"The Finest Luxury" cake will be priced at 500,000 won (approximately $340), the hotel's most expensive cake to date, and 100,000 won (approximately $62) more than last year's black truffle cake, "The Taste of Luxury."

The hotel said it would sell a maximum of three such cakes per day due to the rarity of truffle mushrooms. Preparing the cake takes up to 7 days, including ingredient preparation, aging, and filling. The cake's top will be decorated with a chocolatier's chocolate creation shaped like white truffles.

Sales are scheduled to begin in limited quantities on November 24 at the hotel's boutique pastry shop and continue for approximately 40 days until December 31.

Another cake, the Joyful Shilla Bear, is a bear-shaped cake with six flavors, including cheesecake, milk chocolate ganache, dark chocolate ganache, and raspberry crème anglaise. It will be priced at 350,000 won (approximately $219) and limited to seven cakes per day.

The hotel also introduced three festive cakes at a more affordable price of approximately 100,000 won (approximately $62) – Nougat Truffle Mini, White Holiday, and Luminous Red.

A Shilla Hotel representative said, "In response to high demand for cakes for special events and year-end celebrations, we launched special holiday cakes, created by our leading pastry chefs in an artistic spirit. Available for a limited time at year's end." He added, "We prepared a variety of cakes in different price ranges, from affordable products to luxury items using first-class ingredients."

Other luxury hotels in Seoul also launched year-end cakes at exceptional prices with limited stock. Walkerhill Hotel launched a cake called Lumiere Blanche, designed to evoke a snowy village, decorated with white chocolate and priced at 380,000 won (approximately $238).

Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas sells its flagship cake, "Merry-Go-Round," priced at 350,000 won (approximately $219), with a limited run of 50 units.

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul unveiled the Diamond Four Seasons Leaf, a dessert containing dark chocolate mousse and black truffle cream, priced at 300,000 won (approximately $188).

The post Seoul hotel launches $300 white truffle cake appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A motorcyclist who disappeared into a massive sinkhole that suddenly opened on a Seoul street was found dead following an extensive overnight search operation, ABC News reported Tuesday.

The enormous crater – approximately 66 feet wide and 66 feet deep – appeared without warning at an intersection in the Myeongil-dong neighborhood in eastern Seoul on Monday afternoon. The sinkhole swallowed the motorcyclist and injured a woman whose van was passing over the site when the ground collapsed.

"The motorcyclist, who was in his 30s, was found before noon on Tuesday," emergency officer Kim Chang Seob told reporters during a televised briefing, according to ABC News. "He was found wearing a helmet and motorcycle boots, and rescue workers located his Japanese-made motorcycle and mobile phone before reaching his body."

Rescue efforts continued Tuesday to locate a motorcyclist who fell into a massive sinkhole in Seoul's Gangdong-gu district, more than 12 hours after the incident, authorities said.https://t.co/9QfY8etBXN pic.twitter.com/Uf3J7RD5Ng

— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) March 25, 2025

Kim explained that rescuers had to deploy excavators, shovels, and other equipment during the challenging search operation. He also noted that the injured woman did not fall into the sinkhole and sustained only minor injuries in the incident. The cause of the catastrophic ground failure remains under active investigation, with city officials launching a comprehensive probe into the infrastructure failure.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the disaster site on Monday night to oversee the emergency response. "We need to find why the sinkhole happened and prevent recurrences of similar incidents," he said.

Similar incidents have occurred in cities worldwide, often linked to underground water erosion, aging utility tunnels, or construction activities that destabilize the ground.

The post Motorcyclist dead after falling into massive Seoul sinkhole appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

South Korean jet fighters conducting preparations for joint military exercises with the US mistakenly dropped eight bombs that landed just outside Seoul, the Wall Street Journal reported, injuring at least 15 people and destroying multiple buildings.

