KOREA TODAY
Gangnam Clinic Data Leak Used in Intimate-Photo Extortion Threat
Police are investigating after a patient’s surgery photographs and identifying information were allegedly used to demand cryptocurrency.
South Korea, US and Japan renew North Korea denuclearization pledge
The three foreign ministers paired sanctions enforcement and support for renewed diplomacy with cooperation on critical minerals, nuclear technology, artificial intelligence and the Pacific Arctic.
Metropolitan Label Masks Incheon’s Medical Access Divide
Island evacuations, doctor shortages and limited specialist capacity leave some Incheon communities far from timely essential care
Semiconductor Earnings Drive Surge in South Korea’s Corporate Tax Revenue
National tax receipts rose 33% through September as corporate tax collections accounted for more than half of the increase
WEEKLY
What changed in Korea, and why it matters
WHAT'S ON
Events, festivals and things to do across Korea
PLACES
Venues, institutions and public spaces worth knowing
GUIDES
Clear answers for living and working in Korea
RECENT STORIES
DAILY LEADS
Alphabet shock sends Kospi down 3.48% as chip shares slide
North Korea Fires About 10 Projectiles After Ignoring Talks Offer
South Korea Orders Emergency Review After Bithumb and Daishin Cyber Incidents
Guryong Village fire displaces more than 100 Seoul residents
KB Kookmin Bank breach expands to 2,210 people as insurer confirms leak
Kim Jong-un’s China Visit Revives a Long-Delayed Border Link
ESSENTIAL STORIES
Eight former officers acquitted in martial law cases
A Seoul court found that prosecutors had not proved the former officers shared a purpose of subverting the constitutional order
Faulty Calculations Led to Deadly Ulsan Power Plant Collapse
Investigators found that overstated column strength, underestimated weight and weak oversight caused a boiler tower to collapse during demolition preparations, killing seven workers
GS Engineering & Construction Reports Resident Data Exposure After Apartment System Hack
Unauthorized access to a community reservation platform may have exposed personal, account and building-access information, while the number of affected residents remains under investigation.
Ajou pediatric emergency center director resigns after disputed police search
Police apologized for their handling of the search, but the center director said key questions about the unannounced warrant remained unanswered
South Korea Opens Review of 821 Trillion Won Budget
Lawmakers are divided over a proposed future investment fund and an opposition target to cut 134 trillion won from the government plan.
Special counsel again seeks death penalty for former President Yoon
The appellate demand challenges the life sentence imposed over Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial-law declaration and disputes the trial court's mitigating findings.
South Korea Plans Mandatory External Funding of Retirement Benefits by 2030
The phased proposal would begin with workplaces of at least 100 employees in 2028 and extend to the smallest businesses in 2030, with financial support offered to ease the transition.
Police Refer 51 People Over Fatal Gwangju Library Collapse and Alleged Corruption
The investigation widened from construction failures that killed four workers to alleged bribery, preferential treatment and illegal contracting practices.
Gyeonggi bus strike called off after overnight wage deal
Labor and management agreed to a 3.2 percent raise and additional driver benefits before the first services were due to stop
Rescued disabled man finds no public shelter for men in Busan
A suspected exploitation case exposed how the absence of a male disability-abuse shelter can block both immediate protection and access to residency-based support.
Gyeonggi bus unions move closer to a general strike
A final mediation session on October 29 will determine whether buses stop on October 30
Seven of Nine Specialists Signal Exit From Ajou Pediatric Emergency Center
A disputed police search tied to an infant’s death has triggered resignation notices that could destabilize pediatric emergency care in southern Gyeonggi Province.
Audits Find 25,206 Improper Claims at 20 Care Hospitals
Ministry data documented false admissions, fabricated staffing records and charges for treatments that were never provided across Gwangju and South Jeolla.
South Korea extends operating life of Kori reactors 3 and 4
The nuclear regulator approved 10-year extensions in a five-to-two vote, but both reactors must pass on-site checks before restarting.
Naver seals $9 billion Brookfield deal for AI infrastructure
The financing structure limits upfront GPU spending but leaves Naver backing cloud usage payments for up to eight years
Gyeonggi bus union threatens October 30 strike affecting 4,200 vehicles
A final mediation meeting on October 29 will determine whether workers at 29 bus companies walk out from the next morning’s first services.
South Korea breaks annual foreign tourist record two months early
Foreign arrivals exceeded the previous 18.94 million peak as regional travel, spending and entries outside the capital area all increased
Lee Orders Full Investigation Into Military Procurement Suppliers
Unrelated businesses won contracts for military equipment, prompting on-site inspections and a review of bidding safeguards
Antidepressant prescription proposed after a 57-second telehealth call
An SBS investigation found weak screening and limited side-effect guidance as students encounter false claims that psychiatric drugs can improve concentration.
All 22 Hands-On Zoos Surveyed Violated Approved Program Rules
A civic group found unauthorized feeding or contact activities at every facility examined, exposing gaps in oversight after initial approval.
Prior violence identified in nearly one in five killings
Police data covering 2023 through September 2026 found domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual violence before 543 killings.
Toss Bank reports 32.5 billion won transfer error
A processing failure created withdrawable balances for failed transfers, leaving 7.29 billion won still under recovery procedures at the time of disclosure.
Gyeonggi bus union backs strike as wage talks stall
More than 4,100 buses could stop running from October 30 if final mediation fails
Staffing Shortages Strain Emergency Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
Gyeonggi maternal care centers are falling short of a government specialist benchmark as patients face repeated refusals and long-distance transfers.
HD Hyundai and Kiewit plan new US smart shipyard
The joint venture targets construction in 2027, full operations in 2029 and about 3,000 local jobs
South Korea’s Short-Term Employment Falls to 31-Year Low
Temporary and daily employment declined by 95,000 in the third quarter as construction and consumer-facing services struggled to generate work.