N. Korean leader's sister warns of 'terrible consequences' amid S. Korea-U.S. military drills

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday condemned the ongoing joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, warning of "unimaginably terrible consequences." Kim Yo-jong, a department director at the ruling party, issued the warning in a press statement a day after Seoul and Washington kicked off their annual springtime military exercise, the Freedom Shield, for a 11-day run. "The muscle-flexing of the hostile forces near the areas of our state's sover

March 10, 2026

Pro-labor 'yellow envelope act' takes effect amid continued resistance

A revised labor law aimed at broadening workers' bargaining rights took effect Tuesday following a six-month preparation period amid continued resistance from both labor unions and businesses. The so-called yellow envelope act was passed by the National Assembly in August, making prime contractors more accountable for subcontracted workers while restricting businesses from claiming damages from striking workers. Labor groups have welcomed the new law but taken issue with a requirement that subco

March 10, 2026

N. Korea to hold congress of largest youth organization next month

North Korea will hold a congress of the country's largest youth organization next month as a follow-up to a recent party congress in a bid to spur the implementation of party decisions, state media said Tuesday. The Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the country's largest youth organization, decided at a meeting the previous day to convene a congress in late April in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency said. The KCNA said the congress was called to mobilize young people nationwide and stren

March 10, 2026

[Graphic News] S. Korea shuts 153 schools over five years

A total of 153 schools were consolidated or closed across South Korea between 2021 and 2025 as the nation’s school-age population continues to shrink, according to data from the Ministry of Education obtained by Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the People Power Party. Of the schools closed, 120 were elementary schools, 24 were middle schools and nine were high schools. The closures come as the number of students nationwide fell from 5,323,075 in 2021 to 5,015,310 last year, a drop of nearly 310,000. By re

March 10, 2026

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Qatar discuss evacuations, energy supply amid Middle East crisis

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Monday and asked for support for the safe return of South Korean nationals and stable energy supplies amid the ongoing conflict surrounding Iran, Seoul's foreign ministry said. During the call with Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Cho mentioned Qatar's recent announcement to suspend production of liquefied natural gas and asked for the country's cooperation to ensure stable energy suppli

March 9, 2026

N. Korea cancels int'l marathon due to some reasons: tour agency

North Korea has decided to cancel the 2026 Pyongyang International Marathon, originally set for April 5 in the country's capital, due to some reasons, a Beijing-based tour agency said Monday. Koryo Tours, which specializes in travel to North Korea, broke the news on its website, saying, "This decision was communicated to us by the DPR Korea Athletics Association and has been confirmed as final." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. The agen

March 9, 2026

Conservative party formally severs ties with ex-President Yoon

South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party formally broke with disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday, adopting a resolution explicitly opposing his return to politics as the party moves to unify ahead of crucial local elections. The declaration, issued collectively in the name of all sitting People Power Party lawmakers, came 296 days after Yoon left the party in May 2025, following his removal from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025 over his short-lived declarat

March 9, 2026

Conservative party open to accepting Seoul mayor's reelection bid after deadline

The main opposition People Power Party remained open to accepting incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's candidate registration to run again for the mayoral post, even after the deadline passed Sunday. Lee Jung-hyun, who oversees the conservative party's candidate nomination process for the upcoming local elections in June, told reporters Monday that Oh's unexpected decision not to apply for the candidacy would not necessarily mean his chances of reelection have completely disappeared. "Our door to

March 9, 2026

3-term lawmaker vows free access to public transit in Seoul mayor bid

Rep. Park Ju-min, a three-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, pledged Monday to grant all citizens free access to the Seoul public transit services within 10 years, reiterating his road map from February. It was part of his local election campaign pledges in the field of transportation services unveiled Monday as he launched his Seoul mayor bid, alongside pledges to increase passenger capacity for Line No. 9 trains and backtrack Seoul's introduction of the controversial Han Ri

March 9, 2026

Seoul plans first fuel price caps in 29 years as oil shock hits

South Korea plans to impose fuel price caps this week for effectively the first time since 1997, after a sharp run-up in prices that authorities say has occurred even before any Middle East supply disruption has hit the country. President Lee Jae Myung ordered the measure’s swift implementation in opening remarks at a 90-minute emergency economic response meeting held Monday at Cheong Wa Dae, as the government moved to contain the fallout from the war triggered by joint US and Israeli strikes on

March 9, 2026

Telegram sex ring leader bragging about award from prison sparks criticism

A blog linked to Cho Ju-bin, the imprisoned mastermind behind a notorious online sex blackmail ring, is stirring controversy after a post revealed he received an award while incarcerated, according to online communities Monday. The post titled "Award acceptance speech," uploaded late last month on the blog he has operated through a legal representative since January 2024, reads: "I received an award. It was given in recognition of my diligent participation in education programs over the past thr

March 9, 2026

Discovery of remains rekindles scrutiny of Jeju Air crash recovery

The South Korean government faces renewed criticism from families of victims of the Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people on Dec. 29, 2024, after human bone fragments and eight other suspected remains were discovered in rubble removed from the crash site in recent weeks. The accident occurred at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, when a Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway during an emergency landing following a reported bird strike, struck a concrete structure near the runway

March 9, 2026

Seoul to expand medical tourism interpreters tenfold

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it will expand its pool of medical tourism interpreter-coordinators to about 1,000 this year — nearly ten times the current level — to better serve the rapidly growing number of foreign patients visiting the city. To support the initiative, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the K-Medical Tourism Association last week. Under the agreement, interpreter-coordinators affiliated with the association will be deployed to major medical insti

March 9, 2026

S. Korea launches new project to recover Korean War remains

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Monday it has launched this year’s recovery mission searching for the remains of soldiers who died during the 1950-53 Korean War. According to the ministry, the project will be conducted in two phases, from March 9 to July 3 and from Sept. 1 to Nov. 27, with a preparation period in between. A total of 31 military units, including 30 Army units and the Marine Corps’ 1st Division, will participate in the project, with more than 100,000 troops participating cumul

March 9, 2026

$350b US investment bill set for passage Thursday

The National Assembly's special committee on US investment bills reached a bipartisan consensus Monday, the deadline to conclude its one-month operation. The bill, drafted in accordance with the joint fact sheet on trade and security between Seoul and Washington in November, was granted approval at the 16-member special committee and is eyeing passage in the National Assembly plenary session Thursday. The bill maps out plans to establish a public institution with 2 trillion won ($1.34 billion) o

March 9, 2026