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3 out of 4 jobless young people say cannot find quality jobs: survey

More than three out of four unemployed young Koreans believe there is a lack of quality employment opportunities in the country, a survey showed Tuesday. According to the poll by the Federation of Korean Industries, 76.4 percent of respondents said that quality job opportunities were lacking in the country. Specifically, 42.6 percent said quality positions were "somewhat lacking," and 33.8 percent said they were "severely lacking." Only 1.2 percent responded that such opportunities were "mostly sufficient" or "fully sufficient." The survey was conducted from April 7-10 on 500 unemployed individuals aged 19 to 34. When asked about factors contributing to a quality job position, 31.8 percent cited salary level, followed by job security and work-life balance, at 17.9 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively. On average, respondents said they hoped to earn at least 34.68 million won ($24,397) annually before taxes. Among unemployed youths not actively seeking employment, 19.6 percent said they were currently preparing for certifications or exams, while 17.3 percent cited a lack of suitable job o

Apr 22, 2025By Yonhap

3 out of 4 jobless young people say cannot find quality jobs: survey

Interview'Don’t wait until we are all gone': Former sex slaves demand justice now

Lee Young-soo slams stalled reparations, saying justice can’t come from silence money With only seven known survivors of Japan’s wartime sex slavery still alive in Korea, the urgency to resolve the issue is mounting. For 97-year-old Lee Young-soo, one of the most vocal advocates among the victims, which Japan euphemistically calls "comfort women," time is running out — but justice still feels out of reach. During World War II, the Japanese military forcibly conscripted tens of thousands of young women to serve as sex slaves for soldiers on the front lines. Many were deceived with false promises of employment or education, only to endure relentless sexual violence, physical abuse and deep, lasting psychological trauma. Even at nearly 100 years old, Lee vividly remembers the moment she was abducted when she was just 14 years old. That night, while sleeping at her home, she noticed a soldier pressing down on a young girl’s neck outside of her house. The girl began signaling to her. "At first, I thought she was just trying to get my attention for fun," Lee recalled. But when she stepped

Apr 22, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

'Don’t wait until we are all gone': Former sex slaves demand justice now

Korean Catholic leaders offer tributes to Pope Francis

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul wished Pope Francis, who died at the age 88 on Monday, eternal peace. "Even though we say farewell to him, we should continue his love and sacrifice by practicing the gospel in our lives," he said, offering a message of condolence over the pope's death. He also noted the pope's lifelong dedication to the socially vulnerable, introducing examples like choosing the refugee-populated island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea as his first pastoral destination and celebrating his first Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony at a juvenile detention center. The archbishop also recalled the pope's beatification ceremony for Korean church martyrs in Korea during his 2014 visit — the first time such a ceremony was held outside Rome. He suggested praying for the pontiff "with whole hearts," recalling his lifelong request that worshipers pray for him. Lee Yong-Hoon, chairman of the Korean Catholic Bishops' Conference, also expressed his sorrow over Pope Francis' death. "I confess all the time with the pope was full of hope and wish him eternal peace with Go

Apr 21, 2025By Yonhap

Korean Catholic leaders offer tributes to Pope Francis

Pontiff remembered in Korea for compassion, message of peace

The death of Pope Francis, who had long yearned for peace on the divided Korean Peninsula, triggered deep mourning among South Koreans on Monday. Even non-Catholics regarded the pontiff as a spiritual leader who showed deep compassion and a special affection for the country. He chose South Korea as his first destination in Asia after becoming pope in 2013 and appointed half of all Korean cardinals to date. Under his leadership, Seoul was chosen as the host city for the 2027 World Youth Day. He also maintained close communication with South Korean presidents, consistently showing a strong interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations. During his five-day visit to South Korea in 2014, he met with those who were suffering or marginalized, including victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery — euphemistically referred to as "comfort women" — as well as people with disabilities. He comforted them and brought hope to Korean society, with his humble and modest demeanor, leaving a lasting impression on many. "I wanted to meet him again and thank him in person," Kim Young

Apr 21, 2025By Yonhap

Pontiff remembered in Korea for compassion, message of peace

Disability advocacy group resumes controversial subway protests

For the first time in over a year, the national disability advocacy group Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) staged a subway protest during Monday's morning rush hour, once again demanding improvements in accessibility for people with disabilities. “We have waited for a year and asked the National Assembly to create policies to protect the rights of people with disabilities. Despite submitting budget proposals, none have been passed. We will return to the subway during the morning commute,” said SADD leader Park Kyung-seok. The platforms at Hyehwa Station erupted into chaos as around 200 protesters clashed with Seoul Metro employees at 8:45 a.m., causing a tense standoff during the morning rush hour. Seoul Metro, the public enterprise that operates subway lines 1 to 8, ordered trains to bypass Hyehwa Station between 9:02 a.m. and 9:24 a.m. The protest ended around 9:28 a.m. after both parties reached an agreement. The protesters then boarded a train bound for the National Assembly, where they planned to deliver policy proposals to political parties and hold another r

