South Korea - The Korea Times

Fatal industrial accidents rose last year

The number of workers who died in industrial accidents last year shifted to an increase for the first time in three years since relevant statistics began to be compiled in 2022, the labor ministry said Tuesday. According to the ministry's data, the number of industrial fatalities subject to investigation stood at 605 in 2025, an increase of 16, or 2.7 percent, from 589 in the previous year. The number of fatal industrial accidents also increased 3.6 percent last year from 553 to 573. Statistics on fatal industrial accidents subject to investigation exclude cases where it is clear that the employer did not violate the law in worker death accidents occurring at industrial sites. By industry, fatalities in construction increased by 10, or 3.6 percent, to 286, while other industries saw an increase of 16.7 percent to 161. In comparison, the manufacturing industry recorded a decline of 9.7 percent to 158. The number of worker deaths at workplaces employing less than 50 people increased by 12, or 3.5 percent, to 351 last year, while the number at workplaces employing 50 or more rose by four, or

Mar 31, 2026By Yonhap

Fatal industrial accidents rose last year

Travel demand rebounds to pre-pandemic level in 2025, outbound travel hits new high: data

Both domestic and overseas travel recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year, with the proportion of outbound travelers reaching a record high, data showed Tuesday. According to the data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 70.2 percent of Koreans aged 13 and older took at least one domestic trip in 2025, up from 66.7 percent recorded two years earlier. The rate had reached 69.2 percent in 2019 before plunging to 39.8 percent in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of people who traveled abroad also surged to 31.5 percent in 2025, up from 15.1 percent two years earlier, to reach the highest level on record. The figure stood at 30.4 percent in 2019 before dropping sharply to 1.1 percent in 2021. The findings are part of an annual report that consists of 270 indicators across 12 sectors, designed to enable comprehensive examination of social conditions in Korea. Travel-related data, however, is available biennially.

Mar 31, 2026By Yonhap

Travel demand rebounds to pre-pandemic level in 2025, outbound travel hits new high: data

On April Fools' Day, false terror threats are no joke

Korean police are on alert ahead of April Fools' Day, which falls on Wednesday, keeping a close watch as false emergency reports and online bomb threats have surged in recent years. The growing concern over such threats and reports prompted the enactment of a public intimidation law in March 2025 that carries up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won ($13,041) for those who openly threaten the life or safety of an unspecified or large number of people. According to data submitted to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea by the National Police Agency last August, police dispatches in response to false reports increased from 4,235 to 5,432 between 2022 and 2024, up 28.3 percent. Last year, police logged 177 bomb threat reports targeting various places including department stores, offices, celebrity residences, subway restrooms, schools and aircraft. The threats have a tangible cost, often triggering large-scale mobilization of police resources. Last August, a bomb threat hoax forced the evacuation of roughly 4,000 customers from Shinsegae Department Store's m

Mar 31, 2026By Park Ung

On April Fools' Day, false terror threats are no joke

Seoul tightens nighttime brightness limits on outdoor billboards

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has set stricter nighttime brightness limits on large LED billboards across the capital in response to concerns over visual fatigue among pedestrians and drivers. The move followed The Korea Times' Feb. 7 report that glare from large digital displays can interfere with nighttime driving, leading to an increasing number of complaints over light pollution. The city government said Tuesday it has come up with detailed regulations on brightness caps for outdoor LED billboards. In Korea, each local government is required to set its own regulations on outdoor advertising brightness and color. According to the rules, the daytime brightness cap — the first daytime limit among local governments — is set at 7,000 candelas per square meter. The 7,000-candela daytime threshold was drawn from field data and international standards after consulting with industry and experts, the city said, noting it still allows for adequate on-site visibility. For night, the limits are further tiered by display size and hour, ranging from 350 to 500 candelas — all well below th

Mar 31, 2026By Park Ung

Seoul tightens nighttime brightness limits on outdoor billboards

Life satisfaction hits record high as isolation eases

Eight in 10 Koreans are satisfied with their lives, as overall life satisfaction rose and social isolation eased over the past year, government data showed Tuesday. Despite these improvements, concerns over ideological divisions and class tensions remained pronounced, with some indicators pointing to a deepening of those conflicts, underscoring a complex social mood. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the proportion of people expressing satisfaction with their lives reached 80.8 percent last year, up 5.2 percentage points from 75.6 percent a year earlier. This marks the highest level since the data began to be compiled in 2013. A breakdown by gender showed men expressing satisfaction at 81.2 percent, slightly higher than women at 80.3 percent. By age group, individuals in their 30s recorded the highest satisfaction level at 85.2 percent, while those aged 60 and older reported the lowest at 75.1 percent. Perceptions of work also improved. The share of respondents who said their work was meaningful rose to 79.4 percent, up 3.1 percentage points from the prev

