The Korea Times

Korea sets ambitious goal of cutting suicide rate by 40% in 10 years

The Korean government on Friday announced a new initiative to tackle the country’s suicide rate, which remains the highest among OECD countries for the 22nd consecutive year, setting an ambitious goal of reducing it by nearly half in the next 10 years. Last year, more than 14,400 Koreans took their own lives ― an average of 40 deaths per day. Under the 2025 national suicide prevention strategy, the government set out to cut annual suicide deaths to below 10,000 within five years and to lower the suicide rate from 28.3 per 100,000 people in 2024 to 17 by 2034. Officials said they set the 2034 target by referencing Lithuania’s rate of 17.1, which is the second-highest among OECD member states. To reach these targets, authorities plan to intensify support and supervision, particularly for high-risk groups such as suicide attempt survivors and bereaved family members. “There were some reservations about setting the goal, but simply saying ‘we would make an effort’ was not enough, so we have decided to set a challenging goal,” Lee Hyung-hoon, second vice minister of health and

Sep 12, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Korea sets ambitious goal of cutting suicide rate by 40% in 10 years

Foreign Affairs

AI-powered translation to eliminate language barriers at APEC meetings

An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered interactive interpretation and translation system supporting the languages of all 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members will be installed throughout key locations during the upcoming APEC meetings in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The translation devices will be set up at 12 designated hotels for national leaders as well as major hubs including Gimhae International Airport, Gyeongju Station and the city’s main bus terminal for the events, set to begin at the end of October, according to city officials Friday. These devices can instantaneously translate conversations between individuals speaking any of the APEC languages. Each of the hotels will operate help desks staffed by professional interpreters dedicated to supporting government delegates with the Economic Leaders' Meeting set for Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. General participant hotels, grouped into zones of four or five, will be supported by similar help desks and interpreter services, ensuring summit-level hospitality across the board. To further support guests, the city has desig

Sep 12, 2025By Jung Min-ho

AI-powered translation to eliminate language barriers at APEC meetings

Global Community

Gov't moves to protect foreign victims of wage theft

The government is pushing to revise the Immigration Control Act to better protect foreign workers — including those without legal status — from losing wages and severance pay in an effort to strengthen human rights protections in the country. Officials say the Ministry of Justice is drafting a bill to add foreign workers who are victims of wage theft to the list of exemptions under Article 84. The article currently requires public officials to notify immigration authorities if they encounter migrants who are living in the country illegally. As a result, such workers are reluctant to report unpaid wages or other labor violations, fearing that doing so could expose their status and lead to deportation. Ministry officials believe this has contributed to widespread underreporting of labor abuses. “The purpose of this amendment is to strengthen protections for foreign workers, including undocumented migrants, by exempting public officials from the duty to notify immigration authorities in cases where they are identified during investigations into wage theft or other violations of labor

Sep 11, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Gov't moves to protect foreign victims of wage theft

Monthlong crackdown targets wage theft and abuse of foreign workers

Law & Crime

Woman vindicated 61 years later for resisting rapist

More than six decades after her conviction for defending herself against an attempted rapist, Choi Mal-ja has been acquitted in a landmark ruling that underscores a growing recognition in Korea of victims’ rights and the legitimacy of self-defense in cases of sexual violence. The Busan District Court on Wednesday ruled that Choi, who bit off part of her attacker’s tongue during a 1964 sexual assault attempt, acted in legitimate self-defense, closing a case that has resonated for decades as a symbol of women’s struggle for justice here. “She claimed self-defense regarding the act of biting the man’s tongue, and according to the records of this case, her actions are recognized as self-defense, so the charge of injury in this case is not sustained,” Judge Kim Hyun-soon said. “Thus, the defendant is not guilty.” Upon hearing the retrial ruling from the court, Choi, now 78, and women’s rights advocates burst into cheers and celebration. Outside the court, Choi received flowers from supporters and smiled. In a trembling voice, she declared, “Choi Mal-ja is not guilty.” In

Sep 10, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Woman vindicated 61 years later for resisting rapist

Foreign Affairs

Poll shows 6 in 10 Koreans say US raid on Georgia plant left them ‘disappointed’

A majority of Koreans said they were disappointed in the U.S. government following the recent mass detention of Korean workers at a battery plant in Georgia, a poll showed Tuesday. According to a survey of more than 500 adults recently conducted by Realmeter, 59.2 percent of respondents said they view the immigration crackdown on Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution’s factory site as “excessive” and expressed disappointment with the Donald Trump administration’s actions. Only 30.7 found the measures “understandable and inevitable.” The sense of frustration was particularly strong among self-identified liberals at 73.7 percent. Even among conservatives ― the staunchest supporters of the Seoul-Washington alliance ― only 53.9 percent said they “understand” the U.S. decision. This comes after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained 475 people — most of whom were Korean nationals, including skilled engineers — at the plant construction site on Thursday (local time), alleging that they were engaged in activities not permitted under their visas.

