사회 & 이슈

사회 & 이슈

"The longer the remaining time feels, the higher the will to challenge"… Three risks of old age

The EBS Docuprime program "100-Year Shock Part 3: Becoming a Real Senior of the Old New Humanity" explores the three risks of old age—meaninglessness, boredom, and poverty—and how the perception of time influences the quality of life for seniors.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.10.06

사회 & 이슈

"I tried to die several times" — The reason a girl who went to Manchuria at 13 survived being stabbed 37 times

A survivor of wartime atrocities, Kim Won-ok, shares her harrowing experience of being sent to Manchuria at age 13 under false pretenses and her struggle to survive extreme violence. She emphasizes the need for a formal apology from the Japanese government for the victims of war.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.10.06

사회 & 이슈

Tens of billions in contract fees and comment manipulation: The side effects of the winner-take-all structure in the online lecture market

The online lecture market, which has grown to an annual scale of 200 billion won, is facing criticism as excessive marketing competition and side effects intensify due to a winner-take-all structure driven by massive capital. Issues such as illegal comment manipulation using virtual characters and intense competition to poach star instructors are causing damage to students and increasing private education costs.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.10.05

사회 & 이슈

Friday at a Namyangju Side Dish Shop: Why Customers Line Up for 500 Won Closing Discounts

A side dish shop in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, attracts many customers every Friday by drastically lowering prices to clear freshly cooked daily dishes. The business is operated by a family of five who manage everything from farming seasonal vegetables to preparing and delivering various side dishes.

Moon Se-young · 2026.10.03

사회 & 이슈

Carrying 500kg of Hay and Driving 700km a Day... The 3 AM Life of a Mother of Four Trucker

The EBS Documentary episode "Extreme Jobs - Competing with Skill! Female Truckers, Tilers, and Wrapping Experts" follows women excelling in demanding technical professions, including a long-haul trucker, a tiler, and a car wrapping specialist.

Moon Se-young · 2026.09.27

사회 & 이슈

'Disks are like a cold'... 2016 KBS exposé on excessive medical treatment for indemnity insurance

A KBS documentary from 2016, recently uploaded to YouTube, exposes the reality of excessive medical treatments driven by indemnity insurance and the resulting impact on the national health insurance system. The report highlights how some hospitals exploit patients by recommending expensive, unnecessary procedures.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.27

사회 & 이슈

"What if only sea tangerines grow?" The miracle a 6th-grade boy's joke brought to Gapa Island

A 6th-grade boy's innocent dream of planting tangerine trees on Gapa Island has become a reality, marking the first time citrus trees have taken root on the island. The article explores the unique life of Gapa Island, from its barley fields and haenyeo divers to the tangerine trees born from a child's wish.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.26

사회 & 이슈

"Crazy for Salt" – The Salty Journey of a 45-Year Veteran Salt Farmer and His Son Who Returned 4 Years Ago

Jeong Gap-hun, a veteran salt farmer of 45 years, works alongside his son Jeong Ji-hun, who returned to his hometown to assist his aging father. Together, they manage a vast salt farm in Garorim Bay, blending traditional manual labor with modern equipment.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.26

사회 & 이슈

The 33-Hour Battle from Catching Geoje Island Octopus to the Dining Table: The Secret to Fresh Delivery

A documentary by EBS reveals the intense 33-hour process of delivering fresh octopus from the waters of Geoje Island to consumers, covering everything from traditional fishing methods to precision processing and rapid meal kit delivery.

Moon Se-young · 2026.09.25

사회 & 이슈

"There are no stops or stop bells" — The special rules of the Cheongsando bus that has been the feet of island residents for 42 years

A bus in Cheongsando, Wando County, has served as the island's vital lifeline for 42 years, operating without fixed stops or stop bells to accommodate elderly residents. The driver, Kim Bong-an, maintains a flexible schedule that prioritizes the needs of the community, including residents who get off mid-route to shop.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.24

사회 & 이슈

"Too busy living to prepare for death"... The reality patients face between life-sustaining treatment and hospice

A KBS documentary explores the difficult choices terminal cancer patients face between painful life-sustaining treatments in hospitals and the peaceful end-of-life care provided by hospice. The report highlights how preparing for death is fundamentally about managing quality of life and addressing the economic and physical burdens of terminal illness.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.24

사회 & 이슈

Starting Work at 2:30 AM to Sell 300 Meals: The 'War-like Day' of Cheongnyangni Market's Pot Rice

