National-news

South Korea’s Job Market Hits 27-Year Low in May as Hiring Slows

South Korea's labor market weakened sharply in May 2025, with the job openings-to-seekers ratio falling to 0.37—the lowest for May since 1998.

4 min read

South Korea’s New Leader Takes Office Amid Economic Despair and Social Polarization

As the dust settles from South Korea’s high-stakes snap election, President Lee Jae-myung inherits a deeply divided country where inflation, climate crisis, and social fragmentation have eroded public trust.

10 min read

Vacant Storefronts, Silent Streets: Inside the Crisis of Korea’s Planned Cities

South Korea’s planned cities were meant to offer modern urban life. Instead, they’re full of vacancy. This is a story about cities without citizens.

19 min read

Why SPC’s Bread Empire Is Built on a Pattern of Preventable Tragedy

As another fatal accident hits SPC, South Korea's food giant faces growing criticism over its safety record, legal impunity, and ethical blind spots.

10 min read

K-Melon Rises: How Korea’s Chamoe Is Poised for Global Fruit Fame

South Korea’s chamoe, once a domestic summer staple, is now winning over global consumers thanks to export breakthroughs and high-tech farming.

11 min read

SKT Data Breach Shows Why Korea Needs Punitive Damages

SK Telecom’s massive breach compromised more than personal data—it exposed the cryptographic backbone of South Korea’s mobile infrastructure. Now, experts warn, replacing SIM cards isn’t nearly enough.

18 min read

Why Sejong Still Isn’t Working

Sejong remains suspended between vision and execution — caught in legal ambiguity, administrative inefficiency, and real estate hype.

7 min read

South Korea Eases Redevelopment Rules Amid Deepening Housing Slump

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is expanding criteria for aging buildings and easing regulatory hurdles — a move that could accelerate long-stalled neighborhood overhauls, but also raises concerns about long-term housing equity and planning.

4 min read

Hyperloop or Hype? The High-Speed Trap in South Korea’s Transport Vision

South Korea’s plan to shrink the country with a 1,200 km/h train promises speed, sustainability, and regional revival. But if history is any guide, faster trains may only bring faster inequality.

7 min read

South Korea’s Medical Tourism Surges to Record 1.17 Million Foreign Patients in 2024

South Korea's healthcare diplomacy reached a new milestone in 2024, drawing over 1.17 million foreign patients—a 93% surge year-on-year. But as Seoul dominates and cosmetic care fuels demand, deeper questions arise over sustainability and public health equity

3 min read