KORInform
KOREA TODAY
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

ESSENTIAL STORIES

South Korea Reopens CPTPP Membership Debate

The government is restarting its review as projected gains for manufacturing collide with expected losses across agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Nuri's Fifth Launch Expands South Korea's Space Transport Capability

The rocket deployed a record 15 satellites, including the country's first five-satellite cluster, as officials pressed for more frequent launches and greater private-sector participation.

Unresolved prosecution cases surpass 186,000 before reorganization

South Korea’s prosecution transition begins with a record backlog after unresolved cases increased by nearly 46,000 in three months.

Children of mothers with gestational diabetes face higher diabetes risk

A nationwide study of 3.49 million mother-child pairs found the strongest association when gestational diabetes required insulin treatment

South Korea Moves Toward Cutting Military Benefits for Elite Artists and Athletes

The Defense Ministry says fairness, personnel shortages and public sentiment will guide a review of the decades-old supplementary service system

Chief Justice Cho Defends Martial Law Response After Refusing Audit Oath

Cho Hee-dae said he blocked an unconstitutional request from the martial law command, but lawmakers questioned why he disclosed the account nearly two years later

Attack-Linked IP Addresses Tried to Reach All Three South Korean Internet Banks

KakaoBank, K Bank and Toss Bank recorded attempted access linked to a wider financial-sector hacking campaign, but no customer data leak was reported.

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed at Yecheon cattle farm

Ten cattle tested antigen-positive at a farm already under movement controls, prompting wider surveillance and disinfection measures.

Daegu Urges Vaccination as Influenza Spreads Earlier Than Usual

Suspected influenza cases have exceeded the seasonal threshold, with the highest rates reported among children aged 7 to 12.

Gwangju Metro Line 2 full opening delayed five years

A project review moved full completion to December 2035 and raised the projected cost to 3.243 trillion won, while a partial opening remains subject to government approval.

More Than Half of Low-Rated Aging Bridges Had No Recorded Repairs

Government data shows 62 of 115 bridges rated inadequate or poor had no repair or reinforcement record from 2022 through June 2026.

Military Says North Korean Mine Injured Troops as Removal Demand Draws Criticism

A final military investigation placed the mine about 10 meters south of the inter-Korean boundary, while a former defense committee chair questioned how the North could safely remove it

Nuri assembly complete ahead of fifth launch with 15 satellites

South Korea’s launch vehicle is set for an October 7 mission featuring its first multiple-primary-satellite payload and its largest satellite count to date.

Zelensky Says Seoul Requested Transfer of North Korean Prisoners

The Ukrainian president tied the disputed transfer to a South Korean request while warning that Russian military knowledge could strengthen North Korean forces.

Unmun Dam storage falls to critical level as Daegu prepares backup supply

Prolonged drought has pushed a major drinking-water source into the serious stage, prompting Daegu to expand Nakdong River supplies and prepare emergency intake from the Geumho River.

South Korea Says Allied Defenses Can Counter North Korean Missile

The Defense Ministry says South Korean and US assets tracked the launch and are capable of intercepting the missile, while technical details remain undisclosed.

Seven Korean Financial Firms Hit in Suspected Automated Cyberattack

Authorities are investigating linked attacks on banks, savings banks and a finance company while examining whether artificial intelligence automated the intrusion attempts.

KEPCO employee data exposed on external webpage

Names, affiliations and phone numbers for about 24,000 employees were exposed before removal roughly 32 hours after detection

Trump presses South Korea on Alaska LNG as cost concerns persist

Seoul’s demand for a viability review clashes with Washington’s push to treat participation as settled, while an Alaska legislative study highlights financing risks

Farmland inquiry surge raises fears for elderly farmers

Complaints rose more than 63 percent after the government announced a nationwide review, as rural communities sought clarity on fallow land and customary leasing.

