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Seoul moves to curb fresh food prices as heat bites SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korea will spend 30 billion won ($21.2 million) on seafood discounts and expand emergency fish releases and farm aid as prolonged heat, drought and unusually warm seas threaten to push up food prices. The measures were announced Thursday at a joint economic and cost-of-living meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun Cheol. The government issued a package aimed at stabilizing agricultural, livestock and fisheries prices and supplies as weather-related damage spreads. Agricultural, livestock and fisheries prices rose 0.9 percent in July from a year earlier, slowing sharply from 3.2 percent in June. But the headline figure masked a divide: agricultural prices fell 2.2 percent while livestock and fisheries prices remained 4.4 percent and 3.9 percent higher, respectively, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Early heat stress was already showing up in short-cycle vegetables. Lettuce prices jumped 17.3 percent from June and spinach surged 42.8 percent, even as vegetable prices overall fell 0.9 percent month on month. The ministry said leafy vegetables with short growing cycles were particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. The pressure is more acute at sea. As of Aug. 10, high-temperature alerts covering waters of at least 28 degrees Celsius were in effect in 31 of the country's 35 monitored sea areas, while 1.83 million farmed fish had died. July rainfall across Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, Gwangju and South Jeolla fell 64.7 percent from a year earlier, helping drive a rapid rise in temperatures along the eastern and southern coasts. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the immediate impact on seafood supply and prices remained limited because market-sized fish accounted for only about 10 percent of the losses. Olive flounder retailed at 37,950 won per kilogram in August, down 0.02 percent from July, while rockfish fell 0.3 percent to 37,430 won. The government warned, however, that price volatility could increase if high-temperature damage spreads. The government will use 30 billion won to support discounts of up to 50 percent on olive flounder, rockfish and abalone through Aug. 23 and encourage farmers to bring vulnerable fish to market earlier. Early shipments reached 23,149 metric tons by the fifth week of July, up 12.3 percent from a year earlier. Authorities also plan to release 23.8 million fish from farms in affected waters to reduce stocking density, roughly double last year's 11.55 million, and could expand the program if damage worsens. Support for affected fish farmers will also increase. Farmers will be eligible to receive half of estimated insurance payouts within 30 days after the cause of losses is confirmed, while this year's fisheries disaster-relief budget has been raised 153 percent to 33.2 billion won. Initial recovery payments are due before Chuseok, while compensation rates will be increased for 18 items including olive flounder and rockfish and seven additional aquaculture items will become eligible for assistance. Heat damage has also spread to crops in South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces. Sweet persimmons have sustained damage across 1,125.7 hectares and rice across 572.5 hectares, mostly from sunscald and impaired growth. Major summer vegetables have held up better after rainfall and cooler temperatures in Gangwon Province's main highland growing areas. Fruit production is also projected to remain above last year's levels. The Korea Rural Economic Institute forecasts apple production at 487,000 tons, pears at 200,000 tons and sweet persimmons at 96,000 tons. To protect crop supply, the government will provide 2.2 billion won of discounted pesticides and nutrients, along with heat-reflective coatings, water trucks and portable water tanks where needed. Livestock farms have suffered heavier losses in absolute numbers. Heat had killed 54,299 pigs and 944,234 poultry as of Aug. 7, although the combined toll was 61 percent lower than a year earlier and represented only a small share of national stocks. The government said the immediate impact on meat and egg supplies remained limited but could increase if extreme heat persists. Authorities have mobilized 550 disinfection vehicles to spray and cool barns and expanded intensive monitoring from 576 farms to 18,978 vulnerable livestock operations. Cooling equipment and other heat-stress support are also being distributed. The government has also stockpiled 15,000 tons of cabbage and 6,000 tons of radish for release if weather disrupts shipments. Discounts of up to 40 percent on vegetables will continue at major supermarkets and traditional markets through the Chuseok peak-demand period. The domestic supply squeeze adds another layer to grocery inflation already being driven by imported costs. Food manufacturers are raising prices as higher oil prices, a weak won and rising costs for imported ingredients, packaging and freight squeeze production costs. Pulmuone raised consumer prices on 30 products across seven categories by an average 6.7 percent from Thursday, including a two-serving package of Pyongyang naengmyeon, which increased to 7,480 won from 6,980 won. Samlip plans to raise prices on about 50 bread products by around 9 percent on average, with the convenience-store price of its Jeongtong Boreumdal cake rising 11.1 percent to 2,000 won from Sept. 1. The agriculture ministry is seeking to offset some of that pressure through an August promotion with 10 major food companies covering 3,838 processed-food products at supermarkets, convenience stores and online retailers, with discounts of up to 57 percent. AJP Takeaways Korea is spending 30 billion won on seafood discounts as high sea temperatures have killed 1.83 million farmed fish, although officials say the immediate supply impact remains limited. Weather damage is spreading across food production, with nearly 1 million pigs and poultry dead and heat damage reported in rice and sweet-persimmon fields. Authorities are expanding emergency intervention, including releases of 23.8 million farmed fish, higher disaster assistance, crop aid and cooling support for almost 19,000 vulnerable livestock farms. 2026-08-13 10:45:43 -
