This article is by Lim Sun-young and read by an artificial voice.

Shoppers in Korea increasingly wheel pets through malls in strollers as retailers cater to the country's 15 million pet owners, but inconsistent rules and clashing views on pet etiquette are turning shopping trips into a source of confusion.
Retailers face growing pressure between customers who welcome pets and others who want them banned.
Each company has its own rules on pet entry, according to retail industry sources on Aug. 19, although the law guarantees access for guide dogs.
"It is a matter of business owners' discretion and cannot be enforced," a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official said.
Starfield Market Dongtan Branch in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, recently became the first among the chain's outlets to allow pets, permitting dogs and cats under 5 kilograms (11 pounds) if kept in a covered stroller or cage. At Starfield malls, pets on leashes are allowed in all areas except food and beverage sections.
But other Shinsegae Group affiliates take a stricter approach. Emart and its warehouse chain Traders Wholesale Club do not allow animals other than guide dogs.
"We had to consider hygiene in food sections," an Emart official said.
Lotte Mart and Homeplus permit entry for pets in strollers or carriers, again excluding food and beverage sections. Major department stores, including Hyundai, Lotte, Shinsegae and Galleria, follow similar policies, allowing pets if fully enclosed in a carrier.
Pet owners say they welcome the growing access but remain frustrated by the lack of consistency.
A 45-year-old office worker reported that they brought their dog in a stroller to a supermarket last month, but were stopped by staff.
"I ended up leaving without shopping, but later found out pets are actually allowed," they said. "Even the employee didn't know the rules."
A housewife in her 50s said she finds the regulations confusing.
"The policies differ from store to store, and it is often hard to find clear guidance on websites or at the entrance," she said.

Shoppers also complain about pet owners who ignore the rules. Industry officials said they frequently see people open carriers or carry dogs in their arms.
"I was shocked when a dog barked loudly at a department store and stuck its head out," a housewife said. "I rushed out because I was afraid it might bite my young daughter."
Recent posts on online communities have highlighted incidents where customers become angry when employees try to prevent them from bringing dogs into food courts or placing dogs in shopping carts.
"We get as many complaints demanding we ban pets as we do asking us to loosen restrictions," a retail industry official said. "It is difficult to find a middle ground."
The debate may soon extend to restaurants. Current food sanitation law requires animals and people to remain in separate areas.
But a revised enforcement rule is expected to take effect later this year, allowing restaurants and cafes to admit pets if they meet hygiene and safety standards, such as providing separate seats for animals and partitions around kitchens.
"Trial programs over the past two years showed higher consumer satisfaction," a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official said.
But some remain concerned about safety and hygiene.
Experts say retailers need to provide clear guidance to prevent confusion, while the government must manage risks as rules change.
"A more responsible civic awareness that respects rules for pet ownership is also necessary," said Kim Yun-tae, a professor of sociology and social welfare at Korea University.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Park Sang-moon and read by an artificial voice.

The name "chilbo," meaning "seven treasures," refers to the rich colors resembling those of gold, silver, jade, coral, agate, pearl and amber.
The history of cloisonné in Korea dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-668 A.D.) and flourished through the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910) dynasties. Korean artisans developed unique patterns and styles that reflected traditional aesthetics.

Lee Soo-kyung, born in 1946 and based in Ulsan, has devoted 58 years of her life to cloisonné and is recognized as Korea's first Grand Master in the field. She is considered one of the most skilled cloisonné artists both domestically and internationally.

After marrying the late Kim Ik-sun (1935-2014), Lee began her journey in cloisonné art. In the late 1960s, the couple was trained in royal cloisonné techniques by Yi Bang-ja (1901-1989), wife of Korea's last crown prince, Yi Eun. At the time, the princess was running a cloisonné studio at Nakseonjae Hall in Changdeok Palace to support Myunghuiwon, a welfare facility she founded for people with disabilities.

She has developed her own style centered on wire cloisonné techniques and has created more than 100 original colors, resulting in distinctive and unparalleled works. Some of her large-scale pieces take three to four years to complete, requiring tens of thousands of individual enamel beads meticulously arranged like embroidery on a canvas.
Cloisonné is often referred to as the "art of fire" or "art of color." It involves layering powdered glass on a metal surface - typically pure gold, silver or copper - and firing it at 700 to 900 degrees Celsius. The combination of base material, enamel thickness, firing temperature and frequency produces an extraordinary range of colors. Turning glass into something as luminous as gemstones demands arduous work involving thousands of brushstrokes and firings.

Her pieces, sometimes described as more beautiful than natural gemstones, have required tens of millions of brushstrokes and countless firings. Her work has earned her the nickname "the Picasso of Korea" of the 21st century.
Lee's distinctive color palette and techniques have captivated audiences worldwide. Her works have been exhibited in Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, the UAE and Japan. They are also part of collections held by global leaders and royalty.

Her work emanates warmth, compassion and love for humanity. The dazzling and mysterious colors inspire hope and courage.
Today, Lee works alongside her son Kim Hong-beom and daughter-in-law Kim Sung-mi, both masters in their own right, continuing a multigenerational family legacy. Their shared days begin with prayer, as the beauty and light of Korean cloisonné continue to brighten the world.

This article is by Michael Lee and read by an artificial voice.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Tokyo this weekend for his first bilateral summit since taking office, meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a move that signals Seoul's growing strategic focus on its historically fraught relationship with Tokyo.
Although the pair previously met on the sidelines of the Group of 7 gathering in Canada in June, Lee's choice to hold his first overseas summit with the Japanese leader, and not the U.S. president, underscores the significance of Korea-Japan relations amid growing geopolitical concerns for the two countries.
Though Seoul and Tokyo each maintain separate defense treaties with Washington, they share concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for increased defense spending by allies and the imposition of tariffs on key exports.
At the same time, the legacy of Japan's 1910-45 occupation of the Korean Peninsula continues to cast a shadow over their bilateral relationship.
While Lee repeatedly accused former President Yoon Suk Yeol of adopting an overly "submissive" approach to Tokyo in order to bolster trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan, he has recalibrated his tone since taking office.
Notably, he made little mention of the historical issues that plague South Korea-Japan relations in his Liberation Day address on Aug. 15, saying only that "many [Koreans] still suffer from historical wounds" and "remember the dreams of independence activists."
He has also pledged a "two-track" policy of dealing with disputes concerning Tokyo separately from areas of cooperation that are beneficial to Seoul.
Lee's upcoming visit to Japan not only marks the first test of his "pragmatic" approach to South Korea's foreign relations, but could also set the tone for how he handles a bilateral relationship fraught with a difficult past and shifting regional dynamics.
A chance to reset bilateral ties
The South Korean presidential office has offered few specifics on the agenda, saying only that the visit would provide a chance to "solidify the foundation for future-oriented cooperation" and conduct "candid discussions" on bilateral and trilateral coordination.
But analysts believe Lee will likely use his first meeting with Ishiba to set the tone of Seoul's relationship with Tokyo during his five-year term in office.
"This summit is an opportunity for the president to shed his anti-Japanese image," said Lee Myon-woo, former director of the Sejong Institute, a think tank in Seoul. "Tokyo is aware of his past rhetoric - especially over contentious issues like the Fukushima wastewater release - and will be watching closely to see if he now prioritizes diplomacy over domestic politics."

