S. Korea: new law to bring to light widespread but overlooked problem of workplace bullying
A new law designed to prevent bullying in the workplace is set to go into effect in South Korea this week, setting the stage for victims of harassment at work to get some protection. A revised law on labor standards, commonly called the workplace anti-bullying law, will be effective starting Tuesday, after a six-month grace […]
S. Korea: Woori to launch center for pension fund management
Woori Bank will open a center for pension fund management Monday, to improve its customers’ return on assets, the bank said Friday. According to Woori, the center will be a comprehensive consulting center staffed by 30 advisors specializing in private banking. The bank’s division for pension funds will be in charge of its operation. In order […]
S. Korea to raise minimum wage for next year by 2.9 pct
South Korea decided Friday to raise the minimum wage for next year by 2.9 percent, the slowest growth in a decade, as it took into account an economic slowdown and sluggish job growth. The Minimum Wage Commission, involving labor and business representatives and experts, set the minimum wage at 8,590 won (US$7.32) per hour for […]
N. Korea changes constitution to make Kim Jong-un official head of state
North Korea has revised its constitution to stipulate that leader Kim Jong-un is the official head of state, according to a state media outlet. The new constitution, revised in April’s Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) session, states that the chairman of the State Affairs Commission (SAC), the communist state’s highest seat of power, serves as its […]
2020 Gwangju Biennale to shed light on past, future of human intelligence
Next year’s Gwangju Biennale art show in the namesake southern South Korean city will explore the subject matter of human intelligence by shedding light on very primitive to cutting-edge forms of art, the event’s artistic directors said Thursday. The artistic directors — Natasha Ginwala and Defne Ayas — were named in March by the Gwangju […]
Busan subway workers end strike after pay raise deal
Subway workers in the southern city of Busan ended their two-day strike Thursday after the labor union and management reached a wage deal. Busan Transportation Corp., the city-run operator of the subway system, agreed with the union to raise wages 0.9 percent and hire 540 new workers. The members of the labor union went on […]
Malaysian sidewalk mechanic helping people by roadside
Ipoh, Malaysia: It is 3:30 am and raining. While many are sleeping, Rahmat Azahari Sufian Tan, a sidewalk mechanic, is working hard to repair his customer’s motorcycle at the roadsides of the city. Rahmat Azahari, 42, has an experience spanning 20 years as a sidewalk mechanic. He provides repairing services for motorcycles and cars including engine […]
Seoul seeks US backing over trade war
Calls are growing for the United States to intervene in the deepening trade friction between South Korea and Japan after Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe imposed new restrictions on exports that could hurt South Korea’s tech industry. Thoughts are that if tensions continue to escalate, cooperation outside bilateral economic relations such as coordinating “in efforts […]
Asiana opens Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route
Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea’s second-biggest full-service carrier, said Wednesday it has begun services on the Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route to better serve its customers. On Tuesday, Asiana Airlines started flying to the Mongolian capital three times a week, the company said in a statement. Asiana secured the right to make additional flights on the highly sought […]
Royal reception hall of late Joseon Dynasty opens to public
A royal reception hall of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was opened to the public Wednesday after four years of restoration. Practically wrapping up the restoration of Heungbokjeon, an annex at Gyeongbok Palace, where King Gojong used to greet foreign delegations and study when he was on the throne from 1863 to 1907, the Cultural Heritage […]
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Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
