SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Ministry of Data and Statistics, led by Minister Ahn Hyung Jun, announced that the 2025 Population and Housing Census, marking its 100th anniversary this year, is now underway. Minister Ahn stated that the survey will carry forward a century of statistical tradition and serve as a vital foundation for shaping future national policies. He also encouraged foreign residents living in Korea to actively participate.

[Question 1] The Population and Housing Census is currently in full swing. What is the significance of this census, notably as it marks 100 years?

• Korea’s first modern census covering the entire population for statistical purposes was the ‘Simplified National Census’ conducted in 1925.
• Over 100 years, the census has achieved the following:
  • It has provided a foundation of essential data for countless policies related to population, housing, education, and welfare throughout Korea’s journey—from overcoming the scars of liberation and war in the 1950s, through economic development plans in the 1960s and 1970s, to Korea’s emergence as an advanced nation from the 1980s and 1990s onward.
• Korea’s statistical capabilities have grown significantly alongside national development.
  • Our statistical methods are now internationally recognized, and many countries seek to learn from our techniques.
    • There is particular interest in our register-based census methodology utilizing diverse administrative data, the electronic survey systems introduced for field surveys (mobile, PC, telephone, tablet, etc.), and digital map construction techniques.
• These achievements belong not only to the Ministry of Data and Statistics but are the result of collaboration with citizens who have faithfully participated in the census over the past 100 years.

[Question 2] What new items have been included in this census?

• (Number of items) The 2025 Population and Housing Census includes a total of 55 items (same as the previous cycle).
  • Of these, 13 items are obtained through administrative data, while 42 items are collected through direct survey.
• (New items) This census was designed to comprehensively and accurately measure diverse social and economic changes, with seven new items compared to the previous cycle:
  • “Family care time” and “Marriage plans/intentions” reflecting policy needs related to low birth rates and aging populations
  • “Languages used at home” and “Korean language proficiency” for multicultural households and foreign residents
  • “Rental provider” to understand the status of households living in rental housing
  • “Religion,” which is surveyed on a 10-year cycle, and “Bicycle ownership,” reflecting policy needs of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
• Additionally, we have added the category “Unmarried cohabitation (partners living together, etc.)” to the question on “Relationship to household head” to measure changes in our society’s perceptions of marriage and cohabitation.
  • This will enable us to identify increasingly diverse household types and provide foundational data needed for related policy formulation and analysis.

[Question 3] With foreign residents from various countries living in Korea, how are you surveying foreign residents?

• (Language) With the foreign resident population continuing to grow*, foreign residents in sample enumeration districts can participate through internet surveys (mobile, PC), telephone, and in-person interviews.

  * Number of foreign residents (percentage of total population): 2010: 590,000 (1.2%) → 2015: 1.36 million (2.7%) → 2020: 1.7 million (3.3%) → 2024: 2.04 million (3.9%)

  • To accommodate respondents from diverse nationalities, we have expanded the number of foreign language questionnaires from 10 to 20*.

    * Selected based on the top 20 languages used by foreign residents as of 2023: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Indonesian, Thai, Mongolian, Japanese, Cambodian (Khmer), Nepali, Uzbek, Kazakh, Burmese, Sri Lankan (Sinhala), Bangladeshi (Bengali), Pakistani (Urdu), Kyrgyz, Malay, Ukrainian, and Lao

  • The call center has deployed dedicated foreign language consultants (English, Chinese, Vietnamese*) to facilitate telephone survey participation and address inquiries.

