KOREA TODAY
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.
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
Lee vows to keep reducing inter-Korean tensions and urges North Korea back to dialogue
Daegu-Gyeongbuk named Korea's first robot-specialized industrial complex
Lee Orders Faster Review of Gwangju Military Airport Relocation
Military Says North Korean Mine Very Likely Caused DMZ Blast
Coupang Privacy Fine Reveals Regulator's Hard Line
Domestic-Violence Reports Surge During Chuseok
ESSENTIAL STORIES
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
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