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Gwangmyeong City Corporation Supports 9,847 Citizen Sports Activities with 'Tuntun Money' Gwangmyeong City Corporation has launched an initiative to increase citizen participation in community sports through the 'Tuntun Money' program, in collaboration with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation's 'National Fitness 100' project. According to the corporation on the 18th, the Women's Vision Center swimming pool and the Gwangmyeong Health Sports Center operated as Tuntun Money accumulation facilities from June to August 3. During this period, the Women's Vision Center swimming pool recorded 5,778 sports activities, while the Gwangmyeong Health Sports Center had 4,069 activities. The total participation reached 9,847, accumulating 4,923,500 points. The 'Tuntun Money' program provides points to citizens who engage in sports activities, which can be used for purchasing sports equipment, accessing sports facilities, or converting to local currency. The corporation expanded its outreach to citizens during the program using QR codes and conducted on-site operations. Participants expressed positive feedback about the Tuntun Money initiative. Many citizens appreciated the ability to earn points while engaging in sports activities, with some stating, "I am very satisfied," and others expressing disappointment that the program ended sooner than expected. Originally scheduled to run until November, the program concluded early on August 3 due to the depletion of the Tuntun Money budget. Han Jeong-gwang, head of the Management Planning Division, noted, "The high interest in the program stemmed from citizens being able to earn points while participating in sports activities," adding, "We will continue to discover sports services and programs that citizens can feel the benefits of." Seo Il-dong, the president, stated, "Promoting citizen health and activating community sports is a crucial role of public sports facilities," and emphasized the commitment to expand various programs and related initiatives to encourage consistent participation in sports activities among citizens. The corporation plans to continue developing and operating community sports programs and related initiatives to enhance the use of public sports facilities and improve citizen health.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:40:00 -
Kim Min-seok to Review Legitimacy of Choo Mi-ae's 2.1 Billion Won Consulting Controversy Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, stated on September 18 that he will examine the legitimacy of a 2.1 billion won political consulting contract related to Choo Mi-ae's campaign during the June 3 local elections. Choo, the governor of Gyeonggi Province, quickly countered, expressing regret over what she called an "unfounded controversy."During an appearance on the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel, "Minju07," Kim said, "I am closely monitoring the contract related to our party's candidate." He added, "In principle, whether it is a party candidate or an individual, I do not see a problem with having contracts with various companies during elections. However, I will look into whether the consulting services provided were worth the price and whether the relationships among the staff were transparent."He continued, "If any issues arise, the party will inevitably be involved, so we are keeping a close watch. I am not aware if similar cases exist, but we are being careful to ensure that no further issues arise."In response, Choo dismissed the claims as "unfounded controversy" and expressed her disappointment. On Facebook, she stated, "The company I contracted with has worked with previous Gyeonggi governors during the 7th and 8th terms (Lee Jae-myung and Kim Dong-yeon). It is natural to contract with a company that has gained expertise during elections." She questioned the motives behind creating controversy without any basis, adding, "Now is the time to focus on people's livelihoods and reforms."Choo is reported to have spent approximately 2.1 billion won on a political consulting firm with pro-government leanings during the June 3 local elections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:20:00
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Mayor Choi Dae-ho Promotes Innovative Administration Nationwide Mayor Choi Dae-ho expressed hope on September 18 that Anyang's exemplary innovation cases will serve as a catalyst for local government innovation across the country. He made this statement while sharing the city's accumulated experiences with local governments nationwide.During the event held at city hall, Mayor Choi hosted six officials from local governments including Gwanak-gu in Seoul, Cheongyang-gun in South Chungcheong Province, and Namdong-gu in Incheon as part of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's 'Government Innovation Mentoring' program.This mentoring initiative allows excellent institutions recognized in government innovation evaluations to share their successful cases and administrative know-how with other local governments.Mayor Choi, who has participated as a mentor based on Anyang's selection as an excellent institution for nine consecutive years from 2017 to 2025 in the government innovation evaluation, emphasized the importance of spreading Anyang's innovative administration beyond mere administrative achievements.Anyang introduced its 'Anyang Innovation Junior Board,' an organization focused on innovation activities led by young public officials, and shared the process that led to its recognition as an excellent institution for nine consecutive years in the government innovation evaluation.In particular, the city shared policy examples ranging from internal innovations in organizational culture and work methods to smart city administration utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.The visiting officials also explored the Smart City Integrated Center to examine city operations based on AI and big data. They experienced Anyang's future transportation service, the driverless Level 4 (Lv4) autonomous shuttle 'Juyaro.'Mayor Choi's push for innovative administration in Anyang is expanding across the city, focusing on organizational culture improvement and public sector innovation, as well as AI, big data administration, and smart city initiatives.He emphasized, 'We will continue to realize sustainable innovation in collaboration with citizens as a city that leads change and challenges.'Meanwhile, Mayor Choi plans to continuously share the innovative administrative experiences accumulated over the years with other local governments, ensuring that citizens can feel the impact of administrative innovation. 2026-09-18 18:16:10