NCT to mark 10th anniversary with Seoul Fashion Week showcase SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT will mark the 10th anniversary of its 2016 brand launch with a Seoul Fashion Week collaboration built around stage costumes, a runway show and a charity flea market, SM said Thursday. The project turns a decade of NCT's music and stage concepts into a fashion-focused program at Lotte World Tower during the 2027 spring/summer edition of Seoul Fashion Week. The collaboration will unfold in three parts: a costume exhibition, a runway show and the "NCT FLEA MARKET." Running from Sept. 4 to 6, the exhibition will bring together representative stage outfits worn by NCT teams including NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WayV and NCT WISH. The display traces how the group's style and visual identity have shifted over the past decade, presenting NCT's history through fashion as well as music. On Sept. 6, the same archive will move to the runway. Models will wear outfits previously used in NCT promotions and walk to NCT songs, turning the group's stage history into a fashion presentation. That same day, SM will hold the "NCT FLEA MARKET" on the lawn square outside Lotte World Tower, featuring items tied to NCT's stage costumes and personal collections. All proceeds will be donated to causes related to women, youth and culture, according to SM. The Seoul Fashion Week collaboration is part of the broader "NCT 10TH ANNIVERSARY " project marking 10 years since NCT's brand launch. Further details will be released in stages through the project's official promotional site. AJP Takeaway: · NCT will mark the 10th anniversary of its 2016 brand launch with a Seoul Fashion Week collaboration, SM said Thursday. · The program will take place at Lotte World Tower during the 2027 spring/summer edition of Seoul Fashion Week. · The collaboration includes a stage costume exhibition from Sept. 4 to 6, a runway show on Sept. 6 and the "NCT FLEA MARKET." 2026-08-13 10:44:34 -
Hana Tour Accelerates AI Innovation Internally and Externally Hana Tour is enhancing internal productivity through the implementation of corporate artificial intelligence (AI) services while also expanding external platform integration, accelerating its company-wide AI transformation.According to Hana Tour, the employee utilization rate of its corporate AI service, WorksAI, reached approximately 72% just three months after its full implementation. This figure surpasses the average AI usage among domestic office workers. As of July 11, the cumulative usage amounted to about 1.6 billion tokens, with approximately 140,000 calls made. The average usage per session is around 11,000 tokens, primarily utilized for high-engagement tasks such as document summarization, data analysis, and proposal writing.The reduction in working hours has also been significant. The cumulative time saved due to the introduction of WorksAI is estimated at about 231 days, based on a conservative calculation that assumes a five-minute reduction per conversation and a 30% contribution to actual work. Additionally, the customized agent features developed by employees have reduced repetitive internal inquiries, such as automatic travel itinerary generation, customer satisfaction (HCSI) and voice of the customer (VOC) analysis, and guidance on internal regulations, thereby enhancing overall organizational productivity.A Hana Tour representative stated, "With active utilization by employees, AI has established itself as a core partner in our internal operations. We will continue to introduce differentiated travel products and services based on innovations in our internal work processes."In addition to internal innovations, Hana Tour is actively expanding external channels to increase customer touchpoints. Recently, the company integrated with KakaoTalk's 'ChatGPT for Kakao' service to offer a natural language-based travel product recommendation service. By connecting Hana Tour's tool in the ChatGPT menu within KakaoTalk's chat tab, users can receive recommendations for special airfare and planned travel products without needing to install a separate application, simply by entering their criteria. Plans are in place to expand this integration to include hotels and local tours.The expansion into external platforms has also yielded significant results. Following the launch of OpenAI's 'Apps in ChatGPT' dedicated app in May and the implementation of generative AI search optimization (GEO), the influx of Hana Tour services through ChatGPT surged by approximately 850% compared to previous levels.Recently, Hana Tour introduced a service that connects different companies' AI agents through a collaboration model known as 'A2A (Agent to Agent).' In the MyKT app's 'MyK' chat window, when KT's AI agent receives travel-related inquiries, it passes the conversation context to Hana Tour's multi-AI agent, 'H-AI.' H-AI then operates as a travel specialist, suggesting tailored products. Users can continue the conversation by adjusting their itinerary or budget, allowing for detailed travel planning as if conversing with a real consultant.Hana Tour has completed technical verification by obtaining the 'Partner Software Path' certification from Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its AI service, 'H-AI.' The company plans to continue advancing its A2A system and developing an AI product planning system, implementing a multifaceted AI strategy that encompasses both customers and internal employees.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 10:44:20 -
