Three regional universities to be built into AI talent hubs
Fairness concerns raised as Education Ministry unveils scaled-back version of Lee Jae Myung’s ‘10 Seoul National Universities’ initiative
· Lee Seung-ku
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Newest first · UTC+11:00July Jung's 'Dora' to premiere at Cannes Directors' Fortnight
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- July Jung's "Dora" will have a world premiere at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight next month.
· Woo Jae-yeon
S. Korea secures 273 mln barrels of crude oil, 2.1 mln tons of naphtha by year-end: presidential aide
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil by the end of this year from four nations in the Middle East, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Wednesday.
· Kim Eun-jung
Gov't to cover extra shipping costs for importing alternative crude supplies
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The government will cover additional shipping costs crude importers have to bear when importing alternative supplies from regions other than the Middle East, the industry ministry said Wednesday, as part of efforts to stabilize the country's energy supply amid the Middle Eastern crisis.
· Kim Na-young
Google Korea tax up 18%, still far below estimated earnings
Google paid 28.3 billion won ($19.2 million) in corporate tax in South Korea last year, up 18 percent from a year earlier, but far below academic estimates of its actual earnings in the local market, newly disclosed audit reports showed Wednesday.
· Moon Joon-hyun
BOK chief nominee Shin apologizes for controversy over personal issues
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Shin Hyun-song, nominee for the head of South Korea's central bank, on Wednesday apologized for causing controversy over allegations related to his family's nationalities, property holdings and other personal matters.
· Oh Seok-min
American Youtuber Johnny Somali sentenced to jail in South Korea over ‘comfort women’ statue stunt
Johnny Somali, 25, caused outrage after filming himself kissing a statue commemorating wartime sex slaves
· Agence France-Presse
(LEAD) Korean won, but dollar liquidity ample to buffer shocks: BOK chief nominee
(ATTN: ADDS more remarks on monetary policy from 9th para)
· Oh Seok-min
Giants' Lee Jung-hoo enjoys 3rd multihit game of April in loss
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants is finally showing signs of life after a dismal start to his season.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Lee proposes mega deregulation zones to spur balanced regional growth
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
Samsung SDS shares jump 20% on KKR partnership and $820 million bond purchase
Shares of Samsung SDS surged as much as 21.3% on Wednesday after global private equity firm KKR agreed to invest 1.22 trillion won ($820 million) of newly issued convertible bonds from the South Korean IT solutions and logistics provider.
· Dylan Butts
N. Korea's economy entering recovery phase amid closer ties with Russia, China: Seoul
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's economy has entered a recovery phase thanks to closer relations with Russia and China, overcoming a period of recession, the unification ministry in Seoul said Wednesday.
· Park Boram
(URGENT) S. Korea secures 270 mln barrels of crude oil from four Middle East nations by year-end: presidential aide
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· Kim Eun-jung
Today in Korean history
1906 -- An express train from the southeastern port city of Busan travels 450 kilometers to Seoul in 11 hours, a record speed for that era. In 2004, the nation's new high-speed Korea Train Express, or KTX, covered that distance in about two hours and 40 minutes.
· Woo Jae-yeon
KHNP CEO tours Dukovany project in Czech Republic
The head of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. visited the Czech Republic this week to review progress on a major nuclear power project, marking his first overseas trip since taking office.
· Lim Jae-seong
Cambodian homeless woman returns home thanks to police
A Cambodian woman in her 40s who had been homeless in South Korea for years has returned safely to her home country with support from local police and support groups.
· Yoon Min-sik
Byeon Woo-seok, IU's 'Perfect Crown' stuns in scale, stumbles in sync
The rom-com records the second-highest opening score in Korean TV drama history
· Lee Yoon-seo
Son Heung-min, LAFC reach semifinals in regional tournament
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and their South Korean superstar Son Heung-min are moving on to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
· Yoo Jee-ho
South Korea jails US YouTuber Johnny Somali for kissing ‘comfort women’ statue
The 2024 incident caused strong public backlash and the video was later removed
· Agence France-Presse
South Korea jails US YouTuber Johnny Somali for kissing ‘comfort women’ statue
The 2024 incident caused strong public backlash and the video was later removed
· Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ignores Yoon in frosty courtroom reunion
The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once
· Park Chan-kyong
South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ignores Yoon in frosty courtroom reunion
The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once
· Park Chan-kyong
South Korea jails American YouTuber for public nuisance
American livestreamer Johnny Somali, who caused outrage in South Korea by kissing a statue representing World War Two sex slaves, has been sentenced to six months in jail.
· Kelly Ng
'Bloodhounds' 2 tops Netflix’s most-watched non-English shows
Korean revenge drama's viewership more than doubles that of the series in 2nd place
· Lee Yoon-seo
Korea-ASEAN Music Festival resumes in Manila after six years
Cross-border lineup of 17 acts from 11 countries set for largest edition yet
· Lee Yoon-seo
Asian shares mostly rise after Wall Street rallies on lower oil prices
Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 15, 2026…
· Yuri Kageyama
Korean won weak, but dollar liquidity ample to buffer shocks: BOK chief nominee
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The Korean won has remained relatively weak in recent months, but the country has sufficient dollar liquidity to respond to external shocks, Shin Hyun-song, nominee for the head of South Korea's central bank, said Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
Ryu Ji-hyun to lead baseball national team for 2026 Aich-Nagoya Asian Games
This year's World Baseball Classic South Korea national team manager, Ryu Ji-hyun, has been selected to lead the national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
· Korea Herald
Money supply rises for 4th month in Feb. on rising savings deposits: BOK
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's money supply rose for the fourth consecutive month in February, as increases in savings deposits offset a decline in certificates of deposit (CDs), central bank data showed Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
Seoul bans stockpiling of medical and petrochemical supplies
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has called for a “strict crackdown on hoarding” after the government introduced new bans on stockpiling key medical supplies and petrochemical materials.
