Jun 14

• ●Isolation, seclusion as a 'new normal': Does Korea need a loneliness minister? Korea JoongAng Daily
  Kwon Ki-hyun, 37, says he has maintained minimal relationships for over a decade, consisting of just his family members and a couple of friends.
  
  

• ●'Date passbooks' a uniquely Korean marriage of modern love and mobile banking Korea JoongAng Daily
  Imagine having a joint wallet with your partner--just for data nights.

Jun 15

• ●Suicides increased last year, but attempt survivors at ER decreased: report The Korea Herald
  The number of suicide deaths in 2024 increased compared to the previous year, but the number of those admitted to the emergency room after attempting suicide actually increased in the same period, leading to suspicion that some of those attempt survivors had been unable to receive medical help.
  
  

• ●Change in government leaves foreign domestic worker program in limbo The Korea Herald
  South Korea's pilot program for overseas domestic workers is now hanging in the balance, with no clear path forward after months of delays, labor disputs, and a new administration that had voiced skepticism about the system in the past.
  
  

• ●Monthly payments from National Pension Fund surpass $2.9 bil. for 1st time The Korea Times
  Monthly pension payments from the National Pension Fund surpassed the 4 trillion won ($2.9 billion) mark in February, marking the first time monthly outflows crossed the threshold, due to the country's aging population, data from its operator showed Sunday.

Jun 16

• ●Court backs care facility in dispute over resident's relocation Korea JoongAng Daily
  A Seoul court sided with a care facility for the disabled, overturning disciplinary measures imposed by the country's human rights watchdog after the facility removed a patient with apparent difficulty in verbal communication.
  
  

• ●Study finds mobile game-based therapy improves social skills in adolescents with ASD disorders Korea JoongAng Daily
  A new study suggests that digital therapy based on mobile games can improve social skills in adolsecents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or social communication disorder -- a finding that challenges longstanding criticisms of video games as addictive and harmful.
  
  

• ●Warehouse pharmacy debuts in Korea, drawing pushback Korea JoongAng Daily
  On a humid Sunday morning, the entrance to a newly opened pharmacy in Seongnam could easily be mistaken for a discount supermarket.
  
  

• ●South Koreans likely to receive up to W500,000 in cash relief The Korea Herald
  The government is considering including a cash relief program in the second extra budget bill that would give every South Korean a handout of 150,000 to 500,000 won ($110 to $367), sources said Monday.
  
  

• ●150,000 Seoulites joined 'loner programs' last year, with plans for expansion in 2025 The Korea Herald
  Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that the city-wide support centers for single-person households have provided counseling services and other forms of help to 152,461 people between 2022 and 2024.

Jun 17

• ●Golden year romance: Matchmaking event in central Seoul takes on challenge of senior loneliness Korea JoongAng Daily
  Loneliness is one of the greatest challenges many older Koreans face.
  
  

• ●Young Koreans flee provinces in search of opportunity, leaving regions hollowed out The Korea Times
  After work one evening in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Kim Hee-seop sat in his dormitory study room, flipping through an English speaking test prep book.
  
  

• ●Foreign caregiver program pits capital against Labor Ministry over cutting wages Korea JoongAng Daily
  Seoul's pilot program for foreign caregivers has sparked a policy dispute with the central government, as the city pushes to lower labor costs to ease child care burdens, while the Ministry of Employment and Labor insists on upholding equal wage protections.
  
  

• ●Parents of premature newborns call for government support amid limited diaper production and availability Korea JoongAng Daily
  With the rise in premature births due to factors like maternal aging and fertility treatments, demand for specialized diapers for premature newborns is growing--but limited production and availability continue to burden parents and raise calls for government support.
  
  

• ●Foundation announces suicide preention program expansion Korea JoongAng Daily
  With suicide deaths in Korea hitting their highest level since 2011, a nationwide effort to intervene more effectively in mental health crises is gaining momentum.
  
  

• ●Future of foreign domestic worker program uncertain amid cost concerns The Korea Herald
  The South Korean government on Tuesday cast doubt on whether a program introducing foreign caregivers to Seoul would expand past the pilot stage, citing unresolved cost issues.
  
  

• ●Can South Korea manage a 4.5-day workweek? The Korea Herald
  With President Lee Jae Myung now in office, one of this most eye-catching campaign pledges - introducing a 4.5-day workweek - is facing questions over whether it can really work.

Jun 18

• ●Korean adoption system misidentifies birth parents, 15 years of errors go unchecked The Korea Times
  For Anna Kim Riley (born Jang Won-sook), a 40-year-old Korean American adoptee, 2023 was supposed to be a pivotal year.