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WEEKLY

What changed in Korea, and why it matters

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Clear answers for living and working in Korea

RECENT STORIES

DAILY LEADS

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Police Open Inquiry as Suspected AI Attacks Hit South Korean Banks

Investigators are examining customer data exposure at four banks and signs that an autonomous penetration tool may have helped coordinate the intrusions.

Special counsel seeks 18-month term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon

The appellate court will rule October 23 in a political finance case that could determine whether Oh retains the mayoralty

Trump says South Korea deal includes $8.4 billion oil recovery project

The U.S. president offered no details about the enhanced oil recovery investment, while South Korean confirmation of an agreement remained unavailable.

South Korea passes animal-keeping ban for cruelty offenders

Courts could prohibit high-risk defendants from keeping animals for up to five years, while protected animals could remain in custody until a final judgment

Google faces scrutiny over outsourced reviews of victims' removal requests

MBC reports that a contractor handled sensitive requests from digital sex-crime victims without those victims being told their information could reach a third party.

Seoul apartment prices rise for 86th week, setting a new record

The citywide index rose 0.09%, but the pace has slowed for five straight weeks and the three Gangnam districts remain in decline.

South Korea and US advance plans for eight reactors and Texas AI power project

A $200 billion strategic investment framework includes about $120 billion for nuclear power, while Alaska LNG remains under commercial review.

Military identifies multiple suspected North Korean mine sites south of the MDL

Surveillance detected terrain changes at several locations, but on-site confirmation remains incomplete and a western-front investigation already injured three officers.

Government and opposition clash as new prosecution system prepares to launch

President Lee Jae Myung says the overhaul will strengthen checks and balances, while the People Power Party warns of investigative disruption and public-safety gaps.

Ha Joon-kyung promoted to presidential policy chief as Lee reshuffles economic team

The former economic-growth aide moves into the administration’s top policy-coordination post, with housing, jobs and social policy added to his broader brief.

Vaccination Management Act passes, expanding records to include privately paid shots

The law creates a standalone vaccination framework, requires broader record registration and adds legal procedures for quality alerts and effectiveness monitoring.

South Korea records August decline in production, consumption and investment

Industrial output, household demand and capital spending all weakened from July, with automobile production falling particularly sharply.

South Korea raises tax revenue forecast to record 478.6 trillion won

The new estimate is 63.2 trillion won above the supplementary-budget forecast, driven by stronger corporate and transaction tax receipts.

North Korean troops crossed MDL more than 50 times in August and September

South Korean defense data show repeated crossings concentrated on the eastern front, while North Korea disputes Seoul's account.

Prosecution reform opens with unresolved questions over investigative checks

The Public Prosecution Office begins work on October 2 without direct investigative powers as a new serious-crimes agency takes shape.

UN Command says DMZ mine blast violated armistice as North Korea denies role

Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the September 21 blast; investigators found a North Korean anti-personnel mine at the site.

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

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

IN BRIEF

South Korea’s Men’s Archery Team Wins Asian Games Gold

Grammys to Proceed With Asian Pop Category Despite BTS Boycott

LS Cable & System to Build Korea’s First Rare-Earth Magnet Hub

Four in Ten Older Koreans Work as Elderly Poverty Tops OECD

Pregnant women face long transfers as regional maternity care falls short

Seoul Apartment Prices Rise for Record 86th Straight Week

Election Commission Special Prosecutor Plans On-Site System Verification

Boston Dynamics unveils four-finger robot hand that can drill

National public medical school to open in Namwon with 15-year service requirement

Companies with three workplace deaths could face fines up to 5% of operating profit

Government sees first $1 trillion export year and growth in the 3% range

Kidnapping and detention cases involving Koreans overseas rose thirteenfold in three years

South Korea loses Elliott remand arbitration, payout could reach 153 billion won

Police enter emergency response mode as revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect

New serious-crimes agency names deputy chief and regional heads

Six petrochemical companies indicted over alleged 16 trillion won price-fixing scheme

Court rulings diverge over bargaining duties under revised Trade Union Act

Shinhan Bank says data on about 25,000 customers was exposed

South Korea puts fact-finding first after DMZ mine blast

Novelis Korea to lift Yeongju plant lockout on October 1

Presidential office defends posting of confidential-marked report on X

Domestic particle accelerator supports Korea radioisotope exports

PPP reduces Kwon Young-jin suspension to one year

Lee Do-hyun wins Asian Games bouldering silver

US State Department flags Korean regulatory enforcement as investment concern

Western Gyeongbuk shows Korea's aging divide within one region

Wrong Expressway Exit Will No Longer Mean Paying the Base Toll Twice

Daegu Warns of Cloudy Tap Water in Parts of Buk-gu and Dong-gu

An Se-young Wins Historic Second Straight Asian Games Singles Gold

Strong Winds Could Delay Nuri's Fifth Launch

Seodaemun Pilots 4.5-Day Workweek Without Cutting Weekly Hours

Daegu-Gyeongbuk SME Exports Jump 38.5% in August

Seocho to Refund Up to 240,000 Won a Year in Bus Fares for Seniors

Off-Peak Modu Card Refund Bonus Extended Through December

Korea Falls 4-1 to Uruguay in Seoul Friendly

SM Entertainment Files Complaints Over Illegal AI Images

Four in Ten Working-Age Koreans Now Use Generative AI

Insurance Fraud Detections Reach 620 Billion Won

Nearly 2,800 Police Officers Disciplined Over Six Years

Fuel Tax Cuts Extended Through November

Daegu Plans D-Pass Transit Discount for March

Flood-Damaged Car Sellers Could Face Triple Compensation

Hope Savings Account Offers Up to 300,000 Won Monthly Match

Yeongju Offers 42 Deeply Discounted Homes for Young Households

Airports Flag More Than 1,000 Power-Bank Violations a Day

Medication Errors Reach 879 Cases Over Four Years

Korea Reclaims Asian Games Women's Handball Gold

Woo Sang-hyeok Takes Asian Games High-Jump Bronze

IVE Sets October Comeback With 'Looks Can Kill'

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