SEOUL, April 21 (Korea Bizwire) — As the U.S.-China trade war escalates in 2025, South Korea’s retail and small manufacturing sectors are bracing for a potential flood of low-cost Chinese goods that could destabilize domestic markets. Industry concerns have mounted following a series of aggressive tariff measures by former U.S. President Donald Trump. On April 9, [...]
SEOUL, April 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite growing awareness of labor rights in South Korea, workers at businesses with fewer than five employees continue to face widespread legal exclusion and exploitation, according to a report released Sunday by labor advocacy group Workplace Gapjil 119. The group highlighted recent consultations with employees at small firms who reported [...]
SEOUL, April 18 (Korea Bizwire) – A senior U.S. energy official on Friday underscored South Korea’s growing significance in the Donald Trump administration’s push to expand American energy exports and diversify global supply chains. Speaking via video remarks at an energy forum hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) held in Seoul, [...]
SEOUL, April 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A high-stakes legal battle between South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and major tobacco companies is approaching its conclusion, with a final appeals court hearing set for next month. The case, which pits public health costs against personal responsibility, could reshape the nation’s tobacco policies and set a powerful [...]
SEOUL, April 18, (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s major battery manufacturers are delaying or scrapping joint ventures with Chinese companies as geopolitical risks, regulatory uncertainty, and market stagnation force a strategic rethink in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. According to industry sources on April 17, LG Energy Solution has postponed construction of two planned [...]
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 [...]
SEOUL, April 16, (Korea Bizwire) — After a brief slowdown at the end of 2024, South Korea’s budget mobile phone market is rebounding in early 2025, buoyed by new low-cost 5G data plans and increased government support. According to data released Monday by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the number of mobile subscriptions under [...]
SEOUL, April 15, (Korea Bizwire) — In an effort to protect consumers from online shopping mishaps, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced a new self-assessment service designed to help residents identify and prevent potential e-commerce risks before making purchases. The interactive service, launched through the city’s E-Commerce Center, draws on an extensive database of 7,000 [...]
SEOUL, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of young South Koreans are choosing to forgo marriage due to financial strain and evolving personal values, according to a government-backed survey released Monday. The 2nd National Population Behavior Survey, conducted in October 2024 by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, revealed that 41.5% of unmarried [...]
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 [...]