Footage has now been released which appears to show yesterday's "accidental bombing" in South Korea, in which an ROKAF KF-16 Multirole Fighter dropped 8 Mk-82 500lb Bombs on the Town of Dong-myeon in the Gyeonggi Province, during a Live-Fire Exercise with the U.S. Air Force. pic.twitter.com/txb43krnoi

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 6, 2025

 The mishap raises fresh questions about South Korea's military capabilities as President Donald Trump's administration pushes US allies to shoulder more responsibility for their own defenses. This shift carries extra significance for Seoul, which still shares wartime operational control of its military with Washington.

Eight general-purpose MK-82 bombs were "abnormally released" and landed several miles outside their designated target range on Thursday morning, striking a village within the city limits of Pocheon, about 25 miles north of Seoul. The aircraft involved were South Korean KF-16 jets, each carrying four bombs.

Based on initial findings, Seoul's military said that at least one of the pilots appeared to have entered incorrect target coordinates. The military is still investigating potential errors by the pilot of the second jet.

Several buildings were destroyed, according to photos and video from local media. The bombs wrecked homes, smashed shop windows, and blew bricks off a church.

At least two soldiers were among the injured, who were transported to medical facilities by ambulance and helicopter. One victim had shrapnel lodged in their neck, while another suffered a fractured shoulder, according to local media. Approximately 50 residents have been evacuated to an emergency shelter, and the military has stated victims would receive compensation.

The South Korean live-fire drills were test runs ahead of large-scale joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. Called "Freedom Shield," the annual drills are scheduled to run from March 10 to 20. South Korea hosts around 28,500 American military personnel and the US's largest overseas military base.

US service members – but no American aircraft – participated in the joint Thursday exercise, a spokesman for US Forces Korea announced. The US is closely coordinating with South Korea to investigate the incident, he added. Seoul's military announced that such live-fire drills would be temporarily suspended pending safety checks.

South Korea transferred command of its military forces to the US-led United Nations Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. This arrangement continued until 1978, when Washington and Seoul established a combined forces command. South Korea regained peacetime control of its military in the 1990s, though wartime operations remain shared.

Plans for South Korea to assume wartime control have stalled in recent decades as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's regime carried out nuclear tests and became a greater threat. Seoul and Washington have established a verification process to determine whether South Korea is ready to lead combined forces during a potential military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Elbridge Colby, nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, has expressed support for a swift transition of wartime control to Seoul. Asked directly about the issue ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Colby said in a written response that he supports efforts to bolster Seoul's role in the alliance, believing Trump's foreign-policy vision involves "empowering capable and willing allies like South Korea."

During a training exercise in #SouthKorea , a KF-16 fighter mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 bombs on a residential area in the city of Pocheon.
Seven people were injured, four of them seriously. Several homes and a church were also damaged. (Pictures/Video courtesy : X)… pic.twitter.com/cfXqH3l9TF

— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) March 6, 2025

 Lee Hyang-jin, a resident near a US Forces Korea live-fire complex in Pocheon, said she is accustomed to the loud rumble of jet fighters flying overhead. She was doing dishes while wearing headphones in the morning and only learned about the bombs later from the news.

"I feel anxious because it happened just over the mountain," she said. Lee added that she could hear the jets for another few hours after the incident. "If these jets dropped the bombs by mistake, why were they still in the air?" she questioned.

The post South Korea's embarrassing error: Jets bomb near Seoul, injuring 15 appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted martial law early Wednesday, just hours after imposing it, following a dramatic nighttime confrontation that saw troops surrounding parliament and lawmakers voting unanimously to reject military rule.

The declaration was formally rescinded at 4:30 a.m. during an emergency Cabinet meeting, after being in effect for approximately six hours, according to the Associated Press. The retreat came as troops and police were seen withdrawing from parliament grounds following a bipartisan vote to overrule the president's decree.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik had swiftly declared the martial law "invalid" and promised that lawmakers would "protect democracy with the people." All 190 lawmakers present voted to lift the extraordinary measures.

