Over 60 percent of young Korean job candidates are not actively pursuing careers amid intensified negative sentiments surrounding the job market, data showed Tuesday. Some 60.5 percent of 1,235 Korean university seniors and recent graduates — 748 individuals — identified their job-seeking status as passive or dormant, according to a survey conducted this year by The Federation of Korean Industries. This figure combines three groups: 30.9 percent who described their job hunting as per

Social Affairs Oct. 29, 2024

In a potential sign of improving work-life balance in Korea, big data reveals that commuters in five office districts in and around Seoul are leaving the workplace 19 minutes earlier than they did five years ago. KB Kookmin Card, the nation’s second-largest card issuer, released the analysis on Wednesday of card usage data collected from January to August each year between 2019 and 2024. The study tracked subway users in Gangnam, Gwanghwamun, Yeouido and Guro in Seoul, and Pangyo in Gyeo

Social Affairs Oct. 16, 2024

Nearly 9 in 10 foreign nationals who secured long-term residency in South Korea via financial investments over the past five years are Chinese nationals, according to data. Data from the Ministry of Justice, obtained and released Monday by the Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, shows that of 116 foreign investors granted an F-2 residency permit between 2019 and 2023, 89.7 percent, or 104 individuals, were Chinese nationals. Of these Chinese investors, 79.2 percent, or 92, were base

Social Affairs Oct. 14, 2024

The works of South Korean Nobel laureate Han Kang are available in 20 languages at Seoul's open-air libraries, city officials said Sunday. The exhibitions, which opened Friday at three locations — Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Plaza and Cheonggyecheon — celebrate the 53-year-old novelist's Nobel Prize win and feature a curated selection of 10 works, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In addition to her books in the original language, the exhibitions feature transl

Books Oct. 13, 2024

Since Han Kang became the first South Korean novelist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, her works, especially limited editions, have become valuable premiums on the secondary market. As of Sunday, a hand-signed first edition of Han Kang's 2007 essay collection, "Quietly Sung Songs" was listed for a 700,000 won ($518), on Junggonara, an online secondary market platform. Another user on the same platform posted a purchase request for the first edition of Han Kang's "

Books Oct. 13, 2024

Purchasing behavior is a complex decision-making process, but for some consumers, one factor plays a crucial role -- fun. These individuals, known as "funsumers" in Korea, prioritize enjoyable and engaging experiences in all aspects of brand interaction, from buying products and attending events to social media consumption. The long-term viability of this trend is questionable. Yet one thing seems certain: brands are constantly innovating to keep consumers entertained and, consequently

Hashtag Korea Oct. 12, 2024

Gyeonggi Province has initiated temperament tests for dogs with aggressive traits on Thursday, as part of the new ownership approval process aimed at enhancing public safety and promoting responsible ownership. According to provincial government officials, the province's initial evaluation Thursday includes only three dogs, but a total of 549 registered dangerous dogs must be assessed within the next two weeks, as the six-month deadline for obtaining ownership permission approaches on Oct

Social Affairs Oct. 10, 2024

What does it mean to be a visual content creator, such as a webtoon creator, emoji designer or cartoonist? How do these artists, whose work is part of our daily lives, draw their inspiration? A trio of visual artists -- Koo Ji-min, known by her alias, Koohie, Hong In-hye, also known as Lunapark, and Kim Ha-na -- explored the meaning of being a visual content creator at the Herald Design Forum 2024, held Tuesday at the Floating Island Convention Center on the Han River in Seoul. During the spec

Arts & Design Oct. 9, 2024

"Design is not only artwork, but also an experience that integrates technology, creativity and content," Johnny Lee, founder of iStaging, a Taipei-based tech firm specializing in virtual reality solutions, said during his speech at The Herald Design Forum 2024, held at the Floating Island Convention Center on the Han River, Seoul, Tuesday. In his special lecture, "Designing a Journey to See Imagination through XR," Lee outlined the guiding principles behind his approach to

Arts & Design Oct. 9, 2024

Nearly two-thirds of Korean women who gave birth last year did so via cesarean section, data shows. According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, obtained and released Thursday by the ruling People Power Party Rep. Kim Mi-ae, the proportion of women undergoing surgical delivery stood at 64.2 percent last year. The data highlights a consistent rise in C-section deliveries over the past five years, from 51.1 percent in 2019 to 61.6 percent in 2022. The upward incline continued in

Social Affairs Oct. 5, 2024

South Korea, already plagued with the world's highest suicide rate, saw an on-year uptick in suicide cases last year, reversing a short-lived downward trend, data shows Friday. According to the state-run Statistics Korea, 13,978 people took their own lives last year, which translates to 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people. This marks an 8.5 percent increase from the 2022 figure of 25.2 deaths. This increase follows a one-year decline between 2021 and 2022, when the rate dropped from 26 to 25.2

Social Affairs Oct. 4, 2024

To what extent does design shape experiences in virtual worlds? For Johnny Lee, in an era where extended realities, or XR, dissolve barriers of physical space and time, design -- whether technological or virtual space design -- is “crucial.” With a background in engineering and years of entrepreneurial experience, Lee balances the roles of engineer and designer at iStaging -- a Taipei-based company specializing in virtual reality solutions he founded in 2015. Lee, who is also the c

Arts & Design Oct. 1, 2024

In a move that highlights the seriousness of the country’s college admission competition, a South Korean lawmaker proposed Monday a ban on private academies tutoring elementary students for medical college admission. Announcing the submission to the National Assembly of the bill, Rep. Kang Kyung-sook said the law was failing to protect children from the unbridled growth of private tutoring academies, known as hagwon, that teach subjects like calculus as early as five years ahead of the pub

Social Affairs Sept. 30, 2024

Around 20 wild boars unsettled a hillside village in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, prompting a hunt that resulted in the killing of three boars by Wednesday noon, authorities said. According to Chungcheongnam-do Fire Headquarters, the initial report was made to the 119 emergency operations center at 8:05 a.m., alerting them to the sighting of dozens of wild boars rushing down from the mountain in Unjeong-ri, Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province. The call prompted the immediate dispatch

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2024

In South Korea, where English education is highly valued, the cost of preschools providing English immersive education outstrips that of college tuition by a wide margin, according to a local civic group. The Seoul-based World Without Worry About Private Education said in its report released Wednesday that the average yearly fees for "English kindergartens" in Seoul amounted to 15.72 million won ($11,800) in 2023 -- 2.3 times higher than the average annual university tuition of 6.78 mi

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2024