TRNDD

In South Korea, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) administers the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) every year for high school graduates (or expected graduates). The university one can attend is determined by CSAT scores, and graduating from a prestigious university increases the likelihood of being socially recognized and securing a good job.   Additionally, there is a school grading system called “Naesin” (internal grades), which evaluates students’ academic performance in high school. Naesin scores are based on regular school exams (midterms and finals), and each subject’s grades are assigned on a relative scale, ranging from Level 1 (highest) … 더 보기 →

In South Korean cafes, it is common for people to leave their laptops unattended when stepping away.   Foreigners often find this surprising.   One reason could be the large number of CCTVs in Korea.   However, having more CCTVs does not necessarily mean a lower theft rate, as some countries with more surveillance still have higher crime rates.   While the fact that laptops are difficult to convert into cash may be a practical reason, a bigger factor seems to be Korea’s social atmosphere, where people are constantly aware of and monitoring each other.   Koreans place great importance on how they are perceived … 더 보기 →

 The leaders of the ruling and opposition parties have reached an agreement on the national pension reform plan. The reform plan includes increasing the contribution rate (the amount paid) to 13% and the income replacement rate (the amount received) to 43%. According to the agreement, the national pension contribution rate will rise from the current 9% to 13% over 8 years, with an annual increase of 0.5% starting next year. The income replacement rate will be raised to 43% starting next year, up from 41.5% this year. South Korea’s national pension is an important social security system designed to guarantee … 더 보기 →