Pro-Democracy Candidates Demand Evidence from Kim Min-seok Pro-Democracy candidates Choi Min-hee, Han Min-soo, and Lee Sung-yoon held a press conference on August 13, urging party leadership candidate Kim Min-seok to provide evidence for his claims of a "secret alliance" involving anti-establishment factions and the Shincheonji religious group. They also called for a public apology regarding issues related to party departures, the merger with the Justice Party, and the timing of the handling of investigative powers.During the emergency press conference at the National Assembly, the candidates stated, "Kim claims that the essence of this party convention is to dismantle the secret alliance of anti-establishment, divisive, and Shincheonji factions. However, he suddenly changed his stance, saying we must support President Lee Jae-myung's governance." They emphasized that while there may be multiple aspects to the convention, Kim must substantiate his allegations regarding the supposed alliance.They also demanded explanations from Kim regarding his past controversies, including his departure from the party in 2002, the merger with the Justice Party, and the timing of communications with lawmakers Lee Un-joo and Kang Deuk-gu about the alleged messages. Choi pointed out that Kim's departure statement at the time did not include any intention to return, stating, "This highlights his past betrayal. He should honestly acknowledge his mistakes and reflect on them." Choi further pressed for the disclosure of the individual mentioned in the Telegram messages discussing the merger and the identity of the prime minister referenced in Kang's Facebook posts.Han questioned Kim's assertion that the government requested the party to abolish investigative powers in April and then demanded action in May, asking, "Who exactly was told to handle this by May? Did you send the bill and then make these claims? We need an honest party leader."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 10:44:00
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Youth Solidarity for One Korea Launched with 200 Participants The 'One Korea Youth Solidarity' (Youth Solidarity for One Korea), formed by youth organizations from South Korea, North Korea, and abroad, has officially launched.On August 12, the '2026 One Korea Youth Forum' was held at the Seoul Startup Hub in Gongdeok, organized by the Korea Global Peace Foundation (GPF Korea) and led by domestic and international youth organizations.This event was part of the '2026 Seoul Project for Social Integration and Awareness Improvement for North Korean Defectors,' sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.With the slogan 'Startup for Peace: Global Youth for Building a Sustainable Korean Peninsula,' the forum focused on transforming the concept of unification from an abstract discourse into a future project designed and implemented by youth.During the opening ceremony, GPF Korea Chairman Seo In-taek delivered a welcoming address, followed by congratulatory remarks from Jeong Young-soon, President of the Korean Association of North Korean Defectors, and a keynote speech by Yoo Nam-sik, co-representative of the American Unification Alliance.Chairman Seo stated, "The fact that youth from 34 countries, each with different languages, cultures, and histories, have gathered under the theme of 'One Korea' is significant. The unification of the Korean Peninsula is not just about the reunification of the Korean people; it is a journey to realize universal values of freedom, human rights, and peace. History shows that it is always the visionaries among the youth who have changed the world."In her congratulatory remarks, Jeong Young-soon emphasized, "For me, the division of the Korean Peninsula is not just a historical event or a political issue; it is a continuing family history. The 'One Korea' initiative can begin when youth with different backgrounds and stories come together to listen to and understand each other's histories." She added, "I hope we can create a future where the next generation inherits the courage to overcome division rather than the same division."In his keynote address, Yoo Nam-sik remarked, "Youth respond more to hope than cynicism. When we present a vision that youth can understand, believe in, and lead, they will organize, create, and take action. Unification of the Korean Peninsula should not be seen as distant or impossible; it must become a future that youth can imagine and create themselves."During Session 1, a panel discussion featured representatives from South Korea, North Korean defectors, ethnic Koreans, and youth from abroad, who shared their experiences and visions for contributing to a unified Korea.The panelists discussed the future of the Korean Peninsula and the meanings of freedom, peace, and social integration from their diverse backgrounds and experiences, particularly focusing on their dreams for a unified Korea and the roles that the youth can play starting now.In the afternoon, the 'Peace Innovation Challenge' saw participants form 20 teams of 5-6 members each to develop