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High School Graduates Face Sharp Drop in Job Prospects Three Months After Graduation

High School Graduates Face Sharp Drop in Job Prospects Three Months After Graduation

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) —  South Korean high school graduates who fail to secure employment within three months of finishing school face dramatically lower chances of landing stable, well-paying jobs, according to new research released Thursday. The study, conducted by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), analyzed 792 high school graduates who did not pursue [...]

WSJ Questions Feasibility of Trump’s Massive Investment Demands from South Korea and Japan

WSJ Questions Feasibility of Trump’s Massive Investment Demands from South Korea and Japan

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As negotiations over tariff reductions and investment pledges continue between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, The Wall Street Journal has cast doubt on the scale and practicality of the enormous investment commitments reportedly sought by the Trump administration. In an editorial published Tuesday, the paper warned that the administration’s demand — [...]

Seoul, Washington Strive to Wrap Up Trade Talks Before Leaders’ Summit

Seoul, Washington Strive to Wrap Up Trade Talks Before Leaders’ Summit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s top economic policymakers gathered in Washington this week, pressing to finalize a landmark trade agreement that could redefine the industrial and strategic alignment between Seoul and Washington. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met Thursday for what officials described as an “in-depth” two-hour discussion [...]

Seoul Signals Possible Overhaul of Property Taxes Amid Soaring Home Prices

Seoul Signals Possible Overhaul of Property Taxes Amid Soaring Home Prices

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s top policy aide to President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that the government is considering a comprehensive overhaul of real estate taxation — including possible hikes in property holding taxes — as it moves to rein in surging home prices in Seoul and surrounding regions. Kim Yong-beom, the [...]

South Korea Ranks Low Among ASEAN+3 in Climate Finance Response, Report Finds

South Korea Ranks Low Among ASEAN+3 in Climate Finance Response, Report Finds

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s central bank and financial regulator have received below-average marks for their response to the climate crisis, ranking in the lower tier among ASEAN+3 economies, according to a new international assessment. The report by Positive Money, a U.K.-based think tank, evaluated 13 countries in the ASEAN+3 group — comprising [...]

As Chicken Prices Soar, Koreans Turn to Supermarket Counters for Affordable Alternatives

As Chicken Prices Soar, Koreans Turn to Supermarket Counters for Affordable Alternatives

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Once a symbol of comfort and affordability, fried chicken has become an expensive indulgence for many South Koreans, as soaring prices trigger public frustration and social media backlash over what consumers are calling “chickenflation.” “I tremble when paying for chicken these days,” said Lee, a 27-year-old college student in Seoul. [...]

Budget Bakery Boom as Inflation Pushes Koreans Toward Convenience Store Bread

Budget Bakery Boom as Inflation Pushes Koreans Toward Convenience Store Bread

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) —  As soaring bakery prices push past 10,000 won for just a few items at franchise shops, Koreans are increasingly turning to low-cost private label (PB) bread sold at convenience stores and large retailers. The shift has fueled what industry insiders are calling a “budget bakery boom,” with PB bread [...]

Korean Food Prices Surge 23% in Five Years, Outpacing Broader Inflation

Korean Food Prices Surge 23% in Five Years, Outpacing Broader Inflation

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Food prices in South Korea have risen more than 20 percent over the past five years, far outpacing overall inflation and placing a growing strain on household budgets. According to data released Wednesday by the National Data Office, the consumer price index for “food and non-alcoholic beverages” in September [...]

A Hollowing Middle: Decline of Mid-Sized Firms Threatens Economic Balance

A Hollowing Middle: Decline of Mid-Sized Firms Threatens Economic Balance

SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s corporate ecosystem has been steadily weakening over the past decade, with fewer employees per company and a rising share of struggling firms unable to cover even their interest payments, a new report shows. According to a study released Sunday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry [...]

Korea’s Debt-to-GDP Seen Staying Below IMF Threshold, Analyst Says

Korea’s Debt-to-GDP Seen Staying Below IMF Threshold, Analyst Says

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The likelihood of South Korea facing a debt problem as seen in some European economies remains “limited,” a local analyst said Thursday, dismissing concerns that President Lee Jae Myung’s expansionary fiscal policy may strain the local economy. Ahn Jae-kyun, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities Co., made the [...]