Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea to Fund 70 New Energy R&D Projects Worth 136.9 Billion Won The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said it will post its “2026 Energy Technology Development Implementation Plan” and a first round of 70 new energy technology development projects totaling 136.9 billion won on the ministry website and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning website on Wednesday. The ministry said it plans to support 201.4 billion won this year for new energy technology R&D projects to respond to the climate crisis and advance a sustainable energy transition. It said the program will focus on securing key components for an “energy expressway,” developing next-generation renewable energy technologies, and building the foundation for carbon-neutral R&D. For the “energy expressway,” the ministry said it will provide 12.9 billion won for technology development, including securing key components such as transformers and establishing AI-based systems to operate distributed power grids. To develop next-generation renewable energy technologies, it said it will invest 61.1 billion won in projects including narrowing essential technology gaps related to commercial-area tandem solar modules and offshore wind turbine blades, as well as expanding agrivoltaics. To accelerate carbon neutrality, the ministry said it will support 98.2 billion won for technology development including large-capacity heat pumps, building a clean hydrogen ecosystem, advancing core technologies across the nuclear power life cycle, and securing domestically developed carbon capture, utilization and storage, or CCUS, technologies. It also said it will invest 29.2 billion won to strengthen the energy R&D foundation by expanding advanced workforce training and bolstering follow-up support for strong research outcomes. A ministry official said additional announcements for new projects tied to international joint research and technology commercialization will come later after required procedures, including consultations with partner countries. The official said briefings for interested companies and researchers will be held on Feb. 5 in Seoul and Feb. 12 in Daejeon.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 06:03:00 -
Guri Mayor Baek Kyung Hyun Lays Out Six Policy Priorities for 2026 Guri Mayor Baek Kyung Hyun used a New Year news conference on Tuesday to present what he called six operating directions for 2026: welfare, the economy, urban infrastructure, transportation, culture and the environment. Baek framed the agenda as a question of direction rather than speed, arguing that city policy should focus on where Guri is headed. On welfare, he emphasized what he described as a tighter safety net, treating support as a system rather than a one-time benefit. He pointed to transportation assistance for older residents and integrated medical and long-term care as administrative responsibilities in a rapidly aging city. On low birthrates, he said the city would approach the issue through housing, caregiving, education and work-life balance rather than relying on cash incentives alone. On the economy, Baek highlighted traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts ahead of large-scale development or outside capital, signaling a focus on helping existing merchants endure rather than pursuing short-term stimulus. On future growth, he cited the Topyeong Hangang Smart Green City plan and a Sano-dong e-commerce advanced city concept, describing them as efforts to change Guri’s role in the greater Seoul area. On transportation, he pointed to the issue of whether GTX-B trains will stop at Galmae Station, calling it a matter of “citizens’ right to transportation.” On culture and daily-life infrastructure, he referenced festivals, sports and a new administrative welfare center building, saying city competitiveness should be measured in quality of life. On the environment, he cited the restoration of the Inchangcheon ecological stream, expansion of Imunan Lake Park and the creation of more walkable streets as steps toward a city focused on management rather than development. Baek said his guiding phrase for the year is “Nojeokseonghae,” a proverb meaning small accumulations become a sea, underscoring incremental change through repeated execution. He said the six directions are largely already underway, and whether they translate into improvements residents can feel will be determined over time.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 05:03:48 -