    * (2020) English and Chinese consultants → (2025) English, Chinese + Vietnamese (added)

    < 2025 Population and Housing Census Call Center Foreign Language Operations>

    • Operating period: Weekdays 09:00 – 18:00, October 17 – November 18, 2025
    • Phone: (English) +82-70-7773-0985, (Chinese) +82-70-7773-0986, (Vietnamese) +82-70-7773-0987
• (Method) Statistical enumerators equipped with tablet PCs are currently visiting sample households that have not yet completed the survey (internet and telephone survey participation is also available).
  • When an enumerator visits, foreign respondents should first verify the enumerator’s identity by checking the multilingual statistical survey worker ID card issued by the local government and the Ministry of Data and Statistics (formerly Statistics Korea) displayed on the tablet PC.
  • The tablet PC contains survey information in 20 languages, allowing respondents to understand the purpose of the enumerator’s visit and the census itself.
    • A translation app installed on the device also enables basic communication with the enumerator.
  • If you are proficient in Korean, you may respond directly to the enumerator’s questions. If you prefer to complete a paper questionnaire in one of the 20 available foreign languages, request one from the enumerator.
• We have also established a cooperative framework with the Ministry of Justice’s Foreigner Contact Center (1345), which many foreign residents contact, to ensure smooth guidance on census inquiries.

[Question 4] Are only foreign residents with legal status subject to the census? Some foreign residents, depending on their circumstances, may worry that their responses will be shared with the Ministry of Justice or other government agencies…

• All Korean and foreign residents and dwelling units within the 20% sample enumeration districts are subject to the census.
  • Foreign residents in sample enumeration districts are included in the census regardless of legal status if they have stayed or plan to stay for three months or more.
  • The census doesn’t ask about legal status, so there’s no way to identify undocumented residents. You can respond without concern.
  • Active participation by foreign residents in Korea also contributes to the development of various welfare policies for foreign residents.
• Under Article 33 of the Statistics Act, all information you provide is strictly protected and cannot be used for any purpose other than statistical compilation. Violations of this law are subject to penalties under the Statistics Act.

[Question 5] When will the results of this census be released, and how will they be used?

• (Release) The data from this census will undergo processing and is scheduled to be released at the end of November 2026.
• (Use) The results of the Population and Housing Census are widely used as foundational data for various national policy formulation and evaluation, academic research, and business management.
  • As a survey that provides statistics at the eup, myeon, and dong (township and neighborhood) levels, this data is essential for local policy formulation and regional development.
  • Census results are also made publicly available* for use by government agencies, the private sector, and the general public.

    * Provided through the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and Microdata Integrated Service (MDIS)

[Question 6] Is there a final message you would like to convey to readers?

• The successful implementation of the Population and Housing Census depends on active participation and accurate responses from those selected for the survey.
  • The Ministry of Data and Statistics will do its utmost to ensure that the results of the Population and Housing Census translate into policies that benefit both Korean and foreign residents alike.
  • We ask for your active cooperation and continued interest in the 2025 Population and Housing Census, which marks 100 years of census-taking.

TOKYO, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PRISM BioLab, Co. Ltd. (“PRISM”) announces that today, PRISM and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka; President and COO: Toichi Takino; hereinafter “Ono”) have achieved the initial milestone in the drug discovery collaboration and PRISM has confirmed receipt of the milestone payment.

PRISM and Ono have entered into a “Joint Research and Licensing Agreement” on April 25, 2024, (hereinafter “the Agreement”) for drug discovery in the oncology field. Under this Agreement, PRISM received an upfront payment and joint research fees, launched a joint research project (hereinafter “the Project”) to discover clinical candidate compounds against targets proposed by Ono, utilizing PRISM’s proprietary peptide-mimetic technology “PepMetics”. PepMetics^® is a technology based on small molecules targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs).

The Project has progressed as planned under the collaboration of both companies, and has achieved the milestone defined in the Agreement for the drug discovery research stage. PRISM will receive the milestone payment and joint research fees from Ono. The milestone payment will be recorded as business revenue in the first quarter of PRISM’s fiscal year ending September 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). The joint research funding will be allocated proportionally throughout the period of the next phase of the joint research. While the specific amounts of the milestone payment and joint research funding are not disclosed under the terms of the Agreement, the total amount corresponds to approximately 80% of our net sales for the previous fiscal year (FY ended September 2025), as stated in our “Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 2025 (JGAAP) ” released today.

