Transforming Invasive Plant 'Japanese Knotweed' into Functional Health Ingredients The invasive plant Japanese knotweed is being repurposed as a functional ingredient for health supplements, potentially becoming a new source of income for farmers in the Jeonnam region.(Re) Jeonnam Bio Industry Promotion Agency's Green Bio Division and Pens Co., Ltd. announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cultivate Japanese knotweed, designated as an invasive species, into a safe and standardized functional ingredient for health supplements.Under this agreement, September 14, 2026

Korea and Central Asia Discuss Future AI and Science Technology Partnership Baek Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, discussed future cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and science technology with ministers from five Central Asian countries on September 14. The Deputy Prime Minister chaired the 'Korea-Central Asia Future AI and Science Technology Partnership Ministerial Meeting' at the Central Post Office in Seoul. Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attended to explore avenues for futur September 14, 2026

Public Health Employees Engaged in Side Jobs and Multi-Level Marketing Serious moral hazard among employees of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) has come to light. Reports indicate that some employees conducted business for family companies during work hours, posted sponsored content on blogs, and earned substantial side incomes through multi-level marketing and translation work.According to a disciplinary report submitted by Representative Heo Jong-sik of the Democratic Party on September 13, September 14, 2026

China Pushes Back Against Anthropic's AI Development Regulation Claims China is reacting strongly against Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, following his comments advocating for a slowdown in AI development. Amodei identified China as a major risk factor in AI safety and called for increased regulations targeting the country. In response, Chinese experts criticized his remarks, stating that they frame AI safety issues as a geopolitical zero-sum game. As the US-China competition in AI intensifies, there are concerns that the upcoming summit on September 24 may yield l September 14, 2026

Shift in Banking Workforce: Fewer Full-Time Employees, More Temporary Workers The banking sector is witnessing a notable shift in its workforce structure, with a decrease in full-time employees and an increase in temporary workers. As online banking becomes more prevalent, banks are reducing their physical presence and hiring fewer new employees, while filling specific roles with temporary staff.According to the financial sector on September 14, the four major banks in South Korea—KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori—reported that their full-time workforce stood at 46,599 September 14, 2026

Gyeongturami Launches AI Carbon Mat for Enhanced Sleep Management Gyeongturami Boiler has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) carbon mat designed to create a customized sleep environment.On September 14, Gyeongturami announced the launch of the '2027 Model Gyeongturami 3rd Generation AI Ondol Carbon Mat,' equipped with an 'AI Sleep Control System' and an 'AI Temperature Control System.'The new product's 'AI mode' assesses the user's optimal temperature, usage time, and whether they have left the mat, providing a tailored heating environment.To activate September 14, 2026

Ansan City Corporation Concludes 2026 Nuesom Sunset Festival In Ansan, South Korea, the '2026 Nuesom Sunset Festival' concluded its three-week schedule, attracting participation from citizens and tourists alike.According to the Ansan City Corporation, the festival was held every Saturday from August 29 to September 12 in collaboration with the city of Ansan and the Korea Tourism Organization.This year's event focused on experiences and performances that utilized the region's natural environment, including coastal paths, mudflats, and scenic views.Particip September 14, 2026

KB Financial Group to Conduct Regular Inspection of KB Kookmin Card 금융당국이 KB금융그룹과 KB국민은행에 이어 KB국민카드 정기검사에 나선다. 롯데카드 해킹 사고 이후 보안 체계를 제대로 갖췄는지 점검하고 소비자 보호 관련 규정이나 법 등을 준수했는지 중점적으로 살펴볼 예정이다. 14일 금융권에 따르면 금감원은 내달 KB국민카드 정기검사를 위해 국민카드에 사전자료 제출을 요구했다. 국민카드에 대한 정기검사는 2020년 이후 처음이다. 금감원은 소비자보호와 내부통제, 건전성 등 경영 전반을 폭넓게 들여다볼 것으로 예상된다. 이사회의 독립성과 최고경영자(CEO) 선임 절차의 공정성·투 September 14, 2026

Arco Highlights Franco Mancuso Oral History as a Case of Korean-Italian Cultural Exchange The connection between Korea and Italy, established over 30 years ago during the construction of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, was revisited through records.The Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (Arco) presented the 'Franco Mancuso Oral History' during a book talk titled 'Italy? Books! - Italians Encountering Korea' at the Italian Embassy in Korea on September 11.The event featured a book talk program where Korean authors introduced Italian culture, aimed at expanding cultur September 14, 2026

Yeosu World Island Expo: Beyond Attendance, Can Yeosu Shape the Future of Islands? The success of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo should not be judged solely by attendance numbers.The theme of the expo is 'Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future.'Yeosu is home to 365 islands. This expo should serve as a starting point to transform the islands, previously overshadowed by land tourism, into a new pillar of Yeosu tourism, rather than just a one-time event that attracts visitors to exhibition halls in the Jindo area.The direct budget for the expo is reported to be 71.3 billion September 14, 2026