New Agreements Needed for CPTPP Membership "If Mexican agricultural products come in, our farmers will face even more difficulties. While it is said to be necessary for the development of the Korean economy, I fear that the measures for farmers will be mere window dressing, just like during the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations."This was the sentiment expressed by an agricultural industry representative during a recent meeting. The agricultural sector is closely monitoring the government's push for membership September 9, 2026

Record Rainfall Forces Evacuation of 3,500 Athletes in Nagoya Ahead of Asian Games As the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approach, record rainfall in Nagoya has led to the evacuation of hundreds of athletes from temporary accommodations.On September 9, according to Yonhap News, AP, and AFP, Nagoya experienced torrential rain, with peak rates reaching 104 mm per hour, causing flooding on roads and subway stations, and halting public transportation. Reports indicate that 3,500 residents in Nagoya were evacuated.The event is utilizing various accommodations, including cruise ships September 9, 2026

Financial Union Ends Strike, Plans Second Walkout on September 30 A large blue tent has been set up at the entrance of the Bank Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. Following a major strike on September 4, the financial union has begun an overnight sit-in against the Financial Industry Employers' Council. With disagreements over a 4.5-day workweek, wage increases, and the relocation of public financial institutions unresolved, the union is considering a second strike on September 30.On the second day of the sit-in on September 9, Yoon Suk-gu, chairman of the National Finan September 9, 2026

Integration Plan for Public Institutions Under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Faces Challenges One week after the announcement of the integration plan for public institutions under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, key implementation details such as the surviving corporation and equity settlement remain unresolved. There are significant differences in the responses from each institution, indicating that confusion is likely to continue in the field for the time being.According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on September 9, the government is pushing forward with the reform of public September 9, 2026

Aju Media Group and Lee Gi-yeon Opera Institute Collaborate to Promote Amateur Vocalists 아주미디어그룹과 이기연오페라연구소가 아마추어 성악인들의 무대를 넓히고 성악·문화예술 콘텐츠 활성화에 나선다. 아주미디어그룹은 9일 서울 종로구 아주경제신문사에서 이기연오페라연구소와 '제1회 대한민국 아마추어 성악콩쿠르 공동사업'을 위한 업무협약(MOU)을 체결했다. 이번 협약은 양 기관이 제1회 대한민국 아마추어 성악콩쿠르를 공동으로 추진하고, 대회를 방송과 디지털 콘텐츠로 확장하기 위해 마련됐다. 장기적으로는 국내에 머물지 않고 글로벌 콘텐츠와 공연·문화행사 등으로 협력 범위를 넓힌다는 구상이다. 협약에 September 9, 2026

Families of Missing Koreans in Nepal Demand Search Resumption from KDRT As nine South Koreans remain unaccounted for following severe flooding in Nepal, their families held a press conference on September 9, urging the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to resume search efforts. The KDRT announced the previous day that it had no plans for search activities that morning, citing the Nepalese authorities' transition to a search-and-rescue conclusion phase.The families criticized the KDRT, stating, "They did not even fulfill the promised 10-day mission period before with September 9, 2026

U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns of Consequences if China Wins AI Race U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant warned that if the United States loses the artificial intelligence (AI) competition with China, it could have serious consequences for national security and the economy. His comments come amid growing concerns in the U.S. over the rapid emergence of China's open-weight AI models.According to a Bloomberg report on September 9, Besant stated at a Breitbart News event in Washington the previous day, "If China wins the AI competition, there will be no tomorrow," September 9, 2026

Ministry of SMEs Selects 32 Promising Startups in AI and Innovation The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on September 9 that it has selected 32 companies to advance to the integrated finals of the 'K-Startup of the Year' competition, which is organized by the ministry's preliminary leagues in artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative startups.'K-Startup of the Year' is a national startup competition aimed at early-stage companies with less than three years of operation, having previously produced innovative firms such as Lunit Technologies, LD Carbon, a September 9, 2026

Woori Card Partners with Nice D&R to Expand Corporate Card Recruitment Channels Woori Card has partnered with Nice D&R to expand its corporate card recruitment channels. Woori Card announced on September 9 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nice D&R to broaden its corporate customer base. The signing ceremony was attended by Woori Card CEO Jin Sung-won and Nice D&R CEO Nam Young-min. Nice D&R operates the Q-Bid bidding solution, which provides bidding information to companies. Through this agreement, both companies plan to share their corporate cust September 9, 2026

Jung Dong-young: Trump's North Korea Message is Genuine, Dialogue Must Continue 정동영 통일부 장관은 9일 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령의 북미 대화 재개 움직임에 대해 “진심이며 전략적인 판단이라고 본다”고 밝혔다. 정 장관은 이날 서울 중구 달개비하우스에서 열린 한반도 평화전략 자문단 제5차 회의에서 트럼프 대통령의 한미연합훈련 축소 지시 등 최근 대북 메시지를 일시적이거나 즉흥적인 행보로 봐서는 안 된다는 취지로 이같이 말했다. 그는 “이를 불씨로 끝내지 않고 지각판의 움직임으로 이어지도록 기대하고 움직여야 한다”며 북미 대화 재개를 위한 정부의 적극적인 역할 September 9, 2026