Change in government leaves foreign domestic worker program in limbo

South Korea’s pilot program for overseas domestic workers is now hanging in the balance, with no clear path forward after months of delays, labor disputes, and a new administration that had voiced skepticism about the system in the past. The Ministry of Employment and Labor had pledged to finalize a long-term version for the program by mid-2025, but nothing has been put forward. Vice Labor Minister and acting Minister Kim Min-seok said last Sunday that it "won't be easy" to expand beyond the pil

June 15, 2025

Can a city cure loneliness? Seoul is spending millions to try

In Seoul, you can call a city hotline at 3 a.m. just to say you feel lonely. You can walk into a “Maeum (Korean for 'heart') Convenience Store” to eat free ramyeon and talk with someone about the emptiness you’ve been carrying for months. These are not gimmicks. They are part of a sweeping five-year, 451.3 billion won ($330 million) effort by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to confront a crisis few cities have dared to name outright: loneliness. South Korea is facing a growing epidemic of soci

June 1, 2025

Seoul city to offer W1m to couples who register marriage

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday that newlyweds who register their marriage in the city will be offered 1 million won ($685) in cash, or an equivalent amount of cash points that can be used in local communities, starting from October. The plan is to support the newlyweds with subsidy in purchasing living appliances and furniture needed as they move into the house together, the city government said. Authorities said that they are currently in talks with the Ministry of Health and Wel

Feb. 9, 2025