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Temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius in greater Seoul area

A heat wave continued to grip Korea on Sunday, with daytime highs in Seoul reaching 38 degrees Celsius and parts of Gyeonggi Province exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, the state weather agency said. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the temperature for Seoul hit 38 degrees Celsius at around 3:35 p.m., marking one of the hottest days ever recorded in the capital region. It was only the ninth time since modern meteorological observations began in the city in October 1907 that the temperature has reached or surpassed 38 degrees Celsius. Anseong in Gyeonggi Province also saw the temperature hit 40.6 degrees Celsius at 4:46 p.m. based on data from the KMA's automated weather stations. It was the first time temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius since July 8, when those in the western cities of Gwangmyeong and Paju soared above 40 degrees Celsius. The sweltering weather is forecast to continue across most parts of Korea on Monday. In Seoul, daytime highs are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius, while other major cities, such as Suwon, Daejeon and Cheongju, are forecast to see high

Jul 27, 2025By Yonhap
Temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius in greater Seoul area

Korean fathers increasingly take paternity leave amid demographic crisis

A record number of Korean men are opting for paternity leave in a notable cultural shift, government data showed Sunday, as the country faces an intensifying demographic crisis driven by one of the world’s lowest birthrates. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 95,064 workers began receiving parental leave benefits between January and June this year, marking a 37.4 percent jump from the same period in 2023. Of these, 34,645 — roughly 36.4 percent — were men, the highest proportion in Korean history, and up 54.2 percent from last year. The figures exclude civil servants and teachers not covered under the national employment insurance program, indicating the true number is likely even higher. The share of male parental leave recipients has climbed steadily from 13.4 percent in 2017 to 31.6 percent last year, with a dramatic leap to 36.4 percent in the first half of 2024. Authorities attribute the surge to improved parental leave policies and expanded financial incentives. Recent reforms extended the "6+6 Parental Leave" program, granting both parents up to six months of

Jul 27, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Korean fathers increasingly take paternity leave amid demographic crisis

Korean brick factory faces sanctions after shocking abuse of foreign worker

Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor is moving to revoke the foreign worker employment permit from a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, in response to revelations of severe human rights abuse in which a Sri Lankan worker was tied to a load of bricks by his co-workers and hoisted into the air by a forklift. The ministry plans to impose the strictest penalty available under the labor law, banning the business from hiring migrant workers for up to three years. The ministry also vowed to intensify its investigation, focusing on workplace harassment, wage violations and breaches of industrial safety law. Inspection will extend to worker living conditions, compliance with employment regulations regarding migrant workers and the condition of provided dormitories. On Feb. 26, a 31-year-old Sri Lankan national was bullied by his Korean colleagues while tied to a load of bricks with plastic wrap and being lifted by a forklift. He entered Korea in December under the E-9 visa employment program, which permits a three-year stay for nonprofessional migrant workers. After the incident,

Jul 27, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Korean brick factory faces sanctions after shocking abuse of foreign worker

Korea's flight delay rate slightly rises to 23.6% in first half

Nearly one in four flights operated by Korean airlines in the first half of the year experienced delays in their departures or arrivals, data showed Sunday. The average delay rate for domestic and international flights operated by 10 domestic airlines from January to June stood at 23.6 percent, according to the data from the transport ministry and Korea Airports Corp. Of the 329,736 flights operated in the first half, 77,700 were delayed. A flight is considered delayed when it departs or arrives 15 minutes past its scheduled time. The delay rate for the first half marks a 1 percentage point increase from the same period last year. The delay rate for international flights gained 3.1 percentage points over the cited period, while that of domestic flights dropped by 1.4 percentage points, the data showed. The increase in the delay rate was partly attributed to a record number of international flights in the first half of the year, which stood at 264,254, leading to airport congestion, along with frequent turbulence and airspace restrictions on international flight paths. By airline, Air Seou

Jul 27, 2025By Yonhap
Korea's flight delay rate slightly rises to 23.6% in first half

Migrants face online harassment after posting gov’t aid coupons online

A naturalized woman who migrated to Korea through marriage has faced xenophobic backlash after sharing photos of government-issued cash handouts on social media. The incident comes amid the launch of the nationwide stimulus program, which began distributing relief vouchers on Monday to all Korean citizens residing in the country in an effort to boost domestic spending. A Cambodian-born woman who recently obtained Korean citizenship posted a photo on social media of prepaid cards she received from the government, accompanied by the caption, “Thank you, Korea.” The image showed one card valued at 450,000 won ($327) and two additional cards worth 200,000 won each, totaling 850,000 won. The woman reportedly received 400,000 won as a basic livelihood security beneficiary, plus an additional 50,000 won for residing in a sparsely populated rural area. The two 200,000 won cards appear to have been issued for her spouse and child. After the post circulated online, it sparked a wave of hate and harsh criticism. Comments such as “Give back my taxes,” “What did she do for Korea to receive 8

