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Blue House Urges Chief Justice Cho to Expedite Supreme Court Justice Nominations The Blue House urged Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on September 11 to expedite the nomination process for Supreme Court justices amid ongoing vacancies.Kang Yu-jeong, the Blue House spokesperson, stated during a briefing following a senior aides meeting chaired by the President, "The Blue House is ensuring that there are no obstacles to the public's right to a fair trial as we prepare for the next steps."Kang emphasized, "The Chief Justice must also ensure that the prolonged vacancies do not infringe upon the public's right to a fair trial, and we hope he will respect the recommendations from the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee and proceed with the nominations as quickly as possible."The Blue House had requested Chief Justice Cho to nominate candidates for the Supreme Court on August 28, but nearly two weeks have passed without completion of the related procedures.Previously, the Blue House decided not to submit the appointment confirmation for Judge Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court to the National Assembly and asked Chief Justice Cho to recommend a different candidate instead.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 18:00:00 -
Kang Shin-cheol: No Issues with Defense Even if Wartime Operational Control is Returned Tomorrow Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, stated on September 11, "Even if wartime operational control is returned tomorrow, there will be no significant issues in our ability to defend ourselves." He expressed agreement with comments made by Minister of National Defense An Gyu-baek during a Future Defense Strategy Committee meeting on May 26.According to Yonhap News, Kang made these remarks in a written response to a question from Yoo Yong-won, a member of the ruling People Power Party. He emphasized, "Mutual trust in the Korea-U.S. alliance must be guaranteed."Kang also noted, "There is not a significant difference in positions between South Korea and the United States regarding the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control," adding that he has been informed that close consultations have been held through high-level discussions. He stated that if he is appointed as minister, he will push for the transfer of wartime operational control in a manner that further strengthens the Korea-U.S. alliance and joint defense posture.In particular, Kang highlighted, "U.S. forces in South Korea have maintained a strong joint defense posture with our military, contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," and he pledged to continue collaborating with the U.S. to ensure this direction continues. This comes as the U.S. appears to be shifting its focus from conventional defense against North Korea to countering China by delegating conventional defense responsibilities to South Korea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 18:00:00
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Mugamseogi, healing dance in five colors of tears Draped in a shaman’s ceremonial robes, dancers pray for blessings through movement alone. Inspired by one of the most dynamic moments of “Gut: Whispering Steps” goes beyond simply recreating tradition on stage. Instead, it traces a journey through wounds and memory toward the strength to live again, expressing an ancient ritual through the language of the contemporary body. Mugamseogi is a ritual within Seoul gut in which the shaman removes her ceremonial robes and hands them to the person who has requested the ritual. Wearing the robes, the individual then dances freely, improvising through movement. At first glance, the ritual may seem to embody an act of dependence—entrusting one’s wishes to the shaman. Yet it also contains a more self-directed gesture by wrapping themselves in the robes, the individual symbolically takes divine energy into their own body and receives the blessing through their own movement. Choreographer Yoon Hye-jung draws on this tension between dependence and agency, reinterpreting the ritual as a deeply personal process of confronting one’s own struggles. In her work, the act of receiving a blessing becomes an act of self-empowerment in a way of gathering the inner strength and mental resilience needed to face hardship and move forward. The work unfolds through five “tears,” each drawn from the five traditional colors of gut - black, yellow, blue, red, and white. It begins with the Black Tear, a tangle of painful memories, before moving into the Yellow Tear, an awakening impulse to rise again. The journey passes through the coldness of the Blue Tear and arrives at the Red Tear, a moment of stepping back to see oneself with greater clarity and detachment. Finally, it reaches the White Tear: a state of release, letting go, and stillness. As the dancers move through this process of individual healing, their movements gradually expand beyond the self. What begins as a solitary journey becomes a shared, liberating celebration, culminating in a moment when everyone moves together as one. The stage props, too, were conceived not as literal reproductions of traditional gut objects, but as “ritual mediums” - vessels through which memories and emotions embedded in the body could be stirred and released. Prop designer Song Mi-young drew inspiration from the repetition, symmetry, and interplay of emptiness and fullness found in seolgyeong, a traditional form of folded and cut paper art, reimagining its patterns in the design of a fan. Bells, trailing threads, and a staff extend the shaman’s movements beyond the body, creating a tangible connection between the human and an unseen world Whispering Steps draws its roots from the rituals of our ancestors, yet what it discovers within them is an unmistakably contemporary language of healing. It becomes a journey in which each of us, not a shaman but ourselves, takes on the role of our own mugam, confronting the pain within and reclaiming the strength to keep moving forward. In the end, the performance leaves us with a simple message. The happiness found in an ordinary, peaceful life may be the truest blessing of all. 2026-09-11 17:52:58 -
