More than 40% of S. Koreans feel burdened by annual healthcare bills: survey

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - Despite South Korea's robust national health insurance program, more than 40 percent of citizens feel burdened by their annual personal healthcare expenditures, according to survey data released by the National Health Insurance Service. In 2021, the average South Korean spent about $710 on medical services, excluding costs covered by insurance. South Korea's state-operated health insurance program is globally recognized, providing citizens and l

April 8, 2024

Two-day early voting begins ahead of next week's general elections

SEOUL, April 05 (AJU PRESS) - The two-day early voting began, Friday, ahead of the April 10 general elections, largely seen as a referendum on the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

April 5, 2024

Busan Port welcomes largest-ever fleet of foreign cruise ships

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - Amid a surge in foreign travelers to South Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic, Busan Port, the country's largest maritime gateway, witnessed a historic moment with four foreign cruise ships simultaneously docking at its piers for the first time. With an annual handling capacity of 20 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), Busan Port serves as South Korea's primary hub for both cargo and passenger ships. Typically, passenger ships shuttlin

April 3, 2024

Exports of S. Korean beverage products soar to new high

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Exports of South Korean beverage products, including non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drinks and fruit-flavored dairy products, soared to a record $572.3 million in 2023. This surge in exports can be attributed to the growing recognition and popularity of South Korean products on the global stage. The export volume of South Korean beverage products has seen a consistent upward trend since 2020, reaching new highs each year. The increasing popularity

April 1, 2024

President Yoon stresses importance of increasing medical school admissions by 2,000

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Amid prolonged chaos in major hospitals caused by resident doctors' mass resignation movement, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed that the government's decision to increase the number of medical school admissions by 2,000 per year is a minimum increase rate to nurture at least 15,000 new doctors by 2035. In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of trainee doctors applying for essential departments such as internal m

April 1, 2024

Ruling camp on edge as South Korea's April 10 polls approach

SEOUL, March 29 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's upcoming general elections, scheduled for April 10, are shaping up to be a nail-biter, with pre-election surveys painting a conflicting picture and a resurgent third party threatening to shake the traditional two-party dominance. While the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is vying to regain control of the National Assembly, its position appears precarious. Discrepancies among major polling firms highlight the uncertainty: Hankook Rese

March 29, 2024

Seoul's bus labor union launches strike for first time in 12 years

SEOUL, March 28 (AJU PRESS) -- The operation of about 98 percent of buses running in Seoul came to a halt, Thursday, as unionized bus drivers began a general strike for the first time in 12 years, since 2012. Despite extensive negotiations lasting more than 11 hours, they failed to reach an agreement with management authorities. The two parties had been engaged in talks since 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Wednesday and continued for over 11 hours. However, they failed to reach an agreement

March 28, 2024

Life expectancy in South Korea decreases for first time since 2000

SEOUL, March 27 (AJU PRESS) -- Recent data released by South Korea's state statistical information service has shown that South Koreans' life expectancy dropped to 82.7 years in 2022 from 83.6 years in 2021. This marks the first decrease in life expectancy since 2000, which stood at 76 years. Cancer was the primary cause of death in 2022, while deaths from Alzheimer's disease have surged by over 75 times compared to two decades ago. In 2022, the main reason for death w

March 27, 2024

S. Korean middle market enterprise federation shares strategies for compliance management

SEOUL, March 26 (AJU PRESS) -- South Korea's middle market enterprise federation has shared strategies for adapting to regulations related to fair trade and other business-related policies. During the briefing, the association stressed the importance of understanding relevant regulations to ensure businesses maintain effective compliance amidst the shifting legal environment. According to data released by the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK), middle mar

March 26, 2024

Pulmuone's kimchi museum sees 40% increase in foreign visitors in 2023 from pre-COVID-19 period

SEOUL, March 25 (AJU PRESS) -- "Museum Kimchikan," a kimchi museum run by South Korean food product maker Pulmuone, was visited by some 14,000 foreign visitors in 2023, up 40 percent from 2019, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pulmuone will increase the number of kimchi-related programs from the current two to four within March 2024 targeting foreigners. Kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish, is typically crafted by fermenting cabbage or radish with a blend

March 25, 2024