Reconstruction of Apgujeong Hyundai Apartments: Building a New Future The reconstruction of Apgujeong is not a single project. The areas from Misung Apartments near the Han River Bridge to Hanyang Apartments in Cheongdam-dong are advancing with different associations and timelines for districts 1 through 6. This follows the Seoul city government's 2016 announcement of a district unit plan that grouped 24 apartment complexes in the Apgujeong area into six reconstruction project units. Apgujeong was designated as an apartment district in 1976. This designation aimed September 17, 2026

Are Special Planning Zones Favorable Areas? Balancing Development and Public Contribution The term 'special planning zone' can easily be misunderstood as a privileged area with relaxed regulations. However, in urban planning, a special planning zone is designated for areas that are large or of significant urban importance, making it difficult to develop them under standard building codes. The city of Seoul establishes the overarching framework for special planning zones. This includes zoning, floor area ratio, building height, parks and roads, public pedestrian pathways, schools, and September 17, 2026

Ministries Host Meeting to Support K-Pharmaceutical and Bio Startups The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on September 17 that they held a meeting with small and medium-sized pharmaceutical and bio companies.This meeting was organized to share key details of the 'K-Pharmaceutical and Bio Frontier Company Development Plan,' which both ministries are jointly preparing to respond to the rapidly changing global pharmaceutical and bio market and secure future growth drivers. It also aimed to listen to the challenges and po September 17, 2026

Seoul City Council Chair Im Man-kyun Inspects Swimming Pool Facilities at Cheongun Elementary School Fourteen aging school swimming pools in Seoul will undergo renovations in phases. Additionally, the fee reduction for female youth using public swimming pools is set to expand. According to the Seoul City Council on September 17, Im Man-kyun, the chair of the council, visited the swimming pool facilities at Cheongun Elementary School in Jongno District on September 16 to assess the condition and safety management of the facilities. He was accompanied by Yoon Sun-hee, a Seoul City Council member. September 17, 2026

KDRT's Second Team Concludes Operations in Nepal; Joint Response Team Continues Work The second team of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), dispatched to assist in Nepal following severe flooding, concluded its operations today. Meanwhile, the government joint response team will remain on-site to continue its work.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the KDRT's second team is scheduled to return home as planned after a seven-day mission involving eight members.The ministry added, "The government joint response team will stay in Nepal to closely cooperate with local September 17, 2026

Tokyo Game Show 2026 Kicks Off with Expanded K-Games Targeting Global Markets Japan's largest gaming exhibition, the Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS 2026), opened on September 17. Major Korean game companies are showcasing a variety of new subculture titles in Japan, a rapidly emerging market.As the domestic gaming industry broadens its focus beyond mobile MMORPGs to capture global users, this year's TGS serves as a platform to assess the competitiveness and market potential of new releases from Korean companies in the world's third-largest gaming market.TGS 2026 is being held September 17, 2026

Samsung Hospital Unveils Humanoid Surgical Assistant Robot "Hand me the scissors." The humanoid robot standing next to the operating table began to move in response to the medical staff's voice command. After scanning the tray with surgical tools using its camera, the robot picked up the scissors. It took less than two seconds for the robot to start moving after the doctor's command was given.On September 16, at the Samsung Life Insurance building in Gangnam, Seoul, Samsung Medical Center publicly unveiled its humanoid surgical assistant robot, which is September 17, 2026

Mayors of Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang Urge Swift Review for National Medical School Mayors of Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang urged the government on September 17 to expedite the follow-up review for Suncheon University, which has been selected as a candidate site for a national medical school.Yeosu Mayor Seo Young-hak, Suncheon Mayor Son Hoon-mo, and Gwangyang Mayor Park Sung-hyun convened the first extraordinary meeting of the Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang Administrative Council in Nam-gu, Gwangju, to adopt a joint statement.Prior to a meeting of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Mayors, C September 17, 2026

Unmanned Ground Vehicles Transform Military Logistics at Hanwha Aerospace "Let’s create premium products with dedication and spirit." During a visit to Hanwha Aerospace's Changwon Plant 2 in Gyeongnam on September 14, assembly work was bustling under this motto. Contrary to expectations of noise in a factory producing heavy military equipment, the interior was surprisingly comfortable. While the outside temperature hovered around 30 degrees Celsius, the indoor air was cool.The desert-colored equipment scattered throughout the factory showcased the export status of Sou September 17, 2026

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix See Gains Amid U.S. Tech Stock Recovery Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are both showing strong performance. Following a rebound in U.S. tech stocks, particularly in the semiconductor sector, buying interest has continued in South Korea's major semiconductor firms.As of 2:10 PM on September 17, Samsung Electronics was trading at 255,000 won, up 1,500 won (0.59%) from the previous trading day.Samsung started the day at 257,000 won, a 1.38% increase, and briefly rose to 259,000 won, marking a 2.17% gain. Although it later retraced some September 17, 2026