The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드

02/07/2025

A sport utility vehicle driven by a man in his 80s crashed into a restaurant at a highway rest area in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, injuring 10 people.

According to the Gangwon State Fire Headquarters, the accident occurred around 11:32 a.m. on Wednesday.

“(Of the 10 injured), three sustained serious injuries and seven minor injuries,” an official from the Gangwon State Fire Headquarters said. None are life-threatening injuries.

Among the victims are six foreign tourists visiting Korea during summer vacation.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10523097
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02/07/2025

When Andreas Fronk tells you he’s died many times, he’s not exaggerating. From "Carter" to "Vincenzo" to "Hunt" and even "Moving," the German actor has built a career in Korean film and drama playing mercenaries, CIA agents and gangsters who rarely see the end credits.

But that tough-guy image is only part of the story. Behind the stoic on-screen villain is a thoughtful artist who’s spent nearly two decades understanding Korean culture, mastering martial arts and navigating the unique challenges of being a foreign actor in Korea.

“You might have seen me die in a lot of movies,” he laughs. “Or you have spotted me in 'Parasite.' Well, I didn't die, but almost everybody else."

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522532

02/07/2025

The announcement of a drama adaptation of the webtoon "The Elementary Student I Love," which centers on a relationship between a female teacher and her elementary school student, has ignited strong backlash from the education community.

The Korea Federation of Teachers’ Associations issued a formal statement Tuesday, sharply condemning the project. According to the group, "attempts to sexualize children under the guise of creativity and artistic originality can never be justified.”

They also stated, “Considering the harmful impact this drama could have on society and educational settings, as well as the potential violence it may inflict on children and adolescents, we strongly urge an immediate halt to production.”

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522791

02/07/2025

South Korea’s population could plummet to just 15 percent of its current level by the 2125 if the nation’s ongoing demographic decline continues unabated, according to a private think tank in Seoul on Wednesday.

In its latest long-term forecast, the Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future used a cohort component method to project Korea’s demographic trends over the next century. This internationally recognized technique estimates future populations by incorporating factors such as birth rates, mortality rates and immigration patterns.

Under the institute’s worst-case scenario, South Korea’s population could drop to 7.53 million by 2125 — a sharp fall from the current 51.68 million. This would be even less than the current population of the city of Seoul alone, which is over 9.3 million.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522978

02/07/2025

Public bathhouses in Korea present an opportunity to unwind in a giant tub or get a body scrub, but they come with one major drawback: sharing the space with complete strangers fully naked. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic nearly decimated the industry, as bathhouses were flagged by health authorities as high-risk venues due to their enclosed environments and close physical proximity among patrons.

In light of potential hygiene issues and an increasing population of single-person households across the country, a new business model has begun gaining traction in the nation's capital: bathhouses designed for just one occupant. These establishments typically offer treatment courses that include services like full-body scrubs, as well as skin care and hair treatments.

These private bathhouses typically are exclusive for one gender, which helps address privacy and safety concerns. One-person spas at such bathhouses are available inside rooms for one for each customer, ensuring complete personal space. Some venues also offer two-person spa rooms for those visiting in pairs.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522102

02/07/2025

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a new QR code-based survey system to make it easier for travelers to report unfair taxi practices, it said Wednesday.

Since June 19, the city has been distributing business card-sized flyers with QR codes to international travelers departing from Incheon and Gimpo International Airports.

Designed to double as souvenirs, the cards feature images of major Seoul landmarks and link to a multilingual survey available in English, Chinese and Japanese.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522802

02/07/2025

Workers in Samseong-dong spend the most on lunch among major business districts in the Seoul metropolitan area, averaging 15,000 won ($11) per meal, data showed Wednesday.

According to an analysis of about 9 million company lunch vouchers by financial services company NHN Payco, the average lunch price for salaried workers in the capital region reached 9,500 won in the first half of this year, a 58 percent increase from 6,000 won in 2017.