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New System to Separate CI and Resident Registration Numbers to Prevent Data Leaks Starting January A new system to separate the management of linked information (CI) and resident registration numbers will be implemented in January. This measure aims to reduce the risk of personal data breaches, as the simultaneous exposure of both types of information increases the likelihood of individual identification.On September 18, the Broadcast Media Commission (BMC) announced the approval of a revised guideline concerning the generation and processing of linked information. The BMC stated, "We are promoting this revision to enhance security and prevent the possibility of simultaneous exposure of resident registration numbers and linked information." CI is a unique identifier used to recognize individuals online. It was introduced to prevent the direct exposure and misuse of resident registration numbers. When a user verifies their identity, a verification agency generates a CI and provides it to businesses and institutions.However, the existing structure of CI issuance has been problematic, as once issued, it cannot be changed. While CI alone does not enable hackers to conduct financial transactions or steal accounts, issues arise when it is combined with personal information such as names and birthdates. The repeated incidents of data breaches have heightened calls for the separation and secure storage of CI and resident registration numbers.Last year, Lotte Card exposed logs containing linked information and resident registration numbers in plaintext while operating its mobile and online payment service. Approximately 1.29 million CIs were included in the leaked data, with 450,000 of them also having their resident registration numbers exposed.This year, the online video platform Tving reported that accounts holding CIs experienced an average of 11.1 data items leaked, significantly higher than the average of 4.6 items for accounts without CIs.Experts have acknowledged that separating CI and resident registration numbers is a necessary step, but they emphasize the need for a robust post-incident response system. Professor Hwang Seok-jin from Dongguk University’s Graduate School of International Information Security stated, "While the separation and secure storage of CI and resident registration numbers is essential to mitigate the severity of personal data breaches, it is equally important to implement encryption, access controls, and monitoring of access logs."Currently, the BMC is discussing options for invalidating or replacing leaked CIs. Professor Hwang suggested that, given the need to overhaul databases and authentication systems, it is crucial to approach this transition gradually through ongoing discussions rather than implementing a uniform change in a short period.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:16:00
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Samsung DX Union Protests Outside Chairman Lee Jae-Yong's Home Samsung Electronics' Device Experience (DX) division union has begun a sit-in protest outside the home of Chairman Lee Jae-Yong, demanding direct dialogue with him.On September 18, the Donghaeng Union, representing employees from the DX division, held a launch ceremony in front of Lee's residence in Yongsan, Seoul, and initiated an indefinite relay sit-in. About 40 union members attended the event.The union stated, "We have raised our voices in Suwon and Seocho, and even in New York's Times Square, but the company has yet to establish a proper dialogue table with us." They called for the establishment of a dialogue platform to speak directly with Chairman Lee.Tensions are high between the DX and Device Solutions (DS) divisions regarding next year's wage negotiations. The largest union at Samsung Electronics, the Samsung Group's Enterprise Union, which focuses on the DS division, has announced plans to negotiate separately from the DX division starting in 2027.The Donghaeng Union opposes this move and demands a joint negotiation structure for both divisions. They argue that a certain percentage of overall performance should be pooled as common resources to address the compensation disparities that have arisen based on divisional performance.As a result, key issues in next year's wage negotiations are expected to include not only the wage increase rate but also the negotiation structure and performance distribution methods. With differing interests regarding divisional performance and compensation levels, coordination among unions is necessary before labor negotiations commence.The Donghaeng Union also demanded answers from the company regarding allegations of a so-called "union blacklist," which suggests that employees' personal information was shared internally. The union asserted, "The company must clarify the extent of the damage, the circumstances of the leak, the scope of information usage, and subsequent measures." They also revealed that over 15,000 petitions for severe punishment against the chairman of the Enterprise Union, Choi Seung-ho, have been prepared.The Donghaeng Union plans to activate a task force for labor-management negotiations after the upcoming chairperson election on September 28. They aim to solidify their demands from the DX division while pushing for a joint negotiation structure.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:16:00
