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  • Lotte Card Announces First Cash Interim Dividend of 38.2 Billion Won
    Lotte Card Announces First Cash Interim Dividend of 38.2 Billion Won 롯데카드가 15일 382억원 규모의 현금 중간배당을 결정했다. 롯데카드가 중간배당에 나선 것은 이번이 처음이다. 롯데카드는 이날 임시 이사회를 열고 382억원의 현금 중간배당을 의결했다고 밝혔다. 이번 중간배당 배경에는 대주주 MBK파트너스의 요청이 있던 것으로 알려졌다. 롯데카드 지분은 MBK가 60%, 우리은행과 롯데쇼핑이 각각 20%씩 들고 있다. 롯데카드는 "지난해 경영실적 하락으로 2025년 결산 배당액이 감소함에 따라 주주 가치 제고 계획에 따른 주주 환원 및 당해년도 예상 실적, 자본적정성 등을 종합적으로 고려해 이번 중간 배당을 결정했다"고 설명했다. 다만 롯데카드의 영업 사정이 좋지 않은 상황에서 대주주가 대규모 현금배당을 가져가는 것을 두고 비판의 목소리가 나온다. 앞서 지난 7월 31일 롯데카드는 작년 해킹사고에 따른 정보 유출로 금융위원회로부터 1.5개월 상당의 업무정지 처분을 받았다. 영업정지 제재는 이날까지 적용된다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 21:12:00
  • UN Security Council Calls Emergency Meeting on Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
    UN Security Council Calls Emergency Meeting on Bab-el-Mandeb Strait The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on September 15 to discuss issues related to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, according to a report by Reuters.The meeting, requested by France, is scheduled to take place in the afternoon, Eastern Time, as confirmed by two French diplomats.The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, located at the entrance to the Red Sea, is a critical global maritime logistics route.The Houthi rebels, considered proxies of Iran, have recently expanded their control over strategic areas in southern Red Sea, rapidly extending their influence along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.Concerns are growing that if the Houthis gain complete control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, alongside Iran's effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, international oil prices could rise further.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 20:52:20
  • Seouls Sarang Festival: Odissi dance drama shines
    Seoul's Sarang Festival: Odissi dance drama shines Artists perform the Odissi dance drama “Siya Ram” during the Sarang Festival of India at Ewha Womans University’s Samsung Hall in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Sept. 15, 2026. Now in its 12th edition, the festival aims to introduce various aspects of Indian culture and promote cultural exchanges between South Korea and India. 2026-09-15 20:42:35
  • Indian culture celebrated at Sarang Festival
    Indian culture celebrated at Sarang Festival Artists perform the Odissi dance drama “Siya Ram” during the Sarang Festival of India at Ewha Womans University’s Samsung Hall in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Sept. 15, 2026. Now in its 12th edition, the festival aims to introduce various aspects of Indian culture and promote cultural exchanges between South Korea and India. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-09-15 20:40:52
  • Kim Boo-kyum Emerges as Leading Candidate for National Integration Committee Chair
    Kim Boo-kyum Emerges as Leading Candidate for National Integration Committee Chair 대통령 직속 국민통합위원회 차기 위원장으로 김부겸 전 국무총리가 유력 검토되는 것으로 알려졌다.15일 여권에 따르면 이재명 대통령은 이석연 전 위원장의 퇴임으로 공석이 된 국민통합위원장 자리에 김 전 총리를 유력 후보로 놓고 막판 검토에 들어간 것으로 보인다. 김 전 총리는 더불어민주당 내 대표적인 대구·경북(TK) 출신 중량급 정치인이다. 경기 군포에서 3선을 지낸 뒤 지역주의 타파를 내걸고 민주당의 험지인 대구로 정치 기반을 옮겼다. 2012년 총선과 2014년 대구시장 선거에서 패했지만 2016년 총선에서 대구 수성갑에 당선되며 지역주의의 벽을 허물었다는 평가를 받았다. 문재인 정부에서는 행정안전부 장관과 국무총리를 지냈다. 올해 6·3 지방선거에서도 민주당 후보로 대구시장에 출마해 45%를 득표하며 추경호 시장에게 석패했다. 국민통합위원장은 대통령 직속 자문기구인 국민통합위원회를 대표하는 자리로 부총리급 예우를 받는다. 이 대통령은 김 전 총리가 세대·지역·정파를 넘어 사회 통합을 이뤄낼 적임자라는 판단을 내린 것으로 전해졌다.한편 김 전 총리는 국민통합위원장을 맡게 된다면 정치·사회 현안에 대해 원로로서 쓴소리를 마다하지 않겠다는 입장을 청와대에 전달한 것으로 알려졌다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 20:36:00
  • Gwachon City Corporation Enhances Safety Management Following Ice Rink Incident
    Gwachon City Corporation Enhances Safety Management Following Ice Rink Incident Gwachon City Corporation has initiated safety training for all employees and a review of on-site response systems following a recent safety incident at the Gwachon Citizens' Hall ice rink. On September 15, the corporation held a 'Disaster Safety Accident Prevention Commitment Ceremony' for all employees at the ice rink. The event aimed to share details about a carbon monoxide leak incident and to raise employee awareness about preventing similar accidents. Employees recited a commitment statement and signed a pledge to practice disaster safety accident prevention. They agreed to thoroughly adhere to safety regulations, including preemptive inspections of facilities and work environments, and to take immediate action upon identifying hazards. The corporation also plans to conduct special safety and health training for each department. The training will cover step-by-step response procedures, including initial situation reporting, evacuation, access control, and notifying emergency services, as well as on-site response measures to prevent secondary accidents. Continuous on-site inspections and drills will be conducted to identify and