Tokyo expo highlights Seoul after dark to showcase city's round-the-clock appeal

The Korea Times - Sep 28, 2026

From midnight street-food sampling in market alleys to late-night shopping in illuminated retail districts, Seoul is actively marketing its reputation as a safe, 24-hour urban playground. At Tourism EXPO Japan 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight from Thursday through Sunday, the Seoul Tourism Organization put the capital’s after-dark culture front and center to woo travelers from one of its largest visitor markets. Operating a dedicated Visit Seoul pavilion under the theme "Day and Night in Seoul for All Ages," officials highlighted the city's unique mix of round-the-clock safety, late-night transit and evening entertainment to an international travel fair that drew roughly 130,000 visitors. The pavilion’s design paired morning yellow — Seoul's official color for 2026 representing the city's bright mornings — with deep purple accents celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Discover Seoul Pass to evoke its bustling nightlife. Visitors took part in interactive activities, including a popular wheel-spinning event where participants selected top day and night attractions, highlighting Seo

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Stray Kids drives 10 mil. views for Busan tourism in KTO's latest campaign

Sep 28, 2026

Stray Kids drives 10 mil. views for Busan tourism in KTO's latest campaign

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has scored a major hit in its quest to turn global K-pop fandom into real-world travel momentum. Its promotional video featuring global powerhouse Stray Kids recently shattered the 10-million-view mark, giving Korea's regional tourism strategy a powerful boost. Released as part of the KTO’s flagship BIAS (Be In Artists’ Scenes) campaign — a strategic initiative launched in partnership with JYP Entertainment — the project plays on the fandom term “bias” to inspire international travel. By following directly in the footsteps of their favorite idols, fans are encouraged to venture far beyond Seoul and discover the rich cultural landscape of Korea's broader regions. In the featured Busan installment, Stray Kids takes viewers on an energetic journey through the iconic coastal city, completing playful missions while exploring destinations like Songdo Beach, Bupyeong Kkangtong Market and the vibrant, hillside Gamcheon Culture Village. The video carries a personal touch by highlighting band member I.N., a Busan native, who offers fans a genuine l

Sejong University to host International Student Future Higher Education Forum on Oct. 1

Sep 28, 2026

Sejong University to host International Student Future Higher Education Forum on Oct. 1

Sejong University will host the 8th International Student Future (ISF) Higher Education Forum at its Seoul campus on Oct. 1 to discuss ways to support international students in their academic and career development. With the number of international students in Korea surpassing 300,000, the forum will bring together representatives from universities, companies and educational organizations to explore ways to better support international students, the university said. The event will be held in collaboration with global study-abroad platform Stuvisor and international student employment and startup platform Careertus. The forum will consist of two programs: the Career Fair for international students and the International Higher Education Forum for universities, educational organizations and businesses. The Career Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the International Higher Education Forum will be held from 2 to 5:40 p.m. ISF is held twice a year, in the first and second halves of the year, to connect international student recruitment and education with career opportunities, entrepren

University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

Sep 28, 2026

University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

The University of Seoul has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to establish a dual-degree program in engineering. The University of Seoul said the MOU was signed on Sept. 14 to expand academic and educational exchanges between the engineering colleges of the two universities and foster globally capable engineering talent. Under the program, engineering students at the University of Seoul who meet certain requirements will be able to take engineering-related courses at UWM and earn degrees from both universities. University of Seoul President Won Yong-kul met with UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in engineering education and research between the two universities and expand student exchanges. Both universities plan to gradually expand cooperation between their engineering colleges, including the smooth operation of the dual-degree program, faculty and student exchanges, joint seminars and collaborative research. “This agreement is significant in that it will combine the strengths of the two univ

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

Sep 28, 2026

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

Korea will not reverse its demographic decline simply by spending more on policy measures, according to Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. The deeper problem, he argues, is a transformation in how Koreans view marriage, parenthood and their obligations to one another. "The family unit is the primary and the most important cultural expression of Korea," Moon said in a recent interview with The Korea Times in Seoul. "The very civilization itself is now under threat because Korea had abandoned the institution that was most important to this nation." For Moon, framing the fertility crisis primarily as an economic problem misses what he sees as a more fundamental shift in values. He believes the answer lies in reviving elements of Korea's traditional family culture. The traditional Korean extended family has been characterized by strong intergenerational ties, norms of filial responsibility, respect for older family members and a high degree of mutual support across generations. Moon argues that the weakening of these structures has contributed to pro

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Sep 28, 2026

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Korea's traditional extended-family culture could help address the country's low birthrate and deepening population crisis, according to experts and civil society leaders at the 2026 Global Family Forum in Seoul. The forum, hosted by the Federation for Korean Families, was held at the Textile Center in Seoul, Sept. 19. Held under the theme, "The Population and Family Crisis and the Value of Korean Family Culture: Transitioning toward a Family-Friendly Society and Ensuring Sustainability for Future Generations," the forum drew some 600 participants, including representatives from 180 member and partner organizations, academics, experts, civil society groups and policymakers. Participants said financial support alone would not be enough to tackle Korea's low birthrate. Alongside expanded housing and child care support, the country needs a social and cultural environment in which marriage, childbirth and family formation are viewed more positively, they added. Korea's total fertility rate rose for the second consecutive year to 0.80 in 2025, though it remains among the lowest in the OECD. F

