Chemicals, heat fueled ferry fire; 16 charged

Inquirer.net - Nov 13, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — A chemical reaction involving hazardous cargo and intense heat from a malfunctioning engine fueled a ferry fire that killed 77 people off Coron, Palawan, in September, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said on Thursday as it confirmed the filing of a criminal complaint against 16 individuals. BFP spokesperson Fire Supt. Anthony

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How a close friend of labor activist Jeon Tae-il keeps his legacy alive

Nov 13, 2026

How a close friend of labor activist Jeon Tae-il keeps his legacy alive

Choi Jong-in, 78, still aches for his friend Jeon Tae-il, who was just 22. When Jeon set himself on fire in the middle of Pyeonghwa Market in Seoul's Jung District on Nov. 13, 1970, Choi was the first to rush to his side, taking off his jacket to smother the flames. “His hair was burning and curling like nylon fabric, his lips were turning inside out, but he sprang back to his feet and shouted, ‘We are not machines!” More than half a century has passed, and one might expect Choi to recount the incident with the composure of an elderly man who has come to terms with life. But for a while, he cannot bring himself to continue. He has never really given an interview about Jeon. While Jeon's mother, the late Lee So-sun (who died in 2011), was alive, Choi says he held back because he did not want to cause her further grief. Even after she passed away and was reunited with her son, he found it too painful to speak. The trauma never entirely left him, but it did not break him. Instead, he turned his guilt over losing Jeon, chairman of the Samdong Friendship Association (Samdonghoe), into a

'I'd rather stay an intern': Why some Gen Z workers in Korea are choosing less responsibility

Nov 13, 2026

'I'd rather stay an intern': Why some Gen Z workers in Korea are choosing less responsibility

For some young Korean workers, leaving the office on time matters more than finishing every task, and avoiding the responsibilities of a permanent position can be more appealing than climbing the corporate ladder. These attitudes are emerging among members of Generation Z, who are challenging workplace expectations long shaped by loyalty, overtime and deference to senior colleagues. In a roundtable discussion organized by the Hankook Ilbo, young participants shared their views on work, career advancement and workplace relationships, revealing both generational differences and contradictions in their own approaches to professional life. Their experiences suggest that while younger employees increasingly demand clearer boundaries and more explicit instructions, they sometimes struggle to meet those same expectations when they become responsible for guiding others. Leaving work on time, even with tasks unfinished For Korea's Generation X, now largely in their 50s, staying late at the office was once considered a badge of dedication. In her 2000 novel "A Very Old Joke," acclaimed Korean author

[WEEKENDER] Samsung Guide Dog School marks 33 years of changing lives

Nov 13, 2026

[WEEKENDER] Samsung Guide Dog School marks 33 years of changing lives

Samsung Guide Dog School, which marks its 33rd anniversary this year, is Korea’s first guide dog training institution and the world’s only guide dog school operated by a single corporation, with its operations fully funded by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. The school was established in September 1993 by late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee as part of efforts to foster greater understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. At the time, corporate involvement in guide dog training was unprecedented worldwide. The school became a full member of the International Guide Dog Federation in 1999 and went on to host the organization's general assembly in Korea in 2002. Lee was also honored by the federation that year for his efforts to raise awareness of people with disabilities. Since its first guide dog, Bada, was paired with a visually impaired person in 1994, the school has provided more than 320 guide dogs to visually impaired partners free of charge. Its responsibilities extend beyond raising and training guide dogs. The school also teaches visually impaired partners how

[WEEKENDER] How guide dogs and humans become partners

Nov 13, 2026

[WEEKENDER] How guide dogs and humans become partners

Completing professional training does not mean a guide dog is immediately ready to accompany a visually impaired person. The dog must first be matched with a suitable partner, and the two must learn to walk and live together. Few understand this process better than Yoo Seok-jong of Samsung Guide Dog School. Born with a visual impairment, Yoo now lives with his fifth guide dog. Drawing on his own experience, he helps visually impaired people find dogs suited to their needs and lifestyles. During an interview at the school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 2, Yoo was accompanied by Gori, a 5-year-old demonstration dog. Yoo's own guide dog was at a veterinary clinic after falling ill that morning. Friendly and sociable, Gori normally helps introduce visitors to guide dogs and accompanies visually impaired people on trial walks. Yoo said one of the most important factors in matching a guide dog with a prospective partner is walking speed. "The person's walking speed needs to match the dog's natural pace," he said. "Trying to force either one to adjust can be difficult." Temperament is equa