The president's unprecedented move, reminiscent of the country's authoritarian era of the 1980s, drew immediate condemnation from both the opposition and the leader of his own conservative party. The declaration allowed the military to restrict press freedom, assembly rights, and judicial powers.

Lee Jae-myung, who heads the liberal Democratic Party holding the majority in the 300-seat parliament, led his party's lawmakers in occupying the Assembly's main hall until the order was formally lifted.

In Washington, the White House expressed serious concern over the developments in Seoul. A National Security Council spokesperson told the Associated Press that President Joe Biden's administration had not been notified in advance and was in contact with South Korean officials. At the Pentagon, spokesman Maj Gen Pat Ryder said the situation did not affect the more than 27,000 US service members stationed in South Korea.

Protesters gathered outside parliament, with some engaging in scuffles with troops. One demonstrator attempted to grab a soldier's rifle while shouting "Aren't you embarrassed?" At least one window was broken as troops tried to enter the Assembly building, though no major injuries or property damage were reported.

While announcing the lifting of martial law, Yoon continued criticizing parliament, accusing lawmakers of "unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state."

The declaration marked South Korea's first implementation of martial law since its democratization in 1987. The country's previous martial law period occurred in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee.

The post South Korean president revokes martial law after parliament's rebuke appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The world watched in disbelief as armored vehicles rolled through Seoul, the capital of South Korea – one of East Asia's most stable democracies – while soldiers stormed newspaper offices as if they were terrorist strongholds.

이 여성분 엄청 용감하심 군인한테서 총 빼앗으려고 하시다가 총 겨눠지기까지 하는데 절대로 굴하지 않아 pic.twitter.com/tk0nG1MO2L

— 蕉文 (@youlu_v0v) December 3, 2024

From world leaders to protesters holding hastily made signs outside the National Assembly building in Seoul, everyone seemed stunned by the actions of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The once-popular and capable leader of the conservative People Power Party declared military rule and accused the opposition of collaborating with North Korea, the isolated communist dictatorship.

The president, already embroiled in a budget battle with the Democratic Party and facing several major scandals, made the unexpected decision to upend the system, threatening South Korea's democratic stability that has prevailed since 1987.

What's going on in South Korea?

South Korea is in chaos after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, saying it's necessary to stop "anti-state forces," especially pro-North Korean leftist groups. The decree bans all political activities, controls the media, and… pic.twitter.com/Fg1bMv3Pb9

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 3, 2024

Dr. Guy Podoler, a Korea expert from the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Haifa, explains: "This primarily appears to be a loss of composure by the president – it's an extraordinary move by any measure. It's unclear what he's thinking or what he hopes to achieve with such an extreme action. We're already seeing opposition to this move within his own party, and it remains uncertain whether the police and military will support him."

"There's considerable criticism of the president, who's viewed as ineffective, but you don't destroy the system because of criticism. I believe Koreans will take to the streets over this move, and we're already seeing the anger building. The Korean people have sacrificed enormously to live in a democracy, and they won't remain silent in the face of current events."

The post 'A loss of composure by the president' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A North Korean individual, reportedly a military staff sergeant, has defected to South Korea by crossing the heavily guarded border in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula, according to South Korean officials and media reports.

Seoul's military confirmed on Tuesday that they had intercepted "one suspected North Korean individual on the eastern front" and transferred them to the appropriate authorities. The Yonhap news agency reported that the defector is believed to be a staff sergeant in the North Korean military.

A spokesperson for the South Korean military stated, "Relevant authorities are currently investigating and therefore cannot confirm the detailed process of the defection, or the individual's exact motivations and goals."

Defections directly across the border between North and South Korea are considered extremely dangerous and uncommon. Most North Koreans who flee the country typically do so through China or other third countries.

Local media reports suggest that the defector was wearing a North Korean military uniform when apprehended by South Korean authorities while walking along a road near the waterfront in eastern Gangwon province.

