Former defense minister banned from leaving country amid treason allegations

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a key figure behind South Korea’s six-hour martial law chaos, is barred from leaving the country as state prosecutors, acting on a treason accusation raised by politicians, prepare for an investigation. According to legal sources, a division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Chan-gyu, has been assigned to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, regarding Yoo

Dec. 5, 2024

Deja vu all over again? Is Korea reliving 2016?

The US saw Donald Trump elected president in 2016 and again 2024. South Korea is seeing its president, though not same person, facing impeachment in both 2016 and this year. Is history repeating itself? An intriguing online theory is gaining attention, claiming that South Korea is caught in a historical loop, eerily mirroring the events of 2016. A viral post, along with numerous others sharing similar content, titled “foretold future” lays out a “parallel theory” linkin

Dec. 5, 2024

How concerned should you be about Korea's martial law turmoil?

South Korea enacted a martial law decree late Tuesday night and then lifted it early Wednesday morning. What does this mean and how concerned should you be, if you’re planning a trip or currently in the country? Here’s a brief rundown. Intense winter of politics ahead Politically, South Korea braces for a potentially volatile winter, with the fate of its president, Yoon Suk Yeol, hanging in the balance. Calls for him to step down are exploding, with the six opposition parties pushi

Dec. 4, 2024

'Not a single shot fired': World reactions to Korean martial law drama

The six-hour high-stakes political drama that unfolded in Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday left onlookers worldwide scrambling for answers. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, reactions poured in. For many, the sequence of events seemed dizzying. One viral post by user @MyLordBebo, titled “Summary of the crazy events in South Korea,” garnered over 945,000 views, accompanied by a video of armed soldiers clashing with lawmakers in the National Assembly. In response to this p

Dec. 4, 2024

Can government be cool? South Korea's local officials think so

Who says government institutions are boring? In South Korea, the typically not-so-interesting image of state-run organizations and local governments is getting a glow-up, thanks to a growing wave of meme-worthy content that they create. Take Korail, the national railway operator. In a video on its YouTube channel, a real-life KTX train driver waltzes down the aisle of the new KTX Cheongryong train. Dressed in her uniform, she delivered a quirky dance to "Shooting Stars" by Bag Raiders.

Nov. 30, 2024

Why some snows are heavier

Record amounts of heavy snow blanketed Seoul and its surrounding areas for a second consecutive day, causing tree branches to snap and roofs to collapse in areas hit hard by the snowstorm on Thursday. In addition to the volume of snow, the Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the danger to its composition. The snow that has fallen in greater Seoul over the past two days has been predominantly wet snow, significantly heavier than dry snow. While dry snow weighs about 150 kilograms per c

Nov. 28, 2024

Move over, X. Korea’s skies are turning blue

Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform making waves globally, has reached a milestone this month — 20 million users worldwide. And South Korea is riding this wave, too. According to Mobile Index, the rising platform’s Korean monthly active users reached 595,588 in October, marking a staggering 1,147.69 percent increase from September. Though these numbers are still modest compared to X’s 6 million and Threads' 4 million Korean monthly active users, the momentum i

Nov. 27, 2024

[Pressure points] Mourning death on Instagram

When someone you personally know passes away, how do you mourn? For some, posting about it on social media, particularly Instagram, has become a part of the mourning process. Following the death of actor Song Jae-rim on Nov. 12, the platform was flooded with tributes. Friends and colleagues posted memories and heartfelt messages. For instance, broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon shared his sorrow on Instagram. “I am heartbroken that I will never see your wonderful smile again... I failed to care

Nov. 26, 2024

Seoul’s department stores dazzle in festive holiday competition

Christmas has arrived early in Seoul’s department stores, where luxury retailers Shinsegae, Lotte, and Hyundai are locked in a competition to outshine one another and attract customers. With the domestic economy still struggling to recover, the festive displays went up even earlier this year, starting on Nov. 1. Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong arguably lit the fuse of this holiday decoration competition. Since 2021, the store has forgone outdoor advertisements for big brands durin

Nov. 21, 2024

German shepherds and French poodles... What about Korean Jindo?

On a crisp autumn Sunday morning in Seoul’s World Cup Park, the air buzzed with excitement — and the occasional bark. Sixty Jindo dogs, Korea’s national breed, gathered for a one-of-a-kind parade. The event, “Let’s Go for a Walk, Jindo” (literal translation), aimed to shift public perceptions of these loyal yet often misunderstood companions. “It’s very difficult for Jindo dogs to live in Korea,” said Kim Eun-ho, the event’s organizer

Nov. 21, 2024