Middle East Conflict Drives Up Shipping Costs and Insurance Rates The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is reshaping the pricing structure of global shipping routes. War risk insurance premiums for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz have skyrocketed, while container shipping rates to the United States are approaching $10,000. The financial burden stemming from the war is causing rerouting and a shortage of shipping capacity, putting pressure on global logistics networks.According to the shipping industry on September 15, military tensions in the Mi September 15, 2026

Com2uS Holdings Officially Launches 'Ares: The Iron Vanguard' Targeting North America and Europe Com2uS Holdings announced on September 15 that it has officially launched the action role-playing game (RPG) 'Ares: The Iron Vanguard' globally, developed by Second Dive. The company aims to penetrate major global markets, including North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with Ares. To enhance user accessibility, the game supports mobile platforms through the Apple App Store and Google Play, as well as cross-play on PC. Departing from the traditional structure of massively multiplayer onl September 15, 2026

Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency Supports Market Entry for Startups at Agricultural Expo The Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency has initiated support for market entry by connecting startup companies in the bio sector with buyers at the Korea Agricultural Expo.The Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency's Bio Convergence Startup Incubation Center participated in the Korea Agricultural Expo held at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul, from September 10 to 13, alongside six resident companies, the agency announced on September 15.This participation aimed to assist technology-driven startups in promoting th September 15, 2026

GS Engineering & Construction Enhances Equipment Quality Inspections with AR Technology GS Engineering & Construction is improving the efficiency and accuracy of equipment quality inspections for plants by utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology.On September 15, GS Engineering announced the implementation of the digital inspection solution 'Twyn' from the German AR specialist Visometry at plant sites. This solution allows for the comparison and inspection of 3D design models against actual manufactured equipment before installation.Equipment used in plant construction undergoes September 15, 2026

Taewoong Accelerates Orders in TerraPower's SMR Business, Expands Cooperation with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Taewoong, a specialized forging company, is accelerating its follow-up orders in the small modular reactor (SMR) business of the U.S. nuclear firm TerraPower. After entering the TerraPower supply chain with its first order in June, the company is now leveraging its existing trading experience and vendor registration to secure additional volumes. The company anticipates that discussions for follow-up orders could materialize within the next three to four months.According to the financial investme September 15, 2026

Putin Changes Venue for International Event Amid Ukraine Drone Attack Concerns Russian President Vladimir Putin has changed the venue for a major international event from Sochi to Moscow due to concerns over Ukrainian drone attacks, the Financial Times reported on September 14, citing four sources.According to the report, President Putin decided to relocate the Valdai Discussion Club meeting, scheduled for September 28 to October 1, amid security concerns. This event, which began in 2004, is a prominent forum for international affairs and foreign policy, featuring particip September 15, 2026

Namyang Dairy Files Complaint Against Former Advisor Lee Woon-kyung for Embezzlement Lee Woon-kyung, a former advisor to Namyang Dairy and spouse of former chairman Hong Won-sik, is under police investigation for embezzlement involving approximately 858 million won.According to industry sources on September 15, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul has recently charged Lee under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Namyang Dairy submitted a complaint against Lee on September 8 and publicly disclosed this information. The amount in question is 857,980,0 September 15, 2026

New Rental Housing Faces Long Vacancies Despite High Demand The government is expanding the supply of newly constructed rental housing, yet existing rental units are experiencing increasing long-term vacancies. While a new rental property in Seoul recorded a competition rate of 52 to 1 for occupancy, 259 units nationwide have remained vacant for over four years.As of the end of June, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) reported that out of 200,324 rental units, 8,279 have been vacant for more than six months, accounting for 4.1% of the total inve September 15, 2026

Experts Warn Delayed Third New Towns Will Have Limited Housing Supply Impact The South Korean government is accelerating the supply of public housing in the metropolitan area, including the Third New Towns. However, experts argue that merely shortening the project timeline will not sufficiently stabilize the housing market in the region. Delays in the supply schedule for many projects, along with the need to align housing occupancy with the development of transportation networks and living infrastructure, are cited as reasons for the limited impact.According to the Minis September 15, 2026

Health Insurance Agency Rewards Whistleblowers for Reporting Fraud The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has decided to award a total of 469 million won to 18 courageous citizens who reported illegal and fraudulent claims related to health insurance, including so-called 'illegal medical centers' and 'fake patients.' The reported fraud amounts to over 6.2 billion won.On September 10, the NHIS held its second reward committee meeting for 2026, where it reviewed and approved the distribution of rewards for reports involving 12 healthcare institutions that f September 15, 2026