President Yoon Meets IEA Chief to Discuss Global Energy Crisis President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), on September 17 to discuss strategies for overcoming the global energy crisis and transitioning to renewable energy.During the meeting at the Blue House, President Yoon acknowledged the escalating energy crisis worldwide, stating, "The IEA must be facing many challenges as the global energy crisis intensifies."He added, "We are in the process of significantly transforming our energy sys September 17, 2026

Doosan Accelerates Semiconductor Expansion with $1 Billion Investment in CCL Doosan Group is rapidly expanding its semiconductor operations. Following its recent acquisition of SK Siltron, which marked its entry into the semiconductor wafer business, the company plans to invest approximately 1 trillion won in copper-clad laminates (CCL) for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, aiming to establish semiconductor materials as a new growth pillar.On September 17, Doosan announced it will invest a total of 970 billion won in CCL production facilities in South Korea and September 17, 2026

Special Forces Soldier Dies After Collapsing During Martial Arts Test A soldier in his 20s collapsed during a martial arts test and later died while receiving treatment, prompting an investigation into the incident.According to Yonhap News Agency, military authorities reported that on September 10 at 10:50 a.m., a 20-year-old sergeant, identified as A, collapsed while participating in a sparring session as part of a martial arts promotion test at a gym in a Special Forces unit in Incheon.It is believed that A exhibited abnormal symptoms during the sparring process September 17, 2026

Ssangyong Construction Wins $21.5 Billion Contract for Singapore Hospital Ssangyong Construction has secured a contract worth approximately 3 trillion won ($21.5 billion) for the construction of the Tengah General and Community Hospital, commissioned by the Singapore Ministry of Health.On September 17, Ssangyong Construction announced that this marks the largest single project order in the company's history. The contract amount exceeds last year's revenue of 1.8 trillion won.The hospital will be located in the Tengah area of western Singapore, comprising seven buildin September 17, 2026

Raffles Singapore Named 17th Best Hotel in the World A hotel with nearly 140 years of history has once again made it onto the list of the world's top hotels. Raffles Hotel Singapore, which opened in 1887, has maintained its reputation by preserving its historic building and service while continuously adding new offerings in gastronomy and wellness.On September 15, Raffles Hotel Singapore was ranked 17th in the 'World's 50 Best Hotels 2026' announced in Paris. It is the only hotel from Singapore to make the top 50 this year.This ranking, now in its September 17, 2026

Rising Rent Prices in Seoul's Nowon District Squeeze Tenants As rental costs rise in the outskirts of Seoul, options for tenants without homes are dwindling. In the past month, the average deposit for newly registered monthly rentals of apartments around 59 square meters in Nowon District reached 134.19 million won, with monthly rent hitting 1.08 million won. With home prices increasing, the financial burden of renting has also grown.According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's real transaction disclosure system, an analysis September 17, 2026

KOSPI Closes Slightly Lower Despite Fed's Hawkish Signal The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in over three years and hinted at the possibility of further increases this year, yet the KOSPI index closed with minimal change. After starting the day nearly 1% higher, the index surrendered its gains due to continued selling by foreign investors. Despite the Fed's hawkish monetary policy, the market showed limited reaction.On September 17, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI closed at 6,715.41, down 2.56 poi September 17, 2026

Korea Railroad Corporation President Kim Tae-seung Inspects Central Line Logistics Operations Kim Tae-seung, president of Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), conducted an on-site inspection of the Central Line logistics operations to assess safety management practices.On September 17, Korail announced that Kim visited the logistics site in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province, where he checked vehicle handling operations and safety equipment with on-site staff.The Dodam Station on the Central Line serves as a logistics hub for Korail, primarily handling cement and gravel. The North Chung September 17, 2026

Dispute Over Responsibility for Delayed GTX-A Opening Due to Missing Rebar at Samseong Station The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Seoul Metropolitan Government are at odds over responsibility for the delays in the opening of the GTX-A line due to missing rebar at Samseong Station.On September 17, the Seoul city government expressed regret over Hong Ji-sun's statement during a National Assembly confirmation hearing the previous day, in which the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport indicated plans to file a subrogation claim against the city fo September 17, 2026

Major Retailers to Shorten Payment Terms for Suppliers 대형마트와 백화점 등 대규모유통업체가 납품업체에 상품 대금을 지급해야 하는 기한이 최대 절반 수준으로 줄어든다. 특약매입·위수탁 등의 거래는 판매마감일로부터 40일에서 20일로, 직매입은 상품수령일로부터 60일에서 35일로 단축된다.공정거래위원회는 이 같은 내용을 담은 '대규모유통업에서의 거래 공정화에 관한 법률' 개정안이 17일 국회 본회의를 통과했다고 밝혔다.이번 개정은 티몬·위메프 사태와 홈플러스 회생절차 등을 계기로 대규모유통업자의 대금 지급 관행을 개선하기 위해 추진됐다. 공정위 September 17, 2026