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Korea must embrace its 7 mil. diaspora as 'strategic asset,' says agency chief

Once a primary source of emigrants and adoptees due to historical instability, Korea has transformed into one of the most favorable destinations for global migration over the past decades, fueled by robust economic growth and cultural influence. The overseas Korean population — those of Korean descent or citizenship living abroad — have been steadily growing, reaching about 7 million as of 2025. Of that total, about 4.6 million, or 66 percent, hold foreign citizenship, while the remaining 2.4 million retain Korean nationality. At the same time, the number of overseas Koreans returning to Korea — including those with stateless status — continues to climb, now accounting for more than 30 percent of the foreign national population in the country. This represents a shift from departure to homecoming. However, managing the complex legal and social issues surrounding the overseas Korean community remains a formidable challenge for the government, ranging from visa administration to sociocultural integration. Kim Kyung-hyup, commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) under the Mi

5 MIN READ

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Prime minister hints at compulsory arbitration over Samsung union strike

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Sunday hinted at the possibility of invoking emergency arbitration in the labor dispute between Samsung Electronics’ management and unions, urging the two sides to reach an outcome in the additional round of wage talks scheduled for Monday. It was the first time the government had officially mentioned the potential use of the emergency measure, which is often regarded as a last resort in labor disputes. Kim’s remarks served as a strong warning ahead of what may be the last chance for a settlement before the unions begin an 18-day strike Thursday, which could cause losses of up to 100 trillion won ($66.67 billion), according to Kim. “If the strike inflicts enormous damage on the national economy, the government will have no choice but to consider all possible response measures, including an emergency adjustment of industrial action, in order to protect the economy,” Kim said during a press conference. “I, along with fellow Korean citizens, sincerely urge labor and management to produce tangible results in tomorrow’s follow-up mediation session,

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Restarting as a five-piece act, ZEROBASEONE aims to 'ascend' higher

Following a major reorganization into a five-piece act, K-pop group ZEROBASEONE is returning with its new album, "Ascend-," embracing sophisticated contemporary R&B and a sound it describes as "minimalist." Formed through local music cable channel Mnet's audition show "Boys Planet," ZEROBASEONE debuted in July 2023 as a project group and quickly rose to fame, scoring six consecutive million-selling albums. After the 2 1/2-year project terminated in January 2026, the five members — Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae and Park Gun-wook — decided to continue their activities as ZEROBASEONE while four other members — Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin and Han Yu-jin — left and debuted again as a new boy group. "Since I lead performances as the frontman, I definitely noticed a huge difference after the personnel change," the group's leader Sung Han-bin said, asked about changes from the reorganization during a group media interview in Seoul on Friday. To adapt, the group thoroughly researched how to best showcase its dance lines as a five-member act. The effort paid off d

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Single candidacy could boost conservatives’ chances in Busan, survey shows

A by-election for a parliamentary seat in Busan, to be held alongside the local elections on June 3, is drawing keen attention for fielding heavyweight candidates, including a former senior presidential aide from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a former minister from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and a former PPP leader who was expelled from the party. The focus is on whether the PPP candidate and former PPP leader will decide on a single candidacy for a united conservative front against the DPK contender, who is leading opinion polls. The race for Busan’s Buk-A constituency has taken shape, featuring Ha Jung-woo of the DPK, a former secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) and future planning hand-picked by President Lee Jae Myung; Park Min-shik of the PPP, a veterans affairs minister during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and former lawmaker for the district; and Han Dong-hoon, a high-profile independent running as a former justice minister under Yoon and former leader of the PPP. Ha, a Busan native, has led recent polls since securing his nomination, f

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No major gap exists between S. Korea, US over wartime OPCON transfer timeline: nat'l security adviser

Korea and the United States have little difference in the ongoing discussions over Seoul's push to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from the U.S., a senior presidential official said Sunday, describing the issue as "a political decision." National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac made the remarks on a program aired on KBS, a local broadcaster, as Seoul and Washington appear to have different views on the timing of the U.S. handing over wartime command. The two sides have already agreed on the broader road map for the OPCON transition. Korea is seeking to regain wartime OPCON before President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ends in 2030, amid speculation it is targeting 2028 for the transfer. But the U.S. reportedly favors a more cautious timeline. "It is not as though the two sides differ by five to 10 years regarding the timing of the transfer. The stances of the two are quite close," Wi said. "Fundamentally, it's a political decision." A road map will be drawn up in the second half of this year, and once verification of full operational capability (FOC) is completed, a recommendati

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Gwangju Uprising distortions still prevalent despite punishment law

