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Wed, January 23, 2019 | 18:23

National > Labor & environment >

Long-term unemployment hits highest level in 18 years

The number of long-term unemployed jobseekers, those unable to find work for over six months, exceeded 150,000 in the first quarter of this year, the highest tallied in 18 years, Statistics Korea said Wednesday. The latest data showed a total of 1.181 million people did not have a job in the three month period.

Labor & environment | 2018-04-18 15:12

Gov't embraces insects to feed on mounds of food waste

The South Korean government has embraced a rare yet effective, eco-friendly method of disposing of food waste, vowing to expand infrastructure for “ptecticus tenebrifer,” a flying insect that feeds on waste when in a larva state.

Labor & environment | 2018-04-18 10:09

Uijeongbu city demands gov't examine soil contamination at former U.S. military base site

The city government of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, has demanded the defense ministry conduct an examination into soil contamination at a former U.S. military base site in the city, officials said Tuesday. The Uijeongbu city government bought the former Camp Sears site from the defense ministry in 2012 after the land was returned to the ministry in 2007 under a base consolidati...

Labor & environment | 2018-04-17 16:21

Vacation bonus initiative gaining popularity

The government's plan to support workers' vacations that offers subsidies is receiving rave reviews as more than 15,000 workers have applied to benefit from it. Under the initiative, if an employee and an employer pay 200,000 won and 100,000 won, respectively, to set up a vacation fund, the government gives 100,000 won to it, meaning the worker will eventually have a “vacatio...

Labor & environment | 2018-04-17 14:19

Jirisan Asiatic black bears reach self-sustaining level

The number of Asiatic black bears on Mt. Jiri has reached 56, surpassing the minimum self-sustaining number of 50. The national park announced last week that 11 cubs were born from eight mother bears last winter. Eight out of the cubs were born in the wild from six mother bears. Park rangers confirmed two mother bears hibernating with two cubs respectively during its winter c...

Labor & environment | 2018-04-16 17:00

Gov't launches drones to tackle air pollution

The government will use drones to detect industrial plants discharging toxic gaseous byproducts without proper filtration treatment in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. This is part of continued efforts to combat air pollution, a growing health threat further compounded by fine dust.

Labor & environment | 2018-04-15 20:26

Fine dust engulfs Korea as toxic particles blow in from China

The state weather agency issued a fine dust warning in Gwangju, Jeju Island and other southern parts of the country on Sunday as toxic yellow dust blew in from China. A pro baseball game in Gwangju was canceled. The fine dust index also plunged to “bad” or `“seriously bad” in other areas.

Labor & environment | 2018-04-15 16:13

Gov't launches drones to tackle air pollution

Gov't gets tough on fine dust cosmetics

Makeup items claiming to prevent fine dust from damaging skin - “anti-pollution” cosmetics - are the subject of stricter South Korean government tests to raise reliability for consumers.

Labor & environment | 2018-04-11 15:02

Consumers, farmers demand food labels list GMO ingredients

Hundreds of farmers, consumers and environmental activists gathered in front of the Government Complex in Seoul Tuesday to demand that food labeling list genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Labor & environment | 2018-04-10 16:08

More fine dust warnings issued this year: data

More fine dust warnings have been issued in South Korea's central region so far this year than for the same period in 2017 amid growing public concerns over air quality, provincial government data showed Tuesday. South Korea has been struggling to deal with fine dust particles from both home and coming in from China, as well as yellow dust from Mongolia during the winter and ...

Labor & environment | 2018-04-10 14:16

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