Seoul expects details on nuke submarine and wartime command in SCM week SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Seoul and Washington are expected to discuss detailed plans for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) and South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine initiative — two agenda items that could reshape the country’s self-defense posture — during this week’s high-level bilateral security talks. The 57th annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), set for Tuesday in Seoul, is expected to focus on adjustments to the combined defense strategy and the future direction of alliance cooperation. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Seoul on Monday and is scheduled to tour the Joint Security Area (JSA) with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek later in the day. It marks the first time in eight years that the defense chiefs of both nations have jointly visited the inter-Korean border, following the 2017 trip by Song Young-moo and James Mattis. In line with President Donald Trump’s recent declaration of a “stronger-than-ever” alliance during his visit to Korea, the two ministers will meet South Korean and U.S. service members stationed in the JSA and reaffirm the importance of their combined defense posture. On Tuesday, Hegseth and Ahn will hold formal talks in Seoul as part of the SCM — the first since both governments launched new administrations. The meeting is widely seen as a key juncture to recalibrate alliance roles and adapt them to evolving regional security challenges. Two of the most closely watched topics will be the OPCON transfer and Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine plan. During his flight to Kuala Lumpur last week for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, Hegseth called Korea’s OPCON transition efforts “a commendable step forward.” Ahn has said Seoul “welcomes U.S. support for the transition” and aims to complete it within the current administration’s term. The nuclear-powered submarine issue is also expected to receive detailed treatment. The discussion follows an agreement reached by Presidents Lee Jae-myung and Donald Trump during last week’s APEC Summit in Gyeongju. Both governments are preparing a three-page “joint fact sheet” summarizing the agreement, reportedly stating that “the United States and South Korea will work together toward the construction of South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines.” Separately, Seoul has been moving rapidly to build up autonomous defense functions. On Sunday, the Defense Ministry announced that South Korea’s fifth military reconnaissance satellite had been successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite reached its designated orbit 14 minutes after liftoff and established contact with a ground station an hour later. With this launch, South Korea now has a complete fleet of five reconnaissance satellites, enabling around-the-clock monitoring of North Korea with an observation interval of roughly two hours. The ministry said the satellite network allows “independent, all-weather surveillance across the entire Korean Peninsula” and marks a “milestone in strengthening South Korea’s defense autonomy.” The latest satellite is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor capable of detecting objects as small as 30 centimeters — even at night or through clouds and rain. The capability enables near real-time tracking of North Korean missile launches and troop movements, enhancing the precision of Seoul’s Kill Chain preemptive strike system. The ministry called the launch “a significant step toward self-reliant defense,” noting that it reduces Korea’s dependence on U.S. intelligence assets. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to deploy about 40 small satellites over the next several years, with the first launch slated for late next year. This week’s SCM comes at a pivotal moment as Seoul’s expanding defense capabilities converge with Washington’s efforts to update alliance structures. Following Tuesday’s meeting, the two governments are expected to release a joint statement outlining agreements on OPCON transfer, submarine cooperation, defense cost-sharing, and long-term alliance priorities. 2025-11-03 17:07:27

S. Korea evolving beyond outsourcing clinical testbed as global R&D investment nears $1 bn SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s biopharmaceutical sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, yet new breakthrough drugs have been scarce and the country has produced no Nobel Prize winners in science — a stark contrast to neighboring Japan’s 22 laureates in natural sciences this century. But there may be hope as global pharmaceutical giants ramp up investment and clinical activity in Korea. The Korean Research-based Pharma Industry Association (KRPIA) said Thursday that 33 multinational drugmakers invested 1.0369 trillion won ($745 million) in clinical research here last year, an 18.8 percent increase from a year earlier. The figure reflects spending made through their Korean subsidiaries only, excluding direct funding from global headquarters — marking the first time locally executed clinical R&D investment has surpassed the 1 trillion won threshold. Over the past five years, R&D spending by global pharma companies in Korea has