Mar 31, 2026By Jun Ji-hye

Life satisfaction hits record high as isolation eases

Gov't to allow use of regular plastic bags if approved waste bags are in short supply

The government on Monday urged the public not to worry about possible shortages of standard plastic garbage bags, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "You don't have to worry about a shortage of standard garbage bags. The government has taken all necessary measures," Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan said in a Facebook post. The minister's remarks came as a worrisome phenomenon has recently emerged in which people are trying to hoard standard plastic garbage bags, amid a sharp rise in polyethylene prices, a key material used to make plastic bags. In Korea, only garbage bags approved by public institutions can be used to dispose of general household waste under the volume-based garbage disposal system. Kim said if approved waste bags are in short supply, the government will allow the use of regular plastic bags for waste disposal. "The government has taken all necessary measures, such as allowing the use of regular bags, in case of the worst-case scenario. There will never be a situation where trash piles up at home," Kim said. He then firmly stated that

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap

Gov't to allow use of regular plastic bags if approved waste bags are in short supply

Seoul expands outreach to foreign missions, honorary citizens

Seoul is intensifying efforts to build its global ties, bringing together foreign envoys and honorary citizens through new outreach events. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday it had hosted foreign mission officials at the Seoul Gallery — a cultural complex beneath Seoul City Hall — for a familiarization tour of the city's policies and urban vision earlier this month. The city also brought together its honorary citizens there for an inaugural gathering last week. The events are part of a broader push to formalize ties with the city's global contacts through the Seoul Gallery, which opened in February as a showcase for Seoul's policies and urban vision and is set to anchor the city's expanding international network. Twenty representatives from 13 countries — including Luxembourg, Norway, New Zealand, the Vatican, Bulgaria, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru and Guatemala — attended the first of four planned gallery tours for foreign mission staff on March 20. Three additional sessions are scheduled for April 3, 10 and 17, with 36 countries expected to participate in to

Mar 30, 2026By Park Ung

Seoul expands outreach to foreign missions, honorary citizens

Over 80% of teens, adults concerned over AI-based online abuse: poll

More than 80 percent of Korea's teenagers and adults expressed concerns over online abuse involving the misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as the creation of deepfake videos and disinformation, a poll showed Monday. According to the poll conducted from September to November last year on teenagers and adults by the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), 89.4 percent of teenagers said they recognize the seriousness of AI-driven cyber violence, while 87.6 percent of adults said the same. The survey was conducted on 9,296 students from fourth-grade elementary school to third-year high school, and 7,521 adults aged 19 to 69. Teenage respondents cited the ease of creating content with AI tools as their top concern, while adults expressed fears over the potential for repeated harm from AI-generated materials. The poll additionally showed 42.3 percent of teenagers experienced some form of cyber abuse in 2025, down 0.5 percentage point from a year earlier. The figure for adults came to 15.8 percent, up 2.3 percentage points over the same period. By channel, te

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap

Over 80% of teens, adults concerned over AI-based online abuse: poll

Only 1 private kindergarten runs special class despite surging need

Only one private kindergarten in Korea operates a special class for students with disabilities, despite the growing number of children requiring such support. According to data released by the Kindergarten Information Service on Sunday, there are 7,449 kindergartens in the country. Of this number, 4,567 are public institutions, only 28 percent of which offer special education classes, with conditions significantly worse in the private sector. Private institutions account for 38.7 percent of all kindergartens. However, only one — located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province — offers a special education class. While the availability of special classes in kindergartens remains limited, the number of children requiring such support has steadily increased each year. The figure rose from 95,420 in 2020 to 98,154 in 2021, surpassing 100,000 for the first time in 2022 at 103,695. It continued to climb to 109,703 in 2023, 115,610 in 2024 and 120,735 in 2025. Special education recipients are children identified as needing specialized support due to physical, emotional or developmental disabilities, or d

Mar 29, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Only 1 private kindergarten runs special class despite surging need

Gov’t unveils 3-year road map for AI, 6G push

The Ministry of Science and ICT has approved a three-year national road map to pivot from an ICT powerhouse to the world’s top three artificial intelligence (AI) leader by 2028, anchoring the push on 6G commercialization, strengthening AI technologies and AI transformation across all industries. The ministry announced Sunday the approval of a basic plan to promote ICT and convergence, along with a comprehensive plan for an intelligent information society for 2026 to 2028, at an Information Communications Strategy Committee meeting held Friday. Jointly developed with related ministries, the strategy outlines four key pillars: expanding national digital infrastructure, strengthening digital capabilities, advancing national intelligent informatization and fostering an inclusive digital environment. On the infrastructure side, the government will upgrade nationwide 5G networks to standalone mode and accelerate development of next-generation 6G technologies, aiming for commercial rollout in 2030. It will also tighten information security management, bolster public and private cyber defense

Mar 29, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee

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