South Korea bans heat packs in checked baggage

South Korea bans heat packs in checked baggage

2026-01-21

Given that the weather has been so cold lately, some travelers in South Korea may want to stock on a popular local brand of disposable heat packs. These products are filled with a substance that produces heat once exposed to air. It’s now been reported that Gimhae Interational Airport and Jeju International Airport require them to be placed in cabin baggage. They are now prohibited in checked baggage.

Meng Chia-mei
FTV reporter
This South Korean “soldier” brand of heat packs is touted as the warmest ever. Many Taiwanese people take the opportunity to stock up on them when they travel abroad and throw them into their suitcases to take them back home. But don’t be so quick: doing so can cause you to have a major hold up at the check-in counter.

Sunny
South Korean tour leader
They check the luggage very carefully, so it takes about 5 minutes for each passenger to go through. So for the whole group of 20 people, it took them almost an hour or more to get through.

Jesse Lin
Travel content creator
Heat packs are classified as high density items in X-ray machines, and a large number of them can block other items and affect security checks. This is only mentioned in airport guidelines. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s website doesn’t specifically list them. Currently, only South Korea has reportedly banned disposable heat packs in checked baggage; other countries, including Taiwan, allow them.

All brands of heat packs are prohibited from checked baggage, doesn’t matter if it’s the “soldier” brand or other kinds brought in by passengers. Whether opened or unopened, it’s safest to pack them in your carry-on luggage to avoid being stopped or inspected.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#winter #heatpack #travel #airport #psa

囤韓國軍人暖暖包要注意! 韓國出境新規"不得託運"

2026-01-21

最近天氣好冷，有些旅客到韓國會買一款韓國軍人暖暖包回國，不過現在傳出，韓國的釜山金海、濟州島濟州等機場，規定暖暖包得放手提行李，不能託運。

[[民視記者孟嘉美]]
“韓國這款軍人暖暖包號稱史上最暖，不少台灣人出國玩趁機囤貨，通通丟進行李箱裡帶回國，但先別衝動，這麼做可能會讓你在報到櫃台大卡關。”

[[韓國線領隊 Sunny]]
“開箱的話他們檢查都會很仔細，所以旅客進去的話，每一個旅客花5分鐘時間，那整個團20個人其實花了，就是整個延誤了有將近1個小時以上。”

[[航旅達人傑西大叔]]
“X光機當中的暖暖包屬於高密度的物品，數量一多通常會阻擋到其他物品，影響安檢。只有看到在機場相關的指示，在韓國國土交通部的網站上面，沒有特別列出。目前只有韓國有傳出禁止託運暖暖包，那其他各國包含台灣都是可以託運的。”

不只軍用暖暖包不給託運，旅客帶出國，沒用完的暖暖包也不行。不管暖暖包有沒有開封，想不被攔查，最好還是通通改放手提行李。

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Then the musician played the song APT by Bruno Mars and K-pop star Rosé, and the kids went crazy again.

This suona player, Tu Chun-kuan, is the artistic director of a band made up of traditional instruments. At 28 years old, Tu already has over 20 years of experience playing instruments.

Tu Chun-kuan
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These songs all have English lyrics, but I didn’t expect that when I started playing it, the kids would react so well and even sing along in English with me as I played. It seems that they really like that movie.

The band is committed to making people more familiar with traditional instruments by incorporating pop culture.

Hsiao Yeh
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It shows the younger generations that traditional music is not just for old people. We perform mostly at temples now, and also hope to change temple culture.

Young audiences have reacted very enthusiastically to the band’s innovative approach.

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They must have heard it many times and know how to sing it. I think it’s incredible.

Liu Feng-yu
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We have morning exercises every day, so the kids really like it. They’ll ask for certain songs that they want to sing and dance to.

The kids even listen to these songs at school. Some songs are so popular that they reach all corners of society, connecting generations and fusing cultures.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Japan’s Kumamoto promises to spare no effort following helicopter crash

Search-and-rescue continues for two missing Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot, following a helicopter crash near Mount Aso in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture. Japanese authorities have found the helicopter’s remains, but the three victims are still missing. Due to unfavorable weather and geographical conditions, it’s going to be a tough mission for Japanese authorities. Still, the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture promised to spare no effort.

The police temporarily suspended search-and-rescue efforts last night, and resumed it on site this morning, as they assessed the situation and continued to track down the three victims’ whereabouts.

Early in the morning, Japanese authorities gathered almost 50 rescuers by Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. They are now part of a command center guiding the search-and-rescue mission for the two missing Taiwanese tourists and Japanese pilot. The conditions were harsh, with temperatures dipping as low as -4.2°C. Snowfall persisted, and volcanic gases filled the air, making it difficult to get close to the crater and thus hindering their efforts.

The search is on. However, due to harsh weather and a high concentration of volcanic gases, it’s a tough road ahead for the mission.

Thick smoke significantly lowered visibility around the crater and drones couldn’t be deployed, making the mission almost impossible. A day earlier, rescuers identified remains of the helicopter by the largest crater of Mount Aso. However, the two Taiwanese tourists and the 64-year-old Japanese pilot remain missing. The incident sparked discussions about the helicopter itself.

They flew on a Robinson R44, a light, four-seat single-engine helicopter. It’s simple, lightweight and cost-effective. According to an expert, turbulence can be quite strong near a volcanic crater, making this non-fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft a rather risky choice.