The timing of the visit, coming before Lee's scheduled trip to Washington, has also drawn attention.
"The fact that President Lee is visiting Tokyo before Washington underscores the diplomatic weight he places on Korea-Japan relations," said Choi Eun-mee, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "It may also signal a revival of the shuttle diplomacy that characterized earlier periods of improved ties between the two countries."
Sohn Yul, president of the Seoul-based East Asia Institute, noted the symbolic significance of the summit, which comes as South Korea and Japan mark 60 years since they established diplomatic relations in 1965. "It's a moment not just for reflection, but also to chart a path forward," he said, adding that the two countries would also likely "emphasize the strength of their bilateral ties as part of the U.S.-led security triangle in East Asia."
Areas of alignment and divergence
Despite a shared interest in countering North Korea and navigating tensions with China, South Korea and Japan continue to differ in their strategic postures.
Tokyo has long favored international pressure and sanctions to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. By contrast, the ...

This article is by Sarah Kim and read by an artificial voice.

President Lee Jae Myung met with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in Seoul on Thursday, discussing ways to expand cooperation in global health initiatives, small modular reactors (SMR) and future industries, according to the presidential office.
During the 30-minute meeting at the Yongsan presidential office, Gates recognized the growth of Korea's bioscience sector, stressing that Seoul can make a difference through its innovative products, research and global aid.
"The growth of the bioscience work here in Korea is very impressive," Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, told Lee, adding that in the last decade, Korean companies have gone "from being a pretty small part of the bioscience industry to now a very significant part."
Gates noted that his foundation has worked with SD Biosensor, EuBiologics, SK bioscience and LG on areas including Covid-19 vaccine and diagnostic kits.
"I feel very lucky to get a chance to talk to you so early in your administration," Gates said to Lee. "The world has changed a lot, whether it's the geopolitics or the technology of AI. And so you have a huge opportunity to reexamine some of the key strategies and really reinforce the strong role that South Korea plays in solving many of these problems."
Lee in turn, expressed that he respects Gates for not only developing Windows, but also "embarking on new public goods for humanity, such as vaccine development and ecofriendly power generation facilities."
Lee and Gates also discussed the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press briefing after the meeting.
Gates said he hopes Lee will have a good conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump in their summit in Washington, and Lee said he is aware he faces "difficult tasks" but that he hopes to have "prudent talks" with the U.S. leader.
Gates stressed that SMRs can be an effective solution to the growing electricity demand in cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, Kang said.
In turn, Lee replied that the Korean government is also "very interested in building next-generation nuclear power plants."
Lee noted that there are many Korean companies developing SMRs that are becoming increasingly active in the global market.
"Korea can truly be a strong player in SMRs," Lee said. "Our companies are well-prepared, and Korea has great strengths in SMRs in the overseas market."
This marks Gates' first visit to Korea in three years. Gates, who is also the founder of next-generation SMR developer TerraPower, has been actively involved in the health sector through his foundation, including in the development of various vaccines. Korean companies HD Hyundai, SK, and SK Innovation are investors in TerraPower.

During his visit to Seoul, Gates met with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, as well as other officials and industry leaders. He also filmed an episode of the cable broadcaster tvN's variety show "You Quiz on the Block" during the trip.
In a roundtable with the Korean journalists later Thursday, Gates noted that TerraPower, founded in 2006, "had huge investments from our partners here in South Korea."
He told reporters he always enjoyed visiting Korea, adding, "I'm super impressed with the technology and the partnerships that the Gates Foundation has here, both with the government, but with these companies as well."
Gates also introduced the achievements of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund in fighting diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis and urged Korea to increase its contributions as a wealthy donor country.
Regarding aid to North Korea, Gates said, "North Korea's is low income enough that, if they choose, they can work with these health agencies" on areas like vaccines, malnutrition and maternal health.
Gates was also scheduled to meet with SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, an opportunity to discuss cooper...

This article is by Park Eun-jee and read by an artificial voice.

From modest beginnings as a fisher on a deep-sea vessel, Kim Jae-chul built Dongwon Group into a formidable player in the global seafood industry.
After acquiring the U.S. tuna brand StarKist in 2008, the Korean conglomerate has since claimed the title of the world's largest producer of canned tuna.
In "Sailing Through Life's Storms," the founder and honorary chairman of Dongwon Group depicts his dramatic journey and moments of critical choices that transformed a small fisheries company with 10 million won ($7,151) of initial capital into an industry giant.

An English edition of the book was published on Aug. 21 following its initial Korean release in April.
The first chapter deals with pioneering his career centered on the sea over a stable path. He forwent Seoul National University for the National Fisheries University of Busan, inspired by the advice of his teacher, which "stirred something deep" within his mind.
He then started off as an unpaid trainee officer on a distant-water fishing vessel - an experience that propelled him into building his own company.
The second chapter explored how Kim expanded Dongwon Group into Korea's major enterprise, spanning fisheries, finance, and manufacturing. Even as the company grew, he remained present in the "field" of the business, venturing into other business sites and oceans.
He recounts that his relentless curiosity and wide reading have sparked new business ideas, while his imagination has translated them into reality. He is still busy formulating new business ideas, such as land-based salmon farming.
He also emphasizes "destination management," where a person sets a clear goal first and plans backward from the endpoint, and the need for "adaptive management," the ability to respond swiftly to changing environments.
Another avenue of focus is principled management that complies with ethical and legal standards. His life path somewhat speaks for itself because he is a rare chaebol chief without any record of financial crime.
The autobiography ends in a question and-answer format, an excerpt based on actual lectures given to young people. He states that his intention in releasing an autobiography is to empower and encourage younger generations.
Kim champions a spirit of challenge, the courage to find one's own path, the importance of human relationships and the value of meaningful failure.
Born in 1934, the author earned his bachelor's degree in fisheries engineering from the National Fisheries University of Busan.

This article is by Kim Min-young and read by an artificial voice.

