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Lee faces no-win dilemma as justice minister nominee row threatens prosecution reform

President Lee Jae Myung is facing a high-stakes dilemma over his justice minister nominee: push forward with Kim Seung-won's appointment at the cost of further eroding his approval ratings or withdraw the nomination and lose momentum on his flagship prosecution reform agenda. Political insiders suggest Lee will press ahead regardless. Analysts say he is likely to frame the standoff as a defining battle for prosecutorial reform — a direct confrontation with what his camp describes as political prosecutors resistant to change. “The (ruling) Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) appears poised to push forward with the appointment, while opposition parties are expected to gauge public sentiment following President Lee’s press conference scheduled on Friday before deciding whether to launch full-fledged street protests,” Seo Yang-ho, a political commentator and former mayor of Seoul’s Jung District, was quoted saying on a TV news program. “At its core, Kim Seung-won's nomination is not simply a Cabinet appointment; it represents a fundamental clash between forces driving President Lee

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Who counts as 'true middle class' in Korea?

What counts as being “middle class?” For many, income is the starting — and often the only — point of reference. By the OECD’s measure, 52.9 percent of Korean households fall within the middle-income range. But Park, 60, who spent more than three decades running a health care technical services business, sees the definition as less straightforward. “Looking at income alone can make the middle class look like a much broader group. I think you need a more comprehensive, multidimensional assessment. It’s about more than simply being able to afford the essentials,” he said. Life, he noted, does not end with the basics. There is the standard of living people hope to maintain and, eventually, whether they can afford to live that way in retirement. “Simply put, if you can do everything you want without having to worry about it, you’re at the top. If you have to weigh your choices but can make them without taking on significant risk, I would call that the middle class. But if making those choices puts you at risk, then I don’t think you can really call yourself middle class,

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Fed rate hike puts BOK under pressure over further rate increase

The Bank of Korea (BOK) is facing growing expectations of another rate hike before the end of the year after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points in its first hike since July 2023, widening the interest rate gap between Seoul and Washington to 1 percentage point, analysts said Thursday. While persistent inflationary pressures continue to warrant monetary action, the widening interest rate gap with the U.S., which could intensify downward pressure on the Korean won, and renewed instability in housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area are also being cited as factors that could prompt another rate hike. Nevertheless, some market observers expect the BOK to moderate the pace of tightening, given that it already delivered back-to-back rate hikes in July and August to address domestic inflation, housing market overheating and the prospect of tighter U.S. monetary policy. The central bank may instead take time to assess the impact of those measures while limiting the burden on financially vulnerable households and small businesses. Following its two-day

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Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access

As Korea prepares to introduce abortion pills, women’s rights groups and doctors are welcoming the move but remain divided over how broadly the drugs should be made available. Women's rights advocates are calling for wider eligibility and eased prescription rules, while doctors are urging tighter medical oversight, reflecting a broader debate over how to balance reproductive autonomy with patient safety. The government on Wednesday announced a plan to allow the use of abortion pills for pregnancies of nine weeks or less, as early as the first quarter of next year. The move follows a prolonged legislative vacuum since the Constitutional Court ruled in 2019 that the criminalization of abortion was unconstitutional. Lawmakers have remained gridlocked over the deeply divisive issue, leaving follow-up legislation on matters such as permissible gestational limits stalled for years. Amid that vacuum, abortion pills have circulated illicitly, fueling calls for their formal introduction. President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to discuss allowing Mifegyne during a Cabinet meeting in July. M

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Assembly passes confirmation motion for Supreme Court justice nominee

The National Assembly on Thursday passed the confirmation motion for Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo. During a plenary session, the Assembly endorsed the confirmation motion for Kim in a 227-28 vote, with 13 abstentions. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae last month recommended Kim to President Lee Jae Myung for appointment as the successor to former Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-ku. Kim's parliamentary confirmation hearing took place Monday and rival parties adopted his confirmation hearing report Wednesday. Kim will become the first Supreme Court justice to take office since the launch of the Lee administration if the president approves his appointment.

