SEOUL, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A record number of South Koreans are choosing to receive their national pension benefits early—despite steep long-term financial penalties—as rising economic pressure and delayed retirement payouts drive more people to bridge income gaps in their post-retirement years. According to data released by the National Pension Service on Monday, [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Starting May 16, Seoul will implement the nation’s first designated no-go zones for electric scooters and similar personal mobility devices in two bustling areas: Hongdae Red Road in Mapo District and the Banpo private education district in Seocho District, city officials announced Monday. The pilot initiative, jointly launched by [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Starbucks Korea has restricted customers from using the names of major presidential candidates as nicknames at its stores nationwide, citing the need to prevent political controversy and maintain neutrality during the sensitive election period. As of May 12, 2025, names such as Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party), Kim Moon-soo (People [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean job platforms Albamon and Incruit are ramping up efforts to prevent further data breaches following recent hacking incidents that exposed the personal information of tens of thousands of users. Albamon, a major part-time job listing site, announced that it will begin notifying affected members as early as next [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — In a striking turn of events at the 2025 Korean box office, Yadang: The Snitch has overtaken Bong Joon-ho’s Hollywood sci-fi epic Mickey 17 to become the year’s top-grossing film—thanks to a slow-burning surge powered by viewer recommendations and strategic release timing. Mickey 17, one of the most anticipated theatrical [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea grapples with the financial implications of its aging population, the government has released the nation’s first full-scale survey on so-called “dementia money”—the frozen assets held by elderly citizens with dementia—and experts are urging swift action modeled on Japan’s experience. According to the Presidential Committee on Aging Society [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — In a new step toward carbon neutrality in the building sector, the South Korean government has introduced a savings program that rewards citizens with higher interest rates if they reduce their electricity consumption. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Sunday the launch of the “Energy-Saving DooDream Savings” product, [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — For the first time in nearly two decades, nuclear power has surpassed coal to become South Korea’s largest source of electricity, signaling a broader shift in the country’s energy landscape toward cleaner and more sustainable sources. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s newly released 2024 Energy Supply [...]
DAEJEON, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean startup PMI BioTech, a spinoff from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), has signed a five-year export contract worth approximately 12 billion won (roughly $9 million USD) with a major U.S.-based global distributor for its high-purity calcium product derived from oyster shells, the institute announced on [...]
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s birthrate continues to decline, but a growing number of unmarried adults now say they still intend to marry—offering a potential, if modest, glimmer of hope in the nation’s battle against population decline. According to a comprehensive 2024 survey released Sunday by the Korea Institute for Health and Social [...]