Sep 9, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Poll shows 6 in 10 Koreans say US raid on Georgia plant left them ‘disappointed’

Foreign Affairs

Seoul, Washington likely to seek visa rule changes for skilled Korean workers

Officials in Seoul and Washington have signaled a possible review of visa policies for foreign technical staff working in the U.S. after an immigration raid last week at a battery plant construction site in Georgia operated by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday (local time) that the United States maintains a “great” relationship with Korea and suggested his administration could allow some foreign manufacturing experts to help train American workers. Addressing the issue, Trump told reporters, “When they’re building batteries … if you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries, maybe we should help them along and let some people come in and train our people to do complex things, whether it’s battery manufacturing, computer manufacturing or building ships.” He added, “Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to legally bring your very smart people.” He then said that he would look at the “whole situation” in an apparent reference to visa-related issues that have hampered Korean bu

Sep 8, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Seoul, Washington likely to seek visa rule changes for skilled Korean workers

Environment & Animals

Environment ministry to take over energy policy in gov't reorganization

The Lee Jae Myung administration on Sunday announced a plan to consolidate energy and environment policy under one command, as it aims to strengthen Korea’s climate crisis response. The government reorganization plan, finalized following its meeting with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), reflects the administration’s commitment to climate action and green energy transition despite concerns about conflicting goals in one organization. Under the overhaul, the Ministry of Environment will be expanded with the tentative name of Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The new ministry will take over most energy policy responsibilities from the current Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy except for resource and nuclear industry policy. The new body will merge climate policy from the environment ministry and energy departments from the trade ministry, marking the first time the energy portfolio is transferred out of industry supervision. The reform is designed to strengthen the nation’s climate crisis response and accelerate the shift to renewable energy, as promised by

Sep 7, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Environment ministry to take over energy policy in gov't reorganization

Global Community

Undocumented ethnic Koreans eligible for new amnesty program

The government is launching a special amnesty program for undocumented ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality as part of broader immigration reform efforts. Starting this month, the Ministry of Justice has begun accepting applications for the program, which allows ethnic Koreans and their families to gain legal residency if they meet certain criteria. “This legalization policy is being implemented to grant residency status to ethnic Koreans with foreign nationality staying unlawfully, who demonstrate linguistic and cultural ties to Korea and a high potential for social integration, in order to promote the inclusion of fellow Koreans and revitalize the economy,” the Ministry of Justice said in a statement sent to The Korea Times recently. This is the first government initiative aimed specifically at undocumented ethnic Koreans. The ministry said it introduced the program for ethnic Koreans to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, adding that it seeks to “reembrace fellow Koreans who were forced to migrate or were taken overseas during the colo

Sep 4, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Undocumented ethnic Koreans eligible for new amnesty program

Buyeo county seeks reprieve for unregistered migrants to ease labor shortage

People & Events

Children’s TV show director wins Seoul Gender Equality Award

Lee Ji-hyun, a producer at EBS and longtime director of “Ding Dong Dang Kindergarten,” a popular children’s program, was awarded the 2025 Seoul Gender Equality Award’s Grand Prize for challenging traditional gender roles through her work. As part of the government-backed Gender Equality Week (Sept. 1–7), the Seoul Metropolitan Government held its annual conference on Tuesday to recognize individuals and organizations that have made notable contributions to advancing gender equality. The Grand Prize this year went to Lee for her pioneering work in planning and producing the first youth sex education episodes on public broadcasting and for promoting gender equality through children’s programming, such as “Ding Dong Dang Kindergarten” and “Earth Hero Thunder Man.” In “Earth Hero Thunder Man” and other shows, she introduced diverse characters such as girls who love sports, boys who enjoy reading, fathers on paternity leave and children from single-parent families, encouraging children to develop egalitarian and accepting attitudes. She also created special sex educat

Sep 4, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Children’s TV show director wins Seoul Gender Equality Award

Global Community

Monthlong crackdown targets wage theft and abuse of foreign workers

With rapidly increasing accounts of unpaid wages among foreign workers and disturbing new cases of workplace abuse emerging, the government will launch a four-week intensive crackdown at “high-risk” farms and factories in a bid to protect vulnerable noncitizen laborers. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday, the intensive inspection targeting businesses that employ large numbers of migrant workers will begin Thursday. This move follows inspections in the first half of this year, which covered 151 at-risk sites nationwide. However, recent incidents ― including harassment in a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province ― prompted the ministry to conduct additional inspections at 45 other worksites, mostly farms in Gangwon and the Jeolla provinces, officials said. One of the key focuses will be overdue wages, which have soared over the past year. As of June, unpaid wages owed to foreign workers reached 85.5 billion won ($61.3 million) ― a 51 percent increase from the same period last year. The ministry said it will enforce “stern” action for violatio

Sep 3, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

Korea sets ambitious goal of cutting suicide rate by 40% in 10 years

AI-powered translation to eliminate language barriers at APEC meetings

Gov't moves to protect foreign victims of wage theft

Woman vindicated 61 years later for resisting rapist

Poll shows 6 in 10 Koreans say US raid on Georgia plant left them ‘disappointed’

Seoul, Washington likely to seek visa rule changes for skilled Korean workers

Environment ministry to take over energy policy in gov't reorganization

Undocumented ethnic Koreans eligible for new amnesty program

Children’s TV show director wins Seoul Gender Equality Award

Monthlong crackdown targets wage theft and abuse of foreign workers

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