Korea's debt-to-GDP ratio on track to hit 60% by 2030
Major institutions have cut Korea’s growth outlook, with the OECD lowering its forecast to 1.7 percent, while the Bank of Korea said growth will miss 2 percent.
· Choi Ji-won
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Korea to slash movie ticket prices again as part of $44m film industry package
4.5 million coupons to cut 6,000 won off movie tickets
· Moon Ki-hoon
Hyundai spearheads foreign EV comeback push in China with Ioniq brand
South Korean carmaker bets on local partnerships and technology as global brands prepare fresh push into China’s fast-moving EV market
· Daniel Ren
Hyundai spearheads foreign EV comeback push in China with Ioniq brand
South Korean carmaker bets on local partnerships and technology as global brands prepare fresh push into China’s fast-moving EV market
· Daniel Ren
Today in Korean history
1919 -- A Korean government-in-exile is set up in Shanghai to begin efforts to win independence from Japanese colonial rule.
· Kim Han-joo
BOK chief to attend G20, IMF-WBG meetings in Washington
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top central banker will attend a meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank chiefs to be held in the United States this week, officials said Sunday.
· Kim Han-joo
Seoul Shakespeare Company to stage 'The Taming of the Shrew'
The Seoul Shakespeare Company will kick off its 2026 production of "The Taming of the Shrew" Saturday at Dari Theater in Hongdae, launching a three-weekend run of one of Shakespeare’s most provocative comedies.
· Hwang Dong-hee
Lee reaffirms universal human rights, calls distortion of his remarks ‘treacherous’
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
Woman avoids jail for starving 50 dogs, leaving two dead
A South Korean appellate court has given a suspended prison sentence to a woman in her 40s who confined dozens of pet dogs in her home without food or water, resulting in the deaths of two animals.
· Lee Sun-young
K-food turns up the heat at Coachella
Coachella has long been one of the preeminent stages for global music and fashion, but in recent years it has also become a showcase for the globalization of Korean cuisine. At this year’s festival, K-food appears in broader and more inventive forms, reflecting both mainstream appeal and a continued evolution beyond…
· Hong Yoo
2 firefighters killed in cold storage warehouse fire
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- A fire broke out at a cold storage warehouse in a southwestern county Sunday, leaving two firefighters dead as the blaze intensified during rescue operations, authorities said.
· Kim Eun-jung
Man drugs elderly relative, steals gold after funeral meetup
A South Korean court sentenced a man in his 50s to prison for a string of thefts targeting female relatives he met at a funeral, using deception and, in one case, drugs to steal valuables.
· Park Han-na
Lee reiterates commitment to upholding human rights following online exchange with Israel
President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday reaffirmed his stance on respecting universal human rights amid an online diplomatic exchange between South Korea and Israel, following his posting of a video linked to Israel.
· Yonhap
Railroad users reach record high in Q1 on expanded service, higher oil prices
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- The number of passengers using South Korea's railroad services reached a record high of over 42 million in the first quarter of the year, data showed Sunday, partly driven by expanded train operations and rising oil prices that reduced private vehicle use.
· Kim Han-joo
Lee reiterates commitment to upholding human rights following online exchange with Israel
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday reaffirmed his stance on respecting universal human rights amid an online diplomatic exchange between South Korea and Israel, following his posting of a video linked to Israel.
· Kim Eun-jung
SK hynix expected to post W40tr Q1 operating profit
Korean memory chip-maker on track for annual profit to surpass Microsoft, Alphabet
· Jie Ye-eun
Local banks expected to limit household loan growth to 1 pct this year: sources
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Major lenders in South Korea are expected to limit the growth in their household loans to 1 percent this year, industry sources said Sunday, sharply lower than their initial target of around 2 percent and also lower than the 1.5 percent earlier suggested by authorities.
