SK Telecom CEO Discusses AI Infrastructure and Digital Trust with Global Telecom Leaders SK Telecom (SKT) announced that CEO Jeong Jae-hun attended the GSMA M360 ASEAN event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 9, where he discussed new growth strategies for the telecommunications industry in the AI era and ways to build digital trust with global telecom leaders.The M360 ASEAN event brought together telecom companies, tech firms, and policymakers from East Asia and the ASEAN region. Key issues addressed included AI transformation, AI sovereignty, enhanced security, and reliable c September 10, 2026

U.S. Companies Increasing Investments in China Amid Optimistic Business Outlook U.S. companies operating in China are showing a notable recovery in their business outlook, attributed to the U.S.-China trade truce and efforts to manage conflicts.The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai reported on September 10 that 58% of responding companies are optimistic about their business prospects in China over the next five years, a 17 percentage point increase from last year. This marks a significant rebound in confidence among U.S. businesses in China, which had reached a recor September 10, 2026

Uiwang Mayor Kim Seong-je urges focus on citizen safety and quality waterfront spaces Kim Seong-je, the mayor of Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, visited the Anyangcheon local river maintenance project site to inspect the progress and safety management ahead of its completion next month. He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing citizen safety while transforming Anyangcheon into a prominent waterfront space for public use. On September 9, Mayor Kim toured the Uiwang section of Anyangcheon, examining key construction areas from the Owu Bridge to the Gocheon 4 Bridge, Gwangmyeong Brid September 10, 2026

Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won Investigated for Alleged Favoritism Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, is under investigation for allegedly soliciting approval for a COVID-19 treatment from the pharmaceutical company Genensel. It has also come to light that he inquired about a treatment from Bukwang Pharmaceutical.According to documents released by Kim Tae-kyu of the People Power Party on September 10, Kim Seung-won, while serving as a member of the National Assembly, requested information from the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) on Ju September 10, 2026

Korean National Pension Fund Adjusts Holdings in Defense and Advanced Materials Stocks The National Pension Service, South Korea's largest institutional investor, has recently sold some of its shares in Hyundai Rotem and Doosan Enerbility, both of which saw significant stock price increases due to defense and nuclear power issues. In contrast, the fund has increased its holdings in HS Hyosung Advanced Materials and HJ Heavy Industries. While these companies are all part of advanced industries such as defense, aerospace, and carbon fiber, analysts suggest that the differing investm September 10, 2026

Construction Orders Drop to 15.8 Trillion Won, Down 30.6% Year-on-Year In July, domestic construction orders fell by over 30% compared to the previous year, with declines in both public and private sectors. Analysts suggest that the recovery of the construction market in the second half of the year depends on actual project orders and starts.According to the Korea Construction Industry Institute's "Monthly Construction Market Trends for September," construction orders in July totaled 15.8 trillion won, a 30.6% decrease from the same month last year. This figure als September 10, 2026

Direct Payment System for Construction Workers Set to Launch in 2027 Starting next year, a direct payment system will allow construction payments to be made directly to subcontractors and workers, bypassing the main contractor. This initiative aims to reduce wage and payment arrears that can occur in multi-tiered contracting processes.According to government sources, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-deok attended a public briefing on the direct payment system in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 10. The revised law expanding the direct payment s September 10, 2026

Record High of First-Time Homebuyers in Seoul Amid Housing Market Turmoil The proportion of first-time homebuyers in Seoul has reached an all-time high. This surge is attributed to rising rental prices, increasing home values, and concerns over supply shortages, particularly among buyers in their 30s who are increasingly relying on loans to purchase homes.According to data from the Supreme Court's registration information portal, the number of registrations for first-time buyers of multi-family homes in Seoul reached 9,343 in August, a 16.7% increase from 8,006 in the September 10, 2026

Kumho Construction Expands Business Portfolio with New Contracts Kumho Construction is expanding its construction business by broadening its project scope beyond residential and mixed-use developments to include advanced industrial facilities.On September 10, Kumho Construction announced that it has secured contracts for the KINTEX parking complex project, the Jangji parking lot redevelopment, and the construction of Samsung Electronics' Flakt factory in South Korea.The KINTEX parking complex project, for which Kumho was selected as the final bidder on August September 10, 2026

Delivery Rider's Route Sparks Controversy Over Service Fees A customer using a delivery platform's 'single household delivery' service raised concerns after noticing that the rider assigned to their order stopped at another apartment complex. The customer had paid an additional 1,000 won for the service but suspected that the rider was handling multiple orders during the delivery process.On September 9, a post titled 'Single Household Delivery: Customers Can't Get Refunds Even If the Rider Doesn't Deliver to One Household' appeared on an online community September 10, 2026