Yangpyeong County head cites 88.3% pledge completion, outlines 2026 priorities Yangpyeong County Gov. Jeon Jin-seon told reporters on Jan. 28 that his administration has carried out 88.3% of its campaign pledges and will steer county policy in 2026 around four priorities: safety, the environment, tourism and health. About 100 news outlets attended the New Year briefing at the county hall. Jeon reviewed major projects and outlined plans, while stressing that the county’s focus is on building policies that last beyond a single term. Jeon cited the 88.3% pledge-implementation rate as a measure of progress, while noting the need to follow through on policy quality. He pointed to projects including the Namhan River Terrace, the Yangpyeong Sports Complex, a lighting street project at the Mulmang Market, and the completion of the Sinwon Water Purification Plant. He also highlighted Yangsuri’s selection as a UN Tourism Best Village, describing it as recognition of tourism planning tied to daily life, the environment and residents rather than short-term events. Jeon said a tourism city should be a place where people have reasons to stay, not simply a place that draws crowds. For 2026, Jeon said the county will run a task force aimed at international safe city certification and strengthen its integrated control center by expanding CCTV coverage. In tourism, he outlined plans to build infrastructure by dividing the county into western, central and eastern zones, and he cited proposals to elevate Dumulmeori and Semiwon as part of a national garden initiative. During a question-and-answer session, reporters raised long-running issues including a possible relocation of the county office, operation of a local emergency medical institution, construction of Yanggeun Bridge, and a proposed Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railway. Jeon addressed some questions at length and declined to answer others immediately. Jeon said “2026 is an important period linking the eighth and ninth elected local administrations,” framing it as both a push to complete his term’s work and to build structures that can be carried forward. He also thanked the media and called for accurate, in-depth coverage, emphasizing communication as the basis for the relationship between local government and the press.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 05:03:23 -
Anseong Mayor Kim Bo-ra Questions Eligibility Limits in Proposed Regional Doctor Program South Korea’s government is pushing to introduce a “regional doctor program” to address uneven distribution of medical workers. The plan aims to fill gaps in essential care in rural areas, smaller cities, and island and mountainous regions where staffing is scarce. Support for the idea is broad, but the debate has focused on how the program is designed. On Tuesday, Anseong Mayor Kim Bo-ra raised questions in a social media post. Kim said she supports the program in principle but asked whether the proposed approach can actually strengthen local health care. She publicly challenged discussions about limiting eligibility to applicants who graduated from middle and high schools within the relevant medical service area. The government is seen as considering that standard to prevent students from Seoul and other large cities from using the program as an alternative admissions route. It also reflects an expectation that students who grew up and studied locally are more likely to stay after completing mandatory service. Kim pointed to existing behavior around special admissions for rural and fishing communities. Some students, she wrote, move their registered address to rural areas near the capital region starting in middle school, attend local schools during the semester and travel to private academies in Seoul during breaks. The more a system is built around “where you’re from,” she argued, the more it can be exploited in ways that diverge from its purpose. Kim said restricting eligibility by middle and high school region does not guarantee a doctor will remain after mandatory service. She also questioned excluding applicants who grew up in Seoul but make a firm choice to provide essential care in underserved areas. Her criticism went beyond fairness in access. Kim said the program’s success depends less on applicants’ origins than on training that builds a sense of mission as a regional doctor. She called for education after selection that helps doctors understand local conditions, build relationships with residents and internalize the public nature of medical care — producing doctors who embrace local practice rather than simply fulfilling a service requirement. Kim acknowledged that motivations for becoming a doctor are complex and that many high-achieving students choose medical school for economic reasons, a reality she said will not change overnight. But she drew a line, arguing that the regional doctor program should not be distorted as a way to address that broader issue. Kim said the program should not be framed as compensation for people from certain areas, but as a system to develop doctors committed to taking responsibility for local health care. That makes the initial design crucial, she said — focusing not on whom to exclude, but on whom to cultivate and how. Kim said success should be measured not only in head counts but in whether more doctors ultimately stay, know their patients and remain part of the community. The answer, she argued, lies in choice, education and the program’s guiding philosophy, not birthplace.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 05:03:00 -