social startup ideas for a sustainable future on the Korean Peninsula based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The top prize was awarded to the team proposing the 'DMZ National Park' project, which aims to designate the well-preserved DMZ as a national park and have it recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site to promote both environmental conservation and international interest in unification.The excellence award went to the team focused on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), which proposed connecting a unified Korean Peninsula to the Asian Highway and promoting cultural, tourism, innovation, and youth exchanges. The sustainable cities and communities team (SDG 11) received an award for their 'One Peninsula Green Cities Initiative,' which aims to connect cities and communities in the North and South through eco-friendly, transportation, and digital networks based on the Korean Dream and the Hongik Ingan spirit.Earlier on August 11, the 'Gwangbok 81 One Korea Unification Advancement Conference' was held, supporting national solidarity for unification, with over 500 participants from civil society, religious groups, displaced persons, and political and academic circles.Song Seok-jun, Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, along with the One Korea National Alliance, held the conference at the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, voicing their support for a peaceful unification based on constitutional principles.Jeong Dae-cheol, Chairman of the Republic of Korea Constitutional Association, emphasized, "Unification is a national task that must be prepared for the future of our people, national competitiveness, sustainable development on the Korean Peninsula, and the prevention of war." Baek Seung-joo, an advisor to the One Korea National Alliance, echoed this sentiment, stating that national leaders must have a clear philosophy and will regarding democracy and unification as they prepare for the future.Regarding the 'two-state theory,' Jang Man-soon, chair of the 10 million displaced families committee, pointed out that recognizing North Korea as a separate state conflicts with the constitution and could affect the identity and rights of displaced persons and defectors. He added, "True peace begins with restoring the freedom and human rights of North Korean residents," proposing a nationwide movement to promote the value of freedom.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 10:40:10
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Youth Solidarity for One Korea Launched with 200 Participants Domestic and international youth organizations have officially launched the 'One Korea Youth Solidarity' (Youth Solidarity for One Korea), uniting under a shared vision for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.On August 12, the '2026 One Korea Youth Forum' was held at the Seoul Startup Hub in Gongdeok, organized by the Korea Global Peace Foundation (GPF Korea) and led by various youth organizations.This event was part of the '2026 Seoul Project for Social Integration and Awareness Improvement for North Korean Defectors,' sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.With the slogan 'Startup for Peace: Global Youth for Building a Sustainable Korean Peninsula,' the forum aimed to transform the concept of unification from an abstract discourse into a future project designed and implemented by youth.The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks from Seoin-taek, chairman of the Korea Global Peace Foundation, and congratulatory remarks from Jeong Yeong-soon, president of the Korean Association of North Korean Defectors, followed by a keynote speech from Yoo Nam-sik, co-representative of the American Unification Alliance.Seoin-taek stated, 'The fact that youth from 34 countries, each with different languages, cultures, and histories, have gathered under the theme of 'One Korea' is significant. The unification of the Korean Peninsula is not just about the reunification of the Korean people; it is a journey to realize universal values of freedom, human rights, and peace. History shows that it has always been visionary young people who have changed the world.'In her congratulatory remarks, Jeong Yeong-soon emphasized, 'For me, the division of the Korean Peninsula is not just a historical event or a political issue; it is a continuing family history. The 'One Korea' initiative can begin when youth with different backgrounds and stories meet to listen to and understand each other's histories.'She added, 'I hope we can create a future where the next generation inherits the courage to overcome division rather than the same division.'In his keynote address, Yoo Nam-sik remarked, 'Youth respond more to hope than to cynicism. When we present a vision that youth can understand, believe in, and lead, they will organize, create, and take action themselves. Unification of the Korean Peninsula should not be seen as distant or impossible; it must become a future that youth can imagine and create.'During Session 1, a panel discussion featured representatives from South Korea, North Korean defectors, ethnic Koreans, and youth from abroad, who shared their experiences and visions for contributing to a unified Korea.The panelists discussed the future of the Korean Peninsula and the meanings of freedom, peace, and social integration from their diverse backgrounds and experiences, particularly focusing on their dreams for a unified Korea and the roles that the youth can play starting now.In the afternoon, the 'Peace Innovation Challenge' saw participating youth form 20 teams of 5-6 members each to develop social startup