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Seoul stocks shrug off Fed hike, but won weakens sharply

Seoul stocks held largely steady Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than three years, as the move was largely anticipated and already priced into the market. The Korean won, however, weakened sharply against the dollar as the widening Korea-U.S. interest rate gap and the prospect of further Fed tightening boosted demand for dollars. The Fed raised its key rate by a quarter percentage point to a range of 3.75 percent to 4 percent. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the local currency lost 13.6 won in value to close at 1,382.2 won per dollar, returning to the 1,380 won level for the first time in three weeks. “The Fed’s rate hike, combined with persistently high international oil prices, is adding to upward pressure on the dollar,” said Moon Da-woon, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. “Upward pressure on the won-dollar exchange rate is likely to persist until the U.S. midterm elections in early November.” The benchmark KOSPI opened 0.91 percent higher at 6,779.02 and stayed modestly in the positive te

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K-indie music heads to Berlin with Chang Ki-ha, Catch The Young

Korean indie musicians will take the stage in Berlin this weekend, as a festival there sets out to show European audiences that Korean music stretches well beyond K-pop. The Korean Cultural Center in Germany will hold the K-INDIE ON Festival 2026 — No Borders, Just RocK! during the weekend (local time) at Saalchen, a concert venue in the German capital, featuring indie acts Catch The Young, Bongjeingan, Kim Seung-joo and Chang Ki-ha. Now in its fourth edition, the festival has been held annually since 2023 to introduce the wide range of genres and styles in Korean music. Five-piece indie band Catch The Young, formed in 2023, and alternative rock trio Bongjeingan will open the festival at 7 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, Kim, a singer-songwriter who gained attention with the 2023 song "Shonen Manga," will perform before Chang closes the festival. Chang, who helped bring Korean indie music into the mainstream as the frontman of rock band Kiha & The Faces from 2008 to 2018, plans to perform songs from his first solo studio album, "Sansanjogak," released Sept. 9. Last year's edition drew abou

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Korean Air counts on allied shareholders to contain Hoban's influence

Korean Air is counting on its existing shareholder base to contain Hoban Group’s growing influence, as the builder continues to increase its stake in Hanjin KAL to challenge Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae's control over the aviation conglomerate. Hoban has raised its Hanjin KAL stake to 20.15 percent, just 0.42 percentage point below the 20.57 percent held by Cho and his related parties. The narrowing gap has fueled speculation that Hoban could eventually seek a greater role in the management of Korean Air, the flagship carrier controlled by Hanjin KAL. An official from the airline said the most favorable scenario for the company would be for Korea Development Bank (KDB) not to sell its stake. KDB has long held a 10.58 percent stake in Hanjin KAL. If the state-run bank continues to hold its stake, Cho’s side would retain a significantly larger bloc of friendly shares than Hoban, reducing the immediate threat to the current management’s control. Delta Air Lines, which holds a 14.9 percent stake in Hanjin KAL, is widely considered a long-term ally of Korean Air. KDB, which received

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Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — As an employee walked across a test track at Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon Plant 2, a four-wheeled vehicle trailed several meters behind, matching his path without anyone at the controls. The vehicle was the Arion-SMET, Korea’s first multipurpose uncrewed ground vehicle selected for military deployment. “The Arion-SMET can autonomously follow a soldier in front without any intervention from the operator,” said Lee Yun-su, a research engineer at Hanwha Aerospace’s Manned-Unmanned Teaming R&D Center, during the demonstration Monday. The vehicle then picked up speed under remote control. It can travel at up to 60 kilometers per hour, allowing it to leave dangerous areas or deliver supplies, according to the company. A 7.62-millimeter remote-controlled weapon station mounted on top swiveled toward a target on the test ground. Even as the vehicle moved, the weapon remained trained on it. For the final demonstration, another Hanwha employee loaded supplies onto the vehicle and pressed a button on its side. With no driver aboard, the Arion-SMET mov

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKKorea's crypto exchanges need room to become financial platforms

