Jun 29

• ●Some national pension contributions set to rise as new criterion take effect in July Korea JoongAng Daily
  A new national pension criterion will take effect starting in July, raising some subscribers' monthly contributions by up to 18,000 won ($13).

Jun 30

• ●Pay, work hours most important to middle-aged Koreans looking for new job The Korea Herald
  The number one factor for middle-aged Koreans seeking a new job is pay for men, and work hours for women, a survey showed Monday.
  
  

• ●S. Korea's middle-aged men quit jobs due to layoffs, women for childcare The Chosun Daily
  South Korean men in their 40s and 50s most commonly leave the workforce due to layoffs or voluntary resignatio, while women in the same age group often cite childcare, caregiving, and housework as the main reasons.

Jul 1

• ●Income, long-term residency--still no loan: Korea's credit wall for foreigners Korea JoongAng Daily
  For foreigners, getting a loan in Korea is a long shot--even for long-term residents like Rishi Ramachandran, an Indian businessman who rus Seoul-based IBI Research & Consulting.
  
  

• ●Six in ten Korean 12-year-olds have experienced cavities in their permanent teeth, survey says Korea JoongAng Daily
  Six out of ten 12-year-olds in Korea have experienced cavities in their permanent teeth, according to a government survey released Tuesday.
  
  

• ●Seven medical staff infected with SFTS after treating critically ill patient in Cheongju Korea JoongAng Daily
  Seven medical personnel experienced severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in a rare case of human-to-human transmission after treating a critically ill patient in Cheongju, North Chungcheong.
  
  

• ●New HIV cases in Korea down 3% in 2024, says KDCA report Korea JoongAng Daily
  The number of newly reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Korea declined by 3 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to new data released Tuesday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
  
  

• ●'No hope on my salary': Young South Koreans turn to early investing The Korea Herald
  Twenty-eight-year-old Kim goes on a five-hour trip to Ulsan, or any other region, as soon as she gets off work on a weekday.
  
  

• ●Korean men consume 30% more sodium than women: KFDA The Korea Herald
  South Koreans' average daily sodium intake dropped by 4.7 percent in 2023 compared to five years ago, but still remains 60 percent higher than the recommended daily limit, the Korea Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.
  
  

• ●Too much salt, too much sugar: South Korea's diet still misses the mark The Chosun Daily
  South Koreans continue to consume more sodium than global health officials recommend, despite a gradual decline in recent years, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said July 1.

Jul 2

• ●New law targeting delinquent parents comes into force The Korea Times
  A new law targeting delinquent parents took effect Tuesday, as the government pledged to pursue child support evaders directly on behalf of those affected.
  
  

• ●Teens more wired than ever as turn to caffeine for studying raises concerns Korea JoongAng Daily
  Coffee cups and cram school books are becoming inseparable companions for Korea's teens, as more middle and high school students turn to caffeine to power through relentless study schedules - triggering concerns among doctors and health officials over the long-term risks of overconsumption.
  
  

• ●Korean population could drop by 85% in next 100 years: study The Korea Herald
  South Korea's population could plummet to just 15 percent of its current level by 2125 if the nation's ongoing demographic decline continues unabated, according to a private think tank in Seoul on Wednesday.
  
  

• ●Think tank predicts Korea's population to shrink to 7.5 million in 100 years The Korea Times
  Korea's population could decline to just 7.53 million - about 15 percent of its current size - over the next century, according to a new think tank report.
  
  

• ●Foreigners and the unclaimed left without end-of-life choices, denied dignified death The Korea Times
  When a critically ill patient at the National Medical Center in Seoul recently entered the final stage of life, doctors were ready to shift to palliative care.

Jul 3

• ●Daily heat-related illness patients reach 100 The Korea Times
  The number of reported daily heat-related illness cases has surpassed 100 this week, bringing the season's total to above 600, as a scorching summer heat wave continues to grip the nation, according to public health authorities Thursday.
  
  

• ●Heatwave puts Korea's gig workers at growing risk The Korea Times
  Park, 52, a veteran delivery worker who has been riding motorcycles for over three decades, said, "When I stop at red lights, the heat from the asphalt and nearby cars makes me feel dizzy."

Jul 4

• ●Gov't earmarks 88.5 trillion won for response to low birth rate, aging population in 2025 Korea JoongAng Daily
  The government will spend 88.5 trillion won ($64.8 billion) this year alone to help boost the country's low fertility rate and address problems associated with its rapidly aging population, the Health Ministry said Friday.
  
  

• ●Is it time for Korea to outlaw leaving children home alone? The Korea Herald
  A recent wave of deadly house fires involving children left home alone has reignited discussions in South Korea about introducing laws to prevent such tragedies.
  
  

• ●Nat'l pension fund posts highest return in 24 years in 2024 on global stock surge The Korea Times
  Korea's state pension fund said Friday it logged its highest investment return in over two decades in 2024, driven by solid profits from overseas investment amid a rally in global stock markets.