ideas for a sustainable future on the Korean Peninsula based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The grand prize was awarded to the team focusing on terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), which proposed the 'DMZ National Park' project, suggesting that the well-preserved DMZ be designated as a national park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site to promote both environmental conservation and international interest in unification.The best award went to the team focusing on industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), which proposed connecting a unified Korea to the Asian Highway and promoting cultural, tourism, innovation, and youth exchanges. The excellence award was given to the sustainable cities and communities team (SDG 11), which proposed the 'One Peninsula Green Cities Initiative' to connect cities and communities in the North and South through eco-friendly, transportation, and digital networks based on the Korean Dream and Hongik Ingan spirit.Earlier, on August 11, the 'Gwangbok 81 One Korea Unification Advancement Conference' was held to support national solidarity for unification, attended by over 500 participants from civil society, religious groups, displaced persons, and political and academic circles.Song Seok-jun, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, along with the One Korea National Alliance, held the conference at the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, voicing their support for a peaceful unification based on constitutional principles.Jeong Dae-cheol, chairman of the Korea Constitutional Association, emphasized, 'Unification is a national task that must be prepared for the future of our people, national competitiveness, sustainable development of the Korean Peninsula, and prevention of war.' Baek Seung-joo, an advisor to the One Korea National Alliance, echoed this sentiment, stating that national leaders must have a clear philosophy and will regarding democracy and unification as they prepare for the future.Regarding the 'two-state theory,' Jang Man-soon, chair of the 10 Million Displaced Families Committee, pointed out that recognizing North Korea as a separate state conflicts with the constitution and could impact the identity and rights of displaced persons and defectors.He added, 'True peace begins with restoring the freedom and human rights of North Korean residents,' proposing a nationwide movement to promote the value of freedom.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 10:40:00
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Seoul shuts down Africa-based sites for piracy on K-webtoons SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Korean authorities have taken down three North Africa-based piracy sites accused of illegally distributing tens of thousands of Korean webtoons and web novels, following a cross-border investigation involving Interpol and Naver Webtoon. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Police Agency said Thursday that one site operator was arrested locally and all three platforms were shut down as part of the joint operation. The case marks a shift in Korea's approach to piracy overseas — moving beyond blocking orders and takedown requests toward criminal investigations that target operators themselves, rather than only removing access to the sites they run. It follows a similar international cooperation case in Vietnam earlier this year, part of what officials describe as an expanding push to pursue K-content piracy networks through public-private cooperation. The three sites included one dedicated to webtoons, one dedicated to web novels and a third platform that shared pirated material sourced from the other two. Operating since July 2024, the network had copied and distributed 83,688 pieces of copyrighted content without authorization, according to the ministry. The total included 30,926 items tied to Korean webtoons and 5,202 tied to web novels, among them recent popular titles such as “The Trauma Code.” Korean content made up roughly 57 percent of everything on the sites, and industry estimates put the resulting annual damage at around 20 billion won ($14.5 million). What made the sites especially damaging, authorities said, is that they functioned as first-stage distributors: pirating paid content from official platforms, translating it into English and posting it online at the first stage of illegal distribution. From there, the material can be copied and re-uploaded across a wider network of mirror and repost sites, meaning the true scale of damage could extend beyond what these three platforms alone accounted for. The investigation began in March, after Naver Webtoon flagged the network through its own in-house piracy monitoring. The culture ministry then opened an international cooperation channel through Interpol's I-SOP project, coordinating with the National Police Agency's international cooperation bureau, an I-SOP liaison officer based in Singapore and a Korean police attaché stationed in North Africa. Working with local law enforcement, the joint team shut down all three sites in mid-July and arrested the suspected operator, identified by authorities only by an alias, on the ground. The takedown is the first international case announced by the ministry's Copyright Special Judicial Police Division, a unit launched on June 30. The ministry said it will keep coordinating with local authorities as legal proceedings against the operator move forward and plans to expand similar cooperation against copyright infringement elsewhere in the region. For Korea's webtoon and web novel industry, the case underscores a growing enforcement challenge: as K-content draws bigger audiences overseas, the networks that illegally translate and redistribute it are also becoming faster, more organized and harder to contain within any one country's borders. AJP Takeaway: South Korea shut down three North Africa-based piracy sites accused of illegally distributing Korean webtoons, web novels and other copyrighted content. The sites copied and distributed 83,688 pieces of content since July 2024, including 30,926 Korean webtoon items and 5,202 web novel items. Korean content made up about 57 percent of the material on the sites, with industry-estimated annual damage of around 20 billion won. 2026-08-13 10:37:23 -