Of the 12 business districts surveyed, Samseong-dong ranked first, followed by Gangnam at 14,000 won; Yeouido and Seocho at 13,000 won; Magok and Pangyo at 12,000 won; Songpa and Jongno at 11,000 won; Gasan and G**o at 10,000 won; and Gangdong and Dongdaemun at 9,000 won.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522820

02/07/2025

Kim Yeon-woo, an 11-year-old boy who spent nearly his entire life bedridden, donated his organs to three other children in need after his death on May 24, the Korea Organ Donation Agency said Wednesday.

Born in May 2014 in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Kim began showing neurological symptoms at just one month old, when parts of his forehead and face became paralyzed after crying following a regular vaccination.

Through MRI scans and other detailed examinations at a general hospital, he was found to have a serious brainstem issue that required surgical treatment. Too young to be eligible for surgery, he was expected to wait until he was eight to nine months old.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10522804

02/07/2025

Key of SHINee is poised to return to the music scene solo next month, according to a local media report on Wednesday.

It would mark almost a year since his third solo EP, “Pleasure Shop,” which rolled out on his birthday in September. The titular track earned him the top spot on a TV music chart show and brought tears to his eyes.

Before the release of the mini album, Key embarked on his first solo Asia tour under the banner of “Keyland On: And On.” He visited Bangkok, Indonesia's Jakarta, Macao and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, before bringing it to a close over two nights in Seoul. In Seoul, he performed “Pleasure Shop” on stage for the first time, along with all the B-side tracks from the EP.

Key of SHINee is poised to return to the music scene solo next month, according to a local media report on Wednesday. It would mark almost a year since his thir

02/07/2025

BoyNextDoor is gearing up to release its second physical single in Japan, “Boylife,” on Aug. 20, agency KOZ Entertainment announced Tuesday.

This confirms the news the bandmates shared at their live show in Tokyo on Sunday that set the audience abuzz. The Sunday gig was the last of their encore concert, which ran from June 28, and added covers of Japanese hit songs to the original set list.

The band toured six cities in the country from January to February for its first road trip, “Knock On Vol. 1.” The six-piece team is set to wrap the tour up in Seoul on July 25-27.

BoyNextDoor is gearing up to release its second physical single in Japan, “Boylife,” on Aug. 20, agency KOZ Entertainment announced Tuesday. This confirms the n

02/07/2025

DA NANG, Vietnam -- Leading figures in Korean cinema gathered at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival on Monday to reflect on the evolution of Korean cinema and how film festivals have supported its rise over the decades.

The special panel discussion featured Kim Dong-ho, former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival; Park Kwang-su, filmmaker and current BIFF chair; Kim Hong-joon, director of the Korean Film Archive; Kim Han-min, director and screenwriter; Choi Seung-jin, director of the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam; Park Hee-seong, researcher at the Korean Film Council; and Ngo Thi B**h Hanh, producer and vice chair of the Vietnamese Film Development Association.

When the penalists were asked how Korean cinema became a global cultural phenomenon, Kim Dong-ho pointed to the lifting of strict censorship and the advent of free speech as a key catalyst for creative growth.

DA NANG, Vietnam -- Leading figures in Korean cinema gathered at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival on Monday to reflect on the evolution of Korean cinema and how

02/07/2025

The soundtrack to the global Netflix animation hit "K-pop Demon Hunters" is making major waves on music charts worldwide.

As of Wednesday, two songs from the film — “Your Idol” and “Golden” — are currently ranked on Billboard’s Hot 100, landing at No. 77 and No. 81, respectively.

The album also scored the highest-charting debut for a soundtrack in 2025 on the Billboard 200, opening at No. 8. It marks the first soundtrack to debut in the top 10 since the "Wicked" film soundtrack bowed at No. 2 on the chart for Dec. 7, 2024.

The soundtrack to the global Netflix animation hit "K-pop Demon Hunters" is making major waves on music charts worldwide. As of Wednesday, two songs from the fi