· Kim Han-joo
BYD charges into Korea’s EV market, a rare win for China brands
Sales top 10,000 in a year as aggressive pricing drives rapid gains
· Ahn Sung-mi
(URGENT) Vance says U.S., Iran have not reached agreement during peace talks in Pakistan
(URGENT) Kim Yo-jong says N. Korean leader calls Lee 'frank, broad-minded' for his regret over drone incident
· Song Sang-ho
S. Korea's debt-to-GDP ratio projected to reach 60% by 2030 amid slower growth
South Korea's national debt is projected to approach 60 percent of its gross domestic product by 2030, government data showed Sunday, with the pace of increase widely expected to accelerate amid slowing growth and growing fiscal burdens.
· Yonhap
No. of unresolved cases per prosecutor nearly doubles in 2025
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- The average number of unresolved cases per prosecutor nearly doubled last year, data showed Sunday, partly due to a sharp drop in the number of prosecutors on the job with many dispatched to special counsel probes and more quitting ahead of a massive reform in the prosecution system.
· Kim Eun-jung
Cheong Wa Dae to hold economic review meeting on response to Mideast crisis
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae was set to convene an emergency economic review meeting Sunday with relevant ministries to coordinate responses to potential impacts from persisting tensions in the Middle East.
· Kim Eun-jung
S. Korea's debt-to-GDP ratio projected to reach 60 pct by 2030 amid slower growth
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national debt is projected to approach 60 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, government data showed Sunday, with the pace of increase widely expected to accelerate amid slowing growth and growing fiscal burdens.
· Kim Han-joo
C-beauty comes knocking on K-beauty’s turf
Imports jump 84% to $71.8m as Chinese beauty industry follows Korean playbook
· No Kyung-min
New patrol ships to possibly inherit hull numbers of warships engaged in naval battles against N. Korea
The Navy is considering assigning the hull numbers of two decommissioned Chamsuri-class patrol boats to next-generation high-speed patrol ships in a bid to honor their role in naval skirmishes against North Korea in the Yellow Sea, a Seoul lawmaker said Sunday.
· Yonhap
N. Korea sends new envoy to Belarus amid warming ties
North Korea has sent a new ambassador to Belarus, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday, in a sign of deepening bilateral ties following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang last month.
· Yonhap
N. Korea sends new envoy to Belarus amid warming ties
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has sent a new ambassador to Belarus, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday, in a sign of deepening bilateral ties following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang last month.
· Kim Eun-jung
(Yonhap Interview) S. Korea, Australia on 'separate but parallel' paths in nuclear-powered submarines push: top Australian envoy
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's drive for nuclear-powered submarines and Australia's program for the vessels are separate but moving in parallel, with both needing to ensure international trust in their peaceful nature, the top Australian envoy has said.
· Kim Seung-yeon
New patrol ships to possibly inherit hull numbers of warships engaged in naval battles against N. Korea
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- The Navy is considering assigning the hull numbers of two decommissioned Chamsuri-class patrol boats to next-generation high-speed patrol ships in a bid to honor their role in naval skirmishes against North Korea in the Yellow Sea, a Seoul lawmaker said Sunday.
· Kim Hyun-soo
NKorea backs push for ‘multipolar world’
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un voiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for deeper ties between the traditional allies during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media said Saturday.
· Associated Press
Trump says U.S. starting clearing out Strait of Hormuz 'as a favor' to S. Korea, China, Japan, others
WASHINGTON, April 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States is starting the process of clearing out the crucial Strait of Hormuz "as a favor" to South Korea, China, Japan and other countries that rely on the waterway for energy imports.
· Song Sang-ho
Purple wave returns as BTS embarks on massive world tour
SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- A stadium in South Korea burst into a vibrant wave of purple lights Saturday as K-pop megastar BTS made its return for a world tour, concluding a yearslong hiatus prompted by mandatory military service.
· Shim Sun-ah
Extreme left nonprofit bizarrely promotes North Korea as utopia where housing is free to cash-strapped New Yorkers: ‘Is your rent due?’
