August Auto Exports Plunge 29.8% Amid Strikes and Production Cuts Last month, South Korea's auto exports fell nearly 30%, accompanied by declines in production and domestic sales. The shift in summer vacation timing compared to last year reduced working days, and strikes at some companies disrupted production.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's report on the '2026 August Automotive Industry Trends' released on September 17, the value of auto exports in August was $3.851 billion, a 29.8% decrease compared to the same month last year. The n September 17, 2026

Ministry of Land to Hold Safety Management Meeting for High-Speed Rail Ahead of Chuseok The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will assess the overall training status of high-speed rail operators and review crowd management and security measures in preparation for the Chuseok holiday.On September 17, the ministry announced that it will hold a "High-Speed Rail Safety Management Meeting" at Suseo Station on September 18.The ministry has conducted three training programs for train operators as part of the integration of high-speed rail services and has reviewed the overall September 17, 2026

Spigen Korea, OpenNote, and MT Recognized for Excellence in Talent Development Spigen Korea, OpenNote, and MT have been recognized as the top companies in human resource development for their integrated talent development systems that link recruitment, evaluation, and training.The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Industrial Human Resources Corporation held the '2026 Human Resource Development Excellent Institution Certification Ceremony' on September 17 at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido.The certification for excellent human resource development inst September 17, 2026

Government Allocates 16.6 Trillion Won for Livelihood Support Ahead of Chuseok As Chuseok approaches, the financial execution rate for livelihood and vulnerable group support projects has reached 77.9%. Meanwhile, 71.4% of disaster and safety support projects have been executed. The government is focusing on managing the execution of related projects and on-site responses in preparation for increased travel and natural disasters during the fall.On September 17, Jo Yong-beom, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, chaired the 14th joint meeting on financial e September 17, 2026

KG Chemical to Build Tank Terminal in Ulsan, Expanding Energy Infrastructure KG Chemical has announced the launch of its tank terminal project in Ulsan, marking a significant step in its efforts to develop energy infrastructure as a new growth driver following its fertilizer and chemical materials business.The company began basic civil engineering work in September to utilize idle land at its Ulsan plant for the tank terminal. By the end of June next year, it plans to complete the first phase, which includes three to four tanks with a total capacity of 6,500㎘.This const September 17, 2026

Woori Financial Exceeds Productive Finance Goal with 25.3 Trillion Won Supply Woori Financial Group has exceeded its annual goal for productive finance this year. The company plans to expand funding and investment, focusing on local and small businesses.On September 16, Woori Financial held the 'September Advanced Strategic Industry Finance Council' at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, chaired by Chairman Im Jong-ryong, to review the progress of its productive and inclusive finance initiatives.As of August, Woori Financial supplied a total of 25.3 trillion won in the pr September 17, 2026

Finance Committee Approves Lee Hyung-il's Confirmation Report Amid Opposition Concerns The National Assembly's Finance Committee approved the confirmation report for Lee Hyung-il, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, on September 17. The People Power Party included a note of 'ineligibility' in the report.During a full committee meeting, the report was adopted with bipartisan agreement. However, the People Power Party expressed that many concerns raised during the confirmation hearing had not been adequately addressed, leading to their note of ineligibilit September 17, 2026

Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee's 'Intern' Tops Box Office on Opening Day, Surpassing 'Odyssey' The film 'Intern' debuted at the top of the box office on its opening day.According to the integrated ticket sales network on September 17, 'Intern' claimed the number one spot at the box office, surpassing the long-running 'Odyssey.' It became the first Korean film to reach the top of the box office in 50 days since 'Hope.''Intern' tells the story of Gi-ho (played by Choi Min-sik), a silver intern with 37 years of experience, who joins the company of Sun-woo (played by Han So-hee), a rising sta September 17, 2026

Lee Kang-in Scores Second Goal of the Season in Full-Time Debut for Atletico Madrid Lee Kang-in, wearing the Atletico Madrid jersey in La Liga, scored his second goal of the season during his first full-time start since transferring to the club.On September 17, in a home match against Osasuna at the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Lee started and contributed to the team's 4-0 victory in the sixth round of the 2026-2027 La Liga season.Playing as a right midfielder in Diego Simeone's 4-4-2 formation, Lee displayed lively movement from the beginning of the match. He found September 17, 2026

Korean Foreign Minister Jo Hyun Addresses Delay in U.S. Investment Project Korean Foreign Minister Jo Hyun stated that the report to the National Assembly regarding the first U.S. investment project, originally scheduled for September 17, has been unexpectedly postponed, clarifying that there are no disagreements between South Korea and the United States. Jo is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 18.Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Jo explained that the delay is intended to ensure procedural clarity within South Kore September 17, 2026