From defense cost-sharing to tariff negotiations, Korea and the United States are navigating a series of high-stakes challenges.
Yet U.S. Sen. Andrew Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, reaffirmed the critical partnership between Korea and the United States, while acknowledging divergences with the Donald Trump administration on trade and commercial policy.
"What are things that we might be able to do in a win-win way between our countries to try to help young people in Korea as well as young people in America?" asked the senator during an event at American Diplomacy House Seoul in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Wednesday. "And that is really my top priority. Looking out for my kids so that hopefully one day I can look my kids in the eye and tell them that they will have a better life."
In the only public outreach event the senator specifically requested during his two-day stay in the country, Kim engaged with young Koreans in a closed-door town hall event hosted at the American Diplomacy House, the embassy's information and cultural outreach center in Seoul.
The senator also had an exclusive interview with a Korea JoongAng Daily reporter who was present at the scene as an alumnus of the American Diplomacy House Academy, the embassy's network program for public diplomacy. Topics ranged from Kim's decision to reach out to the youth, the Korea-U.S. alliance and the shared struggles of young Americans and Koreans.
The following excerpt of the interview has been edited for clarity.

Q. Was there a particular reason you wanted to emphasize your relationship with the youth?
A. I think this is all about the future. What is the future of America? What is the future of our leadership? To do that, we also need to think through what the future of American youth is, as well as youth around the world.
I also happen to be one of the youngest members of the Senate. I find a particular responsibility to think in that kind of way.
This is my first trip to Korea as a U.S. senator. But going forward, I hope to do a lot more public engagements and events, because I think that's how the Korean people can get to know me better, but also so I can get to know the Korean people better in terms of what their needs are and what they want to see done in the U.S.-Korea relationship.

Q. What is your vision regarding the relationship between Korea and, specifically, New Jersey?
Just as I believe I can serve as a bridge between the United States and Korea, I also think New Jersey can play a similar role. It has one of the largest Korean communities in the country. It is where the headquarters of Samsung and a number of other major Korean companies are located.
I believe it's the natural place for Korean businesses looking to invest in America to get a foothold, and not just in headquarters and sales. We're also trying to grow manufacturing and other things of that nature, especially when it comes to advanced technologies, industries and innovation.
That's something that I really want to push on. And what I also tell Korean businesses is that if they come to New Jersey, not only do they have a vibrant Korean American community and the examples of other Korean companies that have been successful, but they'll also have a Korean American U.S. senator who is looking out for this relationship and trying to grow it.
So yes, I'm very much trying to make a pitch for my home state as we go around. I think the success of New Jersey, the success of these business investments, will benefit both the United States and Korea.

Q. You said during the town hall that diplomacy should be conducted beyond the executive level. How can young Koreans engage to foster a better relationship with the United States?
That's something we'll need to build on. I've been a big fan of various exchange programs, including Fulbright fellowships, studying abroad, and foreign exchanges.
I'll be honest with you. Some of thes...

This article is by Kim Ji-ye and read by an artificial voice.

Daniel Dae Kim, lead actor of Prime Video's spy thriller "Butterfly," described the show as coming at the "right time," as it brings a Korean setting and culture into a U.S. production amid unprecedented global interest in Korean content.
"I felt like 'now' because there's so much interest and popularity of Korean food, beauty products, drama and K-pop," Daniel Dae Kim said during the show's Korean press conference held in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Thursday, ahead of the show's Korean premiere.
"Now I felt like the time was right in the American marketplace to be able to tell the story and have the studio want to do it. Because before, if we wanted to try to do this, five or 10 years ago, I don't think there was as much interest in Korea, and so even though I would want to make the story, the studio wouldn't buy it," the actor said.
After airing globally through Prime Video on Aug. 13, the series is set for a TV release through tvN in Korea on Friday, as the streaming service is not available in the country.
The six-episode thriller follows Daniel Dae Kim's character, David Jung, a former U.S. intelligence agent hunted by a sociopathic young agent named Rebecca, who is assigned to kill him. Alongside Daniel Dae Kim, the cast includes Reina Hardesty, Sean Richard Dulake and a lineup of Korean actors such as Kim Tae-hee, Kim Ji-hoon and Park Hae-soo.

Although filmed on location in Korea, "Butterfly" is a U.S. production and marks the Hollywood debut of the Korean national actors.
Kim Tae-hee, who plays David's wife, said that she was proud to be part of the project and to portray an ordinary Korean woman. She explained that her role was "one of the most everyday" characters she has taken on, and the one closest to her own daily life.
She also shared her goal for the show and that her husband, singer-actor Rain, who also has Hollywood experience, strongly encouraged her to take on the project.
"I hope it lets people discover what makes Korea special and feel closer to the country," she said.

Packed with intense action, the espionage thriller also carries a heartwarming message, according to Daniel Dae Kim, something that Korean viewers should look forward to.
"At its heart, I like the fact that it's also a family drama. It's a relationship show," Daniel Dae Kim said. "So even if you're not an action fan, you'll have something that you can understand here."

This article is by Kim Su-min and read by an artificial voice.

Just a few years ago, "No Japan" slogans were seen on streets across Korea - but in the face of intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and global supply chain realignments, the two nations are increasingly viewed as indispensable partners, and Korea's business community is now voicing strong support for deeper collaboration.
Hopes are growing for a stronger Korea-Japan economic partnership across the industry. Amid discussions of "decoupling" and "de-risking" global supply chains, countries that share common values and institutional frameworks are moving to rebuild supply routes among allies, hence the new strategic importance of cooperation between Korea and Japan that goes beyond traditional bilateral ties to touch on economic security.
Korea and Japan share more than just similar goals, but also similar vulnerabilities. According to the 2023 Economic Complexity Index, Japan ranked third and Korea fifth out of 145 countries, meaning both export some of the world's most complex products. But that complexity also comes with high dependence on global materials, components and equipment - making both economies more sensitive to external shocks.
Reducing dependence on China is another shared priority. A report last year by Seoul National University's Institute for Future Strategy noted that geopolitical shifts and China's growing tech and industrial competitiveness are likely to weaken supply links between both Korea and China, and Japan and China. It also pointed out that Korean and Japanese companies may increasingly look to each other to replace Chinese suppliers.

Calls for cooperation in artificial intelligence are also growing in the digital era. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, a proponent of building an "economic community" with Japan, said in July that "Korea must share data with Japan to scale up datasets and build the AI capabilities needed to compete with China."
Korea and Japan's industrial strengths are also complementary, meaning that aligning these strengths could unlock powerful synergies in addressing shared challenges. Korea has an edge in memory and foundry semiconductors, battery cell manufacturing, mass production, marketing and business execution. Japan excels in core technologies, materials, components and equipment, precision engineering and financial services.
Corporate exchanges are already active - particularly in semiconductors. Samsung Electronics recently purchased a large building in Yokohama to house a new advanced semiconductor packaging R&D center, part of a December 2023 investment plan in Japan. Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Tokyo and Osaka in the spring to meet with Japanese corporate leaders. SK hynix has invested a total of 3.92 trillion won ($2.8 billion) in Kioxia, formerly Toshiba Memory, the world's third-largest NAND flash producer.