Gyeongju to Allow Pets in Restaurants and Bakeries Starting in March GYEONGJU, South Korea — Starting in March, restaurants and other food-service businesses in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province, will be allowed to admit pets if they meet specified hygiene and safety standards. Gyeongju City said Tuesday the system allowing customers to bring pets into food-service establishments will take effect March 1. The city said the move is intended to improve convenience for pet owners while also protecting the choice of customers who do not have pets. The policy applies to restaurants, snack bars and bakeries, and it limits eligible pets to dogs and cats. Ahead of the rollout, the city set new facility requirements, operating rules and administrative penalty standards for businesses that allow pets. Participating businesses must post a sign at the exterior entrance indicating pets are allowed. They also must install partitions or fencing to prevent animals from entering food-handling areas such as kitchens and ingredient storage rooms. Businesses must keep pets from roaming freely and provide dedicated seating, a cage, a restraint device or a separate designated area. They must also verify pets’ vaccination status and notify customers that unvaccinated animals will be barred from entry. To strengthen hygiene, the city said businesses must maintain spacing between tables and use covers to prevent contaminants such as animal hair from getting into food. Violations of facility standards or operating rules may result in corrective orders or administrative penalties, including suspension of business operations, the city said. To reduce confusion early in the rollout, the city said it will provide training and publicity for business owners and conduct intensive inspections of compliance. Mayor Joo Nak-young said, “As life with pets has become part of everyday living, this system is a step in which the administration responds ahead of changes in residents’ lives.” He added, “Through thorough hygiene and safety standards, we will create a dining environment that both pet owners and non-pet owners can use with confidence.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 02:00:00 -
Pohang City Council Speaker Kim Il-man Announces Run for Mayor Kim Il-man, speaker of the Pohang City Council, officially announced his candidacy for Pohang mayor on the 28th in front of the “Goddess Statue” in Songdo, saying the city’s next decade should be guided by “one blueprint,” not fragmented projects. He adopted the campaign slogan “Only Pohang, only citizens, therefore Kim Il-man,” and set “a self-sufficient city where citizens are happy, a Pohang that feels good to live in” as his municipal administration slogan. “Politics is ultimately about making citizens’ daily lives less inconvenient and giving them a sense a month later that ‘things have changed,’” Kim said. Rather than listing lengthy, sweeping pledges, he said he would clearly set the city’s direction and move the entire administration consistently under it. Kim said Pohang’s growth agenda should move “together,” not “separately.” He argued that when industry, the port, tourism and urban renewal operate on their own, results weaken and residents feel less impact. “Now we need a ‘city administration blueprint’ that ties scattered projects into one direction,” he said. “Achievements that citizens can’t feel ultimately don’t last,” he added, saying he would judge city policy by changes in daily life rather than by numbers. Kim named Yeongil Bay Port as the first key pillar of Pohang’s development, saying port revitalization must be linked to regional and national strategies. He said he would establish ongoing cooperation channels with the central government, North Gyeongsang Province and industry to secure cargo volume and routes and make Pohang a gateway to the East Sea economic region. He also presented a single track that includes redefining Homigot’s status, restoring the old downtown and strengthening Pohang’s city brand. “Cities are not completed by industry alone. There must be a structure where people stay and return,” Kim said. He said a city is complete when alleys are lit after work, children can walk safely, older residents have shade to rest, and young people have places to stay. He pledged to link development and renewal to bring people back to the city center. Kim said politics is “not words but action,” and that leaders must follow through to the end. He pledged an administration that citizens feel they can trust with responsibility. “Explanations will be sufficient, decisions will be made openly, and results will be verified through indicators,” he said, adding that he would focus on Pohang and its citizens to open the city’s next 10 years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 01:51:00 -
North Gyeongsang Provincial Council Approves Support for Daegu Integration North Gyeongsang Province’s council approved a measure backing administrative integration with the city of Daegu, even as opposition sentiment has been rising in the province’s northern region. The North Gyeongsang Provincial Council said it passed a motion titled “Submission of the council’s opinion on the integration of North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu Metropolitan City” at the first plenary meeting of its 360th extraordinary session on Jan. 28. The vote was 46 in favor, 11 against and two abstentions. The resolution, submitted under Article 5, Paragraph 3 of the Local Autonomy Act, formally states the council’s position on the proposed integration. The council said it took up the matter directly in the plenary session, citing urgency and the need to manage its schedule