South Korea Society & Public Affairs

In-depth coverage of South Korean society, including demographics, labor, education, housing, and social issues.

Incheon Logistics Center Fire Started in Box at Loading Dock

A fire at an Incheon logistics center began in a box near a conveyor belt at the loading dock and was extinguished after 7 hours and 30 minutes....

Published 2026.09.19. 10:23:13 |

Seoul Cafe Drops 'No Chinese Guests' Policy After Rights Complaint

A Seongsu-dong cafe withdrew a "no Chinese guests" policy after Korea's rights commission opened a discrimination inquiry....

Published 2026.09.19. 09:04:21 |

Gyeonggi Offers Six Night Spots for Chuseok Strolls

Gyeonggi Tourism Organization recommends six nighttime attractions for Chuseok, from Suwon's palace moonlight to media art on Pocheon's Hantan River....

Published 2026.09.19. 09:00:05 |

When Is Price-Setting Through Trade Groups Legal?

Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings — BMI and NCAA — show when trade groups may set prices jointly and when doing so breaks antitrust law....

Published 2026.09.19. 09:00:05 |

Prostitution Moves Online as Arrests Fall 90% in 15 Years

Arrests under Korea's prostitution law fell 89% to 7,468 in 2024, but researchers say the trade has moved online rather than shrunk....

Published 2026.09.19. 09:00:05 |

Woman Loses 35 Million Won to Scammer Posing as Actor Lee Dong-wook

A woman in her 30s sent 35 million won to a scammer posing as actor Lee Dong-wook over eight months, believing they were dating....

Published 2026.09.19. 08:47:14 |

Uiryeong Opens 7.1-Hectare Autumn Flower Park Along Namgang River

Uiryeong County opens a 7.1-hectare autumn flower park along the Namgang River from the 24th through Oct. 25, with a festival opening Sept. 27....

Published 2026.09.19. 08:00:05 |

Light and Spirits Transform Hantan River Into Nighttime Art Park

Hantan River Media Park's "Terra Fantasia" in Pocheon turns a UNESCO Global Geopark into a nighttime light show built around four nature spirits....

Published 2026.09.19. 08:00:05 |

Honam Launches Nine Multi-Day Travel Packages for Autumn

Jeonnam-Gwangju has launched nine stay-type travel packages for Honam, linking the Yeosu World Island Expo and the Gwangju Biennale, at 15% to 25% off...

Published 2026.09.19. 08:00:05 |

Swiss Teen Hands Out Flyers in Jinhae to Find His Mother's Korean Family

Joshua Birchi, 19, returns to Changwon each year to find the birth family of his mother, Cha Il-sook, adopted from Jinhae to Switzerland in 1968....

Published 2026.09.19. 07:49:17 | Updated 2026.09.19. 08:52:39 |

Prosecutors Seek 7 Years for Officers in Martial Law 'Burger Meeting'

Special prosecutors sought seven-year prison terms for two former brigadier generals in the martial law "burger meeting" case, with a verdict set for ...

Published 2026.09.19. 07:30:02 |

Phones Registered Under Others' Identities Resurface in Korea as Crime Rings Shift to Major Carriers

Police detected 265,447 phones registered under others' identities in South Korea over six years, with crime rings now shifting from budget carriers t...

Published 2026.09.19. 06:30:05 |

Korea's Holidays Are Changing: Fewer Trips Home, Fewer Ancestral Rites

Only 27.3% of Korean households plan Chuseok ancestral rites in 2026, down from 74.4% in 2016, as hotel stays and travel replace trips home....

Published 2026.09.19. 06:00:05 |

Mostly Clear Across Korea Saturday, Rain on East Coast and Jeju

Korea will be mostly clear Saturday, with rain on the east coast and Jeju and highs of 24-30 degrees Celsius....

Published 2026.09.19. 05:00:05 |

Korean Army Sergeant Gets 4 Years for Leaking Secrets to China

South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a four-year prison term for an army sergeant who leaked military secrets to China for about 18 million won....

Published 2026.09.19. 05:00:05 |

Police Catch Six Who Posed as Wedding Guests to Pocket Gift Cash

Busan police referred six people to prosecutors for posing as wedding guests and collecting about 770,000 won in thank-you cash and meal vouchers....

Published 2026.09.19. 24:32:05 | Updated 2026.09.19. 24:52:32 |

Passenger Who Spat at Bus Driver Over Drink Warning Gets 6 Months

A man in his 70s was jailed for six months for spitting at a Seoul bus driver who told him not to board with a drink....

Published 2026.09.19. 24:00:05 |

Incheon Warehouse Fire Contained After Seven Hours, No Injuries

A fire at an Incheon logistics center forced 34 people to evacuate and took seven hours to contain, with no injuries reported....

Published 2026.09.18. 22:17:32 |

Drugs Disguised as Tea Packets Wash Up on Jeju Coast for 23rd Time

Ketamine disguised as a tea packet washed up at Gwangchigi Beach in Jeju, the 23rd such case since last September, with 40 kilograms recovered so far....

Published 2026.09.18. 21:44:16 |

Court Halts Ruling Ordering POSCO to Bargain With Subcontractor Unions

A Seoul court suspended a labor commission decision requiring POSCO to bargain separately with subcontractor unions, the first such ruling for an empl...

Published 2026.09.18. 20:29:07 |