Hwang Tay-lin
Chang Jung Christian University
This is the single-engine Robinson R44 helicopter. It was actually manufactured more than 30 years ago. In the event that the engine malfunctions, there isn’t another engine to keep it up. Additionally, it can be quite turbulent in volcanic areas. A light helicopter plus turbulence multiplies the risk.

Family members of the two Taiwanese tourists arrived in Japan Wednesday, assisted by Taiwan’s representative office in Fukuoka. The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Kimura Takashi also issued a statement on video, promising to spare no effort in the search-and-rescue mission.

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Taipei’s Xingtian Temple hiring attendant to recite sutras and interpret fortunes

If you’ve been looking for a job online recently, you may have stumbled upon this unusual posting. Xingtian Temple in Taipei posted an opening for a “religious service attendant.” The position pays up to NT$48,000 per month, including accommodation and meals. Applicants would not only need to recite sutras and perform rituals, but also work extended hours during festivals in what is sure to be a high-stress position.

What question would you like to ask today?
I want to ask about work.
Ok, let’s take a look at your fortune.

Temple attendants here at the bustling Xingtian Temple in Taipei keep busy interpreting fortunes for worshipers, even on weekdays. The temple recently caught attention for its job post seeking an attendant for a monthly salary of up to NT$48,000.

Member of public
You can stay within the Buddha’s aura. For NT$48,000, it’s possible if you have the time.

Member of public
If I had the ability, I might apply.

The duties required of an attendant at Xingtian Temple include reciting sutras, preaching, interpreting fortunes, public service, translation of religious texts, and administrative affairs. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and be fluent in Taiwanese. New hires would earn NT$37,000, with raises up to NT$48,000granted upon completion of training, the probation period, and successful performance evaluations, with lodging and meals also provided. One person said there were staff trips to Japan, but the temple denied it.

Tseng Ssu-kai
Xingtian Temple senior member
I’ve been here 17 years, but I’ve never been abroad. Since we’re an incorporated foundation, our income and expenditures are subject to government oversight. All the kind donations from our devotees are spent where it counts most, on top of maintaining temple operations. So we spend it on social welfare. For instance, we offer scholarships to students from low-income families, emergency relief, aid during wintertime, and even lend a hand during natural disasters.

Religious clergy primarily focus on public service. Beyond chanting sutras and performing rituals, they also work long hours during festivals. Other temples including Mingsheng Temple in Xindian and Yan-Zang Dharma Forest are also seeking an abbot and administrator, with salaries ranging from NT$35,000 to NT$40,000. But serving the gods is no easy task—not everyone can handle the job.

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The coworkers sitting beside you every day may have special skills tailored for the workplace, but are useless everywhere else. Workers at the Zhubei Farmers’ Association in Hsinchu made a video showing off their unique skills. One of them, a human money-counting machine, can grab precisely the right amount of bills. Even more astonishing, another can calculate precise figures using only an abacus. Viewers were charmed by the video, asking if everyone at the farmers’ association is as talented.

Coin collection plates are strewn about a table. In just a few seconds, this man can stack them up neatly, even faster than the eye can follow.

Stamp in one hand and flipping pages with the other, this woman can stamp each one without missing a beat. And they’re not the only ones with special “useless skills” in this office.

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The employees here at the Zhubei Farmers’ Association in Hsinchu shot a video showing off their “useless office skills,” leaving some viewers shocked to find that they work this hard. Others said the first skill, stacking money trays, was the least useful. No matter the reaction, the amusing video sparked widespread discussion online.

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The outdated stereotype of our association that we’re rigid and bureaucratic has been changed by shooting this video, leaving a new impression on our customers.

Yang Chin-lien
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Monotonous work can be enjoyable in its own way. Habitual actions can become second nature.

They might all be useless office skills, but they can still put a smile to people’s faces.

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Bringing out life-sized effigies portraying President Lai Ching-te as an emperor of antiquity and self-proclaimed monarch Yuan Shikai, the opposition parties continued with impeachment proceedings on Wednesday. The Legislative Yuan held a plenary hearing and invited President Lai. But the Presidential Office said that Lai would not attend as the Legislative Yuan does not have the authority to hold the president accountable. That only gave opposition politicians more reason to hurl insults at him.

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You can’t get two-thirds of supporting votes before May. How do you think you can do this? If you can’t get two-thirds of impeachment votes now, do you think you can get them before May? You say you’ll go on nationwide speaking tours. Why? To build momentum for the TPP’s mayoral candidates. They are fighting for the mayoral seats of KMT incumbents and yet, you’re foolishly helping them stage this tour, essentially going through the motions for show.

The DPP is criticizing the TPP’s high profile impeachment push, arguing it’s just to get media exposure ahead of the year-end mayoral elections. Furthermore, according to laws governing the Legislative Yuan’s authority, while the legislature has the power to impeach the president, there’s no article stipulating that the president needs to be present. However, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi paid no attention and lashed out at everything, from US tariffs placed on Taiwan to TSMC’s direct investments in the US.

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There will be another day of plenary committee meetings on Thursday. Instead of reviewing the general budget, the opposition is dealing with impeachment proceedings that are unlikely to pass. The DPP is questioning whether the KMT and TPP are only focused on political infighting, instead of people’s livelihoods.

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