In a quiet alley of Seoul's Gyeongdong Market, a restaurant owner named Kim Yeong-rae manages a grueling daily routine to serve 300 meals of freshly cooked pot rice and 11 side dishes. The intense process involves early morning preparation, precise fire control for the rice, and a frantic delivery battle to serve market merchants.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.24

사회 & 이슈

From Black Boxes Revealing 106-Car Pileups to Deepfake Threats: The Two Faces of Citizen Reporting

The era of Citizen Journalism allows citizens to record real-time events, serving as a powerful tool for uncovering truth while simultaneously introducing new social side effects and technological threats like Deepfake and Fake News.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.23

사회 & 이슈

"It is merely a moral responsibility" Medical accidents hidden behind hospital manuals, falsified records, and a 0.6% winning rate

A KBS Documentary investigation reveals how large hospitals use professional response manuals to evade responsibility and pressure patients' families during medical accidents. The report highlights issues such as falsified medical records, the extreme difficulty of proving negligence, and the lack of effective government oversight.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.23

사회 & 이슈

"I thought he was selfish..." A husband's 'autism spectrum' realized after 20 years

A woman who struggled with her husband's perceived selfishness for 20 years discovered that his behavior was actually due to his autism spectrum. She explains how understanding his sensory hypersensitivity and communication style helped transform their relationship.

Oh Yu-jin · 2026.09.23

사회 & 이슈

"They shouldn't have gone on the sidewalk" vs "The truck failed to check"… Dispute over responsibility in gas station exit accident

Opinions are diverging regarding the liability between a truck exiting a gas station and a passenger car passing through a sidewalk following a collision. According to the September 22, 2026 broadcast of JTBC's 'Han Moonchul's Dashcam Review', an accident occurred between a truck finishing refueling and a passenger car passing by.

So Hae-rin · 2026.09.23

사회 & 이슈

'Cutting in' and sudden lane changes within rest areas: Diverging judgments on negligence ratios

A heated debate broke out among the cast of JTBC's 'Han Moonchul's Dashcam Review' regarding the negligence ratios of accidents occurring in rest area parking spaces and lanes. The broadcast examined driver duties of care and accident liability through two dashcam videos involving sudden lane changes and cutting-in maneuvers.

So Hae-rin · 2026.09.23

사회 & 이슈

'Don't just look at the amount'... 10 years of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and the 'this' that is more important than holiday gift limits

The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act has marked its 10th anniversary, evolving into a standard for fairness in society. While report numbers have decreased significantly, experts emphasize that "job relevance" is a more critical factor than the monetary value of gifts.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

"Could Cross the Threshold of the Other World"... The Struggle of Hornet Hunters Pouring Out 600 Hornets Through a Ceiling

Hornet hunters travel across the country to remove dangerous hornet nests from homes and villages, facing life-threatening situations to protect residents.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

From 18 to 2,400: The 50-Year Miracle Created by the Meeting of a Priest and a Giant

The Kkottongnae community, which grew from a small act of sharing food with beggars in Eumseong County to a massive welfare complex, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Simultaneously, the 65th Chungbuk Provincial Sports Festival was held in Eumseong County, bringing together thousands of athletes and volunteers.

Lim Do-hyun · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

6,000 units announced for groundbreaking, but only 498 households are actually under construction... The mismatch of 'Happy Housing'

The government's 'Happy Housing' policy, intended to provide affordable rental housing using idle urban land, is facing severe difficulties due to surging construction costs, resident opposition, and reduced project scales. Despite announcing that 6,000 units had commenced construction, the actual number of households currently under construction is only 498.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

The Shadow of $680 Billion in Orders: Small Subcontractors Trapped by Verbal Instructions and 'Slave Contracts'

Small subcontractors working on overseas construction sites face existential crises due to unfair contracts and a lack of legal protection from large construction companies. Despite massive overseas orders, structural inequalities and legal loopholes in the Subcontracting Act leave these smaller firms vulnerable to unpaid wages and verbal orders.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

"Money I couldn't save in 3 years in South Korea, but in Australia in just 3 months"... The reason young people buy one-way tickets

The 2016 KBS Special - Youth Escape, In Search of Dreams documentary explores why young South Koreans are leaving for Australia due to intense competition and economic uncertainty, highlighting the stark wage differences between the two countries.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.22

사회 & 이슈

"Care Gaps and Lack of Manuals Hidden Behind Quarantine Success"... The Light and Shadow of COVID-19 Social Responses

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs co-hosted the "2026 First Forum on Social Responses to Infectious Disease Crises" to critically review social response measures taken during COVID-19 and seek scientific and social response systems for future infectious disease crises.

Han Do-kyung · 2026.09.22