President Lee: We Will Move Beyond Real Estate Republic, Increase Housing Supply Quickly President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 18 that the government's primary task is to move South Korea beyond being a "real estate speculation republic" and to increase housing supply as quickly as possible through land development and urban renewal projects. During a press conference at the Blue House, President Lee responded to questions about the declining housing prices in the three districts of Gangnam while prices in northern Seoul are rising rapidly, increasing the burden on the middle September 18, 2026

CJ CheilJedang Donates Food to Vulnerable Communities in Jeonbuk for Chuseok CJ CheilJedang is continuing its efforts to promote a culture of sharing and coexistence by donating food to vulnerable communities in Jeonbuk for the Chuseok holiday.On September 18, CJ CheilJedang announced that it is collaborating with the nonprofit organization 'Sharing Hope' to deliver daily food products to marginalized neighbors in the Jeonbuk region. Sharing Hope is a social welfare organization that supports children who are unable to pursue their dreams due to difficult home environmen September 18, 2026

Im Lee-ja Criticizes Government Budget and Future Response Fund Im Lee-ja, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, sharply criticized the government's budget proposal and the Future Response Fund during a National Assembly meeting on September 18. Im urged for careful and precise fiscal management in light of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate hike on September 16. "The Fed has raised interest rates for the first time in three years and two months. The global economy is entering a high-interest tightening phase again," he said, noting tha September 18, 2026

President Lee Calls for Special Investigation into Alleged Political Prosecutions President Lee Jae-myung stated that a special investigation is necessary to clarify the allegations surrounding politically motivated prosecutions. He made these remarks during a press conference at the Blue House on September 18.During the conference, President Lee addressed the recent controversy regarding the dismissal of charges related to cases involving him. He urged that the existing provisions concerning the transfer or disposition of cases under investigation by the special prosecutor b September 18, 2026

Germany and Taiwan Utilize Coal Power as Backup During Transition Away from Coal As efforts to phase out coal by 2040 progress, experts suggest that instead of shutting down coal power plants all at once, a gradual reduction should align with the availability of alternative energy sources and the stability of the power supply. Germany and Taiwan have managed to maintain power supply stability by keeping some coal generators as backup while closing others.On September 18, Park Myung-deok, a researcher at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, presented findings on internationa September 18, 2026

President Lee Calls for Confidence in Prosecutorial Reform 이재명 대통령은 18일 “검사를 편들거나 검찰개혁에서 후퇴하려 한다는 의심은 거둬주시기를 부탁드린다”고 밝혔다.이 대통령은 이날 청와대 영빈관에서 열린 기자회견에서 ‘전통적 지지층의 마음을 어떻게 되돌릴 것인가’라는 온라인 질문을 받고 “검찰개혁은 제가 공약한 것이고 목표는 수사와 기소를 분리하는 것”이라며 이같이 말했다.이 대통령은 당초 검찰개혁의 목표가 수사검사와 기소검사의 역할을 분리하는 것이었지만 현재 추진되는 개혁은 이보다 더 진전됐다고 평가했다. 그는 “ September 18, 2026

Mixed Reactions to New Ticketing System for Busan International Film Festival As the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) approaches, attention has turned to its new ticketing system. In previous years, the ticket sales often caused server crashes, leading to frustration among attendees. This year, a queue system has been introduced to limit simultaneous users.Ticket sales for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as some special programs, began on September 17 at 2 p.m. A key change this year prevents one person from monopolizing multiple films and seats at onc September 18, 2026

New York Follows South Korea's Lead in Food Waste Recycling New York City is adopting a food waste management system similar to the one established in South Korea over the past 30 years.The BBC recently reported on Seoul's food waste management system, noting that South Korea's food waste recycling rate has increased from 2.6% in 1996 to approximately 97% in 2023.South Korea implemented a pay-as-you-throw system in 1995 and made food waste separation mandatory in 1997. In 2005, the country banned the landfill disposal of food waste, and in 2010, it intro September 18, 2026

Meritz Securities Advances in Issuing Notes Business After Regulatory Approval Meritz Securities has received approval for its issuing notes business from the Securities and Futures Commission, a key regulatory body. If final approval is granted at the Financial Services Commission's regular meeting on the 23rd, the firm will become the ninth issuer of notes in South Korea.According to the financial investment industry on the 18th, the Securities and Futures Commission, under the Financial Services Commission, reviewed and approved Meritz Securities' designation as a compr September 18, 2026

Government Increases Budget for Multicultural Family Support by 7% On September 18, Jo Yong-beom, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, visited a multicultural family support center and stated, "This is an investment in the future that not only addresses the difficulties faced by individual families but also supports their growth as members of our society."During his visit to the family center in Guro-gu, Seoul, Jo assessed the current status of family support programs, including education and care for children of multicultural families, an September 18, 2026