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Seoul Sees Yearlong Rise in Births and Marriages, Signaling Demographic Shift

Seoul Sees Yearlong Rise in Births and Marriages, Signaling Demographic Shift

SEOUL, June 8 (Korea Bizwire) — For the first time in years, Seoul has recorded a sustained increase in both births and marriages, signaling a potential turning point in the city’s demographic challenges. According to data released on June 8 by Statistics Korea and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the number of births in March 2025 reached [...]

Bank of Korea Warns of Japan-Style Stagnation Without Bold Reforms

Bank of Korea Warns of Japan-Style Stagnation Without Bold Reforms

 SEOUL, June 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea must embrace bold structural reforms and innovation to avoid falling into a prolonged period of low growth similar to Japan’s post-bubble stagnation, the Bank of Korea (BOK) warned in a policy report released shortly after President Lee Jae-myung’s inauguration. In its report titled “Lessons from the Japanese [...]

Behind the Spotlight: Survey Reveals Income Inequality and Precarity Among Korean Entertainers

Behind the Spotlight: Survey Reveals Income Inequality and Precarity Among Korean Entertainers

SEOUL, June 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite public perception that entertainers live comfortably above the economic fray, a new government survey suggests that income inequality and career instability are pervasive among South Korea’s cultural workers — particularly those in broadcasting, popular music, and comics. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s 2024 Artist Survey, [...]

Return to the Blue House? Visitor Surge as President Lee Signals Move Back to Cheong Wa Dae

Return to the Blue House? Visitor Surge as President Lee Signals Move Back to Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL, June 6 (Korea Bizwire) — As President Lee Jae-myung signals a return to the historic Blue House as his presidential office, public interest in visiting the iconic former seat of government is surging. Weekend tour reservations have filled up entirely, reflecting heightened attention to the compound that could soon resume its role as the heart [...]

Retail Investors Rush Into Brokerage Stocks Amid Policy Hopes, but Analysts Urge Caution

Retail Investors Rush Into Brokerage Stocks Amid Policy Hopes, but Analysts Urge Caution

SEOUL, June 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean brokerage stocks are soaring on renewed optimism over the new administration’s stock market revitalization agenda, fueling a dramatic uptick in leveraged retail investing. But analysts warn that selective, fundamentals-based investment is now essential as market differentiation is expected to intensify. According to data compiled by Yonhap Infomax, credit-based [...]

South Korea Launches National Partnership to Recycle Election Banners into Eco-Friendly Goods

South Korea Launches National Partnership to Recycle Election Banners into Eco-Friendly Goods

SEOUL, June 6 (Korea Bizwire) — In an ambitious push to curb waste and promote circular economy practices, the South Korean government has joined forces with local governments and private companies to recycle discarded election banners into construction materials, car interiors, and eco-conscious consumer products. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on Thursday [...]

All Pet Shops and Animal Exhibitors in Korea Now Required to Install CCTV

All Pet Shops and Animal Exhibitors in Korea Now Required to Install CCTV

SEOUL, June 5 (Korea Bizwire) — In a major move to strengthen animal welfare protections, South Korea has expanded its mandate requiring closed-circuit television (CCTV) installation to all pet-related businesses, including pet shops and animal exhibition facilities. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Wednesday that a revised enforcement ordinance of the Animal [...]

AI Agents at Work: Korea’s Next Phase of Digital Transformation

AI Agents at Work: Korea’s Next Phase of Digital Transformation

SEOUL, June 3 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea’s tech sector transitions from digital transformation (DX) to what many now call “AI transformation” (AX), major system integration (SI) companies are rapidly deploying generative AI across their development operations—redefining the core of enterprise software engineering. Leading the charge is LG CNS, which recently upgraded its AI coding [...]

Silver Consumers, Furry Friends: Aging Koreans Fuel Pet Care Boom

Silver Consumers, Furry Friends: Aging Koreans Fuel Pet Care Boom

SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Spending on pet care services and products in South Korea has surged by 30% over the past three years, with the fastest growth driven by consumers aged 60 and older, according to a new report released by KB Kookmin Card. The analysis, based on 24.85 million card transactions by 3.54 [...]

Korea Records ‘Triple Minus’ in Industrial Output, Consumption, and Investment Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure

Korea Records ‘Triple Minus’ in Industrial Output, Consumption, and Investment Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure

SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy showed renewed signs of weakness in April, with industrial production, consumption, and investment all posting declines — the first “triple minus” since January — as the impact of new U.S. auto tariffs begins to ripple through key sectors. According to data released Friday by Statistics Korea, [...]