Mine Explosion Injures Three Military Officers in DMZ Search Operation A mine explosion is believed to have occurred during a search operation in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the western front, injuring three military officers. The military has begun an investigation into the exact cause of the incident while transporting the injured personnel. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the explosion took place at approximately 10:50 a.m. on September 21, between the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the southern limit line within the DMZ. At the time, South K September 21, 2026

Director Lee Chang-dong Returns to Venice with 'Possible Love,' Raising Questions on Ethics and Desire Director Lee Chang-dong has made a triumphant return to the Venice International Film Festival, winning the Silver Lion (Jury Prize) for the first time for a Korean film, eight years after his last feature, 'Burning.' The film explores the collision of two vastly different worlds: a couple of laid-off workers and a documentary filmmaker and her wealthy husband, raising profound questions about the ethics of creation and hidden human desires. On September 21, a press screening and conference fo September 21, 2026

Supreme Court Confirms Suspended Sentence for Im Woo-jae in Assault Case Involving Elderly Woman Im Woo-jae, a former advisor to Samsung Electronics, has received a suspended sentence for his involvement in the assault of an elderly woman. According to legal sources on September 21, the Supreme Court's third division, led by Justice Lee Suk-yeon, upheld the lower court's ruling of one year in prison with a two-year probation for Im, who faced charges including special confinement and injury. This decision was finalized on September 15 when the court dismissed his appeal.Im's accomplices, a September 21, 2026

People Power Party Calls for Comprehensive Restructuring Following Kang Hoon-sik's Resignation The People Power Party on September 21 urged for a complete overhaul of the Blue House and the Cabinet in response to the resignation of Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik.Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk took to Facebook after news of Kang's resignation, questioning, "Is it fair to hold one person accountable for this situation?"Jang specifically targeted Kim Hyun-ji, the head of the Blue House's first secretariat, who is at the center of allegations regarding personnel interference, asking, "Aren't the r September 21, 2026

Electric Vehicle Charging Fees Cut in Half During Chuseok Holiday During the Chuseok holiday, electric vehicle charging fees will be reduced by up to 50%. This initiative aims to encourage electric vehicle charging during hours of lower electricity demand due to industrial shutdowns, thereby utilizing excess power and alleviating the burden of renewable energy output control.The Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment and Korea Electric Power Corporation announced on September 21 that from September 24 to 27, electric vehicle charging fees will be discounte September 21, 2026

Government and Ruling Party to Address Farmers' Concerns Ahead of Chuseok The government and the ruling party held a meeting on September 21 to discuss the direction of the nationwide land survey, deciding to prepare an additional amendment to the Land Law by the first half of next year. This initiative comes as dissatisfaction among farmers has grown since the survey began in May, prompting efforts to ease their concerns ahead of the Chuseok holiday.The Democratic Party and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced their plans during the meeting a September 21, 2026

Tomato System Shares Surge Following Final Approval of U.S. Insurance Business Shares of Tomato System, a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) software, surged after news of final approval for its insurance business in the United States.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 3:05 PM, Tomato System's stock was trading at 2,550 won, up 588 won (29.97%) from the previous trading day.The sharp increase in Tomato System's shares is attributed to the announcement that Medicare Partners Health Plan Texas, a subsidiary of Medicare Partners (MCP), received final app September 21, 2026

Major Overhaul of South Korea's Criminal Justice System Set for October 2 On October 2, South Korea's criminal justice system will undergo a transformation after 78 years. The prosecution office will be abolished, and two new entities will be established: the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SICA) to handle investigations and the Prosecution Office to manage prosecutions. This marks the beginning of a complete separation of investigation and prosecution.With just over ten days remaining, the preparations appear inadequate. There is currently no Minister of Justice, September 21, 2026

Kim Do-il Appointed as New Vice President of the Korea Creative Content Agency The Korea Creative Content Agency has appointed Kim Do-il as its new vice president, effective September 21, 2026. His term will last for two years, ending on September 20, 2028.Born in 1962, Kim graduated from Chosun University with a degree in Spanish Language and Literature. He holds a master's degree in Cultural Industry from Dongshin University and a Ph.D. in Korean Language and Literature from Chosun University.From 1982 to 1992, Kim was a member and representative of the theater company S September 21, 2026

Russia May Test NATO's Resolve with Potential Provocations European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia may engage in provocations to test NATO's resolve within the coming months. However, assessments regarding the immediacy of a Russian attack vary.Possible NATO member incursions within months; testing collective defenseThe Guardian reported on September 20, based on interviews with three European intelligence leaders, that Russia is likely to increase drone attacks and may conduct small-scale incursions into NATO member territories bordering September 21, 2026