The Project will accelerate the search for clinical candidate compounds through collaborative research with Ono, and leveraging PRISM’s expertise in structural biology and computational chemistry. The Agreement stipulates multiple milestones, and PRISM will receive milestone payments according to the progress of drug discovery research and subsequent stages, including clinical development conducted by Ono. Furthermore, if clinical candidate compounds lead to the commercialization of new drug, PRISM will receive royalties based on product sales.

“We are delighted to have achieved the first milestone in drug discovery research targeting previously challenging targets identified by Ono.”, said Dai Takehara, President & CEO of PRISM. “This first step toward creating innovative new drugs is the achievement of the collaborative efforts of researchers from both companies, and we are grateful for this opportunity. We will continue dedicating our full effort to this project to achieve research outcomes in the next stage.”

PRISM will maintain its strong relationship with Ono, further advance the joint research project, and strive for the creation of groundbreaking new drugs in the oncology field. This achievement demonstrates the potential of PRISM’s PepMetics^® technology and is expected to contribute to the company’s long-term growth and enhancement of corporate value.

About PRISM BioLab

PRISM BioLab is a discovery and development biotechnology company utilizing proprietary PepMetics® technology to discover orally available small molecule inhibitors of protein-protein interaction (PPI) targets and transform lives of patients suffering from cancer, autoimmune, fibrosis and other diseases. PepMetics® are a unique class of small molecules that mimic three-dimensional structures of alpha-helix and beta-turn, the peptide structures commonly found in intracellular PPI interphases and receptor-ligand interactions. By combining proprietary chemistry, know-how around PPI targets and AI-supported design, PepMetics® technology can deliver inhibitors of challenging PPI targets. The technology holds promise to expand the field of drug discovery by turning previously undruggable PPIs into targets readily druggable with small molecules and by generating oral small molecule alternatives for injectable biologics.

PRISM BioLab is collaborating on new PPI targets with global and Japanese pharmaceutical companies. PepMetics® targeting CBP/beta-catenin PPIs licensed to Eisai Co., Ltd. and Ohara Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. are in clinical development for cancer and liver disease, respectively.

www.prismbiolab.com 

SHANGHAI, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China’s workplaces are evolving faster than ever. As the nation’s working-age population continues to shrink — dropping by nearly seven million in the past year — the battle for talent has become one of the most pressing challenges for employers. Skill shortages are now the new norm, with 60% of companies reporting difficulty finding qualified workers, especially in high-growth sectors such as AI and semiconductors. At the same time, younger employees are redefining work itself — prioritising wellbeing, flexibility, and personal growth over traditional career paths.

Amid this evolution, the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia awards, organised by Business Media International returns to China to celebrate organisations that are not only overcoming these challenges but setting new benchmarks for the future of work. This year’s winners — a mix of major Chinese enterprises and multinational corporations — exemplify a simple yet powerful truth: when companies put people first, everything else follows.

These award-winning companies are using innovation and empathy to stay ahead. They are building in-house academies to nurture skills, creating transparent career pathways, and fostering multi-generational harmony through mentorship and flexible work models. They are also embracing technology as a human enabler — deploying AI and digital tools to enhance productivity while investing in the training and trust that help employees thrive.

Beyond recognition, the HR Asia programme itself is transforming how companies approach their people strategy. The awards have become a trusted benchmark across Asia, boosting winners’ employer branding, helping them attract top talent, and strengthening their reputation as industry leaders. The insights and data-driven feedback provided through HR Asia’s TEAM Survey enable participating companies to uncover workplace trends, identify engagement gaps, and turn employee feedback into tangible action.

As a result, being recognised as one of the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia is more than a badge of honour — it is proof of leadership in a time of disruption. These companies are not only retaining their best talent but also inspiring others in their industries to follow suit.

“The winners in China have demonstrated exceptional adaptability in an era of uncertainty,” said Datuk William Ng, Chairman, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards. “They’ve shown that when you put people first — when you empower, listen, and evolve — you don’t just attract talent, you lead your industry. These organisations are redefining what it means to be an employer of choice in the world’s most dynamic market.”

