Legal battle looms over use of 2015 'comfort women' fund for compensation

A legal dispute has emerged over whether the remaining funds from the 2015 bilateral agreement on Japan's wartime sexual slavery can be used to compensate a victim’s family, after the South Korean government filed an objection to a court decision ordering payment. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and legal officials on Friday, the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation submitted an objection on March 3 to a compulsory mediation decision by the Seoul Central District Court.

March 13, 2026

Major roads in central Seoul to be closed Sunday for 2026 Seoul Marathon

Major roads across central Seoul will be closed on Sunday for the 2026 Seoul Marathon, with authorities warning of significant traffic congestion throughout the morning and early afternoon. According to the police, the marathon is expected to draw around 20,000 participants each in the full course (42.195 kilometers) and the 10-kilometer race. The full marathon will start at Gwanghwamun Square, passing through Sejong-daero, Eulji-ro, Jong-ro, Cheonho-daero, Gwangnaru-ro, Wangsimni-ro, Ttukseom-r

March 13, 2026

School bullying brokers emerge as college admission rules toughen

South Korea’s decision to make school bullying records a mandatory factor in college admissions starting in 2026 is fueling a new shadow market of consultants promising to erase or neutralize disciplinary records. As fears grow among parents and students facing potential penalties, so-called “school bullying brokers” are charging hefty fees to delay or weaken cases before admissions decisions are made. According to data from the Education Ministry and the admissions industry, schools handled 7,4

March 12, 2026

95 sex offenders found to have worked in child-related facilities

Government data released Thursday showed that 95 registered sex offenders were working at or operating institutions serving children and teenagers last year, including day care centers and elementary schools. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the results of its 2025 inspection of employment restrictions for registered sex offenders. The current employment restriction system bars convicted sex offenders from working for a designated period at institutions related to children and

March 12, 2026

Gender equality stalls as structural barriers persist, experts warn

Experts urged coordinated efforts to tackle structural discrimination that continues to shape women’s lives across society during an event hosted by the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Center in the Republic of Korea. They stressed that true equality requires dismantling entrenched barriers, not merely helping women navigate around them. The center, supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, held a commemoration marking the 2026 International Women’s Day in Seoul on Wednesday u

March 11, 2026

Jamsil mega convention center, dome stadium set for 2032 completion

A 3.3 trillion-won ($2.2 billion) sports and convention complex featuring South Korea’s largest domed baseball stadium is planned for completion in Seoul by 2032 after the city finalized long-delayed negotiations for the Jamsil Sports and MICE Complex redevelopment. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it had concluded four years of negotiations with Seoul Smart MICE Park, a consortium led by Hanwha Construction Division selected as the preferred bidder for the privately funded proje

March 11, 2026

Korea helps end dog slaughter in Indonesia

Two long-running dog slaughter and meat-selling businesses in Indonesia have been shut down, marking what activists say is the first overseas application of South Korea’s dog meat industry transition model. The South Korean branch of Humane World for Animals said Wednesday it supported the closure of a dog meat restaurant and slaughterhouse, rescuing 10 dogs that were awaiting slaughter. The operation in Kupang, on Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, was conducted in partnership with Jakart

March 11, 2026

How war in Iran is affecting Korea

As the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran shows signs of prolonging, the ripple effects of soaring global oil prices are being felt acutely across South Korea, especially hitting workers in transport, agriculture, fisheries and island communities, whose livelihoods depend heavily on fuel. For many, the crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict is materializing in the form of rising operational costs that cannot be passed on to consumers. Truck drivers and delivery workers,

March 10, 2026

Seoul’s aging poor driven toward bankruptcy by living costs

A growing number of residents in Seoul are falling into irrecoverable debt, with new city data showing that people in their 60s and older now make up the majority of personal bankruptcy applicants. Six out of every 10 individuals who sought personal bankruptcy assistance through the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center last year were aged 60 or above, according to a report released Tuesday. The center analyzed 1,192 valid bankruptcy applications filed in 2025 as part of its annual review of

March 10, 2026

Seoul to expand medical tourism interpreters tenfold

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it will expand its pool of medical tourism interpreter-coordinators to about 1,000 this year — nearly ten times the current level — to better serve the rapidly growing number of foreign patients visiting the city. To support the initiative, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the K-Medical Tourism Association last week. Under the agreement, interpreter-coordinators affiliated with the association will be deployed to major medical insti

March 9, 2026