Jul 26, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Migrants face online harassment after posting gov’t aid coupons online

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKBack to training in South Korea's reserve forces

It began with a curious observation: young men in military camouflage, not with the brisk stride of active-duty soldiers but a more relaxed presence, often seen lingering near Seoul's bustling subway stations or bus stops. It was a familiar uniform, one that I, too, had worn as an Air Force military police officer between 2017 and 2019. Within a short time, I would gain an intimate understanding of their quiet patterns, as I was recalled to duty. This recurring scene reflects a fundamental reality of Korean life: For every able-bodied man, military service extends far beyond mandatory active duty. For eight years afterward, former soldiers remain obligated to fulfill mandatory reserve duty, returning periodically for training in a cycle that keeps the nation perpetually prepared. With more than 2 million reservists, South Korea has one of the largest reserve forces in the world. Men who complete active duty must attend annual training for the first six years after their discharge. The number and type of sessions vary depending on factors like unit assignment and years of service. As my r

Jul 26, 2025By Park Ung
Back to training in South Korea's reserve forces

Gov’t moves to end medical standoff, but backlash grows over preferential treatment

The government is stepping up efforts to resolve a nearly 17-month standoff with trainee doctors and medical students over plans to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 students as officials offer a path forward for striking students and begin talks with trainee doctors who have walked off the job. The former Yoon Suk Yeol administration's bid to increase medical school admissions, citing an urgent doctor shortage amid a rapidly aging population, triggered a fierce backlash from thousands of medical students and trainee doctors. They argued the issue stemmed from poor working conditions and uneven physician distribution, not numbers, leading to mass walkouts that severely strained the nation's health care system. A consultative body focused on improving training conditions for trainee doctors held its inaugural meeting on Friday. The move is viewed as a crucial step toward stabilizing the country’s health care system. During the inaugural session, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to develop a reinstatement strategy for striking resident doctors that aligns wit

Jul 25, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Gov’t moves to end medical standoff, but backlash grows over preferential treatment

More than 560,000 young Koreans spend over a year searching for jobs: data

More than 560,000 young Koreans have remained jobless one year after their graduation, data showed Thursday, while nearly half of them have been searching for jobs to no avail for over three years. According to the data from Statistics Korea, the number of employed youths, people aged 15-29 years, came to 3.67 million as of May, a drop of 150,000 from a year earlier. The statistics agency explained that the youth employment rate has been on a downward trend amid a shrinking population in the age group, as well as a prolonged slump in the construction and manufacturing sectors, noting the number of people in the age group who have finished their education fell 192,000 to some 4.17 million over the cited period. The number of people who remained unemployed for over a year since their graduation also dipped by 23,000 to 565,000 as of May, but their proportion among those unemployed gained 1 percentage point to 46.6 percent, according to the data. Of those unemployed, about 230,000 have remained jobless for more than three years, accounting for 18.9 percent of the total, up from 18.5 percent

Jul 24, 2025By Yonhap
More than 560,000 young Koreans spend over a year searching for jobs: data

BOK to issue commemorative coins marking 80th anniv. of Korea's liberation

The central bank said Thursday that it will issue commemorative coins to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Two types of commemorative coins will be issued "to inspire patriotism and national pride, and to convey a message of unity and hope," as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's independence, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The BOK will accept purchase applications from Aug. 11 through Sept. 2 and will begin distributing the coins in late October, it added.

Jul 24, 2025By Yonhap
BOK to issue commemorative coins marking 80th anniv. of Korea's liberation

Enduring impact of ‘gapjil’ in Korean society’s power dynamics

A uniquely Korean concept has long shaped the country’s fraught power dynamics. Known as “gapjil” — a term derived from “gap,” denoting the dominant party in a contract, and “jil,” meaning undesirable behavior — it refers to the abuse of authority by those in senior social or professional roles, often through bullying, public humiliation or arbitrary demands. Though not new, such behavior has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks. One prominent recent example involves Rep. Kang Sun-woo, nominee for minister of gender equality and family. She faced accusations of forcing her aides to perform personal errands, including household repairs like fixing a toilet and managing food waste disposal — tasks far outside their professional duties. Following days of intensifying controversy, Kang withdrew her candidacy on Wednesday. “I apologize to the public for the pain I have caused. I will humbly accept this stern rebuke and reflect deeply,” she wrote in a statement posted on social media. A recent nationwide poll of 2,002 adults by Jowon CNI found that 60.2 percent v

Jul 24, 2025By Park Ung
Enduring impact of ‘gapjil’ in Korean society’s power dynamics
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