SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of doctors working at South Korea’s public health centers and branch facilities has plummeted by more than 40% over the past decade, raising red flags about the country’s ability to ensure basic medical access in rural areas. According to data released on August 17 by the Ministry of [...]
South Korea Moves to Codify ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ by 2025, Amid Hurdles to Implementation SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government is set to codify the principle of “equal pay for equal work” into the Labor Standards Act by the end of this year, aiming to implement the policy as [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics reported a decline in first-half revenue from China, citing mounting U.S. sanctions, weakening demand, and intensifying local competition, while sales in the United States grew, buoyed by robust demand from Big Tech firms investing in AI infrastructure. According to the company’s semiannual report released Sunday, Samsung’s exports to [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans’ sentiment toward Japan has warmed significantly, reaching levels not seen since the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, according to a new Gallup Korea poll released Thursday, marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. In the nationwide survey conducted August 12–14 [...]
BUSAN, Aug. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — In a move seen as both scientific and symbolic, South Korea has published the world’s first complete genome sequence of the extinct Dokdo sea lion (Dokdo Ganchi or Dokdo Kangchi) —commonly known in the West as the “Japanese sea lion”—while using the name “Dokdo sea lion” in a peer-reviewed international [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly 80 years after Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, a majority of South Koreans believe remnants of pro-Japanese collaboration remain unaddressed, according to a new survey released Wednesday by the Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI). The nationwide poll, conducted August 1–7 by Korea Data World, found that 70.9% [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae-myung’s signature higher-education pledge to create “10 new Seoul National Universities” has been adopted as an official state agenda item, setting the stage for full-scale implementation. The initiative, part of the administration’s effort to tackle longstanding regional disparities in education quality, aims to invest heavily in regional [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Following the recent U.S.-South Korea trade agreement, South Korea’s shipbuilding stocks have seen a significant rise, propelling related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to top performance rankings. The surge in stock prices has drawn substantial interest from individual investors, sparking speculation on whether the upward trend will continue. As of August 8, [...]
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, Aug. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – The commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said taking “shortcuts” for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington could imperil the readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula. Gen. Xavier Brunson stressed the need to adhere to bilaterally agreed-upon conditions for the OPCON [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The Trump administration has reportedly pressed South Korea for explicit consent regarding the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), a key issue that may emerge as a significant agenda item in upcoming U.S.-South Korea summits or security discussions. Strategic flexibility allows the U.S. military to expand its operational reach [...]