Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo Calls for Investigation into Kim Seung-won's Report Leak Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo stated that an investigation is necessary regarding the leak of prosecutorial investigation records presented by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, which raised suspicions about Kim Seung-won, the candidate for Minister of Justice.On September 9, during a parliamentary session in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-ki about the circumstances surrounding Han's disclosure of a prosecution plan document from the S September 9, 2026

Kim Min-seok Advocates for Constitutional Reform During Visit to the Constitutional Association Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, visited the Constitutional Association and stated, "The Democratic Party will raise and discuss the issue of constitutional amendments while maintaining an open attitude and upholding the principles of democracy."During his visit on September 8, Kim expressed his intentions regarding power structure reform and constitutional amendments while meeting with Chung Dae-chul, president of the Constitutional Association, and Yoo Jun-sang, vice president.Kim September 9, 2026

Yoon Young-kwan: South Korea Should Approach Hormuz Deployment as a Package Deal Yoon Young-kwan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on September 9 that South Korea should approach the U.S. request for troop deployment in the Hormuz Strait as a package deal, demanding corresponding security commitments in return. Yoon, who served as the chief diplomat during the 2003 Iraq deployment, made these remarks at an international conference held at the Seoul Press Center.During the event, titled 'Geopolitical Changes in the Indo-Pacific Region, Climate and AI Governance, and September 9, 2026

Franchise Brands Shut Down 1,345 Operations This Year, Including Natuur and Tiger Sugar More than 1,300 franchise brands have shut down their operations this year, reflecting a trend in the restaurant industry where companies are focusing on consolidating their businesses rather than expanding amid domestic economic slowdown and rising costs.According to the Fair Trade Commission's franchise information disclosure system, a total of 1,345 brands canceled their franchise registration from January to August this year. This marks a 3.2% increase (42 brands) compared to the same period September 9, 2026

South Korea and France Establish Economic and Trust Alliance South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron have established an 'Economic and Trust Alliance' focused on practical cooperation between businesses and mutual trust between leaders. The two leaders strengthened their rapport during a state dinner where they exchanged top honors.On September 8, Lee and Macron attended a Korea-France business roundtable at the Hôtel de Marigny in Paris. The event featured over 30 business leaders and senior government officials, includi September 9, 2026

Korea Real Estate Agents Association Marks 40th Anniversary as Legal Entity The Korea Real Estate Agents Association announced plans to enhance the professionalism and social responsibility of real estate agents as it celebrated its 40th anniversary and the establishment of its legal entity status. Chairman Kim Jong-ho outlined initiatives to increase public trust while focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) training, infrastructure development, and support for members' business operations. The association held a ceremony on September 9 at the Gwanggaeto Hall of Sejon September 9, 2026

Limited Edition Pop-Up Store Draws Long Lines at I-Park Mall 7 a.m. on September 7, a long line formed outside the Pom Pom Purin pop-up store at I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul, even before its official opening at 10:30 a.m. Yu Seung-hyung, 34, and Lim Da-eun, 31, who drove from Incheon, expressed disappointment at arriving later than expected due to traffic but were visibly excited. Lim, who took a day off work, said, "I came specifically to buy merchandise because I love the character," adding that they planned to have lunch at the mall after shopping. September 9, 2026

Average Cost of Chuseok Ritual Table Drops to 313,000 Won This year's cost of preparing the Chuseok ritual table has decreased by about 2% compared to last year. The prices of fruits such as apples and pears have stabilized, marking the first decline in costs in five years. However, prices for beef and some vegetables have increased, showing variability among items.The Korean Consumer Agency's Price Monitoring Center reported on September 8 that it surveyed prices of 25 ritual items at 90 locations, including 11 department stores, 23 large supermarkets September 9, 2026

Chahum Partners with LG CNS and CHA Healthcare to Launch AI Health Screening Center Chahum is collaborating with LG CNS and CHA Healthcare to establish an AI-based "Intelligent Screening Center." This initiative will implement AI agents throughout the entire screening process, from analyzing medical history to recommending personalized tests, generating results, and providing post-examination care. On September 9, LG CNS announced the commencement of a project to introduce the Intelligent Screening Center during a kickoff meeting held at Chahum in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul. Key September 9, 2026

Hyundai Motor Accelerates Autonomous Driving Data Collection with RoboTaxi Initiative Hyundai Motor is ramping up its efforts to secure autonomous driving data. Following a successful bid for the Seoul RoboTaxi project, the company is set to collect road environment data in the city, despite the immediate profitability of the venture being uncertain. The driving data collected is expected to enhance the sophistication of its 'data flywheel' process, which involves iterative AI learning and vehicle application.According to industry sources, Hyundai plans to launch its autonomous t September 9, 2026