More than 50% of S. Koreans plan to spend less in 2024 due to economic recession: survey

SEOUL -- More than 50 percent of South Koreans plan to spend less in 2024 due to high inflation and economic recession caused by increased basic costs including prices of oil, agricultural products, and everyday necessities. According to South Korea's statistical information service, the consumer price index for November 2023 was 112.74 (2020=100), up 3.3 percent from the same period a year ago. The consumer price index, which reflects the actual sense of inflation felt by cons

December 13, 2023

Seoul adopts usability certification for digital kiosks to reduce digital gap

SEOUL -- To help Seoulites who are unfamiliar with digital appliances, Seoul City has adopted a usability certification for digital ordering systems commonly found at restaurants and coffee shops. The capital city will provide benefits including subsidies for business loans for companies that develop digital kiosks, websites, or applications that are easily usable by the elderly and inexperienced users. Digital kiosks are widely used in South Korean restaurants to save operating cos

December 12, 2023

S. Korean President embarks on five-day state visit to Netherlands

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has embarked on a five-day state visit to the Netherlands on December 11. On the first day of his journey, Yoon met Korean compatriots and mentioned that his state visit is aimed at upgrading semiconductor cooperation between Seoul and Amsterdam. The South Korean leader will later tour ASML, a promising Dutch manufacturer of chip-making equipment. "With this visit, the semiconductor cooperation between South Korea and the Netherland

December 12, 2023

S. Korea launches special quarantine programs for egg farms to prevent spread of avian influenza

SEOUL -- In an effort to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the South Korean government will carry out special quarantine programs for areas densely populated with egg and poultry farms. This year's first case of avian influenza was found in the southwestern parts of South Korea in early December. Investigators found the H5N6-type, an extremely infectious type, among the viruses. The southwestern parts including Chungcheong Province and Jeolla Province are hom

December 11, 2023

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