[Graphic News] Palaces top Seoul’s autumn travel hot spots

Seoul residents and tourists are turning to the city’s royal palaces as their favorite autumn destinations, while outdoor spots like Seoul Forest, Cheonggyecheon and Namsan also remain popular for enjoying the vibrant fall scenery. According to an analysis by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and LG Uplus, which examined October social media mentions, mobile usage and consumption data through the “Seoul Tourism Data” platform, palaces emerged as Seoul’s most iconic autumn attractions. Gyeongbokg

Nov. 4, 2025

Revealing 'bad fathers' personal information prompts them to reach out to abandoned children, activist claims

Though controversial, Korean activist Koo Bon-chang says his actions — revealing the faces of estranged fathers who refuse to pay child support — have prompted several men to reach out to their abandoned families in the Philippines. Koo pressures estranged parents by revealing their personal information online through his "Bad Fathers" website. On Sunday, he said in a social media post that Korean men who had fathered children through Filipina women started contacting their families after local

Nov. 3, 2025

Early winter chill sweeps S. Korea

Temperatures plunged across South Korea on Monday — driving morning lows below zero in some regions — with chilly temperatures expected to continue throughout the week, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration’s weekly forecast. The KMA attributed the drop in temperatures to a strong continental high-pressure system moving southeast from northern China. This triggered an early November cold snap and prompted cold wave advisories in several inland regions. Monday's cold conditions wer

Nov. 3, 2025

Dozens of university applicants rejected for school violence records ― and this gets warm welcome

For generations of South Korean students, college admission has been more than an academic milestone. It has been the gateway to social mobility, job stability and lifelong status. Now, in an unprecedented shift in education policy, flagship national universities across the country, including the nation’s most prestigious Seoul National University, have begun rejecting applicants with records of school violence. According to data obtained by minor Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Rep. Kang Kyung-

Nov. 3, 2025

Legal loophole allows cigarette, vape sales near daycare centers

A legal loophole that enables tobacco and e-cigarette products to be sold near daycare centers is fanning criticism from the public. The Educational Environment Protection Act in Article 9 bans the sale of tobacco and related products in educational environment protection zones -- areas within 200 meters of educational facilities, including kindergartens and schools. The law was revised in July to also ban e-cigarette sales starting in 2026. However, daycare centers are not defined under the law

Nov. 3, 2025

Seoul's 2026 garden show to be longer, larger

The city of Seoul will host the Seoul International Garden Show for 180 days next year, starting May 1, with venues located in eastern and southern Seoul, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Monday. Taking place in both Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, eastern Seoul, and Maeheon Citizens’ Forest in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, next year’s annual garden show will be the largest to date, spanning a total area of some 660,000 square meters. Next year’s program will also be the longest-runnin

Nov. 3, 2025

Tropical mosquito species found on Korean Peninsula for 1st time ever

Commonly known as the southern house mosquito, the species Culex quinquefasciatus was recently found on Korea's southernmost island of Jeju, the first time this particular species has ever been found in the country. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Monday that the mosquito samples collected in August on Jeju Island included the southern house mosquito, a species that normally lives in tropical or subtropical regions of the world. It belongs to the C. pipiens species complex -

Nov. 3, 2025

Samsung chief surprises cafe employee with cash gift during APEC

A cafe employee at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit venue in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, said Saturday that she received a 50,000 won ($36) cash gift from Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The employee, who said she was working at Hanwha Resort Gyeongju during the APEC summit, wrote on social media that she “experienced many special moments during APEC, but the happiest one was meeting Chairman Lee Jae-yong.” According to her post, which included several photos, she

Nov. 3, 2025

Treasury share restrictions, extending housing lease terms

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act Proposed by Rep. Yoo Dong-soo (Democratic Party of Korea) Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Housing Lease Protection Act Proposed by Rep. Han Chang-min (Social Democratic Party) Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Housing Act Proposed by Rep. Moon Jin-seog (Democratic Party of Korea) Promulgated Bill: Enforcement Decree of the Game Industry Promotion Act Competent Authority: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Administrative Ann

Nov. 3, 2025

Fear spreads at Seoul National University as feral dogs roam campus

Long known for its leafy, serene campus nestled in the foothills of Gwanaksan, Seoul National University has recently become home to a growing number of feral dogs. According to the Gwanak-gu Office, a total of 63 stray dogs were captured in the district between January and October this year, marking a steady rise from 46 in 2023 and 56 last year. Officials estimate that around 30 of them live on Gwanaksan, where they continue to breed and sustain their numbers. Last month, six feral dogs were c

Nov. 3, 2025

Japanese mother killed, daughter injured by drunk driver

A Japanese tourist in her 50s was hit and killed on Sunday in Seoul by a car driven by a drunk driver. The incident occurred at around 10 p.m. in Jongno-gu near Dongdaemun Station. The suspect, a man in his 30s, hit the woman and her daughter as they were about to cross the street. The daughter escaped with minor injuries, but the mother was injured fatally. She was taken to a nearby hospital, but died despite medical treatment. The suspect was arrested and is currently under investigation by of

Nov. 3, 2025

S. Korea launches tax probe into local office linked to Cambodian scam ring

South Korea's tax authorities said Monday they have launched an investigation into a domestic office of the Cambodia-based Prince Group, which is now suspected of operating a global scam network. The National Tax Service began the investigation into the office, located in central Seoul, following a governmentwide review of Korean nationals allegedly involved in online scams run by criminal organizations, including Prince Group. The group has faced international sanctions over its involvement in

Nov. 3, 2025

98 percent of Seoul residents back expanding e-scooter-free streets

Nearly all Seoul residents support expanding e-scooter-free streets across the city, a recent survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government showed. According to the survey, 98.4 percent of respondents said they were in favor of the policy, which restricts the use of electric scooters in designated areas. In May, the city government designated the Hongdae Red Road in Mapo-gu and streets near after-school academies in Seocho-gu as “e-scooter-free streets,” banning their use between noon and 11 p.m.

Nov. 3, 2025

Cold snap hits across Korea, inland areas drop below freezing

A strong cold front gripped much of South Korea on Monday, temperatures in many inland regions dropping below freezing. Driven by a continental high-pressure system moving from northern China, morning temperatures fell by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius compared to Sunday. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued cold wave advisories for several inland areas, including parts of Seoul. Gyeonggi Province’s Paju recorded a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while Cheorwon, Gangwon province dropped to

Nov. 3, 2025

Trial to begin for PPP lawmaker accused of taking illegal political funds from Unification Church

A prominent opposition lawmaker was set to stand his first trial proceeding Monday over allegations he accepted illegal political funds from a former official from the Unification Church in exchange for favors. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party has been arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 100 million ($69,870) in violation of the political fund law from a former Unification Church official in January 2022. Kweon was allegedly asked to help the church gain

Nov. 3, 2025