efficiently, and approved it through a recorded electronic vote. The council described the move as a strategic choice aimed at supporting follow-up steps at the national level, including legislation for a special law related to the integration. Ahead of the plenary vote, the council held the third meeting of its special committee on the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration and a lawmakers’ general meeting on Jan. 27. Council members reviewed key issues and held extensive discussions, it said. During deliberations, members discussed responses to National Assembly action on a special integration law, measures to address regional imbalances such as concerns about the northern area being left behind, and strategies to attract a second round of public institutions after integration. In the plenary debate, opponents raised concerns that the talks were moving too quickly and said the push should proceed cautiously without sufficient public input. Supporters argued that integration between North Gyeongsang and Daegu is a choice that can no longer be delayed to counter the risk of regional decline, and said the current period is the right time because the central government is actively supporting the effort. Council Chair Park Seong-man called the decision “a historic determination” to create a new breakthrough for local autonomy in South Korea as regions face the risk of decline. He said the council presented its opinion in line with residents’ wishes and would closely monitor the entire legislative process so residents’ voices are properly reflected. Park added that the integration is not simply a merger of two areas, but a long-term plan to build a broader economic zone with global competitiveness and a new model for balanced development. He said the council would play an active role so the decision can lead to regional development, improved public welfare and a stronger local economy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 01:30:00 -
Busan’s City Treasury Deposit Rate Lags at 2.46%, Near Bottom Among Major South Korean Cities Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is posting one of the lower treasury deposit rates among the nation’s metropolitan governments, newly released data show. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, publishing a nationwide comparison for the first time, disclosed figures that allow side-by-side analysis of local governments’ treasury interest rates. According to the “local government treasury rate integrated status” posted Tuesday on the Local Finance Integrated Disclosure System (Local Finance 365), Busan City Hall’s contracted rate for long-term deposits of 12 months or more stood at 2.46% as of the 13th. That is below the average of 2.61% for South Korea’s 17 metropolitan-level governments, placing Busan in the mid-to-lower tier at about ninth to 10th. The release marks the first time the ministry has consolidated treasury rates that local governments previously disclosed individually. The gap with other major governments was clear in the data. Incheon secured 4.57%, the only metropolitan government in the 4% range and the highest nationwide. Seoul posted 3.45%, about 1 percentage point higher than Busan, and neighboring South Gyeongsang province recorded 2.60%, also above Busan. North Gyeongsang province was lowest at 2.15%. At the basic local government level, Busan also trailed. While Incheon’s Seo District recorded the highest rate nationwide at 4.82%, the average long-term deposit rate across Busan’s 16 districts and counties was about 2.55%. Within Busan, Gangseo District was the only one above 3%, at 3.00%. Most others remained in the 2% range, including Yeongdo District at 2.36% and Busanjin District at 2.51%. Treasury rates are a key fiscal indicator because they directly affect local governments’ interest income. With metropolitan governments managing funds ranging from hundreds of billions to trillions of won, even a 0.5 percentage-point difference can translate into tens of billions of won in annual interest income. The figures have fueled criticism that Busan failed to secure better terms, unlike Incheon, which drew intense bidding competition among commercial banks to obtain a higher rate. Busan has long faced criticism that, in selecting its treasury banks, it prioritizes stability and customary consideration for local financial institutions over rate competitiveness. Fiscal experts said the integrated disclosure should strengthen transparency by enabling comparisons across local governments. They said it will be difficult to break a pattern of low rates unless evaluation criteria place greater weight on contracted treasury rates and on measurable contributions to interest income. Busan’s 2026 budget totals 17.933 trillion won. BNK Busan Bank manages about 70% of the city’s funds, including the general account, as the primary treasury bank, while KB Kookmin Bank manages the remaining 30%, including special accounts, as the secondary treasury bank. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 00:45:00 -