improve disaster risk factors. Citizens have expressed the need for enhanced safety management in facility usage following the incident. One resident stated, "Since this is a facility used by citizens, it is more important to ensure proper inspections and management are conducted regularly rather than just responding after an accident occurs." Another resident added, "I hope that not only the ice rink but also other facilities in the citizens' hall are checked for safety issues, and that the results and improvements are communicated to the public." Meanwhile, a corporation official remarked, "We feel a heavy sense of responsibility regarding this incident and will continue to strengthen safety management and employee training to ensure that hazards are identified and addressed promptly."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 20:32:00
  • Korea, Kazakhstan sign oil, nuclear fuel deals and upgrade ties
    Korea, Kazakhstan sign oil, nuclear fuel deals and upgrade ties SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed Tuesday to cooperate on Kazakh crude oil supply and nuclear fuel, as the two countries raised their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at a summit in Seoul. The agreements build on an economic relationship that is already substantial. Trade between the two countries topped $3 billion last year, and total South Korean direct investment in Kazakhstan has passed $12 billion, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told business leaders in Seoul the same day. After talks between President Lee Jae Myung and President Tokayev, the two governments signed 13 documents covering energy, nuclear power, intellectual property, forestry, urban development and historical preservation. Under a basic arrangement on crude oil cooperation, the two sides will work together on supplying Kazakh crude, geological exploration and the development of oil and gas fields. They also agreed to prepare for and respond to disruptions in global oil supply, and to cooperate on petrochemical research and workforce training. The South Korean government said the arrangement would strengthen practical, mutually beneficial cooperation across the value chain of Kazakhstan's oil sector, from oil field development to petrochemicals. The two countries also expanded cooperation on nuclear power through two memorandums of understanding. Under the first, they agreed to conduct joint research on nuclear power plants and small modular reactors, which are compact reactors built largely from factory-made parts and designed to be deployed faster than conventional plants. The agreement also covers the exchange of nuclear industry policy information, technical support on nuclear and radiation safety, and training and exchanges for scientists and engineers. Seoul said the memorandum created a framework for cooperation across the full cycle of nuclear power and expected it to support South Korean companies seeking to enter new nuclear power projects in Kazakhstan. The second memorandum centered on fuel. The two sides will work to secure stable nuclear fuel supply chains, share experience on nuclear programs and safety, and cooperate on nuclear research and workforce development. Kazakhstan is the world's largest producer of uranium, the raw material for nuclear fuel. The South Korean government said closer supply chain ties with Kazakhstan would strengthen the country's energy security and extend nuclear cooperation between the two nations into every area of the field. Other memorandums cover battery energy storage systems, power grid stabilization, the development and modernization of transmission and distribution networks, and clean hydrogen and ammonia supply chains. They also include commitments to a friendly, transparent and predictable investment environment and to joint research on renewable energy. Beyond energy, the two countries agreed to cooperate on the permanent preservation and management of sites in Kazakhstan linked to the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, along with joint academic research on those sites. Gen. Hong Beom-do, a commander in the armed struggle against Japan, died in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, in 1943, and his remains were returned to South Korea in 2021. The remaining memorandums address intellectual property protection and the prevention of counterfeit goods, forest restoration and climate response, and urban development. At the opening of the Kazakhstan-Korea Business Roundtable in Seoul, President Tokayev told executives from both countries that Astana and Seoul had built their relations over three decades on mutual respect, trust and friendship. "Today, Korea is among Kazakhstan's largest trade and investment partners," he said. "We highly value the productive presence of major Korean companies and will continue to strengthen this positive trend." President Tokayev said bilateral trade could double through joint efforts by the two governments and their companies. He praised