With the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising falling on Monday, false claims about the pro-democracy movement, including assertions that it was a riot or involved North Korean troops, continue to circulate online. According to the May 18 Foundation Sunday, it found 5,182 posts, comments and videos distorting or denigrating the uprising between February and November last year, up roughly 200 percent from the same period a year earlier. The uprising erupted in the southwestern city of Gwangju in 1980, when citizens stood up against the imposition of martial law extended nationwide by the military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan, who would become president later that year. The crackdown left hundreds dead or missing, and it has since been recognized as a pivotal moment in Korea's long road to democratization. Decades later, however, the uprising remains a target of online distortion among far-right circles. By platform, dcinside — the largest Korean online forum — accounted for more than half of all cases with 2,677, followed by Naver News with 1,028 and Ilbe, a far-right online

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Korean bill seeks strict watermark mandate on AI-generated content

Lawmakers are seeking to tighten Korea’s new artificial intelligence (AI) rules with a bill that would mandate watermarks on AI-generated content and criminalize their removal, in a bid to close what they call a “blind spot” in transparency rules. The bill, introduced last week by Rep. Kim Dai-sik and nine other legislators of the main opposition People Power Party, seeks to amend the AI Basic Law (officially, the Framework Act on the Development of AI and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust), which took effect earlier this year. The current law requires AI service providers to notify users whenever highly realistic audio, images or video have been created by an AI system. However, it does not specify where that notice should be placed or what form it should take, so most services satisfy the rule only with a small caption or icon inside their own interface. But once secondary creators screenshot, crop or repackage that content, the label is often removed — and under the current law, those downstream actors are not clearly treated as violators for removing it. This gap allows

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Brokerages hit jackpot as retail investors borrow more to chase Korea's stock rally

A single post uploaded May 8 by a Korean civil servant on Blind, the anonymous workplace community app, quickly set off a frenzy online. The post included a screenshot of his brokerage account showing he had poured a staggering 2.3 billion won ($1.7 million) into shares of semiconductor giant SK hynix, one of the key driving forces behind Korea’s roaring stock market. Even more striking, 1.7 billion won of that investment was financed through margin loans borrowed from his brokerage. “I believe the semiconductor market will continue its upward climb through 2028, but I’m taking a more aggressive approach to grow my assets faster,” he wrote. Four days later, on May 12, he returned with an update claiming he had already locked in 267 million won in profits. That same day, another Blind post surfaced — this time from a Seoul Metro employee in her 20s, who wrote that rather than missing out on the rally, she would “risk complete collapse,” adding that she had used 150 percent margin financing to fully leverage into stocks. As Korea’s bull market barrels ahead, more retail inve

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2 Koreans rescued after being held in scam-related captivity in Cambodia

Two Koreans who were held captive in Cambodia in scam-related incidents have been rescued in separate operations conducted through cooperation between Korean and Cambodian authorities, police said Sunday. A man in his 30s, who has a disability, traveled to Cambodia via Vietnam after seeing a social media post advertising special recruitment opportunities for people with disabilities. But he failed to obtain a job and was subsequently held captive in a hotel in the Cambodian city of Sihanoukville. After a botched attempt to escape, he suffered abuse and threats demanding that he pay $20,000 before being rescued on May 7, according to police. Korean police are conducting follow-up investigations into brokers and others who lured the victim to Cambodia using the fake job posting. Separately, another captivity report was filed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 10. A Korean woman in her 20s had traveled to Cambodia to meet a Chinese man she had met online, but she was later confined and threatened with messages saying she would not be released unless money was paid. After the report was filed, th

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Homeplus desperate for loan from creditor Meritz amid financial crisis

Homeplus, an ailing Korean retailer undergoing a rehabilitation process, said Sunday it has once again urged its largest creditor, Meritz Financial Group, to approve a loan to sustain immediate business operations. The discount chain store operator earlier this month made the same request to Meritz but did not receive any response. As part of efforts to secure liquidity, Homeplus recently sold its smaller supermarket unit Homeplus Express, and temporarily suspended operations at 37 of its 104 main stores on May 10. The company, however, said in its latest statement that under its current financial predicament it can no longer afford to run its remaining stores. The company delayed paying wages starting last month. “Since Meritz has secured most of our major assets as collateral, there is no way for us to independently secure operating funds. At this point, Meritz is the only entity that can provide emergency operating fund loans,” the statement said. “It is nearly impossible for a retail company to normalize its business once its operations are suspended. If even the remaining 67 st

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Cannes gives standing ovation to new K-zombie film ‘Colony’