grown at an average annual rate of 14.8 percent. Clinical-stage research accounted for 42.9 percent, or roughly 445 billion won, the largest share of all R&D categories. The number of R&D personnel reached 2,470, up 7.4 percent, with more than half (52.6%) directly involved in clinical trials — underscoring Korea’s strengthening position as a clinical development hub. Pfizer Korea, the local unit of the New York-based drug giant, for one, has sharply increased R&D spending from 9.3 billion won ($6.7 million) in 2022 to 10 billion won in 2023, and to about 10.5 billion won in 2024, up roughly 5% from the previous year. Pfizer’s R&D investment in Korea has been steadily growing since 2021, a spokesman in Korea said, adding, "We expect this trend to continue." In the investment segment, cancer and rare disease treatments dominated clinical activity. In 2024, 974 trials (69.4%) were oncology-related, while 184 trials (13.1%) focused on rare diseases. Over the last five years, oncology trials increased by 5.7 percent annually, and rare-disease trials rose by 10.1 percent, driven by Korea’s advanced hospitals, efficient clinical trial networks, strong patient participation, and robust medical data infrastructure. These factors have made Korea one of the most attractive sites globally for late-stage clinical studies. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the global pharmaceutical market, valued at $1.6 trillion in 2023, is expected to expand to $2.24 trillion by 2028. Global R&D spending is projected to grow from $306 billion to $377 billion over the same period. The world’s top 10 pharmaceutical firms now account for 38.1 percent of all global R&D expenditure, with many allocating over 20 percent of their revenue to research and development — intensifying global competition for innovative drug pipelines. Against this backdrop, South Korea is rising as Asia’s premier clinical trial hub. “Over the past decade, Korea has become a major player in clinical research thanks to its rapidly growing biopharmaceutical sector, advanced medical infrastructure, and high patient participation rates,” KRPIA said. The association added that Korea’s strong research networks and skilled professionals are helping patients gain earlier access to innovative treatments and that the country is poised to solidify its role as a regional R&D base for global drug development. 2025-10-31 16:58:35

Xi enters as Trump exits the APEC stage SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - What should have been a venue for championing free trade and regional cooperation on shared challenges — from AI governance to climate change — instead turned into a geopolitical showcase between the world's two superpowers. Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital hosting South Korea's first APEC summit in 20 years, became the stage for a U.S.–China hegemony face-off as President Xi Jinping arrived just as U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his appearances. Xi landed in Busan on Thursday for a three-day state visit, his first trip to South Korea in 11 years. Bilateral ties have never fully recovered from the fallout of Seoul's deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile-defense system in 2016. Meanwhile, Pyongyang–Beijing relations are at their strongest in decades — underscored by Xi escorting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin during last month's "Victory Day" celebrations. Rather than heading straight to Gyeongju, Xi first held a closed-door meeting with Trump at a Busan air base amid widening trade friction spanning 100% tariffs, port fees, critical minerals, and soybeans. The 90-minute encounter, one of the most anticipated moments of this year's APEC week, produced little more than cordial optics — handshakes, pleasantries, and a mutual pledge to keep talking. "Zero to ten, with ten being the best — I'd say the meeting was twelve," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One following what was likely his last engagement with Xi during the summit. "A lot of decisions were made... and we've concluded very many important points," he said without elaborating. Neither Washington nor Beijing provided details. With Trump's departure, APEC leaders moved quickly back to their formal agenda. Xi, for his part, is holding separate summits with his new counterparts in East Asia — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Xi meets Takaichi on Friday in their first summit since she took office earlier this month. Their chemistry remains uncertain, given the new prime minister's staunch nationalistic stance. Xi notably did not send a congratulatory message upon her inauguration, though Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently said Beijing "notes the positive signals" from the new cabinet, hinting at openness to dialogue. Discussions are expected to cover a partial resumption of Japanese seafood imports — suspended after the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant — as well as cooperation on rare earths and semiconductor equipment. Analysts say both sides have an incentive to restore practical ties given their intertwined industrial ecosystems. Xi is also meeting President Lee Jae-myung for the first time since Lee's snap-election victory in June. Lee, from the progressive Democratic Party, is traditionally seen as more