· Middleeasteye
Stocks sharply up late Wed. morning amid hopes for U.S.-Iran peace talks
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares traded sharply higher late Wednesday morning amid renewed optimism over a second round of possible U.S.-Iran peace talks, with the benchmark index moving above the 6,000-point threshold.
· Choi Kyong-ae
US YouTuber Johnny Somali gets jail time in Korea over deepfake, public stunts
Viral online personality built notoriety through disruptive content filmed globally
· Yoon Min-sik
Luzerner Sinfonieorchester returns to Korea with Sanderling, cellist Han Jae-min
The Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, a Swiss ensemble with more than two centuries of history and a core presence in the Lucerne Festival’s official programming, returns to Korea after three years.
· Park Ga-young
[Photo News] NATO envoys at HD Hyundai
A delegation of ambassadors to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization visited the Global R&D Center of HD Hyundai in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The envoys, representing 30 NATO member states, are in South Korea to seek closer coordination with the South Korean government. They toured the company’s advanced …
· Ahn Sung-mi
Samsung Electronics says Sony-TCL TV venture will not be a threat
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday voiced confidence in competing with a planned joint venture between global TV manufacturers TCL and Sony, insisting the market impact of the envisioned entity will likely be limited.
· Kim Boram
Antitrust chief says gas station price-fixing probe nearing completion
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Wednesday that an investigation into allegations of price-fixing and collusion among some gas stations will soon be completed amid rising oil prices following the Middle East conflict.
· Kim Han-joo
American YouTuber gets prison term for offensive behavior
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- American YouTuber Johnny Somali, who sparked outrage in South Korea two years ago after kissing a statue symbolizing Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced by a court Wednesday to six months in prison and remanded in custody.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
T-shirt weather: Korea reaches 26 degrees
South Korea is set for unseasonably warm weather Wednesday, with daytime temperatures climbing as high as 26 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
· Park Han-na
On this day in Korea - April 16, 2014: Sewol ferry sinks
The 6,835-ton Sewol ferry sank in waters off the southwestern island of Jindo, leaving 304 people dead in one of the worst maritime disasters in South Korea. The tragedy remains with Koreans, not only for the loss of life, but for the systematic corruption and negligence that led to it. Investigators later revealed …
· Yu doo-ho
Lee calls for deregulation in new businesses
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for removing unnecessary and outdated regulations to promote new businesses while urging efforts to ensure global competitiveness.
· Kim Eun-jung
Auto exports up in March on strong demand for hybrid cars: data
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports rose from a year earlier in March, driven by robust demand for hybrid vehicles, government data showed Wednesday.
· Kang Jae-eun
Trade ministry vows swift execution of extra budget to support export firms
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The trade ministry will swiftly execute its extra budget secured for supporting export companies facing difficulties due to the prolonging crisis in the Middle East, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Wednesday.
· Kim Na-young
Canadian series ‘Heated Rivalry’ hits Korea on April 24
“Heated Rivalry” will premiere in Korea on April 24 at 5 p.m. on streaming platform Watcha.
· Song Seung-hyun
‘Be kind to yourself’: Young ballet stars learn to find their voice
3 Korean ballet dancers in ABT Studio Company head to gala at Mapo Arts Center
· Hwang Dong-hee
Kospi tops 6,100 on hopes of more ceasefire talks
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi reclaimed the 6,100 mark in early trading Wednesday, backed by growing expectations that the US and Iran will resume ceasefire negotiations.
· Im Eun-byel
EV charging rates to see weekend discounts
South Korea will cut electricity tariffs for electric vehicle charging in the middle of the day on weekends and holidays starting this week, as the government moves to better match power demand with abundant renewable supply.
· Park Han-na
WBC manager nominated as skipper for Asian Games
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Ji-hyun, who managed South Korea to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last month, has been nominated for the same skipper role for the upcoming Asian Games.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Lee calls Marine Corps 'vanguard' of military on founding anniversary
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday marked the 77th anniversary of the Marine Corps, saying the military branch stands at the "vanguard" of the armed forces, the Marine Corps said.
· Lee Minji
(2nd LD) S. Korea adds 206,000 jobs in March, topping 200,000 for 2nd straight month: data
(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout)By Kim Han-joo
· Kim Han-joo
Iran war promises green edge for Asia as plastic packaging runs short
An 'eco-friendly' range of paper tubes and pouches touted by Yonwoo, a South Korean maker of packaging for cosmetics, has reaped unexpected benefit from the Iran war, which has disrupted supplies of the plastic needed to turn out single-use wrapping.
· Minwoo Park