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Archive by category Public Insight

Jeju to Launch Pilot Program for Reusing EV Batteries as Seoul Weighs National Recycling Mandate

JEJU, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Jeju Province will roll out a three-year pilot program to repurpose used electric-vehicle batteries into agricultural machinery and energy storage systems, underscoring South Korea’s broader push to strengthen its battery recycling industry. The project, set to run through 2027, will supply 100 devices—including farm equipment, transport robots, and streetlights [...]

U.S. Defense Bill Calls for Keeping 28,500 USFK troops in South Korea

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – The U.S. House version of an annual defense policy bill, passed earlier this month, includes a call for maintaining around 28,500 American troops in South Korea and reaffirming the United States’ deterrence commitment to the Asian ally, its text showed Monday. The House approved its version of the National [...]

Berlin Activists Seek Court Order to Block Removal of Comfort Woman Statue

BERLIN, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — With just a week left before a deadline to dismantle a comfort woman statue in Berlin, a Korean civic group has filed an injunction against the local district office, seeking to preserve the memorial that has become a focal point of historical and diplomatic tensions. The Korea Verband, a [...]

For Half of Korea’s Retirees, Work Is a Necessity, Not a Choice

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The relative poverty rate among South Korea’s retired population reached the highest level among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), data showed Monday. For those aged 65 and older, the relative poverty rate stood at 39.8 percent in 2023, up 0.1 percentage point from [...]

Hyundai and Kia Expand Base Pay Definitions, Raising Labor Costs and Industry Concerns

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s two largest automakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia, have agreed to broaden the scope of “ordinary wages” in their latest labor agreements, a move that could reshape labor relations and intensify cost pressures across corporate Korea. The accords, reached earlier this month, follow a Supreme Court ruling last December [...]

Police Confront Daily Abuse, but Fear of “Excessive Force” Claims Hampers Response

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Obstruction of official duties against South Korean police officers remains alarmingly frequent, with more than 9,000 cases recorded last year — nearly 25 incidents every day — according to newly disclosed government data. Figures released by Rep. Seo Beom-soo of the People Power Party, citing the National Police Agency, [...]

Koreans Embrace Greener Traditions to Cut Holiday Waste

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea prepares for the Chuseok harvest holiday, when household waste typically spikes, local governments and businesses are stepping up efforts to promote greener practices — from reusable wrapping to bans on artificial flowers at cemeteries. Officials in North Chungcheong Province estimate that nearly 20,000 tons of waste [...]

Korean Midlife Workers Turn to Technical Licenses for Second Careers

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — For middle-aged and older South Koreans seeking a second career, technical licenses are proving to be a reliable path into steady employment and higher wages. A government survey released Sunday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training found that [...]

Gov’t Faces Backlash Over Double Standard in Disaster Preparedness

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government is drawing criticism for imposing strict disaster-response requirements on private companies while failing to safeguard its own systems, after a fire at a state-run data center crippled key administrative services. According to a science ministry report submitted to a ruling party lawmaker, the government plans [...]

South Korea Declares First-Ever Animal Welfare Charter, Joining Global Movement

BUSAN, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has declared its first national charter on animal protection, a symbolic yet landmark step in recognizing animals as living beings rather than property. While the document carries no legal force, officials and advocates say it sets out core values to guide future policy and public awareness on animal [...]