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Mayor Choi Dae-ho Promotes Innovation in Local Government Mayor Choi Dae-ho expressed hope on September 18 that Anseong's exemplary innovation cases will serve as a catalyst for local government innovation across the country. He made this statement while sharing the city's accumulated experiences with local government officials nationwide.During a mentoring session organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Mayor Choi hosted six officials from local governments including Gwanak District in Seoul, Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province, and Namdong District in Incheon. He noted that this mentoring program allows top-performing institutions in government innovation evaluations to share their successful cases and administrative know-how with other local governments.Based on Anseong's recognition as an excellent institution in the government innovation evaluation for nine consecutive years from 2017 to 2025, Mayor Choi participated as a mentor. He emphasized the importance of expanding Anseong's innovative administration beyond mere administrative achievements to benefit other local governments.During the session, Anseong introduced its 'Anseong Innovation Junior Board,' an organization focused on innovation led by young public officials, and shared the process that led to its recognition as a top institution in the government innovation evaluation for nine years. The city highlighted its policies, which range from internal innovations in organizational culture and work methods to smart city administration utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.The visiting officials also toured the Smart City Integrated Center to observe city operations based on AI and big data. They experienced Anseong's future transportation service, the driverless Level 4 autonomous shuttle 'Juyaro.'Mayor Choi's push for innovative administration in Anseong is expanding across the city, focusing on improvements in organizational culture and public sector innovation, as well as AI, big data administration, and smart city initiatives.He emphasized, 'We will continue to realize sustainable innovation in partnership with citizens as a city that leads change and challenges.'Additionally, Mayor Choi plans to continuously share the innovative administrative experiences accumulated over the years with other local governments, ensuring that citizens can feel the impact of administrative innovation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:16:00
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People Power Party Criticizes President Lee's Press Conference The People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae-myung's press conference on September 18, stating, "There was no sign of reflection on government failures or a willingness to change policy direction."Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk held a press briefing at the National Assembly, asserting, "This was a press conference that revealed the president's true intentions. It was a declaration of, 'No matter what the people say, I will continue on my path with the leftists.'"Jang suggested that President Lee believes the decline in approval ratings is due to even his core supporters turning away. He analyzed that the goal of the press conference was to turn around the declining approval ratings by winning back this core support.He pointed out several issues criticized by the opposition, including rising housing prices in the capital region, a comprehensive survey of agricultural land, the single-item leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) situation, and reforms to the criminal justice system, stating, "There was no reflection on government failures." He criticized the president's acknowledgment of shortcomings in process and method, saying, "The diagnosis was wrong from the start. The direction was incorrect, so both the process and the methods were flawed."Jang also took issue with the government's stance against the judiciary regarding the Supreme Court's referral authority. Quoting the president's remarks, he urged, "I hope you will think carefully about the reasons for granting independence to state agencies," adding, "The president is someone who has trampled on the independence of the judiciary by citing elected and appointed powers."He concluded, "The public's one-line review is that 'time was wasted and ears were closed.' I believe it is time for the president to step down and no longer be a painful presence for the people."Jung Jeom-sik, the party's floor leader, also spoke to reporters, describing the press conference as "a hollow repetition of maintaining the current policy direction" and called it "despairing." He noted the lack of reflection on policies that exploit the public's assets, such as real estate, agricultural land, and stocks, stating, "The diagnosis of the problems was wrong from the outset."Additionally, Jung listed the president's remarks from the press conference, labeling him as an 'irresponsible president,' 'a truly bad president,' and 'a cowardly president.' He assessed that the purpose of the press conference was to appease the left in an effort to prevent the disintegration of support.Meanwhile, in response to Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do's call for the People Power Party to stop engaging in unproductive political strife and irresponsible governance, Jung countered, "The Democratic Party's perspective itself is the problem." He emphasized, "In the 22nd National Assembly, the Democratic Party has taken measures one by one to hold the president accountable. I have repeatedly stated that if it concerns the people's livelihood, I am always open to dialogue and cooperation to improve the lives of the people."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:12:00