Korea's battery sector, which initially grew with Japanese technology, has since matured into a platform for joint ventures. One example is GMBI, a recycling joint venture between LG Energy Solution and Japan's Toyota Tsusho to process used batteries. Hyundai Motor and Toyota are also strengthening their partnership on hydrogen vehicles. Last October, Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Euisun Chung and Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyota met at a racing festival in Yongin, Gyeonggi, to discuss hydrogen vehicle collaboration. In March, Hyundai Motor executives visited Tokyo alongside the Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians' Union to further explore cooperation in the hydrogen industry.
Still, experts warn that bilateral cooperation should not be confined to short-term gestures.
"The two countries need to maintain low-level, institutionalized dialogue channels to prevent disruptions caused by political shifts or trade disputes," said Choi Jeong-hwan, associate research fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade. "Korea and Japan have as many points of frictio...

To most Koreans, the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 B.C. to A.D. 935) is remembered as a land of heroes - an age when courage and passion lit up the darkness of antiquity. But Gyeongju, Silla's capital for nearly a thousand years, is not only a city of warriors. It also preserves the refined traditions of a simple and elegant culture, blending the legacies of the ancient and medieval eras and the languages of Buddhism and Confucianism in rare harmony.
The city is home to Gyeongju Hyanggyo, a Confucian school with a millennium of history; seowon Confucian academies commemorating Joseon-era scholars; Yangdong Village, where literati once lived; and the ancestral homes of eminent families. Among them stands one residence that, though neither a government building nor an official Confucian landmark, has become a defining symbol of the city - the Choi Clan House, which was the wealthiest home in Gyeongju.

Four centuries of wealth and prestige
The Choi family's prominence began in the middle of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) with Choi Jin-rip. Initially based in Nammyeon, the family moved to Gyodong - the former site of Yoseok Palace - where they remain today. The main house, built about 170 years ago, is a striking hanok, or traditional Korean home, that reflects the elegance of Gyeongsang region architecture. The estate covers some 2,000 pyeong (71,000 square feet), with gardens once stretching over tens of thousands of pyeong.
In 1969, a fire destroyed parts of the residence, including two men's quarters and a hayloft. Behind the main house stands the most distinctive feature: the dwijoo, a tiled-roof granary with a five-span front and two-span depth, capable of storing 800 gama (about 176 pounds each). Once there were several such granaries; now only one remains, designated Important Folklore Material No. 27.
Over 400 years, the Choi family produced nine jinsa - those who passed the highest-level civil service exam - and 12 manseokgun, or wealthy landowners whose annual rice yields exceeded 10,000 seok (one seok equals about 317 pounds of unhusked rice). They earned widespread respect for aiding neighbors, supporting the poor and funding the independence movement - embodying the ideal of noblesse oblige in Korea.
Choi Jin-rip fought in the Imjin War (1592-98) and during the 1597 Jeongyujaeran invasion, later serving as magistrate of Oido Island, gongjo champan (vice minister of public works) and samdo sungun tongjesa (military commander of the three provinces). He amassed considerable wealth, which he entrusted to his son Choi Dong-ryang, who expanded the family's holdings.
Choi Dong-ryang acquired vast tracts of farmland and, rejecting the corruption-prone practice of using go-betweens, dealt directly with tenant farmers, taking only half the harvest as rent. His efficient farming methods significantly increased yields. His son, Choi Guk-seon, inherited both wealth and values.
In 1671, during King Hyeonjong's reign, famine struck. Choi Guk-seon, moved by the plight of farmers, publicly burned debt contracts and distributed rice to the poor during the lean months of March and April. A third of the estate's rental income was dedicated to poverty relief - a tradition maintained for generations.
Choi Jun, the family's 12th-generation heir and last manseokgun, endured torture by Japanese police for financing independence efforts.
After Korea's liberation, he donated the estate to Daegu University (later Yeungnam University) and received the Order of Merit for National Foundation.

Sharing as the true measure of wealth
The family's longevity owed much to its moral code: the yuk hun (six principles of household management) and yuk yeon (six attitudes for life). These counseled frugality and humility within the family, and generosity to the community. Wealth was to be shared, not hoarded.
One principle forbade seeking positions beyond one's noble rank to avoid the corrupting lure of power. Another capped the amount of wealth to be a...

This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

[INTERVIEW]
Soju and makgeolli have seen flashes of global attention but never managed to establish a lasting foothold abroad. Now, a new contender is emerging to carry Korean liquor abroad - K-whiskey. And at the forefront of this movement is Kim Chang-soo, a 39-year-old whiskey maker who has spent nearly half his life chasing a single dream of crafting Korean whiskey.
"Whiskey is like English, a common language," said the distiller. "That makes it easier to introduce to the world." He also believes that Korea's unique environment - particularly its four distinct seasons - will help create a flavor profile that, in his words, "only Korea can produce."
Kim's conviction isn't without foundation. When he was just around 20, he made the decision to devote his life to making whiskey in korea - a move many around him dismissed as nonsense. But he saw potential they didn't. As Korea's economic status rose, so did interest in food - and he knew it was only a matter of time before that curiosity extended to whiskey.
Years later, at the age of 28, he quit his job at a regular company and booked a flight to Scotland, the birthplace of whiskey. With just 10 million won (about $7,000) in his pocket, he knocked on the doors of 102 distilleries, looking for any opportunity for a job.
Nothing came easy - every single one turned him down. But it wasn't all failures because at a bar that he randomly went to at the end, he met a guy who would open the door to his next chapter, ultimately helping him get a training opportunity. Years later, Kim would go on to establish his own 309-square-meter (3,326-square-feet) distillery in Gimpo.
Though relatively new - with only three to four years of aging and limited production - Kim's whiskey is now highly sought after, with customers lining up for hours to get their hands on his limited-edition releases. Many fans cite "being Korean" and "surprising depth and flavor despite its short aging" as the main appeal behind Kim's creation. At a recent Bar & Spirits Expo, his booth was one of the busiest, packed with whiskey lovers eager to taste a spirit that has become a symbol of years of dedication and perseverance.
The limited run of 336 bottles of his Kimchangsoo Whiskey in 2023 sold out in just 10 days, while the 2,000 bottles of his "Kimchamgsoo Whiskey Gimpo the First Edition 2024" disappeared within a minute of going on sale through distribution channels, including CU convenience stores. One of his latest special releases, the 130-bottle limited single malt "Kimchangsoo's Choice 2 - Speyside," also sold out quickly at Shinsegae Department Store.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Kim at his distillery to talk about his journey, the rise of K-whiskey, and what needs to change for Korean liquor to finally take its place on the global stage.
Do you see Korean whiskey as the next global Korean drink after soju and makgeolli?
Yes. Many whiskey experts say that it's hard or even impossible for foreigners to understand soju or makgeolli since they don't know what they are. But everyone knows whiskey. If said more easily, whiskey is like English, a common language. For example, introducing Korean literature or what is Korean in Korean may be hard, but if we do it in English, that makes it easier to introduce to the world.
Korea's economic and cultural level has risen greatly. Beyond music, dramas and films, even Korean food has gained global recognition - yet Korea remains the only country at this level without a globally recognized liquor. That's why this is a national concern, although the big reason behind that is the ad valorem tariff. Look at Taiwan. Whiskey has become its signature drink. Korea can do the same, using whiskey as our common language.
What makes Kimchangsoo Whiskey appealing to international consumers?
First of all, Korea's environment is unique, different from Taiwan's and Japan's. So naturally, it produces a flavor th...

