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Police apprehended two teenagers after a string of thefts at unmanned ice cream stores in Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi, last December.

The pair rode a stolen motorcycle to a store in Eunpyeong District, western Seoul, around 2 a.m. on the day of the theft, broke into a kiosk and stole cash. Less than an hour later, they entered another store in Goyang and attempted unsuccessfully to steal its cash box.

“They stole somewhere between 80,000 won and 100,000 won [$60 and $75],” the owner of the Eunpyeong store said.

Youth theft cases have risen sharply, nearly doubling in four years. Experts point to the rapid spread of unmanned self-service stores as one factor behind the increase. Unmanned stores are grab-and-go style shops where customers pay for items via self-checkout kiosks with no staff on-site.

The number of juvenile offenders ages 10 to 14 who were referred to juvenile court on theft allegations jumped 76.3 percent from 5,733 in 2021 to 10,110 last year, data submitted by the Korean National Police Agency to Rep. Suh Myung-ok of the main opposition People Power Party showed on Thursday.

Children ages 10 to 14 are below the age of criminal responsibility in Korea and are referred to juvenile court rather than face criminal punishment.

The 10,110 cases of theft accounted for 4.8 percent of the total 21,095 juvenile referrals last year.

The recent surge in youth theft cases has been linked in part to a sharp rise in thefts at unmanned stores.

The number of thefts reported at unmanned stores more than tripled from 3,514 in 2021 to 11,015 in 2025.

Teenagers made up 57 percent of offenders involved in crimes at unmanned stores in Seoul from 2020 to 2022, according to a report by the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ).

“The actual number of crimes committed by younger teenagers is likely even higher when unreported cases are taken into account,” the researchers said.

“Theft and property damage committed by juveniles below the age of criminal responsibility have surged since unmanned self-service stores began spreading in earnest,” an unnamed head of a youth and women’s crime investigation team at a police station in Seoul said.

Cases continue to surface. Two middle school students below the age of criminal responsibility were caught by police in August after stealing flowers worth 250,000 won from an unmanned flower shop in Seo District, Daejeon.

Two other juveniles rode a stolen motorcycle to a self-service store in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, in October 2024 and stole 7,200 won in cash and a wallet from a lost-and-found box. They were referred to juvenile court on aggravated theft charges.

A notable concern is that many unmanned stores operate businesses popular with young people, such as discount ice cream shops and claw machine arcades, which makes the stores particularly accessible targets.

Some 61 percent of crimes targeting unmanned stores in Seoul in 2022 occurred at discount ice cream and snack shops.

“Unmanned stores with cash and other valuables inside can become a gateway to crime for young people who have run away from home or lack sound judgment,” said Lee Woong-hyuk, a professor of police studies at Konkuk University.

Weak security at unmanned stores and relatively light consequences for juvenile offenders have also raised concerns that the stores can foster repeat offenses.

Young people who stole from unmanned stores committed an average of 12 offenses each, nearly twice the 6.9 offenses recorded among adults, according to a report by the KICJ. Some 92 percent of the cases involved two or more offenders, which has raised concerns that such behavior can spread within peer groups.

“There are even second- and third-grade elementary school students who have stolen four or five times,” an owner of an unmanned store said.

Juvenile offenders ages 10 to 14 who commit theft, however, often receive only a Level 1 protective disposition, which places them under the supervision of a parent or another guardian.

Calls are growing for more effective measures to address the rise in thefts at unmanned stores. Frequent reports of theft are straining police resources, while experts say the stores can also make youth crime easier and more accessible.

“More police patrols are important, but store owners also need to strengthen their own security measures and work with private security companies to build a cooperative crime-prevention network,” Prof. Lee said.

The lawmaker demanded stronger systematic cooperation.

“Store owners, police and local governments need to come up with effective measures to prevent the rise in youth theft as unmanned stores continue to spread,” Rep. Suh said.

b9:T989,The Korean government has stepped forward to protect the rights and interests of teenage actors. These actors and actresses are working overnight while filming movies or dramas. This is now being regulated. Since July 29th, no more teenage celebrities under 15 are allowed to take part in the entertainment business for more than 35 hours a week, and cannot work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Teenagers over 15 are allowed to work 5 more hours and can prolong that time with the consent of their guardian. Too much exposure, lewd acts and skimpy clothing are all out of the question as well. This act to protect teenagers’ rights has been well received. They say celebrities have their own rights as adolescents to sleep, eat and study. The law prohibits companies from causing them to sleep less, forcing them to go on excessive diets and preventing them from pursuing relationships. The new policy would enforce a healthier body and mind for the growing teens. Too much work causes problems to one’s health. Diets could make them undernourished. In addition, fit teenage celebrities could set a good example to teens who watch them on TV. Singers are very skinny these days and those who watch these scrawny idols want to be like them. However, there are others who think the new laws are absurd. Many persons in the entertainment industry are against it. One, they argue regulating teenage actors/actresses is bound to result in pro-blems with filming. If there are scenes of children at night, then the whole script has to be changed. Many directors argue that this is unreasonable. Also idol groups that need lots of practice need to work overnight sometimes. The new rule would shorten their practice time, and negatively impact their performances. It could bring down the Korean music industry. Furthermore, the hard-working teens could work as catalysts for others to work harder. Their actions may influence their peers. Limiting their time would limit their hard work.ba:T1816,

Korea put five primary satellites into orbit on a single launch for the first time on Wednesday, as its domestically developed Nuri rocket completed its fifth flight.