open to Beijing. Talks are expected to address lifting China's ban on Korean cultural content, advancing Phase 2 negotiations of the Korea–China Free Trade Agreement, and expanding cooperation in semiconductors, AI, tourism, and service-sector investment. Phase 2 of the FTA would expand the current goods-focused agreement to cover services, digital trade, and high-tech industries. Seoul and Beijing are also likely to discuss extending visa waivers and enhancing joint responses to cybercrime and online fraud. Sensitive security topics — North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, illegal Chinese maritime structures in the West Sea, and tensions in the Taiwan Strait — are expected to be handled cautiously. Beijing may also raise concerns over deepening Seoul–Washington defense cooperation, particularly after Trump approved South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines. The outcomes of Xi's Gyeongju meetings are expected to help define Northeast Asia's diplomatic tone at a time when Seoul is navigating a delicate balance between Washington's strategic expectations and Beijing's growing regional ambitions. 2025-10-30 16:42:50

S. Korean economists see signs of rebound, but growth momentum remains fragile SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s economy is showing clearer signs of recovery, led by rebounding semiconductor exports and stronger outbound shipments, suggesting that the country may have passed the bottom of the current downturn. According to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea on Monday, real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.2% in the third quarter from the previous quarter, beating market expectations of 1.0%. It marked the fastest quarterly expansion in a year and a half, driven by stronger exports of chips and autos as well as government measures to boost consumer spending. Economists said the recovery is evident but remains moderate. Many forecast growth to stay in the mid-1% range next year. Cho Dong-geun, professor emeritus of economics at Myongji University, said the rebound in the semiconductor industry has been the key driver. “AI-related chips are fueling the turnaround, with SK hynix and Samsung Electronics leading the recovery across the broader industrial landscape,” Cho said. He added that rising chip exports are improving corporate earnings, which in turn support wages and domestic consumption. “When companies make profits, those gains circulate back into the domestic economy,” he said. However, Cho cautioned that “domestic demand remains weak, as seen in the rise of small business closures and sluggish service-sector activity.” He stressed the need for a more business-friendly environment, saying, “Regulatory easing and tax incentives would help companies expand. High inheritance taxes, for instance, discourage firms from raising share prices. Relaxing those taxes or expanding investment credits could create a virtuous cycle for corporate growth and domestic demand.” Kim Jeong-sik, an economics professor at Yonsei University, said the government’s two supplementary budgets this year boosted public spending and helped lift consumption. “The combination of fiscal expansion and export recovery has driven growth higher,” he said. Kim projected next year’s GDP growth could reach 1.6% to 1.8% if trade negotiations between South Korea and the United States conclude smoothly. “Domestic demand is still fragile, but if the government uses its fiscal resources efficiently to support the construction sector, gradual improvement is possible,” he said. He added that the outcome of the Korea-U.S. trade talks would be a “crucial factor” shaping the upper end of next year’s growth outlook. Lee Hong-joo, a consumer economics professor at Sookmyung Women's University, attributed the stronger-than-expected 1.2% quarterly growth—up from an earlier estimate of 0.8%—to broad-based industrial improvements. “Orders for large offshore plant projects in the shipbuilding sector, increased defense exports, and rising semiconductor shipments all contributed to the positive momentum,” he said. Lee noted that both public and private consumption rose, not only due to short-term stimulus measures such as shopping coupons, but also because “those incentives encouraged additional spending, creating a multiplier effect that expanded overall consumption.” Still, he pointed to ongoing weaknesses in construction and agriculture as drags on the recovery. “Conditions will likely improve in 2025 and 2026, but it’s too early to say the economy has entered a full-fledged rebound,” he said. Economists agree that while the third-quarter GDP data signal a turning point, South Korea’s recovery remains uneven. Without a stronger rebound in domestic demand and construction, they say, the economy may struggle to enter a sustained expansion phase. Overall, most experts share the view that South Korea has passed its lowest point and entered a gradual recovery cycle—but its pace will depend heavily on policy direction and external economic conditions. 2025-10-29 17:59:53