A South Korean defense ministry official confirmed that a person believed to be North Korean was taken into custody on the eastern front and was being questioned about their reasons for crossing. The official declined to provide further details.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they had not detected any unusual North Korean military activity around the time of the defection.

This incident marks the second border crossing between the Koreas in just two weeks, following another North Korean individual who successfully crossed the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea on August 8.

These defections come at a time when relations between North and South Korea are at their lowest point in years. North Korea has been intensifying its weapons testing program and has recently been sending balloons filled with trash into South Korean territory.

The number of successful defections from North Korea dropped significantly starting in 2020 when the country sealed its borders, allegedly with shoot-on-sight orders along the China-North Korea border, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, as border controls eased in 2023, the number of defectors reaching South Korea nearly tripled to 196 last year, up from 67 in 2022, according to South Korean government data released in January. The increase included more elite diplomats and students seeking to escape North Korea.

Surprisingly, North Korean tour operations announced last week that the country would reopen its borders to foreign tourists this winter.

The post North Korean soldier crosses heavily guarded border into South appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

North Korean officials are reportedly seeking foreign medicines to treat ruler Kim Jong Un for health problems related to obesity, including high blood pressure and diabetes, according to South Korean intelligence sources.

South Korean lawmakers Lee Seong-Kwuen and Park Sunwon, quoting the National Intelligence Service (NIS), stated in a joint briefing on Tuesday that Kim's weight has reached approximately 308 pounds, believed to be his heaviest ever. This has put the 40-year-old dictator at a "high risk" of heart disease.

"He could have been suffering from medical conditions that are difficult to deal with the currently available medicine," the lawmakers said, relaying information from the NIS.

The intelligence agency believes Kim's health issues likely stem from a combination of factors. "We concluded that his health issues are likely due to stress, smoking, and drinking," the NIS was quoted as saying by Lee of the ruling People Power party and Park of the opposition Democratic party.

Both Kim's grandfather and father, who previously ruled North Korea, died of heart-related issues. This hereditary predisposition to cardiovascular diseases could pose additional risks if Kim's conditions remain untreated.

The NIS report indicates that Kim has been showing signs of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30s. The search for "alternative medicinal substances" has fueled speculation about the severity of his health conditions.

The NIS, which estimates Kim's height at about 5 feet 7 inches, has been using artificial intelligence techniques and forensic video analysis to assess his condition.

Kim's health remains a critical concern internationally, given that he has not formally designated a successor to lead the nuclear-armed nation. The lack of a clear line of succession adds to the geopolitical uncertainty in the region.

Despite the absence of an official announcement, the NIS believes Kim's preteen daughter, Kim Ju Ae, is likely being groomed as the heir apparent. The 10 or 11-year-old has made several public appearances, often accompanying her father at military events and parades since her first public appearance in 2022.

However, the NIS notes that there is still a possibility that Kim Ju Ae might be replaced by her siblings in the future.

The post North Korea seeks medicine for Kim Jong Un obesity appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba has defected to South Korea, marking the highest-ranking diplomatic defection from the North since 2016, according to a report by The Guardian. The South Korean National Intelligence Service confirmed the defection, which took place in November, without providing further details.

The Guardian, citing a report from the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, identified the defector as Ri Il-kyu, a counselor responsible for political affairs at the North Korean embassy in Cuba. The newspaper reported that Ri's role at the embassy included preventing diplomatic ties between South Korea and Cuba. Despite his efforts, the two countries established diplomatic relations in February.

Ri, who joined North Korea's foreign ministry in 1999, told Chosun Ilbo that his decision to defect stemmed from disillusionment with the regime and unfair evaluation of his work. "Every North Korean thinks at least once about living in South Korea. Disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a bleak future led me to consider defection," he said in an interview with the paper.

