Hong Kong orders lift contractors to review doors installed over past 10 years

South China Morning Post - Oct 17, 2026

Hong Kong authorities have ordered all lift contractors to review the design and construction of landing doors installed over the past 10 years, after a government investigation found missing fire-safety components in lifts in at least 78 private buildings and two public estates. The director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department issued the order in a letter following inspections into lift contractor Taizoom Elevator that revealed “serious deficiencies”. The company is under...

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Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

"This new hire is really strange. Even when calls come in, they do not answer, and when given instructions, they do not respond. They ignore most KakaoTalk messages and only reply to things that benefit them." Senior employees in their 30s who work with new hires in their 20s with impressive credentials frequently voice this grievance. They complain that open communication with junior staff remains difficult despite considerable effort. However, the 20-somethings targeted by this criticism counter that their true intent — exchanging precise information and avoiding getting hurt while communicating — is not getting across. Why young workers avoid office phones Participant 4: Why do people in their 20s avoid phone calls these days? Participant 2: We prefer text messages because they let us reply after preparing our thoughts. That is especially true for work-related matters. Because text leaves a written record, we can check details directly from the message without having to ask again later. Even if a phone call is recorded, it is more inconvenient because we have to go back and listen

Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

Incheon stabbing raises questions over effectiveness of electronic ankle monitors

The recent stabbing rampage in Incheon by a repeat violent offender wearing an electronic ankle monitor has raised doubts about the system's ability to prevent violent crime. The case has sparked calls for tighter supervision of high-risk offenders, beyond simply tracking their movements. On Tuesday, a man in his 50s previously convicted of attempted murder went on a stabbing attack at a shopping complex in Incheon, injuring nine people. The suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor despite having repeatedly violated his supervision conditions and recently been booked by police for possessing a weapon. The suspect was sentenced to four years in prison in 2015 for attempting to murder his ex-wife by stabbing her. After his release in 2019, he was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor until 2029. Despite the monitoring, he was fined in 2021 for violating his curfew four times and was booked by police last month for possessing a weapon. He also reportedly met with his probation officer on the day of the attack. The case has sparked public criticism over whether electronic ankle

Incheon stabbing raises questions over effectiveness of electronic ankle monitors

Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life

When Sung Jung-hee slips into the cold waters off Korea’s eastern coast, she wears no oxygen tank — just a mask, a weight belt and four decades of practical instincts from making her living harvesting the ocean floor by hand. That lifetime of hard labor and leadership earned international recognition earlier this week when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations named Sung one of 100 women honored globally for their contributions to food systems and rural life. Timed to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the distinction recognizes 100 visionary leaders, scientists and community advocates driving sustainable change across global food and maritime networks. Selected from nearly 600 nominees submitted by member nations, Sung is the only honoree from Korea. Sung also serves as head of the Guryongpo fishing community and president of the Gyeongbuk Haenyeo Association. Beyond her daily dives, she has spent years improving working conditions, expanding welfare support for fellow divers and elevating the public profile of women in coastal industries. Her sel

Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life

Securing equipment emerges as new variable for Korea's chip expansion plans

Securing equipment for manufacturing advanced memory chips is emerging as a new variable in Korea's plans to expand semiconductor production capacity through large-scale industrial clusters, after ASML, the dominant supplier of advanced chipmaking equipment, warned that its current production plans may not be sufficient to meet demand in 2027 and 2028. During its earnings call Wednesday, ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said the company's plans to increase its production capacity for advanced chipmaking equipment by 30 percent in 2027 and another 30 percent in 2028 would likely not be enough to meet customer demand. “Last quarter, we talked about 30 percent more capacity next year, and also the aspiration to have another 30 percent increase in 2028,” Fouquet said. “But to be honest, it's becoming very clear that 30 percent in 2027, 30 percent in 2028 will not allow us to meet our customer demand.” According to the company, the planned capacity increases cover both low-numerical-aperture extreme ultraviolet (low-NA EUV) lithography equipment and deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion system

Securing equipment emerges as new variable for Korea's chip expansion plans

Sejong relocation set to worsen KTX seat shortage

Civil servants commuting from Seoul to Sejong face growing concerns over an already severe shortage of high-speed rail tickets, as the government prepares to relocate thousands of officials to the administrative city. Kim, a 52-year-old civil servant who commutes from his home in Seoul to Government Complex Sejong, said he was worried after the government recently announced its second-phase relocation plan for central government agencies. Even now, securing a high-speed train ticket departing from Seoul is difficult. The large-scale transfer of government personnel could make finding a seat even harder. “If you let your guard down and miss the ticket reservations, which open a month in advance, you could end up arriving late to work or having to take a half-day off,” Kim said. “If nearly 3,000 civil servants move to Sejong next year alone, the morning commute will be nothing short of a battle.” The government's second-phase relocation plan has stirred concern among officials in Sejong. Many are expected to continue commuting from Seoul and other existing places of residence, at l

