SEOUL, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of drug offenders in South Korea surpassed the 20,000 mark for the second consecutive year in 2024, with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for over 60 percent of the total, data showed Sunday. Last year, a total of 23,022 people were apprehended for drug-related offenses, [...]
SEOUL, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s household debts stood at nearly 1.7 times their disposable income, data showed Sunday, with the pressure for loan repayment driving down consumer spending, potentially triggering an economic recession. The debt-to-income ratio for South Korean households and nonprofit organizations came to 174.7 percent as of end-2024, according to [...]
SEOUL, June 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Once a symbol of status and a booming lifestyle trend during the pandemic, golf in South Korea is now facing a quieter season. The latest figures show that the country’s imports of golf equipment plunged over 23 percent last year, falling to approximately 756.6 billion won (US$557.7 million) — a [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A new public opinion survey shows that a strong majority of South Koreans have confidence in President Lee Jae-myung’s ability to lead the nation, with 70 percent of respondents saying they expect him to perform well during his five-year term. The poll, conducted by Gallup Korea from June 10 to [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign investment in South Korean securities recorded the largest net inflow in nearly two years in May, supported by easing domestic political uncertainties and reduced concerns over the United States’ trade policy, the central bank said Friday. Offshore investors purchased a net US$9.29 billion worth of local stocks and [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Roughly eight out of ten South Koreans believe public hospitals are essential, particularly in times of medical crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent government-doctor disputes. Yet despite broad public recognition of their importance, actual usage of public hospitals remains relatively low, according to a new government-funded study. [...]
SEOUL, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s tobacco market is undergoing a seismic shift, with traditional cigarettes giving way to e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products that promise less smoke and odor — but are raising fresh public health concerns. A government-commissioned report released Thursday by the Korean Society for Smoking Cessation, titled “2024 In-Depth [...]
SEOUL, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of South Korean office workers in their 20s and 30s say that no paycheck is worth compromising on workplace ethics, fairness, and alignment with personal values — a shift reshaping the country’s job market and corporate culture. According to a survey released Wednesday by JobKorea’s Content [...]
SEOUL, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — The proportion of South Korean companies unable to cover their interest expenses with operating profits reached an all-time high in 2024, underscoring persistent financial stress among smaller firms despite improved overall corporate earnings. According to the Bank of Korea’s annual corporate management analysis released Wednesday, 40.9% of non-financial, for-profit companies [...]
CHEONGJU, June 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns driven by climate change, South Korea’s disease control agency has unveiled a comprehensive five-year plan to strengthen the nation’s defenses against vector-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and tick-borne infections. At a briefing held Wednesday at its Osong headquarters, the Korea [...]