Why China Is Requiring Ninth Graders to Read ‘Jane Eyre’

New York Times - Sep 28, 2026

The Victorian heroine has long been celebrated in China for her independence and insistence on equality.

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Labor group assails P42 wage hike in Central Visayas

Sep 28, 2026

Labor group assails P42 wage hike in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday criticized the P42 daily minimum wage increase approved for private-sector workers in Central Visayas, saying the adjustment was inadequate amid the region’s high inflation and rising cost of living. “This severely lacking and grossly insulting P42 wage hike does not make

Excessive questions from relatives top list of Chuseok irritations

Sep 28, 2026

Excessive questions from relatives top list of Chuseok irritations

Excessive personal questions and interference from relatives have been named the most unwanted aspect of the Chuseok holiday this year. Comparisons with siblings and other people were also cited as the most uncomfortable topic of conversation. According to a 2026 Chuseok holiday survey conducted by research firm PMI, 48.5 percent of 1,000 adults aged 20 to 69 nationwide said “excessive interference and personal questions from relatives” was the holiday tradition they most wanted to see changed. The survey was conducted from Sept. 11 to 14, ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The next most frequently cited practices were “excessive preparation for ancestral ritual tables” at 40.8 percent, “unequal distribution of holiday chores” at 29.8 percent, “holiday cash gifts” at 25.5 percent and “excessive holiday gift giving” at 23.7 percent. Intrusive questions from relatives also topped the list of holiday customs considered most urgently in need of change, cited by 30.6 percent of respondents. When asked which topics they would rather avoid discussing with family members and relat

Plan to serve airline meals to deportees divides immigration officials

Sep 28, 2026

Plan to serve airline meals to deportees divides immigration officials

A proposal to upgrade meals for foreigners awaiting deportation at Incheon International Airport has divided immigration officials, with front-line officers raising safety concerns and some questioning whether better food is appropriate for those ordered to leave Korea for violating the law. According to immigration authorities, Sunday, the Incheon Airport Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice is considering providing in-flight meal boxes to foreign nationals awaiting deportation through the airport. Foreign nationals ordered to leave the country are generally transferred to Incheon International Airport after local immigration offices confirm their illegal stay and complete the necessary procedures. After that, they remain in a designated departure waiting area until their flights. Those awaiting deportation are currently provided with bread and drinks supplied by local immigration offices. The Incheon Airport Immigration Office is now seeking to provide meals directly, replacing the basic food with airline-style meals, considering them the most practical option. The office v

S. Korea voices 'strong regret' over Ukraine's denial of nondisclosure pact on NK POWs

Sep 28, 2026

S. Korea voices 'strong regret' over Ukraine's denial of nondisclosure pact on NK POWs

The South Korean presidential office on Sunday voiced "strong regret" over what it called Ukraine's denial of an agreement with Seoul not to disclose the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. The presidential office "expresses strong regret over Ukraine's unilateral disclosure (of the transfer) and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a nondisclosure agreement," Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a released statement. The Cheong Wa Dae official added the country is considering taking additional measures regarding the issue, if necessary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a United Nations address last week that Ukraine has sent the two North Korean soldiers captured last year to South Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his office have since said Ukraine breached a nondisclosure agreement aimed at keeping the transfer a secret to safeguard the soldiers from dangers they could face if their transfer were to be disclosed, citing international law and humanitarian p

Gov't, ruling party vow harsher sanctions on companies over collusive practices

Sep 28, 2026

Gov't, ruling party vow harsher sanctions on companies over collusive practices

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed Monday to pursue legal amendments to strengthen sanctions against companies that repeatedly engage in collusive practices. The ruling party and the government will introduce a system to revoke business registrations or suspend operations of companies found guilty of price fixing or bid rigging in 17 industrial sectors, Min Byoung-dug, deputy chair of the party's policy committee, told reporters after a DPK-government policy consultation meeting. The 17 sectors include safety, energy and transportation, and the party and the government plan to amend the Fair Trade Act, as well as 17 relevant sector-specific laws, to implement the new system, Min said. They will extend the statute of limitations for sanctions against collusive practices, while linking information on large-scale public tenders commissioned by offices of education with the Fair Trade Commission's Bid-Rigging Indicator Analysis System. In addition, they will strictly enforce previously revised laws that allow punitive fines to be imposed for repeated collusi

Supreme Court chief says will clarify stance over justice recommendation at parliamentary audit

Sep 28, 2026

Supreme Court chief says will clarify stance over justice recommendation at parliamentary audit

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said Monday he plans to clear up his position over his refusal to newly recommend a candidate to the top court during the upcoming annual parliamentary audit. The chief justice has been embroiled in a dispute with the presidential office over the recommendation after the presidential office last month asked Cho to recommend a new justice candidate to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho refused to comply with the request last week, citing a lack of specific reasons or constitutional grounds to do so. When asked about the issue Monday, Cho told reporters he would state his position through the parliamentary audit of the court, scheduled to begin Oct. 6. Cho's refusal last week sparked swift rebuke from Cheong Wa Dae, which accused him of harboring a view in violation of the Constitution. Under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly.

Lee's approval rating rises for 2nd straight week to 37.9%: poll

Sep 28, 2026

Lee's approval rating rises for 2nd straight week to 37.9%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose for the second consecutive week last week to 37.9 percent, a pollster said Monday. In a poll conducted on 1,508 adults nationwide from last Monday to Wednesday, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose by 3.1 percentage points from the previous week, while negative assessments fell 3.3 percentage points to 60.1 percent, Realmeter said. Lee's approval rating fell for 10 weeks before turning upward in the previous poll, helped by his clarification of key political issues during a press conference Sept. 18. "His communication through the press conference and his overseas diplomacy at the U.N. General Assembly and the Korea-U.S. summit worked in his favor," the pollster said, noting the withdrawal of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and resignation offer of presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik were also seen as a demonstration of his commitment to personnel reform. In a separate poll conducted on 1,005 adults last Tuesday and Wednesday, support for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) surpassed that for the ruling De

Eased visa rules, K-culture buzz drive record tourism boom in Korea

Sep 28, 2026

Eased visa rules, K-culture buzz drive record tourism boom in Korea

Tourism in Korea has shattered historical records, driven by a surge in international visitors taking advantage of relaxed visa policies and a global obsession with Korean pop culture. According to data released Monday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea welcomed 15.05 million foreign visitors through August 2026 — a 21.6 percent jump from the same period last year. The benchmark was crossed well ahead of last year’s pace, when the country hit 15 million in mid-October. August alone set an all-time monthly record, drawing 2.25 million overseas travelers. The influx fueled record spending, with foreign credit card expenditures in the tourism sector surging 48.5 percent year-over-year to 14.02 trillion won (about $10.5 billion) through August. The rebound outpaces neighboring Asian destinations. While rival tourism markets like Japan and Thailand saw slight dips of 2.7 percent and 3.1 percent over the same period, Korea’s arrivals climbed sharply across all key markets. Taiwan led the growth in Greater China with a 32.2 percent surge, while Southeast Asian markets p

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

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