Korean investors as "among the most determined and courageous leaders in investment" and pointed to the scale of their presence in his country. "More than 1,000 companies with Korean capital operate in our country, including Samsung, Kia, Hyundai, Lotte, Doosan Enerbility and Shinhan Bank," President Tokayev said. He described his trip as a chance to build on past gains. "This visit provides a good opportunity to consolidate the progress achieved and give new impetus to bilateral cooperation," President Tokayev said. AJP Takeaways - South Korea and Kazakhstan upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Sept. 15 and signed 13 documents, led by a crude oil arrangement that includes joint preparation for global oil supply disruptions and two nuclear memorandums covering reactor research and stable nuclear fuel supply chains with the world's largest uranium producer. - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told Korean and Kazakh executives at the Kazakhstan-Korea Business Roundtable in Seoul that bilateral trade, which topped $3 billion last year, could double, and said more than 1,000 companies with Korean capital, including Samsung, Kia and Hyundai, operate in his country. - Gen. Hong Beom-do, an independence commander who died in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, in 1943, is part of the history behind a new agreement to preserve Korean independence movement sites in Kazakhstan, background that AJP added beyond the South Korean government's list of signed documents. 2026-09-15 20:20:21
  • Kim Min-seok Urges Buddhist Community to Address Social Issues
    Kim Min-seok Urges Buddhist Community to Address Social Issues 김민석 더불어민주당 대표는 15일 대한불교조계종·한국불교태고종을 연달아 방문해 국민 통합과 사회적 문제 해결을 위한 불교계의 협조를 당부했다.김 대표는 이날 서울 종로구 조계사에서 조계종 총무원장 진우스님을 만나 발달장애인 가족의 휴식을 위한 템플스테이 등 종교시설 활용 방안을 제시했다.김 대표는 "일명 '약자의 휴일'이라고 해서 발달장애인 부모를 하루라도 쉬게 해주면 참 좋겠다"며 "최상(의 장소) 중 한 곳이 템플스테이다. (발달장애인 부모들이) 가까운 곳에서 쉬면 비용은 국가와 지자체에서 일부 지원하고, 그날은 발달장애인 자원봉사자들이 도우면 큰 도움이 될 것 같다"고 말했다.진우스님은 "전국에 템플스테이가 150개 정도 되는데 이번에 예산이 30억원 깎였다"며 "절에서 유치하고 있지만 운영 자체가 힘들다. 세심하게 현미경 보듯 봐야지 무조건 일률적으로, 기계적으로 그렇게 (삭감)하는 것은 정책에 도움이 별로 안 될 것 같다"고 짚었다. 이에 김 대표는 "살펴보겠다"고 답했다.김 대표는 이어 한국불교태고종 총무원장 상진스님을 예방해 "태고종이 불교나 민족문화에 기여하는 바가 크다"며 "앞으로 자살, 고독 등과 같은 사회적 문제를 푸는 데 도움을 청하고 싶다"고 밝혔다. 그는 방명록에 '자비의 가르침 받들어 함께 하고 어우러져 국민을 받드는 정치를 하겠다'고 적었다.상진스님은 김 대표를 향해 "항상 봐 와도 믿음직스럽고 무슨 일이든 걱정 없고 잘하리라 생각한다"며 "저희도 정부에 보탬이 될 수 있는 사회적인 문제(를 해결하는데) 열심히 해보려고 노력하고 있다"고 말했다.박성준 수석대변인은 예방을 마치고 기자들과 만나 "김 대표가 한국 사회의 큰 어른들을 만나고 있지 않느냐"며 "우리 사회가 겪고 있는 갈등을 다독이고 큰 어른들을 만나 말씀을 듣는 과정이 곧 통합의 과정"이라고 강조했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 20:08:00
  • Kazakhstan and South Korea Strengthen Uranium Supply Chain Cooperation
    Kazakhstan and South Korea Strengthen Uranium Supply Chain Cooperation The South Korean government is enhancing cooperation with Kazakhstan, the world's largest uranium producer, on nuclear fuel supply chains. In Turkmenistan, it is laying the groundwork for domestic companies to enter the market for large-scale canal modernization and smart water management, expanding collaboration in Central Asia on water and energy.On September 15, the Ministry of Climate and Energy announced that three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed during a summit at the Blue House with leaders from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. All agreements were made in the presence of the two countries' leaders.An MOU was established with Kazakhstan's Nuclear Energy Agency to enhance nuclear cooperation. This framework will focus on collaboration in nuclear policy, workforce training, research and development, and the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.The cooperation also aims to improve the stability and resilience of the uranium supply chain. The agreement includes expanding collaboration in nuclear and radiation safety, environmental protection, and international joint scientific projects, as well as facilitating exchanges between research institutions and companies, internships, and practical training.Kazakhstan accounted for 38.6% of the world's uranium production in 2024, surpassing Canada at 23.7% and Namibia at 12.2%. The Ministry of Climate and Energy expects this cooperation to strengthen South Korea's domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and energy security.Additionally, an MOU was signed with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy regarding cooperation in renewable energy and the transition to clean energy. This initiative aims to connect South Korea's technological and industrial capabilities with Kazakhstan's demand for expanding renewable energy and power grids, targeting carbon neutrality by 2060.The two countries will collaborate in areas such as wind, hydro, and solar energy, as well as battery energy storage systems (BESS) and power grid stabilization infrastructure. The cooperation will also include building value chains for the production and supply of clean hydrogen and ammonia, joint research, data