SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has dropped one spot to 20th in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) latest Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, despite a slight improvement in its overall score, highlighting growing international competition and widening inequality between countries. According to the 2025 Human Development Report released Tuesday by the UNDP, [...]
SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to bolster protections against stalking and gender-based violence, Seoul’s Seocho District announced Monday the full-scale rollout of its upgraded “Seoripul Safety Button” program, along with a complementary home security initiative. The “Seoripul Safety Button” is a keychain-style whistle embedded with an SOS emergency alert system. When activated [...]
Hwasong, South Korea, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — A sexually suggestive figurine marketed under the name “Dongtan” has triggered a wave of criticism from local residents and women’s rights advocates, who accuse its creators of objectifying women and tarnishing the image of the fast-growing South Korean city. Since January 2025, the figurine has been sold [...]
SEOUL, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans in their 20s to 40s increasingly prioritize work over traditional milestones such as marriage, parenthood, and even personal fulfillment, underscoring a profound generational shift in values as the country confronts economic pressure and demographic headwinds. A report released by the National Integration Committee, based on a survey of [...]
SEOUL, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — When Kim Nam-seok’s 10-year-old son begged him for a dog, Kim hesitated. The responsibilities of caring for a live animal were daunting. But last month, he gave in — not with a trip to the pet store, but by bringing home Luna, an AI-powered robot dog. “I didn’t expect much,” [...]
SEOUL, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite persistent inflation and slowing economic growth, a growing segment of affluent older South Koreans is defying conventional spending patterns, embracing digital platforms and youth-driven consumer trends, a new study reveals. According to data released Monday by Shinhan Card’s Big Data Research Center, the top 20 percent of credit card [...]
SEOUL, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s home-sharing market, led by platforms like Airbnb, has surged more than twentyfold in just three years, with young adults emerging as the dominant force behind its rapid expansion. According to newly released data submitted by the National Tax Service to Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the National Assembly’s Strategy [...]
SEOUL, May 5 (Korea Bizwire) — In cities across South Korea, brakeless fixed-gear bicycles—commonly known as “fixies”—are rapidly growing in popularity among young people, particularly students. Despite repeated safety concerns from parents, drivers, and law enforcement, regulatory action and institutional safeguards remain absent. On May 2, in Myeongji International New City in Busan’s Gangseo District, students [...]
SEOUL, May 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading hotels and department stores are turning to art-driven strategies to attract affluent, experience-seeking customers, elevating their venues from commercial spaces to immersive cultural destinations. With the rise of “art marketing,” retailers are integrating curated exhibitions, docent-led tours, and gallery partnerships into their business models. This trend is [...]
SEOUL, May 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Once bustling with children and parents shopping for notebooks, pens, and toys, the alleyways of Seoul’s famed Changsin-dong stationery and toy market now echo with silence. On what used to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year—Children’s Day—a handful of families wandered through the stalls, their presence [...]