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After Devastating Wildfires, South Korean Forestry Workers Left Reeling by Paltry Compensation System

After Devastating Wildfires, South Korean Forestry Workers Left Reeling by Paltry Compensation System

UISEONG•YEONGDEOK, South Korea, April 18 (Korea Bizwire) – Forestry workers in North Gyeongsang Province are facing renewed despair after record-breaking wildfires scorched thousands of hectares last month — only to find that government compensation falls far short of the actual losses incurred. According to local authorities and affected families, the wildfires that broke out on [...]

100 People, Companies Transferred to Prosecution for Selling College Entrance Exam Questions

100 People, Companies Transferred to Prosecution for Selling College Entrance Exam Questions

SEOUL, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Police said Thursday they have transferred 100 people and companies, including many current teachers, to the prosecution on suspicion of selling questions on the annual college entrance exam. The National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the National Police Agency announced the result after wrapping up a 20-month investigation into [...]

Backlash Mounts as Baemin Imposes New Takeout Fee on Small Businesses

Backlash Mounts as Baemin Imposes New Takeout Fee on Small Businesses

SEOUL, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) —  South Korea’s top food delivery app Baemin is facing mounting criticism from small business owners after it began charging a 6.8% service fee on takeout orders this week—a move seen as a reversal of the hard-won compromise on delivery commissions reached in 2024. On April 14, the first day the [...]

Aging Sewer System Beneath Seoul Poses Growing Safety Risk, Lawmaker Warns

Aging Sewer System Beneath Seoul Poses Growing Safety Risk, Lawmaker Warns

SEOUL, April 16, (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly one-third of Seoul’s underground sewer lines have surpassed 50 years of age, with some districts relying on antiquated infrastructure for more than half of their networks, raising concerns over public safety and the growing risk of sinkholes. According to data disclosed by Rep. Jin Sun-mi of the Democratic [...]

Migrant Worker’s Death in South Korea Sparks Outcry Over Labor Abuse and Calls for Reform

Migrant Worker’s Death in South Korea Sparks Outcry Over Labor Abuse and Calls for Reform

YEONGAM, South Korea, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The death of a 28-year-old Nepali migrant worker in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, has sparked national concern and renewed calls for labor reform, as rights groups accuse his former employer of sustained abuse and exploitation. The worker, identified only as Mr. A, was found dead in February 2025 [...]

Top Labor Policy Priority for South Korean Workers in 2025 Election: Full Extension of Labor Standards Act

Top Labor Policy Priority for South Korean Workers in 2025 Election: Full Extension of Labor Standards Act

SEOUL, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea enters an early presidential race, a recent survey has revealed that the top policy demand among labor experts is the full application of the Labor Standards Act to all workers, including those at small businesses and in freelance or non-standard roles. In a poll conducted by labor [...]

After the Flames: South Korea’s Elderly and Animal Rescuers Struggle to Care for Survivors of Wildfire

After the Flames: South Korea’s Elderly and Animal Rescuers Struggle to Care for Survivors of Wildfire

  UISEONG, South Korea, April 13 (Korea Bizwire) —  In the aftermath of the massive wildfire that swept through Gyeongbuk Province earlier this year, 81-year-old Ms. Kim, a lifelong resident of Uiseong, lost more than just her home. Her cherished family of animals—dogs, cats, goats, and chickens—perished in the blaze that engulfed her property. Known in [...]

South Korea Braces for Deepfake Threats Ahead of June Presidential Election

South Korea Braces for Deepfake Threats Ahead of June Presidential Election

SEOUL, April 13 (Korea Bizwire) —  With South Korea’s presidential election just two months away, concerns are mounting over the misuse of generative artificial intelligence—particularly deepfakes—as tools for political manipulation and disinformation. Although such fears remained largely hypothetical during the 2024 parliamentary elections, experts now warn that rapid advances in AI technology over the past year have [...]