This article is by Lee Bo-ram and read by an artificial voice.

Kim Yeong-hyeon, a 64-year-old Seoul resident, recently broke into a sweat at a sandwich shop when they confronted a newly installed kiosk that demanded a customer select every detail of the sandwich, from the bread to the ham, vegetables and sauces from dozens of options.
"With the line growing behind me, I started sweating," Kim said. "In the end, I couldn't choose the ingredients I wanted and just ordered the recommended menu."
A government survey found that one in four adults in Korea struggles with digital devices in daily life. Among people in their 60s or older, that figure rose to 80 percent.
The Ministry of Education released the results of its first-ever national survey of adult digital literacy on Tuesday. The survey, which has been designated as an official national statistic, was conducted last September with 10,000 people aged 18 or older nationwide. It tested common digital skills such as finding directions with a navigation app, transferring money via a banking app, ordering food at a kiosk and using an online wedding invitation.
According to the results, 8.2 percent of respondents fell into "Level 1," meaning they lack understanding and experience with digital tools and have trouble with basic operations. Another 17.7 percent were placed in "Level 2," defined as having some understanding but insufficient ability to use digital tools in daily life.

Age, education and income matter
Older adults were far more likely to struggle. At Level 1, the rate for those 60 or older was 23.3 percent, higher than any other group. Only 8.9 percent of people aged 18 to 39 said they experienced difficulties with digital devices, compared to 34.8 percent for those in their 40s to 50s and 77.7 percent for those 60 and older.
The gap was also stark by education and income. Among those with a middle school education or less, 34.6 percent were at Level 1, as were 25.9 percent of those in households earning less than 3 million won ($2,160) per month. By gender, women, at 10 percent, were more likely than men, at 6.3 percent, to fall into Level 1.
The Education Ministry said it will expand support for lifelong education in artificial intelligence and digital literacy for adults. In particular, it plans to scale up its traveling program "Hangul Sunshine Bus," which provides digital literacy classes for low-income households and seniors 65 and older, while also expanding hands-on training at banks and retail outlets.
"Public institutions such as local libraries should be more actively used to develop and distribute literacy programs," said Lee Chan-kyu, a professor of Korean language and literature at Chung-Ang University. "The private sector, including banks, should also step up essential app training as well."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Lee Soo-jung and read by an artificial voice.

[EXPLAINER]
Kim Keon Hee, the controversial first lady accused of influence peddling, lost nearly all her power and prestige overnight and is now behind bars for bribery and corruption charges.
Kim's arrest marks the first time in Korean history that a first lady has been detained, following the footsteps of her husband, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. It is also the first time a former presidential couple is simultaneously behind bars, though Yoon is detained separately for his Dec. 3 attempt to impose martial law.
On Aug. 12, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant against Kim over charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election meddling and bribery by accepting high-end items. Kim has since been held in solitary confinement in Seoul Southern Detention Center in Guro District in western Seoul, except when summoned for questioning.
As of Wednesday night, Kim had attended questioning by the special counsel team three times: once before her detention and twice after being taken into custody. However, throughout the interrogations, she has remained mostly silent, occasionally saying, "I don't know" or "I don't remember," according to the special counsel team.
Kim faced numerous allegations after her husband, a former prosecutor, took office in May 2022, and despite her promises to stay out of the limelight, accusations and scandals continued to dog her.
What are the charges against the ex-first lady?

Kim is accused of violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
Specifically, she was suspected of masterminding a stock manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in Korea, from 2009 to 2012. The special counsel team - led by Min Joong-ki - believed that she pocketed 810 million won ($581,700) through roughly 3,700 instances of illegal trading.
The special counsel team also suspected that she illegally exerted her influence over the conservative People Power Party's nominations for the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and general elections in 2020 and last year. Kim and Yoon were suspected of receiving public opinion polling - valued at 318 million won - for free from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun during the presidential campaign. In return, the couple pressured the PPP to nominate candidates for elections at Myung's behest.
She is also accused of receiving luxury jewelry and fashion items from entrepreneurs and the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors. In addition, the investigators assumed that she illegally intervened in the presidential office's contracts and employment processes.
What controversies did Kim face before becoming first lady?

Kim was surrounded by controversies even before her husband took office, such as allegations of working as a hostess before getting married, plagiarizing academic papers, illegal sponsorship and stock manipulations.
She was accused of working as a nightclub hostess at a hotel in southern Seoul between the late 1990s and early 2000s under an alias, Julie. She denied such allegations, saying she had no time for such work due to her studies. Kim Myeong-shin was her legal name until 2008.
Although Kim obtained her master's degree in art education from Sookmyung Women's University in 1999, her thesis was found to be plagiarized in June this year. Accordingly, Sookmyung Women's University canceled her master's degree. So did Kookmin University, where she earned her doctorate, in July.
She was accused of taking illegal sponsorships from Deutsch Motors between 2016 and 2019 for exhibitions hosted by her company, Covana Contents. However, in 2021, prosecutors did not indict her according to the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act because there was no legal provision applicable to the behavior of public servants' spouses.
In December 2021, about three mont...

This article is by Hyeon Ye-seul and read by an artificial voice.

The cost of several restaurant staples in Seoul climbed again last month, with naengmyeon (cold noodles) and samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) leading the seasonal surge.
The average price of a bowl of naengmyeon in the capital rose to 12,423 won ($8.9) in July, up 154 won from June, according to data released Wednesday by the Korea Consumer Agency's price portal.
Samgyetang increased by 269 won to 17,923 won during the same period.
Prices have risen steadily in recent years. Naengmyeon averaged 10,000 won in April 2022 and 11,000 won in June 2023 and passed 12,000 won last December. Samgyetang rose from 14,000 won in June 2017 to 15,000 won in July 2022 and topped 17,000 won in July 2024.
At well-known restaurants, prices are far higher.
A bowl of cold noodles costs 16,000 won at Eulmildae, Wooraeok, Bongpiyang and Pyeonggaok, and 15,000 won at Eulji Myeonok and Pildong Myeonok. Some Pyeongyang-style noodle houses charge 17,000 to 18,000 won.
Samgyetang chains such as Tosokchon, Goryeo Samgyetang and Nonhyeon Samgyetang sell the dish for 20,000 won. Versions with extra ingredients are priced higher.

