Semiconductors Boost Export Share to 16.1% of Total Demand Exports of semiconductors, along with computers, electronics, and optical devices, have significantly increased, leading to a larger share of exports in the overall demand of the South Korean economy. The growing contribution of exports to production, value-added, and employment has further solidified the export-driven economic structure.According to the '2024 Input-Output Table (Extended Table)' released by the Bank of Korea on September 21, the total supply of goods and services in the South K September 21, 2026

Pharmaresearch Partners with China's CCM to Target Local Market for 'Rejuran' Pharmaresearch is teaming up with Shanghai Chicmax Cosmetic (CCM) to penetrate the Chinese cosmetics market. On September 21, Pharmaresearch announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CCM to expand the reach of 'Rejuran Cosmetic' in China. CCM is a leading investment-driven cosmetics brand management company in China. Established in 2002, it operates across six business sectors, including mass skincare, maternal and infant care, youth care, person September 21, 2026

KT Discusses Cybersecurity at ITU-T SG17 International Standards Meeting KT announced that it participated in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) international standards meeting held in Chongqing, China, from September 7 to 11. The ITU is a UN agency responsible for establishing international standards related to information and communication technology. The meeting focused on discussions around cybersecurity, security architecture, data privacy, and artificial intelligence (AI) security.Chang-O Kim, Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) of KT, led global standardi September 21, 2026

U.S. Diesel Prices Surpass $6.50 Per Gallon for the First Time Amid Supply Crisis U.S. retail diesel prices have surpassed $6.50 per gallon for the first time in history.On September 20, Bloomberg reported that the American Automobile Association (AAA) recorded a national average diesel price of $6.505 per gallon. This marks an increase of more than 87 cents just in September, surpassing the previous record set in 2022.The surge in diesel prices is primarily attributed to supply disruptions related to the Middle East and Russia. Following the U.S.-Iran conflict, shipping thro September 21, 2026

Uiwang Fire Department Teaches Life-Saving Skills at Festival Citizens attending the festival participated in hands-on fire safety experiences, learning how to respond in emergencies, including CPR and water rescue techniques. The Uiwang Fire Department set up a fire safety experience booth at the 22nd Uiwang Baegun Lake Festival, held at the grassy area of Baegun Lake Park from September 19 to 20, offering various interactive programs for attendees. A total of 64 firefighters and volunteer firefighters participated in the event. Children and famili September 21, 2026

Lotte Department Store to Offer Voluntary Retirement for First Time in Five Years Lotte Department Store will implement a voluntary retirement program for the first time in five years. The initiative targets long-serving employees while also continuing to hire new staff, aiming to restructure its workforce in response to the rapidly changing retail environment. On September 21, Lotte Department Store announced that it will accept applications for voluntary retirement for about two weeks, until October 5. Employees with over 20 years of service are eligible, while those in pos September 21, 2026

New App Compares Local Prices of Agricultural Products The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT have launched a pilot version of the 'Smart Shopping Map' application, which allows consumers to compare prices of fresh agricultural products based on their location. The government plans to enhance the service through this pilot program and aims for a nationwide rollout in the second half of next year.On September 21, the two ministries held a launch ceremony for the 'Smart Shopping Map' at Osco in Cheongju September 21, 2026

South Korea's Triathlon Team Finishes Without Medals, Takes Fourth in Mixed Relay The South Korean triathlon team concluded the competition without winning any medals.The team, consisting of Kim Hye-rang, Kim Tae-gi, Jeong Hye-rim, and Park Sang-min, competed in the mixed relay final on September 21 at the Gamagori Triathlon venue in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. They finished with a time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 27 seconds, placing fourth overall. They were 1 minute and 2 seconds behind third-place Hong Kong, which recorded a time of 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 25 seconds.The gold September 21, 2026

Strategic Economic Advisory Group Visits AI Semiconductor Company, Urges Expansion of Domestic Use The Strategic Economic Advisory Group visited an artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor company to discuss policy measures aimed at supporting the ongoing growth and expanded use of semiconductors.On September 21, the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that the advisory group held a meeting of its semiconductor subcommittee at DeepX, located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province.DeepX is developing ultra-low-power Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for on-device AI, which processes computations di September 21, 2026

Samsung Electronics Breaks Ground on AI Data Center Cooling Facility in Gwangju with 240 Billion Won Investment Samsung Electronics is investing 240 billion won to establish a production base for cooling and air conditioning equipment for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers at its Gwangju facility. The company aims to expand its HVAC business, targeting AI data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities by combining the central air conditioning technology of Flaekt Group, which it acquired last year, with its manufacturing capabilities.On September 21, Samsung Electronics held a groundbreaking ce September 21, 2026