[WEEKENDER] A day with Jerry, guide dog in training

Nov 13, 2026

[WEEKENDER] A day with Jerry, guide dog in training

As Jerry, a Labrador retriever, approached a crosswalk, he came to a stop at the curb. His trainer, Keum Jung-hun, had given no command. Jerry simply recognized the boundary between the sidewalk and the road and stopped on his own. Keum pressed a small device, producing a sharp click. Known as a clicker, the tool signals that Jerry has performed a task correctly. "It means he did a good job," Keum explained. "Verbal praise takes time, but a clicker lets us mark the exact moment he does something right." Jerry is an almost 2-year old guide dog in training. The Korea Times met him during a training session at Samsung Guide Dog School on Nov. 2. The school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, is fully funded by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. After six to seven months of professional training, he has passed his final walking assessment and is now completing the remaining steps before being paired with a visually impaired partner. Accompanying Jerry and Keum on their morning training walk outside the school grounds near Bundang Central Park in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, revealed that guide dog tr

China's memory makers are catching up. What happens when they do?

Nov 13, 2026

China's memory makers are catching up. What happens when they do?

The memory business has rarely had it this good, thanks to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Korea’s chipmakers are reporting extraordinary earnings and unusual confidence that the good times will last. SK hynix’s third-quarter operating profit rose more than sevenfold to 83.3 trillion won ($62 billion), an operating margin of almost 80 percent. Samsung Electronics’ rose nearly ninefold to 107.4 trillion won, with its memory business setting records of its own. Across the West Sea, China’s challengers are sharing in the windfall. ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) remains far smaller, but its quarterly revenue rose more than sevenfold to 118.7 billion yuan ($17.8 billion), with a net profit attributable to shareholders of 54.4 billion yuan, reversing years of losses. CXMT and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) are the twin pillars of China’s drive for memory self-sufficiency, part of Beijing’s broader pursuit of technological independence facing U.S. export restrictions. Fresh capital, new factories and increasingly sophisticated technology are helping them challenge th

Korea, France hold joint coordinating committee on nuclear energy in Saclay

Nov 13, 2026

Korea, France hold joint coordinating committee on nuclear energy in Saclay

Korea and France commenced their 27th joint coordinating committee on nuclear energy in France's southwestern region of Saclay this week and discussed nuclear technology cooperation, Seoul's science ministry said Friday. The two-day event ending Friday (local time) comes as the two nations mark their 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the Ministry of Science and ICT added. The event has been organized since 1982, following the signing of a bilateral agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 1981. During the meeting, Korea and France discussed 21 areas of technological cooperation in fields such as nuclear energy research, nuclear safety and the nuclear industry. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in next-generation nuclear reactors, as well as in the nuclear energy supply chain, following related memorandums of understanding signed during two bilateral summits this year, held in April and September. "We will use the joint coordinating committee as an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperative framework between the two countries ... to drive ne

Binance says all asset losses from N. Korea-linked cyberattack covered

Nov 13, 2026

Binance says all asset losses from N. Korea-linked cyberattack covered

WASHINGTON — Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance said Thursday it has completed covering assets affected by a massive cyberattack blamed on North Korea, after committing more than $6.34 billion in company funds to make up for the losses. "Binance has completed coverage of assets impacted in the security incident," the company said in a statement posted on its website. The company said it used funds from its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), futures insurance fund and corporate treasury to cover the losses, while acquiring affected cryptocurrencies through market and over-the-counter transactions. "Binance has committed to replenishing SAFU to return the fund to approximately $1 billion, ensuring it remains fully resourced as an emergency user-protection reserve," it said. The announcement follows an Oct. 29 cyberattack in which hackers allegedly linked to North Korea stole more than $6 billion in digital assets from Binance. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation attributed the theft to a North Korean hacking group known as TraderTraitor, warning that the stolen assets could be l