KOSPI and Nikkei standout winners as foreign funds pivot away from U.S. market SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Seoul and Tokyo exchanges shed their longstanding labels of "Korea bargain" and "lost decades" this year, emerging as the world's two best-performing markets as global capital rotates out of an overheated U.S. equity space and into Asia's two technology powerhouses. According to Japan's Ministry of Finance, foreign investors bought ¥7.53 trillion ($49.9 billion) worth of Japanese equities in the week ending Oct. 18 — one of the largest weekly inflows this year. Cumulative net foreign purchases since January have reached ¥52.8 trillion ($349 billion), more than double the amount recorded a year earlier. The rally has pushed Japan's Nikkei 225 above the 50,000-point threshold for the first time, buoyed by a weaker yen, expectations of additional stimulus by the new pro-growth prime minister, and the Bank of Japan's ultra-loose monetary stance. The Nikkei has risen around 30 percent year-to-date, based on gains from the first trading day of 2025. Corporate reforms have further bolstered sentiment. Since the Tokyo Stock Exchange launched its capital-efficiency program in 2023, listed firms have markedly increased dividends and buybacks. Corporate repurchases topped ¥10 trillion ($66 billion) in 2024 — an all-time high. Korea, long snubbed and left out of last year's global rally, is also enjoying a breakout year. The benchmark KOSPI has surged nearly 70 percent, briefly crossing the 4,000 mark for the first time in its history. Foreign investors have been the main engine behind the rally. Data from the Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service show they purchased $4.34 billion of Korean equities in September — the largest monthly inflow in 19 months. According to KRX, foreign net buying reached ₩5.6 trillion ($4 billion) from Sept. 26 to Monday in KOSPI shares, suggesting a still-hot buying spree. By end-September, foreign holdings of listed Korean shares reached ₩1,014.6 trillion ($714 billion), representing 28.7 percent of total market capitalization — the highest proportion since 2022 and up from 27.5 percent a month earlier. Most of the buying was concentrated in semiconductor and AI-related names such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which continue to benefit from a rebound in global chip demand. Net foreign purchases reached ₩6.28 trillion ($4.5 billion) in July, the strongest in more than a year. The eastward shift reflects a broader global portfolio reallocation. With U.S. stocks trading at stretched valuations and the dollar softening, investors are seeking more attractive pricing and stronger structural growth in Asia. LSEG Lipper data show that non-U.S. equity funds attracted $13.6 billion in July — the most in over four years. The International Monetary Fund projects that about 70 percent of global economic growth in 2025 will come from Asia, underscoring the region's increasing weight in the world economy. Near-zero interest rates in Japan and Korea's dovish 2.5 percent policy rate, coupled with weaker exchange rates, have also made their assets more attractive relative to the U.S., where average market yields hover around 4 percent. 2025-10-28 16:39:52

INTERVIEW: Mysterious Hungarian bomb maker in Korean independence fight to come alive in upcoming book by ex-Hungarian envoy SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - A Western engineer aiding Korean independence fighters in assembling bombs against imperial Japan sounds like a scene from historical fiction. But former Hungarian ambassador to South Korea Mózes Csoma found that it was real — and is preparing a book on the remarkable story of a Hungarian who joined Korea’s struggle for independence. "As a historian, I find deep meaning in the story of someone who fought for another people’s freedom," said Csoma, now dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and head of Korean Studies at Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. "It is symbolic and meaningful that a Hungarian once helped Korea in its fight for independence." Csoma, who had long studied Korean studies, founded Hungary’s first Department of Korean Studies at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in 2008 before becoming Hungary’s ambassador to South Korea in 2018. After completing his term, he established another Korean Studies program at Károli University. "About ten years ago, while researching North Korean students who studied in Hungary in the 1950s, I found a fascinating record," he recalled. "Some of those students who studied in Hungary after the Korean War helped Hungarian university students during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. They had wartime experience and taught locals how to handle weapons." That discovery inspired him to explore deeper historical ties between the two nations. His research soon focused on Magyar — a mysterious Hungarian volunteer believed to have joined Korean independence fighters in China during the 1920s. Magyar’s name appears in several documents and cultural references, sparking debate over whether he was a real person or a fictional symbol of solidarity. The figure even appears briefly in Kim Jee-woon’s 2016 film 'The Age of Shadows,' portrayed as a foreign engineer and skilled bomb maker aiding the Korean resistance. Though long assumed to be a fictional homage, Csoma's research suggests the character was based on a real historical figure. "'Magyar' normally refers to 'Hungarian,' but it is also a common Hungarian surname, so I began to suspect it was actually the name of