South Korea pays just a quarter of US drug prices: report

Prescription drug prices in South Korea are among the lowest in the developed world, with Koreans paying just 25.6 percent of what Americans pay on average for the same medicines, according to new data released by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization. The analysis, published Monday by KoreaBIO’s Bio-Economic Research Center, compares 2022 prescription drug prices across 33 OECD member countries. Based on a February 2024 study by the RAND Corporation, supported by the US Department of He

Aug. 5, 2025

Why some Koreans considered iPhone ‘half-baked’ until it could replace their wallet and record calls

For more than a decade, a certain group of South Korean iPhone users passed around the same dry joke online: features like Apple Pay, call recording and transit card support would "only come to iPhone after unification with North Korea." The comparison wasn’t literal. It was a way of saying these features felt so delayed that they belonged to the realm of the near impossible. But as of now, that punchline has expired. On July 22, Apple and T-money officially launched support for Korea’s nationwi

July 28, 2025

For 1st time, more jobless college grads than middle school grads in South Korea

More South Koreans with college degrees are now out of the workforce than those who only finished middle school. It is the first time this has happened, and it reveals a growing fault line in the country’s labor market. New data released by Statistics Korea on Tuesday showed that 3.048 million people aged 15 and older with a four-year university degree or higher are not working and not looking for work. That number now slightly surpasses the 3.03 million among those whose education stopped at mi

July 26, 2025

LG Uplus unveils new lineup of foreigner-specific mobile plans

LG Uplus has rolled out a set of limited-time promotional mobile plans designed exclusively for foreign residents, offering generous international calling, data, and roaming perks tailored to their everyday needs. The new lineup, unveiled on Wednesday, includes seven monthly plans ranging from 37,000 won to 85,000 won (approximately $27 to $62). All plans come with free international calling of up to 90 minutes per month, as well as enhanced roaming benefits when subscribers travel abroad. Custo

July 24, 2025

South Korea’s health insurance crackdown reduces foreign dependents

A year after South Korea introduced stricter health insurance rules for foreign residents, misuse of the system has noticeably dropped, especially among Chinese nationals. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of Chinese dependents enrolled under Korea’s national health insurance fell from 111,059 in March 2024 to 106,243 in March 2025. That is a decrease of nearly 5,000 people within one year. The policy change was introduced amid growing concerns that foreign nationals

July 23, 2025

Korean students' motivation to study English drops as AI tools rise: report

An increasing number of middle school students in South Korea are asking whether they need to study English at all, now that artificial intelligence can do the work for them. A new government report shows a clear drop in student motivation to learn English, and education officials posit that the widespread use of AI-powered translation apps is playing a key role. According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Achievement, released Tuesday by South Korea’s Ministry of Education and the

July 23, 2025

Han River turns brown as dam flow hits Seoul

Following days of record-setting rainfall across South Korea, the Han River turned a deep brown Tuesday as sediment-heavy floodwaters surged through Seoul. The shift in color and water levels was triggered by a massive discharge from Paldang Dam, a key facility east of the capital. On Sunday morning, the dam released water at a peak rate of 8,600 metric tons per second, according to the Ministry of Environment. By evening, outflow slowed to around 4,400 tons per second. Officials say the release

July 22, 2025

Officals warn of rise in fake 'Made in Korea' labels

A record wave of low-cost clothing from China is pouring into South Korea, and much of it is being illegally disguised as Korean-made. Last year, South Korea imported more Chinese apparel than ever before. According to the Korea Customs Service, the country brought in $4.83 billion worth of clothing from China, up 50 percent from 2020. With the rise in volume, the authorities are seeing a surge in a deceptive practice known in Korea as "label switching." Imported garments arrive with tags that s

July 22, 2025

Extreme rain events in South Korea quadrupled in the past decade, data shows

As South Korea faces its most extreme summer rainfall season in decades, new data shows dangerous downpours are no longer rare. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, there were 31 instances in the summer of 2024 where rainfall exceeded 80 millimeters in a single hour. That is nearly four times the number recorded in 2015, when just 8 such events occurred. While the yearly totals have fluctuated over the past decade, the KMA reports a clear overall increase. The agency also noted

July 22, 2025

Traditional Korean eateries disappear while franchise brands see steady growth

Traditional Korean restaurants are quietly vanishing across South Korea, even as global fascination with Korean food surges. Government data shows the share of Korean restaurants in the country has declined for six consecutive years, falling to 41.8 percent of all eateries in 2024, down from 45.6 percent in 2018. While Korean cuisine still accounts for the largest portion of dining establishments, its dominance is slipping. Meanwhile, Japanese, Western and Chinese restaurants, along with pizza,

July 21, 2025