South Korea

"학급 폐쇄 학교 속출"…日 독감 환자 급증에 초비상

Hankyung | Local Language | News | Dec. 3, 2025 | Epidemics and Pandemics

Japan is experiencing a significant surge in influenza cases, leading to widespread class closures in schools. Between November 17 and 23, the average number of influenza patients per surveyed hospital reached 51.1, marking a 14th consecutive week of increase. One hospital in Tokyo’s Minato ward reported treating over 100 influenza patients in a single week. Health officials are urging unvaccinated individuals to receive the flu vaccine promptly.

The rise in influenza cases has severely disrupted school operations. During the same week, 6,323 daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary to high schools closed classes due to increased student infections, a 24-fold increase compared to the same period last year. Parents have reported unprecedented and frequent class closures, with some schools canceling planned activities like school trips. There is inconsistency in the criteria for class closures, with some classes closing with fewer absences than others that remain open.

Class or school closures as a preventive measure are guided by the School Health and Safety Act, but explicit criteria for closures are lacking. Decisions are generally made by school principals, with local governments adopting varying standards based on the percentage of absent students due to influenza—20% in Tokyo and 15% in Osaka, for example. Experts warn that early class closures can help prevent the spread of influenza within communities and are essential for controlling a potential pandemic.

베트남의 2026년 목표 '10% 성장', 시스템 전환이 답이다 [데이비드김의 블라인드 스팟]

Hankyung | Local Language | News | Dec. 3, 2025 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

Vietnam has set an ambitious target of 10% GDP growth for 2026, alongside achieving a per capita income of $5,400–$5,500 and controlling inflation at 4.5%. This goal significantly surpasses the expected 8% growth for 2025. The government plans to drive growth through major infrastructure projects and the promotion of high value-added sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. However, concerns remain about the sustainability of growth under the current economic model, with risks stemming from high export dependence and delays in public investment disbursement, which historically remains low.

Looking at China and Korea’s past growth trajectories offers lessons. China achieved nearly 10% average growth between 1990 and 2010, but faced declining investment efficiency due to overinvestment and inefficient capital allocation, especially in state-owned enterprises. Korea’s growth averaged 8.9% from 1961 to 1980, propelled by a focused strategy of selection and concentration on key industries over time, supported by coordinated government policy, targeted capital allocation, rural infrastructure modernization, and investments in education.

Vietnam currently invests heavily in infrastructure relative to GDP, with estimates ranging from 6% to over 10%, yet its capital-output ratio stands at 5.0—higher than comparable Asian countries—indicating low investment efficiency. Public investment, primarily funded by public budgets, suffers from corruption, inadequate project justification, and execution inefficiencies, particularly at the local government level. Examples include rushed projects like the newly opened Tan Son Nhat Airport Terminal 3, which revealed quality issues due to a focus on speed.

Vietnam’s challenges contrast with China’s scale-driven growth and Korea’s strategic industrial policy. Vietnam lacks systems for transparent project selection, monitoring of returns on investment, and effective coordination between government agencies. To achieve the 10% growth target, Vietnam must redesign its investment efficiency system by enforcing mandatory economic feasibility analyses, transparent bidding, and expanding public-private partnerships to attract private capital. It should also implement a Korean-style approach by selecting key industries—such as AI, semiconductors, and greentech—and supporting them through R&D, tax incentives, workforce training, and global partnerships while fostering domestic champions with proprietary brands and technology.

Lastly, building institutional trust through stronger property rights, anti-corruption efforts, law enforcement, and administrative reforms is critical to sustained growth. Recent measures like establishing national and local venture capital funds and enabling crowdfunding within the International Financial Center are positive steps, but their success depends on transparency and execution speed. The article concludes that Vietnam’s 10% growth target is feasible only through fundamental systemic reforms rather than merely increasing inputs.

"콜센터, AI 때문에 사라질 직업 아냐…노란봉투법 때문에 존립 위기"

Hankyung | Local Language | News | Dec. 3, 2025 | Regulation

Sohn Young-deuk, chairman of KS Korea Employment Information, explains that AI is supplementing the call center industry by addressing chronic labor shortages rather than replacing jobs. He predicts that within five years, call center counselors will evolve into customer experience (CX) consultants who manage AI systems, leading to salaries more than doubling due to increased expertise and productivity. His company, which developed the AI contact center platform C-Hive, supports a hybrid model where AI handles simple inquiries and human counselors manage complex issues. Despite challenges like strikes and data leaks, KS Korea Employment Information’s sales and profits have grown significantly.

Sohn highlights demand for AI-enabled call centers in sectors such as finance, e-commerce, healthcare, insurance, and public services, where complex and privacy-sensitive inquiries require human expertise supported by AI. He also outlines plans to enter the medical tourism market by creating transparent customer management platforms connecting Chinese patients to Korean hospitals, aiming to reduce broker fees and improve service quality.

However, the survival of call centers is now more threatened by the upcoming Yellow Envelope Act, which requires subcontractor unions to negotiate directly with prime contractors. Sohn warns this could cause principal companies to cut contracts or accelerate AI automation to avoid risk. He recalls a past incident at KS Korea Employment Information’s Chuncheon center, where aggressive union demands, including a 20% wage increase and emotional labor allowances, led to strikes, client loss, and a drastic reduction in employees from 1,000 to 100. While employment has partially recovered, Sohn cautions that similar labor conflicts under the new law could disrupt the industry. He emphasizes the need for labor-management coexistence to navigate the changes brought by AI.