KOREA TODAY
Korea Passes 15 Million International Visitors Through August
The Culture Ministry says cumulative arrivals in the first eight months of 2026 crossed 15 million, marking a major milestone for Korea's inbound tourism recovery
Young Koreans Fear Retirement-Age Extension Will Cut New Hiring
A survey of 1,052 people aged 20 to 34 found 81 percent expect legal retirement-age extension to reduce entry-level recruitment, up sharply from last year
Half of Large Companies Plan Entry-Level Hiring, but Expansion Stays Limited
A survey of 121 major companies found 51.2 percent have second-half graduate hiring plans, while only 24.2 percent expect to increase the size of their intake
Regulators Raid M&A Insider-Trading Network Accused of 20 Billion Won Gains
A joint market-abuse team searched more than 20 homes and offices after identifying a network accused of sharing nonpublic takeover information for years
Additional North Korean Mine Found at DMZ Blast Site
Investigators now say at least four mines were concentrated near the western DMZ blast point, including a North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine found south of the Military Demarcation Line
WEEKLY
What changed in Korea, and why it matters
WHAT'S ON
Events, festivals and things to do across Korea
PLACES
Venues, institutions and public spaces worth knowing
GUIDES
Clear answers for living and working in Korea
RECENT STORIES
DAILY LEADS
Military Says North Korean Mine Very Likely Caused DMZ Blast
Coupang Privacy Fine Reveals Regulator's Hard Line
Domestic-Violence Reports Surge During Chuseok
Seoul Faces Security Test After Ukraine Reveals North Korean POW Transfer
North Korean POW Transfer Tests Seoul's Balance of Secrecy and Accountability
A Quarter-Point Rate Rise Could Cut Apartment Prices 1.2%
ESSENTIAL STORIES
Supreme Court Appointment Dispute Moves to National Assembly Audit
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is set to face lawmakers as a dispute over a long-vacant Supreme Court seat expands into a clash over appointment powers
CPTPP Study Sees Manufacturing Gains and Farm-Sector Losses for Korea
A government analysis projects more than 6 trillion won in annual manufacturing gains but roughly 850 billion won in yearly losses across agriculture, forestry and fisheries
Korea Passes 15 Million International Visitors Through August
Record arrivals are being matched by even faster growth in tourism card spending, strengthening the service-sector impact of the inbound travel boom
Bank Labor Deal Would Push Branch Opening to 9:30 AM
A tentative financial-sector agreement combines a 3% wage increase with a 30-minute reduction in customer-facing bank hours from next April
Film Assassins Sparks New Dispute Over Historical Fiction
Critics accuse the movie of distorting the 1974 assassination of Yuk Young-soo, while its producers say the work uses historical records without denying established facts
Hanwha Aerospace Apologizes Over Hiring Restrictions
The company says age and university-background limits in an experienced-hire guideline were improper and promises disciplinary and process changes
Fog, Showers and a 15-Degree Swing Mark the Post-Holiday Commute
The first Monday after Chuseok brings pockets of rain, inland fog and a sharp rise from cool morning lows to warm afternoon highs
Korea Beats Japan to Win Fifth Straight Asian Games Baseball Gold
A 3-1 victory in the final turns an earlier loss to Japan into another championship and extends Korea's title streak to five Games
International Air Travel Rises Despite Higher Fuel Costs
Passenger traffic through South Korean airports climbed nearly 10% through August, led by sharp growth on Japan and China routes
Korea Prepares Nationwide AI Service for 2026 Launch
The government-backed AI for Everyone project is moving from promise to rollout, with beta testing in October and a formal launch targeted for December
338 Police Investigation Managers Rated Unsuitable in Three Years
Internal assessments raise questions about whether frontline investigative units are consistently led by managers with the strongest available qualifications
Hwang Seo-hyun Ends Korea's 40-Year Wait for Asian Games Beam Gold
The 17-year-old scored 14.700 in Nagoya to become South Korea's first women's balance beam champion since 1986
Young Korea Team Wins First Asian Games Men's 3x3 Basketball Gold
Four players with no professional on the roster beat Qatar 19-10 and delivered South Korea's first title in the event
President Lee Uses Security Law Debate to Argue for Gradual Reform
Lee Jae-myung said reforms can provoke backlash when they move too far or fast, citing an earlier National Security Law fight
DMZ Mine Investigation Becomes Political Fight Over Speed and Safety
Seoul says a hazardous site requires careful access as critics question the pace of the investigation into the blast
Delayed DMZ Mine-Site Inspection Draws Political Scrutiny
Three soldiers were seriously injured, and opposition figures say postponing the field inquiry risks evidence loss.
Seoul Apartment Prices Rise for an 85th Week as Market Splits
Gangnam districts fell while mid-priced northern areas and parts of Gyeonggi drove the broader increase.
AI Moves Into Korean Hiring and Performance Reviews
Employers are measuring AI use and cost, while applicants' right to explanations depends on knowing automation was used.
Bundang Restaurant Break-In Prompts Chemical and Motive Investigation
Two masked intruders damaged the business, targeted its sign and left containers that police are examining.
OECD Raises Korea Growth Forecast to 3.7%
The 1.1-point upgrade is the G20's largest, driven by semiconductor exports and production, while higher oil prices keep inflation in view.
Supreme Court and Presidential Office Clash Over Nominee
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae says the request for a new candidate lacks clear grounds; the presidential office says appointment power is substantive.
Acting Prosecutor Chief Leaves Charge Withdrawal Open
Lee Jung-hyun says an inquiry must report first, placing any decision in the hands of a fact-finding process reviewing contested investigations.
Lee Proposes Four-Party Framework for Peninsula Peace
Seoul wants renewed US-North Korea talks to expand into a process involving both Koreas, Washington and Beijing.
Lee and Trump Revive Nuclear Submarine Consultations
The presidents linked renewed security talks with higher Korean defense spending, wartime command and shipbuilding cooperation.
Korean Births Rise for a 25th Consecutive Month
July births increased 11.1% to 24,275, with every region recording growth and the January-to-July gain reaching a series high.