Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Friday emphasized that easing greenbelt development restrictions is crucial to addressing the city's housing demands, particularly for newlyweds, as part of broader efforts to tackle South Korea's pressing low birth rate. Oh acknowledged Seoul's historical reluctance to lift greenbelt restrictions but argued that current challenges, including population decline due to low birth rates and the urgent housing needs of young couples, make this change necessar

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2024

A senior official from South Korea's anti-corruption body, who had spearheaded high-profile and politically sensitive investigations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee and former opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, was found dead Thursday. The official was found deceased in his apartment in Sejong City with a suicide note at around 9:50 a.m. Thursday by a person who visited the apartment after the official failed to show up to work or answer calls. Police are looking into the exact circumstance

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2024

The South Korean government has embarked on a task to bring about a major overhaul of the nation’s minimum wage system, launching an in-depth study into how key economies determine their minimum wages, officials said Thursday. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Thursday that it has recently commissioned a study titled "International Comparative Analysis of Minimum Wage Determination Systems." The move aims to address long-standing criticisms of South Korea’s min

Social Affairs Aug. 8, 2024

Migrant rights organizations on Wednesday urged South Korea's government to implement measures to protect the rights of the 100 Filipina caregivers who arrived yesterday to undergo a month of training before being assigned to families in Seoul. The Migrant Workers' Equality Coalition, a coalition of civic groups, emphasized that the lack of clarity in the caregivers' job responsibilities might lead to significant conflicts and potential exploitation, citing the ongoing ambiguities

Social Affairs Aug. 7, 2024

Brimming with anticipation, 100 Filipina childcare workers landed at Incheon International Airport early Tuesday morning, ready to participate in the new pilot program to support the care needs of participating Seoul families. Dressed in matching blue jackets emblazoned with the Philippine national flag, the workers emerged from the arrivals gate with their luggage. Some paused to make the heart gesture with their fingers toward the assembled reporters, a move reflecting their excitement and cur

Social Affairs Aug. 6, 2024

  A group of 100 Filipina caregivers is scheduled to arrive in South Korea early Tuesday morning to undergo a month-long specialized training program before being assigned to families in Seoul next month, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have been advancing a project to introduce foreign caregivers in response to the declining number of local domestic workers amid an aging population and the rising

Social Affairs Aug. 5, 2024

Men accounted for almost one-third of all workers taking parental leave in the first half of this year in South Korea, marking the first time they have exceeded 30 percent. According to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Sunday, fathers accounted for 32.3 percent of the 69,631 total parental leave takers from January to June this year. The total number of workers taking parental leave increased by 3.2 percent compared to the same period last year, rising to 67,465. While th

Social Affairs Aug. 4, 2024

The government has estimated that unpaid wages surged about 27 percent in the first half year-on-year, hurting over 150,000 workers in South Korea and disrupting their livelihoods. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Thursday, back wages in the first half of this year reached 1.04 trillion won ($762 million), with a total of 150,503 affected workers. Compared to the same period last year, the amount of unpaid wages increased by 26.8 percent, and the number of affected workers gr

Social Affairs Aug. 1, 2024

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met his Beijing counterpart Mayor Yin Yong in the Chinese capital on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral economic and cultural cooperation between the two megacities, his office said Wednesday. In the mayoral meeting held for the first time in six years, Oh addressed the need to revive the trilateral partnership among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo, stressing the importance of urban diplomacy to discuss the challenges and opportunities of metropolitan cities at a sub

Social Affairs July 31, 2024

Balloons carrying rubbish sent from North Korea since late May have been discovered at more than 3,000 sites throughout South Korea, a police report showed Tuesday. According to a police report obtained by Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Yang Bu-nam, balloons sent by North Korea were found at 3,359 locations across South Korea between May 28 and July 25, during which 10 balloon campaigns were conducted. South and North Korea have used balloons in their propaganda campaigns since the Korean War in

Social Affairs July 30, 2024

Mapo-gu, home to Gyeongui Line Forest Park, World Cup Park, Haneul Park and vibrant university areas, is set to enhance its reputation as a premier cultural and tourist destination, becoming a must-visit hot spot for tourists from overseas, according to the current district office head. “If you haven’t traveled all over Mapo-gu, you haven’t truly experienced Seoul,” said Park Gang-su, 65, in an interview with The Korea Herald. The district’s cultural vibrancy is evi

Social Affairs July 30, 2024

A survey released Monday showed that six out of 10 South Koreans reported braving the weather to arrive at work on time, despite government recommendations to work from home or adjust commuting hours due to safety concerns over natural disasters like typhoons and heat waves. According to the survey conducted by the civic group Workplace Gapjil 119, about 15.9 percent of respondents also expressed concern about facing workplace disadvantages for being late during natural disasters. The survey ask

Social Affairs July 29, 2024

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Friday that it launched an investigation into allegations of excessive security measures involving actor Byeon Woo-seok. The investigation follows a complaint submitted on July 14, accusing the security measures during Byeon’s recent travels of infringing on human rights. The NHRCK will examine whether the airport's security team was complicit in the actions of a private security firm, which included blocking gates and conducting ticket an

Social Affairs July 26, 2024

The National Assembly on Friday postponed the adoption of a report on the confirmation hearing results for one Supreme Court justice nominee, putting the brakes on her appointment amidst growing controversy over allegations of nepotism. The decision by the parliamentary special committee to delay the confirmation of Lee Sook-yeon, a Patent Court judge, came after allegations surfaced involving her daughter. There are suspicions that her 26-year-old daughter benefited significantly from unlisted

Social Affairs July 26, 2024

First Lady Kim Keon Hee apologized for causing public concerns as she attended questioning by the prosecution, her lawyer said Thursday. Kim's legal representative, lawyer Choi Ji-woo, said in a YouTube interview that she told the prosecution before the interrogation began on Saturday, adding that she feels sorry for letting the people down as first lady. Amid growing criticism over speculations that the first lady was receiving preferential treatment by being questioned at a venue outside

Social Affairs July 25, 2024