Trot Singer Suk-hyung Loses Adultery Lawsuit Trot singer Suk-hyung (47, real name Han Suk-hyung) has lost a lawsuit regarding damages filed by the wife of a married man with whom she was allegedly involved after a video of them kissing in an elevator surfaced.On September 17, the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff, identified as A, in her lawsuit against Suk-hyung for damages related to the alleged affair.The controversy began on December 29, 2025, when JTBC's 'Incident Report' aired a vid September 17, 2026

Gwangju Mayor Park Kwan-yeol Promises Ongoing Safety Inspections and Awareness Campaigns Gwangju Mayor Park Kwan-yeol expressed his commitment on September 17 to continue on-site safety inspections and awareness campaigns to ensure that merchants and citizens are engaged in fire prevention as the Chuseok holiday approaches.On this day, Mayor Park conducted a fire prevention safety campaign at Gyeongan Traditional Market in collaboration with relevant agencies, where they also carried out joint inspections of fire hazards and safety facilities within the market.Prior to the Chuseok h September 17, 2026

Reform Party's Lee Gi-in Excludes Proportional Representation Nominations Lee Gi-in, the head of the Reform Party's emergency committee, announced that the party will exclude proportional representation nominations from its leadership in the upcoming general election. He also urged Cheon Hwa-ram, the party's floor leader, and Lee Joo-young, a lawmaker, to run in the Gyeonggi Southern region as a strategic base for the party. Lee made this announcement on September 17 during a press conference at the National Assembly. The key point of his reform plan is to limit propo September 17, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group Targets Smart City Development in Kazakhstan Hyundai Motor Group is seeking opportunities in smart city projects in Kazakhstan. On September 16, Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement with Kazakhstan's private investment firm 'Caspian Group' and financial and investment company 'United Group Alatau' to advance the Alatau City Project. The Alatau City Project is the largest new city development in Kazakhstan, covering 880 square kilometers north of Almaty, the country's largest city. Caspian Group will lead urban development and local exec September 17, 2026

SK Biopharm Shares Rise 2% Following Parkinson's Drug Licensing Agreement SK Biopharm's shares rose by 2.05% to 79,800 won following news of its acquisition of a Parkinson's disease drug candidate for further development. According to the Korea Exchange, the stock price increased by 1,600 won on the day of the announcement. The rise in share price is attributed to the licensing agreement for the Parkinson's drug candidate announced that day. SK Biopharm disclosed that it has signed a licensing agreement with domestic biotech firm First Bio Therapeutics for the global September 17, 2026

Extension of Residency Exemption for Rental Housing in Land Transaction Permit Areas Until End of 2027 The residency exemption for purchasing rental housing in land transaction permit areas has been extended until the end of 2027. The exemption now includes not only the remaining period of current rental contracts but also renewal contracts.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on September 17 that the application deadline for the residency exemption, initially set for December 31, 2026, will be extended to December 31, 2027. This measure aims to facilitate transactions for September 17, 2026

Youth Deficit Grows While Ages 55-64 See Surplus, Widening Generational Economic Gap The overall lifecycle deficit has decreased, but economic disparities among age groups persist. Individuals aged 55 to 64 have seen an increase in surplus due to rising labor income, while the lifecycle deficit for those aged 15 to 24 has grown compared to a decade ago. In older age groups, both consumption and labor income have increased.The National Data Agency released its "2024 National Transfer Accounts" report on September 17, detailing the relationship between consumption and labor income September 17, 2026

New Online Platform for College Educators Launches in South Korea To enhance the quality of liberal arts education in universities, the latest educational content encompassing artificial intelligence (AI) teaching methods and interdisciplinary education will be made available for free to college educators. This initiative aims to provide practical educational resources that can be immediately utilized in university settings, thereby strengthening the expertise of foundational education, which is central to higher education.The Korean Council for University Edu September 17, 2026

KOTRA Supports Expansion of Shipbuilding and Shipping Exports in Southeast Region The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) held the 'International Shipbuilding and Marine Export Consultation Conference (SGEMP 2026)' on September 17 at the Changwon Convention Center (CECO) to support the expansion of exports in the shipbuilding and shipping sectors, which are key industries in the Southeast region. This event was jointly organized with Gyeongsangnam-do and seven cities and counties in the province, in line with the regional growth engine policy announced by the gove September 17, 2026

China Faces Record Oil Prices Amid Middle East Turmoil As the largest oil importer in the world, China is experiencing a surge in oil prices, reaching record levels due to instability from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Analysts suggest that China's strategy of reducing oil imports and tapping into its reserves to stabilize international prices is nearing its limits.Shanghai crude oil futures hit $129, surpassing Brent crudeAccording to the Financial Times, on September 16, Shanghai crude oil futures traded at $129 per barrel, exceeding th September 17, 2026