LG Innotek enters MSCI Korea, four exit SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) —LG Innotek will enter the MSCI Korea Index at the end of this month as the country's sole addition in the global index provider's August review, setting up potential passive-fund buying as four Korean companies are pushed out. LG Innotek shares rose following the announcement, trading 3.81 percent higher at 626,000 won ($443) on Thursday morning. MSCI said LG Innotek will be added to its Korea Standard Index, while HLB, LG Display, POSCO International and Samsung Epis Holdings will be removed. The changes will take effect as of the market close on Aug. 31. The electronics components maker was already the largest constituent of the MSCI Korea Small Cap Index at the end of July, carrying a 2.43 percent weight. The MSCI Korea Index measures large- and mid-cap stocks and covers about 85 percent of the Korean equity universe, making inclusion significant for global funds that use MSCI benchmarks to allocate capital. Benchmark changes can generate mechanical demand from passive funds as they adjust their holdings to match revised index composition. Samsung Securities had estimated before the review that LG Innotek's inclusion could generate about 313 billion won of passive buying. MSCI reviews its Global Investable Market Indexes four times a year, in February, May, August and November. Its methodology incorporates company and security size, liquidity and foreign investability, with constituent weights adjusted for shares available to investors. The August reshuffle was broader across Asia. Japan recorded one addition and two deletions, India four additions and three deletions, Taiwan six additions and six deletions, and China 33 additions and 32 deletions, according to MSCI. AJP Takeaways LG Innotek is the sole Korean addition to the MSCI Korea Index in the August review, while four companies will be removed. The changes take effect after the Aug. 31 close, when passive funds tracking MSCI benchmarks are expected to rebalance. LG Innotek was already MSCI Korea Small Cap's largest constituent, and Samsung Securities had estimated its promotion could trigger about 313 billion won of passive buying. 2026-08-13 10:34:37 -
Government Strengthens Response to Workplace Harassment in Hospitals The government is enhancing its oversight of hospitals to reduce workplace harassment. This includes strengthening labor inspections at problematic facilities, expanding organizational culture assessments and consulting tailored for the hospital sector, and supporting the reduction of actual working hours for healthcare workers, including nurses at university hospitals. On August 13, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a partnership with the Korean Hospital Association, the Korean Nurses Association, the Labor-Management Development Foundation, and the Korea Employment and Labor Education Institute at Inha University Hospital, aimed at creating a "Safe Hospital for Workers." The government's initiative to improve working conditions in hospitals comes in response to the significant prevalence of workplace harassment in the health and welfare sector. According to a 2024 survey, the experience rate of workplace harassment in this field was 25%, the highest among all industries. Last year, the health and welfare sector accounted for 16% of workplace harassment reports submitted to the Ministry of Labor. Initially, the government will expand the "Workplace Innovation Cooperative Consulting" specifically for hospitals. Hospitals recommended by the Korean Hospital Association will be able to receive assessments and consulting without a separate review through a fast-track process. Additionally, businesses will be exempt from self-funding in the area of organizational culture improvement. During a meeting, representatives from Inha University Hospital and Samyook Busan Hospital shared their consulting experiences. Inha University Hospital recently sought consulting due to issues with new nurse turnover. Samyook Busan Hospital explained that after receiving similar consulting years ago, they restructured their nursing work system and improved their organizational culture, resulting in a significant reduction in turnover rates. A special assessment will also be conducted to identify factors that could lead to workplace harassment, such as hierarchical organizational culture, particularly among junior nurses. The government plans to expand harassment prevention training tailored to the hospital sector and develop a standard manual for improving organizational culture that can be utilized in medical settings. Support to reduce long working hours for healthcare workers will also be expanded. The government is currently supporting the reduction of actual working hours through the "Work-Life Balance +4.5 Project" targeting the life and safety sectors within healthcare. Plans are underway to extend this support to healthcare workers, including nurses at university hospitals, who