The rocket lifted off from Naro Space Center in Goheung County, Jeonnam-Gwangju, at 12:25 p.m. and deployed the five primary satellites and nine CubeSats into their target orbit, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said. A 10th CubeSat remained on board after failing to eject.

Staff from Hanwha Aerospace, which builds the rocket, operated 20 of the 22 launch control consoles for the first time, under the supervision of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). On the fourth flight in November 2025, KARI staff operated the consoles with Hanwha staff assisting.

“This is the first time we have operated the control panels of the launch control center,” said Kim Sun, who leads Hanwha Aerospace's space business. “Building a launch vehicle well does not mean you can provide a launch service.”

Kim said the company expects to take part in operating nearly all the consoles on the sixth flight, so that a rocket the government developed “is not shelved but properly transferred to the private sector.”

“Nuri has successfully completed its planned fifth launch mission,” KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seog said at a 2 p.m. briefing at the space center. The government will oversee launch operations through 2028, and operations will become fully private-led starting in 2029, Oh said. He also said KASA has asked Hanwha to make production and operations more efficient.

“Right now each one is made by hand, and the current production process will not work if we want to launch twice a year,” Oh said.

For Hanwha, a commercial service depends on the flight record. “The most important thing is securing statistical launch reliability,” Kim said. “A launch vehicle has to succeed six or seven times before it can be insured.”

Nuri has now succeeded on four of five flights since October 2021, a success rate of 80 percent. Oh said surpassing the 90 percent the global market expects would likely take until an 11th flight.

“It means we are really still at an early stage,” Oh said, noting that Korea has made 10 orbital launch attempts, against about 2,750 for the United States.

On Wednesday, the third stage reached 575.4 kilometers (357.5 miles) 745.7 seconds after liftoff and released the five constellation satellites, numbered 2 through 6, between 795.3 and 945.3 seconds at about 576 kilometers. The nine CubeSats followed, deploying in succession by 1,021.3 seconds. The altitude criterion for successful deployment was 570 kilometers, plus or minus 15 kilometers.

The five primary satellites, known as Neonsat, are built for frequent monitoring for national security and disaster response.

Satellite No. 6 made first contact with the ground station at King Sejong Station in Antarctica at 1:08 p.m. Communication with satellites No. 2 through No. 5 began at 2 p.m. through Korean-operated ground stations in Daejeon, Jeju and King Sejong Station, as well as overseas stations including Svalbard, Norway.

The CubeSat that failed to deploy was developed by Quaternion, a Korean company. “The signal was sent normally from Nuri to the dispenser, but for some reason the dispenser's cover appears not to have opened,” said Park Jong-chan, who heads KARI's Launch Vehicle Advancement Program.

Oh said CubeSat dispensers are built or bought by each satellite's developer, not made as part of the rocket, and that it was too early to name a cause. “We call the launch a success on the basis that the five primary satellites were separated accurately at the vehicle's target altitude,” he said.

“The success of the fifth launch is not a goal but a process,” Kim said. In a separate statement, Hanwha Aerospace called the result “a valuable achievement made together by the relevant agencies and some 300 participating companies.”

A sixth flight is planned for the second half of 2027 and a seventh for 2028.

“We will pursue at least one Nuri launch a year through 2032, and through that further improve Nuri's reliability and shift to a private-sector-led commercial launch service,” Oh said.

bb:Ta61,Robin Williams: What he has taught all of us With the very sudden and unexpected death of Robin Williams, people all over the world have been in mourning. Various news, theories and reports have been covered by the media and they all focus on why and how he passed away. However, we should focus not on the death of Mr. Robin Williams but the lessons and the advices he gave all of us throughout his wonderful career as a comedic actor. Whether in character or as himself, Robin Williams was universally recognized as a man who caught things that the rest of us had somehow simply walked-by. One of his most repeated suggestions to people was to reach out for help and from what we know, he took his own advice more than once. People around the world may know Robin Williams best from his comedic, witty and forever mind-stimulating movies. To start off the list, as a psychological therapist in the movie "Good Will Hunting,” he spoke about the myth of perfection and how imperfections are actually the good stuff. In the movie “Dead Poets Society,” Robin Williams plays an unconventional English professor at a boys’ prep school, who dares his students to think independently and to embrace the beauty of the poetry they are studying. Here, he talks about the power of words and ideas and the purpose of reading and writing poetry. However, the most important lesson of all, I believe, is the scene where he stands on the top of a desk and asks his students “Why do I stand on this desk?” He was telling us to constantly look at things in a different way and to strive to find our own voice. In 2013, he responded to questions on variety of topics on a site called Reddit. Here are some of my favorite responses he was able to provide us on verbatim. These are some of the lessons he taught us off the silver screen. Q: What do you believe is the key to life? A: Family and friends. And a good pet. For pure loyalty, there is nothing like a pug. Q: What is, in your opinion, the recipe to success? A: Truly loving what you do. Because there will be good days and bad days. Q: Any advice out there for people like me who may be going through bad times themselves, for whatever reasons? A: Reach out to friends. They’re out there. And know that you are loved.bc:T16f8,

Korea plans to deploy "AI care robots" in homes from 2030 as part of a push to largely automate care for older adults amid a growing shortage of care workers.

The government aims to keep human caregivers at the center of services that require a personal touch while using technology for tasks such as routine check-ins, risk detection and repetitive administrative and physical work.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare unveiled its AI transformation road map for welfare and care at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The government pointed out that Korea could face a shortage of 990,000 care workers by 2043, citing projections by the Korea Development Institute and Bank of Korea.

