'Smile at me': Cancer-fighting senior influencer inspires with strength, grace

Have you ever thought about whether you'd get cancer? We all know someone who has. But many of us walk through life unprepared. Choi Seung-ih, a 59-year-old senior model, was no different. "Never,” she said when asked if the thought had ever crossed her mind. “There was no family history. I exercised regularly. I even trained for a body profile photoshoot. I was strict with my diet. I thought I’d never get cancer. Then, about a year ago, Choi was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Her wor

May 5, 2025

Why is South Korean politics so chaotic now? Here's what you need to know

South Korea is now navigating one of its most politically volatile periods in recent history. On Thursday, acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo — who had been standing in for impeached and removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol — resigned to launch his own presidential bid. Just hours later, his immediate successor, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, also stepped down amid a parliamentary push to impeach him. The presidency is now in the hands of the next in li

May 2, 2025

Deadline met, but vision missed: S. Korea's underwhelming show at Expo 2025 Osaka

Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, officially opened on April 13. As part of the international media, I had the opportunity to get an early look at several national pavilions on April 9. While many countries were still busy fine-tuning the details of their exhibits, South Korea’s pavilion stood out for its preparedness. As local media proudly reported, it was one of the few that met the official deadline and appeared fully ready to welcome visitors. According to local reports, only eight of the 47 count

April 26, 2025

Floating Pokemon return to Seoul

A giant Pokemon balloon floated on Seokchon Lake in Seoul Friday, marking the return of the popular Pokemon art balloon exhibition, which drew more than three million visitors in 2024. This year’s event is organized in collaboration with the Songpa-gu District Office and Lotte Group, a major South Korean conglomerate. The display centers on Ditto, a purple Pokemon known for its ability to transform into any form. A 16-meter-tall Ditto-as-Lapras balloon floats above the lake, with a Ditto-as-Pika

April 25, 2025

How this 20-year-old landed on J-Hope’s project

If you’re a BTS fan, you might recall the floating house in J-Hope’s recent music video, “Sweet Dreams (Feat. Miguel).” That surreal vision wasn't crafted by a veteran artist with decades of experience, but by Kim Onew, a 20-year-old 3D visual effects artist already making waves in the K-pop industry. Kim has already built an impressive resume at a young age. In addition to J-Hope, he’s created visuals for aespa, NewJeans and Stray Kids. His path is all the more remarkable in South Korea, where

April 23, 2025

South Korean employees work 14 yrs on average at major corporations

The average length of employment at South Korea’s major corporations has increased since 2020, despite economic uncertainty and a reported uptick in voluntary resignations and career changes. According to data released Wednesday by CEO Score, a corporate analytics firm, the average tenure at 80 of the nation’s top 100 companies by revenue reached 14.03 years in 2024, up from 13.55 years in 2020. The analysis covers companies that have consistently disclosed employment data over the past five yea

April 16, 2025

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, nations wear their identities up front

OSAKA, Japan — “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the saying goes. But at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the exteriors of many national pavilions offer a clear preview of what lies within. South Korea’s pavilion, sprawling over 3,500 square meters, makes a bold statement with a massive 27-by-10-meter digital media façade created by LG Electronics. It underscores the nation’s strong focus on technological innovation. The screen covers the entire front wall and features video of shifting cultural

April 14, 2025

Winds, rain, snow and hail sweep across Korea

Unseasonably cold temperatures swept across South Korea over the weekend, bringing gusty winds, rain, and even hail and snow to many parts of the country on Sunday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Sunday, temperatures on Friday and Saturday fell more than 5 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average in most regions. The sharp drop was caused by a mass of cold air descending from the northwest, which clashed with warmer southern air to create a zone of intense atmospheric

April 13, 2025

From protest hub to photo spot

The area around the Constitutional Court of Korea in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is starting to relax after almost four months as a hub of impeachment protests. Following the court’s decision Friday to uphold the impeachment of now ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, the atmosphere in the heavily policed neighborhood began to loosen up. By the Sunday of the first weekend after Friday's ruling, visitors were already strolling the streets that had two days earlier been sealed off via police buses and barricades. Da

April 6, 2025

Daegu hospital apologizes for nurse’s alleged newborn abuse

A hospital in Daegu issued a public apology on Saturday after a nurse in its neonatal intensive care unit was accused of abusing newborns and posting unsettling photos of them on social media. The nurse, who works at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, ignited public outrage after sharing an image of herself holding an infant, with captions that appeared to suggest a desire to drop the baby. Further scrutiny revealed that this was not the first time she had posted such photos. In a two-min

April 6, 2025