In January 2018, Upbit recorded $7.57 billion in daily trading volume, making it the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume. Binance ranked second, while Bithumb, another Korean exchange, came in third. Eight years later, the landscape looks very different. On Thursday, Binance recorded more than $10 billion in trading volume, compared with about $1 billion for Upbit and $436.2 million for Bithumb, according to CoinGecko. The crypto downturn has weighed on exchanges globally. But major overseas platforms have diversified into derivatives, staking and other businesses, giving them more ways to weather a prolonged industry slump. By contrast, Korean exchanges remain largely confined to spot trading under the current regulatory framework, leaving them more exposed when trading volumes fall. In response, five crypto exchanges are offering zero trading fees, intensifying a price war for market share. The imbalance is becoming harder to ignore as the global digital asset market broadens beyond spot trading. Institutional capital is entering through Bitcoin and Ethereum spot exchang

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Seoul's commuter ferries mark one year, 600,000 passengers

When the Hangang Bus launched last September, skeptics questioned whether a fleet of ferries could transform into a legitimate leg of public transit in a city already serviced by one of the world's most extensive subway networks. One year in, municipal officials say the bold experiment is proving its worth on the water. More than 600,000 passengers have boarded the Hangang Bus since its inaugural voyage on Sept. 18, 2025, according to data released Thursday by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The service hit its stride this spring following an initial period of operational tweaks and safety overhauls. Since full-route operations resumed on March 1, nearly 500,000 riders have used the ferries. Passenger numbers peaked in August, when over 89,000 people opted for a riverfront commute over packed train cars and congested highway bridges. Crucially for a commuter network, reliability has stabilized. On-time performance reached 99.3 percent in July, up from 97.7 percent in March, as vessel crews and terminal staff gained operational experience along the urban waterway, according to the city

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From safari to zombies: Everland's day-to-night adventure

By day, people take leisurely strolls through the savannah to observe the wildlife, but the moment the sun dips below the horizon, Korea’s most iconic theme park transforms into an apocalyptic battleground where survival is your only objective. Following the return of Everland's "walking safari" experience, the park's autumn lineup puts horror front and center with Blood City Zero: Hell Gate, a live-action experience that brings visitors directly into a living nightmare. Operated by Samsung C&T Resort Group, this seasonal spectacle ditches traditional passive viewing in favor of heart-stopping immersion, for a 72-day run ending on Nov. 22. Escape zombie outbreaks Celebrating the horror zone's 10th anniversary, Everland joined forces with film director Lee Seok-hoon, known for box-office hits like "The Pirates" (2014) and "Confidential Assignment 2: International" (2022), to translate the visual language and cinematic staging of a blockbuster film to a theme park event. Starting at 4 p.m. every day, the boundaries between actors and audience completely dissolve as the entire area conver

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JB Financial partners with Upstage to develop AI solutions for finance

JB Financial Group has teamed up with Upstage, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company, to develop AI-based tools for practical use across the financial sector as part of its broader effort to accelerate company-wide AI transformation, the group said Thursday. JB Financial Chairman Kim Ki-hong and Upstage CEO Kim Sung-hoon signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, laying the groundwork for cooperation in financial AI technology and new business opportunities. JB Financial identified AI transformation as one of its key priorities at its executive strategy meeting in August. The partnership will bring together the financial group and its major subsidiaries, including Jeonbuk Bank, Kwangju Bank and JB Woori Capital, to create a group-wide AI collaboration network. Using Upstage’s proprietary large language model (LLM) technology, the companies will work on developing AI agents customized for banking and other financial services. The two sides also agreed to pursue a range of joint projects, including developing and testing new AI applications for finance, exchanging employees

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Calligrapher Kim Do-im brings calligraphy meditation to Seoul hotel rooftop

Calligrapher Kim Do-im will host a K-Calligraphy & Meditation Class at Terrace 194, the rooftop lounge of Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong, on Monday. The 120-minute program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and combine traditional Korean calligraphy with meditation, inviting participants to find personal meaning through art and express it through traditional calligraphy. Kim has built her career around calligraphy using ink and brush and has explored themes including love and life through her work. She works with Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, using traditional calligraphy techniques, and has held 11 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 100 group exhibitions in Korea and abroad. The special program will allow participants to slow down and step away from their busy routines. The program reflects Kim’s philosophy that “repetition is not simply doing the same thing again, but a way to notice how we change from one moment to the next.” Participants will start with a welcome session and viewing of Kim’s work, followed by breathing meditation, ink grinding, Korean cursive-style ca