South Korea’s Democratic Party to Introduce Special Act for Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City The Democratic Party said it will introduce, as a party-line bill, a special act to establish “Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City,” a key step toward administrative integration between Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. The party said on Tuesday that its special committee on the Gwangju-Jeonnam integration plan postponed the filing of the bill that had been scheduled for that day. The delay was to address shortcomings in the draft. Provincial and city officials and local lawmakers had agreed to hold a meeting Wednesday morning, but canceled it and decided to hand the bill to the party’s legislative support group. The committee said the legislative support group will review the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City bill, along with other regional integration measures, so it can be processed quickly and introduced as the party’s official position. A day earlier, the committee agreed to name the merged local government “Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City,” and to use “Gwangju Special City” as an abbreviated name. It had said it would file the special act on Tuesday. The location of the main city hall will be left to the authority of the unified mayor, whose term begins July 1.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 21:57:00 -
Ruling Bloc Slams Court After Kim Keon Hee Gets 1 Year, 8 Months; Parties Agree on Chip Bill Ruling bloc blasts court after Kim Keon Hee gets 1 year, 8 months Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, who was indicted on charges including stock-price manipulation involving Deutsche Motors, was sentenced in a first trial to 1 year and 8 months, far below what prosecutors sought. Lawmakers in the ruling bloc responded with broad criticism of the court. On Tuesday, Park Soo-hyun, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said, “Kim, a ‘comprehensive case of power-type corruption,’ was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months.” He said it marked “the first case in constitutional history in which a former president and spouse have both been punished,” but added the sentence was “nowhere near enough” for “shaking democracy with insurrection and ruining state affairs for private gain.” Park said the ruling “left many regrets,” arguing there was clear evidence Kim “manipulated the capital market and gained more than 800 million won in illicit profits,” yet the court did not recognize her as a co-perpetrator. He criticized the court’s reasoning, quoting it as saying it was “difficult to conclude co-perpetration even if she recognized price-manipulation acts.” Parties agree to pass chip bill, filibuster chair-transfer rule at plenary The ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass a special semiconductor bill and a revision to the National Assembly Act at a plenary session on Wednesday. The agreement was reached Tuesday in a meeting in the National Assembly steering committee chair’s office between Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok. The proposed Assembly Act revision would allow the National Assembly speaker to transfer presiding authority during prolonged unlimited debate, citing fatigue. The parties decided to keep the current handwritten method for voting to end a filibuster, rejecting a switch to electronic voting. Late ex-Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan to be buried in Sejong after Jan. 31 rites Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died on Jan. 25 while on a business trip to Vietnam, will have a funeral procession on Jan. 31, followed by a memorial service at the National Assembly, and will be buried in Sejong City. Lee Hae-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker serving as vice chair of the funeral committee’s executive body, told reporters Tuesday at the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital. According to Lee, the procession will be held at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, followed by visits to the office of the National Unification Advisory Council and the Democratic Party headquarters for rites. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, followed by cremation at 11 a.m. at the Seoul Memorial Park in Seocho-dong. The cortege will then visit the deceased’s home in Jeondong-myeon, Sejong, before burial at Sejong’s Eunahsu Park. Presidential office: Real estate tax overhaul not ready within a month or two The presidential office said it is approaching discussions on real estate tax changes cautiously because of their potential market impact, while stressing the need for a long-term review to address underlying housing issues. On Tuesday, Kim Yong-beom, the presidential office’s policy chief, told a news briefing that “taxation is an important part” if the government is to find a fundamental solution to real estate problems. But he said it is “not something to announce within a month or two,” adding it is a topic that requires “long-term, in-depth discussions involving multiple ministries.” His remarks suggested the government is not immediately reviewing tax regulations, while acknowledging taxation as a possible tool for addressing deeper real estate problems. It also left room for the possibility of using tax measures if market conditions change sharply.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 21:42:00