President Lee's Approval Rating Drops to 38.2%, Support Withdrawal at 28.4% Recent polling indicates that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has fallen to the high 30s. The survey also revealed that 28.4% of respondents who previously supported the president no longer do so. On September 10, Media Tomato, commissioned by News Tomato, released results from a survey conducted on September 7-8, which included 1,035 adults aged 18 and older nationwide. The poll found that 38.2% of respondents rated the president's governance positively, while 58.8% expressed disappro September 10, 2026

Customs Agency Strengthens Crackdown on Trade-Based Financial Crimes The Customs Agency is intensifying its crackdown on financial crimes based on trade, including the manipulation of import and export data to fraudulently obtain government subsidies and policy financing, as well as inflating corporate value in capital markets.On September 10, the Customs Agency announced that it, along with relevant ministries, has defined financial crimes based on trade manipulation as 'Trade-Based Financial Crimes (TBFC)' and is operating an integrated joint inspection and enf September 10, 2026

Government to Tighten Supply of Knowledge Industry Centers Amid 43% Vacancy Rate As the average vacancy rate of recently completed knowledge industry centers exceeds 40%, the government has decided to regulate new supply and significantly ease entry restrictions for businesses. Centers with high vacancy rates will be supported in converting to rental housing or officetels. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced these measures during a meeting of the Emergency Economic Headquarters and the Ministerial Meeting on Structural Innovation on September 10. There are September 10, 2026

Corporate Earnings Show Improvement Across Sectors Driven by Semiconductor Boom Corporate earnings improved in the second quarter of this year, extending beyond the semiconductor sector. While Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix significantly boosted overall performance, growth and profitability in manufacturing also showed improvement even without these companies. The semiconductor-driven economic upswing appears to be spreading across various industries, with non-manufacturing revenue growth accelerating and the construction sector returning to growth for the first time in e September 10, 2026

Semiconductor Boom Drives Corporate Profit Margins to Record Highs In the second quarter of this year, the profitability of South Korean companies soared to its highest level since statistics began being compiled. The semiconductor boom, driven by increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI), significantly boosted the performance of the manufacturing sector, leading to a sharp upward trend in overall corporate sales and operating profits. Companies' financial health has also improved, indicating simultaneous growth and profitability.According to the Ban September 10, 2026

Body of Missing Crew Member Found After Busan Tugboat Capsize One of the six crew members missing after the capsizing of the tugboat TNS Catcher off the coast of Busan has been found dead, seven days after the incident.According to Yonhap News and the Coast Guard, a sanitation worker discovered the body on the beach in front of a restroom at Dogu Beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, at 8:48 a.m. on September 9.Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard conducted digital forensics on a mobile phone and smartwatch found with the body, confirming that September 10, 2026

Korean Business Association Calls for Tax Revisions to Support Advanced Industries The Korean Business Association (KBA) has urged the National Assembly to enhance tax support to promote domestic production and investment in advanced industries. The KBA proposed adding future cars, biotechnology, and small modular reactors (SMR) to the domestic production tax credit eligibility and maintaining the employment tax credit for large corporations, among a total of 51 suggested improvements.On September 9, the KBA announced that it had submitted its recommendations for the '2026 Tax September 10, 2026

Lee Says His Term Is Clearly Limited by Constitution Amid Opposition's Re-election Claims President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 9 that "my term is clearly limited by the Constitution." This remark is seen as a rebuttal to recent opposition claims that proposed constitutional amendments are aimed at enabling self-re-election.Lee made his comments during a luncheon for expatriates at a hotel in Paris, part of his state visit to France, while explaining the rationale behind his proactive approach to diplomacy since taking office.He emphasized, "Ultimately, we must start early to r September 10, 2026

Gimhae Youth Festival to Kick Off on September 12 with 156 Local Goods Competitors The city of Gimhae will host the '2026 Gimhae Youth Festival FEEL SO GOODS' from September 12 to 19, showcasing the innovative ideas and talents of local youth. This festival, held during Youth Week, will feature a local goods competition along with various cultural events for residents.A total budget of 1.05 billion won has been allocated for the event, combining funds from the Gyeongnam Province's 'Youth 365 Hot Place Creation Project' and the youth festival budget.On September 19, the main ev September 10, 2026

President Lee Calls for Emphasis on Inclusive Growth Amid Economic Polarization President Lee Jae-myung identified economic polarization as a fundamental cause of conflict and the spread of extremism between nations and groups. He urged the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to place greater emphasis on 'inclusive growth,' which focuses on fairly distributing opportunities and benefits of growth.On September 9, local time, President Lee met with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann at a hotel in Paris to discuss global economic issues and ways to September 10, 2026