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South Korea Advances in Space Exploration with Establishment of Own 'NASA'
Sacheon, South Korea - In a landmark move, the National Assembly of South Korea has passed a special law establishing the nation's own space agency, an equivalent to the United States' NASA. This decisive step marks South Korea's ambitious leap into space exploration and aerospace development. The 'Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Aerospace Administration' received overwhelming support in the assembly, with 263 out of 266 present members voting in favor. This decision
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Five Institutes Awarded as Top Sejong Schools for 2023
[SEOUL, South Korea] - In an announcement by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea and the King Sejong Institute Foundation, the year 2023 has seen the emergence of five exemplary Sejong Institutes. These institutes, located in Bogota, Colombia; Brussels, Belgium; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Tainan, Taiwan; and Tallinn, Estonia, have been lauded for their outstanding efforts in promoting Korean language and culture, reflecting South Korea's vigorous commitment to cultural di
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South Korea Introduces Stricter Controls on Political Banners to Reduce Public Inconvenience
In a move to reduce clutter and enhance public safety, South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced new regulations, effective from January 12, 2024, to limit the proliferation of political banners across neighborhoods. For years, the streets of South Korea have been inundated with political banners, often leading to visual clutter and safety concerns. In response to public outcry over the unsightly proliferation of these banners and the potential hazards they pose, particularly
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A Call for South Korea's Medical System
South Korea's medical trajectory, often celebrated for its innovation and quality, finds itself at a crossroads today. At its core lies a two-fold challenge: the long-stagnated enrollment rate in medical institutions and the waning enthusiasm for specialized medical roles. Historically, the nation's medical schools have maintained an enrollment cap of 3,058, a figure unchanged for an impressive 18 years. However, in a recent government initiative aimed at increasing this number, projections sug
2 min read
Misinformation Floods Social Media Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict
In the aftermath of Hamas's assault on Israel, which resulted in the tragic deaths of over 1,200 individuals across various locations including kibbutzim, towns, and a music festival, the digital landscape has been overwhelmed by graphic imagery and content. However, this stream of information has been tainted by a deluge of misleading and outright false content, clouding genuine evidence of atrocities. Key examples include a months-old paragliding accident in South Korea being misrepresented a
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Seoul's Economic Paradox: The Lure of the City Amidst Rising Costs
In recent years, cities have morphed into more than just economic powerhouses. They've become amalgamations of cultures, opportunities, and challenges. None exemplify this transformation better than Seoul, South Korea's pulsating capital. The city's allure continues to strengthen, evidenced by its jump from 10th to 9th in ECA International's yearly list of 'Most Expensive Cities for Expatriates', a testament to its growing global appeal. However, as living expenses surge, primarily due to new p
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South Korea Advances Plans for State-of-the-Art International Airport on Gadeok Island
SEOUL - The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) of South Korea, under the leadership of the Yoon Suk Yeol government, announced its accelerated progress on the ambitious project for the construction of Gadeok Island's new international airport. The foundational plan for the project, already under consultation with related agencies, is set to be finalized and officially announced by the end of this year. Following the airport's developmental roadmap revealed by the MLIT in Mar
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South Korea Conducts Nationwide Civil Defense Drill
Today, August 23rd, South Korea carried out a crucial nationwide civil defense drill as a direct response to the mounting threats emanating from North Korea. The 20-minute exercise, which commenced at 2 p.m., is a significant event, being the first drill of this magnitude involving the general public in over six years. Upon initiation, minute-long air-raid sirens echoed across the nation, coupled with the dispatch of public safety alert messages to citizens' mobile phones, highlighting the urge
2 min read
South Korea's Minimum Wage Set to Rise to KRW 9,860 in 2024, Misses the KRW 10,000 Mark
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - After extended discussions, the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) of South Korea has decided on a 2.5% increase for the minimum wage in 2024, bringing it to KRW 9,860 per hour, up KRW 240 from this year's KRW 9,620. This growth rate is the second lowest in history, excluding the 1.5% increase in 2021. This means that the long-standing goal of labor circles to reach a KRW 10,000 minimum wage remains unfulfilled. The commission, composed of 26 members, including 8 worker represen
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South Korean Consumers and Fishing Industry Worry Over Fukushima Wastewater Release Amid Trial Runs in Japan
As Japan's TEPCO commences trial operations for the release of contaminated wastewater from the demolished Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, anxiety deepens among South Korean consumers and the local fishing industry. Reports from international media outlets such as Fukushima TV and KFB on June 12 stated that TEPCO plans to conduct test runs for around two weeks to check for potential system defects. The trial operation involves blending seawater with uncontaminated water and discharging i
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Korean Portal Naver Also Blocked amid Ongoing Hallyu Ban
Amid China's escalating control over its domestic and foreign internet activity, Naver, South Korea's largest portal site, has reportedly been blocked locally. This development follows the recent similar restrictions placed on another portal site, Daum. This situation intensifies the ongoing Hallyu Ban, unofficial restrictions by the Chinese government on the distribution of Korean cultural content, which has been in place since 2016. According to sources in Beijing and Shenyang, Liaoning Provi
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World Expo 2030: Advocacy Groups Urge Exclusion of Saudi Arabia Over Its Human Rights Record
As the choice of host for the World Expo 2030 draws near, a chorus of notable human rights organizations has lodged an appeal with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), beseeching the Paris-based organization to exclude Saudi Arabia from the list of prospective hosts. They contend that Saudi Arabia's troubling record on human rights stands in stark contrast to the event's ethos, and runs the risk of besmirching the prestige of this globally recognized event. In a letter dispatched to
3 min read