8 out of 10 doctors oppose medical school quota hike

Over 80 percent of doctors across the country oppose the government plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota, a survey showed Monday, with many of them saying that there are already enough medical staff in the country. The Research Institute for Healthcare Policy, an affiliate of the Korean Medical Association, conducted a survey on 4,010 doctors across the country and found that 81.7 percent of the respondents are against the government drive to increase the number of physicians. Th

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

Over 60% of S. Koreans lack trust in US nuclear umbrella: survey

Over 60 percent of South Koreans are skeptical that Washington would use its nuclear weapons in the event of a Korean Peninsula contingency, according to a survey conducted by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies on Monday. The research institute in Seoul, named after SK Group founder Chey Jong-hyun, released the findings of an in-person interview survey conducted on 1,043 Koreans from Dec. 15 last year to Jan. 10 this year, in collaboration with Gallup Korea. According to the survey results,

North KoreaFeb. 5, 2024

Seoul unveils plan for world's largest 'vertical' business district in Yongsan

The Seoul city government unveiled a set of plans to transform an abandoned train maintenance depot in the central district of Yongsan into an international business district, with the construction of a 100-floor skyscraper and a sky trail linking high-rises there as the centerpiece. In a press briefing Monday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the government will transform an area of unused land near Yongsan Station into an “international business district as a new center for global urban compe

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

Schools to extend extracurricular classes until 8 p.m. for first graders

South Korea on Monday unveiled plans to extend hours for primary schools' extracurricular classes and make the classes available at all schools to make commuting parents' life routines more logistically and financially sustainable. The government has allocated a budget of 1.17 trillion won ($879 million) for this year, more than double the amount earmarked for last year, to allow any first grader to register for the extracurricular program later this year, dubbed Neulbom School. Up to

PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024

Gangnam, Seocho districts see rise in first-year middle schoolers

Amid the shrinking school population, the two affluent neighborhoods in South Korea known for their excellent academics saw a spike in enrollment for first-year middle schoolers, reflecting parents’ zeal to provide better educational opportunities for their children, government data showed Monday. A total of 9,654 middle first-year students were assigned to schools in Gangnam and Seocho areas, both south of Seoul, a 1.36 percent increase, or up 130 students from last year’s figure of

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

Main opposition leader hints to set up satellite parties for election

The main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Monday hinted he would launch satellite parties ahead of this year's general election scheduled for April 10, by upholding the current mixed-member proportional representation system. Lee said the Democratic Party of Korea plans to stick with the electoral system introduced to South Korea ahead of the previous general election in 2020, which critics lambasted for failing to serve its purpose of supporting minor parties. The system was initially ad

PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024

No more cash-only at Myeong-dong's street stalls

Visitors to Myeong-dong's street stalls will soon have the option to make payments via cards, along with improved hygiene measures such as the food vendors wearing gloves, masks and caps. These are some of the voluntary efforts of the area’s merchants, announced by Seoul’s Jung-gu district office on Monday, to bolster their reputation among tourists and enhance the overall visitor experience. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Seoul, Myeong-dong’s image ha

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

South Korea, Saudi Arabia agree to boost cooperation in defense industries

South Korea's public agency for defense acquisition and its Saudi counterpart agreed to expand cooperation between the two countries' defense industries Sunday. According to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on developing partnerships between the defense industries of South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Under the MOU, South Korea and Saudi Arabia will form a working group for jointly developing and manufacturing

PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024

Home prices drive Seoulites out of town

More than 5.47 million Seoulites have moved to a different metro area in the last 10 years, government data showed Monday, as home prices and uncertainties in the real estate market drive many to relocate to cities with more affordable housing. Of the total, some 1.74 million people said their main reason for leaving the city between 2014 and 2023 was housing, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service data on the number of people who relocated from Seoul to other cities and provinc

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

Speculation grows over disgraced ex-President Park Geun-hye's possible return

Ex-President Park Geun-hye held a book event for her autobiography in Daegu on Monday afternoon, fueling speculations that the disgraced former leader of South Korea is seeking to make a comeback as an influential figure in the country's politics. Park addressed the public during the event's Q&A at a hotel in Suyeong-gu in the city of Daegu -- her birthplace, where she still has sizeable support despite having been impeached and convicted on 16 charges of corruption in 2018. She ta

PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024

[Bills in Focus] 'Shrinkflation' warnings, tax benefits for tech investment

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods Proposed by Rep. Park Dae-chul (People Power Party) ● Food manufacturing companies have begun to reduce product volume or alter ingredient content in response to rising prices. To ensure consumers are informed of such changes, this amendment requires companies to indicate changes in product volumes or content on the packaging. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning T

PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024

20 taxis called to presidential residence before dawn

Some 20 taxis were called to the official residence of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in the early hours of Monday by an unidentified caller, local police said, as officials are conducting an investigation for possible "obstruction of business." According to Yongsan Police Station, the score of taxis were stopped by police stationed at Yoon’s residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, while attempting to enter the premises between 2:30 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. Monday. It was fo

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

[Photo news] Seoul's biggest blessing is you

The new quote "Seoul's biggest blessing is you" is seen on the signboard on the front side of the Seoul Metropolitan Library building in central Seoul. Seoul Metropolitan Government put up the quote in celebration of Seollal, Korea’s traditional New Year's day, which falls on Saturday, the city announced Monday. The city government has displayed quotes collected from citizens since 2013 on the signboard hung at the former Seoul City Hall main building.

Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024

N. Korea slams Seoul defense chief's anti-Pyongyang warning as 'catalyst' for clash

North Korea on Monday denounced South Korea's defense minister over his latest warning that Pyongyang will face the end of its regime in the event it wages war, calling his remark a "catalyst" for a physical clash. Minister Shin Won-sik warned on Jan. 24 that Pyongyang will face the end of its regime in the event it wages a war, hours after North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea. During his visit to the 17th Fighter Wing at Cheongju Air Base, 112 kilometers

DefenseFeb. 5, 2024

Yoon records New Year's interview with KBS amid first lady controversy

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday recorded a New Year's interview with public broadcaster KBS, his office said, as all eyes are on what he will say regarding allegations his wife accepted a luxury handbag as a gift in 2022. The filming took place at the presidential office in Seoul, the office said in a notice to reporters, without elaborating. The interview will reportedly air on KBS on Wednesday, two days before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday. Pressure has mounted on Yoon to addr

PoliticsFeb. 4, 2024

Court jails man for draft-dodging 'because he played Battlegrounds'

The Supreme Court recently confirmed a sentence of one year and six months in prison for a South Korean man who refused his mandatory military service, after the court dismissed his claims of "being against all war and violence," partly based on his avid playing of the battle royale game "PUBG: Battlegrounds." The defendant was indicted in November of 2018 on a charge of violating the Military Service Act, which stipulates that all able-bodied South Korean men are mandated to

Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024

Half of female elementary school teachers think of quitting

Some 50.1 percent of the female teachers at elementary schools in 2022 said they intend to quit before reaching retirement age, a report by the Korean Educational Development Institute showed Sunday. The state-run institute surveyed 2,803 elementary school teachers across the country in 2021 and 2022. The research found that 50.1 percent of the female respondents in 2022 said they will not continue to teach until retirement, up from 40.5 percent the year before. The percentage of female teache

Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024

Major parties compete with populist pledges, proposals

The rival parties in recent weeks have fired off a flurry of competing pledges and proposals as they head into a general election in April, but critics denounced several of those promises for being populist. The ruling People Power Party interim Chair Han Dong-hoon on Thursday indirectly proposed to slash lawmakers' salaries to almost half of what they are now. During a meeting with other decision-makers in the party, Han suggested to "level the amount of tax the lawmakers pay to the amount

PoliticsFeb. 4, 2024

Seoul's "Haechi" gets a makeover

Seoul Metropolitan Government recently unveiled the new design for its mascot Haechi, the character's first design change since its designation as the capital city’s official symbol in 2009. The new design of Haechi, whose design is based on the mythical haetae from Korean folklore, has a pink body with blue-green stripes. Seoul City Hall said it took the colors from Korea’s traditional colorwork for wooden buildings, known as “dancheong,” The colors replace the prev

Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024

Korea to push for ‘fundamental shifts’ in health insurance for sustainability

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sunday rolled out a five-year plan to push for “fundamental shifts” in the national health insurance system to ensure sustainability in the face of a health care supply crisis and rapid population downsizing. The 2024-28 comprehensive plan aims at better compensating essential but undervalued medical services to tackle the shortage of medical professionals in certain sectors, as well as target the issues of overtreatment and overs

Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024