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Koreans may have to pay as much as 25% of income for health benefits by 2072: report
South Koreans' financial burden for maintaining the National Health Insurance Service could rise to a quarter of income due to population aging and increasing life expectancy, a study showed Sunday. The study, carried out by Seoul National University's Tech-biz Innovation Platform, estimated the financial impact of population aging on the state-run health insurance. As of last year, South Korea officially became a "superaged" society by the United Nations' definition, as one out of every five Ko
July 27, 2025 -
S. Korea's flight delay rate slightly rises to 23.6% in first half
Nearly one in four flights operated by South Korean airlines in the first half of the year experienced delays in their departures or arrivals, data showed Sunday. The average delay rate for domestic and international flights operated by 10 domestic airlines from January to June stood at 23.6 percent, according to the data from the transport ministry and Korea Airports Corp. Of the 329,736 flights operated in the first half, 77,700 were delayed. A flight is considered delayed when it departs or a
July 27, 2025 -
Father dies after saving three children from drowning
A man in his 40s jumped into the sea to save three children including his own, but ended up drowning, in a tragic ending to a family trip to Jeju Island. According to the rescue officials and the Jeju Coast Guard, the incident occurred at around 2:26 p.m. on Friday off the coast of Jeju City, in the northern part of the island. The man's two children were playing in the water with their friend and got caught in the rising tides. The man jumped into the water and helped the three children climb o
July 27, 2025 -
No purchase needed: Businesses offer heat relief to the public
Amid the sweltering summer heat, commercial spaces such as convenience stores and banks in South Korea are opening their doors as cooling stations for the public. BGF Retail, the operator of CU convenience stores, said Thursday that its more than 18,000 branches nationwide will welcome all passersby, especially children, the elderly and pregnant women, to cool off without requiring a purchase. CU stores across the country began putting up signs about the policy on the same day. The latest campai
July 26, 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 -
Scorching heat continues to grip S. Korea; heat wave alert issued nationwide
Most regions in South Korea continued to experience scorching heat on Saturday, with heat wave alerts issued across the country. As of 1 p.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration had issued heat wave warnings for Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, the provinces of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong, and other areas. The KMA also issued heat wave advisories for other parts of the country, including some parts of the eastern Gangwon Province, most of the southern resort island of Jeju, and
July 26, 2025 -
3 injured after stabbing in Go salon
Three people were injured and transported to a hospital on Friday after a stabbing attack inside a Go salon in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, police said on Friday. Police nabbed a man in his 70s thought to be the suspect behind the attack inside the Go salon near Gireum Station of Seoul Subway Line No. 4. According to police, the incident took place at around 7:35 p.m. The two victims are believed to be men in their 60s. One sustained injuries to his stomach and the other in his hand. The suspect reported
July 25, 2025 -
2 Chinese men indicted for allegedly filming US aircraft carrier at naval base in S. Korea
Two Chinese men have been indicted on charges of illegally filming a US aircraft carrier and a South Korean naval base with a drone in the southeastern port city of Busan, legal sources said Friday. The Busan District Prosecutors Office recently indicted the two Chinese nationals -- both students in their 30s and 40s enrolled at a university in Busan -- on charges of benefiting an enemy and undermining national military interests. Under South Korean law, individuals convicted of such offenses ma
July 25, 2025 -
Fire sprinklers go off as extreme heat triggers false alarm
South Korea’s extreme heat wave managed to activate a sprinkler system during an indoor event in Gangjin-gun, South Jeolla Province, on Thursday, after a heat sensor triggered the fire alarm. The sudden activation drenched the venue and abruptly halted the event. According to the Gangjin-gun Office, the incident occurred at Baekwoondong Exhibition Hall during a talk session with the county chief when water unexpectedly began pouring from the ceiling sprinklers, despite there being no fire. Offic
July 25, 2025 -
Defiant medical students to return in fall semester; criticism of 'special treatment' grows
Medical school students who boycotted the previous administration’s medical school admissions plan will be allowed to return to school in the upcoming fall semester with few restrictions, the Ministry of Education said Friday. During its briefing, the Education Ministry announced that it would respect the decision submitted by the Korea Association of Medical Colleges earlier in the day to accept students wishing to return in the fall. The decision to switch from a year-based academic system to
July 25, 2025 -
Father who shot son with homemade gun at birthday party says he ‘felt betrayed’
A 62-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his son with a homemade firearm said had “felt betrayed” after being cut off financially by the family, local media reported Friday. According to multiple media reports, the suspect told profilers during a recent questioning that he had been receiving around 3 million won ($2,179) a month from the family business. The payments, made in the form of a salary, with him registered as an employee, stopped “at some point last year.” He had since relied on
July 25, 2025 -
Court orders Yoon to compensate 105 claimants for distress caused by martial law crisis
The Seoul Central District Court on Friday ruled that former President Yoon Suk Yeol pay a total of 105 million won ($75,300) combined to 105 citizens for causing them to suffer emotional distress due to the imposition of martial law. The ruling in the civil case was in favor of 105 citizens who filed a suit against Yoon, demanding that former president pay 100,000 won ($75.30) in compensation per person. “It is clear that the plaintiffs, who are members of the public, suffered pain expressed th
July 25, 2025 -
Nearly 600 deployed to flood zones for community service
Nearly 600 offenders sentenced to community service were dispatched to flood-stricken regions across South Korea this week to support recovery efforts, the Ministry of Justice said Friday. Between Monday and Thursday, a total of 594 workers were sent to the hardest-hit provinces, including Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang. Heavy rain swept across the country from July 16-20, causing flooding confirmed to have killed 24 people as of Friday morning. The four-day deplo
July 25, 2025 -
Special counsel raids multiple sites in probe into Kim Keon Hee
Investigators carried out raids on multiple locations Friday as part of a special investigation into South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee, including the residences and offices of Kim, her family members, and a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party. Led by special counsel Min Joong-ki, the investigators were looking for documents and digital records that would shed light on Kim’s suspected ties to shaman Jeon Seong-bae, more widely known as Geon Jin, and self-proclaimed pow
July 25, 2025 -
Heat alert upgraded to ‘serious', emergency system activated
Extreme heat is set to continue its grip on South Korea this weekend, with the peninsula caught between twin high-pressure systems. Adding to the intensity, three typhoons have formed nearby, raising concerns about their potential to worsen the ongoing heat wave. On Friday, the nation's heat alert level was lifted to "serious," as heat wave advisories and warnings were issued for most parts of the country. This prompted the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to activate the
July 25, 2025