SEOUL, March 6 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea has abruptly suspended the entry of foreign tourists after reopening foreign tourism for the first time in about five years due to COVID-19, according to tour agencies Thursday. Koryo Tours, a China-based agency specializing in North Korean tours, said on its website the previous day that “We [...]
SEOUL, March 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean mobile phone users consider data services to be worth more than twice the value of traditional voice calls and text messages combined, according to a comprehensive survey released on March 5. The study also revealed that most users find smartphone purchase costs more burdensome than monthly service fees. [...]
WASHINGTON, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) – A top South Korean security official on Wednesday anticipated a “good” outcome from consultations between Seoul and Washington on tariff and other trade issues, highlighting the two countries’ desire for a “win-win” result. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik made the remarks as he arrived in Washington for talks with [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — As countries worldwide adjust their immigration policies, South Korea’s permanent residency system is drawing increased interest, particularly as the nation seeks to attract skilled foreign workers amid demographic challenges. While the United States recently made headlines with a proposal to sell permanent residency for $5 million, South Korea’s own system [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — In a strategic move to attract top foreign talent in advanced industries, South Korea has introduced a new visa program aimed at highly skilled professionals. The government announced the initiative on Wednesday following the 30th Foreign Policy Committee meeting, presided over by Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok. [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy announced on March 4 that it will begin formal discussions this month to develop its fifth basic plan (2026-2030) for addressing the nation’s declining birthrate and aging population challenges. The announcement follows the committee’s ninth emergency population meeting, held virtually [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea’s crop yields and production were “generally favorable” last year despite torrential rains that flooded parts of the country, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showed Wednesday. “Last July, torrential rains triggered flooding, which caused localized crop losses in western and central parts of the [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The industry ministry and the state defense procurement agency will join hands to develop advanced engines for next-generation fighter jets and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), officials said Wednesday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a task force meeting to discuss [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of abandoned homes in South Korea has reached over 1.5 million, largely due to an aging population and urban migration trends, data showed Wednesday. According to the data compiled by the state-run Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy, based on Statistics Korea’s latest housing census, the number [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s humanitarian assistance to North Korea reached zero last year for the first time in nearly 30 years, amid Pyongyang’s continued antagonistic stance toward Seoul, the unification ministry said Wednesday. Not a single humanitarian assistance program for North Korea was carried out last year, either at the government [...]