Blue House Confirms No Prior Consultation on Yoon Hye-in's Press Conference The Blue House reaffirmed on September 11 that Yoon Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, should have the opportunity to explain the controversy surrounding her concurrent positions as a lawmaker. While avoiding a direct response regarding the possibility of withdrawing her nomination, officials stated they are open to listening to various public opinions.During a briefing following a senior secretary meeting, Chief Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung commented on Yoon's press conference the previous day, saying, "The candidate's press conference is unrelated to the President's overseas schedule, and there was no prior consultation with the Blue House."Kang added, "It is the Blue House's position that the ministerial candidate should have the opportunity to explain to the public, and we are open to hearing diverse voices from the public."However, when asked about the possibility of withdrawing Yoon's nomination, Kang did not provide a clear stance.Kang emphasized, "The Blue House always listens to the voices of the people," reiterating that the position remains unchanged: the candidate should have the opportunity to explain herself.In response to criticisms regarding insufficient verification and political judgment in Yoon's nomination, the Blue House stated it will continue to improve its personnel verification system.Kang noted, "It is difficult to provide detailed information about the specific personnel verification process, but appointments in the Lee Jae-myung administration are confirmed through the personnel system and committee."Additionally, she stated, "We are continuously enhancing the personnel verification system to ensure it meets the public's expectations and will strengthen it further."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:52:00
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Kumho Construction Launches Employee Walking Challenge to Promote Healthy Culture Kumho Construction has launched a walking challenge aimed at promoting employee health and practicing carbon neutrality in daily life.On September 11, Kumho Construction announced that its employee walking challenge, 'JUST WALK Season 5,' will take place from today until the 17th, lasting a total of seven days.'JUST WALK' is an annual internal eco-friendly challenge program initiated by Kumho Construction since 2022. The initiative encourages walking as a daily habit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.This year's challenge has seen participation from 270 individuals and 28 teams, marking a 2.5-fold increase compared to Season 1, which had 104 participants, and the highest participation ever following Season 4, which included 183 individuals and 21 teams.The challenge consists of a 'personal mission' to achieve 10,000 steps per day and a 'group mission' where teams of 3 to 8 can freely form and measure their average step count.To enhance bonding and communication among employees, a group self-introduction event will be held, and bonus points will be awarded based on the number of team members who complete the daily 10,000 steps. Employees who achieve 10,000 steps daily during the challenge, as well as those with the highest individual step counts and outstanding team members, will receive cash prizes.Last year's challenge resulted in the donation of 'seedlings' in the names of employees who completed the 10,000 steps daily for seven days. These seedlings were sent to the Yeongnam region, which suffered from wildfires in March, for reforestation efforts.A Kumho Construction representative stated, 'JUST WALK is an internal campaign that allows employees to take light walks in their daily lives while participating in health and eco-friendly carbon neutrality activities. We will continue to create diverse programs that encourage proactive employee participation to foster a healthy and vibrant organizational culture.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:44:00
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Lee Jae-geun Named Next Chairman of KB Financial Group After 33 Years KB Financial Group has appointed Lee Jae-geun as the next chairman. This decision comes as a surprise, breaking expectations that incumbent chairman Yang Jong-hee would easily secure re-election, marking Lee's rise to the top of the group after 33 years with KB Kookmin Bank. The chairman candidate recommendation committee announced on September 11 that it had selected Lee as the final candidate for the upcoming chairman position. Previously, the committee had narrowed down a shortlist on August 27 that included Lee, former Woori Bank CEO Kwon Kwang-seok, and Yang Jong-hee. After conducting in-depth interviews lasting two hours each with the three candidates, the committee held a final vote, resulting in Lee being chosen as the final candidate. The committee evaluated candidates based on five criteria: work experience and expertise, leadership, ethics, alignment with KB Financial Group's vision and values, and efforts for sound management in both the short and long term, using 25 detailed standards. Lee will undergo a qualification review in accordance with relevant laws and is expected to be appointed as the CEO chairman at a special shareholders' meeting scheduled for November 20. A graduate of Seoul High School, Lee began his career in finance in 1993 at Housing Bank. He served as the head of the secretariat at KB Financial Group in 2013 and became the executive director of financial planning in 2017. He played a key role in expanding the non-banking portfolio through acquisitions of LIG Insurance, Hyundai Securities, and Woori Financial. After transitioning to banking, he held positions as the head of management planning and the sales group. Since 2022, he has served as the president of Kookmin Bank, where he has been recognized for his exceptional management skills, leading the bank to record profits in 2025. Cho Hwa-jun, chairman of the recommendation committee, explained the rationale for selecting Lee, stating, "At this point, we need bold changes and a generational shift to enhance the group's fundamental competitiveness and secure future growth drivers." He added, "Lee possesses the capability to lead KB Financial's future and sustainable growth amid the restructuring of the financial industry and the onset of money movement, along with expertise across both banking and non-banking sectors, as well as insights into finance, strategy, and global operations."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:40:10
