South Korea Society & Public Affairs

In-depth coverage of South Korean society, including demographics, labor, education, housing, and social issues.

Court Cancels Discipline of Election Official Flagged for Hiring Irregularity

A Seoul court canceled the reprimand of a National Election Commission official flagged for hiring irregularity, ruling the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit was unlawful. The NEC has appealed....

Published 2026.06.22. 21:30:41 |

Choo Mi-ae Orders Full Review of Gyeonggi Province Finances

Gyeonggi Governor-elect Choo Mi-ae ordered a full review of provincial finances, citing 7 trillion won in cumulative debt and warning that external fa...

Published 2026.06.22. 19:52:44 |

Labor Demands 16.3% Minimum Wage Hike; Employers Say Even Freeze Is Hard

Korea's Minimum Wage Commission begins deliberations on next year's wage, with labor seeking a 16.3% hike to 12,000 won while employers push for a fre...

Published 2026.06.22. 19:23:11 |

Special Counsel Seeks Second Extension to Probe Treason, Highway Cases

South Korea's comprehensive special counsel team requested a second extension to probe treason allegations involving the Defense Intelligence Command ...

Published 2026.06.22. 19:21:39 |

Prosecutors Seek Arrest of Shincheonji Leader Over Mass Party Enrollment

Korean prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee over allegations that more than 50,000 followers collectively joined th...

Published 2026.06.22. 19:18:17 |

Man in His 20s Arrested for Killing Girlfriend After Quarrel

A man in his 20s was arrested in Seoul for killing his girlfriend with a blunt object after a quarrel. The suspect claims he had no intent to kill, wh...

Published 2026.06.22. 19:07:33 |

Department Store Facade Becomes World Cup Screen as Foreigners Chant "Korea" in Myeongdong

Crowds of Koreans and foreign tourists gathered in Myeongdong and Gwanghwamun to watch South Korea's 0-1 loss to Mexico at the 2026 World Cup on a Shi...

Published 2026.06.22. 18:29:18 |

Leadership Vacuum Shakes Public Trust in Korean Police

Korea's police force faces an unprecedented leadership vacuum, with the Commissioner General post under acting leadership for nearly 18 months since t...

Published 2026.06.22. 17:32:35 |

Gyeonggi Trade Mission to Europe Lands $5.68 Million in Deals

A northern Gyeonggi SME trade mission to Hungary and Austria generated $5.68 million in export consultations, as the GBSA targets sales channel divers...

Published 2026.06.22. 17:16:46 |

Yangju Transition Committee Launches Small Business, Jobs Policy Drive

The Yangju Transition Committee set small business support and job expansion as core tasks, gathering on-the-ground opinions at a jobs and economy fie...

Published 2026.06.22. 17:03:51 |

Seoul Moves to Raise Subway Free-Ride Age to 70, Offer Free Bus Trips for Seniors

Seoul plans to raise the subway free-ride age for seniors from 65 to 70 and offer free bus trips, with a public hearing set for the 22nd to seek socia...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:54:09 |

100 Days After Revised Union Law, 60% of Prime Contractors Stall on Bargaining

100 days after Korea's revised Trade Union Act took effect, 60% of 439 prime contractors that received bargaining demands have stalled, with only 2% r...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:45:09 |

Choo Kyung-ho Scraps Official Residence, Moves to Daegu's Buk-gu

Daegu Mayor-elect Choo Kyung-ho has decided not to use the mayor's official residence, instead securing a new home in Buk-gu's Chimsan-dong to stay cl...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:39:45 |

Breaking News: Seoul Pushes to Raise Free Subway Age to 70, Add Buses

Published 2026.06.22. 16:35:36 |

Education Minister: 'Punishment Cannot Solve Education Problems'

Korea's Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said education problems cannot be solved through punishment, expressing a negative stance on a Teaching Author...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:28:26 |

Korea Forest Service Seeks Public Input on Pine Tree Management

The Korea Forest Service held a forum in Daejeon to seek public input on pine tree management measures for climate adaptation, with plans for a second...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:09:17 |

KINAC Holds Nuclear Trade Control Briefing for Importing Institutions

KINAC held a nuclear trade control briefing on Monday for 12 institutions importing nuclear-dedicated and agreement items, outlining import obligation...

Published 2026.06.22. 16:01:57 |

Min Hyung-bae Transition Committee Reaffirms Three-Campus Balance Amid Headquarters Dispute

Mayor-elect Min Hyung-bae's transition committee reaffirmed a "three-pole balance system" for the Dongbu, Muan and Gwangju campuses of Jeonnam-Gwangju...

Published 2026.06.22. 15:57:58 |

Ilsin Engineering CEO Donates Development Fund to Hannam University

Park Soo-yong, CEO of Ilsin Engineering, donated 11 million won to Hannam University to mark its 70th anniversary and commemorate a 40-year friendship...

Published 2026.06.22. 15:50:17 |

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae Gets 25 Years for Insurrection Role

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison and taken into custody for his role in the Dec. 3 martial law incident, with...

Published 2026.06.22. 15:28:14 |