Dec. 27

• ●Registered foreigners living in S. Korea hit 1.6m in Nov.: data The Korea Herald
  The number of foreigners staying in South Korea for 90 days or longer for work or study has exceeded 1.6 million as of November, with about half of them living in the greater Seoul area, data showed Saturday.
  
  

• ●School voilence may spill into home, survey shows The Korea Herald
  About 3 in 10 students who had experienced school violence said they had assaulted their parents, according to a recent study published Thursday by the National Youth Policy Institute.

Dec. 28

• ●Immigration detention centers to provide counseling on unpaid wages The Korea Herald
  Migrant workers held at state-run detention centers will be able to receive regular counseling for unpaid wages starting Monday, in a government policy aimed to ensure those working in Korea without the necessary visa are still paid their due wages.
  
  

• ●Women's employment rate trails men by 16.2%p despite improvements The Korea Herald
  South Korea's 2024 employment rate for women was 54.7 percent, a government report showed Sunday, indicating a reduced but still significant gender gap.
  
  

• ●Youth mental health cases increase by 76% in 4 years The Korea Herald
  The number of Korean children and teens receiving mental health treatment increased by 76.6 percent in the past four years to surpass the 350,000 mark in 2024.
  
  

• ●Fewer women take career breaks as paternity leave rates rise, policies provide support Korea JoongAng Daily
  The number of women who took career breaks-often due to childbirth or child care-fell by nearly 10 percent over the past year, a decline attributed in part to the rise in paternity leave and expanded public policies.
  
  

• ●Gov't to roll out late-night child care service on Jan. 5 Korea JoongAng Daily
  A new public service allowing parents to leave their children in care facilities until as late as midnight will launch on Jan. 5 next year for children aged six to 12.
  
  

• ●Gov't unveils details of child policy plan, including phasing out overseas adoption Korea JoongAng Daily
  The adoption of Korean minors by families overseas will be phased out by 2029 at the latest, with the Korean government taking a firm stance against fraudulent or illegal adoption practices.
  
  

• ●Over 4,000 schools shut down nationwide as student numbers plunge The Korea Times
  More than 4,000 elementary, middle and high schools across Korea have shut their doors as the country's student population shrinks, new data shows.

Dec. 29

• ●Annual Leave 'Pie in the Sky' for 40% of Workers The Chosun Daily
  It has been confirmed that legally guaranteed paid annual leave remains an unattainable "pie in the sky" for many workers.
  
  

• ●Salaried Workers Maximize Pensions by Extending Contributions, Delaying Receipt The Chosun Daily
  The individual currently receiving the highest National Pension in South Korea is Mr. A (67 years old), who resides in Busan.
  
  

• ●South Korea's Working Hours Drop 20% as Socializing Time Triples The Chosun Daily
  Over the past decade in South Korea, the primary working hours (employment activities) of citizens have decreased by approximately 20% on weekdays, while the time spent socializing with family and friends has significantly increased.
  
  

• ●US YouTuber flap rekindles debate on Korea's health insurance The Korea Herald
  A US-based YouTuber has come under fire from some Korean commentators over claims that he plans to move to Korea to benefit from the country's public health system, a dispute that has fed into broader anxiety about the long-term sustainability of national health insurance amid rapid aging.
  
  

• ●Major pension reforms to increase contribution rates, benefits to take effect in 2026 Korea JoongAng Daily
  Major reforms to the national pension system will take effect next year, including increases in both contribution rates and payout levels.
  
  

• ●E-cigarette regulations strengthening next year as gov't seeks to curb teenage use Korea JoongAng Daily
  There will be no more "strawberry-flavored vaping" advertisements thanks to a new law.
  
  

• ●Jeollanam-do Tops National Work-Life Balance Index The Chosun Daily
  Last year, among the 17 regions nationwide, Jeollanam-do was found to be the region with the best 'work-life balance.'

Dec. 30

• ●Foreign graduate hiring rises despite overall slowdown The Korea Herald
  The hiring rate for international students who graduated from South Korean universities rose over 50 percent last year, according to government data, despite a slight fall in overall graduate hiring.
  
  

• ●Teen suicides prompt mental health overhaul at Korea's schools The Korea Herald
  South Korea's education authorities on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive plan to strengthen student mental health support, as the number of teenage suicides continued to rise over the past four years, heightening concern over students' psychological well-being.
  
  

• ●For older adults, Seoul Inclusive Digital Plaza takes tech from foreign to familiar--and even fun Korea JoongAng Daily
  On a recent afternoon in Gangdong District in eastern Seoul, a classroom filled with older adults sat focused on their smartphones.
  
  

• ●Korean Summer Lengthens 25 Days, Winter Shortens 22 Days The Chosun Daily
  As climate change accelerates, temperatures on the Korean Peninsula have risen by approximately 0.9 degrees Celsius since the 2020s.
  
  

• ●1 in 20 Koreans shows low social interaction The Korea Times
  One in 20 Koreans has limited social interaction with others, a government analysis shows, offering a rare data-based look at how weaker personal networks are reflected in work, mobility and spending patterns.
  
  

• ●Chronic Disease Costs Surpass 90 Trillion Won for First Time The Chosun Daily
  The annual medical expenses for chronic diseases in South Korea have exceeded 90 trillion won.
  
  

• ●Gov't to expand in-school counseling as student suicides continue to plague country Korea JoongAng Daily
  One hundred and ninety-three--that was the number of students who committed suicide this year from January to October.
  
  

• ●1 in 20 Koreans shows low social interaction The Korea Times
  One in 20 Koreans has limited social interaction with others, a government analysis shows, offering a rare data-based look at how weaker personal networks are reflected in work, mobility and spending patterns.

Dec. 31

• ●Rethinking welfare through Seoul Stepping Stone Income Project The Korea Herald
  South Korea's welfare system stands at a pivotal moment.
  
  

• ●How Seoul is reshaping youth policy to build careers before graduation The Korea Herald
  In response to a worsening youth job market, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is overhauling its employment policy to push career-building and work experience into the university years.
  
  

• ●Gov't to expand heating, energy bill support for vulnerable people Korea JoongAng Daily
  The government announced on Wednesday a set of measures to help vulnerable people cope with a spike in heating and energy bills.

Jan. 2

• ●Will South Korea's medical standoff resume? The Korea Herald
  The South Korean government is once again at a crossroads on the highly-disputed medical school enrollment quota that had sparked a nationwide medical strike, as the related discussion by the state committee is set to be conducted this month.
  
  

• ●Gangnam rolls out monthly parental leave grant for fathers The Korea Herald
  Gangnam-gu Office announced Friday that it has launched a new incentive program offering fathers on parental leave 300,000 won ($207) per month for up to one year.
  
  

• ●S. Korea's median income for family of 4 set at W6.5m, up 6% from 2025 The Korea Herald
  The official median income for 2026 was set at 6.49 million won ($4,500) per month for a four-person household, the government announced Thursday, marking the steepest on-year increase to date and up 6.51 percent compared to the previous year.