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Foreign residents in S. Korea top 2.8 mln for first time in Oct.
The number of foreigners residing in South Korea surpassed 2.8 million for the first time in October, driven by increases in long-term stays for work, study and seasonal employment, government data showed Saturday. According to the immigration data from the justice ministry, 2,837,525 foreign nationals were registered as staying in the country as of October, up 3.6 percent from the previous month. The foreign resident population had hit a pre-pandemic peak of 2.524 million in 2019, then fell sha
Nov. 30, 2025 -
A320 software fix unlikely to affect flights in S. Korea
A large-scale software-related recall for Airbus' A320 family of jets is not expected to cause major flight delays or cancellations in South Korea, as required software updates are set to be completed within hours, the transport ministry said Saturday. Of the 80 A320-family aircraft operating in South Korea, 42 are subject to the global recall. As of 6 p.m., 40 had undergone the required software update, with the remaining two slated for completion before midnight, according to the Ministry of L
Nov. 30, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon allegedly used envoy appointment to shield former defense minister from Marine death probe, indictment shows
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol rushed to appoint former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as the top envoy to Australia in 2023 to help him evade an investigation into a Marine's death, a special counsel's indictment showed Saturday. The ousted president, already on trial for his botched martial law attempt, was further indicted earlier this week for allegedly helping Lee escape from the widening probe that centered on suspicions of negligence by senior Marine leadership. The indictment, obtained by
Nov. 30, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim vows to bestow new strategic assets, duty on air force founding anniv.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ceremony marking the 80th founding anniversary of the country's air force, saying it will be given new strategic military assets and a "new important duty," state media reported Sunday. Kim made the remarks during the celebration event held Friday at Kalma Airport of the 59th Kil Yong Jo Hero Flying Group of the Second Air Wing, to mark the founding anniversary of the Air Force of the Korean People's Army, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Nov. 30, 2025 -
Coupang says 33.7m customer accounts exposed in data leak
E-commerce giant Coupang Inc. said Saturday it has confirmed personal information from 33.7 million customer accounts was exposed, far higher than the 4,500 accounts initially believed to be affected. The updated figure suggests that nearly all Coupang customers may have had personal information -- including names, phone numbers, email addresses and delivery addresses -- compromised. However, the company said payment information, credit card numbers and login credentials were not accessed. "Unau
Nov. 30, 2025 -
Queer festival returns after 3-year hiatus
After a three-year pause, the Gwangju Queer Culture Festival returned to the city’s iconic Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, South Jeolla Province, on Saturday, drawing about 2,000 participants under the theme “Mudeung: Rainbow-colored absolute equality.” According to the festival’s organizing committee, this year’s event saw the participation of LGBTQ individuals and allied civil society groups from across the country. The crowd gathered not only to celebrate queer culture but also to advocate for the ena
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Ultrafine dust estimated to have claimed nearly 3,000 extra lives in 5 years: study
Fine particulate matter in Seoul is thought to have driven up the mortality rate for ischemic heart disease in the city by several thousand between 2016 and 2020, a recent study showed. The study, led by Professor Hong Yun-chul of Seoul National University's Institute of Environmental Medicine, investigated the effects of fine particulate matter on this particular heart disease, looking at cases in the five-year span. It was found that for individuals aged 25 and up, an estimated 2,861 excess de
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Whiter skin for sale: South Korea’s glutathione dilemma
By Morgan Norris I walked into Olive Young, often dubbed the “Sephora of Korea,” and asked which products they’d recommend for skin whitening. After visiting multiple branches across Seoul from Gangnam to Myeongdong, one product kept surfacing as a recommendation: glutathione. Initially known for its antioxidant and detoxifying properties, glutathione gained traction in Korea during the 2010s, hyped by influencer endorsements and aggressive marketing. Intravenous, oral and topical forms became w
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Airbus' A320 software recall unlikely to disrupt flight schedules in S. Korea: ministry
Over 40 Airbus A320-series aircraft currently operating in South Korea are subject to a global software-related recall, but the issue is unlikely to trigger major flight delays or cancellations domestically, according to the transport ministry Saturday. On Friday, Airbus issued a large-scale recall order of its A320 family of jets after identifying a software flaw capable of causing severe flight-safety issues, including unintended rapid descent. According to the ministry, five Korean carriers -
Nov. 29, 2025 -
State data center chief relieved of duty over massive outage after fire
The head of the state data center has been relieved of duty over the massive service outage caused by a fire at the facility in September, officials said Saturday. The fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) broke out on Sept. 26, damaging servers and crippling key online administrative systems, such as government websites and local community center systems, across the country. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety relieved Lee Jae-yong, the NIRS chief, of his position in its
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon allegedly used envoy appointment to shield former defense minister from Marine death probe, indictment shows
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol rushed to appoint former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as the top envoy to Australia in 2023 to help him evade an investigation into a Marine's death, a special counsel's indictment showed Saturday. The ousted president, already on trial for his botched martial law attempt, was further indicted earlier this week for allegedly helping Lee escape from the widening probe that centered on suspicions of negligence by senior Marine leadership. The indictment, obtained by
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Alcohol makers allowed to choose text or pictogram under new warning label system from Sept. 2026
All alcoholic beverages sold in the country will be required to carry visual warning labels depicting the dangers of drunk driving and drinking during pregnancy starting next September, according to officials Saturday. According to the health ministry, visual warning images depicting a liquor bottle, a car and a pregnant woman will become mandatory on soju, beer and all other alcoholic products under a revision to the enforcement rule of the National Health Promotion Act. The changes aim to ensu
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Foreign residents in S. Korea top 2.8m for first time in Oct.
The number of foreigners residing in South Korea surpassed 2.8 million for the first time in October, driven by increases in long-term stays for work, study and seasonal employment, government data showed Saturday. According to the immigration data from the justice ministry, 2,837,525 foreign nationals were registered as staying in the country as of October, up 3.6 percent from the previous month. The foreign resident population had hit a pre-pandemic peak of 2.524 million in 2019, then fell sha
Nov. 29, 2025 -
S. Korea, Norway defense chiefs discuss arms industry cooperation
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Norway held talks in Oslo on Friday and discussed strengthening security and arms industry cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore O. Sandvik, agreed to deepen cooperation in future warfare technologies, such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, and identify areas of cooperation through regular talks. Ahn also asked for Norway's consideration of South Korea's Chunmoo rocket art
Nov. 28, 2025 -
Main suspect behind murder of S. Korean college student in Phnom Penh arrested
The main suspect behind the torture and killing of a South Korean college student allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia in August has been arrested, Seoul's spy agency said Friday. The National Intelligence Service said the Chinese national, named Li Guanghao, along with three other Chinese nationals and five South Koreans were taken into custody in Phnom Penh on Thursday through cooperation with Cambodian police. Li is accused of torturing and murdering the 22-year-old student, surname
Nov. 28, 2025