Korea's employment falls for first time in 17 months amid Middle East fallout

The effects of prolonged conflict in the Middle East are rippling through South Korea's labor market, with employment falling for the first time in 17 months as manufacturers and young workers bear the brunt.

According to government data on May employment trends released Thursday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older stood at 29.12 million, down 40,000 from a year earlier.

The decline marked the first drop since December 2024, when employment fell by 52,000 as domestic sentiment cooled ...