Over 560,000 visitors flock to Busan to see canal-trapped shark Bukang-i

Sep 28, 2026

Over 560,000 visitors flock to Busan to see canal-trapped shark Bukang-i

BUSAN — More than 560,000 people have visited a waterfront park in the southeastern city of Busan over the past 10 days to catch a glimpse of a 3.5-meter shark trapped in a local canal, authorities said Monday. The shark was first spotted Sept. 18 in a narrow canal at Busan's North Port. Affectionately named Bukang-i — a combination of Bukhang, or North Port, and the Korean suffix "i" — the marine animal has drawn 568,800 visitors since Sept. 19, according to the Busan Infrastructure Corp. Public interest spiked dramatically during the Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, with 483,000 visitors flocking to the waterfront park over four days: 101,000 on Thursday, 136,000 on Friday, 140,000 the following day and 106,000 on Sunday. These figures represent a fiftyfold increase compared with the park's usual daily average of about 2,000 visitors during holidays. Initially, local maritime police and authorities tried to drive the shark away. The animal, however, refused to leave the channel, prompting officials to suspend their operations. As Bukang-i remained trapped i

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

Sep 28, 2026

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

An undetonated land mine was spotted at the site of last week's explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to military sources Monday, citing initial statements from soldiers involved in the blast. The statement was obtained as the military is working to determine the exact cause of last Monday's blast that occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas. Two South Korean soldiers were severely wounded, with a third sustaining minor injuries. The incident, which involved two separate explosions, is suspected of having been triggered by North Korean land mines. It is too early to verify the statements regarding the additional land mine, including whether it belongs to North Korean forces, as the military investigation team was unable to reach the blast site during an operation Sunday, sources familiar with the probe said. As the on-site investigation continues, retrieving the unexploded mine will be crucial to gathering evidence and making progress in the probe. On Monday, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said it received t

Korean epic fantasy 'The Bird That Drinks Tears' wins French literary prize

Sep 28, 2026

Korean epic fantasy 'The Bird That Drinks Tears' wins French literary prize

Fantasy writer Lee Young-do’s “The Bird that Drinks Tears” has won the 2026 Prix du livre Cultissime in France, a prize recognizing fiction deemed likely to endure as a future classic. The award went to the first French-language volume of Lee’s four-part fantasy series at the Cultissime Festival in Angers, France. The festival, which celebrates works with lasting popular appeal, announced the winners on Friday. The prize is decided through a vote split equally between the general public and a professional panel. Lee’s novel was selected from five finalists, alongside works by French author Adelaide de Clermont-Tonnerre, American writer Virginia Evans, Irish novelist John Boyne and French young-adult author Julia Thevenot. In a statement released by Korean publisher Golden Bough, Lee expressed gratitude for the honor and reflected on the solitary nature of writing. “Writers who express themselves only through words, without video or background music, can seem like steadfast artists somewhat ft behind in this luxurious age,” he said. ”But I believe we find strength because

Korea's social media brews up new coffee obsession

Sep 28, 2026

Korea's social media brews up new coffee obsession

In a nation that boasts one of the world's highest per-capita coffee consumption rates and a cafe density that rivals even the most saturated global metropolitan hubs, standing out in Korea's bustling beverage market is no small feat. Recently, social media posts expressing cravings for unique, milk-forward coffee drinks have sparked a viral trend for "kkosup latte"— a beverage category defined by its intensely rich, almost nutty flavor profile. Online, netizens are actively testing and comparing different latte offerings from major cafe chains while sharing custom recipes designed to boost milk's richness and make it the star of the show. What began as a collective online search for a particular experience soon evolved into a broader obsession with milk-based coffee drinks that evoke a deep, satisfying richness with a nutty or savory undertone, drawing on the Korean term "gosuhada" — a word often used to describe foods that have nuts, seeds or beans for the unctuous quality they lend dishes. While high-profile celebrities like Davichi’s Kang Min-kyung have brought massive visibili

Defense minister vows 'corresponding measures' if NK land mine confirmed in DMZ blast

Sep 28, 2026

Defense minister vows 'corresponding measures' if NK land mine confirmed in DMZ blast

South Korea will take corresponding measures if last week’s explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is confirmed to originate from a land mine placed recently by North Korea, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Monday. “Appropriate and corresponding measures will be necessary and we will take them,” Kang told reporters after meeting main opposition People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok at the National Assembly. His remarks came as the accounts given by troops raised the possibility that a North Korean anti-personnel mine was present near the blast site, although the military said neither the type of mine involved nor who planted it had been established. Brig. Gen. Hwang Ju-bong, director of Operations Division 1 at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), said at a regular defense ministry briefing on Monday that some soldiers reported seeing a wooden box that could have housed an explosive device near the blast site, although others described it differently. “There was testimony that its shape resembled a wooden box mine but that the material appeared to be plastic,” Hwan

Top investigator downplays concerns of expanded police role from prosecution reform

Sep 28, 2026

Top investigator downplays concerns of expanded police role from prosecution reform

A senior police officer on Monday downplayed concerns that the police would be given excessive authority due to the planned prosecution reform, citing the establishment of a new investigative body. Hong Seok-ki, head of the National Office of Investigation, addressed the concerns stemming from the recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which will strip the prosecution of its investigative powers. "With the creation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the scope of investigations solely conducted by the police will in fact become smaller," Hong told reporters in a regular briefing. Under the planned reform set to take effect Friday, the new agency will handle investigations in seven categories of major crimes, including corruption and those against state security. The broader reform, however, has still raised concerns over reduced oversight of police investigations as the prosecution will lose its power to carry out supplementary investigations. Hong acknowledged the increased police responsibility, pledging to cooperate with requests for supplementary investigations. "Police

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