Jan. 13

• ●Seoul to train 4,400 middle-aged residents for jobs as Korea becomes super-aged society Korea JoongAng Daily
  Seoul will help 4,400 middle-aged residents train for jobs through its employment programs this year.
  
  

• ●Seoul to host second blind date event with higher age limit, foreigners eligible Korea JoongAng Daily
  Seoul is hosting the second edition of its mass blind date event, inviting eligible bachelors and bachelorettes to meet and discuss art on Valentine's Day.
  
  

• ●To boost births, try Gangnam style? The Korea Herald
  Amid grim forecasts of South Korea's self-extinction due to low birth rates, Seoul stands at the epicenter of the crisis, with a fertility rate of just 0.52.
  
  

• ●Overweight people at less risk of suicide: study The Korea Herald
  Koreans who are obese or overweight are less likely to kill themselves than those who are of average weight or under, a study by local endocrinologists showed Monday.
  
  

• ●South Korea's starting salaries for college graduates outpaces Japan The Chosun Daily
  The average starting salary for recent college graduates employed at South Korean companies with more than 300 employees exceeded 50 million won annually for the first time in 2023, according to a report.

Jan. 14

• ●Government-dispatched caregiver accused of child abuse for 'disciplining' toddler The Korea Times
  A woman dispatched through a government-operated childcare service has been accused of assaulting a toddler under her care.
  
  

• ●Male parental leave reaches record high, surpassing 40,000 in 2024 The Korea Times
  As of November last year, three in 10 people taking parental leave were men, a record high and a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Monday.
  
  

• ●Funerals grow longer as surge in flu deaths overwhelms facilities Korea JoongAng Daily
  More funeral homes are holding longer services amid a recent surge in influenza-related deaths.

Jan. 15

• ●Filipino domestic caregiver program going well, Seoul says, as gov't ponders expansion Korea JoongAng Daily
  The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday the six-month pilot program for Filipino domestic caregivers is progressing well despite initial concerns, as the Ministry of Employment and Labor considers expanding the initiative this year.
  
  

• ●Seoul hails Philippine caregiver pilot program success, yet nationwide expansion remains uncertain The Korea Times
  The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that its pilot program employing caregivers from the Philippines is running smoothly and meeting consistent demand from residents.
  
  

• ●Korea's employment growth slows to 3-year low in 2024 The Korea Times
  Korea's on-year employment growth slowed significantly in 2024 as the number of new hires fell in the manufacturing and retail sectors, and among young people, data showed Wednesday.

Jan. 16

• ●Gov't urges vaccinations before Lunar New Year as immunity wanes and variants emerge Korea JoongAng Daily
  The government is urging the public to get vaccinated against influenza and Covid-19 before the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Jan. 25, citing a higher risk of infection due to large-scale travel and frequent gatherings.