The work force itself is also aging. Sixty-three percent of workers at long-term care facilities are in their 60s or older, while 62 percent of care workers report musculoskeletal pain.

The government plans to first introduce AI into home-based care.

Under the current customized care program for older adults, caregivers typically visit once or twice a week for 30 minutes to an hour at a time, which potentially leaves gaps in care between visits.

The government also aims to create smart homes that connect fire, gas and motion sensors with wearable devices and AI speakers to monitor users’ daily routines and health around the clock. The system would alert caregivers when it detects unusual changes or potential risks.

The model will be tested through next year in 400 households, 200 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and 100 each in Mokpo and Yeongam County, South Jeolla. The government expects to begin expanding the system in 2028, primarily through public home-care services, before extending it from older adults to people with disabilities.

After 2030, it aims to introduce mobile AI care robots capable of providing companionship, monitoring health and detecting safety risks.

AI will also be introduced at care facilities. Care workers currently make rounds every two hours at night to check residents’ safety, sleep and toileting needs. Under the new system, “smart” diapers and fall and motion sensors would alert staff to potential problems, while care robots would assist with physically demanding tasks such as moving residents and transporting items.

Following pilot programs, the technology will first be introduced at public long-term care facilities in areas with declining populations before expanding to private facilities.

The government also aims to use AI to make it easier to find and apply for welfare services. There are currently 5,357 welfare programs offered by the central government, regional governments and private organizations. Among people who gave up applying for welfare benefits, 44.3 percent said they did so because they were unaware of the programs, according to the Welfare Ministry.

Starting in 2027, people will be able to describe their circumstances in everyday language and generative AI will identify and recommend welfare programs for which they may qualify. The government also aims to automatically provide some universal benefits, including child allowances, without requiring a separate application.

AI will also be used more extensively to identify households at risk. The system will analyze multiple risks, including financial hardship, social isolation, abuse and care needs. In the longer term, the government aims to detect changes in people’s living conditions before a crisis develops and connect them with appropriate assistance.

More than half of the simple, repetitive administrative work handled by welfare officials, including receiving and verifying documents and entering information into government systems, will also be automated by AI by 2028.

“With a shortage of care workers on the horizon, new roles for technologies such as AI are becoming increasingly important,” Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said. “AI is not intended to replace people, but to serve as an assistant that shares the burden of simple and repetitive tasks.”

bd:Te69,No one would like to be called trash or garbage, even if it was a joke. Sometimes, it may even cause a fight, depending on the situation. Unfortunately, in Korea, some people have endured being referred to as trash or garbage. These people are journalists and news reporters. They have been given the term “giregi,” which is a combination of the Korean words for “reporter” and “garbage.” This clearly shows how the majority of the Korean public is not very fond of journalists. There was a time when journalists took pride in their work. Although they were not so popular, they were committed to their work. Back when there was no Internet or mobile phones, newspapers and TV broadcasts were the only sources of information for most people, so journalists played a critical role in informing the public. Many journalists felt it their duty to inform people of the truth about national issues and events. At that time, with an authoritarian government, democratic movements were at their peak, some reporters risked their lives to report injustices that were carried out by authorities. Getting a job as a journalist for a major newspaper or broadcaster was the goal of many students who wanted to change society. However, the media environment changed with the rise of the Internet. Many people no longer depend on newspapers or news broadcasts. Subscription rates plummeted and competition got fierce. Under these circumstances, reporters began seek out more sensational stories, known as “fishing stories,” to grab the attention of readers. When covering disasters or serious cases like the Sewol ferry accident, many news reports were criticized and reporters were under fire for not considering the victims’ families while writing their stories. It is hard to deny that journalists are responsible for how they are viewed. But before blaming journalists, readers should also admit that at one time or another, those sensational stories have intrigued them. The writer of this article, although once offered an opportunity to start a career in the journalism field years ago, has no relationship with journalists today. But I have to admit that I often read sensational stories both online and off-line. Many parts of society function by the simple law of supply and demand. It is the same with journalism. Many readers continue to click on those “sensational” articles, thus encouraging journalists to write them and this contributes to yellow journalism. What is hopeful is that journalism is still an interest for many young and aspiring job seekers. It is one of the most difficult fields to get into with fierce competition. Many still believe that being a journalist is rewarding and journalists can help to bring change to society; a good example is the case of Washington Post’s reports on the Watergate Scandal, which ended in President Nixon’s resignation. The New York Times (NYT) is also known as a very influential newspaper with several in-depth reports not only about the U.S. but also foreign countries. No matter how fast the digital age changes, news articles will still be valuable sources of information. With “true” journalists and readers who can change their views and thoughts, grounds for sound journalism may be made in Korean society.be:Tf9a,

The men’s football team deserves applause for beating Japan to win a fourth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. But some players’ inappropriate celebrations and remarks about South Korea’s mandatory military service after the victory have drawn criticism.

Captain Lee Ki-hyuk held up his gold medal and exclaimed, “I’m not going to the military,” and Yang Min-hyuk said, in effect, that he had played with only one reward in mind: exemption from military service. Park Seung-soo, who played just 16 minutes during the tournament, posted a photo on social media wearing a military discharge cap after the match. Their actions suggested that military benefits mattered more than the gold medal.

Such behavior was thoughtless for those on a national sports team and raises questions about whether they understand the responsibility that comes with wearing the national flag.