a real person," Csoma said. "While reviewing Hungarian archives, I found records of a man named Gábor József Magyar that perfectly matched Magyar's story — that was the decisive clue." One of the earliest written references to Magyar appears in Yaksan and the Uiyeoldan (1947) by modernist writer and independence activist Park Tae-won, which became a key source in confirming Magyar's existence. By tracing his travel routes from Mongolia to Beijing and Shanghai, Csoma found records that align with the 1923 Jongno bombing incident — one of the most significant attacks carried out by Korean independence fighters. "I later found an original document showing that he returned from China to Mongolia, an unusual move for a war prisoner," Csoma said. "There are also records suggesting he traveled with independence activist Lee Tae-jun, implying he may have gone back to assist him." His forthcoming book will also unveil new findings about Magyar's later life — not directly tied to Korea's independence struggle but revealing the arc of a man whose life bridged continents and causes. Csoma's own path to Korea began with curiosity. "Korea's history impressed me deeply," he said. Like Hungary, it has existed between powerful neighbors yet managed to preserve its sovereignty and identity." He began studying Korean under Professor Gábor Osváth, who had studied in North Korea in the 1970s. "My first Korean teacher spoke with a North Korean accent," Csoma said, smiling. "So naturally, I learned Korean that way too." Beyond his historical work, Csoma is regarded as one of Europe's leading scholars on North Korea. During his ambassadorship, he was also accredited to Pyongyang and visited the North four times. "The social atmosphere in North Korea reminded me of Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu, where I once traveled with my family in the 1980s — strong control, personality cult, a closed economy," he said. "Because of that, North Korea didn't feel unfamiliar to me." He recalled presenting his diplomatic credentials in 2019 to Kim Yong-nam, then President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. "At the end of one meeting, a North Korean official smiled and said, 'Comrade Ambassador, your Korean is excellent — but not quite our Korean. Next time, please learn our version and teach it to the South Koreans.' It made me laugh," Csoma said. When asked about access to research materials, he admitted it remains difficult. "Official archives in North Korea are closed, and many records have disappeared. Ironically, South Korea now holds more material on the North than the country itself," he said. Having studied both Koreas, Csoma sees similarities beneath the division. "The systems are different, but the people are the same," he said. "Their tone, gestures, humor — they overlap. Talking with people in Pyongyang sometimes felt like talking to South Koreans." The Department of Korean Studies he leads is expanding quickly — from 40 students at its launch in May 2023 to around 80 today, with its first graduates expected in 2027. Csoma teaches courses on topics such as comparative popular culture of North and South Korea in the 20th century, exploring films, music, and television as reflections of shared history. He plans to establish a master's program in Korean Studies by 2027 and turn Károli University into a leading hub for Korean studies in Central Europe. "That is my mission," he said. "By combining my experience as a diplomat and scholar," Csoma said, "I hope to deepen the friendship between our nations — and help future generations build on it." 2025-10-27 19:09:36

S.Korean defense expo hits all-time high as global interest surges SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest defense and aerospace exhibition wrapped up Sunday after an eight-day run, setting new records for business deals and attendance. The biennial Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 drew 600 companies from 35 countries and generated $44.9 billion (64.6 trillion won) in business consultations — a 53 percent rise from 2023, marking a new record. "The surge in consultations reflects growing trust and demand for Korean defense products amid global instability," the committee said. The exhibition hosted 86 senior defense officials from 54 countries, including ministers, chiefs of staff, and procurement heads. A total of 2,316 business meetings were held, including 63 government-to-government (G2G) talks, 753 government-to-business (G2B) sessions, and 1,500 business-to-business (B2B) consultations. Delegations from the United States, Egypt, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria showed interest in Korean-made aircraft such as the Surion helicopter, Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), and KF-21 fighter jet. Iraq, Romania, and the UAE discussed potential purchases of K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, while Saudi Arabia explored space cooperation, including satellite technology. A total of 263,283 visitors attended the event, up 20 percent from 2023, underscoring rising global interest in Korea’s fast-growing aerospace and defense industries. 2025-10-26 17:50:37

