Seoul is not considering renewing economic aid in return for the family reunions that North Korea has green-lighted this week. The office of the President specifically rejected the possibility of food and fertilizer aid to the North, but suggested that the North’s goodwill will yield and appropriate response from Seoul. The spokesperson reminded reporters on Monday that South Korea will continue to offer humanitarian aid to the North, in the form of medicine, as needed. This response reflects Seoul’s continued demands that the North denuclearize before economic and social aid is resumed.

Research by the Joonang Ilbo and East Asia Institute suggests that the economic crisis combined with high education costs is causing the middle class to shrink “psychologically”. Koreans’  perceptions of themselves are being downgraded because the economic burden and status of education remains high. Meanwhile higher education costs for Koreans and a lack of post-graduate employment are seeing many Korean students head to Hong Kong universities versus the U.S. or Europe. Back at home, however, the number of foreign students enrolling in Korean colleges and universities is increasing every year.

Related posts:

1. Poached News: North Korea’s Reward, South Korea’s G-20 Promotion, and Lower Rates for Mobile Phone Users During the first reunion of North and South Korean families...
2. Poached News: Foreign Fingerprinting, Formula 1 in 2010, Myeongdong’s World Class Rent, and Japanese Nationalists Harrass Korean Tourists As the controversy over unilateral HIV testing of E2 visa holders heats...
3. Poached News: S.K Students Flocking to the Philippines for Cheap English Lessons and to Canada to Skip Classes A veteran Canadian immigration official in South Korea has blown...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.