Korea is ushering in 2026 with several policy changes affecting families, workers, foreigner nationals and even animals, as the government moves to expand childcare support, strengthen labor protections, attract global workers and phase out long-controversial practices. Authorities will roll out an artificial intelligence (AI)–based early response system that can detect and block online sexual exploitation of children and teenagers in real time. The platform, set to begin operation in April, is designed to automatically scan images, videos and text across digital environments based on learned patterns. After risk assessment, the system flags suspected abusive content and alerts human monitors who can refer high risk cases directly to the police and other reporting channels, replacing the older model that primarily relied on manual monitoring. After decades of controversy over bile extraction, a ban on breeding bears for gallbladder harvesting and related commercial uses comes into force on New Year’s Day. Existing farms will no longer be allowed to raise, breed or slaughter bears f