President Lee Calls for Civil Discourse Amid Controversy Over Social Media Post President Lee Jae-myung urged his supporters on September 19 to abandon hate, sarcasm, and emotional criticism, calling instead for rational critique based on facts and affection, as well as dignified persuasion and warm appeals. In a post titled 'Friend of the President' on his X (formerly Twitter) account, he stated, "The only desire that led me to this position was the aspiration to change the world, driven by the people." He acknowledged the significant role played by his comrades who hav September 19, 2026

President Yoon Considers Establishing Dedicated Organization for Youth Policies President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 19 that he is contemplating the creation of a separate organization dedicated to overseeing youth policies. During the 2026 Youth Day ceremony titled 'From Youth,' held at the Blue House, he remarked, "Youth issues are not merely the concerns of a specific group but a fundamental question of whether South Korea can remain a country that continues to grow and develop." This was the first time President Lee attended a Youth Day ceremony since taking of September 19, 2026

South Korea Denies Rejecting Trump's Request for Troops in Hormuz The Blue House clarified on September 19 that President Lee Jae-myung did not reject U.S. President Donald Trump's request for troop deployment in the Hormuz Strait.In a media announcement, the Blue House addressed reports from foreign news outlets.The New York Times reported that "the South Korean leader rejected President Trump, stating that he would not send troops to Iran." The article noted that President Lee expressed his stance against sending troops to Iran during a press conference the September 19, 2026

Kim Sun-ho: Military and Civilian Collaboration Essential for Defense AI Kim Sun-ho, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, emphasized the need for military and civilian collaboration in the development and deployment of Defense AI (AX). He argued that the focus should extend beyond merely integrating AI into existing weapon systems to fundamentally changing the nature of warfare and operational execution.Recently appointed as a senior management advisor at Naver in August, Kim spoke on September 18 at the Defense AI Day seminar held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, a September 19, 2026

Truck Crashes into Flea Market, Killing Mother and Son, Injuring Five A one-ton truck crashed into a flea market in Anseong, South Korea, killing a mother and her middle school son and injuring five others. The driver, a temporary city worker, has changed his statement regarding the cause of the accident, and police have applied for an arrest warrant.According to Yonhap News, the incident occurred at 11:18 a.m. at the Gongdo Children's Park in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, where a flea market was being held. The truck, loaded with second-hand goods, struck seven people.A w September 19, 2026

Lottery Enthusiasts Focus on 1242nd Draw Results "I only started to believe I had won when I saw the sign saying '1st Prize Selling Store' in front of the shop."On September 19, interest is growing in the results of the 1241st Donghaeng Lottery draw, while the story of the winner of the 331st Pension Lottery 720+, who won 1st prize (1 ticket) and 2nd prize (4 tickets), is making headlines.In a post on the Donghaeng Lottery winners' bulletin board on September 11, the winner of the 331st Pension Lottery 720+ shared, "I buy lottery tickets to sp September 19, 2026

2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Kick Off with South Korea's Flag Bearers The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games have officially begun, marking the first time in 32 years that Japan hosts the event. The South Korean delegation, aiming for a third consecutive overall third-place finish, entered the stadium as the 16th team, led by flag bearers Shin Yu-bin from table tennis and Kim Dong-yong from rowing.The opening ceremony took place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, on September 19 at 6 p.m. This marks the third Summer Asian Games held in Japan, September 19, 2026

Tensions Rise in Europe Following Russian Elections Amid Mobilization Concerns As Russia holds its first elections since the start of the Ukraine war, speculation is growing that President Vladimir Putin may initiate a large-scale troop mobilization afterward. This has heightened tensions in Europe, prompting countries to enhance security cooperation, including strengthening air defense systems, in response to Russia's potential troop increases.According to Yonhap News Agency, Russia is conducting elections for 450 members of the State Duma (lower house) over three days, c September 19, 2026

Kim Seung-won’s Camp Plans Legal Action Over AI Fabrications Kim Seung-won, who voluntarily resigned from his position as a candidate for Minister of Justice, is planning legal action against the spread of AI-generated fabrications and false information online. On September 19, Kim's office issued a statement on Facebook, stating, "Malicious AI fabrications and false, manipulated information related to Representative Kim Seung-won are currently being disseminated online." The office added, "We are verifying the distribution channels and will track down t September 19, 2026

President Yoon Encourages South Korean Athletes at Asian Games President Yoon Suk Yeol encouraged the South Korean team participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which opened on September 19, to trust in their hard work and showcase their skills. On this day, President Yoon shared an article about the South Korean team's entrance at the opening ceremony on his X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing his support. He stated, "Believe in the sweat and effort you have put in to wear the Taegeuk mark on your chest, and show your abilities to the fulle September 19, 2026