Gwangju City Council Approves Organizational Restructuring Plan with Conditions The first organizational restructuring plan for Gwangju City has been conditionally approved by the city council. The final vote is scheduled for the last session of the regular meeting on the 18th. On the 15th, the Planning and Finance Committee of the Gwangju City Council passed a revised restructuring plan, contingent upon the administration's promise to add a first-level director position at the Eastern and Muan offices and to secure 'one councilor, one policy advisor.' Some council members September 15, 2026

U.S. Clarity Act to Face First Senate Vote on September 15; South Korea's Digital Asset Law Delayed The Clarity Act, which defines the distinction between securities and commodities in virtual assets and outlines the supervisory authority of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will be put to its first procedural vote in the U.S. Senate on September 15 (local time). In South Korea, the preparation of a unified Digital Asset Basic Law, which includes the issuance of won-backed stablecoins and regulations on virtual asset exchange September 15, 2026

KakaoPay Launches 'Long-Lasting Together Store' Featuring 100 Small Brands in Seongsu-dong On September 14, the KakaoPay 'Long-Lasting Together Store' popup opened in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. Visitors were greeted by a subtle fragrance created in collaboration with the scent-focused small business brand 'Lysle.' The scent, along with landscaping, postcards, and shopping bags, reflected the contributions of participating brands. Rather than a temporary store for small business products, it resembled a large shop curated by 100 brands.The 'Long-Lasting Together Store' is a collaborative cam September 15, 2026

Credit Card Companies Lower Loan Rates and Increase Limits Amid Loan Growth Credit card companies are lowering interest rates and increasing limits on card loans (long-term credit card loans) for some customers, despite rising funding costs due to increased bond rates. This shift comes as financial authorities have expanded household loan targets, allowing companies to resume operations, particularly for customers with relatively good credit ratings.According to the financial sector on September 15, KB Kookmin Card has reduced card loan rates for some customers from an September 15, 2026

Kim Min-seok Warns Against Undermining the Yoon Administration Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party, criticized remarks made by Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute, calling them "unnecessary worries" and warned against attempts to destabilize the Lee Jae-myung administration.On September 15, during a broadcast on the party's official YouTube channel, Kim addressed Cho directly, stating, "When you say not to think about the elephant, and then ask why it comes to mind, you are missing the point. If you point to the sky, you s September 15, 2026

Korea Zinc's Management Dispute Highlights Strategic Importance of Key Minerals The management dispute between Chairman Choi Yoon-bum and MBK Partners and Youngpoong has entered its second year, with over 30 related lawsuits filed. Despite the turmoil, Korea Zinc is evolving from a simple non-ferrous metal smelting company to a key player in the global critical minerals supply chain. Amid fierce external pressures, Korea Zinc, under Choi's leadership, achieved record sales of 16.58 trillion won and an operating profit of 1.23 trillion won last year. In the first half of th September 15, 2026

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Shares Drop Over 5% Amid Union Strikes Shares of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are declining in the latter part of the trading session as union strikes continue. As of 2:30 PM on September 15, the company’s stock was trading at 453,250 won, down 25,750 won (5.22%) from the previous trading day, according to the Korea Exchange. The drop in HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' stock price is attributed to concerns over production disruptions following the union's partial strike, which began on September 11, involving four hours of work stopp September 15, 2026

Concerns Grow as Launch of Public Prosecution Office Approaches The launch of the Public Prosecution Office is less than 20 days away, yet discussions surrounding its organization and personnel have returned to square one. President Lee Jae-myung directed revisions and enhancements to the proposed structure of the office shortly after returning from a state visit to France on September 10. He deemed the name 'Judicial Control Department' for the organization reviewing non-prosecution cases as inappropriate and suggested that the proposed quota of 2,292 prose September 15, 2026

Kim Seung-won Challenges Allegations During Confirmation Hearing Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, strongly denied various allegations against him during his confirmation hearing while also raising concerns about the leak of internal prosecution materials and criticizing the prosecution's investigations under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.On September 15, during the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Kim responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Dong-ah regarding the September 15, 2026

Montan Residents Celebrate Community Unity at 15th Annual Event More than 1,000 residents, students, and staff gathered in Montan, Muan County, to strengthen community unity across generations and villages.The 15th Montan Residents' Day was held on September 11 at Montan Elementary School, with participation from residents, elementary and middle school students, staff, and representatives from local organizations.Organized by Montan and the Montan Prosperity Association, the event emphasized the significance of community, bringing together residents and loca September 15, 2026