When YouTube replaces TV, news and politics: what South Korea learned the hard way in 20 years

When YouTube launched its Korean-language service on Jan. 23, 2008, it entered a nation ready to embrace it — and be transformed. Seventeen years later, South Korea has become one of the most YouTube-centric societies in the world, using the platform not just for entertainment, but to wage political battles, reshape pop culture, and redefine the public square. Now, as YouTube marks its 20th anniversary globally, the scale of its influence in South Korea is almost unmatched. According to a 2024 g

May 3, 2025

Credit card spending by foreign residents in Korea jumps 65% in 4 years, hitting W56tr

Foreign residents are emerging as a significant force in South Korea’s consumer economy, contributing an estimated 56.3 trillion won ($39.3 billion) in domestic credit card spending in 2023, according to a December 2024 report by the state-run Migration Research and Training Center (MRTC). The figure, which marks a 65 percent increase from 34.1 trillion won in 2019, is based on credit card usage data provided by Shinhan Card, South Korea’s leading issuer. The report used Shinhan Card’s data to e

May 1, 2025

ISS astronaut Jonny Kim turns NASA rations into Korean-inspired burger in space

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, the first Korean American to serve on a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station, is drawing attention for adding a personal and cultural twist to space food — by making a burger with Korean gochujang. Kim posted photos on social media this week showing a floating burger made from standard NASA rations: beef steak, wheat snack bread, cheese spread and potatoes au gratin. The key ingredient was a generous squeeze of gochujang, a spicy Korean red peppe

May 1, 2025

Korea’s intelligence agency urges SKT USIM card replacements across all ministries

South Korea’s top intelligence agency has ordered all government ministries and public agencies to replace SK Telecom USIM cards used in official devices, following a cyberattack that compromised the core systems the company uses to verify mobile users on its network. The National Intelligence Service confirmed to The Korea Herald that it issued the directive on Tuesday, requiring USIM replacements in all SKT-connected work phones, tablets, and even mobile routers that support essential services

April 30, 2025

Monthly rentals hit record 64.6% of Seoul housing leases as 'jeonse' system fades

Monthly rental contracts now make up nearly 65 percent of all new housing leases in Seoul, reaching a record high as South Korea’s traditional lump-sum rental system, "jeonse," continues to disappear. According to the latest data by the Supreme Court’s Integrated Registration Information System, Seoul registered 233,958 residential lease contracts between January and March this year. Of those, 151,095 — roughly 64.6 percent — were monthly rental deals, the highest share since data collection beg

April 29, 2025

SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears

What was meant to reassure customers after a major security scare quickly turned into long lines, delays and frustration, as SK Telecom’s free USIM card replacement program struggled to meet overwhelming demand on its first day. Earlier this month, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier disclosed that it had discovered malware inside a key internal system, the Home Subscriber Server — the database that manages mobile user identities and network authentication. The discovery raised concerns that se

April 28, 2025

Wildfire forces evacuations and major highway closure in northeastern South Korea

A rapidly spreading wildfire in northeastern South Korea has forced expanded evacuations and a broader highway shutdown, as authorities escalated their emergency response Saturday. The fire broke out around 1:11 p.m. local time in a mountainous area near Inje County, about 150 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Fueled by dry conditions, the blaze quickly spread smoke toward nearby communities, prompting officials to send evacuation alerts and direct residents to designated shelters. By mid-afternoon

April 26, 2025

North Korea launches 5,000-ton warship

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the launch of a new 5,000-ton destroyer on Friday in Nampho Shipyard, underscoring his ambition to transform the country into a maritime power capable of extended-range operations. The destroyer, named Choe Hyon after a revered anti-Japanese revolutionary figure, was revealed during a high-profile ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Attend

April 26, 2025

Flexible work schedules for S. Korean parents only 1/3 of EU levels, study warns

A new study has found that the number of parents with flexible work arrangements in South Korea is just one-third of that observed in major European countries — a shortfall experts say may be hampering efforts to combat the country’s record-low birthrate. The research, published by Dr. Jung Sung-mi of the Korean Women’s Development Institute on Wednesday, reveals just how far behind Korea is when it comes to giving employees with young children real control over their schedules. The study focuse

April 23, 2025

Does your phone eavesdrop to target ads? A Samsung engineer and Korean regulators weigh in

You casually mention needing new shoes. Hours later, you’re served a sneaker ad on Instagram. Coincidence? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely. Moments like this have fueled one of the most persistent digital-age suspicions: that your smartphone is secretly listening to your conversations to deliver eerily relevant ads. It feels too accurate to be anything else. But is that really what’s happening? According to interviews conducted by The Korea Herald with a current Samsung AI engineer, an information sec

April 23, 2025