Other staples also inched up. One serving of pork belly, which is around 200 grams, rose 192 won to 20,639 won. Bibimbap went up 76 won to 11,538 won, and kimchi stew set meals rose 77 won to 8,577 won.
Three dishes stayed the same: gimbap (seaweed rice roll) at 3,623 won, jajangmyeon (Korean-Chinese black bean noodles) at 7,500 won, and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) at 9,692 won.
Some personal service fees also rose. Barbershop prices in July remained unchanged at 12,538 won, while public bath fees rose 77 won to 10,769 won.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

[NEWS ANALYSIS]
The White House's apparent bid to take an equity stake in Samsung Electronics in exchange for subsidies has rattled the chip giant and Korea Inc., raising fears that the unprecedented maneuver could potentially open the door to oversight of management or ripple across other exporters.
The proposal, floated by the Donald Trump administration, has drawn sharp criticism from domestic experts, who warn it could act as a pretext to avoid delivering on subsidy promises and disadvantage non-U.S. firms. The concern is particularly acute for Samsung and SK hynix, which, together, have pledged $40.87 billion for semiconductor plants in the United States on the expectation of receiving grants committed under the Biden administration.
Samsung is committing $37 billion to its new chip complex in Taylor, Texas, which will house two advanced foundries for 4-nanometer and 2-nanometer production alongside a center for research and development. That investment has already ballooned from the initial $17 billion plan, supported in part by U.S. incentives. Last December, the U.S. Commerce Department awarded Samsung $4.745 billion in subsidies.
If those funds were instead converted to equity, the U.S. government would effectively own about 1.6 percent of Samsung's market capitalization, valued at 417.3 trillion won ($298.5 billion) as of Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is negotiating a deal with Intel that would grant the U.S. government a 10 percent nonvoting stake in return for $7.9 billion in CHIPS Act funding. Lutnick told CNBC that the administration seeks a return on its "investment" rather than "just giving the grants away." He emphasized that the stake would carry no governance rights, framing it as a conversion of Biden-era grants into equity "for the American people."
While the plan is presented as part of Trump's push to revive the U.S. foundry business through Intel, extending the same approach to foreign firms carries a different set of implications. Reuters reported Tuesday that Lutnick is eyeing a similar model for other chipmakers, explicitly naming Samsung as a potential candidate. The Commerce Department controls the $52.7 billion in CHIPS Act funds and has the authority to shift terms.
Samsung declined to comment on the matter.
Such a shift would mark a dramatic departure from precedent. The U.S. government has rarely purchased equity in foreign-listed companies, and any stake in Samsung would likely require approval from the Korean government, which could move to block it. A more plausible option, some experts suggest, would be for Washington to seek ownership stakes in Samsung's U.S. subsidiaries, such as its Austin and Taylor plants.
Even so, analysts argue that Samsung has little incentive to accept the offer, blaming the United States for going back on an initial promise.
"If the U.S. government takes an equity stake, it may provide a short-term psychological boost for Samsung's stock," said Noh Geun-chang, executive director of Hyundai Motor Securities. "But in the long term, if Samsung Foundry performs well, the fact that part of its equity is held by the U.S. government could be viewed negatively. Replacing free subsidies with equity fundamentally changes the nature of the agreement and injects significant uncertainty."
Experts also caution that rejecting the arrangement carries its own risks.
"Samsung or SK hynix have little incentive to accept such an offer," said Kim Yang-paeng, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade. "But if they refuse, the U.S. could claim it honored its subsidy pledge and that foreign firms declined - absolving Washington of any obligation to pay out. The maneuver would allow U.S. chipmakers to secure the set-aside funds while sidelining foreign players, reinforcing perceptions of discriminatory ...

This article is by Kim Ki-hwan and read by an artificial voice.

Korea unveiled a plan Wednesday to shore up its faltering petrochemical industry, linking financial support to voluntary production cuts in naphtha. However, industry insiders questioned whether the measures would be enough, arguing that real restructuring would require tough, government-led intervention rather than leaving firms to make bare-minimum survival choices.
"Voluntary restructuring - at this point, it feels about as realistic as lukewarm iced coffee," a petrochemical executive said, reacting to the government's newly unveiled "Petrochemical Industry Revitalization Strategy."
The core of the plan is to provide tailored support to companies that actively cut back on naphtha production to help alleviate the global supply glut driven by China while excluding firms that try to reap the benefits without participating. In short, the government is leaving restructuring to market players - but with carrots and sticks.
Ten companies signed the voluntary agreement with the government: LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, SK geo centric, Hanwha TotalEnergies, Korea Petrochemical Ind., Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical, GS Caltex, HD Hyundai Chemical and S-Oil.
Kumho Petrochemical, one of the "Big Four" in the sector alongside LG, Lotte and Hanwha, was not included because it does not operate a naphtha cracking center (NCC).
"The president's pressure for action forced us to gather in haste," said a representative from one of the participating companies. "It felt more like a forced agreement than a voluntary one."
Many in the petrochemical industry are skeptical, arguing that if the issue could have been resolved voluntarily, it would have been already.

"It's a matter of survival now," said a representative from another firm. "Restructuring varies in direction and intensity, but at this point it's about whether a company completely shuts down a core business or merges with another. It's unsettling to be told to make such huge decisions on our own while watching our competitors."
Although companies face differing situations, the government has essentially set a reduction target for naphtha and expects them to comply.
The industry is broadly divided into upstream, where naphtha is cracked to produce ethylene and propylene, and downstream, where those feedstocks are turned into products like polyethylene, polypropylene and synthetic rubber.
"The circumstances vary significantly depending on whether a company is in upstream or downstream, whether NCC is their core business, whether their parent company owns a refinery, or whether they have sufficient capital," said a third company official.
Amid this mismatch of interests, three main restructuring scenarios are emerging: vertical integration between refiners and petrochemical firms, shared operation of NCC facilities among petrochemical companies and closure of NCC facilities by individual firms.
Industry sources acknowledge that the problem has festered for too long, and that unless the government steps in decisively, meaningful restructuring will remain out of reach.

