Seoul Mayor Oh targets 'global top 3' status for city after election win

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has vowed to prioritize elevating Seoul into a "global top three city" during his new term following his victory in the June 3 local elections. Oh made the pledge in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday after winning last week's local election against ruling Democratic Party rival Chong Won-o, his third consecutive and fifth non-consecutive election as Seoul mayor. "A global top three city is not merely a slogan to raise the ranking but a goal to increase qualit

June 10, 2026

KTX, commuter rail services to fully resume Sunday after Seosomun overpass collapse

Four days after the collapse of Seoul's Seosomun overpass disrupted rail travel across the capital region, rail operations began returning to normal Saturday, with all services expected to be fully restored Sunday. Korail said Saturday that services on the Gyeongui Line between Seoul and Munsan resumed with the first train of the day, restoring operations on the previously suspended section between Seoul Station and Sinchon. KTX services between Haengsin and Seoul also returned to normal operati

May 30, 2026

Foreign-owned homes top 108,000; Chinese nationals hold more than half

Foreigners owned more than 108,000 homes in South Korea at the end of 2025, with Chinese nationals accounting for more than half of all foreign-owned properties, government data showed Friday. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, foreign nationals owned 108,231 homes in Korea as of Dec. 31, 2025, up 8 percent from 100,216 last year. Foreign-owned homes accounted for 0.55 percent of the country's 19.65 million housing units. Chinese nationals own

May 29, 2026

Park Chan-gu appointed Seoul’s political affairs vice mayor

Park Chan-gu, a former special adviser on political affairs to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, officially took office Thursday as the vice mayor for political affairs, city officials said. Park began serving in the post Thursday, supporting the mayor in coordinating affairs with the National Assembly, Seoul Metropolitan Council, media and political parties. The position is considered equivalent to a vice minister-level post in the central government. The appointment was made by Kim Sung-bo, Seoul’s seco

May 10, 2026

Seoul City offers rabies vaccinations for pets for 10,000 won

Seoul will begin a spring rabies vaccination campaign for pets from Thursday, offering subsidized shots for up to 50,000 animals to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus. The city government said pet owners can get their dogs and cats vaccinated at 843 designated animal hospitals across Seoul by paying a 10,000 won ($6.70) service fee, while the vaccine itself will be provided free of charge. The program covers pets aged 3 months and older and will run through June 30, with individual dist

April 15, 2026

Joseon military ritual ‘Yeolmu’ comes to life in central Seoul

Visitors gathered at the Joseon State Council Site Square in central Seoul on Sautrday to watch a reenactment of “Yeolmu,” a traditional military ritual from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) as part of a newly launched cultural program. The event, held at the historic site near Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, drew visitors who were eager to experience elements of Korea’s past through live demonstrations and interactive activities. In addition to the “Yeolmu” demonstration, attendees were able to take

April 11, 2026

Seoul to make major tourist areas ‘data-free zones’

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to turn key tourist hot spots into “data-free zones” by expanding high-speed public Wi-Fi, aiming to improve convenience for foreign visitors and strengthen the city’s global tourism appeal. According to local media reports on Sunday, the city will install a dense network of Wi-Fi routers in popular destinations such as Hangang Park, Seongsu-dong and Myeong-dong, all of which attract large numbers of international travelers. The new infrastructure will inc

March 29, 2026

BTS comeback concert sparks debate over crowd control, public disruption

As K-pop supergroup BTS wrapped up its comeback concert Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, the event left behind not only excitement among fans but also a broader debate over crowd control, public disruption and allegations of excessive state mobilization. “Why are they checking everyone who isn’t even attending the concert?” one user wrote on X. “Isn’t this a nuisance? People who have no idea what’s going on must be shocked.” Others defended the heavy precautions as necessary to p

March 23, 2026

How does cheap subway-station bread last so long? Authorities investigate

Across Seoul’s subway stations, shops selling packaged pastries for as little as 1,000 won (66 cents) are common, with the budget breads valued for their affordability and long shelf life. But have you ever wondered how these baked goods can be so cheap and last so long on the shelf? As concerns grow about their preservative content and potentially harmful substances, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a large-scale inspection. “The so-called ‘1,000 won bread’ is widely available onl

March 23, 2026

Navigate Seoul, no notes: Subway now accepts overseas-issued cards

Seoul’s subway system began accepting overseas-issued payment cards on Tuesday for transportation card purchases and recharges, ending a long-standing inconvenience for foreign visitors: having to convert currency and pay with cash. The move comes ahead of a BTS comeback performance scheduled for Saturday, along with concerts in the nearby city of Goyang, which are expected to draw large numbers of international fans. Many are also likely to visit locations across Seoul associated with the group

March 16, 2026

Seoul to hold morning strolls from Hapjeong to Yeouido park

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch a program that temporarily turns busy city roads into pedestrian spaces on weekend mornings. On Saturday, the city will open part of a central street in Yeouido and sections of Mapo Bridge, creating a 2.5-kilometer walking route. The event, called My Pace Morning, will run from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., with about 7,000 participants expected to join through online reservations and on-site registration. The city emphasized that the program is not a competitiv

March 12, 2026

Seoul’s all-inclusive travel pass logs record sales in 2025

The Seoul Tourism Organization announced Wednesday that sales of the Discover Seoul Pass, the city’s official travel pass, reached a record 710,000 units last year, reflecting its growing popularity among foreign visitors. The all-in-one pass, available in four price tiers ranging from 49,000 won to 130,000 won ($34-90), offers admission to more than 70 tourist attractions, public transportation fares and mobile data for up to five days after activation. The pass is available exclusively to fore

Feb. 11, 2026

Extra long weekend in July, as Constitution Day reinstated as public holiday

Constitution Day on July 17 will be reinstated as a national holiday, following a revision to the relevant law on Thursday. This brings the total number of official non-working days in 2026 from 118 to 119, with the new holiday falling on a Friday, creating a long weekend for many workers. Lawmakers on Thursday passed a revision to the Act on Public Holidays during a regular parliamentary session. It is now pending approval at a Cabinet meeting. Once in effect, Constitution Day -- which commemor

Jan. 29, 2026

Seoul city councilor resigns over bribery allegations

A Seoul city councilor said Monday she will resign over allegations she bribed a lawmaker to win a nomination for her councilorship ahead of the 2022 local elections. Kim Kyung stated her intention in a statement released by her lawyer, saying she submitted her letter of resignation to the chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council earlier in the day. Kim is under police investigation for allegedly giving 100 million won ($69,300) to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who recently left the ruling Democratic Party

Jan. 26, 2026

Seoul adds English to taxi receipts to curb overcharging of foreigners

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it began issuing bilingual taxi receipts in December 2025 to curb a rise in complaints over taxi drivers overcharging foreign national passengers. The new receipts include English translations of the total fare, pick-up and drop-off times, late-night and out-of-district surcharges, as well as information on how to report cases of overcharging. The city also requested that private taxi-hailing platforms such as Kakao Mobility and Tada offer fare

Jan. 20, 2026