President Yoon to arrive at Netherlands for five-day state visit

SEOUL -- President Yoon Suk-yeol will arrive in the Netherlands for a five-day state visit. The presidential office said that the president will work on accelerating economic cooperation between Seoul and Amsterdam. According to the presidential office, the Netherlands is South Korea's second-largest European trade partner. The European country has strong capabilities in semiconductor facilities, with its industry represented by ASML, the sole maker of extreme ultraviolet lith

December 11, 2023

S. Koreans favor spending holidays in foreign countries due to high consumer prices at home

SEOUL -- South Koreans have chosen to spend their holidays in foreign countries because they feel it is cheaper to travel overseas than to visit places at home due to high consumer prices including food and accommodation. The inflation of various living costs has long been an issue in South Korean society. The national statistical information service said that the increase rate in food prices in November 2023 was found to be larger than the previous month. The consumer price index

December 8, 2023

Fierce competition and social anxiety caused S. Korea's low birth rate crisis: report

SEOUL -- The Bank of Korea has identified intense competition as a significant factor contributing to the rapid decline in South Korea's birth rate. The central bank analyzed that the current fertility crisis could be attributed to the anxiety stemming from a low employment rate and the scarcity of high-quality jobs in the country. South Korea's birth rate in 2022 was 0.78 babies per couple. Data from the Bank of Korea (BOK) showed that there is a 90 percent probability that

December 7, 2023

S. Korea to offer psychological counseling for 1 mln people by 2027 against high suicide rate

SEOUL -- In a bid to curb South Korea's extremely high suicide rates, the country will provide counseling services for one million people by 2027. About 80,000 people struggling with emotional or mental challenges are expected to receive psychological counseling in 2024. Throughout Korea's history, individuals grappling with mental illness carried a stigma and were often considered untreatable, relegated to the shadows of society. Before the adoption of modern Western medici

December 6, 2023

S. Korean public buses to provide faster 5G-based free Wi-Fi service

SEOUL -- South Koreans who use public buses will gain access to a 5G-based free public Wi-Fi service that is about four times faster than the currently provided 4G-based free wireless internet service starting December 6. Currently, some 29,100 public buses that carry passengers across South Korea offer 4G-based free Wi-Fi service for customers. By following the simple steps shown inside a bus, customers can use the free wireless internet service without having to use up their data

December 5, 2023

S. Korea succeeds in launch of solid propellant satellite carrier rocket

SEOUL -- South Korea has succeeded in the launch of a four-stage hybrid fuel rocket carrying a commercial satellite. This is the country's third test launch of its solid propellant rocket, and the carrier was able to put a small-sized commercial satellite into low orbit. A solid propellant rocket is a type of rocket that uses a propellant in a solid form, typically in the shape of grains or a single piece. The propellant is usually a mixture of fuel and oxidizer bound together i

December 4, 2023

Southwestern province to operate autonomous parking enforcement vehicle for first time

SEOUL -- The southwestern province of South Chungcheong will operate an autonomous vehicle that would notify the drivers of illegally parked vehicles to move using loudspeakers. The autonomous vehicle will be accompanied by a safety agent sitting in the driver's seat to engage in emergency situations. The South Chungcheong Provincial Office said that the operation of South Korea's first autonomous parking enforcement vehicle was kick-started in Hongseong some 120 kilometers

December 4, 2023

Number of first-grade elementary students in 2024 to drop 12.4% on-year: report

SEOUL -- The number of first-grader elementary students in South Korea is projected to fall to 357,771 in 2024, down 12.4 percent from 2023, state data showed. Due to the country's significantly decreased fertility rate, the number of children entering elementary schools could fall to less than 300,000 in 2026. South Korea is currently facing a severe aging trend, with about 30 percent of its population expected to be aged 75 and older by 2073. The nation's fertility rate in

December 4, 2023

S. Korea braces for impact for China's second export regulations on industrial urea

SEOUL -- South Korea will hold emergency meetings to discuss and prepare for the impact of a second aqueous urea solution shortage crisis after China has shut down the customs process for industrial urea material, just before the products are loaded onto carrier ships. Previously, Beijing stopped exports of urea, vital for the production of aqueous urea solution in 2021, bringing a crippling shortage of products that are critical to the operation of cargo trucks and factory machiner

December 4, 2023

Seoul's education affairs head encourages teachers to nurture students as global citizens

SEOUL -- At a lecture attended by public school teachers and instructors involved in private education, Seoul's education office chief Cho Hee-yeon encouraged audience to nurture students as global citizens. During his speech at a graduate school in eastern Seoul, Cho stressed the importance of such education, pointing out that South Korea should prepare for global challenges. "We must transform our students into global citizens in the third phase of education revolution ag

December 1, 2023