South Korea Society & Public Affairs

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

Fire Breaks Out at Lumber Factory in Jinju, Level 1 Response Issued

A fire broke out at a lumber processing factory in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday afternoon, prompting a Level 1 emergency response. No casualties were reported as of 5 p.m....

Published 2026.06.14. 18:24:02 |

Paraglider in His 70s Crashes After Hitting Power Line in Pohang

A man in his 70s was in cardiac arrest after crashing while paragliding near Chilpo Beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, after striking a power...

Published 2026.06.14. 18:11:39 |

Fishing Boat Carrying 19 Runs Aground Near Tongyeong; All Rescued

A 9.77-ton fishing boat carrying 19 people ran aground near Chubongdo island in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Sunday. All two crew and 17 p...

Published 2026.06.14. 18:11:07 |

Korean Law Firms Boost Digital Forensics With AI and New Tools

Korean law firms including Shin & Kim, Hwa Woo and Lee & Ko are boosting digital forensics with AI and new tools, driven by rising digital evidence an...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:52:40 |

The Yellow Light

A Korean attorney argues that vague economic penal provisions, such as Article 178 of the Capital Markets Act and the crime of breach of trust, act li...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:51:27 |

Courts Scrutinize Whether Firms Gave Real Chances Before Firing Underperformers

Korean courts are strictly examining whether firms gave underperformers real improvement opportunities before dismissal, ruling that operating a PIP a...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:51:15 |

The Bill for Flawed Investigations and Trials Lands on the Public

A commentary warns that flawed investigations, delayed trials, and the planned abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority in Kore...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:46:27 |

Workplace Bullying Reports Surge 8-Fold in Six Years as Victims Fear Retaliation

Workplace bullying reports filed with Korea's labor ministry surged nearly 8-fold in six years to 16,373 last year, but victims often stay silent fear...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:36:30 |

Prosecutors Uncover Illegal Battery Waste Trade Through Supplementary Probe

Prosecutors uncovered an illegal battery waste trade case through a direct supplementary investigation after police declined to refer it, revealing 17...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:35:38 |

Gyeonggi Agency Exceeds Workforce Training Target by 163%, Earns 'S Grade' for Second Straight Year

Gyeonggi Province Business and Science Accelerator earned an S grade for the second straight year in workforce training evaluation, producing 815 grad...

Published 2026.06.14. 17:15:02 |

Changwon National University Opens Debate on Incorporation, Science Institute Conversion

Changwon National University has opened public debate over incorporation and conversion into a science and technology institute, amid faculty oppositi...

Published 2026.06.14. 16:53:49 |

Incheon and Cambodia Shift From Crime Cooperation to Investment Partnership

Incheon and Cambodia are evolving from crime-fighting cooperation into an investment partnership, with 200 business leaders joining a 2026 investment ...

Published 2026.06.14. 16:52:55 |

New Crosswalk Eases Crowding at Seoul's Sadang Station Bus Stop

Seoul installed a new crosswalk at the congested Sadang Station central bus stop on Sunday, dispersing pedestrian flow to ease rush-hour crowding and ...

Published 2026.06.14. 16:52:23 |

Nonsan to Build AI Defense Robot Industry Cluster

Nonsan in South Chungcheong Province secured 24.5 billion won in state funds to build an AI defense robot industry innovation cluster, with total proj...

Published 2026.06.14. 16:51:51 |

Korea Unemployment Benefit Payouts Hit Record 17 Trillion Won, Straining Fund

Korea's unemployment benefit payouts topped a record 17 trillion won in 2025, pushing employment insurance fund spending past 20 trillion won and leav...

Published 2026.06.14. 16:07:27 |

Korean YouTuber Mocked With Racist Gesture at World Cup Venue

A Korean YouTuber was mocked with a "slant eye" racist gesture at a 2026 World Cup match in Guadalajara. The alleged offender was identified as a Mexi...

Published 2026.06.14. 14:12:05 |

Seoul Population Could Plunge to 8.1 Million by 2050

Seoul's population is projected to fall to 8.1 million by 2050, with the working-age population shrinking to 4.51 million, raising fears of a rapidly ...

Published 2026.06.14. 13:31:34 |

Joint Investigation Team Ends Raid on Election Commission Over Ballot Shortage

A joint police-prosecution team has ended its raid on Korea's National Election Commission over the June 3 ballot shortage and will question officials...

Published 2026.06.14. 13:29:22 |

Korea to Expand Health Insurance for Hair Loss Treatment in Second Half

Korea's Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong said the government will push to expand health insurance coverage for hair loss treatment in the s...

Published 2026.06.14. 12:59:32 |

Former Chung-Ang University Professor Lee Byoung-hoon Named HRD Korea Chairman

Lee Byoung-hoon, a former Chung-Ang University professor and labor policy expert, has been named the new chairman of HRD Korea, pledging to boost publ...

Published 2026.06.14. 12:35:23 |