South Korea’s Salt Farm Problem: How Local Labor Failures Create Trade Risk
The Sinan salt farm case reflects deeper governance challenges linking demographic decline, rural labor markets, enforcement capacity, and global supply-chain scrutiny.
From ‘Six Children per Woman’ to 0.7: How South Korea Confronts its ‘Population Cliff’ and Shrinking Labor Force
Korea stands at a critical demographic juncture, facing a declining birthrate that has far-reaching implications for its economy and society.
Low Youth Employment in Korea Part 2: The Challenges of Labor and Product Market Dualism
This is the second in a two-part series looking at youth employment in Korea. Part 1 can be found here. Korea’s low youth employment rate…
Breaking Down Labor Market Dualism in South Korea
Labor market dualism – the segmentation between regular and non-regular workers — is deeply entrenched in Korea’s labor market.
A Growing Workers’ Coalition
Workers of different South Korean industries are joining forces to protest shared concerns around increasingly difficult working conditions.
The limited capacity to shape corporate governance
The government’s focus on enabling parents to work longer hours suggests its ability to shape corporate culture is limited.
Global shipping container shortage hits Korean small businesses
Korean exporters are struggling to keep up as shipping and transport networks prioritize larger-scale shipments from China.
Insufficient public review of labor standards
Recent labor regulations have not created safe and sustainable environments for workers due to a lack of government enforcement.
Backlash Against A Path to Citizenship
Policies designed to make citizenship easier for the children of permanent residents have been met with anti-Chinese sentiments.
Backlash to Gender Inclusivity
Political actors who oppose the government’s push to encourage greater female participation in the economy are gaining ground.