The players apologized as the controversy grew. Still, many South Koreans were understandably uncomfortable seeing the athletes place military benefits ahead of a medal.

Service members quietly devote themselves to defending the country. Recently, three soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on mines believed to have been planted by North Korea during a search operation in the demilitarized zone. The footballers’ celebrations and remarks effectively devalued military service and risked damaging troop morale.

Questions have long been raised about whether a special military service system created when South Korea had fewer opportunities to enhance its national prestige remains appropriate now that it is an advanced economy. The country also faces a shrinking pool of military personnel because of the population decline, and public demands for fairness have grown. Political proposals range from abolishing the system entirely to tightening eligibility requirements.

Under the current system, athletes qualify for alternative service by winning an Olympic medal or a medal at the Asian Games. The latter criterion has repeatedly prompted questions about fairness because the level of competition varies from one Asiad discipline to another. The debate about athletes’ military benefits also occurred after South Korea’s baseball team won gold at the 2018 Asian Games, but the system’s basic framework remains unchanged.

There are counterarguments. Abolishing or reducing the benefits could threaten the survival of less popular sports, for which athletes receive limited financial or institutional support. That concern deserves consideration. But the current standards no longer meet reasonable public expectations.

This controversy should become an opportunity for public deliberation over whether the system should survive and, if retained, how eligibility should be redesigned. Military duty is a fundamental civic obligation. Any exception must therefore rest on standards the public can regard as fair, necessary and appropriate for today’s South Korea.

bf:Tc33,Intelligence is a person’s ability to perceive information and retain it as knowledge that can be used in the future in any applicable context. It is important in learning, concept formation, understanding, and reasoning. On the other hand, character refers to good or bad behaviors or human virtues such as empathy, courage, integrity, loyalty, and compassion. Character is important especially in human relations, choices that people make, and actions that they do. Although both are important, many people believe that intelligence weighs more. They say it is what ultimately makes humans the highest form of animal, but some people think otherwise. Supporters of intelligence stress that it drives people to achieve their dreams and realize their true potentials. For this reason, many people emphasize the importance of education and invest in the education of their children. Fostering children’s intelligence gives society high hopes that they will someday land a promising job, build a career, and give back to society. Furthermore, intelligence is most useful in crises and problem-solving situations. Intelligence makes people more efficient, productive, and results-oriented than character does. In contrast, character and emotions often drive people to focus on too many considerations that get in the way of what should be a faster decision-making process. Most importantly, all forms of intelligence are highly valued in different sectors of society. For example, scientists are the ones who invent and discover breakthroughs that benefit mankind. They are also the ones who are always in pursuit of knowledge that can help improve humans’ quality of life. Moreover, intellectuals challenge existing belief systems and social constructs to help mankind embrace modernity and change. Opponents of intelligence say that intelligence should only be secondary to character. Character is what makes people human. It represents a person’s heart. Intelligence, on the other hand, is useless if people’s actions are not driven by their beliefs, principles, and integrity. Moreover, people driven by character can make contributions to society just as well as intellectuals do. More often than not, people of character think beyond themselves. They strive to touch people’s lives and make positive changes. They also make good leaders because they have the ability to think of ways to elevate not only their status but society’s as a whole. Finally, character not only elevates a single individual but society as a unit. A society that is made of people driven by integrity prospers better than a society that is comprised by intellectuals who outsmart each other and compete with one another.c0:T14ac,

Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-whan said during a press conference marking the first anniversary of the ministry on Thursday that it will "phase out coal-fired power generation by 2040" and pursue a major energy transition centered on nuclear and renewable energy.

"We plan to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2040, use nuclear power as part of the energy mix and expand renewable energy capacity to 100 gigawatts," Kim said at the Climate Ministry in Sejong. "To tackle the climate crisis, we need to change how we produce and use energy and move from a system that wastes resources to one that reuses them."

Expanding renewable energy capacity to 100 gigawatts means increasing Korea's ability to generate electricity from sources such as solar and wind power, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

As for notable changes brought about by the Climate Ministry, Kim highlighted the shift in public perceptions of EVs and the rise in EV registrations as “one of the biggest changes."

“Until early last year, people felt very hesitant about buying EVs, but after the Climate Ministry was launched, we made efforts to change that,” Kim said at the ministry's office in Sejong. “We introduced incentives for people who switch from gas-powered cars to EVs among other measures, and worked hard to improve the negative perceptions of EVs among the public.”

After the Climate Ministry was launched on Oct. 1 of last year, it introduced a subsidy program under which buyers of mid-size EVs could receive up to 6.8 million won ($5,000), which was followed by a rise in the number of people transitioning to EVs this year.

Around 1.16 million EVs are registered in Korea as of August, compared to 899,101 in 2025, according to data shared by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

“Thanks to our efforts, EVs now account for 23 percent of new vehicle sales, although the war in the Middle East has also played a role,” Kim said, implying that some people chose EVs in response to rising oil prices. “From a psychological standpoint, when a new product accounts for more than around 30 percent of purchases, people start to see it as a mainstream choice. We have reached that point. People are now starting to think, ‘When I buy my next car, maybe I should get an EV.’ I think that shift in how people view EVs is one of the biggest changes we have achieved.”

Kim also pointed to the decline in the lovebug population as another achievement by the Climate Ministry that the public can see.

“How many lovebugs were there on Gyeyangsan Mountain [in Incheon] last year? This year, our ministry and its affiliated agencies have carried out active pest-control efforts, and as a result, we have seen a noticeable decrease in lovebug sightings across the Seoul metropolitan area,” Kim said. “I think that has also helped reduce a major inconvenience in people’s daily lives.”

