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Korean Court Upholds Suspension of Pastor Who Blessed LGBTQ Participants at Queer Festival

Korean Court Upholds Suspension of Pastor Who Blessed LGBTQ Participants at Queer Festival

SEOUL, April 25 (Korea Bizwire) —  A South Korean appellate court has upheld the disciplinary suspension of Pastor Lee Dong-hwan, who received a two-year suspension from the Korean Methodist Church for offering blessings to LGBTQ individuals during a queer cultural festival in 2019. The Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 9 on April 24 dismissed Lee’s appeal [...]

One in Three South Korean Women Have Faced Physical or Sexual Violence, Survey Finds

One in Three South Korean Women Have Faced Physical or Sexual Violence, Survey Finds

SEOUL, April 24 (Korea Bizwire) — One in three South Korean women have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once during their lifetime, a government survey showed Thursday. The gender ministry said the survey conducted in-person on 7,027 female adults nationwide from September to November last year showed that 36.1 percent of women had [...]

South Korea Expands Access for Assistance Dogs Under New Disability Law Revisions

South Korea Expands Access for Assistance Dogs Under New Disability Law Revisions

SEOUL, April 22 (Korea Bizwire) —  Starting April 23, 2025, individuals with disabilities in South Korea will be allowed to enter nearly all public and private spaces with assistance dogs, following a newly revised enforcement ordinance and rule under the Disability Welfare Act (ACT ON WELFARE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES). Announced by the Ministry of Health [...]

Migrant Worker’s Death in South Korea Sparks Outcry Over Labor Abuse and Calls for Reform

Migrant Worker’s Death in South Korea Sparks Outcry Over Labor Abuse and Calls for Reform

YEONGAM, South Korea, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The death of a 28-year-old Nepali migrant worker in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, has sparked national concern and renewed calls for labor reform, as rights groups accuse his former employer of sustained abuse and exploitation. The worker, identified only as Mr. A, was found dead in February 2025 [...]

Foreign Residents Face Mounting Hardships in Wake of South Korea’s Worst Wildfires

Foreign Residents Face Mounting Hardships in Wake of South Korea’s Worst Wildfires

ANDONG•YEONGYANG, South Korea, April 2 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea continues to assess the devastation caused by last month’s historic wildfires across five counties in North Gyeongsang Province—Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok—stories of overlooked victims are beginning to emerge, particularly among the region’s foreign residents. According to the Ministry of Justice, more than 6,000 foreign nationals, [...]

Majority of South Koreans Voice Deep Concern Over AI-Driven Privacy Risks, Survey Finds

Majority of South Koreans Voice Deep Concern Over AI-Driven Privacy Risks, Survey Finds

SEOUL, April 1 (Korea Bizwire) —  More than seven in ten South Koreans view the potential privacy risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) as serious, according to a new national survey released Sunday by the Personal Information Protection Commission. The 2024 Personal Data Protection and Utilization Survey, conducted between September and December of last year, gathered [...]

Survey Finds Widespread Gender Discrimination in South Korean Workplaces

Survey Finds Widespread Gender Discrimination in South Korean Workplaces

SEOUL, March 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A majority of South Korean workers believe that gender discrimination exists in promotions and job assignments, according to a recent survey conducted by a civic group advocating for labor rights. The organization, Workplace Gabjil 119, commissioned polling firm Global Research to survey 1,000 employed adults aged 19 and older between [...]

Statue of Girl Removed from German University to Be Reinstalled on Women’s Day

Statue of Girl Removed from German University to Be Reinstalled on Women’s Day

BERLIN, March 1 (Korea Bizwire) – A girl statue symbolizing victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery will be installed at a church in Germany next week, two years after it was removed from the nearby University of Kassel, where it was first erected, a civic organization said Saturday. The statue will be installed at the [...]

China’s Temu Increases Scope of Required Data from S. Korean Users

China’s Temu Increases Scope of Required Data from S. Korean Users

SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has increased the scope of data required from its South Korean users to include addresses, phone numbers and customs codes, its new policy showed Friday. The updated privacy terms, which go into effect the same day, also require users to agree to transferring their data [...]

Rising Concerns Over Online Harassment Following Young Actress’s Tragic Death

Rising Concerns Over Online Harassment Following Young Actress’s Tragic Death

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The recent passing of 25-year-old actress Kim Sae-ron has reignited concerns over cyber harassment and sensationalist media coverage, as South Korea grapples with repeated tragedies involving public figures subjected to relentless online attacks. While public mourning often leads to temporary calls for self-reflection, history suggests the cycle of online [...]