The latest propaganda campaign from a radical New York City-based pro-North Korea nonprofit bizarrely pitches the Hermit Kingdom as a utopia where housing is free.
· Gabrielle Fahmy
Israel in row with South Korean leader over Palestinian abuse concerns
Israel has criticised South Korea’s president for sharing video of violence against Palestinians by the Israeli army. That’s after Lee Jae Myung raised concerns about documented abuses committed by Israeli forces.
· Al Jazeera
North Korea says its latest weapons tests included missiles with cluster-bomb warheads
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Thursday its testing spree this week involved various new weapons systems, including ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads, as it pushes to expand nuclear-capable forces aimed at rival South Korea.
· Associated Press
500 admission wristbands stolen at BTS concert venue
SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- About 500 admission wristbands were stolen at a BTS concert venue in the city of Goyang on Saturday, police said.
· Oh Seok-min
PPP picks incumbent Mayor Park as Busan mayoral candidate
SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- Park Heong-joon, the incumbent mayor of Busan seeking a third term in the June 3 local elections, has been selected as the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) candidate for mayor of the southeastern port city, the party said Saturday.
· Oh Seok-min
North Korean leader Kim backs China's push for ‘multipolar world’ in talks with foreign ministe
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un voiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for deeper ties between the traditional allies during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media said Saturday.
· Associated Press
North Korean leader Kim backs China's push for ‘multipolar world’ in talks with foreign minister
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un voiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for deeper ties between the traditional allies during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media said Saturday.
· Associated Press
Gettin' steamy in Korea: Tourists flock to 'jjimjilbang'
Bathhouses report record-high numbers of foreign visitors as tourists embrace Korea's sauna and scrub culture
· Choi Jeong-yoon
‘Special player’ Kevin Quiambao making waves in Korea
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· delfin.dioquino editor
South Korea’s president hits back at Israel in row over ‘disturbing’ video
The video purportedly shows Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a ‘Palestinian kid’ off a roof
· Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s president hits back at Israel in row over ‘disturbing’ video
The video purportedly shows Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a ‘Palestinian kid’ off a roof
· Agence France-Presse
Seoul expresses regret over Israel’s criticism of president’s X post
The South Korean government on Saturday expressed regret over a statement issued by the Israeli foreign ministry criticizing South Korean president Lee Jae Myung’s recent post on X, saying the remarks had been misunderstood.
· Lee Jung-joo
South Korea president clashes with Israel on rights and disinformation claims
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday accused Israel of failing to "reflect" on allegations of rights abuses by its forces, after Israel decried him for amplifying social media "disinformation."
· No Author
Foreign ministry regrets Israel's 'misunderstanding' of President Lee's Middle East remarks
SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry expressed regret Saturday over what it described as a "misunderstanding" by Israel of President Lee Jae Myung's remarks on the situation in the Middle East.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Today in Korean history
1950 -- South Koreans sweep the podium at the Boston Marathon, with Ham Kee-yong winning the prestigious marathon event.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Kim Jong Un respalda el empeño de China para forjar un "mundo multipolarizado"
En esta fotografía, proporcionada por el gobierno norcoreano, el gobernante Kim Jong Un (derecha) conversa con el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores chino, Wang Yi, el viernes 10 de abril de 2026, en Pyongyang, Corea del Norte. (Agencia Central de Noticias de Corea/Servicio de Noticias de Corea vía AP)
· Kim Tong Hyung
South Korean President clashes with Israel over 'despicable' video
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung clashed with Israel’s foreign ministry after it criticised a social media post in which he shared a 2024 video showing Israeli soldiers throwing a body from a rooftop in the occupied West Bank.
· Middleeasteye
'The King's Warden' becomes 2nd most-viewed film ever
"The King's Warden" has become the second most-watched film in Korean cinema history, its distributor said Saturday.
· Yonhap