Lovebugs are small, black flies that often appear in large numbers during warm weather.

Many hikers reportedly complained about lovebugs last year, but the Climate Ministry’s preliminary pest-control efforts have led to a significant decline in their numbers this year, according to a press release shared by the ministry.

As for efforts to address energy supply concerns stemming from the war in the Middle East, the ministry said it has worked to ensure a stable supply of essential goods in Korea.

“After the war broke out, the ministry immediately launched an emergency energy response team to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and regularly check fuel supplies,” the ministry said in the press release. “The ministry also closely monitored nationwide stocks of garbage bags and moved supplies between regions to prevent shortages.”

c1:Te47,A recent issue is the privatization of medical treatment. Privatizing railroads and town gas were big problems before, and now it’s hospitals. Well, it’s not exactly privatizing hospitals. At least according to the government it isn’t. What they are trying to do is allow hospitals to facilitate subsidiary enterprises. This permits them to run facilities such as hotels, restaurants and parking lots that patients use while hospitalized. The reason for this is to let smaller, nonprofit hospitals earn profit through other means. They are generally only able to earn money through treatments and donations, which was a problem with all smaller hospitals. This law will provide a better and more secure source of income for them. The law is aimed at smaller hospitals. The government also says that, since it is not privatizing hospitals, medical fees won’t rise and insurance will remain the same. Then what is wrong with the law? Its aim is to help smaller hospitals, so why are so many people against it? The first thing is that, the term “smaller” could expand and soon apply to all the hospitals. We should also know that there are many companies that look at hospitals as profit. They want to invest in hospitals, but are not allowed to by law. For example, Samsung had set up hospitals but was not allowed to take money from them. It was only allowed to give money to the facilities as a donation. The law states that hospitals can make subsidiary facilities, but companies cannot make hospitals. The problem with this is that it is really the same thing. Let’s say hospital A builds facility B. Then ideally, “hospital A” and “facility B” work together and this leads to better equipment and consequently better treatments. Those who traveled to big hospitals before will be able to visit nearby smaller hospitals. This is only an ideal situation and reality would be much different. Companies that make medicine and medical equipment would work together with the hospital to build the subsidiary facility. Hospitals would use the medical equipment made by the companies they work with, and why not? It would result in profit for both parties. However, the cost of medicine and procedures would rise and doctors may begin to recommend the products made specifically by the company that has invested in their facility. Another problem is that these hospitals could take over other hospitals. They would grow bigger, resulting in a monopoly ― something that everyone is afraid of. An easy example is Samsung. As mentioned above, they have created hospitals and were “donating” to them. If the law is to be passed and enacted, they would be free to do as they had planned in the beginning. They have already invested in many industries related to healthcare. A treatment at Samsung Seoul Hospital could cost a lot more in the future, with them using more expensive devices that make us pay more. This is no different than privatizing hospitals. People say the government is trying to privatize them in a different way. Opponents are gathering signatures for a petition, with one million as their goal. Protests and strikes are flaring up, and the government is still trying to enforce the policy.c2:T182d,

South Korea's military began clearing a North Korean minefield located south of the military demarcation line (MDL), after concluding that the North had planted the mines that wounded three South Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) last month.

Monday's operation, the military's first concrete response to the Sept. 21 blast, followed a joint on-site investigation with the United Nations Command (UNC).

"Based on the results of the joint investigation with the UNC and scientific evidence, we have made a final determination that our soldiers carrying out normal DMZ operations south of the MDL were seriously wounded by a plastic antipersonnel mine North Korea laid south of the MDL under the pretext of its so-called border fortification work," Lt. Gen. Kwon Dae-won, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, central Seoul.

The conclusion rested on the military's and the UNC's assessments of three questions: where the blasts occurred, whose mine it was and whether it had been deliberately planted, according to Kwon.

The sites of the first and second explosions, and a North Korean plastic antipersonnel mine found at the scene last Tuesday, all lay south of the MDL.

"Using GPS, the UNC and the joint investigation team ultimately confirmed that the three sites were about 10 meters [33 feet] south of the MDL and determined that this violated the Armistice Agreement," Kwon said.

Tests by the National Forensic Service on the wounded soldiers' equipment found TNT, thermosetting resin and a brown foreign substance, evidence pointing to a North Korean mine. Fragments taken from the soldiers' bodies also matched a North Korean plastic antipersonnel mine previously recovered from the Imjin River.

The military also concluded that the mines had been planted rather than swept in. Soldiers at the scene testified that the mine they saw was buried 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) deep, and the mine found last Tuesday had been buried about 3 centimeters down.

"The UNC also assessed that the mines had been deliberately placed and that they were laid about 12 months ago," Kwon said. "Considering the spacing between the mine actually found and the craters left by the exploded mines, as well as the distance between rows, we judged them to be typical North Korean mines that had been laid, not mines that had drifted."

The military destroyed the minefield at around 12:51 p.m. on Monday and released footage of the operation showing an explosion and black smoke.

"The purpose of this operation is to remove the minefield North Korea laid south of the MDL in violation of the Armistice Agreement," Kwon said. "It was carried out safely in close coordination with the UNC, in compliance with the armistice and with measures in place to prevent accidental clashes."

The Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War bans hostile acts "within, from or against" the DMZ and prohibits crossing the MDL without authorization from the Military Armistice Commission.

The military will continue clearing mines if North Korea does not remove those it laid south of the MDL voluntarily.

