SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea’s aging population rapidly expands, a government-funded research institute is warning that the country’s age-friendly industry is failing to keep pace, potentially missing out on a significant economic opportunity. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) released a report on August 7 highlighting the disconnect between [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Eighteen people have died from heat-related causes so far this year, officials said Thursday, as intense heat with apparent temperatures of over 35 C continues to grip the country. A total of 1,907 people had suffered heat-related illnesses from May 20 to Thursday, and 18 of them have died, [...]
JAKARTA, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – A Korean-owned sushi chain in Australia has been hit with a record-breaking fine of approximately 15.3 million Australian dollars for systematically underpaying its workers, as reported by ABC News Australia on August 7. The Federal Court of Australia ruled on August 5 that Sushi Bay, a popular sushi restaurant chain, [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean customs agency said Wednesday it will intensify its crackdown on drug smuggling attempts from Mexico by setting up a special task force and strengthening security checks on incoming travelers. The move came as direct flights linking the two nations resumed this week after a two-year hiatus [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A beagle that is trained to detect bedbugs with an accuracy rate of more than 95 percent was commissioned as South Korea’s first bedbug sniffing dog, a pest control company said Wednesday. Cesco Co. said it held a ceremony to commission the beagle, named Ceco, as its sniffer dog [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday the government will allow hospitals to extend the application period for trainee doctor programs this week to help them recruit more junior doctors. Han made the remark after only 104 candidates, or 1.4 percent of trainee doctor positions available at 126 hospitals, had [...]
HONGSEONG, Aug. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent report from the Chungnam Fire Department in South Korea reveals a concerning trend: fires involving personal mobility devices, particularly electric scooters, are spiking during the summer months. According to data released on August 6, out of 25 fires involving personal mobility devices recorded since 2019, nine incidents (36%) [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s gig economy workforce, comprising delivery riders, designated drivers, and other platform-based workers, reached approximately 883,000 in 2023, according to a new government study released on August 5. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employment Information Service conducted the 2023 Platform Worker Survey based on a [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – In a stark reversal of fortune for South Korea’s once-booming real estate market, the number of properties entering foreclosure has skyrocketed, reaching levels not seen in over a decade. According to government data released on August 4, July saw 13,631 applications for the commencement of voluntary auction registration for real [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is expected to contest a court’s recognition of former President Roh Tae-woo’s slush fund as seed money for the conglomerate in his divorce suit against Roh’s daughter, sources said Tuesday. In May, the Seoul High Court ordered Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won (US$1 [...]