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Concerns Rise Over 'Eco-Friendly Village' for Asian Games Athletes in Nagoya As the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approach, Japan has introduced an 'eco-friendly village' utilizing containers and cruise ships instead of building new accommodations. However, the substandard living conditions have sparked controversy.According to Yonhap News on September 11, approximately 2,000 athletes participating in the Asian Games will be housed in container-style wooden modular accommodations near Nagoya Port. The organizing committee decided against constructing a separate village due to an anticipated increase in participants, now estimated at around 17,000, which would help reduce costs.Of the total athletes, about 9,000 will stay in existing hotels, while around 4,000 will be aboard the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena. The remaining 2,000 will utilize the container accommodations at Nagoya Port.The issue lies in the actual living conditions. According to the organizing committee, each container unit measures 70 square meters (approximately 750 square feet) and is designed to accommodate up to six people. While the beds are 195 cm long, with extended mattresses available for taller athletes, some have expressed discomfort.Chinese media outlet Record China highlighted the situation of the South Korean men's basketball team, which is sharing rooms with three athletes per unit and using communal bathrooms and showers. On social media, player Byeon Jun-hyung posted a video showing a flooded bathroom due to leaking plumbing, captioned, "Help me!" Safety concerns have also emerged. Local reports indicate that on September 8, record rainfall in Nagoya forced hundreds of athletes staying in the container accommodations to evacuate. The South Korean men's basketball team, which was training at the time, did not have to evacuate but had to wait at the training facility for about four hours.Conversely, some view the container village as a new model for accommodations at large international events. This approach aims to reduce costs and resource waste by utilizing existing facilities and modular housing, rather than incurring massive construction expenses for a dedicated athlete village that would be underused post-event.The South Korean delegation will use the container accommodations for five sports, including basketball and cycling, while 18 other sports, such as archery and table tennis, will be assigned to the cruise ship. The Costa Serena is scheduled to dock at Nagoya Port on September 14.As the Nagoya Asian Games promotes a 'sustainable event,' it remains to be seen how well it can balance cost savings and environmental goals without negatively impacting athletes' performance as the opening approaches.The Asian Games will commence on September 19 and run for 16 days until October 4.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:40:00
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Lee Jae-geun Named Next Chairman of KB Financial Group After 33 Years KB Financial Group has appointed Lee Jae-geun, the current head of the group, as the next chairman. This decision comes as a surprise, breaking expectations that Yang Jong-hee would easily secure reappointment after 33 years since Lee joined KB Kookmin Bank.The Chairman Candidate Recommendation Committee announced on September 11 that it had selected Lee as the final candidate for the next chairman.Previously, the committee had narrowed down the shortlist on August 27, which included Lee, former Woori Bank CEO Kwon Kwang-seok, and Yang Jong-hee. After conducting in-depth interviews lasting two hours each with the three candidates, the committee held a final vote to determine Lee as the nominee.The committee evaluated candidates based on five criteria: work experience, expertise, leadership, ethics, and alignment with the vision and values of KB Financial Group, using 25 detailed standards.Lee will undergo a qualification review in accordance with relevant laws and is expected to be appointed as the representative director and chairman at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting scheduled for November 20.A graduate of Seoul High School, Lee began his career in finance in 1993 at Housing Bank. He served as the head of the secretariat at KB Financial Group in 2013 and became the executive director of financial planning in 2017. He played a key role in expanding the non-banking portfolio through acquisitions of LIG Insurance, Hyundai Securities, and Woori Financial.After moving to the bank, he held positions as the head of management planning and the sales group. Since 2022, he has served as the president of Kookmin Bank, recognized for his exceptional management skills, leading the bank to record profits in 2025.Cho Hwa-jun, chairman of the recommendation committee, explained the rationale for selecting Lee, stating, "At this point, we need bold changes and a generational shift to enhance the group's fundamental competitiveness and secure future growth drivers." He added, "Lee possesses the capability to lead KB Financial's future and sustainable growth amid the restructuring of the financial industry and the onset of money movement, along with expertise across both banking and non-banking sectors, as well as insights into finance, strategy, and global operations." 2026-09-11 17:40:00
