Series

Series

- Diplomatic Circuit
  
  Interviews and stories about the diplomatic corps in Seoul.
- Out of the Shadows
  
  Features and interviews on drug crimes and young addicts’ stories in South Korea.

- Today's K-pop
  
  A quick rundown of today's developments in K-pop.
- Well-curated weekend
  
  Weekend activities recommendations

Latest News

Pastor urges embracing differences as impeachment ruling nears

Campaign fueling disinformation, violence has to be put out, church elder Kim Sang-keun says The church always has to reflect the defining spirit of an era, and empowering people to embrace differences is the zeitgeist Protestant churches should seek now, according to the Rev. Kim Sang-keun. Kim, 86, is a prominent church elder who leads an ad hoc committee helping promote better politics at the National Council of Churches in Korea. It is one of the four largest church alliances in the country
Korean EV battery-makers uneasy as Trump stays silent on tariffs

Trump could target battery materials sourced from China, sources say South Korean battery companies are closely monitoring the second Donald Trump administration’s potential imposition of tariffs on key battery materials produced in Korea. The concern follows the enforcement of 25 percent duties on Korean steel and aluminum that took effect Wednesday, with additional tariffs expected next month. While electric vehicle batteries are currently exempt from the proposed tariffs — set to be enforced
Shin Soo-hyun gears up for new solo journey

After 17 years as U-Kiss leader, singer charts independent path. The year of 2025 feels like a fresh start for Shin Soo-hyun. This year marks his first major step as a solo artist, leaving behind U-Kiss, the group he has been with for more than half his life. "For 17 years, I performed as 'Soohyun' with U-Kiss, but now that I’ve decided to go solo, I’m using my full name, 'Shin Soo-hyun,'” Shin said at a group interview in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Tuesday. The new album, “I Am,” was released Tue
Most Korean yet most universal: 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' makes you laugh and cry

IU, Park Bo-gum explore parental devotion, romance in hit series Transcending cultural boundaries, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is perhaps the most Korean yet universally relatable series — portraying the lives and loves of characters from the 1960s to contemporary times in Korea in a way that stirs both laughter and tears in viewers. The 16-part Netflix original series follows the lives of Ae-sun (played by Lee Ji-eun, or also known as singer IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), spanning decades
Not so free: The irony of Korea’s ‘free size’ fashion

Free size in South Korean fashion is a label that fits the industry better than the consumer Choi A-ra, 24, entered university with a goal: to fit into "free-size" clothing. "In places like Hongdae or Gangnam Station's underground shopping centers, most of the pretty clothes I wanted to buy only came in 'free-size,'" she said. "Back in high school, I was overweight — 170 centimeters and 65 kilograms — so my goal was to lose 10 kilograms to fit into them." She reached her target weight. But even
4 in 10 experts expect S. Korea to be nuclear-armed within a decade

A global survey of experts revealed a significant increase in expectations that South Korea will develop nuclear weapons within the next decade. The Atlantic Council’s survey of 357 strategists from 60 countries found that 40.2 percent believed South Korea was likely to acquire nuclear weapons. This places it just behind Iran (72.8 percent) and Saudi Arabia (41.6 percent) in terms of nuclear weapon acquisition potential. The figure marks a sharp rise from last year’s 25.4 percent. The growing ex
EU spotlights women's roles in security, defense

In an event commemorating International Women's Day Saturday, the European Union delegation to Korea highlighted women's roles in security and defense. Hosting an event under the theme “Towards More Resilient and Secure Democracies: Women in Security and Defense,” experts from South Korea and the EU highlighted the role of gender-responsive policies in strengthening democratic stability and resilience. Moderated by Estonian Ambassador to Korea Sten Schwede, the event referenced EU-ROK Security a
Tchaikovsky competition winners present opera 'Rusalka'

Interview: Soprano Seo Sung-young, bass Park Jong-min and tenor Son Ji-hoon to perform Korea's second-ever production of Dvorak’s 1901 opera Antonin Dvorak’s ninth opera, "Rusalka" (1901), is his most successful and most frequently performed opera around the world. Yet, an upcoming production in Seoul will be only the second time it has been staged in South Korea, almost 10 years after its local premiere in 2016. For this one-time performance Thursday at the Seoul Arts Center, three first-prize
K-Nvidia: Bold vision or political misstep?

Opposition leader’s state-owned tech proposal faces reality check South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s recent proposal to establish a big tech company akin to Nvidia, but one that is state-backed and profit would be distributed among citizens, has sparked a heated debate among business and political circles here. “If a company like Nvidia were to be established (in Korea), with 70 percent of shares privately owned and 30 percent distributed among citizens, wouldn’t a society emerge tha
Where industry meets artistry

Imagine a neighborhood in Seoul where metal workshops collide with colorful street art. It’s an unexpected fusion — industrial and artistic, raw yet creative — but somehow, it works. Welcome to Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Just five minutes from Mullae Station’s exit 7, this neighborhood hums with energy. Spot a metal giraffe? You’re in the right place. Keep walking, and you’ll find a giant welded mask — an iconic sculpture representing Mullae’s ironworking legacy. Old-school steel shops