President Lee Jae Myung campaigned on cutting Korea’s statutory workweek from 40 hours to 36, without a pay cut, with an eventual goal of a 4-day, 32-hour week. The stated …
Hana Suh
Hana Suh
Covers daily life, work culture, and social trends for KoreaUpClose. INTJ. Takes both sides of an argument seriously, including the side she disagrees with.
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Work Culture
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Dating Culture
Korean Cities Are Paying You to Date. One County Has Been Doing It for Eight Years. Marriages Still Fell.
by Hana Suhby Hana SuhIn Busan’s Saha District, a couple that meets at a government-organized matchmaking event and eventually marries can collect up to 20 million won (about $14,700) — on top of 500,000 …
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Everyday Norms & Etiquette
A Seoul Cafe Charged 2,000 Won to Use the Bathroom. The Backlash Wasn’t Really About the Money.
by Hana Suhby Hana SuhA photo of a kiosk sign went viral in Korea recently. It read: “Using toilet without ordering drinks (1 time per person) 2,000 won.” Reactions split immediately — some defended …
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Daily Life & Society
Should Korea’s Free Subway Rides for Seniors Survive an Energy Crisis? The Math Is More Complicated Than It Looks.
by Hana Suhby Hana SuhA Middle East conflict disrupting oil supplies doesn’t sound like it should have anything to do with whether Korean grandmothers ride the subway for free. But in March, it did. …
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Society & Social Trends
South Korea Just Counted 122 ‘No Kids Zones’ on a Live Map. More Than Half the Owners Say It’s About Safety, Not Discrimination.
by Hana Suhby Hana SuhOn Children’s Day this year, the advocacy group Political Mamas (정치하는엄마들) posted to X declaring May 5 “2026’s Children’s Discrimination Eradication Day” and asked followers to report any business that …
