Author: Jae young
August 29, 2025SEOUL – South Korea’s plan to double the education surtax on major financial companies is facing headwinds, with mounting criticism over the added burden as the proposal heads for parliamentary review.Industry sources said Thursday the Ministry of Economy and Finance recently met with officials from banks, insurers and brokerages to gather feedback on the planned increase.The measure announced earlier this month would raise the levy on financial income — including interest, dividends, fees and trading gains — from 0.5 percent to 1 percent. The industry has responded in unison, arguing the move unfairly singles out the sector.The education…
August 29, 2025SEOUL – Rumors linking BTS member Jimin and actress Song Da-eun resurfaced Wednesday after a short-form video, reportedly filmed and posted on Song’s TikTok account several months ago, went viral online.The two-minute clip shows the actress surprising a man believed to be Jimin in front of an apartment elevator. The footage sparked speculation online that the two may have been spending time together at the BTS member’s residence in Seoul.Jimin and Song have been the subject of dating rumors since 2022. Last May, Song uploaded an Instagram story containing a video that some fans claimed featured Jimin, fueling…
August 28, 2025SEOUL – A Seoul court on Wednesday dismissed a request to issue a detention warrant for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over evidence-tampering concerns linked to charges of failing to prevent and possibly aiding the imposition of martial law.The Seoul Central District Court rejected the special counsel’s request, which was made last Sunday as part of its investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his alleged insurrection and treason.Cho’s team sought the warrant on six key charges, including abetting the imposition of martial law, preparation of false public documents, uttering of falsified public documents, destruction of public…
August 28, 2025SEOUL – The number of single-person households has surpassed 10 million for the first time, underscoring a rapid shift in the nation’s demographic structure.According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety on Wednesday, the country’s registered population stood at 51.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2024, down from 51.8 million in 2020. Although the rate of decline has slowed since its peak in 2022, the overall downward trend remains intact.Amid the population decline, the number of single-person households continued to grow between 2020 and 2024. While some 9 million single-person households were reported nationwide in 2020, the figure…
August 28, 2025MANILA – Two months after its streaming debut, “KPop Demon Hunters” broke the record of “Red Notice” — a comedy-action film starring Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds — to be Netflix’s most-watched film.The animated film, which tells the story of HUNTR/X’s double lives as K-pop superstars and demon slayers, garnered over 236 million views, according to the streaming service on Wednesday, Aug. 27.“Their #1 era. With 236 million views, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is officially the most popular Netflix film of all time,” the post read.Meanwhile, “Red Notice” has an overall viewership of 230.9 million, according to…
August 28, 2025SEOUL – “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” is poised to become Korea’s biggest box office hit of the year, with the franchise posting some of its strongest global numbers in the market despite colonial-era controversies — momentum experts link to Japan-Korea animation ties and the series’ themes that strike a deep chord with Korean audiences.According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office system, the film crossed 2 million admissions on Tuesday, just five days after its release. That makes it the fastest-growing release of 2025, outpacing this year’s previous top performers: “Zombie Daughter” (six days), Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey…
August 28, 2025SEOUL – President Lee Jae Myung concluded a visit to the United States marked by a high-stakes summit with President Donald Trump, returning home with some progress achieved and other negotiations still underway.Lee left Seoul on Saturday, traveling to Japan before visiting Washington and Philadelphia on a trip closely watched as an early test of the new administration’s relations with the US and Japan, South Korea’s two most important diplomatic partners.During the summit in Washington, Lee emphasized the security alliance between the two countries and suggested a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whom Trump expressed a…
August 28, 2025SEOUL – Starting in March, South Korean students are banned from using phones during class, under a new law that passed the National Assembly on Wednesday.The measure applies to elementary, middle and high schools, though exceptions will be allowed when the devices are used for educational purposes or emergencies with the approval of school officials or teachers.The law will take effect March 1, a day before the new school year begins.The revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed with 115 votes in favor, 31 against and 17 abstentions among 163 lawmakers present.The Education Ministry said the…
August 27, 2025SEOUL – South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee met with Luke Pollard, Britain’s Armed Forces Minister, in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen security and defense industry cooperation between the two countries, the defense ministry said.Lee expressed gratitude for Britain’s contribution to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, citing its deployment of a large contingent of troops during the 1950-53 Korean War.Pollard reaffirmed Britain’s support for South Korea’s policy toward North Korea, including efforts to achieve peace on the peninsula and denuclearization.He expressed hope to further bolster bilateral ties through high-level consultations, expanding joint…
August 27, 2025SEOUL – South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee met with Luke Pollard, Britain’s Armed Forces Minister, in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen security and defense industry cooperation between the two countries, the defense ministry said.Lee expressed gratitude for Britain’s contribution to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, citing its deployment of a large contingent of troops during the 1950-53 Korean War.Pollard reaffirmed Britain’s support for South Korea’s policy toward North Korea, including efforts to achieve peace on the peninsula and denuclearization.He expressed hope to further bolster bilateral ties through high-level consultations, expanding joint…