Last February, a pastor known for helping North Koreans’ escape from the country was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing teenage defectors. Such cases exacerbate the challenges of these young defectors struggling to assimilate into South Korean society. Thus, the Sungkyun Times (S
In February 2024, the government introduced the Youth Housing Dream Subscription Saving Account aimed at individuals who are unable to get onto the housing ladder. Besides supporting people in achieving their dreams of becoming homeowners, it assists them in accumulating funds for future home purcha
On January 10th, the Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education (GNE) and Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education (BMCOE) announced the expansion of support for basic academic achievement for students with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF). On the same day, the National Assembly announced a rep
On December 8th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) announced guidelines to prevent discrimination against fixed-term, temporary, and non-standard workers. Non-regular employment has been controversial because of its unfavorable treatment over the years. Thus, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) seeks
Starting in January 2024, when both parents take childcare leave, they will collectively be able to receive up to ₩9 million in monthly benefits. This was made possible by the 6+6 Childcare Leave Policy that was put forward by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) last October 6th. While this
On October 8th, 2023, a massive jeonse fraud involving 150 cases in Suwon City was exposed to the media following a report by an anonymous person. As of October 14th, the total amount of losses in Suwon City alone reached about ₩87 billion according to the police. Therefore, the Sungkyun Times (SKT)
On August 20th, JTBC Newsroom disclosed the name of the offender in the Sillim-dong murder case, Choi Yoon-jong, ahead of the police. Whether or not revealing a felony suspect’s personal details is appropriate requires a value judgment concerning the public’s right to know and the offender’s right t
Airports connect people through the sky. However, while a lot of positive public opinion regarding South Korea’s airports exists, there is also no shortage of criticism. After the recent World Scout Jamboree incident, intense criticism arose regarding the new Saemangeum Airport, which is being promo
Juvenile criminals and the Juvenile Act that protects them are currently at the center of controversy. Last August, a group of middle school girls from Ulsan City were investigated for violently assaulting a fellow male student. However, since they were juvenile delinquents, the perpetrators were ex
The movie Next Sohee, released on Netflix in July, tells the tragic story of a former field trainee, Sohee. In the movie, the violence and unjust working conditions she experienced at a call center made her take her own life. The sorrow of the sacrificed Sohees conveyed by the film brought attention
Last June, a pediatric clinic was closed due to false and malicious complaints from clients. This incident highlights the challenges faced by pediatricians as the number of pediatric medical centers continues to decrease. Therefore, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) aims to investigate the current status and
Japan finally announced the plan to discharge the Fukushima Power Plant wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Although many neighboring countries including Korea voiced their concerns, Japan started a full-scale release of the wastewater with the agreement of the Group of Seven (G7) and the Internation
Passengers looking for a ride over short distances are facing difficulties booking cabs due to the destination display function of taxi applications. On April 11th, the Passenger Transport Service Act (PTSA)’s amendment was proposed, including a new bill to eliminate the display of destinations on t
On June 28th, the International Age Unification Law will finally be introduced in Korea. Until today, Korea has used the calendar age system in administrative services and the international age system in legal texts and contracts. While in daily life, the age system worked by adding one year from th
Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, has been trending since the release of its fourth version this March. Unlike other AIs, Chat GPT can communicate fluently in many forms, from casual conversations to creative writing. Its sophisticate
The Yellow Envelope Act, a revision of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (Trade Union Act), is a matter of heated debate awaiting its plenary vote in May. While the act aims to ensure workers’ rights, it is also criticized for infringing corporate property rights. In this article, t
Rapper Bull the Bastard, who became famous in High School Rapper 2, was sentenced to four years in prison for taking illegal drugs this February. He appeared on the KBS documentary Prescribing Drugs in December 2021 and appealed to the public about the risks of the drug fentanyl. In response, the Su
As the voluntary resignation fever has started, numerous commercial banks, including credit card companies, are offering retirements by guaranteeing high severance pay as compensation. In 2023, more than three thousand people are estimated to resign voluntarily, which far exceeds the 2,244 applicant
The new phrase “Republic of Seoul” that is growing in popularity seems to reflect the severe regional imbalance in Korea. While spatial inequality has been consistently intensifying, the National Assembly opened the Regional Balanced Development Forum last January and initiated a debate among lawmak
“We will not eat blood- stained bread.” A nationwide boycott against Samlip&Shany, Paris Croissant, Companies (SPC) began after the death of a young factory worker due to the company’s hazardous working environment. Following this tragedy, SPC and the Paris Baguette Union signed a labor- management