Culture & Society
Energy shock splits corporate Korea into winners and losers
Import price surge and supply disruption create uneven earnings outcomes between exporters and fuel-intensive industries
May 12, 2026
Seoul mayoral race tests local governance model beyond district level
Chong Won-o seeks to scale Seongdong track record citywide as housing policy and central coordination take focus
May 8, 2026
Koreans’ willingness to ‘give birth’ spikes, but more among men than women
Unmarried Koreans’ intention to have children jumped from 30% to 41% in two years, but structural problems remain
May 8, 2026
Samsung Electronics union faces mass exodus after chips, smartphone sector feud
Over 2,500 members quit as bonus demands favoring semiconductor workers alienate the non-chip workforce ahead of strike
May 5, 2026
South Korea pushes pet healthcare overhaul to unlock insurance market
State-led data standardization aims to expand coverage but faces resistance from veterinarians over pricing and control
May 1, 2026
South Korea in April 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from April 1 to 24, 2026, and key outlook for May 2026
April 30, 2026
Early Yellow Envelope rulings reveal fuzzy definitions of ‘substantive control’
Weeks in, rulings show mixed signals on employer status thresholds and when unions can bargain in separate units
April 27, 2026
South Korea moves to curb ‘free labor’ under comprehensive wage system
Guidelines enforce existing law through audits while pending bills aim to ban misuse and mandate precise hour tracking
April 21, 2026
The ‘employee’ POV: What the Yellow Envelope Act changes for labor and unions
Beyond expanded bargaining rights, the amendment shifts liability rules, union eligibility and enforcement leverage
April 7, 2026
South Korea’s juvenile crime reform risks outpacing system capacity
Government review follows public concern, but experts warn institutional gaps could undermine effectiveness of reforms
April 1, 2026