The diplomat elaborated on the sentiment among North Koreans regarding reunification: "In fact, North Koreans yearn for reunification even more than South Koreans. Everyone believes that reunification is the only way for their children to have a better future. Today, the Kim Jong-un regime has brutally extinguished even the slightest hope left among the people."

Ri described his high-risk escape, saying he flew out of Cuba with his family. "I bought flight tickets and called my wife and kid to tell them about my decision six hours before the defection. I didn't say South Korea, but said, let's live abroad," he explained. According to Ri, the final push for his defection came when his request to travel to Mexico for medical treatment was denied last year. He added that his parents and parents-in-law, who might have faced reprisals for his defection, had already passed away.

JUST IN: Senior NK diplomat defects to SK from Cuba, highest-ranking envoy since 2016. Ri Il-kyu, key diplomatic figure, fled due to regime disillusionment and worsening SK ties. Highlights ongoing tensions.

[Source: The Guardian]

— RSxAI News (@RSxAI_News) July 16, 2024

The number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea has decreased in recent years due to strict border controls and high broker fees. During the inaugural North Korean Defectors' Day ceremony, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promised improved financial support and tax incentives for companies hiring North Korean defectors. In 2023, South Korean government data showed that 196 North Korean defectors arrived in Seoul, a significant drop from the 2,700 recorded a decade ago. Human rights activists note that most recent defectors, like Ri, had been living overseas for extended periods.

The last high-profile defection to South Korea was that of Tae Yong-ho, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, in 2016. Other notable defections include Jo Song-gil, the acting ambassador to Italy in 2019, and Ryu Hyun-woo, the acting ambassador to Kuwait in 2021.

North Korea has been closing some of its embassies in what it calls an effort to "rearrange its diplomatic capacity efficiently." South Korea interprets these closures as a sign of the North's struggle under international sanctions. While North Korea maintains an embassy in Cuba, reports indicate that its ambassador returned home in March.

The post Senior North Korean diplomat defects to South Korea appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has officially declared a "demographic national emergency" in response to the country's alarmingly low birth rate and rapidly aging population, Korean Times reports.

In a decisive move to tackle the nation's ultralow fertility crisis, President Yoon announced, "Today, I officially declare a demographic national emergency. We will activate a pan-government comprehensive response system until the low birth rate issue is overcome."

A new low total fertility rate of 0.72 last year prompted urgent action from the government. Numerous factors contribute to South Korean couples' reluctance to start families, including steep housing costs, expensive education, and demanding work schedules.

Addressing these concerns, President Yoon has committed to implementing concrete measures. These include boosting parental leave allowances, extending paternity leave, introducing flexible work hours, and alleviating the educational burden on parents.

The demographic crisis in South Korea has far-reaching implications for the country's economic future and social structure. With an aging population and fewer young people entering the workforce, the nation faces potential labor shortages and increased pressure on its social welfare systems.

The post South Korea declares 'national emergency' amid plummeting birth rates appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The company operates a library of web novels and comics available in over 150 countries, allowing users to publish their own work on its platform. It connects 24 million creators with about 170 million monthly active users worldwide, and the medium has gained a reputation for producing content appealing to a broad audience.

Webtoons, the digital comic format used by Webtoon, have become one of South Korea's popular cultural exports, with examples such as Nevertheless (2021), My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), and Cheese in the Trap (2016).

The company aims to raise up to $500 million through the IPO, with a potential valuation of $3 billion to $4 billion.

In 2023, Webtoon Entertainment had $1.282 billion in revenue, a net loss of $144.8 million, and an EBITDA of $11.7 million.

The underwriters for the IPO include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Evercore.

CEO Kim Jun-koo aims to develop successful intellectual property franchises, and the contributions of fans, creators, and employees have been crucial to the company's achievements, marking a new beginning for Naver Webtoon.

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, Chosun, Korea Herald, Neowin, Lifestyle Asia, Yahoo Finance

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

The post Korean webcomics company Webtoon files for U.S. IPO, aims for Nasdaq listing appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.