CANNES — Yeon Sang-ho returned to the Cannes Film Festival with another zombie thriller, and audiences appeared fully hooked by a new twist on the globally popular “K-zombie” genre. At around 3 a.m. Saturday, more than 2,300 viewers inside Cannes’ Grand Lumiere Theater erupted into applause after the world premiere screening of “Colony,” Yeon’s latest film. The audience gave a standing ovation lasting about five minutes as Yeon and cast members Koo Kyo-hwan, Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been and Kim Shin-rok greeted the crowd. “It is an honor to present ‘Colony’ at the Cannes Film Festival I had always dreamed of,” Yeon said after the screening. “The passionate support from the audience will remain a memory I cherish for a very long time.” The film was invited to the Midnight Screenings section of Cannes, a category known for unconventional genre works. Before the screening, director Park Chan-wook, who is serving as jury president for this year’s competition section, welcomed guests alongside Cannes delegate general Thierry Fremaux at the red carpet

3 MIN READ

Editor's Pick

Life in Korea

Chinese Football to headline emo festival in Seoul

After a mostly sold-out U.S. tour last year, Chinese Football are coming back to Korea. Ahead of their performance at Emotional Damage emo music festival, the quartet opened up to The Korea Times about failure, independence and the music that still moves them. Building on a shared love of Midwest emo and pop-punk, the Wuhan-based indie rock band has enjoyed the unlikeliest of careers. Formed in 2011, the four-piece comprising guitarist and vocalist Xu Bo, guitarist Wang Bo, bassist Li Lixin and drummer Zheng Zili has released two full-length albums and two EPs that clearly show its influences, yet feel entirely its own. Any conversation with Chinese Football always ends up turning to Wuhan. The city sits at the geographic heart of China, and the band members insist it has shaped them in ways that Beijing or Shanghai never could have. “Wuhan has this unique atmosphere where relaxation and tension coexist,” Zheng said. “Our music isn’t overly polished. It’s a bit like photos taken on a film camera, quite grainy.” Xu expanded further: “The cost of living is much lower, so ther

5 MIN READ

Lifestyle

How to enjoy Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul this weekend

Celebrating Buddha's birthday, May is peppered with a variety of celebrations among Buddhists around the world. In Korea, the annual Lotus Lantern Festival is one of the major celebrations taking place at temples and cities across the country leading up to Buddha's birthday on May 24, with local parades, lantern displays and community events nationwide. Visitors in Seoul can encounter colorful lanterns hung at Gwangwhamun Square, Jogye Temple and Bongeun Temple. A highlight will take place this Saturday and Sunday when the soft glow of lotus lanterns fill the central capital, drawing crowds into a rare blend of spiritual ritual, spectacle and shared festivity. The Seoul edition remains the largest and most prominent, and here's what you can expect at the festival. Lantern parade with robot monk The centerpiece is Saturday evening’s lantern parade, which will take place in the main boulevard between Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun) and Jogye Temple, which covers 3.5 kilometers. Starting at 7 p.m., more than 200 large-scale lantern installations — from towering pagodas and lotus blossoms to elep

2 MIN READ

K-Culture

‘Perfect Crown’ faces backlash again over royal history controversy

Just one episode before its finale, MBC drama “Perfect Crown” is once again facing heated online criticism in South Korea — this time over royal terminology, ceremonial details and accusations of historical distortion. Episode 11 of the drama aired Friday and featured a dramatic sequence in which Seong Hee-joo, played by IU, risked her life to save Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo-seok, before he ultimately ascended to the throne. But while the series continued its strong ratings streak, online discussion quickly shifted away from the romance and toward the show’s depiction of royal rituals. One scene drew criticism after royal officials shouted "Cheonse," rather than "Manse," during the coronation ceremony. Some viewers argued that "Cheonse" historically referred to expressions used by tributary states toward an emperor, making its use by a 21st-century constitutional monarchy inappropriate. Others pointed to the king’s ceremonial crown, saying it featured nine bead strings instead of the 12-string design associated with sovereign rulers. Another scene that sparked debate

2 MIN READ

Celebrities

IU marks birthday with donation to vulnerable groups

Singer-actor IU donated 300 million won ($200,160) to mark her birthday, Saturday, accoring to her agency Edam Entertainment. The donation was made under the name "IUaena," a combination of the artist's name and her official fan club, "Uaena." Edam said 100 million won was given to Asan Medical Center in Seoul, while 50 million won each went to four local charity groups. "The funds will be used to support patients facing financial difficulties, provide educational and cultural programs for children and adolescents, assist elderly people living alone, support single-mother households in vulnerable situations and supply advanced assistive devices for people with disabilities," the agency said. IU has made regular donations under the "IUaena" name on occasions such as her debut anniversary, birthdays and year-end holidays. Earlier this month, she donated 100 million won to support children and teenagers on Children's Day.

1 MIN READ