Journal of Korea

Sign in Subscribe

Ian Werther

Special panel files complaint against ex-president Yoon for not appearing at Itaewon hearing

The Special Investigation Committee charged with probing the Itaewon crowd-crush decision on Tuesday to file a criminal complaint against former President Yoon Suk-yeol for failing to appear as a witness at a hearing, without a legitimate reason. The move came as the committee prepared to resume the hearing. Committee chair

Korean Private Tutoring Spending Slides as Public Options Expand

Last year, Korea’s private tutoring bill for elementary through high school fell for the first time in five years, down 5.7% to 27.5 trillion won. The Ministry of Education and the National Data Agency reported that the overall tutoring participation rate dipped to 75.7%, and the

Korean-Language Review of Br Harold's Book on Humans and Robots, U.S. Policy Implications

A Korean-language review of Br Harold’s book, translated by Kim Chang-gyu and published by Hyunsan, surveys how people relate to robots and the people who love them. The author uses a Georgia Tech study of 379 households with a Roomba vacuum to explore what users think and feel toward

South Korea imposes nationwide fuel price cap on gasoline, diesel, kerosene, effective immediately.

Seoul announced today that South Korea’s petroleum price cap, enacted to curb price volatility amid global tensions, takes effect immediately. President Lee Jae-myung urged citizens to help monitor compliance and report any violators to the Oil Call Center and via official social media channels, publicly sharing the contact details.

South Korea weighs reviving local party units as local election redistricting stalls

The National Assembly’s Special Committee on Political Reform held a full committee meeting on the 13th to bring up amendments to the Party Law, the Political Funds Law, and the Public Official Elections Law. The proposed changes aim to revive Korea’s district-level party system, commonly referred to as

Coupang Faces Korean Probe Over Data Breach, Taiwan Considers Class Action

South Korea’s online shopping giant Coupang remains at the center of a long-running government probe into a large-scale personal data breach, a sign of intensified scrutiny over data privacy in one of Asia’s largest markets. Separately, Taiwan’s largest nonprofit consumer protection group is weighing a class-action suit

South Korea expands regional medical-school quotas through 2031 to boost non-Seoul healthcare.

The South Korean Ministry of Education on Tuesday announced the regional allocation plan for medical-school quotas covering the 2027 to 2031 academic years. For the five medical schools in the Daedejeon–Chungnam region, the plan projects 72 additional seats in 2027, followed by an increase to as many as 90

MOA aims Gunsan shipyard transfer to HD Hyundai, EcoPrime, boosting naval MRO ties

EcoPrime Marine Pacific and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding on the 13th to pursue an asset transfer of the Gunsan shipyard, with the final deal to be negotiated after due diligence. The Gunsan shipyard sits in the Jeollabuk-do region’s Gunsan National Industrial Complex. Built in

Chilean Architect Smiljan Radić Wins Pritzker Prize, Second Chilean Laureate

Chilean architect Smiljan Radić has been named this year’s Pritzker Prize laureate, the architectural world’s most prestigious honor. The award, administered by the Hyatt Foundation, was announced on the 12th local time. The prize carries a $100,000 prize and a medal, and Radić becomes the second Chilean

South Korea Boosts Egg Imports from U.S. as Avian Flu Disrupts Supply

Rising egg prices in South Korea are linked to ongoing outbreaks of high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that have led to widespread culling of laying hens. The latest data show the average price of a carton of 30 large eggs at 7,045 won, up 16.6% from a year earlier