Apr 21, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Disability advocacy group resumes controversial subway protests

Plastic bags for batteries? Korea's airport rule sparks debate

Airport security officers in Korea may soon add another essential item to their toolkit alongside hand-held metal detectors and inspection gloves: plastic bags. Since last month, passengers are required to carry their batteries in bags during flights to by shield the terminals from contact with other items, as part of measures to prevent potential fires from batteries without short-circuit protection. For those who forget to do so, screeners at security checks will provide passengers with plastic bags, according to guidelines the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued recently to airport authorities. This measure followed a blaze aboard an Air Busan flight in January. It is believed a battery stored in an overhead bin ignited just before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport, forcing the emergency evacuation of all 176 passengers and crew. The ministry’s directive quickly drew criticism, with the most pressing question: Are plastic bags truly effective in preventing battery fires? “Handing out plastic bags is completely pointless,” Lee Yong-kang, a professor of avia

Apr 21, 2025By Park Ung

Plastic bags for batteries? Korea's airport rule sparks debate

Court backs alternative spellings in passport romanization dispute

A Korean court has ruled that authorities were wrong to deny a passport spelling request simply because it did not conform to the government’s romanization guidelines, saying the policy is not legally binding. According to legal sources on Monday, Judge Kang Jae-won of the Seoul Administrative Court recently sided with the parents of a five-year-old girl, identified as A, who filed a lawsuit against the foreign minister after being denied the right to use “TA” as the English spelling of the syllable “태” in her passport, which is romanized as "tae" in the 2000 Revised Romanization system used by the Korean government. The court ruled that “it is difficult to find that there is a superior or overriding public interest in denying the change that would outweigh the disadvantages A may suffer.” In 2023, the girl’s parents applied for her passport with the English name spelling “TA.” However, the local government office issued the passport with “TAE” instead, citing a violation of the national romanization system. When the parents requested a correction, they were ag

Apr 21, 2025By KTimes

Court backs alternative spellings in passport romanization dispute

1 dead, 6 others injured in suspected arson at apartment building in Seoul

One person was killed and six others were hurt Monday in an apparent act of arson at a 21-story apartment building in Seoul, officials said. The fire occurred at the fourth floor of the apartment building in Bongcheon-dong at 8:17 a.m., according to police officials. Police said a man in his 60s, who was believed to be behind the arson, was found dead at the hallway in the fourth floor. Two residents, estimated to be in their 70s and 80s, plunged to the first floor with full-body burns, while four others complained of difficulty breathing and were taken to a hospital, according to firefighters. Police found a note inside the residence of the suspected arsonist and are looking into the exact motive of the crime. They suspect the man poured oil inside a pesticide applicator and started the fire. Firefighters extinguished the flames nearly an hour and 40 minutes after the initial report of fire.

Apr 21, 2025By Yonhap

1 dead, 6 others injured in suspected arson at apartment building in Seoul

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Park Jong-pil, a former spokesman for the labor ministry, has become the new chief director of the Korea Labor and Employment Service (KLES). Park, 57, began his three-year term on Monday, which will continue through April 20, 2028, according to officials. The KLES is a state-run organization dedicated to fostering harmonious labor-management relations and improving employment and labor services. In a statement released before his inauguration, Park said he would focus on making tangible changes. “All work our organization does should be field-friendly,” he said. “I will pay more attention to the voices of workers. Based on their needs, I will focus on driving real changes.” After graduating from Korea University with a history degree, he entered public service in 1995. While working, he studied public administration at Yonsei University as well as the University of Birmingham before earning a doctorate in business administration from Yeungnam University in 2021. Known as a good communicator with the press, Park served as a spokesman for the Ministry of Employment and Labor twice

Apr 21, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Disabled activists resume subway-riding protest after a year

A disability rights advocacy group on Monday staged a surprise "subway-riding" protest at one of Seoul's busiest subway stations for the first time in more than one year. The protest by members of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) began at Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 at 8 a.m., disrupting train operations during the morning rush hours. During the protest, wheelchair-bound activists repeatedly board and disembark trains, or deliberately board trains slowly. Seoul Metro employees attempted to block the protesters but the platform quickly became chaotic amid scuffles among both sides and police officers. The SADD's protest was the first in about a year since April 8 last year. The protesters have long demanded an increased budget for disabled people and their mobility rights.

Apr 21, 2025By Yonhap

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Society

3 out of 4 jobless young people say cannot find quality jobs: survey

Interview'Don’t wait until we are all gone': Former sex slaves demand justice now

Korean Catholic leaders offer tributes to Pope Francis

Pontiff remembered in Korea for compassion, message of peace

Disability advocacy group resumes controversial subway protests

Plastic bags for batteries? Korea's airport rule sparks debate

Court backs alternative spellings in passport romanization dispute

1 dead, 6 others injured in suspected arson at apartment building in Seoul

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Disabled activists resume subway-riding protest after a year

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