"In a situation where it's your life or mine, everyone's hoping the other one dies first," said a representative for a fourth firm. "If this isn't a problem that can be solved by simply kicking the deadline to the end of the year, the government needs to wield the knife now - even if it hurts - to break this vicious cycle."
The government already urged voluntary restructuring last December with its "Plan to Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Petrochemical Industry" (translated), offering a range of incentives.
In response to criticism that the plan merely delays the issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said, "The industry has been turning a blind eye to the problem."
"As the government describes it, this is just the first step - setting the rules," said Lee Duck-hwan, professor emeritus of chemistry at Sogang University. "But even after...

This article is by Kim Seon-mi and read by an artificial voice.

Korea is grappling with what some call "child care inflation," as the cost of raising children is rising even while the birthrate plunges. Instead of prices easing with falling demand, the shrinking market is shifting the financial burden onto parents.
A couple in their late 30s, surnamed Kim, 39, and Lee, 37, with a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old, sighed as they compared their household budget with that of three years ago. The price of a can of infant formula has climbed from 23,400 won ($16.80) to 27,600 won. A pack of diapers rose from 25,100 won to 29,500 won. Even after searching online for discounts, buying four cans of formula and four to five packs of diapers each month has added nearly 40,000 won in costs.
"The two-week postpartum care center I used after my first child cost 3.1 million won, but this time it was 3.7 million won," Lee said. "On top of that, our older child's football academy fees recently went up, and it feels like child care costs just keep rising."
The price of infant formula rose 7.47 percent in July from a year earlier, baby food rose 11.12 percent and diapers climbed 4.33 percent - all well above the overall inflation rate of 2.09 percent, according to Statistics Korea on Monday.
Service costs also went up, with postpartum care center fees rising 4.16 percent and kindergarten tuition 4.08 percent.
"The factory price increased due to rising raw material prices such as cotton and crude oil, and the price of some items rose as discounts ended," a Statistics Korea official said.

But raw materials are only part of the picture. With fewer children being born, companies are trying to make up lost revenue by raising per-customer profitability.
The Food and Drug Safety Ministry's processed food market data showed that formula shipments nearly halved, from 14,603 tons in 2019 to 7,464 tons in 2023.
LG Household & Health Care exited the formula and baby food business in 2022, while Namyang Dairy Products and Lotte Wellfood discontinued some formula products. The supply of children's diapers also dropped 22.9 percent from 249.5 billion won in 2020 to 192.4 billion won last year.
As supply cuts outpaced demand declines, price pressures grew. The impact is especially clear in areas with wider price ranges, such as postpartum care centers and children's clothing, where consumers are being asked to shoulder the difference.
A report from Hana Institute of Finance found that while the number of postpartum care centers fell an average of 4 percent annually from 2022 to 2024, the average payment per transaction rose 23.6 percent each year. The number of children's clothing stores declined 4.1 percent, but spending per transaction rose 5.4 percent.

"Suppliers are raising per-item profits, while parents with fewer children, are willing to bear higher costs," said Choi Seul-ki, a professor of demography at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management.
Private education costs are also rising as the school-age population falls. In July, fees for preschoolers' extracurricular programs increased compared to a year earlier: 4.57 percent for sports academies, 2.45 percent for art academies and 2.41 percent for music academies.
The government currently provides monthly parental benefits of 1 million won for families with children under the age of 1 and 500,000 won for those with 1-year-olds. Yet, the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found last year that average monthly child care costs were 1.44 million won for infants under 1 year old and 1.46 million won for 1-year-olds.
"If child care costs continue to rise, it could entrench feelings of inequality and deprivation depending on household income," said Hong Sok-chul, a professor of economics at Seoul National University. "Expanding public services such as government-run postpartum care centers and public education would help stabilize prices in the market."
This article was originally written ...

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

Korea Dual Program, a government-backed scheme expanded last year to help international students pursue a career in Korea after graduation, has failed to meet its initial targets. The issue was a familiar one: support for work visas.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiative provides long-term vocational education and training at worksites and partnered schools. It expanded to include international students in September of last year. However, despite its practical training and engaging education, the program has failed to meet its initial goals for both enrollment and partnered training centers.
The government initially aimed to partner with 20 joint training centers and train 1,000 international students with D-2 student visas or D-10 job seeker visas during the 2025-26 period. But only five training centers and 22 students enrolled - with 14 of them dropping out midway after being unable to obtain work visas, the Segye Times reported.
Although 15 new students joined in 2025, bringing the total number of participants to 23, the number remains far below the initial target.
The core issue is the lack of visa support from the government.
"The biggest problem is that we cannot support employment visas for international students due to legislative reasons," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

The ministry had initially hoped to help participants secure the E-7 skilled worker visa, which immigration officers are empowered to approve or deny based on an applicant's education and other qualifications for their chosen job. Its stated requirements include a Master's degree or higher in the field, a Bachelor's degree with three years of work experience or five years of work experience.
But many of the Dual Program's enrolled students who applied for the visa, despite the ministry's assistance, have been denied by the Korean government.
"The requirements for obtaining E-7 visas are strict since there are many restrictions across the job type, companies' qualifications and wage," a spokesperson for the job search platform Hirediversity told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "Despite constant efforts to ease the requirements, most participants of the Korea Dual Program, who are currently enrolled in universities, might find it difficult to meet these criteria in the first place."

A ministry spokesperson added that the ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice for months to resolve this basic, yet critical, issue.
"Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Justice so that we can ensure more international students will benefit from programs," the Labor Ministry's spokesperson said.
"If support for E-7 visa transitions gets confirmed, we expect that more international students will apply for the programs."
Despite the lack of visa success, some enrolled international students have still found the Dual Program helpful in preparing for internships and eventual employment.
For the 2024-25 training period, Tech University of Korea offers three training courses for international students: machine elements design, mechanical device control and electronic hardware development. Four other schools - Daelim University College, Chungbuk Health & Science University, Hongik University and Dong-eui Institute of Technology - also offer training sessions, each with different areas of specialization.
"I was able to learn field-specific skills and important regulations, such as labor law and safety standards," said Vietnamese college student Nguyen Minh Thuc, who is currently taking Dual Program classes at Tech University of Korea. "I became more confident with my preparation."

