Financial Commission Chair Lee Eok-won Emphasizes Importance of Physical AI in Finance Lee Eok-won, the Chair of the Financial Services Commission, stated, "We will actively support companies in transforming their challenges into technological development, commercialization, and growth, making regional manufacturing sites key hubs for Physical AI." Lee made these remarks during a speech at the 'Physical AI Regional Hub Development Forum' held at the Korea Development Bank headquarters on September 22. He emphasized that the role of finance is crucial in supporting bold investment September 22, 2026

Government Reports 29% Decrease in Illegal Pornography Sites The government announced a 29% decrease in illegal pornography sites. Authorities arrested 32 operators of sites distributing illegal footage and shut down 66 sites.On September 22, the government held the third meeting of the inter-agency task force on digital sex crimes at the Government Seoul Office to review the progress of its unified response to illegal sites.The task force includes the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Korea Communications Commission, and the National Police Age September 22, 2026

Korea to Auction 1,180 MW of Energy Storage Systems, Introducing 25-Year Contracts in Jeju The government is set to auction a total of 1,180 megawatts (MW) of energy storage systems (ESS) through the central contract market. In Jeju, a new 25-year contract model will be introduced for long-life, multi-charge ESS.The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on September 22 that it will open the '2026 ESS Central Contract Market' to select ESS power producers totaling 1,180 MW.ESS facilities store electricity generated during peak production times and discharge it during h September 22, 2026

Ministry of Science and ICT Partners with Naver Cloud to Develop Cybersecurity AI Model The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is collaborating with Naver Cloud to develop a specialized artificial intelligence (AI) model for cybersecurity.On the afternoon of the 22nd, the MSIT announced that it held a kickoff meeting for the 'Cybersecurity Specialized AI Model Development' project in Euljiro, Seoul. The meeting was organized to inform stakeholders about Naver Cloud's plans for developing a security model.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyung-hun stated, " September 22, 2026

U.S. Investment Project Moves Forward as Dollar Funding and Forex Management Loom The South Korean government is advancing the Texas combined cycle power plant as its first major investment in the United States, bringing funding and foreign exchange management to the forefront of its execution phase. While the government asserts that the project has commercial viability, it faces the immediate challenge of securing and remitting the necessary dollars, separate from the long-term recovery of the investment.On September 22, the government reported to the National Assembly's Fin September 22, 2026

Athletics at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games: Medal Race Begins September 23 The athletics events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will kick off on September 23 with race walking and continue until September 29.This competition features 50 gold medals, the second highest after swimming, and the South Korean team is aiming for its first gold medal in eight years.In the last three Asian Games, South Korea has won only one gold medal. At the 2014 Incheon Games, the team secured four silver and six bronze medals, while at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, they earned one September 22, 2026

Renters Struggle with Housing Crisis as Banks Tighten Loan Access As renters face a shortage of jeonse properties and rising prices, many are turning to home purchases, only to encounter another barrier: bank loans. By mid-September, the annual household loan capacity of banks had already been exhausted, compounded by rising mortgage rates. This situation raises concerns that first-time homebuyers may remain in their current homes or be pushed into monthly rentals due to difficulties in securing funds for home purchases.According to the financial sector, as of September 22, 2026

South Korea Selects Texas LNG Power Plant for First U.S. Strategic Investment South Korea has chosen to construct a gas combined cycle power plant in the Encinada region of Texas as its first strategic investment project in the United States. The government believes that operating the plant over a long period will allow for the recovery of the investment. Subsequent projects will include discussions on building nuclear power plants in the U.S. and developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Alaska.On September 22, Kim Jeong-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, repo September 22, 2026

Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizers Address Accommodation and Meal Controversies The organizing committee for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has addressed recent controversies regarding delays in cruise ship accommodations and meal issues at the venues. On September 22, the organizing committee released a statement on its official website regarding reports related to the accommodation and meal services for the athletes. The committee explained that the delays and confusion experienced by some teams boarding the cruise ship on September 16 were not due to issues with the a September 22, 2026

Meta's AI Agent Muse Sparks Surge in Semiconductor Stocks On September 21, the surge in semiconductor stocks was fueled by Meta's personal AI agent, Muse. On that day, Meta's stock closed up 11.43% at $741.24, marking its highest closing price in nearly a year since October. AMD, a major client of Meta, saw its stock rise 9.95% to $615.52, reaching an all-time high and pushing its market capitalization above $1 trillion (approximately 1,361 trillion won) for the first time. Intel's stock jumped 12.14%, while Nvidia, known as the leader in AI, increas September 22, 2026