Hong Kong workforce to shrink by 20,000 yearly as key sectors face shortages

South China Morning Post - Sep 22, 2026

Hong Kong’s workforce is forecast to shrink by around 20,000 a year until 2028 despite measures to import labour and talent, with shortages remaining most acute among skilled technical workers. A government report on manpower projections on Tuesday found that although the labour shortfall would narrow to 130,000 by 2028, down by nearly a third from the original estimate of 180,000, the city would continue to face critical manpower challenges across key sectors. “Due to economic transformation,...

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Veteran actresses reflect on pressure to publicly address divorce, breakups

Veteran actresses reflect on pressure to publicly address divorce, breakups

Veteran actresses Lee Hye-young and Kim Jung-eun have recalled an era when Korean celebrities faced intense pressure to publicly explain even the most personal parts of their lives, including divorce and breakups. The two actresses discussed their experiences in a video uploaded Sunday to Lee's YouTube channel, reflecting on how dramatically expectations surrounding celebrities' private lives have changed. Lee recalled holding a news conference after her divorce from singer and television personality Lee Sang-min, saying she was effectively pushed into publicly addressing the matter before returning to television. "I got divorced for personal reasons and was going back on 'Heroine 6,'" Lee said. "The head of our entertainment department told me, 'Hye-young, this is something you'll have to get through eventually, so while everyone is here, let's just apologize.' He told me to apologize and make a statement." What followed was far bigger than Lee had expected. "I didn't know there were that many reporters in Korea," she said. "About 300 or 400 came." Lee said she went through with the news

Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday approved the appointments of the minister nominees for finance, defense and land, his office said. Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il, Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul and Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun recently underwent confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, and their hearing reports were adopted by the respective parliamentary committees. Lee appears to have signed off on their appointments shortly after arriving in New York, where he is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly.

President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New York on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Week and deliver a speech. During a speech on Tuesday to the U.N. session, Lee plans to propose ways to reform the U.N. to tackle global issues and outline South Korea's contributions, while also presenting his administration's vision of seeking peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. On the sidelines of the U.N. session, Lee will seek to engage with other heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and hold a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for the world body's cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the peninsula. On Wednesday, the president will attend an investment summit that will bring together economic and financial leaders from South Korea and the United States before departing for Mexico later that day for a state visit.

N. Korea says tested new weapon system earlier this week

N. Korea says tested new weapon system earlier this week

North Korea on Tuesday reported on its missile launch earlier this week, saying the test of a new combat weapon system was significant in demonstrating the advancement of the country's weapons technology. The North's missile bureau "successfully conducted a test of a new weapon" Sunday in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea did not specify what the weapon system was but stressed the test was "of significant importance for advancing weapons system technology," it said. The announcement came two days after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North had fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area. Kim described the test as "an unquestionable demonstration of advanced defense technology" and "a clear renewal in the modernization of the armed forces," the KCNA said. Noting that such technology would be significant for the country's war preparedness and future development of its armed forces, Kim said the country's adversaries would better understand what the technological advance

Confirmation hearing report adopted for SME minister nominee

Confirmation hearing report adopted for SME minister nominee

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday adopted a confirmation hearing report for the minister nominee for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), paving the way for her appointment. The report for SME Minister nominee Lee So-young was adopted by bipartisan consensus at a meeting of the parliamentary trade committee, though the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) noted concerns she may be unfit for the job due to unresolved suspicions surrounding her apartment purchase and apparent lack of expertise in SME policies. Still, the party said Lee had also led efforts to remove excessive business regulations and engaged in various parliamentary activities to promote sustainable growth. Lee, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, was tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a Cabinet reshuffle in late August and is known for her career as a climate and environmental lawyer.