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

Korea Dual Program, a government-backed scheme expanded last year to help international students pursue a career in Korea after graduation, has failed to meet its initial targets. The issue was a familiar one: support for work visas.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiative provides long-term vocational education and training at worksites and partnered schools. It expanded to include international students in September of last year. However, despite its practical training and engaging education, the program has failed to meet its initial goals for both enrollment and partnered training centers.
The government initially aimed to partner with 20 joint training centers and train 1,000 international students with D-2 student visas or D-10 job seeker visas during the 2025-26 period. But only five training centers and 22 students enrolled - with 14 of them dropping out midway after being unable to obtain work visas, the Segye Times reported.
Although 15 new students joined in 2025, bringing the total number of participants to 23, the number remains far below the initial target.
The core issue is the lack of visa support from the government.
"The biggest problem is that we cannot support employment visas for international students due to legislative reasons," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

The ministry had initially hoped to help participants secure the E-7 skilled worker visa, which immigration officers are empowered to approve or deny based on an applicant's education and other qualifications for their chosen job. Its stated requirements include a Master's degree or higher in the field, a Bachelor's degree with three years of work experience or five years of work experience.
But many of the Dual Program's enrolled students who applied for the visa, despite the ministry's assistance, have been denied by the Korean government.
"The requirements for obtaining E-7 visas are strict since there are many restrictions across the job type, companies' qualifications and wage," a spokesperson for the job search platform Hirediversity told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "Despite constant efforts to ease the requirements, most participants of the Korea Dual Program, who are currently enrolled in universities, might find it difficult to meet these criteria in the first place."

A ministry spokesperson added that the ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice for months to resolve this basic, yet critical, issue.
"Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Justice so that we can ensure more international students will benefit from programs," the Labor Ministry's spokesperson said.
"If support for E-7 visa transitions gets confirmed, we expect that more international students will apply for the programs."
Despite the lack of visa success, some enrolled international students have still found the Dual Program helpful in preparing for internships and eventual employment.
For the 2024-25 training period, Tech University of Korea offers three training courses for international students: machine elements design, mechanical device control and electronic hardware development. Four other schools - Daelim University College, Chungbuk Health & Science University, Hongik University and Dong-eui Institute of Technology - also offer training sessions, each with different areas of specialization.
"I was able to learn field-specific skills and important regulations, such as labor law and safety standards," said Vietnamese college student Nguyen Minh Thuc, who is currently taking Dual Program classes at Tech University of Korea. "I became more confident with my preparation."

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

Korea Dual Program, a government-backed scheme expanded last year to help international students pursue a career in Korea after graduation, has failed to meet its initial targets. The issue was a familiar one: support for work visas.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiative provides long-term vocational education and training at worksites and partnered schools. It expanded to include international students in September of last year. However, despite its practical training and engaging education, the program has failed to meet its initial goals for both enrollment and partnered training centers.
The government initially aimed to partner with 20 joint training centers and train 1,000 international students with D-2 student visas or D-10 job seeker visas during the 2025-26 period. But only five training centers and 22 students enrolled - with 14 of them dropping out midway after being unable to obtain work visas, the Segye Times reported.
Although 15 new students joined in 2025, bringing the total number of participants to 23, the number remains far below the initial target.
The core issue is the lack of visa support from the government.
"The biggest problem is that we cannot support employment visas for international students due to legislative reasons," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

The ministry had initially hoped to help participants secure the E-7 skilled worker visa, which immigration officers are empowered to approve or deny based on an applicant's education and other qualifications for their chosen job. Its stated requirements include a Master's degree or higher in the field, a Bachelor's degree with three years of work experience or five years of work experience.
But many of the Dual Program's enrolled students who applied for the visa, despite the ministry's assistance, have been denied by the Korean government.
"The requirements for obtaining E-7 visas are strict since there are many restrictions across the job type, companies' qualifications and wage," a spokesperson for the job search platform Hirediversity told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "Despite constant efforts to ease the requirements, most participants of the Korea Dual Program, who are currently enrolled in universities, might find it difficult to meet these criteria in the first place."

A ministry spokesperson added that the ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice for months to resolve this basic, yet critical, issue.
"Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Justice so that we can ensure more international students will benefit from programs," the Labor Ministry's spokesperson said.
"If support for E-7 visa transitions gets confirmed, we expect that more international students will apply for the programs."
Despite the lack of visa success, some enrolled international students have still found the Dual Program helpful in preparing for internships and eventual employment.
For the 2024-25 training period, Tech University of Korea offers three training courses for international students: machine elements design, mechanical device control and electronic hardware development. Four other schools - Daelim University College, Chungbuk Health & Science University, Hongik University and Dong-eui Institute of Technology - also offer training sessions, each with different areas of specialization.
"I was able to learn field-specific skills and important regulations, such as labor law and safety standards," said Vietnamese college student Nguyen Minh Thuc, who is currently taking Dual Program classes at Tech University of Korea. "I became more confident with my preparation."

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

Korea Dual Program, a government-backed scheme expanded last year to help international students pursue a career in Korea after graduation, has failed to meet its initial targets. The issue was a familiar one: support for work visas.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiative provides long-term vocational education and training at worksites and partnered schools. It expanded to include international students in September of last year. However, despite its practical training and engaging education, the program has failed to meet its initial goals for both enrollment and partnered training centers.
The government initially aimed to partner with 20 joint training centers and train 1,000 international students with D-2 student visas or D-10 job seeker visas during the 2025-26 period. But only five training centers and 22 students enrolled - with 14 of them dropping out midway after being unable to obtain work visas, the Segye Times reported.
Although 15 new students joined in 2025, bringing the total number of participants to 23, the number remains far below the initial target.
The core issue is the lack of visa support from the government.
"The biggest problem is that we cannot support employment visas for international students due to legislative reasons," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

The ministry had initially hoped to help participants secure the E-7 skilled worker visa, which immigration officers are empowered to approve or deny based on an applicant's education and other qualifications for their chosen job. Its stated requirements include a Master's degree or higher in the field, a Bachelor's degree with three years of work experience or five years of work experience.
But many of the Dual Program's enrolled students who applied for the visa, despite the ministry's assistance, have been denied by the Korean government.
"The requirements for obtaining E-7 visas are strict since there are many restrictions across the job type, companies' qualifications and wage," a spokesperson for the job search platform Hirediversity told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "Despite constant efforts to ease the requirements, most participants of the Korea Dual Program, who are currently enrolled in universities, might find it difficult to meet these criteria in the first place."

A ministry spokesperson added that the ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice for months to resolve this basic, yet critical, issue.
"Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Justice so that we can ensure more international students will benefit from programs," the Labor Ministry's spokesperson said.
"If support for E-7 visa transitions gets confirmed, we expect that more international students will apply for the programs."
Despite the lack of visa success, some enrolled international students have still found the Dual Program helpful in preparing for internships and eventual employment.
For the 2024-25 training period, Tech University of Korea offers three training courses for international students: machine elements design, mechanical device control and electronic hardware development. Four other schools - Daelim University College, Chungbuk Health & Science University, Hongik University and Dong-eui Institute of Technology - also offer training sessions, each with different areas of specialization.
"I was able to learn field-specific skills and important regulations, such as labor law and safety standards," said Vietnamese college student Nguyen Minh Thuc, who is currently taking Dual Program classes at Tech University of Korea. "I became more confident with my preparation."