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FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun left for Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio that are expected to cover a range of pending issues, including bilateral economic and security arrangements, North Korea and the Middle East conflict. Cho will make a three-day visit to Washington through Saturday, with his itinerary including a meeting with Rubio on Friday (U.S. time), according to the ministry. "We will have in-depth discussions on various pending issues between the two nations, as well as consultations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs and the international situation," Cho told reporters before departing from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. The meeting comes as Seoul and Washington have a number of outstanding issues on which the two sides have differing positions, including Seoul's role in securing the Strait of Hormuz and its U.S.-bound investment plans. As the Donald Trump administration has pressured South Korea to contribute to efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, the Seoul governm

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Filmmaker Park Hoon-jung wins top prize at French festival with 'Tristes Tropiques'

Director Park Hoon-jung's new action noir film "Tristes Tropiques" won the Nouveau Genre Grand Prize, the top honor in the international competition section at the 32nd L'Etrange Festival in France, its overseas distributor Finecut said Wednesday. The prestigious award reinforces the director's standing in the international film circuit following a strong festival run across Europe. The film previously won the Silver Raven in the international competition at the 44th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and was officially invited to the 58th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival as well as Germany's 40th Fantasy Filmfest. "Tristes Tropiques" revolves around a group of young assassins trained in a tropical rainforest by a ruthless master. After a pivotal incident shatters their trust, the killers begin to suspect one another and embark on a brutal journey of revenge. The movie blends deep suspense with fast-paced action, keeping the audience glued to the screen. L'Etrange Festival, held annually in Paris every September, is one of France's premier venues for bold and inve

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Hanwha, EDGE to build UAE's integrated air defense network

Hanwha Systems will team up with the United Arab Emirates’ state-run defense conglomerate EDGE to establish an integrated air defense network, covering long- and medium-range capabilities as well as counter-drone defenses. According to Hanwha Systems, Thursday, the CEOs of the two companies signed a term sheet for the air defense network project during a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (local time). The term sheet outlines the direction of the planned introduction of weapons systems for the integrated air defense network and review agendas at each stage of the project. The two sides plan to determine details of the project in line with the direction of defense cooperation between the two countries. Through government approvals and consultations, the two companies will pursue establishing a local joint venture and discuss its operation and local production. Through the partnership, Hanwha Systems plans to expand its role from supplying individual weapons systems to participating in the integrated air defense network, by linking ground weapons systems, including the Chunmoo multiple roc

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CJ ENM eyes European growth with major brand push in Poland

CJ ENM, the Korean entertainment powerhouse behind hits like "Parasite" and Studio Dragon dramas, is widening its reach into Central and Eastern Europe. Following its participation in the 2026 Korea-Poland Brand Week in Warsaw on Tuesday and Wednesday, the media company announced plans Thursday to accelerate content distribution and forge local production alliances across the region. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). During the two-day event, CJ ENM signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Cultural Center in Poland and KOCCA to expand the reach of Korean content in the country. Under the agreement, the company plans to widen exchanges with European institutions and broaden the footprint of Korean content through screenings, promotional events and other programs. CJ ENM ran experience booths tied to its dramas "Lovely Runner" and "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," letting visitors engage directly with the shows. It also held a special screening of "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," alongsi

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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] Hoban's insatiable appetite: Group founder targets Korean Air

COVER STORY Hoban's insatiable appetite: Group founder targets Korean Air

Kim Sang-yeol, founder and former chairman of Hoban Group, has built the company into one of Korea’s most aggressive investors, with his latest bet on Korean Air bringing Hoban’s Hanjin KAL stake nearly level with that of the airline’s controlling shareholder. Hoban Group has so far amassed a 20.15 percent stake in Hanjin KAL, the parent company of Korean Air, putting it just 0.42 percentage point behind Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae and his related parties, which collectively own 20.57 percent. That narrow gap puts Kim in a position to challenge the balance of power at Korea’s flagship airline — particularly if Korea Development Bank (KDB) decides to sell its 10.58 percent stake. The state-run bank has yet to decide how to sell its stake in Hanjin KAL. The decision may determine who holds the upper hand in the management rights for the integrated airline that is scheduled to launch on Dec. 17 following Korean Air's takeover of Asiana Airlines. Hoban has expanded far beyond its housing construction roots through a string of acquisitions and investments, including Taihan Cab