sharing, and feasibility studies. High-level policy dialogues and working groups will facilitate the exchange of technical and regulatory experiences, while business expos and investment seminars will create conditions for public-private investment and corporate collaboration.Furthermore, an MOU was signed with the Turkmenistan Water Resources Committee to enhance cooperation in water resource management. This initiative aims to sustainably manage local water resources, which are vulnerable due to the dry climate and climate change, while expanding opportunities for domestic water companies.The main focus of this collaboration will be the modernization of water infrastructure, including the Karakum Canal. Specific projects will be identified, such as AI-based flood forecasting and a 3D water management platform utilizing digital twin technology.Digital twin technology creates a virtual space that simulates real-world conditions to assist in water management decision-making before events like floods and droughts occur. The two countries also agreed to collaborate on irrigation and agricultural water supply systems, water reuse, desalination, and workforce training.Minister of Climate and Energy Kim Sung-hwan stated, "Addressing climate change has become a pressing challenge of our time. I hope that the signing of these MOUs will strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation to respond to the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to a decarbonized green economy."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 19:56:00
  • Contentious Confirmation Hearing for Kim Seung-won as Justice Minister
    Contentious Confirmation Hearing for Kim Seung-won as Justice Minister The confirmation hearing for Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, descended into chaos on September 15 during a session of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee. The proceedings were marred by harsh language and shouting, with committee chair Seo Young-kyo attempting to restore order multiple times as tensions flared between the ruling and opposition parties.Before formal questioning began, lawmakers clashed. Democratic Party member Kim Nam-hee criticized Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party for using hate speech during a press conference held by parents of children with developmental disabilities, which he claimed misrepresented the organization as illegal. He urged the committee chair to request an apology from Joo for his remarks.In response, Joo countered, "Forty percent of the funds meant for children with developmental disabilities went to the nominee's family, so what is there to say?" He accused Kim's spouse of receiving preferential treatment from officials at Suwon City Hall during the review process, questioning whether other organizations' children should suffer as a result.As the exchanges escalated, the hearing quickly spiraled out of control. Kim Dong-ah of the Democratic Party called Joo a "devil," to which Joo shouted back, "What did you say?" When Kim reiterated the accusation, Joo responded, "It's the families who are siphoning off the support funds that are the real devils." Members of the People Power Party demanded that Seo apologize for allowing such language to go unchallenged, questioning the appropriateness of the proceedings.Democratic Party member Park Kyun-taek also told Kim Tae-kyu of the People Power Party to "remove that hideous face," prompting a heated reaction from Kim. Seo warned that if the disruptions continued, he would have to suspend speaking rights in accordance with parliamentary rules. The People Power Party members criticized Seo's handling of the hearing, arguing that he should not remain silent while insults were exchanged.The verbal sparring continued outside the hearing room. Democratic Party spokesperson Shin Hyun-young lamented, "The confirmation hearing is being trivialized into a farce filled with fiction and speculation. It is frustrating to see the public subjected to such a melodrama." Meanwhile, Park Chung-kwon, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, described the event as a "low-quality melodrama of arrogance and obstinacy, not a venue for public verification," questioning whether this reflected the Democratic Party's commitment to thorough scrutiny.During the hearing, Kim Seung-won stated, "As the committee's secretary, I led the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act. If given the opportunity to serve as minister, I will complete the reforms established through legislation in the field." He pledged to prepare the organization, personnel, and budget of the prosecution office meticulously and to reflect the intent of separating investigation and prosecution in its structure and operations. He also promised to protect citizens from crime and assist victims in restoring their daily lives, emphasizing the need to support vulnerable groups and promote social integration.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 19:48:10