-
15% of Korean wage workers have flexible work schedules: data
Government data showed Thursday that 15 percent of all wage workers in South Korea had flexible work schedules as of August last year, with nearly half of the remaining workers saying they wish to have such arrangements, too. The number of workers with flexible work arrangements decreased by 0.6 percentage point compared to the same month in 2023, according to Statistics Korea. The figure for regular workers, or permanent employees, was 20.1 percent, marking an on-year increase of 0.6 percentage
May 5, 2025 -
2 workers dead after inhaling toxic gas in factory in Jeonju
JEONJU -- Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper mill in the southwestern city of Jeonju, authorities said Sunday. Authorities said they received a call at 9:44 a.m. that a worker fell into a manhole at the factory and lost consciousness from gas exposure. Two workers were found collapsed near the manhole and were transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest but died. Another man in his 40s who was inside the manhole was rescued and taken to a hosp
May 4, 2025 -
South Koreans get creative with Parents’ Day gifts
May is known as “Family Month” in South Korea, as it has several days to celebrate and show love for those held closest to people's hearts. One such commemorative day is Parents’ Day on May 8. A time-honored tradition in South Korea has children give carnations to their parents to express gratitude for their love and care. However, some Koreans have recently shown a shift in preferences for Parents' Day, as they search for gifts that are more meaningful and worthwhile. Kwon Young-june, a 53-year
May 4, 2025 -
Acting president inspects public safety ahead of Children's Day holiday
Acting President Lee Ju-ho visited the police and firefighters on Saturday to inspect public safety ahead of the Children's Day holiday next week. Lee encouraged police officers and firefighters during visits to the Hwayang police patrol unit in Seoul's Gwangjin Ward and the Gangdong fire station in eastern Seoul. The Hwayang unit oversees Seoul Children's Grand Park, which is expected to draw many family visitors for May 5 Children's Day and the extended holiday through Tuesday. Lee instructed
May 3, 2025 -
Nearly 7 out of 10 teachers cursed at by students: survey
A significant percentage of teachers in South Korea had students curse or use physical violence against them in school, a survey showed Wednesday, with conflicts concerning mobile phone use in the classroom seemingly increasing over the years. The Korean Federation of Teachers Unions surveyed 2,605 teachers across the country on students' phone use and violence against teachers on April 21-25. Of the respondents, 67.7 percent said students had used profanity against them in school, 22.9 percent
May 3, 2025 -
Why S. Korean mothers are opting for C-sections at record rates
When 33-year-old Lee, who is due to give birth in four weeks, made her birth plan, she had no medical complications, no known risks and no family history of difficult pregnancies. But she had already decided: her first child would be delivered by cesarean section. “Soon-to-be mothers around me choose C-section as natural birth comes with a lot of pain,” she said. “People say it’s a matter of choice. If you go with natural birth, you recover faster. But with C-section, it’s less painful at the mo
May 3, 2025 -
When YouTube replaces TV, news and politics: what South Korea learned the hard way in 20 years
When YouTube launched its Korean-language service on Jan. 23, 2008, it entered a nation ready to embrace it — and be transformed. Seventeen years later, South Korea has become one of the most YouTube-centric societies in the world, using the platform not just for entertainment, but to wage political battles, reshape pop culture, and redefine the public square. Now, as YouTube marks its 20th anniversary globally, the scale of its influence in South Korea is almost unmatched. According to a 2024 g
May 3, 2025 -
Why do so many Korean Gen Z still live with their parents?
Despite social pressure to leave home and “grow up,” a vast majority of Koreans in their 20s still live with their parents. A 2022 survey found that 81 percent of South Koreans in their 20s lived with their parents — the highest rate among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In Korea, these young adults, many of whom remain financially dependent on parents as well, are often labeled the “kangaroo tribe,” likened to baby kangaroos living in their mothers’
May 3, 2025 -
South Korea sees extreme temperature fluctuations in April
Temperatures fluctuated drastically within short periods during April in South Korea, with unusually cold and hot temperatures being observed in the middle of the month, according to a monthly meteorological report issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Friday. According to the KMA, the average nationwide temperature for April reached up to 13.1 degrees Celsius in Korea, an increase of 1 C compared to the average previous temperatures. However, as cold and warm spells occurred one af
May 2, 2025 -
What were Lee Jae-myung's 'lies'?
South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former chair of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea and front-runner for the presidency, made two knowingly false statements during the 2022 election campaign — which the court said must be judged by a higher standard given his candidacy. The court concluded that Lee’s denial of personal ties with the late Kim Moon-ki, a key figure in the Seongnam land development scandal, amounted to the offense of “publicly announcing
May 2, 2025 -
Stripped of immunity, Yoon Suk Yeol now faces 7 criminal offenses
All of South Korea’s law enforcement agencies are now investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with seven criminal cases underway following the loss of his presidential immunity after his April 4 ouster. While controversies surrounding Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, drew attention during his presidency, investigations had stalled due to Article 84 of the Constitution, which shields sitting presidents from prosecution except for insurrection or treason. Yoon also vetoed multiple bills call
May 2, 2025 -
Daegu fire calls for stronger urban fire prevention
Fire prevention experts are urging the government to establish specific measures for blazes near densely populated areas, following a recent wildfire in Daegu that took four days to fully extinguish. At around 2 p.m. on Monday, a large-scale fire broke out at Hamjisan, a mountain near central Daegu. Due to dry weather conditions and strong winds, the fire grew to burn up to 260 hectares in about 23 hours, until the main blaze was declared to have been extinguished Tuesday. However, as some remai
May 2, 2025 -
Supreme Court’s verdict sours Lee Jae-myung’s presidential bid
The Supreme Court of Korea overturned the lower court’s decision to acquit former Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung on two charges of election law violations, sending the case back to the Seoul High Court. The top court’s 10-2 ruling Thursday reversed the Seoul High Court's verdict from late March, which found the evidence presented against Lee regarding false statements "did not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt." Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said in the televised proceed
May 1, 2025 -
Credit card spending by foreign residents in Korea jumps 65% in 4 years, hitting W56tr
Foreign residents are emerging as a significant force in South Korea’s consumer economy, contributing an estimated 56.3 trillion won ($39.3 billion) in domestic credit card spending in 2023, according to a December 2024 report by the state-run Migration Research and Training Center (MRTC). The figure, which marks a 65 percent increase from 34.1 trillion won in 2019, is based on credit card usage data provided by Shinhan Card, South Korea’s leading issuer. The report used Shinhan Card’s data to e
May 1, 2025 -
Deadline passes for medical students to return to class
A mass repeat of academic years for South Korean medical students has become a reality after the deadline for returning to classes passed at midnight Wednesday, with only a small number of last-minute returns. As a result, a rare “tripling” scenario — where three cohorts of first-year pre-medical students take the same classes simultaneously — now appears inevitable. All 40 medical schools across the country had finalized their lists of students who failed to return to class as of midnight, acco
May 1, 2025