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Life in Korea

Seoul Street Arts Festival to turn Han River, Seoul Forest into open-air stages

Seoul Street Arts Festival to turn Han River, Seoul Forest into open-air stages

Seoul Street Arts Festival 2026 will bring giant puppets, circus acts and other performances to Ttukseom Hangang Park and Seoul Forest this weekend, turning familiar walking and cycling routes into an open-air stage. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, with 20 works presented 62 times, including productions from France, Lithuania, Chile, Slovenia and Brazil. Organized by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, the festival expands beyond conventional performance spaces, inviting visitors to encounter works as they walk along the Han River or move between Ttukseom and Seoul Forest. A new program called Artrekking offers four suggested routes that combine performances and hands-on activities, with full and half courses designed for families and other visitors. Visitors can travel between venues on foot, by Ttareungi public bicycles or by Han River buses, while collecting stamps at six locations to complete a festival postcard. The lineup includes a large parade featuring an eight-meter red giraffe puppet, as well as circus performances using Chinese pole, tightrope walking and jugglin

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Lifestyle

Deoksu Palace to relive 1901 diplomacy of Korean Empire

Step through the grand gates of Deoksu Palace this autumn, and the year is no longer 2026, but 1901. Amid the looming shadows of regional empires, Emperor Gojong is entertaining foreign envoys, desperately leveraging diplomacy to safeguard his nation's sovereignty. Beginning Oct. 2, the Korea Heritage Service, alongside the Korea Heritage Agency, will host an immersive historical reenactment titled "Audience with Foreign Envoys of the Korean Empire" at Deoksu Palace in central Seoul. Running through Oct. 4, the event invites visitors to step directly into a pivotal chapter of modern Korean history. Timed to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, this year’s program, themed "The Korean Empire: Embarking on Diplomacy Toward the Future," reconstructs the tense geopolitical landscape of the spring of 1901. Rather than serving as passive spectators, participants will take on the role of press correspondents for the Korean Empire. Equipped with press notebooks and dedicated web applications, audience members will follow historical reenactments ac

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Deoksu Palace to relive 1901 diplomacy of Korean Empire

K-Culture

Stray Kids becomes 1st K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio

Boy group Stray Kids made history as the first K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio, one of the world's largest music festivals, earning widespread praise from international media for the milestone performance. The eight-member group took the stage Friday at Palco Mundo, the festival's main stage, before a crowd of roughly 100,000 people at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rock in Rio, first held in 1985, has hosted acts such as Queen and Guns N' Roses over the decades but had never before featured a K-pop headliner. In a report published Saturday, U.S. entertainment outlet Billboard hailed the show as an especially strong debut, saying the group's performance met the high expectations of South American fans and marked the opening of a new chapter for K-pop at the festival. The group, dressed in outfits inspired by traditional Korean styling, performed a string of hit songs while interacting with the audience throughout the set, backed by fireworks and a light display. During "Chk Chk Boom," the members incorporated samba steps as a tribute to Brazilian culture, and at another point s

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Stray Kids becomes 1st K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio

Celebrities

Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

ASND, the agency representing Red Velvet’s Wendy and girl group fromis_9, warned of possible legal action over repeated invasions of privacy and threats to the artists’ safety. In a notice posted on its social media accounts Tuesday, the agency said Wendy and fromis_9 had faced repeated incidents. It urged fans to refrain from approaching the artists, bringing vehicles too close when delivering letters and gifts or stepping into the road to block vehicles, saying such actions could endanger the artists and others. The agency also asked fans to respect the artists’ private spaces, refrain from illegally obtaining their personal information and stop lingering around its offices. Legal action could be taken against anyone who misuses the artists’ personal information, invades their privacy, repeatedly loiters around company premises or enters without permission, it warned. Wendy debuted as Red Velvet’s main vocalist in 2014, but left SM Entertainment in 2025 after 11 years, but announced that she would continue her activities with Red Velvet. She joined ASND in April 2025. Fromis_

1 MIN READ
Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

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Top 10 Stories

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