Asian Games expose cracks in South Korea’s traditional medal strengths

South Korea retained third place but won only 39 gold medals as archery, swimming, taekwondo and boxing fell short of expectations

Cyberattacks spread across South Korea’s financial sector

Personal data breaches at banks and non-bank lenders have prompted an emergency regulatory review as investigators examine common attack routes.

Trump Presses South Korea for Alaska LNG Investment Deal

The US president threatened a higher financial burden if Seoul does not join the project, but did not specify what cost could be doubled.

South Korea beat Japan 1-0 to claim historic Asian Games four-peat

Um Ji-sung's second-half winner secured a fourth consecutive men's football gold medal for South Korea

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Confirmed at Another Yecheon Cattle Farm

Ten cattle tested positive during surveillance, taking South Korea’s reported outbreak count this year to 14

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.

IN BRIEF

Seoul rejects Ukraine claim over fuel supplies to Russia

Disclosure gap after attacks on seven financial firms raises response concerns

Health Ministry Calls for Stronger Security After Hospital CCTV Leak

Korean GLP-1 obesity drug nears launch at projected monthly price

Former President Yoon Acquitted in Appeal Over Free Polls

Ruling Party Reviews Sports Military Exemptions

Homeplus Opens Voluntary Retirement Program for All Employees

Government Refers 170 Suspected Ticket Scalpers for Investigation

Naver Used-Market Card Payments Win Regulatory Approval

Cho Doo-soon’s Monitoring Device Damage Found Six Days Later

Two-person households projected to exceed 30% next year

Welcome Savings Bank Hack Lasted 119 Hours Before Detection

Rising fuel and labor costs deepen doctor helicopter losses

Government and UNC Discuss Aligning the Military Demarcation Line

South Korea’s AI safety funding questioned amid frontier AI cybersecurity push

Alleged Hospital CCTV Leak Under Police Probe

Google reaches 34.81% of South Korea’s internet traffic as overseas platforms hit 47%

Son Heung-min breaks South Korea’s international scoring record

South Korea Beat Uzbekistan 2-0 as Son Sets Scoring Record

KT Clinches Regular-Season Title With Sixth Straight Win

Banks changed household loan rules 149 times in 20 months

Army Corps Units Caught Guarding Front Lines with Unloaded Rifles

Government to invest 4.7 trillion won in frontier AI alongside homegrown model project

Non-Face-to-Face Fraud Payout Rate Is 18% as Direct Transfers Are Excluded

Single-Country Reliance Rises in Korea’s Supply Chain

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Yecheon, ninth case in Gyeongsangbuk-do this year

Lee Pushes Early Rental Housing Supply Using Surplus Tax Revenue

Retirement Pension Switches Surge as Market Loss Risk Emerges

Signal-violating car collision sends 25-ton truck into restaurant, injuring 15

Student Living-Expense Loans Rise 33% in Two Years as Delinquencies Reach 38.7 Billion Won

US Auto Tariffs Raise 10 Trillion Won Hit Concern for Korea

Public Agency Mergers and Relocation Face Growing Pushback

Court network logged 240,000 hacking attempts in eight months

Eom Ji-sung's Final Goal Leads South Korea Past Japan

Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games close with South Korea third overall

Foreign resident disaster app records only 12,000 downloads

Smart Tolling Leaves Nearly 8 in 10 Users Unpaid

Villa Youth Loans Show Nearly Threefold Delinquency

Child Support Advance Income Test Ends October 29

Mistaken Expressway Exit Can Qualify for Toll Waiver Within 15 Minutes

Bogeumjari Loan expands income eligibility from October 19

Daegu prosecution and investigation offices face confusion on opening day

Health insurance pilot to ease ALS care costs starts in November

Pediatrics Had the Most Emergency Care Restrictions

Mobile carriers begin six-monthly best-plan notices

AI-Enabled Android Malware Targets Banking Credentials

KTX ticket booking window moves to two months before departure

Seo Chaehyun reaches Asian Games summit with only complete climb

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

View archive >