SEOUL, July 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s latest round of stimulus coupons, intended to boost domestic consumption, is drawing scrutiny as some recipients are reportedly using them to purchase large quantities of tobacco products—prompting renewed calls to restrict eligible items. According to reports gathered by Yonhap News Agency on Friday, a significant number of [...]
SEOUL, July 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s National Assembly on Wednesday passed the country’s first dedicated law to support and promote community enterprises, small-scale businesses operated by local residents to tackle regional challenges such as population decline and job shortages. The new legislation—the Community Enterprise Promotion and Support Act—was spearheaded by the Ministry of [...]
ANDONG, South Korea, July 24 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s North Gyeongsang Province announced plans Wednesday to build rapid freezing facilities in Yeongdeok and Pohang to preserve the freshness of bluefin tuna, which has recently been caught in growing quantities off the country’s east coast. The rise in sea temperatures and an abundance of bait [...]
SEOUL, July 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Constitutional Court announced Tuesday that legislation governing compensation for livestock culling during infectious disease outbreaks has been amended in line with a 2023 court ruling that found parts of the law unconstitutional. In May 2023, the court ruled that a clause in the Livestock Epidemic Prevention and [...]
SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday the deployment of 125 new “Digital Guides”—individuals tasked with assisting elderly citizens in using digital tools such as kiosks, mobile apps, and online ticketing systems at subway stations, welfare centers, and public parks. The new cohort, part of the city’s 7th class of Digital [...]
SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to enhance emergency response during disasters, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced South Korea’s first AI-powered 119 emergency call system, allowing residents to report incidents quickly and conveniently—even during surges in call volume caused by extreme weather or large-scale emergencies. The AI callbot system, launched on [...]
SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul AI Foundation announced Wednesday it has identified 119 high-priority bus stops across the city for the installation of heated benches, aiming to alleviate discomfort for commuters during winter months. The study, conducted at the request of Guro District, used a data-driven approach to maximize the effectiveness of [...]
INCHEON, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — In the wake of a shocking patricide involving a homemade gun in Incheon’s Songdo district, a South Korean lawmaker has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at closing loopholes around illegal firearm production and distribution. Rep. Jung Il-young of the Democratic Party said Monday he will soon propose revisions to [...]
SEOUL, July 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s National Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday passed a controversial bill that would strip artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks of their official status as “textbooks,” reclassifying them instead as general “educational materials.” The move marks a significant challenge to one of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s flagship education [...]
SEOUL, July 21 (Korea Bizwire) — One year after South Korea implemented a program allowing pregnant women in crisis to give birth under pseudonyms, 109 women have utilized the service, and 171 others have opted to raise their children following state-supported counseling, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The program, known as the [...]