"We strongly urge North Korea, even now, to offer a sincere apology to our soldiers injured in this mine explosion and to immediately remove the mines it laid in violation of the Armistice Agreement," Kwon said.

The UNC also declared the blast an armistice violation last Wednesday. North Korea has been fortifying the border since April 2024, reinforcing barbed-wire fences, planting mines and building anti-tank barriers along the MDL.

Pyongyang has rejected the findings. In a statement last Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong-un, called the incident a "farce of their own making."

She warned of "immediate and merciless" retaliation if South Korean troops opened fire on North Korean soldiers. In another statement on Friday, she declared, "The enemy is the enemy after all."

The government had said it would decide the extent of its response once the military released its final findings.

c3:T939,Trends come and go. Talk shows were once the most popular entertainment programs. Outdoor variety shows were next. Currently, cooking-related shows are the leading entertainment programs in Korean TV channels. Some shows invite chefs to demonstrate their skills. Other shows have celebrities getting a taste of gourmet dishes in Korea. The fad does have some positive characteristics as well as negative ones. Having TV shows featuring food does have positive effects. Because food is one of the primary aspects of our lives, food-related entertainment programs can help people improve their quality of life. By learning cooking tips from renowned chefs, the viewers are encouraged to try the recipes on their own. In addition, working as a professional chef gained more popularity. Being a chef is no longer a demeaning career path. Chefs are respected as artists crafting on a white canvas called plates. There are also negative consequences of the trend. Consumers are being interested in food for the sake of showing off to others. Posting images of their cooking on SNS is not to be criticized. However, some people produce an enormous amount of food waste just to take that one picture for their social media accounts. In addition, the TV shows are criticized for having heavy product placements. Marketing is too extreme, to the extent that the viewers feel like they are watching an hour of advertisements. The fad has some great impacts on our society as well as some negative influences that we should be wary of. It is highly likely that this trend will be temporary like the rest. However, we can take advantage of the current trend. Food is an important part of people’s lives so it is right to learn how to prepare them properly. People can learn how to enjoy cooking and pre-paring food but we must also know our limitations. We should take this opportunity to promote healthier eating habits and lifestyles. We should cook and eat food that is pleasant for our mouths and also for our bodies. In the end, we are what we eat.c4:T15db,

With personal mobility devices such as electric scooters and electric bikes frequently posing risks to pedestrians, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will evaluate rental operators on how they manage their fleets and make the results public in an effort to address shared electric scooters left unattended on streets.

“A revision to the Seoul ordinance on promoting the safe use of mobility devices was promulgated on Oct. 1,” the city announced Monday. The revised ordinance will take effect on Jan. 1 of next year.

The revision strengthens the management responsibilities of rental operators of devices such as electric scooters. Operators will be assessed on factors including the number of complaints involving illegal parking and abandoned devices, the time taken to relocate or collect unattended devices, the number of safety accidents and public satisfaction.

The results may be made public or used to shape future policies. Operators found to have inadequate management practices may be advised to make improvements.

The measure expands the city’s approach beyond simply towing illegally parked devices by establishing a basis for evaluating how effectively each rental operator manages its equipment.

The revised ordinance also formally establishes designated parking areas. It allows the city to install and operate designated parking zones to promote orderly use and pedestrian safety.

Such zones will be installed first in areas with heavy mobility device use or where stricter parking controls are needed, in consultation with district offices, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and other relevant authorities.

Rental operators will also be advised to guide users to designated parking areas and introduce necessary technical measures to encourage their use.

Oversight of unattended devices will also be strengthened. Electric scooters left in the middle of roads or sidewalks have drawn complaints for obstructing pedestrians and posing accident risks.

Under the revised ordinance, the city will be able to require rental operators to quickly relocate unattended devices.

Surveys will also cover the prevalence of abandoned devices and areas where they are repeatedly or heavily concentrated. The city and district offices will share management data, including reports filed by residents and records of devices being relocated or collected.

The city will also establish and operate an ICT-based management system to prevent devices from being left unattended and improve safety management.

Seoul introduced the country’s first towing system for illegally parked electric scooters in 2021. Devices can be towed when they are left on roadways, near subway station entrances or bus stops, on tactile paving or at entrances to crosswalks.

Operators are charged a towing fee of 40,000 won ($30) and a storage fee of 700 won for every 30 minutes.

The city also operates scooter-free streets. Hongdae Red Road in Mapo District, western Seoul, and an area packed with cram schools in Banpo-dong in Seocho District, southern Seoul, were designated electric scooter-free areas last year.

This year, the city added an area with private academies in Daechi-dong in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, the pedestrian walkway at Wirye Transit Mall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, and Yeonsinnae Rodeo Street in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul.