PM stresses importance of police roles under new law enforcement system

PM stresses importance of police roles under new law enforcement system

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Tuesday that a police reform committee will be established under her office to ensure a responsible and fair policing system as the law enforcement agency is set to take on greater roles according to the government's sweeping prosecution reform. Starting Oct. 2, the police will assume responsibility for all investigations, while the prosecution's role will be limited to indictment without the power to conduct investigations on its own. The reform has raised concerns negative effects could arise if police conduct all investigations as the prosecution has made up for shortfalls in police investigations. Such concerns have deepened in the wake of a series of police misconduct incidents in recent months, including shocking revelations that an officer closed two missing person cases without confirming their safety. The two were ultimately found dead. "Under the new system, the roles and responsibilities of police are of paramount importance," Han said during a Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in the central administrative city of Sejong. "The g

N. Korea's Kim calls for modernizing ideological tactics

N. Korea's Kim calls for modernizing ideological tactics

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on party officials to revamp the party's propaganda and ideological campaign in line with the "expectations of the times," state media reported Tuesday. In his closing address at the party's third workshop for officials in the information sector on Monday, Kim laid out "principled issues" and tasks for modernizing "the contents, forms, methods and means of ideological work," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He called for "innovations in information and motivation work and creation of cultures," urging that they align with "the expectations of the times, the revolution and the people." Kim, in particular, called for the use of "modern information and technological means" to "thoroughly block the spread of reactionary ideological culture," a call seen as an effort to more effectively stem the flow of outside ideas and influences. The four-day workshop wrapped up Monday, centered on ideological education built around Kim's "revolutionary ideas" and "the revolutionary relics and the leadership exploits of the party," the KCNA repo

President Lee plans to call for phased denuclearization of N. Korea at UN

President Lee plans to call for phased denuclearization of N. Korea at UN

South Korea's liberal President Lee Jae Myung says he’ll underscore the need for a practical, step-by-step denuclearization of North Korea during this week’s U.N. General Assembly, adding that both Seoul and Washington are willing to reengage with Pyongyang. “To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must be brought to a halt first,” Lee said in written responses to questions by The Associated Press before his departure Monday to New York. “A phased approach of stop, reduction and dismantlement is a practical way of effectively resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.” Lee's push comes as North Korea is ramping up weapons testing activities even after U.S. President Donald Trump scaled back a major military exercise with South Korea in a conciliatory gesture toward leader Kim Jong Un, who viewed it as an invasion rehearsal. Lee advocates phased denuclearization of North Korea North Korea's evolving nuclear program has raised questions about whether its denuclearization can be achieved in a single step and given rise to calls for convincing North Korea to denuclearize i

FM Cho meets US senators to discuss alliance, Korean Peninsula issues

FM Cho meets US senators to discuss alliance, Korean Peninsula issues

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has met with U.S. senators in New York and discussed the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korean Peninsula issues and regional affairs, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Cho, who is in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly's high-level week, held a meeting with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) together on Monday (local time), according to the ministry. Cho highlighted that he and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed during last week's bilateral talks in Washington to maintain close communication to ensure the faithful implementation of key summit agreements reached by their leaders and outlined in the joint fact sheet. He called for active support from U.S. Congress to ensure the swift advancement of strategic cooperation in key areas, including shipbuilding and nuclear energy. The joint fact sheet, issued in November following the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump the previous month, calls for Seoul to invest $350 billion in the United States, including $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation, in exchan

Girl group Rescene to drop new EP in Nov.

Girl group Rescene to drop new EP in Nov.

Rising girl group Rescene will return on Nov. 3 with its new EP, "Pulse," the group's agency, The Muze Entertainment, said Tuesday. This will be the K-pop quintet's first release in four months since "Pretty Girl," a remake single released in July, and its first physical album since "Lip Bomb," its third EP released in November last year. Debuting in March 2024, Rescene rose to fame as "Love Attack," now its signature song, gained traction on major domestic music charts in July, nearly two years after its release. The hit has since ranked high on the charts alongside its new single, "Pretty Girl."

University of Seoul, Missouri S&T to offer dual doctoral degree program in engineering

University of Seoul, Missouri S&T to offer dual doctoral degree program in engineering

The University of Seoul has signed a dual doctoral degree agreement in engineering with the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The University of Seoul said the agreement, signed Thursday, is designed to strengthen educational and research cooperation in engineering between the two universities. It also aims to foster engineering talent with global research capabilities and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Under the agreement, doctoral students who meet certain requirements will conduct research under the joint supervision of faculty members from both universities. They can earn dual doctoral degrees upon completing the academic programs and degree requirements of both institutions. The University of Seoul said its students will first complete coursework and conduct initial research in the university’s doctoral program. After meeting relevant requirements, including qualifying as doctoral candidates and passing the qualifying examination, they may be admitted to a doctoral program at Missouri S&T on a conditional basis. They will then complete the requir

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