The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: May 28.
Visa delays hit Korean students over social media
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has temporarily halted new interview appointments for student and exchange visitor visas as part of a broader U.S. policy shift to expand social media vetting of foreign applicants, diplomatic sources said on May 28. The move, directed under the Trump administration, aims to give consular officers more time to scrutinize applicants’ online activity for potential security or ideological concerns. Existing appointments will proceed as scheduled, but the change is expected to lengthen visa processing times. The policy comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign students following pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses after the Gaza conflict in 2023.
South Korea sees first fertility rebound in years
South Korea’s fertility rate rose to 0.82 in the first quarter of 2025, rebounding to the 0.8 range for the first time in two years amid a rise in marriages and the impact of government incentives. Statistics Korea reported a 7.4% on-year increase in births to 65,022 in Q1—the sharpest first-quarter gain since records began in 1981. Marriages also rose for a twelfth straight month, contributing to the trend. While the uptick offers a modest reprieve, South Korea still holds the world’s lowest fertility rate, well below the replacement level of 2.1.
KEPCO to invest $53B in power grid upgrade
South Korea’s state-run utility KEPCO will invest 72.8 trillion won (about $53.5 billion) through 2038 to expand the country’s power grid in response to soaring electricity demand driven by AI, renewables, and electric vehicles. The plan, finalized on May 23, includes a 71.9% increase in transmission line capacity and nearly 400 new substations nationwide. This marks a 28.8% jump from the previous roadmap and supports key tech hubs like Yongin and Saemangeum. The expansion, delayed by political wrangling over nuclear policy, reflects the urgent need to modernize infrastructure as South Korea anticipates a 37.4% rise in power demand by 2038.
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