 3.7 kilometers, links the Yungneung and Geolleung tombs in Hwaseong. Other highlights include a 2.7-kilometer route at Donggureung, the largest cluster of Joseon royal tombs,

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