The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has recommended reexamining a policy that would require facial recognition during mobile phone activations, ahead of its full nationwide rollout. Under the plan led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and involving Korea’s three mobile carriers and MVNO providers, facial recognition

KAIST, Korea’s top research university, is again at the center of leadership uncertainty as its president, Lee Kwang-hyung, remains in place after his term ended in February of last year. A series of delays in selecting a successor has left the institution running under a de facto leadership with

The South Korean presidential office said in a written briefing on the 13th that French President Emmanuel Macron will make a state visit to South Korea for a two-day, one-night schedule next month. He is to arrive after a three-day official trip to Japan, and the Korea-France summit is scheduled

Tensions in the Middle East between Iran and regional powers have raised the risk of conflict and sent global oil markets into volatility. The resulting price swings have stoked fears of higher inflation around the world. President Donald Trump has turned up the pressure on the U.S. Federal Reserve,

The 16th Gwangju Biennale will run from September 5 to November 15 at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, with national pavilions planned at multiple venues around the city opening in tandem with the main show. The event marks one of South Korea’s premier platforms for contemporary art and international

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to discuss the Middle East’s rising tensions and the broader impact on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Modi said on social media that he exchanged views with Raisi on the region’s serious situation, stressing

The South Korean government is overhauling industrial electricity tariffs by sector, a reform the administration says could mostly benefit small and mid-sized firms, though large corporations may see a mixed mix of gains and costs. Officials with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment say the change aims to better

At a hearing in Seoul on the 12th, the Special Investigation Committee for Truth-Finding and Recurrence Prevention of the Itaewon disaster announced it would file a criminal complaint against Kim Gwang-ho, the former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, for refusing to take an oath as a witness. The

A 61-year-old South Korean actor, Lee Jae-ryong, is under investigation for drunk driving and hit-and-run, with a police-added charge of hindering a breath-alcohol test. Seoul’s Gangnam Police announced the new charge on the 13th, in connection with an incident earlier this month. The crash occurred around 11 p.m.

South Korea opened its 2026 Government Procurement Cultural Goods Special Exhibition, titled “Korean Essence,” at Culture Station Seoul 284 in central Seoul. First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the opening ceremony on the 13th, delivering remarks and touring the exhibition booths. A Blue House briefing said Kim Hye-kyung joined government and