South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of the US-South Korea alliance after Donald Trump ordered a reduction in joint military exercises. The move, made without prior consultation, has sparked public anxiety and concerns over regional security.
About 71 percent of South Koreans consider having at least two children ideal, but financial burdens and work-childcare balance issues limit actual or expected offspring to 1.07 on average, a survey showed.
A joint study reveals South Koreans are eating less kimchi, with 22.7% reporting no consumption in the past 24 hours in 2024, up from 11.7% in 2010, despite its global surge in popularity.
The number of South Koreans receiving consular support for drug smuggling overseas tripled in two years, reaching 47 cases last year. Most were caught transporting drugs from Southeast Asia to Europe, with individuals in their 30s most affected, prompting a lawmaker to urge vigilance.
The number of South Koreans receiving consular support for drug smuggling overseas has tripled in two years, reaching 47 cases last year. Most cases involved drug delivery from Southeast Asia to Europe, with individuals in their 30s being the most common demographic.
A poll by the Korea Enterprises Federation reveals 92.5% of South Koreans view core technology leaks as a serious threat, with 90.7% advocating for tougher penalties. Detected cases have risen, causing 23 trillion won in damages since 2020, prompting calls for policy reform.
Incoming U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel greeted the Korean people in a video message posted by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Steel, a Korean American, expressed her honor in serving as the next envoy and looks forward to strengthening bilateral relations.
South Korea suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in a World Cup match in Monterrey, leading to a heated exchange between South Korean player Hwang In-beom and a South African staff member. Despite the loss and a negative goal difference, South Korea could still advance to the knockout stages.
South Korea saw a 1.5% drop in inter-regional relocations in May, reaching a 52-year low with 466,000 people moving. The Ministry of Data and Statistics cited a decline in new housing supply as the primary cause.
In 2024, 34.4% of South Koreans aged 19+ were obese, a rise from 32.2% in 2021. Men in their 30s and 40s had the highest rates, exceeding 50%. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency recommends tailored policies.
Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants has set a new Major League Baseball record for the longest hitting streak by a South Korean player, extending it to 17 games. Despite his performance, the Giants lost to the Washington Nationals 6-3.
South Koreans are participating in the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, with voting ongoing until 6 PM. Key issues include real estate policy and safety, while some older voters express distrust in early voting.
South Koreans are voting in local elections seen as a key test for President Lee Jae Myung's administration. High early voting turnout suggests overall participation could exceed 60%, with results impacting mayoral, gubernatorial, and parliamentary races.
South Koreans are voting in local elections for mayors, governors, and council members. Turnout was 7.4% as of 9 a.m., with early voting reaching a record high. The elections are a key test for the Lee Jae Myung administration.
South Koreans are voting in key local elections for mayors, governors, and council members. These elections are seen as a crucial test for the Lee Jae Myung administration and feature tight races between the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party, including a closely watched Seoul mayoral contest and several parliamentary by-elections.
Joaquin Niemann (Chile) and Talor Gooch (USA) lead LIV Golf Korea at 9-under, with South Koreans Mun Do-yeob and Song Young-han tied 14th at 3-under; $4M individual prize and $3M team prize at stake.
Israel has released two South Korean nationals captured aboard aid vessels heading for Gaza. The presidential office welcomed their release, though expressed regret over the initial detention. The Israeli Embassy stated the vessels carried no humanitarian aid and were a provocation.
Israeli forces intercepted the Lina Al Nabulsi aid flotilla, carrying South Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American activist Jonathan Victor Lee, near Gaza. This follows the seizure of another flotilla on Monday, with activists facing detention and boats being sunk.
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC coach Ri Yu Il stated his team is "solely to play football" when asked about South Korean support for their rare Asian Women's Champions League semi-final match against Suwon FC Women. Tickets sold out quickly, with 3,000 spectators expected.
Starbucks Korea's head was fired after a "Tank Day" promotion sparked outrage in South Korea, where it evoked memories of military crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters.
Two South Koreans were rescued from scam-related captivity in Cambodia in separate operations. A man in his 30s was held in Sihanoukville after a fake job ad, and a woman in her 20s was confined in Phnom Penh after meeting someone online.
Data shows 116,166 people in South Korea receive monthly pensions exceeding 2 million won, considered the threshold for stable retirement living. The number surged from just 10 in 2018 to 93,350 in 2025, driven by annual inflation adjustments and growing long-term subscribers. Only 2.2% of high-pension recipients are women, attributed to gender pay gaps and career interruptions for childrearing. The average pension is 700,427 won.
A Gallup Korea survey shows 59% of South Koreans support raising the senior age threshold to 70 from 65, with 30% opposed. The poll of 1,002 adults also found 60% believe individuals should be primarily responsible for their own livelihood in old age.
73 South Koreans suspected of voice phishing and other crimes were repatriated from Cambodia and the Philippines over the past two months. Among them is a ringleader who hacked a company's server in 2011, stealing personal information of 1.75 million people and extorting 100 million won. Another group of 24 suspects swindled 51.7 billion won from 368 victims, while 14 others ran a romance scam operation that extorted 2.3 billion won from 53 victims.
