SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s trade minister said Wednesday the government will expand efforts to protect the country’s intellectual property through trade agreements amid the growing popularity of Korean entertainment content overseas. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo made the remark during a meeting with around 30 trade experts to discuss strategies to protect [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s industry ministry said Wednesday the government will spend 1.5 trillion won (US$1.02 billion) this year to induce consumers to purchase electric vehicles (EVs). The move is aimed at revitalizing domestic demand for EVs amid sluggish sales driven by safety concerns and a lack of access to charging [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Gyeonggi Province has announced a comprehensive five-year plan worth 172.1 billion won to transform livestock waste management, focusing on resource recycling and environmental sustainability. The plan outlines 14 practical initiatives across three major areas: promoting eco-friendly scientific farming practices, diversifying waste recycling methods, and improving public perception of livestock waste [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 15, 2025 — South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor has ruled that Coupang delivery drivers, known as Quick Flexers, are not classified as employees under the Labor Standards Act, effectively ending allegations of illegal subcontracting against the e-commerce giant. The decision follows an investigation prompted by the death of delivery driver Jeong [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has officially legalized the scattering of cremated ashes at sea, known as “Sanbun-jang,” starting this month. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Tuesday that the revised Enforcement Decree of the Act on Funeral Services and Burial, which institutionalizes ash scattering, was approved at a Cabinet meeting. Previously, [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The government on Tuesday designated Jan. 27 as a temporary holiday in an effort to stimulate private consumption and promote domestic tourism ahead of the Lunar New Year. The motion was approved in a Cabinet meeting, resulting in an extended six-day holiday period from Jan. 25 to Jan. 30, [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — In response to the growing trend of direct overseas purchases of cosmetics through international online platforms, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on Monday, that it will strengthen safety regulations to prevent consumer harm. This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Korea [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — In a move to boost consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the South Korean government has announced a revision to eco-friendly certification standards, lowering the threshold for large electric passenger cars to qualify for tax incentives. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) revealed on January 12, 2025, that [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The government said Friday it will provide an initial allowance of 3 million won (US$2,057) to the families of the Jeju Air plane crash victims. Acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters that the “emergency living expense allowance” will [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — In a significant healthcare reform initiative, the South Korean government announced plans to reclassify certain non-critical and uninsured medical treatments, including manual therapy, under a new “managed care” category that will require patients to pay over 90% of the costs. The policy change, unveiled at a public forum on healthcare [...]