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Dispute intensifies over street food stalls near Seoul elementary school

As autumn reaches its peak, street food stalls across from Yeomni Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District begin lighting up one by one in the early evening. On Oct. 8, the aroma of spicy rice cakes spread through the street. Office workers heading home and nearby residents gathered at the stalls, where drinking sessions continued late into the night. As the cooler season draws more visitors to outdoor dining spots, a long-running dispute between local residents and street vendors near the school has intensified once again. In the spring, parents launched a petition calling for the removal of the stalls, citing pedestrian safety and concerns about children's exposure to drinking and smoking. This autumn, vendors have countered with their own petition campaign, urging authorities to protect their livelihoods. The stalls have stood near Yeomni Elementary School for decades, but tensions have escalated recently after the area gained popularity on social media as a cherry blossom-season outdoor dining destination, dubbed the "cherry blossom night market." A sudden influx of visitors durin

Dispute intensifies over street food stalls near Seoul elementary school

Musinsa teams up with Japan's ZOZOTOWN for 1st Korean pop-up

Fashion platform Musinsa has teamed up with ZOZOTOWN, one of Japan's leading online fashion retailers, to open a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, a popular destination for young consumers. Musinsa opened the doors to ZOZOTOWN in Musinsa, the Japanese platform’s first official pop-up store in Korea, to the media on Friday. The pop-up will run through Oct. 31, while an accompanying online promotion will continue until Nov. 16. Launched in 2004, ZOZOTOWN features more than 11,000 brands and serving over 13 million customers annually. Fifteen Japanese fashion brands available on the platform, including Snidel and Grancy, are participating in the event. The pop-up’s concept, ZOZO is Coming to Town, draws inspiration from Korean streets. Crosswalks, road markings and oversized three-dimensional typography have been incorporated into the space to create the impression of an intersection where Korean and Japanese fashion meet. The pop-up follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two platforms in December 2024 to establish a strategic partnership. In November last y

Musinsa teams up with Japan's ZOZOTOWN for 1st Korean pop-up

Number of deepfake sex videos up for review exceeds last year's figure in 8 months

The number of deepfake sex crime videos pending review by a Korean media regulator has surpassed 17,000 as of August this year, already surpassing last year's total, data showed Saturday. The state-run Korea Communications Standards Commission has received 17,378 cases of sex crime videos using deepfake technology for review from January to August, according to data submitted to Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. This represents a nearly 9.9 percent increase from last year's total of 15,808 cases. The number of videos sent for review had gradually increased from 1,913 in 2021 to 3,574 in 2022, 7,187 in 2023 and 23,109 in 2024 before falling to 15,808 cases in 2025. "With the number of reviews of deepfake sexual content already exceeding last year's annual total, it is essential to closely examine the current situation and response mechanisms," Rep. Lee said, calling for effective measures to prevent the spread of the content and protect victims.

Number of deepfake sex videos up for review exceeds last year's figure in 8 months

Factory fire in Bucheon likely caused by oil vapor ignited by frictional heat: officials

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Factory fire in Bucheon likely caused by oil vapor ignited by frictional heat: officials

How Taiwan’s new AI satellite system aims to speed up early warning against PLA moves

Taiwan will acquire an AI-powered satellite imagery system capable of rapidly identifying People’s Liberation Army ships, aircraft and missile launchers, as it seeks to boost early-warning capabilities in the face of growing military pressure from Beijing. The NT$46.55 million (US$1.45 million) system will use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse satellite images covering 100 sq km (38.6 square miles) within minutes, potentially cutting the time and manpower needed to track changes in PLA...

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China’s embassy issues fresh Thailand travel alert over kidnappings, job scams

China’s embassy in Thailand has warned citizens to carefully plan their trips and pay extra attention to transport security following a string of high-profile kidnappings targeting Chinese nationals. Online influencers and artists were also advised to remain vigilant against high-paying job scams operating in Thailand in the latest such warning issued on Friday. There have been a number of high-profile incidents in recent months in which online celebrities and travellers were kidnapped in...

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China’s proposed AI tech export bans may create short-term costs, long-term gains: analysts

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China’s proposed AI tech export bans may create short-term costs, long-term gains: analysts

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