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PEI Private Credit Japan Korea Week 2027 to Convene Institutional Investors in Seoul

PEI Private Credit Japan Korea Week 2027 to Convene Institutional Investors in Seoul

PEI Private Credit Japan Korea Week 2027 to Convene Institutional Investors in Seoul
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South Korea's Elderly Dependency Ratio Projected to Surpass Japan by 2045, Highest in OECD

South Korea's Elderly Dependency Ratio Projected to Surpass Japan by 2045, Highest in OECD

South Korea is projected to experience the highest elderly dependency ratio among OECD member countries by 2045, surpassing Japan. According to the latest OECD population projections, South Korea's old-age dependency ratio is expected to increase from 31.3 people in 2026 to 103.3 people in 2070. This ratio signifies the number of individuals aged 65 and over supported by 100 people of working age (15-64). Currently, South Korea's old-age dependency ratio is the 18th lowest among the 38 OECD countries. However, it is forecast to reach 68.4 people in 2045, exceeding Japan's projected 67.6, and subsequently maintain the highest ratio through 2070. The total dependency ratio, which includes both young and elderly dependents, is also rising fastest in South Korea, projected to reach 90.2 people in 2048, surpassing Greece, and 117.3 people by 2070. This demographic shift is primarily driven by a rapidly declining birth rate.
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New York Times Investigation Reveals Exploitative K-Pop Contracts for Minors

New York Times Investigation Reveals Exploitative K-Pop Contracts for Minors

New York Times Investigation Reveals Exploitative K-Pop Contracts for Minors
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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Pledges Efforts to Restore Honor of Korean War Civilian Victims

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Pledges Efforts to Restore Honor of Korean War Civilian Victims

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has pledged to undertake comprehensive efforts to restore the honor of civilians who were killed due to state violence around the 1950-53 Korean War. Speaking at a joint memorial service for civilian victims held at Seoul City Hall, President Lee emphasized that it is the state's duty to uncover the truth, identify victims, and redress past wrongs. His message, read by his secretary for social cohesion Jeon Seong-hwan, highlighted the need to shed light on historical truths that were previously suppressed. The pledge includes intensified efforts to excavate the remains of victims, identify them for return to their families, and promptly construct a memorial facility in Daejeon. This initiative follows historical incidents such as the Nogeun-ri massacre in 1950, where U.S. troops fired on South Korean refugees, and the subsequent establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2005 to investigate such cases.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Pledges Agricultural Export Expansion After First Persimmon Shipment to China

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Pledges Agricultural Export Expansion After First Persimmon Shipment to China

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Pledges Agricultural Export Expansion After First Persimmon Shipment to China
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South Korea's Science Minister Emphasizes Continued AI Investment Amidst U.S. Pullback Concerns

South Korea's Science Minister Emphasizes Continued AI Investment Amidst U.S. Pullback Concerns

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon stated that South Korea must not reduce its investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, despite concerns about a potential decrease in AI spending led by the U.S. Speaking after the third plenary session of South Korea's National AI Strategy Committee, Minister Bae noted that while investment enthusiasm might be cooling in the U.S., rival nations such as China, France, and Canada are seizing this as an opportunity. He asserted that South Korea should not be swayed by this sentiment and halt its investments. Minister Bae also mentioned that the South Korean government is exploring plans to develop ultra-large frontier AI, aiming for a scale 10 to 20 times larger than its current independent AI foundation model project. He did not provide specific details regarding the development method, project scale, or timeline for this initiative.
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South Korean corporate reforms hit rough patch as Samsung digs in

South Korean corporate reforms hit rough patch as Samsung digs in

By Gregor Stuart Hunter and Heekyong Yang SINGAPORE/SEOUL, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Global investors are pressing South Korea's biggest conglomerates to speed up corporate governance reforms, saying progress has been uneven, with gains in financials offset by resistance among large chaebol affiliates.
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South Korean Authorities Address Market Volatility Following U.S. Midterm Elections

South Korean Authorities Address Market Volatility Following U.S. Midterm Elections

South Korean Authorities Address Market Volatility Following U.S. Midterm Elections
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Advocates for Economic Growth Model Shift Towards 'Startup Incubator'

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Advocates for Economic Growth Model Shift Towards 'Startup Incubator'

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Advocates for Economic Growth Model Shift Towards 'Startup Incubator'
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Ropes Gray Appoints Yoonji Woo as Partner to Bolster Asset Management Practice in New York

Ropes Gray Appoints Yoonji Woo as Partner to Bolster Asset Management Practice in New York

Ropes Gray Appoints Yoonji Woo as Partner to Bolster Asset Management Practice in New York
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Cyprus Government to Implement Pension Reform by January 2027, Aiming to Boost Lowest Pensions and Address Fund Debt

Cyprus Government to Implement Pension Reform by January 2027, Aiming to Boost Lowest Pensions and Address Fund Debt

The Cypriot government is set to introduce a comprehensive pension reform effective January 1, 2027. Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas announced that legislation for this reform is expected to be submitted to parliament shortly. This initiative marks the first significant overhaul of Cyprus's social insurance system in nearly 50 years. The primary goals of the reform include increasing pension amounts, particularly for the lowest earners, and broadening the criteria for pension entitlement calculations. New considerations will include periods spent caring for children or relatives, living with a disability, and time dedicated to studying. Furthermore, the reform aims to cease government borrowing from the Social Insurance Fund and initiate the gradual repayment of the state's existing debt to the fund, which currently holds approximately €12 billion in reserves. Future surpluses from the fund are slated for investment under a modern and transparent supervisory framework. Efforts are also underway to stre...
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Borrowers' Platform Launched to Address Sovereign Debt Restructuring Imbalances

Borrowers' Platform Launched to Address Sovereign Debt Restructuring Imbalances

A new Borrowers' Platform, launched in April 2026, held its first governing council in Bangkok on October 12. This initiative aims to address the inherent imbalance in sovereign debt restructuring, where creditors are few and coordinated, while borrowers are numerous and often compete for the same capital. Historically, creditors have formed clubs like the Corporation of Foreign Bondholders and the Paris Club to coordinate their actions, while borrower attempts, such as the Cartagena Group of 1984, have struggled due to a lack of sanction and national interests. The absence of a bankruptcy court for sovereign debt means enforcement relies on exclusion or sanction rather than judicial oversight. The new Platform's mandate currently excludes crisis coordination, collective restructuring, and standard-setting, focusing instead on what cooperation can achieve before governments reach the restructuring table.