“With this ordinance revision, Seoul’s approach to managing devices, which had focused on towing and traffic restrictions, has expanded to include designated parking, management of areas where devices are repeatedly abandoned, evaluations of companies and the establishment of an information system,” a Seoul city official said.

c5:Tb9d,Sports betting is an activity that transpires simultaneously with sports games. People lay a wager on the predicted results of different sports games like professional baseball games and basketball world cups. Bets can go as high as thousands of dollars depending on the scale of the game. This multi-billion dollar industry has existing bookmakers that arrange everything that transpires within the activity like accepting wagers and giving payouts for winners. They can be found in physical offices, contacted through phone calls and accessed through online websites. There is a good number of legislations that try to prohibit sports betting but the scope of what is within its jurisdiction is unclear. Sports betting stays rampant despite all the laws that criminalize it. There is an ongoing dispute on whether or not sports betting is socially acceptable. Sports enthusiasts who are also into gambling acknowledge the legal parameters of sports betting but continue to perform such activities. They see sports betting as an added extra to the elation brought by watching sports. Being able to place bets on the possible results of the games gives them that adrenaline rush that makes the activity more pleasurable for them. Other patrons of the sports betting industry claim that such activities are actually beneficial to sports. They say that money put into the games put more pressure on athletes and coaches to perform better. The amount of money put by the audience into their performance in every game fuels their desire for victory. They see this as a win-win situation for everyone. Critics on the other hand grit their teeth on the lack of respect that sports gambling gives to athletes and other members of the sports world. For them, using professional athletes as a subject for gambling insults the amount of effort these athletes put into their craft. Another critical issue is the reliability of game results considering that it would be easy for referees to make calls in favor of teams who have high bets on them. Players and coaches can also tweak their game play basing on what bets dictate. More to this, sports betting is a form of gambling and that in itself is frowned upon by many. Sports and betting must not go together, according to these detractors. Whether or not sports betting is legal or illegal, activities within this industry go on anyway. It is like any other form of gambling that finds its way to survive despite the public’s views about it. To this day, this industry is estimated to be worth 700 billion dollars to 1 trillion dollars.c6:T15b2,

Real wages in Korea fell for a fourth straight month in July as pay increases failed to keep up with inflation, the longest losing streak since 2023.

The monthly average nominal wage per worker at businesses with at least one employee was 4.3 million won ($3,181) in July, up 104,000 won, or 2.5 percent, from a year earlier. The figures come from the Ministry of Employment and Labor's monthly labor survey of businesses, released Wednesday.

Consumer prices rose 2.8 percent over the same period. Adjusted for inflation, the real wage came to 3.6 million won, down 12,000 won, or 0.3 percent.

Prices, in other words, rose faster than nominal wages. Real wages fell 1 percent in April, 1.4 percent in May, 0.1 percent in June and 0.3 percent in July.

Further price increases could put more downward pressure on real wages, a ministry official said. The official added that the decline could be partly offset if companies conclude wage deals or pay out more in performance bonuses.

The gap between employment types also showed in the figures. Regular workers earned 4.6 million won on average, up 151,000 won, or 3.4 percent, from a year earlier. However, temporary and daily workers earned 1.7 million won, down 46,000 won, or 2.6 percent.

Business size also made a difference. Workers at businesses with 300 or more regular employees earned 6.5 million won, up 209,000 won, or 3.3 percent. At smaller businesses, pay rose 64,000 won, or 1.7 percent, to 3.8 million won.

Workers put in an average of 161.9 hours in July, down seven hours, or 4.1 percent, from the same month a year earlier. Much of the drop was due to July having one fewer working day on the calendar than last July.

The number of people working at businesses with at least one employee stood at 20.69 million at the end of August, up 233,000, or 1.1 percent, from a year earlier. Regular workers increased by 92,000, or 0.5 percent, and temporary and daily workers by 141,000, or 7.4 percent.

Health and social welfare services led the increase, adding 122,000 workers, up 4.7 percent. Employment in professional, scientific and technical services rose 2.1 percent, and in finance and insurance 3.3 percent.

Workers also changed jobs more often. Job entries totaled 1,008,000 in August, up 154,000, or 18.1 percent, from a year earlier, while job exits rose by 147,000, or 16.5 percent, to 1,036,000.

By region, Gyeonggi added 49,000 workers and Seoul 42,000. Sejong posted the fastest growth at 3.1 percent, followed by Jeju at 2.7 percent and Incheon at 2.5 percent. Employment in Gangwon fell by 1 percent, while Busan and North Chungcheong grew by only 0.1 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

Regional data as of April showed wide pay gaps. Regular workers in Seoul earned the most, at 4.85 million won, followed by Ulsan at 4.55 million won, South Chungcheong at 4.42 million won and Gyeonggi at 4.31 million won. The national average was 4.29 million won.

Jeju had the lowest average at 3.41 million won, followed by North Jeolla at 3.52 million won and Gangwon at 3.56 million won.

Real wages rose the most in North Chungcheong, by 1.5 percent, followed by Jeju at 1.3 percent. They fell 7 percent in Ulsan and 5 percent in North Gyeongsang.

Regular workers in North Chungcheong put in the longest hours, at 177.4 hours, followed by South Chungcheong at 176 hours. Hours were relatively short in Gwangju at 167.1 hours and Daejeon at 168.2 hours.

The ministry attributed the longer hours in North and South Chungcheong to the large share of manufacturing industries there, and the shorter hours in Gwangju and Daejeon to the larger share of service industries.

