Kim Do-young: No Health Issues, Focused on Winning at Asian Games Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers, who has joined the South Korean baseball team for the Asian Games, addressed his health status. Upon arriving at Nagoya Chubu International Airport in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on September 18, he told reporters, "I feel the same as when I played the season without injuries. I believe there are no issues now."He added, "My condition is fine. The priority is to avoid injuries before the games, and I will work hard to quickly regain my senses."Regarding his hitless p September 18, 2026

President Lee Jae-myung: 'The People Are Always Right' President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 18, "The people are always right," and pledged to approach all matters with greater care, humility, and intensity. During his opening remarks at a press conference, President Lee acknowledged, "It is true that I was taken aback by the sudden disappointment and concerns of the people following the local elections. After much reflection, I concluded that 'the people are always right.' This is due to my own shortcomings." He emphasized that improving the September 18, 2026

Borrowers Face Higher Payments as Fixed-Rate Periods End Borrowers who took out five-year hybrid mortgages during a low-interest period are now facing the reset of their interest rates. Those who initially enjoyed rates in the 2-3% range may see their payments increase significantly as they transition to current rates around 5%. Nearly 70% of recent borrowers have opted for variable rates, adding to the financial strain as both South Korea and the United States have raised their benchmark interest rates.According to financial sources on September 18, September 18, 2026

U.S. Rate Hike Reduces Loan Limits and Increases Interest Burden for Homebuyers The U.S. Federal Reserve's recent interest rate hike, the first in over three years, is raising concerns about the financial burden on domestic borrowers. With the potential for higher mortgage rates, new borrowers may also see their loan limits reduced due to the total debt service ratio (DSR) regulations.As of September 18, the five major banks in South Korea—KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup—reported fixed mortgage rates ranging from 4.94% to 6.92%. This marks an increase from September 18, 2026

Gwangmyeong City Council Inspects Traditional Market Prices Ahead of Chuseok The Gwangmyeong City Council visited traditional markets to assess prices of holiday essentials ahead of the Chuseok holiday. On September 18, council members visited Gwangmyeong Traditional Market to check prices of key items such as fruits, vegetables, and meat, which see increased demand during the holiday season. They engaged in conversations with market vendors. Led by Chair Lee Hyung-deok, the council members personally shopped to gauge the grocery prices that citizens experience. They als September 18, 2026

Costa Rica Joins DEPA as Fifth Member, Expanding Digital Market in Latin America Costa Rica has joined the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) as its fifth member. Following Chile, the increase in Latin American participants is expected to expand opportunities for South Korean companies in the e-commerce and digital business sectors.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 18 that Costa Rica's membership in DEPA has officially taken effect. With this addition, the DEPA now includes five countries: Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, September 18, 2026

Professors Criticize Lee Jae-myung Government's Free Tuition Policy for National Universities The Korean Association of Private University Professors (Sakyoryun) and the Korean Professors' Union, along with 56 other professor organizations, have sharply criticized the current government's higher education policies, labeling them as 'incompetent, shortsighted, and indifferent.' They condemned the Ministry of Education's plan to implement a 'zero tuition' policy for local national universities as a misleading populist measure that threatens the entire higher education ecosystem, calling f September 18, 2026

Toss Bank's 'Wealth Management' Linked Sales Exceed 30 Trillion Won Toss Bank's asset management service, 'Wealth Management,' has surpassed 30 trillion won in cumulative linked sales.According to Toss Bank on September 18, Wealth Management is a service that introduces customers to selected investment products from Toss Bank's partner financial institutions. Launched in August 2022, it allows users to compare and invest in bonds, issued notes, repurchase agreements (RPs), and foreign bonds all in one place. Actual transactions are conducted through each partner September 18, 2026

Doosan Robotics Appoints Kwon Young-min as New CEO Doosan Robotics announced on September 18 that it has appointed Kwon Young-min as its new CEO.Kwon joined Doosan in 2000 and served as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Doosan Bobcat from 2018 to 2020. Since 2021, he has been leading Doosan Motrol, a subsidiary of Doosan Bobcat.A representative from Doosan Robotics stated, "We expect that his extensive experience in global business and management will contribute to the long-term growth and competitiveness of Doosan Robotics."Meanwhile, Doosan Robo September 18, 2026

Chungnam National University Alumni Association Calls for Dialogue Amid Integration Conflict As tensions rise over the failed vote on the integration with Kongju National University and the promotion of the glocal university initiative, the Chungnam National University Alumni Association has stepped in to mediate. On September 18, the Alumni Association issued an official statement titled "We Must Open a Bold Future for Chungnam University Through Communication and Integration Beyond Conflict." In the statement, the association expressed deep concern over the recent internal conflicts a September 18, 2026