are currently excluded from the existing support framework. The response system for hospitals where workplace harassment has occurred will be strengthened. The Ministry of Welfare and the Korean Nurses Association will establish a plan to link information about problematic workplaces identified on-site with the Ministry of Labor's labor inspections. The counseling and support system through the Nurses SOS support center will also be enhanced. The Ministry of Labor is currently conducting nationwide planned inspections of hospitals where workplace harassment reports have been filed. Since July 15, inspections have been underway at 14 small hospitals that received multiple harassment reports over the past three years to check for violations of labor laws, including workplace harassment. The government is also working to assess the actual conditions in hospitals. Since June, the Ministry of Labor has been conducting a survey on workplace harassment specifically in the healthcare sector. This survey aims to identify the occurrence of harassment in small and medium-sized hospitals and clinics, as well as support systems and remedies, to inform future policy improvements. Minister of Labor Kim Young-hoon stated, "It is unacceptable for the precious hands that save patients to suffer harassment at work without protection. We will create hospitals where healthcare workers can work safely through workplace innovation consulting and support for reducing actual working hours." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 10:32:00
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Korea revives startup contest with doubled scale after data leak SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups unveiled plans to relaunch its flagship "Startup for All" competition at twice the scale, pressing ahead with an ambitious idea-driven audition just weeks after a personal data breach forced the program's indefinite suspension. The ministry said Thursday it would recruit 10,000 participants for the second round — double the 5,000 chosen in the inaugural edition — under a plan announced jointly with related agencies at a national entrepreneurship strategy meeting. The competition invites ordinary citizens to compete on the strength of an idea alone, without the polished business plans or lengthy resumes that conventional government contests demand. Selected challengers receive early-stage mentoring, incubation and a shot at nationwide auditions. Of the 10,000 slots, 8,000 will be allocated to general and technology categories and 2,000 to a local track. At least 80 percent of those chosen must be prospective founders yet to launch a business, while 70 percent will come from outside the greater Seoul area in a bid to spread entrepreneurship across the regions. The revival comes after a bruising episode that shook public trust in the program. On June 18, the ministry disclosed that the personal information of all 5,000 first-round finalists — including names, email addresses and summaries of their startup ideas — had been exposed. An internal investigation found the data had been harvested not by an outside hacker but by an AI solutions company taking part as a support-service vendor, which allegedly used abnormal API requests and web-crawling techniques to scrape email addresses hidden from public view before sending promotional messages. Han Seong-sook, then the SMEs minister who designed the platform and has since become Korea's second female prime minister, issued a public apology on June 22, saying she had failed to protect the trust of citizens who took up the challenge of starting a business. Applications for the second round open on Aug. 20, with successful candidates to be announced in early October, the ministry said. Of the 10,000 challengers, 2,200 will advance to regional auditions and 400 to a national contest. To guard against a repeat, the ministry said it would tighten platform security and personal-data controls, submit the system to a National Intelligence Service security review and a privacy-impact assessment by the Personal Information Protection Commission, and narrow its roster of AI solution vendors to about 50 firms, down from the 283 companies that supplied solutions in the first round. The ministry also moved to knit the contest into a wider ecosystem, establishing startup "clubs" in the Seoul, Daejeon, Busan and Gwangju regions where veteran founders, investors and support agencies gather with challengers, and issuing "challenge certificates" that grant preferential treatment in state financing and research funding. "In the second Startup for All, we will open the door of challenge to more citizens and actively support re-challenge and startups across diverse fields, while building a foundation for entrepreneurs to grow together within the startup ecosystem even after their challenge," First Vice Minister Roh Yong-seok said. AJP Takeaways • South Korea's SMEs ministry is doubling its "Startup for All" contest to 10,000 participants, pressing ahead just weeks after a June data breach exposed all 5,000 first-round finalists' personal information and forced the program's indefinite suspension. • The relaunch pairs expansion with damage control: the vendor pool blamed for the leak is being cut from 283 firms to about 50, and the platform will face a National Intelligence Service security review and a privacy-impact assessment. • The breach toppled to the top of the ministry — then-minister Han Seong-sook, who designed the platform, apologized publicly before becoming Korea's second female prime minister — underscoring the political stakes riding on the program's recovery. 2026-08-13 10:31:59