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Irregular Employment Tops Labor Concerns Under Lee Administration, Survey Finds

Irregular Employment Tops Labor Concerns Under Lee Administration, Survey Finds

SEOUL, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) — A new survey shows that South Korean workers overwhelmingly view irregular employment as the most urgent labor issue the Lee Jae-myung administration must address. According to results released Sunday by online labor advocacy group Workplace Gapjil 119, nearly four in ten salaried workers (38.8%) cited the country’s widespread use [...]

Left Alone, Loved Deeply: Inside South Korea’s Rising Pet Culture

Left Alone, Loved Deeply: Inside South Korea’s Rising Pet Culture

SEOUL, June 29 (Korea Bizwire) — In a quiet apartment in Seoul, a small Maltese curls up on a cushion by the window, waiting. It’s a familiar scene repeated across millions of South Korean households, where pets have become cherished companions—but often spend much of the day alone. A new report released by KB Financial [...]

South Korea Records Highest April Birth Rate Growth in 34 Years

South Korea Records Highest April Birth Rate Growth in 34 Years

SEOUL, June 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s monthly births exceeded 20,000 for the first time in three years this April, driven by a rise in marriages and an increase in women in their early 30s, marking the sharpest April growth in birth rate in over three decades. According to Statistics Korea’s latest population data [...]

Wealth, Marriage, and Zip Code Shape Retirement Outlook for Koreans in Their 30s to 60s

Wealth, Marriage, and Zip Code Shape Retirement Outlook for Koreans in Their 30s to 60s

SEOUL, June 23 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans in their 30s to 60s scored an average of 69.9 out of 100 in overall retirement preparedness, reflecting modest improvement over the past five years but revealing persistent disparities across income levels, marital status, and geographic regions. According to a new government-commissioned report released by the Korea [...]

Catastrophic Medical Expenses Rise for Second Year in South Korea, Disproportionately Affecting Low-Income Households

Catastrophic Medical Expenses Rise for Second Year in South Korea, Disproportionately Affecting Low-Income Households

SEOUL, June 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The share of South Korean households burdened by catastrophic medical expenses—those that exceed 40 percent of a household’s ability to pay—rose for the second consecutive year, according to new government data, highlighting widening healthcare inequality despite improvements in overall access to treatment. A joint report released Saturday by the Korea [...]

Subway Cooling Complaints Surge in Seoul, Straining Customer Service Amid Summer Heat

Subway Cooling Complaints Surge in Seoul, Straining Customer Service Amid Summer Heat

SEOUL, June 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul’s subway system has faced a deluge of temperature-related complaints in recent months, with over 283,000 grievances filed from January through May, according to Seoul Metro. The figure accounts for 75.5% of all customer service issues reported during the five-month period. As temperatures rose in May, so did commuter frustration, [...]

Data Disproves ‘Free Rider’ Myth: Foreigners Strengthen Korea’s Health System

Data Disproves ‘Free Rider’ Myth: Foreigners Strengthen Korea’s Health System

SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Contrary to persistent public concerns that foreign nationals are draining South Korea’s national health insurance system, new data reveal a dramatically different reality: foreign enrollees have delivered a growing budget surplus for eight consecutive years, reaching an all-time high in 2024. According to figures released Wednesday by the National [...]

Foreign Tourists Praise South Korea’s Punctual Rail Services, Survey Finds

Foreign Tourists Praise South Korea’s Punctual Rail Services, Survey Finds

SEOUL, June 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign visitors to South Korea ranked punctuality as the most satisfying aspect of the country’s railway services, according to a new customer satisfaction survey released by national rail operator KORAIL. The survey, conducted on May 18–19, polled 301 foreign tourists at major transportation hubs including Seoul Station, Busan Station, [...]

Use of Low-Denomination Coins Dwindles as Digital Payments Rise in South Korea

Use of Low-Denomination Coins Dwindles as Digital Payments Rise in South Korea

SEOUL, June 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The Bank of Korea’s issuance of 10-won coins hit an all-time monthly low in May, underscoring the accelerating decline of physical currency in a society increasingly reliant on digital payments. According to data released Tuesday from the central bank’s Economic Statistics System, just 17 million won worth of 10-won [...]

Caring Alone: The Silent Crisis Facing Korea’s Disability Caregivers

Caring Alone: The Silent Crisis Facing Korea’s Disability Caregivers

SEOUL, June 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly half of caregivers for people with developmental disabilities in South Korea are providing care alone, often without any backup support in emergencies, according to a nationwide study released Sunday. The survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social [...]