The South Korean presidential office said Sunday that the establishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba would create new economic opportunities for Korean companies, though it conceded it would take time. “The establishment of diplomatic relations and the future opening of a permanent mission in each country will lay the groundwork for expanded economic cooperation in a gradual manner," the presidential office touted the anticipated impacts of forging of ties announced on Wednesday. The

Social Affairs Feb. 18, 2024

Famous for the Hwasun Dolmen Remains, the world's only dolmen colony registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hwasun County in South Jeolla Province is now setting its sights on the future, according to Gu Bog-gyu, the county’s governor, pointing to the city's 10,000 won ($7.50) apartments. “Outside the capital region, many rural areas face a serious population decline problem, and Hwasun was no exception. However, by offering 10,000 won apartments to younger generations

Social Affairs Feb. 14, 2024

Hundreds of plant construction workers held a rally Wednesday to urge the government not to allow plant construction companies to hire foreign workers. The Korean Plant Construction Workers’ Union, under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, staged rallies across the country, including in Seoul, Yeosu in South Jeolla Province and Ulsan. “Many Koreans are facing difficulties finding jobs at plant construction sites as construction business continues to stagnate. We condemn the Yoo

Social Affairs Feb. 14, 2024

Fears of a health care crisis were brewing in South Korea on Monday, as doctors and medical residents discussed taking collective action in protest of the government's planned hike in the medical school student quota. The Korean Medical Association, the country's largest coalition of doctors groups with 130,000 members, threatened to go on strike on Thursday and hold a national meeting of doctors in Seoul on Saturday. Another group of interns, residents and trainee doctors, the Korean

Social Affairs Feb. 12, 2024

A moratorium set by the Philippine government on sending their workers to South Korea has put the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s plan to bring in foreign domestic workers on hold, while also leaving some local farms with a shortage of workers as they will have fewer seasonal workers from the Philippines than in previous years. The Seoul city government said last year that it would bring in around 100 Filipina domestic helpers during the second half of 2023 in a pilot program to tackle the

Social Affairs Feb. 7, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday met representatives of the country’s tripartite panel of labor, management and the government, urging them to jointly resolve pending issues. “Labor-management issues are not simply issues between groups with different interests but should be discussed within the larger framework of ‘sustainability’ in this society," he said as he hosted a luncheon with the member of the Economic, Social and Labor Affairs Committee. "If we comm

Social Affairs Feb. 6, 2024

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 Affairs Feb. 5, 2024

Three serious accidents were reported by enterprises with fewer than 50 employees in the first week since the enforcement of workplace safety laws was expanded, South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor said Sunday. The ministry reported deaths at work at SMEs in Busan, Gangwon Province and Gyeonggi Province since the laws subjecting employers to penalties for fatal accidents were expanded to smaller businesses on Jan. 27. For instance, a male worker in his 50s died after being crushed

Social Affairs Feb. 4, 2024

Han, a 30-year-old living in Seoul, was once a promising student. She entered Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul on a scholarship and secured a well-paying job at a large company upon graduation. However, the constant competition and long work hours eventually took a toll. Despite being promoted to assistant manager before her colleagues, Han started to experience burnout. "The cycle of competition just didn't end. I had to beat my colleagues to get promoted. I wasn't happy," H

weekender Feb. 3, 2024

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday unveiled a set of plans to overhaul a portion of Seoul city’s eight-lane highway, Olympicdaero, with a public park that covers a subterranean roadway by 2027. This proposal is part of a wider project to make the city more pedestrian-friendly. Currently, it is difficult to access Banpo Hangang Park on foot because it is blocked by Olympicdaero. People have to use a pedestrian flyover to reach the park by walking. “The plan is to create a p

Social Affairs Feb. 1, 2024

Hundreds of businessmen running small and medium-sized companies around the country held a rally at the National Assembly on Wednesday, urging parliament to pass a revision bill to defer the enforcement of a workplace safety act. Participants in the rally were mainly from 17 business community groups, including the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise, and the Korea Food Service Industry Association, according to organizers. Two thousand officials from small and med

Social Affairs Jan. 31, 2024

Expanded application of the workplace safety law is expected to have a substantial impact on the South Korean business community, as it holds employers with more than five workers legally responsible for deadly accidents. Concerns are growing as this change, which officially took effect Saturday, will cover 837,000 workplaces, including small neighborhood restaurants, bakeries, pubs, cafes and mom-and-pop stores. Regardless of the size of the businesses and their financial capabilities, under th

Social Affairs Jan. 29, 2024

A Korean lawmaker fell victim to a brutal physical assault by a 15-year-old teenage assailant, who not only carried out the attack but repeatedly -- and incorrectly -- claimed immunity from legal consequences. The incident on Thursday has re-ignited concerns about the issue of juvenile crime and the legal immunity afforded to some teenagers. The law prohibits the punishment of individuals under the age of 14. People Power Party Rep. Bae Hyun-jin was beaten 15 times on the head in a 10-second att

Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2024

The business community and President Yoon Suk Yeol conveyed their profound disappointment following unsuccessful parliamentary negotiations on extending the grace period for the country's workplace safety law for small businesses by an additional two years. Labor groups, on the other hand, have embraced the latest developments, viewing them as positive steps in ensuring enhanced worker safety standards. The workplace safety law, known as the Serious Accident Punishment Act is, set to be exp

Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2024

A workplace safety law is set to be expanded to apply to small businesses with 50 employees or less from Saturday, as rival parties failed to reach an agreement Thursday on deferring the plan. The safety law holds employers liable for serious industrial accidents, and employers could face at least one year in prison or fines of up to 1 billion won ($749,000) in the event of a fatal workplace accident. The government had earlier granted a grace period for companies with fewer than 50 employees, w

Social Affairs Jan. 25, 2024