Son donates liver to mother, tells her, 'Don't worry about it'

A story of a 54-year-old son donating part of his liver to his severely ill mother was shared by Chung-Ang University Hospital on Wednesday, ahead of Parents' Day on Thursday. According to the hospital, the 75-year-old woman surnamed Moon made a full recovery from the April 15 liver transplant and was discharged Friday. It marked the 100th successful liver transplant of the hospital’s organ transplant center. The medical staff celebrated the full recovery of patient and her son surnamed Oh, who

Boy saves mom with CPR, commended on Children's Day's ceremony

An elementary school student who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his mother received a certificate of appreciation, city officials in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province said Wednesday. Jeong Tae-wun, a third-grader of Bucheon Elementary School, was commended in the Children's Day ceremony at Bucheon City Hall last Thursday, for his swift actions that saved his mother's life on Jan. 8. When his mother collapsed at home that evening, the boy called the 119 emergency service to report the case a

'Smile at me': Cancer-fighting senior influencer inspires with strength, grace

Have you ever thought about whether you'd get cancer? We all know someone who has. But many of us walk through life unprepared. Choi Seung-ih, a 59-year-old senior model, was no different. "Never,” she said when asked if the thought had ever crossed her mind. “There was no family history. I exercised regularly. I even trained for a body profile photoshoot. I was strict with my diet. I thought I’d never get cancer. Then, about a year ago, Choi was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Her wor

Chef Edward Lee serves dinner for children

A group of youngsters were treated to a special dinner when celebrity chef Edward Lee of Netflix's “Culinary Class Wars” cooked for them at an event held at The Kitchen Il Forno in downtown Seoul, Saturday. Twenty middle and high school students from children’s homes and 10 youths preparing to leave children's homes who are interested in pursuing a career in cooking or the hospitality industry took part in “Cooking Day with Edward Lee.” The event was organized by You Are Not Alone, a group dedic

Yang Sung-won reflects on 50 years with cello

Unlike many musicians who celebrate the anniversary of their public debut, South Korean cellist Yang Sung-won is marking something more personal: 50 years since a life-altering performance inspired a 7-year-old to trade the piano for the cello. That moment dates back to March 10, 1975, when Hungarian American cellist Janos Starker gave a performance in Seoul — one that would set the course of Yang’s life. Years later, he became not only his student, but also his assistant, entrusted to teach in

Roberto Abbado appointed next artistic director of National Symphony Orchestra

Italian maestro Roberto Abbado, who has captivated Korean audiences through two previous collaborations with the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, will officially assume the role of KNSO artistic director starting January 2026, the orchestra announced Tuesday. He will succeed Belgian conductor David Reiland, who has held the post since 2020. Abbado, 70, was appointed for a three-year term as the orchestra’s eighth artistic director. He previously led the KNSO in Bellini’s “Norma” in 2023, whic

She reclaimed her mornings and built a brand to help others do the same

Early-bird Youn Jin proved that the quietest hours can be the most impactful At 4 a.m., when most of New York was still asleep, Youn Jin was already awake. She blogged. She practiced yoga. She made breakfast. By the time her coworkers shuffled into the office, she already had accomplished a lot. Early mornings have long been considered a secret weapon of successful people, and stories like Youn’s might seem familiar — until you hear what happened next. Her mornings didn’t just set the tone for h

88-year-old who overcame lifetime of hardship donates building to university

Yun Geun, 88, an inn owner in Busan, has donated her building worth 4 billion won ($2.73 million) to Chungnam National University in her hometown area of South Chungcheong Province. The self-made businesswoman, who never had the privilege of even attending elementary school, expressed her wishes that her donation would allow financially-challenged students to pursue their dreams. She owns a six-story building in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, which was erected in 1995, where she has runs the Dongnam Inn. "I

Pastor urges embracing differences as impeachment ruling nears

The church always has to reflect the defining spirit of an era, and empowering people to embrace differences is the zeitgeist Protestant churches should seek now, according to the Rev. Kim Sang-keun. Kim, 86, is a prominent church elder who leads an ad hoc committee helping promote better politics at the National Council of Churches in Korea. It is one of the four largest church alliances in the country and is known for backing progressive causes. The NCCK launched the committee in October. On D

From training to the podium: Seoul Philharmonic fosters future maestros

A special concert took place Feb. 28 at Lotte Concert Hall with not one, but three conductors leading the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. On the podium were Park Keun-tae, Song Min-gyu and Harris Han Andersen, the three conductors selected by orchestra members from the eight participants of the inaugural SPO Conducting Fellowship, which also included Kim Ri-ra, Kim Jun-young, Kim Hyo-eun, Shin Ju-ya and Choi Jae-hyuck. The eight conductors participating in the five-day fellowship program were chos

Architect Hong Tae-sun, composer of space

Hong compares architecture to music in CICI lecture at Eygptian ambassador's residence Some who have explored different fields in their career know how to create synergy by combining them together. Architect Hong Tae-sun is one such person, integrating music into his architectural practice. Hong, director of architecture firm YKH Associates, loves to play piano in his studio while reminiscing about how he badly wanted to be a pianist before he went to college. Hong, who ultimately became an arch

Kim A-young’s AI-inspired art earns 2025 LG Guggenheim Award

Media artist Kim A-young has been named the recipient of the 2025 LG Guggenheim Award, making her the first Korean artist to receive the honor. The award is part of the LG Guggenheim Art & Technology Initiative, a five-year partnership between LG and the Guggenheim Museum that celebrates artists working at the intersection of art and technology. Each year, the award honors one outstanding artist, recognizing their contributions to expanding the boundaries of digital art. Past recipients include

S. Korea's declining population biggest concern for investors: Jim Rogers

'Somebody has to do something, or there will not be a Korea in 30-40 years' Renowned US investor Jim Rogers cited South Korea’s declining population as the biggest concern for international investors. Foreseeing a potential long-term economic impact, he said that South Korea's demographic crisis poses a greater risk than geopolitical tensions with North Korea or economic competition with China. “You have a very serious demographic problem," Rogers told reporters at a press briefing on Saturday i

'Korean Stephen Hawkings' honored

A South Korean hospital said Wednesday it held the annual "Congratulations, Korean Hawkings," commemoration ceremony, dedicated to celebrating the academic accomplishments of patients with rare neuromuscular disorders. The event is named after the world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for most of his life. According to the Gangnam Severance Hospital, seven patients were honored at this year's event on Tuesday -- three who were accepted at univer

'Korean diaspora is driving force behind Hallyu'

President of World Assembly of Korean Associations vows support for Korean groups worldwide where government efforts fall short South Korea’s rise in soft power, driven by the global surge of its popular culture, has garnered significant attention both in Korea and worldwide. Ko Sang-goo, president of the World Assembly of Korean Associations, seeks to highlight the often-overlooked role of the Korean diaspora -- the approximately 7.3 million Koreans or individuals of Korean descent living abroa