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South Korea Men's Basketball Reaches Asian Games Final After Defeating Iran South Korea's men's basketball team advanced to the Asian Games final for the first time in 12 years by defeating Iran. The determination of head coach Nikolajs Marzullo, from Latvia, has paid off despite pre-tournament concerns.On September 18, the South Korean team, led by Marzullo, dominated Iran 77-51 in the semifinals held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan. Lee Hyun-jung was instrumental in the victory, scoring 26 points.According to Yonhap News, this win ended a six-game losing streak against Iran and marked South Korea's first appearance in the Asian Games final since winning gold at the 2014 Incheon Games. The team has also secured its first silver medal of the tournament.Before the tournament, expectations for Marzullo were more cautious than optimistic. South Korea had a record of just 2 wins and 6 losses in pre-tournament matches, with the only victory coming against the Philippines' second team. Under Marzullo, the team struggled with focus in crucial fourth quarters, and their three-point shooting, a traditional strength, was inconsistent.However, the team's performance improved significantly during the tournament. Yonhap reported that South Korea scored over 100 points in three consecutive games during the group stage and quarterfinals against Indonesia, Japan, and Jordan. Before the semifinals, the team averaged 99.5 points per game with a shooting percentage of 50%. They also led all participating countries with an average of 28.3 assists per game and improved their three-point shooting percentage to 37%.Marzullo's 'system basketball' has effectively filled the gaps left by players. Despite the late arrival of Choi Jun-yong due to overseas league commitments and the injury of Yeo Jun-seok after the first group match, the team's organization remained intact. In the quarterfinals against Jordan, all 12 players who participated scored.Marzullo stated, "Even if a specific player is unable to play or is injured, we have prepared so that other players can step in and execute our style of basketball."South Korea now has just one game left to secure the gold medal, facing the winner of the Japan-China semifinal on September 20. 2026-09-18 18:08:00
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International Oil Prices Exceed $100, But Government Freezes Fuel Price Cap International oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel due to renewed price pressures from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, the South Korean government has decided to maintain the fuel price cap for the tenth time. This decision comes as the consumer price inflation rate has risen back to the 3% range, although the decline in the won-dollar exchange rate has somewhat offset the burden of crude oil import costs.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 18 that the price cap for fuel products, effective from midnight on September 19 for the next four weeks, will remain unchanged at 1,784 won per liter for regular gasoline, 1,773 won for diesel, and 1,380 won for kerosene. This price cap applies to the fuel products supplied by refiners to gas stations.Since lowering the seventh price cap by 150 won per type on June 27, the government has kept the prices stable for the eighth to tenth rounds.The conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which had shown signs of temporary easing in August, has escalated again this month. Additionally, Houthi rebels have occupied cities near the Red Sea, contributing to a sharp rise in international oil prices. As of September 16, Brent crude was priced at $105.8 per barrel, Dubai crude at $128, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $102.4.International product prices have also increased, with gasoline reaching $145 per barrel and diesel at $201. Compared to the fourth week of August, gasoline prices have risen by $33, and diesel by $47.Despite these increases, the government has decided to freeze prices, taking into account the recent inflationary pressures and the decline in the exchange rate. The consumer price inflation rate rose from 3.2% in June to 2.8% in July, before climbing back to 3.1% in August.The exchange rate has also shown a downward trend. The won-dollar exchange rate fell from 1,505 won in the fourth week of March, when the second price cap was set, to 1,358 won in the third week of this month, a decrease of about 10%. The official selling price of Middle Eastern crude oil has also dropped from a premium of $19.5 per barrel in May to around minus $2 currently. The government believes that the actual burden of crude oil import costs is not as high as when the price cap was last increased.The Ministry estimates that without the price cap, domestic prices would be over 100 won higher for gasoline, more than 350 won for diesel, and about 300 won higher for kerosene. The price control has also contributed to an average reduction of 0.6 percentage points in the consumer price inflation rate from March to August.Contrary to concerns that price controls might increase oil consumption, retail sales at gas stations have decreased since the implementation of the price cap. From the second week of March to August, gasoline sales fell by 2.1% and diesel by 8.4% compared to the same period last year. Last month, gasoline and diesel consumption dropped by 1.2% and 8.8%, respectively.The government currently sees no significant issues with crude oil supply. It has secured over 90% of the necessary quantities, with more than 70% of the November import volume