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Weather Forecast: Chilly Mornings and Warm Afternoons Expected Nationwide On Saturday, September 12, the weather will be mostly cloudy across the country, with daytime temperatures rising to 30 degrees Celsius. Morning temperatures may drop to as low as 12 degrees, so residents should be mindful of the temperature differences between day and night.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on September 11, the morning low temperatures on the 12th are forecasted to range from 12 to 20 degrees Celsius, while the daytime highs will be between 24 and 30 degrees. In Seoul, the morning low is expected to be 17 degrees, with a high of 28 degrees during the day. In Chuncheon, the temperature difference could reach 14 degrees, with a low of 13 degrees and a high of 27 degrees.The southern regions will experience relatively higher daytime temperatures. Gwangju is expected to see a morning low of 17 degrees and a high of 30 degrees, while Changwon will range from 18 degrees to 29 degrees, Daegu from 17 degrees to 28 degrees, and Busan from 20 degrees to 28 degrees. Jeju Island will have a higher morning low of 23 degrees and a daytime high of 28 degrees compared to other areas.The sky will generally be mostly cloudy nationwide. Areas including Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Chuncheon, Gangneung, Cheongju, Daejeon, Sejong, and Jeonju are expected to have cloudy conditions both in the morning and afternoon. However, some southern regions such as Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Changwon, and Jeju will likely enjoy mostly clear weather.Morning fog will also be a concern. Dense fog with visibility dropping below 200 meters is expected in the inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, while visibility may fall below 1 kilometer in southern Gyeonggi, southeastern regions, inland Chungcheong, and eastern Jeonbuk.Wave heights are expected to be between 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the East and South Seas, and 0.5 meters in the West Sea. In the open seas, wave heights are forecasted to be 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the East and West Seas, and 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the South Sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:36:00
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2026 Gwangju ACE Fair Showcases Domestic and International Cultural Content, Including AI-Based Innovations "Ms. Jo, how did you feel after finishing the Ave Maria?"When a visitor asked the question to the virtual soprano Jo Su-mi displayed on a kiosk screen, the AI responded, "I felt pain in my heart when I sang after my father passed away, but I was comforted by the audience's applause." The virtual Jo Su-mi answered various questions from attendees with ease.The '2026 Gwangju ACE Fair,' held on October 11 at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, showcased a variety of domestic and international cultural content, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI).The virtual Jo Su-mi was created using AI agent technology developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). This technology reflects the artist's characteristics based on data collected online and video interviews. While the lip movements appeared somewhat unnatural, her actions and speech closely resembled those of the real Jo Su-mi as seen on television.The AI also features a function that provides feedback to music students on their singing from the artist's perspective. As students sing according to the sheet music, the AI offers corrections based on Jo Su-mi's viewpoint. Next to this demonstration, technology that reproduces the painting style of Kim Hong-do was also showcased. Users could create images in Kim's style by drawing a basic outline.Yoo Jeong-jae, a senior researcher at ETRI, stated, "This AI agent technology can greatly assist in educating students in the future."AI Announcer and Reporter Transforming Broadcasting EnvironmentAI is also changing the broadcasting production environment. At SK Broadband's exhibition booth, the AI announcer presented was nearly indistinguishable from a human announcer.After selecting an AI-generated announcer and inputting the news title and content, a video was produced within minutes. The subtitles were automatically generated to match the reporting content. The AI announcer sat in a chair, reading the report with expressions and lip movements similar to those of a real person, making it difficult to distinguish the AI-generated video from a live broadcast.AI announcers are already being utilized in actual broadcasts. SK Broadband has increased efficiency since introducing AI announcers, which now appear every hour to deliver news, compared to the previous morning and evening broadcasts. Jeong Joo-ho, a manager at SK Broadband, explained, "Currently, news is being delivered through this solution to 23 cable operators."A demonstration was also conducted showing how current reporters are filmed and trained by AI to read reports. Jeong expressed optimism that this would enhance the efficiency of reporters, allowing them to focus on news gathering while AI handles the broadcasting aspect.While announcers currently sit to present news, it was suggested that various formats for announcers could emerge in the near future.AI in Design: Creating Emojis from PhotosThe influence of AI is expanding into design as well. At a booth set up by the AI Design Department of Jeonnam Women's Commercial High School, a program was underway to create emojis. By inputting prompts into Google Gemini and uploading a photo, users could generate their desired emojis in about ten minutes. Hwang Ji-hye, a teacher at Jeonnam Women's Commercial High School, noted, "As AI rapidly advances, we can now create much better images with just a few lines of prompts compared to existing designs."Hwang explained that the integration of AI is changing educational methods. "In the past, we started with the basics, but now we focus on how to creatively apply images to achieve desired results," he said, emphasizing the importance of creative content.Meanwhile, the 2026 Gwangju ACE Fair, now in its 21st year, is a comprehensive exhibition of domestic and international cultural content. Under the theme 'One Content, Infinite Expansion,' this year's fair features a variety of cultural content, including broadcasting, video, animation, characters, games, and webtoons. The event sees participation from over 400 companies across 29 countries, with more than 250 domestic and international buyers engaging in exchanges.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 17:32:00