Kang Jin-won Visits Elderly and Welfare Facilities Ahead of Chuseok Kang Jin-won, the mayor of Kangjin County, has been visiting elderly individuals living alone and social welfare facilities to check on vulnerable groups ahead of the Chuseok holiday. On September 16, Kang visited homes of elderly individuals living alone, as well as three social welfare facilities: the Kangjin Senior Welfare Center, Kangjin Nursing Home, and Kangjin Charity Home, to assess their living conditions and deliver care packages. One of the homes visited by Kang was that of an elderly September 17, 2026

IKEA Opens First Store in Daegu, Attracts Large Crowds on Opening Day "It's great that I can see and buy IKEA products close to home instead of having to drive all the way to Busan," said a 40-year-old man, holding a shopping bag at the new IKEA store in Daegu on the morning of September 17.The long-awaited permanent IKEA store in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province has finally opened. After testing the local demand with a pop-up store in 2023, IKEA established its first location in the Shinsegae Department Store in downtown Daegu. On the opening day, customers fl September 17, 2026

Shinhan Financial Group Plans Up to $200 Million Support for Uzbek Financial Institutions Shinhan Financial Group is accelerating its expansion in Central Asia by enhancing financial cooperation in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.On September 17, Shinhan Financial announced that it signed agreements with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and Kazakhstan's National Development Finance Group, Baiterek, on September 14-15.Under the agreement with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, Shinhan Financial aims to establish a funding limit of up to $200 mill September 17, 2026

KT Enhances Specialized 5G Services for Businesses and Public Institutions As the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and flexible work arrangements expands, concerns about security are growing. KT is enhancing its specialized 5G wireless services to ensure safe access for businesses and public institutions.On September 17, KT held an online briefing on its 'B2B and B2G 5G' initiatives, announcing plans to establish a dedicated 5G network separate from commercial mobile networks to securely protect internal systems.Myung Yoo-jae, Senior Vice President of KT' September 17, 2026

Binance Expands Media Outreach in South Korea Amid Controversy Over Unregistered Operations Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance is expanding its promotional activities targeting South Korean media, raising concerns about the scope of unregistered foreign cryptocurrency operators in the country. While it has not directly attracted customers or provided trading services, critics argue that its indirect marketing appears aimed at domestic investors.According to the financial investment industry on September 17, Binance has been holding press conferences in South Korea this year and has September 17, 2026

Shinhan Bank Joins Kakao Consortium as Financial Partner for 'Everyone's AI' Project Shinhan Bank announced on September 17 that it will participate as a financial partner in the Kakao consortium for the 'Everyone's AI' project, organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT.The 'Everyone's AI' initiative aims to connect various industries and services with artificial intelligence (AI) to help citizens experience its benefits in their daily lives. The ministry has selected three leading consortiums to carry out the project.As part of the Kakao consortium, Shinhan Bank will focus o September 17, 2026

Saemaul Geumgo Offers 15 Billion Won Special Guarantee Loans for Jeju Small Businesses 새마을금고가 제주지역 소상공인과 중소기업을 대상으로 150억원 규모의 특별보증대출을 지원한다. 새마을금고중앙회는 제주특별자치도, 제주신용보증재단과 '제주 소상공인 희망전환 특별보증' 사업을 추진한다고 17일 밝혔다. 이번 사업은 제주지역 소상공인과 자영업자 등의 금융 부담을 낮추고 경영 안정을 지원하기 위해 마련됐다. 새마을금고중앙회가 10억원을 특별출연하면 제주신용보증재단이 출연금의 15배인 150억원 규모의 특례보증을 공급하는 방식이다. 제주지역 41개 새마을금고가 보증서를 발급받은 소상공인과 중소기 September 17, 2026

Gunpo City Corporation to Open 33 Public Parking Lots for Free During Chuseok Holiday The Gunpo City Corporation is implementing special transportation measures to assist citizens and travelers during the Chuseok holiday. According to the corporation on September 17, from midnight on September 24 to midnight on September 27, 33 paid public parking lots and the city hall's auxiliary (civil service) parking lot will be opened for free. This initiative is expected to enhance parking convenience for visitors and residents in Gunpo during the Chuseok holiday. In particular, it a September 17, 2026

Gwangju Education Office Enhances Early Childhood and Elementary Education for the AI Era The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is enhancing the integration of early childhood and elementary education curricula to align with the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and to strengthen teachers' capabilities in utilizing digital tools and AI. On September 16, the office announced that it would hold a workshop for kindergarten and elementary school teachers at the Suncheon Bay Ecological Culture Education Center. The workshop, themed 'Wise Coexistence in the AI Era: Awakening Learn September 17, 2026

KIST Transitions to Mission-Centric Research Institute, Tackles Seven R&D Challenges The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has officially transitioned to a mission-centric research institute, taking on challenges in seven areas, including semiconductor and humanoid technology development.On September 17, KIST announced that it held a public report conference at its headquarters in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, themed "Our Mission, Your Future." The event aimed to share the changes and innovations KIST has pursued over the past two years in its mission-centric research.In hi September 17, 2026