US House passes bill to protect small businesses from foreign adversaries, including N. Korea

Nov 13, 2026

US House passes bill to protect small businesses from foreign adversaries, including N. Korea

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at protecting American small businesses from economic and cybersecurity threats posed by foreign adversaries, including North Korea. The House passed the Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026 on Wednesday, The bill would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide small businesses with information and guidance on identifying and responding to threats from foreign adversaries. "China, Russia and North Korea are working to undermine our economic and national security, and American businesses are increasingly caught in the crosshairs," Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) said during a House floor debate on Wednesday. The legislation seeks to help businesses address risks such as intellectual property theft, cyberattacks, counterfeit goods and predatory investment practices. It now subject to deliberation by the Senate. "While these threats affect businesses of every size, small businesses are often the most vulnerable, and they simply do not have the resources or expertise to identify these threats

Lee's approval rating falls back below 40%: poll

Nov 13, 2026

Lee's approval rating falls back below 40%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating slipped back to 39 percent this week, a weekly poll showed Friday, amid negative sentiment over his real estate policies and economic concerns. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,002 people aged 18 and older, showed that positive assessments of Lee's performance fell 2 percentage points from the previous week, when the figure stood at 41 percent. Lee's approval rating has fluctuated around the 40 percent mark in recent weeks after hitting a low of 37 percent in October. Those who disapproved of Lee's handling of state affairs remained unchanged from the previous week at 50 percent. Real estate policies were cited the most by those who disapproved of Lee's performance at 17 percent, followed by economic and livelihood concerns at 15 percent. Among those who positively assessed Lee's performance, 19 percent cited economic and livelihood issues, followed by diplomacy at 17 percent and communication at 9 percent. The latest survey came amid political disputes over a controversial special counsel bill over allegatio

Seoul files criminal complaints against 5 serial 119 prank callers

Nov 13, 2026

Seoul files criminal complaints against 5 serial 119 prank callers

For the emergency dispatchers staffing Seoul’s 119 hotline — Korea’s equivalent of 911 — every second counts. Yet over the past year, a handful of individuals treated the city’s critical lifeline for fires, accidents, and medical emergencies as a personal bulletin board, a late-night cab service, and a sounding board for drunken rants. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that it had filed criminal complaints against five habitual callers who collectively flooded the 119 emergency dispatch center with 8,710 non-emergency calls and text messages between September 2025 and August 2026. The barrage intensified sharply over the summer. Between June and August alone, the five individuals accounted for 4,034 separate contacts — an average of more than 40 disruptions a day. Among the worst offenders, one individual placed 2,661 phone calls, while another sent 2,886 text messages. According to the Seoul Emergency Operations Center, the nature of the contacts ranged from perplexing to blatantly disruptive. Dispatchers fielded silent calls where nobody spoke on the line, inco

Gov't holds first task force meeting to ease living costs for wage earners

Nov 13, 2026

Gov't holds first task force meeting to ease living costs for wage earners

Korea on Friday held the inaugural meeting of a new task force aimed at developing policies to reduce living costs and boost real disposable income for wage earners. First Vice Finance Minister Kwon Dae-young chaired the meeting with officials from relevant ministries to discuss detailed implementation plans following the presidential office's announcement of the initiative this week. The task force comprises four working groups covering existing support measures, taxation, fiscal policy and finance, respectively, to identify practical ways to achieve those goals. The new team will focus particularly on helping workers cope with labor market changes driven by structural changes in industry, along with the growing financial burden of caring for children and elderly parents. Other key goals will include helping workers build assets, improve job security and manage their health. "The measures in the 2026 tax revision bill and next year's budget proposal are directly linked to wage earners' household finances next year," Kwon said. "While respecting deliberations at the National Assembly, we w

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