The award covers fifteen markets across the region including mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, making this the largest recognition program and survey in the region for employee engagement. For more information about the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2025 – and a complete list of winners, please visit https://hr.asia/awards/

LIST OF WINNERS OF HR ASIA BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN ASIA 2025 (CHINA EDITION) IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

1. A.MENARINI CHINA HOLDING CO., LTD.
2. AICPA & CIMA
3. ALLIANZ CHINA
4. APL LOGISTICS CHINA, LTD
5. ARROW (CHINA) ELECTRONICS TRADING CO., LTD.
6. AVERY DENNISON CHINA
7. BOROUGE
8. CHINA INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL CORPORATION LIMITED
9. COLLIERS CHINA
10. CRYSTAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP LIMITED
11. E. SUN BANK (CHINA) CO., LTD
12. FUTU NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
13. Goertek Inc.
14. HANG LUNG MANAGEMENT (CHINA) LTD.
15. InnoCare Pharma
16. IPSOS (CHINA) CONSULTING CO., LTD.
17. JOHNSON MATTHEY CHINA
18. JPE YEAN HERN CO., LTD
19. KPMG
20. LEE KUM KEE (CHINA)
21. LEE KUM KEE GROUP
22. MANULIFE-SINOCHEM LIFE INSURANCE CO.,LTD.
23. MINISO GROUP
24. MUNDIPHARMA (CHINA) PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
25. OLAM AGRI CHINA
26. PUBLICIS GROUPE CHINA
27. SHANGHAI HENLIUS BIOTECH, INC.
28. SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
29. SYNTHASIA GROUP CO., LTD.
30. WELLINGTON COLLEGE EDUCATION (CHINA)

WINNERS OF HR ASIA MOST CARING COMPANY AWARDS 2025

• MANULIFE-SINOCHEM LIFE INSURANCE CO.,LTD.

WINNERS OF HR ASIA SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE AWARDS 2025

• A.MENARINI CHINA HOLDING CO., LTD.
• BOROUGE
• HANG LUNG MANAGEMENT (CHINA) LTD.
• JOHNSON MATTHEY CHINA
• OLAM AGRI CHINA

WINNERS OF HR ASIA TECH EMPOWERMENT AWARDS 2025

• PUBLICIS GROUPE CHINA
• WELLINGTON COLLEGE EDUCATION (CHINA)

-End-

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — What does it mean to be an ASEAN enterprise today? For decades, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region have been described as the backbone of their economies — yet, for the first time, a new generation of businesses is redefining what that truly means.

The first ASEAN SME100 Awards and the ASEAN Halal Brand Awards organised by Business Media International, held in conjunction with the ASEAN SME Forum, marked a turning point — one that celebrated not just success, but transformation.

The Rise of the Borderless SME

The inaugural ASEAN SME100 Awards honoured companies that have broken past national boundaries to establish themselves as regional forces. These are not just growing businesses — they are ambitious disruptors shaping the new narrative of ASEAN competitiveness.

Across industries — from digital technology to logistics, from manufacturing to lifestyle — these companies are proving that size is no longer the measure of influence. Agility, innovation, and regional collaboration are the new currencies of success.

Their stories are evidence that ASEAN’s economic promise isn’t just theoretical — it’s unfolding in real time, led by enterprises that refuse to see geography as a limitation.

Halal as a Regional Language of Trust

Running parallel to this transformation is another quiet revolution — the rise of ASEAN’s halal industry. The ASEAN Halal Brand Awards celebrated brands that have gone beyond compliance to turn halal into a global value system: one that blends ethics, authenticity, and ambition.

In a world where halal products represent a market projected to exceed USD 5 trillion by 2030, ASEAN’s halal champions are redefining what trust and quality mean in a borderless economy. These brands have not only earned certification — they have earned regional respect by proving that faith and modern business innovation can thrive together.

From Recognition to Regional Identity

The awards serve a larger purpose: to reshape how ASEAN sees itself. For too long, SMEs have been viewed as national players, their growth confined within borders. The ASEAN SME100 and ASEAN Halal Brand Awards challenge that narrative, recognising those who have evolved beyond being local champions to become regional catalysts.

