Dongduk Women’s University has reached an agreement with student representatives to temporarily suspend discussions on transitioning to a coeducational institution, weeks after the college's proposal reignited debates over the future of women’s universities in South Korea. The university confirmed that the coeducation talks would be paused indefinitely and that any future discussions would involve direct consultation with students. As part of the agreement, the student council pledge

Social Affairs Nov. 22, 2024

A recent state-conducted health survey revealed a significant drop in smoking and alcohol consumption among South Korean teenagers over the past 20 years, but other negative trends in mental health and dietary habits are emerging. The Ministry of Education and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed Friday that the “current smoking rate,” -- measuring students who smoked at least once in the past month -- dropped from 11.8 percent in 2005 to 3.6 percent this year. Simi

Social Affairs Nov. 22, 2024

Sejong University's hospitality and tourism management program secured 11th place globally in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities by subject, released by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Graduate School of Education. Domestically, the university has maintained its top spot in hospitality and management for five consecutive years since 2020. Considered one of the world’s top three university rankings alongside QS and Times Higher Education rankings, the ARWU subject ra

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2024

Yoo Joon-sang officially took office as the seventh president of the Korea UN Volunteer Corps on Tuesday, highlighting his vision to foster a culture of sharing and volunteering, aligned with the UN’s peace, development and human rights principles. During his inaugural speech at a ceremony held at the Crest 72 Glass Hall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Yoo outlined three key priorities: strengthening international cooperation, increasing participation and communication among youth and promoting

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2024

A 50-year-old woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating a massive real estate scam that defrauded 229 tenants out of 18 billion won ($13 million) in deposits entrusted to her under the "jeonse" lump-sum lease system. The Supreme Court’s First Division upheld a lower court’s ruling on Wednesday, confirming the 15-year prison sentence for Choi, who was convicted of fraud and other charges. This marks the Supreme Court's first definitive ruling in a larg

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2024

Confronting their biggest challenge in a century, South Korea's women’s universities are embroiled in controversies that have led some to question their relevance in a society where gender equality in education is increasingly seen as having been achieved. The issue gained significant attention recently when students at Dongduk Women’s University, one of South Korea’s seven remaining women’s colleges, protested against the school's consideration of a transition

Social Affairs Nov. 19, 2024

A growing number of young South Koreans are challenging conventional views on marriage and parenthood, with two out of five people in their 20s expressing support for having children without getting married, a recent government study showed Sunday. Statistics Korea's annual study on Korean society revealed that 42.8 percent of Koreans believe it is acceptable to have children without marriage, marking a significant shift from a decade ago when only 30.3 percent held this view. Support for h

Social Affairs Nov. 17, 2024

South Korea’s annual College Scholastic Ability Test, or Suneung, took place on Thursday, witnessing a record number of retakers, drawn by the prospect of increased medical school enrollment quotas next year. With the highest number of retakers in 21 years, a total of 522,670 students, including high school seniors and graduates, were registered to take the state-administered Suneung, up 18,082 from last year. While the proportion of graduates was 0.7 percentage points lower than the previ

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2024

On Thursday, more than half a million people across South Korea will converge at test sites to take what many view as a life-defining exam. This is the Suneung -- the nation’s college scholastic ability test. Held just once a year, the nine-hour marathon determines the universities students will be able to attend, and from there, their career opportunities, future earnings and even relationships, as education holds an especially revered place in Korean society. In November each year, South

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2024

South Korean students have achieved the top ranking among 32 countries in terms of computer literacy, and second place in computational thinking, assessed among 22 nations, according to the 2023 International Computer and Information Literacy Study. According to the report released by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement on Tuesday, South Korean middle school students scored an average of 540 in computer and information literacy, significantly surpassing th

Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2024

SEJONG -- Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho expressed regret on Monday for the government’s delayed communication with protesting medical students, who have been boycotting classes over the government’s plans to expand medical school enrollments. At a press conference in the city of Sejong, Lee acknowledged the government’s failure to close the gap with students who have not returned to school since March. "I apologize to the public for our delay in op

Social Affairs Nov. 12, 2024

'Pongpongnam' row exposes South Korea's gender divide 진행자: 최정윤, Chelsea Proctor 기사 요약: 네이버 웹툰 공모전에서 여성을 비하하고 성차별을 강화하는 혐오 표현을 담은 웹툰이 1차 심사를 통과하면서 논란, "퐁퐁남"이라는 개념어가 남편의 경제력에 ‘무임승차’하려고 결혼한 여성에게 배신당한 서사, 일명 ‘설거지론’에 쓰이면서 여성의 모든 행동에 성적인 혹은 이기적인 의도가 있다는 왜곡된 사고와 편견을 부채질한다는 비판 일어 [1] While expressing disparagement of the opposite sex in a show of hatred has long ailed South Korea, the severe gender conflict took a turn for the worse after a cartoon rec

Podcast Nov. 11, 2024

진행자: 최정윤, Chelsea Proctor Child rapist’s relocation sparks controversy, fear 기사 요약: 조두순이 새롭게 이사한 집 5분 거리에 초등학교가 있다는 사실 밝혀지면서 주민들의 불안이 고조되고 있어 ,경찰은 인군 순찰 강화로 불안 잠재우려하지만 효과 미비하다는 반응 커 [1] Cho Doo-soon, notorious for one of the most shocking crimes in South Korean history, has once again sparked public outrage and concern after his recent move to a new residence. notorious: 악명 높은 outrage: 격분, 분노 [2] Cho, who was released from prison in December 2020 after serving 12 years for raping an 8-yea

Podcast Nov. 9, 2024

As Donald Trump returns to the White House for a second term, the world is reminded of his high-stakes, often unpredictable approach to diplomacy, especially regarding the Korean Peninsula. During his first term, Trump navigated one of the most volatile relationships in US foreign policy with North Korea, combining tough sanctions, blunt rhetoric and unprecedented summits. Trump's administration initially took a confrontational approach to North Korea, especially after Pyongyang conducted i

Politics Nov. 7, 2024

Debate on whether to charge health insurance to day laborers of foreign nationality was sparked on Monday as local media reported that the government is reviewing such a plan as a new funding source for the national health insurance system amid Korea's low birth rate. The government is developing strategies to bolster its health insurance funding as Korea rapidly becomes a super-aged society, according to local reports. According to reports, this plan concerns expanding the income categorie

Social Affairs Nov. 4, 2024