N.Korean top diplomat's Russia visit coincides with Trump's Seoul visit SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - North Korean Foreign Minister will visit Russia from Sunday and then is scheduled to travel to Belarus coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea, raising questions over the possibility of a U.S.–North Korea summit. The visit marks Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s first trip to Russia in a year, following her November 2024 meeting in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin. North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday reported that Choe will visit both Russia and Belarus at the invitation of their foreign ministries, without disclosing specific dates or discussion topics. If her trip extends to Belarus, it could overlap with Trump’s two-day visit to Seoul from Wednesday. Trump said he would "like to meet with Kim" during his visit to Asia. However, it is speculated that such a meeting is unlikely while Choe — a key figure in Pyongyang’s negotiations with Washington — is abroad. Choe has played a central role in past U.S.–North Korea summits, including the 2018 Singapore and 2019 Hanoi meetings, as well as the inter-Korean border encounter at Panmunjom, making her absence a significant obstacle to any potential talks. 2025-10-26 16:36:17

Lee departs for Malaysia to attend ASEAN summit SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung left for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. Lee, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, departed for a two-day visit on Saturday morning, according to the presidential office. Upon arrival, he will attend a dinner meeting with Korean residents in Malaysia to hear their concerns, including the rise in online scam cases affecting Koreans in Southeast Asia. On Monday, Lee will hold a bilateral summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss ways to deepen their strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation against cyber and online crime. He will then attend the Korea-ASEAN Summit, where he is expected to present a vision for advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between South Korea and ASEAN. Lee will also take part in the ASEAN+3 Summit with China and Japan to discuss regional issues such as energy security and supply chain resilience, and explore ways to enhance trilateral cooperation through ASEAN. Later in the day, he will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, this year’s ASEAN chair, to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and defense. After completing his visit, Lee will return home to prepare for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju from Wednesday to Friday. 2025-10-26 11:45:52

South Korea makes baby step in same-sex recognition through census inclusion SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a small but symbolic step toward recognizing diverse family structures by including cohabiting couples for the first time in its national census — a quiet shift in a country still wrestling with traditional views on marriage and gender. The 2025 Population and Housing Census, conducted from Wednesday through mid-November, now includes a new category for "unmarried cohabiting partners," the Ministry of Data and Statistics said. Couples may select this option regardless of gender — meaning same-sex partners can, for the first time since the census began in 1925, identify their household relationship in official records. Conducted every five years on a sample of 20 percent of all households, the census provides core data on Korea’s population, housing, and family composition. "The new category was introduced to reflect the growing number of people living together even though they are not legally married," a ministry official said. "We decided to specify 'unmarried cohabiting partner' as a separate option to better capture the range of cohabiting relationships that exist in society. Social surveys also show that public perceptions of unmarried cohabitation are becoming more positive." The addition has been welcomed by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates. Yi Ho-rim, executive director of Marriage for All Korea, which campaigns for the legalization of same-sex marriage, called the move "a landmark moment." "It's the first time the existence of people living with same-sex partners will be visible through official national statistics," Yi said. "This could inform future discussions on legalizing same-sex marriage in Korea." Still, many remain cautious in a society where same-sex relationships face stigma and legal invisibility. "Because respondents must enter personal details such as name and workplace, it's uncertain how many same-sex couples will choose to disclose their status," Yi added. "Nevertheless, it's an important first step toward institutional recognition of diverse family forms." The updated census will offer Korea's first official dataset on the scale and distribution of unmarried cohabiting couples. Similar systems already exist in many European countries — including France, the Netherlands, and Belgium — where registered cohabitation provides tax and welfare benefits comparable to marriage. Most European nations have also legalized same-sex marriage and permit joint adoption. For now, South Korea's baby step marks a statistical acknowledgment — not yet legal recognition — but one that many see as a quiet milestone in a society where even data can drive social change. 2025-10-24 16:46:10