This shift mirrors a deeper regional truth — that ASEAN’s future will be written not by governments or multinationals alone, but by SMEs bold enough to connect across cultures, sectors, and markets.

A Platform for the Future

Held alongside the ASEAN SME Forum, the twin awards represent more than celebration; they are a declaration — that ASEAN’s entrepreneurial class is ready to lead. These programmes are not about prestige alone, but about creating new pathways for SMEs to access visibility, credibility, and partnerships across borders.

They turn recognition into opportunity. They transform awards into accelerators.

As ASEAN moves toward deeper economic integration, one truth becomes clear: the next wave of regional powerhouses will not emerge from size, but from vision — the kind that sees ASEAN not as ten separate markets, but as one interconnected ecosystem.

For more information about the SME100 Awards 2025 ASEAN and the complete list of winners, please visit www.sme100.asia

LIST OF WINNERS OF THE ASEAN SME100 AWARDS 2025 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

1. APEIRON CONSULTANCY INC
2. ASE EDUCATION GROUP PTE LTD
3. BEYOND INSIGHTS SDN BHD
4. CK PACKAGING & PLASTIC INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
5. COLDWORLD ENGINEERING PTE LTD
6. COMPLETE HUMAN NETWORK SDN BHD
7. CS CLOUD SDN BHD
8. EDKA DIGITAL CO., LTD
9. ENERCON ASIA PTE LTD
10. FILIPINO HOMES
11. FPT FOOD PROCESS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
12. GRIFFIN PROTECTION INTEGRATED SECURITY PTE LTD
13. HOWERN WASSER SDN BHD
14. INNODENT TRADING CO., LTD
15. MATA GROUP HOLDING CO., LTD
16. MCE MARKETING SDN BHD
17. MOST CAPITAL GROUP SDN BHD
18. MX ENGINEERING PTE LTD
19. NETGAIN SYSTEMS PTE LTD
20. NEXT ENERGY SDN BHD
21. PET PROTECT FOOD CO., LTD
22. PROTUS WONDERLAND PTE LTD
23. PT. RAVELWARE TECHNOLOGY INDONESIA
24. RM APPLICATIONS SDN BHD
25. UNIQTEK CO., LTD
26. YOSHITEC PRECISION ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHD

ASEAN OUTSTANDING YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2025

1. MR. ANG SOON ENG – CK PACKAGING & PLASTIC INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
2. MR. LEONG CHIA HANN, JASON – MOST CAPITAL GROUP SDN BHD
3. MR. SONG MINGQIANG, STEVEN – MX ENGINEERING PTE LTD
4. MR. STEVEN CHIEW CHOON MENG – NEXT ENERGY SDN BHD
5. MR. RANDY BUDI WICAKSONO – PT. RAVELWARE TECHNOLOGY INDONESIA

SME100 ASEAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2025

1. MS. TEH CHAI PENG – COMPLETE HUMAN NETWORK SDN BHD
2. MS. LEONG HUEY MIIN – NETGAIN SYSTEMS PTE LTD
3. MS. PAN XIAOJING – PROTUS WONDERLAND PTE LTD

SME100 ASEAN SUSTAINABLE BRAND AWARDS 2025         

1. COLDWORLD – COLDWORLD ENGINEERING PTE LTD
2. ENERCON – ENERCON ASIA PTE LTD
3. HOWERN WASSER – HOWERN WASSER SDN BHD
4. YOSHITEC – YOSHITEC PRECISION ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHD

ASEAN HALAL BRAND AWARD

1. CAP KUNCI – EHH FOOD INDUSTRY SDN BHD
2. F&N – FRASER & NEAVE HOLDINGS BERHAD
3. McDONALD’S MALAYSIA – McDONALD’S MALAYSIA
4. NESTLE – NESTLE MALAYSIA BERHAD
5. PAYLESS INSTANT NOODLES – NISSIN – UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION
6. ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES – ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES SDN BHD
7. ZUS COFFEE – ZUSPRESSO (M) SDN BHD