already secured. Although some shipments have been delayed due to attacks on Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, refiners are obtaining alternative supplies.The strategic oil reserve swap system has also been reactivated. Since the reactivation on August 24, swaps totaling 5.8 million barrels have been conducted. The government anticipates an additional swap demand of 9.6 million barrels by mid-November. It is also discussing with the Ministry of Economy and Finance the possibility of extending the freight differential support program, which was implemented from April to June, through December.However, as the price cap extends beyond six months, the burden regarding financial compensation and exit strategies is expected to grow. The government plans to collect settlement data from the four major refiners by the end of this month to calculate the compensation amount for November and complete the objection process by December. It believes that financial support will be possible within the existing reserve fund of 4.2 trillion won and an additional 1.4 trillion won for the fourth quarter.Yang Gi-wook, head of the Ministry's Resource Security Division, stated, "We will review the data submitted by the industry, including the four major refiners, by the end of September to determine the settlement amount by November. Although it may take a bit longer, we plan to expedite the process. I believe it can be resolved within the budget prepared by the government."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:00:20
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Public Housing Needs Structural Changes to Foster Community Engagement To enhance community engagement in public housing, it is essential to change the spatial structure itself, rather than merely adding facilities that people can walk to, stay in, and meet at.Professor Kim Young-wook of Sejong University made this statement on September 18 during a seminar at the Ferum Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, where he presented on strategies for urban and residential area development based on spatial structure analysis to promote community activation.He pointed out that the recurring issue of community activation in land development is more related to vehicle-centric designs and superblocks than to the presence or quality of individual facilities. "Ultimately, walkability is crucial," he said, emphasizing the need to observe where people tend to linger.When spaces are segregated and designed around vehicles, it becomes difficult for people to move and meet naturally. Professor Kim explained that by analyzing actual pedestrian flow and adjusting block sizes, road layouts, and block shapes, community activation can be significantly improved.He proposed three indicators to predict the level of spatial activation: integration (accessibility), choice (frequency of use), and spatial structure clarity (cognizability). Utilizing these indicators allows for the prediction of pedestrian flow, facility accessibility, and the degree of spatial activation, enabling quantitative comparisons of various design proposals.Professor Kim also shared case studies of spatial structure analysis in the new town of Wangsil in Namyangju and Jinjup in Namyangju, explaining that analyzing pedestrian networks centered around stations can reveal concentrated movement paths.In the case of Goyang 5 Complex, restructuring daily living routes resulted in an increase in community and external space activation from 76% to 86%, with average pedestrian activation rising by 1.5 to 2 times.He stressed the need for objective verification of walkability from the urban planning and residential design stages. "There has been little interest in the walkability that has a real impact, and it has not been legislated," he said, advocating for the introduction of a system to objectively verify walkability performance during the district planning and design competition stages.To achieve this, he suggested implementing a 'pre-walkability review' during the planning phase. This process would involve investigating and predicting pedestrian volume, changes in walking behavior, and safety impacts, while developing improvement plans to minimize issues.During the seminar, discussions also focused on expanding community and care functions in public housing to address aging populations.Kim Young-guk, a senior researcher at the Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corporation (SH), stated that public housing should serve as a hub supporting the continued residence of the elderly in their communities through a strategy for community service operation aimed at aging in place.He explained that considering the aging population, the increase in single-person households, and the weakening of family care, a community care system that connects housing security, care services, social participation, service linkage, and sustainability is necessary.Kim pointed out that the current elderly community in public housing often operates around senior centers, which tend to offer simple programs like meal provision and exercise. He proposed gradually expanding existing senior centers into well-aging centers or senior respite spaces, and utilizing small libraries and community meeting rooms as intergenerational exchange spaces."The important question is not where to provide care, but how to allow the elderly to comfortably stay in familiar areas for a long time," he said.Finally, Park Seok-kyu, head of the urban research team at Incheon Urban Corporation (iH), introduced a housing model that fosters a community-friendly environment for both child-rearing families and the elderly in response to low birth rates and aging. He suggested implementing a cyclical housing model before elementary school enrollment and a vibrant housing model afterward, based on life stages.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 18:00:00