KOREA TODAY
Supreme Court nomination dispute opens a new institutional fight
The Blue House called Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's written recommendation unprecedented and is reviewing how to respond.
Lee-Wang Yi meeting restores a high-level Seoul-Beijing channel
The two governments are reopening senior communication as Seoul seeks more room to manage North Korea and stabilize China ties.
Korea's heat toll reaches 3,507 illnesses and 31 deaths
The death toll is six higher than at the same point last year, keeping the focus on accumulated exposure and tropical nights.
SK hynix labor deal would shift 60% of performance bonus into shares
The tentative agreement also includes a 6.3% wage increase, changing the balance between cash pay and stock exposure for employees.
THIS WEEK IN KOREA
The essential events and decisions ahead
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MONTH IN REVIEW
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EVENTS IN KOREA
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EXPLORE EVENTS >RECENT STORIES
DAILY LEADS
SK hynix puts ₩40 trillion behind a new shareholder-return era
Yongsan Park housing plan tests how far Seoul will go for new supply
Kim Min-seok takes over South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party after a preference-ballot win
Korea is reaching a ₩2,000 trillion household-debt threshold as rates turn upward
Lee puts a peace regime back at the center of Seoul’s North Korea policy
South Korea’s last legal boknal is ending an industry that had already begun to disappear
ESSENTIAL STORIES
The won moves back into the 1,300s for the first time in 11 months
The dollar closed around ₩1,397.7 in Seoul trading, as expectations for U.S. rates and exporter dollar sales pushed the Korean currency to its strongest level in roughly 11 months.
Trump says he expects to meet Kim Jong Un this year
The statement revived summit speculation as Seoul and Washington adjust military exercises, but no meeting has been confirmed and Pyongyang has not publicly agreed.
Hanwha’s K9 breaks into the U.S. Army market
Hanwha Aerospace’s U.S. subsidiary will supply K9-based prototypes to the U.S. Army, a rare entry point into the world’s largest defense market for a Korean weapons platform.
Korea’s household debt crosses ₩2,000 trillion as borrowing accelerates
Household credit reached ₩2,019.8 trillion at the end of the second quarter, up ₩25.9 trillion from three months earlier. The threshold KORInform flagged earlier this week has now been crossed.
Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho submits resignation as prosecution reform enters its next phase
The presidential office has asked Jung to stay until follow-up personnel arrangements are made. His departure comes as the government shifts from passing prosecution-reform legislation to making the new criminal-justice structure work.
Hyundai Motor union escalates wage dispute to its first full strike in a decade
After the 16th bargaining round failed, the union scheduled four-hour stoppages on Aug. 19 and 20, a full eight-hour strike on Aug. 21 and further partial strikes next week.
Kim Keon-hee indicted over presidential residence relocation case
A special prosecutor sent the former first lady, lawmaker Yoon Han-hong and contractor chief Kim Tae-young to trial over allegations surrounding the Yoon administration's residence move.
Two Supreme Court justice nominees put a months-long appointment standoff to the test
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae nominated Son Bong-gi and Kim Seong-su after months of delay, using an unusual written submission to the president. The next gate is National Assembly consent.
Geoje’s record rain leaves one dead as recovery begins after more than 600 mm in a day
The disaster was far broader than the original wire snapshot: Korean reporting documents a record-breaking deluge, a fatal landslide, nearly 2,000 emergency calls, 136 rescues and damage across schools, roads, utilities and homes.
Pentagon says it will implement Trump’s order to scale back U.S.-South Korea drills
Ulchi Freedom Shield is already under way, but Seoul still lacks a public account of what will actually be reduced. Korean coverage now shows the issue is firmly on the domestic security agenda, not merely a Washington talking point.
Samsung and SK hynix push first-half R&D spending to a record ₩33 trillion
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix invested about ₩33.4 trillion in R&D in the first half, with both companies sharply increasing spending as the AI memory boom intensifies competition.
Government weighs restoring ISA carryover and dropping the account-duration cap
After criticism of its tax-reform proposal, the government is considering letting unused ISA contribution limits roll forward again and effectively removing the proposed account-duration restriction.
Lee revives the four-year presidency debate, but the bigger proposal is about presidential power
A renewable four-year presidency is the headline. The more consequential part of Lee Jae Myung’s constitutional agenda is the attempt to redistribute powers that have long been concentrated in the presidency.
Busan Indie Connect opens with hundreds of games and a bigger job than simply entertaining fans
BIC 2026 opened at BEXCO with roughly 280 indie games, a conference and business matching. The festival’s real test is whether discovery turns into publishing, financing and distribution after the booths come down.