‘The Assassin(s)’ Movie Fuels South Korea’s Culture Wars

New York Times - Oct 14, 2026

The film, “The Assassin(s),” revisits a 1974 shooting that has spawned J.F.K.-style conspiracy theories, exposing divides over the country’s history.

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Oct 14, 2026

New major crimes chief nominee vows not to give in to external pressure

Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), emphasized political neutrality and independence at his parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday, vowing to pursue investigations without yielding to external pressure. "I will conduct investigations impartially, upholding political neutrality and independence," Kim said in his opening remarks at the National Assembly hearing. "I will ensure that the SCIA conducts fair investigations based solely on the law and principles, without yielding to external pressure," he said. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that removes prosecutors' independent investigative powers. A new criminal justice system set sail, under which investigative agencies, including the SCIA and police, handle investigations, while the Prosecution Service is responsible for indictments. Kim vowed to ensure that SCIA fully fulfills its role in upholding judicial justice and protecting the daily lives of the public. He then promised to accomplish four key tasks to earn publi

Oct 14, 2026

Criminal profilers to question suspect behind Incheon stabbing spree for motive

INCHEON — Three criminal profilers will help investigate the suspect behind this week's stabbing spree in Incheon that left eight people injured, police said Wednesday. The profilers will help uncover the motive of the attack, which took place Tuesday afternoon at a shopping complex in the city west of Seoul, according to Incheon's Namdong Police Station. The suspect, a 59-year-old man, was detained at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into custody, where he reportedly told investigators some details of the attack. One victim, a woman in her 20s, went into cardiac arrest and received surgery, while the other seven were treated at hospitals. The assailant reportedly wielded knives in both hands and attacked people while moving between floors on an escalator before shoppers threw chairs at him and subdued him. He was found to be carrying a large quantity of drugs at the time, but tested negative in a preliminary drug test conducted by the police. "We plan to apply for an arrest warrant for the suspect after questioning him today," a police official said.

Oct 14, 2026

Busan wins over overseas tourists

BUSAN — A group of Taiwanese women burst into laughter and applause as a Korean man sitting next to them at a street food stall in Nampo-dong, Busan, poured soju into beer glasses to make poktanju, a Korean cocktail often called a bomb drink. The women had been watching him prepare the drink while enjoying the lively street lined with food stalls on the night of Oct. 7. When he offered them a round, their surprise quickly turned into excitement. “This is our second visit,” one of the women said. “The first time, we felt strange, so we did not try food or drink before. Today, we decided to try. The man made us poktanju and it is so nice. We will never forget this.” The Korean man, who was drinking with his friends, said he had noticed the women looking curiously at their table. “They kept looking at us, so I made some for them,” he said. “I hope they have a great time in Busan and take home lots of good memories.” The exchange offered a glimpse of what draws overseas visitors to the southeastern Korean city. Beyond its beaches and scenic views, the port city offers opport

Oct 14, 2026

Interactive exhibition turns K-drama fans into regional tourists

A landmark exhibition featuring more than 40 iconic Korean television dramas has opened in Seoul, offering international audiences an immersive look into the storytelling and real-world settings behind the country’s biggest cultural exports. Co-organized by Studio Dragon, the production company behind "Crash Landing on You" and other popular works, and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), "K-Drama Exhibition: Scenes to Destinations" has attracted visitors touring around Seoul. Running at HiKR Ground near Cheonggyecheon Stream through Nov. 19, the exhibition features five thematic zones: Script, Scene, Sound, Prop, and Location. Interactive journey into narrative, emotion On entry, visitors step into a recreation of the hotel reception desk from the 2019 drama "Hotel Del Luna." In the Script Zone, guests become screenwriters and complete unfinished scripts or collect printed cards featuring memorable lines. International K-drama fans at the exhibition emphasized the emotional connection that draws them to Korean series. "The first Korean drama I ever watched was 'Healer,'" said Ester, 49

Oct 14, 2026

Everland welcomes capybara triplets

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Wednesday that three baby capybaras were born at its zoo last month, and they will meet visitors starting Thursday. The triplets were born Sept. 28 to Dotom, a male, and Dutum, a female. Both parents were born in 2024. Everland is run by the resort division of Samsung C&T and is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Each baby weighed about 1 kilogram at birth. Two weeks later, all three are healthy and nursing under the care of the park’s veterinarians and zookeepers. Native to rivers and wetlands in South America, capybaras are the world’s largest living rodents and live about 10 years on average. After a pregnancy of about four to five months, females give birth to several young at a time. Newborns are well developed. They are born with fur and open eyes, and they can walk right away. Known for their round ears, blunt noses and relaxed manner, capybaras are among the most popular animals at Korean zoos. Photos and videos of them calmly sitting alongside ducks, turtles and monkeys have spread widely online. At Everland’s zoo, capybaras

Oct 14, 2026

Chinese team finds 11,700 new viruses in world’s biggest seabed metal deposit

Up to 6,000 metres (19,700 feet) beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii, billions of potato-shaped metallic nodules are scattered across the seabed. The Clarion-Clipperton zone’s reserves of vital metals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese could surpass the total known reserves on land, according to some estimates. While no commercial mining has yet taken place on the underwater plain, the International Seabed Authority has issued 17 exploration contracts for the...

Oct 14, 2026

Sara Duterte camp says NBI's Matibag 'politically biased' vs. VP

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte claimed Wednesday that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is "evidently politically biased" against her amid the investigation into the allegations of dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.

Oct 14, 2026

Indonesia’s Bali hit by fuel crisis as huge queues form at petrol stations

Motorists have been left queuing for hours at petrol stations across Indonesia’s resort island of Bali in recent days amid reports of a crippling fuel shortage. Long queues have been spotted all around the island, including in the capital Denpasar, Badung and Tabana, according to the Bali Post. On Tuesday, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster stressed that there was enough fuel to go around, suggesting that panic buying might have caused the shortages at the pumps. “People need to be patient because the...

Oct 14, 2026

This Singaporean grandma, 73, couldn’t walk without pain. Today, she deadlifts 67.5kg

When 73-year-old Rosemina Hamzah stepped up to the hex bar at Singapore’s Mbold Seniors Hex Bar Deadlift Challenge in August, she was not just attempting her first deadlift competition – she was rewriting what ageing looks like. Latching onto 67.5kg (149lbs), more than her own body weight of 64kg, the novice lifter pulled it with ease – a personal best to win her category. It was a remarkable feat for a woman who, just over a year ago, could hardly walk and was constantly in pain. Before August...

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Oct 14, 2026

‘The Assassin(s)’ Movie Fuels South Korea’s Culture Wars

MORE NEWS

New major crimes chief nominee vows not to give in to external pressure

Criminal profilers to question suspect behind Incheon stabbing spree for motive

Busan wins over overseas tourists

Interactive exhibition turns K-drama fans into regional tourists

Everland welcomes capybara triplets

Chinese team finds 11,700 new viruses in world’s biggest seabed metal deposit

Sara Duterte camp says NBI's Matibag 'politically biased' vs. VP

Indonesia’s Bali hit by fuel crisis as huge queues form at petrol stations

This Singaporean grandma, 73, couldn’t walk without pain. Today, she deadlifts 67.5kg

Google unveils new Fitbit Edge fitness tracker: Features, price, availability

China's Pinglu Canal project wins international green design awards

Forest in China's Greater Hinggan engulfed in clouds

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