Viral Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji, who won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to appear in a one-time magazine photo shoot wearing Louis Vuitton, her agency said Monday. While the shoot is a one-off, the agency, Plfil, said they plan to continue supporting Kim’s modeling career. Several companies in Korea, from startups to established brands, have expressed interest in making her their brand ambassador, they added. “Nearly 20 brands want to use her in advertisement

More Sports Aug. 20, 2024

Though the 2024 Paris Olympics have drawn to a close, the excitement of the Summer Games may have left you craving more athleticism and sports drama. Not to worry, sports enthusiasts: Enter the world of Korean drama series and films, where Olympic athletes and sports themes take center stage in stories that blend competition, romance and heartfelt drama. Here’s a lineup of six -- three TV series and three films -- to keep your competitive spirit alive. 1. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (Drama) &

Television Aug. 13, 2024

A woman who shared her experience of undergoing an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy via YouTube could face criminal charges, along with the doctors who performed the operation, Korean police said Monday. “The YouTuber and the doctors of the hospital where she underwent the surgery are being investigated as criminal suspects,” a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official told reporters on Monday. In the since-deleted video, a woman who described herself as 24 years old claims to have

Social Affairs Aug. 12, 2024

The Olympic Edition of Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is appearing on online secondhand marketplaces, according to the French news outlet Le Parisien on Tuesday. Samsung, the official sponsor of the ongoing Paris Olympics has distributed nearly 17,000 phones to athletes and their teams. According to the report, dozens of the phones are being sold as new and sealed on platforms like eBay and Leboncoin. Some listings even include the original welcome note and tote bag that came with the phone. P

More Sports Aug. 7, 2024

Seoul Metro's trains have had priority seats reserved for pregnant women since 2013. These pink seats, located at the ends of some rows, however, have been a source of continuous controversy. Recently, debate erupted online and in local media when one individual proposed that the city install a sensor system to prevent ineligible passengers from sitting in them, so they remain readily available in the event that a pregnant woman might need one. Apart from practical issues associated with in

Hashtag Korea Aug. 6, 2024

Local broadcaster SBS is under fire for pointing out a bow mark on the face of female Olympic multi-gold medalist archer Lim Si-hyeon during an interview. In a short video posted to SBS’ YouTube channel on July 27, the interview features Lim answering questions about her determination for the competition. At one point, the interviewer points out, “There is a bow mark on your chin.” Lim explains that where the bowstrings repeatedly hit her chin, the skin has developed pigmenta

More Sports Aug. 6, 2024

Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin failed to win an Olympic medal in the women’s singles event in Paris, but she seemed to have won many hearts with her sportsmanship and charm. The 20-year-old South Korean finished fourth in the women’s singles at the Paris Olympic table tennis tournament on Saturday, falling short of her second medal in France after losing to Hina Hayata of Japan in the bronze medal match. Shin won a bronze medal in the team event in Paris. However, after the 4-2 loss

More Sports Aug. 5, 2024

Kim Je-deok remained calm and shot a perfect arrow despite a bee landing on the back of his hand during the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics on Monday. The bee distraction occurred during the semifinal against China. While the first set ended in a tie at 54 points apiece, South Korea rebounded in the second set, scoring 57 to China’s 53. The third set was crucial, as a victory would secure South Korea’s spot in the final. With the score at 36-53 and only two arr

More Sports July 30, 2024

Day care centers declined by nearly 2,000 in 2023, while facilities for seniors increased by more than 3,000, reflecting Korea’s continued aging society, data showed Thursday. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of day care centers fell by 1,969, from 30,923 in 2022 to 28,954 last year. The overall decrease was mainly driven by declining private and family day care centers. Private day care centers decreased by 840 from 9,726 to 8,886, while family day care centers

Social Affairs July 25, 2024

Many dream of leaving their mundane jobs to pursue something creative and original. Only a few actually take the leap, and even fewer succeed. But it's usually only the stories of the successful that get told; this is not one of those stories. For Dang Yeon-hee, a 34-year-old aspiring webtoon artist in Gyeonggi Province, the journey has entailed many disappointments and painful lessons about harsh realities. It has ultimately turned into a path of self-discovery. "I lacked a sense of r

Hashtag Korea July 24, 2024

After a second date, Lee Tae-hyung, 26, wanted to ask the woman out again. He sent her a KakaoTalk message saying, “Do you have time this weekend?” and the reply he received was, “I don't think I can make time. I have plans this weekend.” “The message made me wonder. Is she politely saying, ‘No, I don’t want to go on another date with you,’ or does this mean that I can ask her again next week?” Lee said. Lee asked his friends and fou

Hashtag Korea July 21, 2024

South Korea's fashion scene is drawing increased interest from well-known global brands, particularly those targeting young women. Several overseas-based labels, such as Alo Yoga, On, Brandy Melville and Human Made, are slated to enter Korea's market. These brands have already garnered a loyal following among young Koreans, who previously relied on overseas purchases to access them. This influx is driven by a confluence of factors. A key driver is the perception that Korean celebriti

Consumer July 19, 2024

South Korean Kim Young-hoon was recognized as the person with the highest IQ in history, scoring 276 at the World Memory Championships, according to the organizer of the competition, the World Mind Sports Council, on Thursday. “The World Mind Sports Council hereby recognizes YoungHoon Kim from South Korea as the person with the highest IQ in the world and congratulates him,” the event organizer said. Before Kim, Chinese-Australian professor Terence Tao held the title of the person wi

People July 18, 2024

Did you just move to Seoul and need tools for furniture assembly? Or perhaps you need items like an electric drill, hammer or wrench for your latest DIY project? Instead of buying and keeping these tools at home for the few times you might need them each year, you can borrow them from community centers in Seoul. The first step is to visit Seoul’s Sharehub website to find a tool rental center near home or workplace. The website is only available in Korean. The website www.sharehub.kr allows

Hashtag Korea July 16, 2024

The number of teenagers seeking medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is growing markedly in Seoul and other major cities, government data shows. There were a total of 17,230 teens seeking ADHD treatment in the capital last year, up 64.3 percent from two years ago when the figure stood at 10,489. Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the ruling People Power Party, which obtained the data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Health Insurance Service, said this inc

Social Affairs July 10, 2024