National-news

Loaf of bread in Korea costs nearly double Japan and more than France

International comparisons show Korea leading regional price charts as the market lacks low cost supermarket anchors.

3 min read

Lotte Card Breach Shows Korea’s Limits on Punitive Damages and Accountability

The 2025 Lotte Card breach, the company’s third major exposure in fifteen years, reveals how Korean financial institutions remain trapped in a cycle of weak enforcement, delayed detection, and eroding consumer trust.

12 min read

Korea’s Tattooist Act: From Legal Gray Zone to Public Health Regulation

Korea is moving to legalize tattooing under a strict public health framework, introducing licensing, safety rules, and oversight after decades in the shadows.

6 min read

Connected but Unprotected: South Korea’s Seniors and the Digital Dilemma

Smartphone ownership among South Koreans over 65 is among the highest in the world. But heavy reliance on YouTube and KakaoTalk has left seniors vulnerable to misinformation, fueling political polarization and intergenerational tensions.

11 min read

Climate Change and the City: Why Shade is the New Infrastructure

In August heat, even a short walk can feel punishing. Yet many of Korea’s new towns offer little shade. As climate change stretches summers and intensifies heat, the simple act of walking demands a new vision of urban planning.

6 min read

Korean Teens, Short-Form Algorithms, and the Rise of Extremist Humor

How Korea’s teens are being shaped by short-form feeds, hate memes, and algorithms—impacting focus, empathy, and social attitudes.

13 min read

Unchecked Regenerative Clinics Challenge Korea’s Medical System

A 2024 revision of Korea's regenerative medicine law widened access to experimental treatments, but left critical oversight structures incomplete — exposing both patients and insurers to risk.

8 min read

South Korea Reverses AI Textbook Policy After Public and Legal Pushback

South Korea has officially removed AI textbooks from its national curriculum, following technical failures, legal confusion, and mounting public opposition after just one semester of use.

5 min read

Why Korea’s Premium Apartment Services Are Disappearing After Move-In

Luxury apartment complexes in South Korea promised hotel-style amenities like daily breakfast and curated community spaces. But behind the marketing lies a fragile model that is unraveling under cost, conflict, and neglect.

7 min read

No Patch for Complacency: What the SKT, Yes24, and SGI Hacks Reveal

A telecom giant, a cultural platform, and a state-backed financial guarantor—all paralyzed by basic cyberattacks. The real problem isn’t cutting-edge hackers. It’s a security culture that lags far behind the systems it’s meant to protect.

6 min read

How South Korea’s Credit-Based High School System Went Off Track

South Korea’s high school credit system promised flexibility and student choice. But staffing gaps, grading flaws, and private consulting are undermining reform.

7 min read

Who Really Wrote Your Student Record?

As AI becomes a quiet co-author in South Korea’s school evaluations, universities are asking a new question: is this a teacher’s voice—or a machine’s?

7 min read