SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will strengthen its public system for supplying essential medicines and medical devices in 2026, seeking to prevent treatment disruptions and reduce patients’ financial burdens, the government said this week. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it will expand emergency import programs for rare and essential drugs, [...]
CHANGWON•SACHEON, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Two undocumented migrant workers injured while fleeing an immigration enforcement operation in South Gyeongsang Province last year have been officially recognized as victims of industrial accidents, a decision that labor groups say highlights gaps in workplace safety and protections for foreign workers. The South Gyeongsang branch of the Korean Confederation [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has taken a step to strengthen its supply of strategic minerals by formally recognizing recycling and recovery from waste as a distinct industrial sector, a move aimed at shoring up domestic supply chains for materials critical to advanced manufacturing. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Thursday [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – China’s recent ban on exports of dual-use items with military applications to Japan will likely impact South Korea’s imports and industries, the industry ministry said Thursday, vowing measures to prevent a supply shortage of affected items. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources held a supply chain inspection meeting [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – The financial watchdog will launch an official audit of e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.’s financial unit next week over its high-interest loan product following a preliminary inspection, officials said Thursday. Coupang Financial has come under fire for charging high interest rates on loans to vendors by leveraging its dominant market [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean authorities warned on Wednesday that personal data stolen from at least 21 domestic medical and educational institutions, as well as online shopping platforms, appears to have been sold online, underscoring growing concerns over a sustained wave of cyberattacks targeting sensitive information. The Ministry of Science and ICT and [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Wednesday that the government’s economic policy for this year will focus on stabilizing people’s livelihoods. “The starting point of a major economic leap forward is a solid foundation for the people’s livelihood,” Koo said while presiding over an inaugural meeting of ministers. The government [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s efforts to boost parental leave as part of its fight against ultra-low birthrates continue to run up against a stark divide between large corporations and small businesses, according to a new government-commissioned survey that highlights persistent workplace barriers for parents. The findings, released Wednesday, show that while awareness [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea called on Seoul and Beijing to work to soften public distrust and rebuild what he described as “good neighborly, friendly” relations, arguing that improved sentiment between the two societies is essential to expanding economic cooperation. Mr. Lee made the remarks Tuesday at a [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — The oceans ministry said Tuesday it plans to expand imports of mackerel through the tariff-rate quota system and release government reserves amid soaring prices. Starting this month, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it plans to release 2,000 tons of mackerel from its stockpiles with a 30 to [...]