This would definitely make entering the country much easier and likely kickstart tourism again:

Incheon International Airport has requested the government to allow PCR test-free arrivals, as in-bound tourism is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year.

The Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) announced during a press conference at the airport complex, Monday, that it has made a proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to lift quarantine regulations by replacing mandatory PCR testing for arrivals with rapid antigen tests (RAT) or mandating testing only for those with symptoms or arriving from high-risk regions.

Under the current regulation of manual monitoring, all inbound passengers with full vaccination history must undergo a PCR test on the first day of their arrival and take a RAT test again within six to seven days after arrival. Those violating these requirements are subject to a maximum one-year prison term or 10 million won fine.

If introduced, the airport authorities said the PCR test exemption could help the nation’s tourism sector recover from the last two years of pandemic-driven economic losses.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

It sounds like South Korea is having the same problems with their pension system as the U.S. has with Social Security:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance nominee Choo Kyung-ho has called for an overhaul of the state pension fund, which experts agree is crucial considering the country’s aging and shrinking population.

“Given the low birth rate and the increase in the elderly population, failure in reform will dent the fund’s financial soundness and drastically increase the burden on younger generations,” Choo said in a Q&A submitted to the National Assembly as part of the preparations for his Assembly hearing scheduled for May 2.

He views the current pension fund management system under the National Pension Service (NPS) as inefficient, saying, “It will only increase the national debt and will not last long.”

He called for a “comprehensive check-up” on the premium rates and the minimum age that people are eligible to receive pension benefits, among other factors.

The pension fund is on course to be depleted under the existing system, possibly in the 2050s.

Worse still, the population is aging rapidly.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

There are still a few areas where masks are required like the CDC and medical facilities, but for most areas on post masks are not required as of this week:

The U.S. military in South Korea dropped its mask mandate Monday on its installations as cases of COVID-19 continue to decline throughout the country.

Masks are no longer required on any U.S. installation or facility, although individual commanders may mandate them in high-traffic indoor areas, such as gyms, commissaries, libraries and similar facilities, according to an announcement by U.S. Forces Korea on its website.

USFK personnel are advised to consult their garrisons for exceptions to the updated policy.

Anyone affiliated with the U.S. military must still wear a mask while outside U.S. installations. South Korea requires people to wear face masks while outdoors and indoors in public.

Defense Department schools on U.S. bases in South Korea are also doing away with the mask requirement starting Wednesday, although students may choose to wear masks at school or on school buses, according to memos from individual school principals.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

It is one thing to say your open to the possibility of joining and quite another to actually join. I guess we will see what happens in the coming years:

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has said he will “positively review” South Korea’s joining of Quad, a U.S.-led anti-China security partnership, if invited, according to a report.

Yoon made the remark in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal on Monday (U.S. time), saying he does not expect South Korea to receive an invitation any time soon, but if approached, “will positively review joining.”

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is made up of the United States, Australia, India and Japan, and is seen as a partnership aimed at countering China.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This could be interpreted to mean that the Kim regime is setting the conditions for yet another nuclear test:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared a resolve to further strengthen his regime’s nuclear capabilities, as the country showcased a “giant” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a military parade earlier this week, according to its state media Tuesday.

Delivering a speech during the event, Kim vowed to boost the country’s nuclear capabilities at the “fastest possible speed” at the nighttime parade to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army (KPRA) held Monday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but the war in Ukraine has further validated to the Kim regime the value of nuclear weapons. You can get away with a lot more bad behavior when you have a credible nuclear deterrent.