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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]