c7:Te79,Soldiers protect civilians. Then, who protects the soldiers? The irony surfaced as consecutive mischiefs within the Korean army unveiled. Private Yoon, who recently passed away, was constantly harassed by his senior soldiers. There have been reports stating that the harassment may have been the cause of his death. In addition, a sergeant went AWOL fully armed. The reason was constant bullying from his unit. Furthermore, a TV show broadcasted that around 120 soldiers die annually in Korea. About 70 percent of those deaths are by suicide. As military problems emerged, people began to scrutinize for explanations. There are two branches of interpretations. One, these incidents are results of personal problems. The unstable mentality of individual soldiers resulted in tragedy. The other states that the problems are rooted within the military. Hierarchical system, covert nature, and concealing attitude of the Korean military made the situation worse. Both justifications are compelling. It will be dangerous to blame a single party for these happenings. The two reasons may have created a vicious cycle that ended catastrophically. For example, the physical examination for conscription may not have been through on psychological aspects. An individual with mental trauma may not be filtered out. If the individual is placed in a unit where violence is not reported and harassments are prevalent, it is a matter of time for something to go wrong. The individual may snap and retaliate. If the military authorities deny such incidents, the problem will never be solved. The cycle will continue. The reality is more intricate than stated above. For that reason, finding a single solution to resolve the problems is impossible. The solution will require cooperation among different parties. Many people understand the solitary nature of the military. Nonetheless, incidents where human rights are violated should be an exception. Covering up and denying out of embarrassment only worsens the problem. Acknowledging soldiers as human beings instead of weaponry is also needed. Examination of individuals’ psychology and characteristics is necessary. Allocating the young soldiers to unit that best suits them is beneficial to both soldiers and troops. Because the scandalous incidents in military are complex, there are different opinions about them. Some even assert that it is time to consider revising the current conscript system and introduce the volunteer military system like in the U.S. and many other countries. Many parts of Korea’s military culture have been formed since decades ago and have been implemented under the name of maintaining military discipline. However, the world is changing fast. Many young men of today have grown in a different environment with different thoughts. A consensus that the military should take some steps to adapt to this trend is being formed. A strong defense is essential for the survival of a country. Especially considering the security situation of Korea, well organized and strong military system is critical. How to realize this is an important matter. There is no simple solution. But fundamentally, everyone should not forget that it is people that consist the military organization and their lives and rights are at stake.b:[["$","$Lb7",null,{"rows":[{"uid":6643,"subject":"Juvenile theft cases up 76% since 2021, with unmanned stores a key factor","content":"$b8","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_e73a813debb659f455dc9819457f75ac.jpg","d_service":"20261013","hit":168,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":31,"subject":"A Halt in Teenage Celebrity Activity","content":"$b9","file_img":"","d_service":"20261013","hit":4398,"total_comment":0,"begin":true},{"uid":6642,"subject":"Korea achieves satellite deployment milestone with 5th Nuri launch","content":"$ba","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_e0e0a5b5a1a24a1335644264053256a6.jpg","d_service":"20261012","hit":328,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":47,"subject":"Robin Williams: What he has taught all of us","content":"$bb","file_img":"","d_service":"20261009","hit":6364,"total_comment":0,"begin":true},{"uid":6641,"subject":"Korea turns to AI, robots to tackle looming care worker shortage","content":"$bc","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_387c013af4cda6ffdd6e20ce4c1834e7.jpg","d_service":"20261011","hit":256,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":29,"subject":"An Eye on Korean Journalism","content":"$bd","file_img":"","d_service":"20261006","hit":5767,"total_comment":0,"begin":true},{"uid":6640,"subject":"Military service benefits for athletes need an overhaul","content":"$be","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_0b88c6f8f629412c9f890596b5b208ee.jpg","d_service":"20261010","hit":125,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":247,"subject":"Intelligence Versus Character","content":"$bf","file_img":"","d_service":"20261002","hit":41775,"total_comment":2,"begin":true},{"uid":6639,"subject":"Climate Ministry aims to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2040","content":"$c0","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_f99f258b6ca65b7b1db433dd490fd547.jpg","d_service":"20261009","hit":152,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":38,"subject":"Privatization of Medical Treatments","content":"$c1","file_img":"","d_service":"20260929","hit":6849,"total_comment":0,"begin":true},{"uid":6638,"subject":"South Korea clears DMZ minefield after investigation finds North Korea behind blast that wounded three soldiers","content":"$c2","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_5040d344f785e3816973b6c22e12329f.jpg","d_service":"20261008","hit":223,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":130,"subject":"More TV Shows Featuring Food and Cooking","content":"$c3","file_img":"","d_service":"20260925","hit":9149,"total_comment":1,"begin":true},{"uid":6637,"subject":"Seoul tightens oversight of e-scooter operators, abandoned devices","content":"$c4","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_eddf50d66a9d3e2a6bcae3592841cca7.jpg","d_service":"20261007","hit":261,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":68,"subject":"Sports Betting Debate","content":"$c5","file_img":"","d_service":"20260922","hit":5744,"total_comment":1,"begin":true},{"uid":6636,"subject":"Korea’s real wages fall for fourth month as inflation outpaces pay","content":"$c6","file_img":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/engnews/img_d41f3405b6a66261cb214f332f87b882.jpg","d_service":"20261006","hit":223,"total_comment":0,"begin":false},{"uid":46,"subject":"The Military Needs a Reformation","content":"$c7","file_img":"","d_service":"20260918","hit":5463,"total_comment":2,"begin":true}],"banners":[{"uid":68082,"category":"mobile_engnews","link_url":"https://talk.hackers.com/?r=hackerstalk&c=event&evt_code=45234925&_C_=726142&utm_source=heng&utm_medium=mboardbn&utm_campaign=talk_eng_new0won_251224","img_url":"https://cdn.hackers.co.kr/files/banner_new/2025/12/58e771f6b494f85cc40545645025a30d.jpg","img_type":"url","img_alt":"영어회화,영어회화강의,영어회화인강,영어회화독학,영어회화강의추천,해커스톡,해커스톡영어회화,해커스톡강의,영어회화환급강의","target":"_blank"}],"level":"","contHeader":"$Lc8"}],"$Lc9","$Lca"]

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