Jan. 10

• ●South Korea's Medical Costs to Reach 191 Trillion Won by 2030 The Chosun Daily
  Amid a sharp rise in the elderly population and associated medical expenses, analysis shows that South Korea's total medical costs are projected to reach 191 trillion Korean won by 2030.
  
  

• ●Elderly Koreans Defy Retirement with New Ventures The Chosun Daily
  The play, titled 'The Warriors of the Wind,' is described as showing "how humans cling to life until their final moments on the battlefield of existence."
  
  

• ●South Korea's 'Full-Time Children' Tackle Household Chores The Chosun Daily
  #1. Mr. Kim, 39 years old, who lives in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, did not find a job after graduating from a master's program.

Jan. 11

• ●Prescription of ADHD medication on the rise among youth The Korea Herald
  The number of South Korean teenagers turning to ADHD medication as "smart pills" is on the rise, a government report showed Sunday, raising concerns that the drugs are being misused for academic performance rather than medical need.
  
  

• ●Survey shows Koreans likely to view childbirth as blessing but financial curse Korea JoongAng Daily
  A recent survey found that Koreans are more likely than their peers in Germany, Japan, France and Sweden to believe that having children will add happiness to their lives, even as they voiced the strongest concerns about the financial burden of childbirth and child-rearing.
  
  

• ●'Quit smoking' becomes a less-sought New Year's resolution for Koreans: report The Korea Herald
  Quitting smoking, once among the top New Year's resolutions in South Korea, has become less of a priority as only one out of 10 Koreans said they planned to quit smoking within the first month of 2026.
  
  

• ●42% of women who leave jobs to care for family face lower pay on return The Korea Herald
  More than two-fifths of women who interrupted their careers to raise children are paid less than before on their return to work, a report by a Seoul-affiliated think-tank said, much higher than for men.

Jan. 12

• ●Parents prioritize children's health over academics: survey The Korea Herald
  Parents place greater importance on health than academic achievement for infants and young children, according to a survey of 1,500 parents conducted by the Korea Institute of Child and Education.
  
  

• ●41% See Immigrants Help Economy, 23% Want Increase The Chosun Daily
  Four out of 10 South Korean citizens responded that immigrants help the country's economy.
  
  

• ●South Koreans' Marriage Essentiality Jumps 15.4 Points in Decade The Chosun Daily
  A survey has found that the percentage of South Koreans who believe "marriage is essential" has increased compared to a decade ago.
  
  

• ●Public Medical Graduate School: 15-Year Service Mandate Proposed The Chosun Daily
  The government has unveiled the framework for the 'public medical school' it is pushing to establish.
  
  

• ●South Korean Youth Willing to Marry, Birth Hesitancy Due to Economic Burdens The Chosun Daily
  South Korean youth responded more positively than their peers in other countries regarding their willingness to marry and life satisfaction if they have children, but they also perceived greater economic burdens.
  
  

• ●Smartphone Overuse Linked to Higher Insomnia, Depression Risks The Chosun Daily
  People who use smartphones excessively are 2.6 times more likely to experience insomnia and 2.8 times more at risk of depression, according to a study.
  
  

• ●4 in 10 Seoul women returning to work after career breaks face lower pay, longer job searches than men The Korea Times
  Women in Seoul who return to work after career breaks for pregnancy, childbirth, or caregiving face a steep "motherhood penalty," as they are more likely than men to start new jobs with lower pay and after a longer job search, a report showed Sunday.
  
  

• ●Koreans say children bring happiness, but 92% cite financial burden as deterrent The Korea Times
  Young people in Korea are more likely than their peers in Germany, Japan, France and Sweden to agree that having children would bring great joy, but they also express far stronger concerns about the economic burden of childbirth, a study found.