Culture & Society
Migrants now drive South Korea’s population growth as non-migrant numbers fall
Data show settled families replacing temporary workers, while policy and politics lag behind
October 27, 2026
South Korea’s petrochemical rescue faces a reckoning over who pays the bill
Creditors are extending repayment deadlines as new production in Ulsan tests the value of planned factory closures
October 26, 2026
South Korea’s prosecution reform reshapes how crimes reach the courtroom
Police now lead most investigations while prosecutors review evidence and request further work under tighter deadlines
October 22, 2026
South Korea to legalize abortion pills despite unresolved gaps in the law
Seoul aims to approve the drug in 2027, but unresolved rules on consent, pharmacy dispensing and liability cloud access
October 16, 2026
South Korea’s industrial accident disclosures flag contractor safety risks
Ministry identifies failures in workplace hazard checks and safety managers’ duties across 81 disclosed accident cases
October 16, 2026
North Korean mine dispute, new Lee advisers and US investment pressure — Ep. 151
Seoul navigates a sensitive DMZ incident while pushing engagement and resisting premature claims over Alaska LNG
October 2, 2026
South Korea in September 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from September 1 to 28, 2026, and key outlook for October 2026
September 30, 2026
Preschool test ban forces South Korea’s English hagwons to rethink placement
New rules curb early selection but leave academies weighing how to group students after enrollment without formal exams
September 25, 2026
Why South Korea cannot rebalance growth without stronger regional clusters
Lee’s 5+3 strategy aims to build regional scale, but past relocation policies show how difficult durable clusters are
September 18, 2026
Hormuz deployment, France nuclear deal and Olympic Park protests — Ep. 149
Seoul weighs military involvement in Middle East, expands energy cooperation with Paris, ends sports federation blockade
September 11, 2026
