President Lee: No Need for Concerns Over 'Korea Passing' in U.S.-North Korea Talks 이재명 대통령은 18일 김정은 북한 국무위원장과 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령 간 회담 가능성에 대해 “성사될지는 단정할 수 없지만 불가능하다고 단정할 수도 없다”고 밝혔다.이 대통령은 이날 청와대 영빈관에서 열린 기자회견에서 “트럼프 대통령은 대화를 원하고 있고, 저 역시 트럼프 대통령에게 대화를 권하고 있다”며 “북미대화가 가능하도록 나름대로 사전 조정 작업을 계속하고 있다”고 말했다.그러면서 “여전히 어려운 것은 사실이고 가능성이 어느 정도인지 단정할 수는 없다” September 18, 2026

President Lee: No Troop Deployments for War Engagement 이재명 대통령은 18일 호르무즈 해협에 대한 군사적 기여 방안과 관련해 “전쟁에 관여하거나 개입하는 파병은 없다”고 밝혔다. 이 대통령은 이날 청와대 영빈관에서 열린 기자회견에서 “전쟁에 관여·개입하는 형태의 파병이나 군 자산 파견은 하지 않는다”며 “지금까지 그 원칙을 지켜왔고 앞으로도 변함이 없다”고 말했다. 이 대통령은 군 자산 파견을 일률적으로 ‘파병’이라고 표현해서는 안 된다는 점도 강조했다. 파견 지역이 호르무즈 해협 안인지 인근 해역인지, 목적 September 18, 2026

Hanwha Financial Targets UAE Market with Digital Assets and Payment Infrastructure Partnerships Hanwha Financial is expanding its collaboration in digital finance and digital assets with Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On September 16, Hanwha Life, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Investment & Securities, and Hanwha Asset Management signed partnerships with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) during the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF Seoul) held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul. Hanwha Life has established a partnership with ADIO to enhance coope September 18, 2026

President Lee Calls for Focus on Truth in Special Prosecutor Investigation President Lee Jae-myung addressed the controversy surrounding the authority of the special prosecutor investigating allegations of politically motivated indictments by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. He urged that provisions related to the transfer and handling of existing indictment cases be removed, emphasizing the need to focus solely on uncovering the truth. During a press conference at the Blue House guesthouse, President Lee responded to a question about whether it was appropriate to gra September 18, 2026

Kim Jong-cheol Appointed Head of Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Kim Jong-cheol has been appointed as the new head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. He is a seasoned bureaucrat with extensive experience in industrial, trade, and energy policy, as well as foreign direct investment (FDI) initiatives.Born in 1969 in Daegu, Kim graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Spanish literature. He later earned a master's degree in business administration from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and a doctorate in bu September 18, 2026

Naver Cloud Proposes Defense AI Strategy for Rapid Military Technology Integration Naver Cloud hosted the 'Defense AI Strategy Seminar' on September 18, presenting a strategy for the military to rapidly integrate civilian technology while maintaining control over data and artificial intelligence (AI) models.The event, held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, attracted 550 participants, including officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and various military branches. Naver Cloud emphasized the need to accelerate the transition to defense AI by conso September 18, 2026

Check Your National Pension Contributions Instantly via KakaoTalk Chatbot Users can now easily check their National Pension contribution history through KakaoTalk without needing to install a separate application or visit a website. The National Pension Service (NPS) has introduced a chatbot service utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), enhancing accessibility to public services.On September 17, the NPS, led by Commissioner Kim Sung-joo, announced the launch of a new KakaoTalk-based service linked to the 'AI National Secretary' platform promoted by the Ministry of t September 18, 2026

113 Participants Win Medals at National Disability Skills Competition The 43rd National Disability Skills Competition concluded after four days of events, featuring 477 competitors showcasing their skills. Selected athletes will represent South Korea at the International Disability Skills Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, next year.According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the closing ceremony took place on September 18 at BEXCO in Busan. The competition, held from September 15 to 18, saw 477 representatives from various provinces compete in 41 categories, r September 18, 2026

South Korea Plans to Phase Out Coal Power by 2040 The South Korean government is considering a plan to gradually retire 21 coal power plants with remaining lifespans between 2037 and 2039 as part of its goal to phase out coal by 2040. Among these, up to 10 plants may be designated as 'security power sources' to be used in emergencies before being phased out sequentially. On September 18, Kim Jin-soo, a professor at Hanyang University’s Department of Resource and Environmental Engineering, presented the '2040 Coal Power Phase-Out Policy' at the September 18, 2026

Mirae Asset Securities Halts Acquisition Review of Public.com, Seeks Other Opportunities Mirae Asset Securities has halted its review of acquiring the U.S. retail trading platform Public.com.On September 18, the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system reported that Mirae Asset Securities stated, "We had considered the acquisition, but we have decided to cease further review," adding that it will continue to explore various opportunities for entering the U.S. retail market.A representative from Mirae Asset Securities commented, "It is difficult to disclose specif September 18, 2026