May 11

• ●[Minute to Read] S. Korean government to establish new ministry addressing low birthrate issue (The Chosun Daily)
  On May 9, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the establishment of a new ministry, the "Ministry of Low Birthrate Response and Planning," to address South Korea's declining birthrate and aging population.

May 12

• ●Court's ruling set to shape path of medical school expansion (The Korea Herald)
  The Korean government's plan to increase the number of medical students starting next year will soon take shape as the Seoul High Court is expected to deliver its decision this week on the medical circle's request to suspend the implementation of the planned medical student quota hike.

May 13

• ●[Graphic News] Over 80% of people filing bankruptcy in Seoul in their 50s and older (The Korea Herald)
  More than 8 out of 10 people who filed for bankruptcy in Seoul last year were in their 50s and older, with many of them found to be male and people living alone, data showed.
  
  

• ●Doctors reveal government records, slam 2,000-seat enrollment hike as 'groundless' (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  Medical professors argued that the 2,000-seat hike in medical schools' admissions "lacked grounds" as they disclosed government records and documents submitted to the court on Monday.
  
  

• ●Yoon to create new senior secretary position to tackle low birthrate (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered aides to establish a new senior presidential secretary position tackling Korea's low birthrate, the presidential office said on Monday.
  
  

• ●Job satisfaction among teachers hits all-time low (The Korea Times)
  An overwhelming majority of Korean teachers say they regret their choice of profession, as job satisfaction among educators hits an all-time low.

May 14

• ●Yoon proposes law protecting nonunion workers (The Korea Herald)
  President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday proposed a law that will protect the rights of nonunion workers and enhance their welfare.
  
  

• ●Philippine domestic helpers should be paid minimum wage: ambassador (The Korea Times)
  Equal labor standards and Korea's minimum wage should be the bare minimum for Philippine domestic workers who will begin working in Seoul later this year, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said, amid ongoing debates over whether they should receive lower wages than other workers in Korea.
  
  

• ●With no mentors, former foster children face scams, financial distress (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  Eight years ago, a man received a call from his estranged father, who had abandoned him years ago at a foster care facility in Yongsan, centeral Seoul, following a divorce.

May 15

• ●Lunches suffer as schools battle cafeteria worker shortages (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  Cafeteria understaffing is causing major headaches in schools nationwide, particularly in Seoul, leading to concerns over student malnutrition.
  
  

• ●Do Korean doctors make too much money? (The Korea Herald)
  Recent government data revealing that South Korean doctors -- except junior doctors -- now rake in an annual salary of 301 million won ($220,029), nearly five times higher than the country's average annual salary of 42.14 million won, has rekindled the debate on whether doctors are making too much.
  
  

• ●Govt. to regulate synthetic nicotine as tobacco through legislation (The Korea Herald)
  The government plans to amend tobacco-related laws to designate synthetic nicotine as a type of tobacco in order to regulate the product category seeing growing popularity among young smokers, according to officials Wednesday.

May 16

• ●Gov't pushing establishment of military medical school amid protracted doctors' strike (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  The Korean government is pushing to open a national defense medical university to strengthen public health care amid the prolonged conflict between doctors and the government over expanded medical school admission quotas.
  
  

• ●Court refuses injunction on medical school expansion (The Korea Herald)
  A South Korean appellate court on Thursday rejected an injunction sought by the medical community to half the implementation of a planned student quota increase at medical schools nationwide.
  
  

• ●Debate on 'no-seniors zones' heats up (The Korea Herald)
  The debate has intensified over indoor spaces barring older people, notably sparked by local reports of residents in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, debating on online forums whether to designate a newly opened public swimming pool as a "no-seniors zone."
  
  

• ●Over 3 million workers paid less than minimum wage (The Korea Times)
  More than 3 million workers in Korea are being paid less than the minimum hourly wage of 9,620 won ($7.15), a report revealed on Thursday.
  
  

• ●UN commission urges Korea to withdraw plan to abolish gender ministry (The Korea Times)
  Korea's human rights advocacy groups and the national human rights watchdog have urged the government to reconsider its plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and reinforce gender equality, citing the country's recent trend of gender equality regressing once more.
  
  

• ●Over 70% of people support gov't push to raise medical school seats (The Korea Times)
  A poll carried out by the culture ministry showed Thursday that more than 70 percent of Koreans support the government's plan to raise the number of medical school seats by 2,000, amid the prolonged walkout by junior doctors protesting the reform.

May 17

• ●Despite court ruling, standoff over med school quota hike to continue amid doctors' opposition (The Korea Times)
  A recent court ruling against striking doctors will likely accelerate the government's push to markedly raise medical school admissions, but doctors have vowed not to back down to continue a standoff despite deepening chaos in the health care system.
  
  

• ●Gov't pledges fulfillment of medical reform, early resolution of doctors' protest (The Korea Times)
  The government pledged Friday to successfully fulfill medical reform, a day after an appellate court ruled in favor of the government's plan to increase the nationwide medical school admission quota.
  
  

• ●Gov't vows to complete medical reforms following court victory (Korea JoongAng Daily)
  The government stressed on Friday that it will "successfully complete medical reforms" by "respecting the judiciary's wise and fair judgment," a day after an appellate court ruled in its favor.
  
  

• ●What's next for the government's push in quota hike? (The Korea Herald)
  The Seoul High Court's critical ruling Thursday dismissing doctors groups' request for an injunction to halt the nationwide medical school expansion, has cleared the path for the first increase in medical student admissions in 27 years.