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  • Kim Sun-ho: Military and Civilian Collaboration Essential for Defense AI
    Kim Sun-ho: Military and Civilian Collaboration Essential for Defense AI Kim Sun-ho, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, emphasized the need for military and civilian collaboration in the development and deployment of Defense AI (AX). He argued that the focus should extend beyond merely integrating AI into existing weapon systems to fundamentally changing the nature of warfare and operational execution.Recently appointed as a senior management advisor at Naver in August, Kim spoke on September 18 at the Defense AI Day seminar held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, addressing the topic of 'The Essence of Defense AX from a Military Perspective.'Citing the Russia-Ukraine war, Kim highlighted how AI is not only transforming weapon systems but also altering the conduct of warfare. He noted that as drones evolve into AI-connected combat systems, troop deployment and frontline operations are changing.Kim pointed out the significance of data and connectivity systems established by the private sector in battlefield applications. He stated, "The essence of Defense AX is not merely to introduce a new system but to change our methods of conducting warfare and operations through it."He stressed that the approach to military-civilian cooperation must also evolve to effectively promote Defense AX. He indicated that relying solely on traditional military-civilian collaboration would be insufficient, asserting that both sectors must work together from the identification of needs to the deployment and operational use. Kim stated, "Military and civilian entities must collaboratively address issues from the identification of needs to deployment and actual operations on the ground."Additionally, Kim cautioned that military AI transition hubs should not remain mere research spaces. He argued that AI must be trained to understand the characteristics of the South Korean military and its adversaries, as well as the terrain and operational methods, and that there should be a verification environment and acquisition system in place.While acknowledging the growing role of AI, he emphasized that final judgments should remain with humans. He explained that AI can analyze battlefield data to predict enemy actions and suggest the likelihood of success, potential damage, and required time for various responses.Kim concluded by asserting that the ultimate goal of Defense AX should not be the mere introduction of new systems but rather a tangible enhancement of military capability. He stressed that military and civilian sectors must work together from the identification of needs to deployment and field operations, proving that these changes lead to actual military strength enhancement. 2026-09-18 15:08:00
  • Democratic Party Lawmaker Jung Jun-ho Receives Disqualification Sentence for Illegal Election Activities
    Democratic Party Lawmaker Jung Jun-ho Receives Disqualification Sentence for Illegal Election Activities Jung Jun-ho, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gwangju Buk-gu Gap, was sentenced to disqualification in the first trial for engaging in illegal election activities and receiving illicit political funds during the 22nd National Assembly elections.On September 18, the 12th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court, presided over by Judge Jang Woo-seok, imposed a fine of 10 million won and an additional forfeiture of 50 million won on Jung for violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Fund Act. Two associates from his campaign office, identified as A and B, were fined 7 million won and 4 million won, respectively.According to the Public Official Election Act and the Political Fund Act, a lawmaker loses their seat if they receive a confirmed sentence of over 1 million won for election-related crimes or illegal political fund receipt.Jung was accused of receiving 50 million won in political funds from a construction company representative in July 2023, promising to hire the representative's child as an aide if he was elected. Additionally, during the Democratic Party's primary from November 2023 to February 2024, he allegedly directed 12 telemarketers to make over 15,000 promotional calls and send around 40,000 text messages, while providing undisclosed payments to unregistered campaign staff, thus leading illegal primary activities.The court ruled on one of the key issues regarding whether Jung was aware of the payments made to the telemarketers, stating, 'The evidence submitted by the prosecution does not conclusively prove that Jung was directly aware of the payment of allowances,' and found him not guilty of that specific violation of the Public Official Election Act.However, the court recognized Jung's guilt for paying B a salary in exchange for campaign work and for illegally receiving 50 million won in political funds in return for hiring the construction representative's child as an aide.The court emphasized, 'The actions significantly undermine the law's intent to ensure transparency in political funding and prevent corruption, and thus the responsibility and severity of the offenses are not light.' Nevertheless, it noted that Jung's status as a first-time offender and the fact that the promise to hire the child was not fulfilled were considered in determining the sentence.This trial followed a previous dismissal of charges due to procedural errors by the prosecuting attorney, after which the prosecution refiled the case. Jung's legal team argued that the prosecution was invalid due to the expiration of the statute of limitations caused by a lawsuit filed by an unauthorized party, but the court rejected this claim, stating, 'The errors do not undermine the essential principles of criminal procedure aimed at uncovering the truth and realizing the state's punitive authority.'Immediately after the ruling, Jung spoke to reporters, stating, 'I will actively contest the legal and factual issues regarding the guilty verdict and the statute of limitations in the appeals process,' and added, 'I apologize to the local residents for causing concern and will ensure that my legislative activities continue without disruption during the appeal.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 15:04:00
  • Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport to Begin This Year as Collaboration Framework Launched
    Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport to Begin This Year as Collaboration Framework Launched The construction of the Gadeokdo New Airport is set to begin this year, with the government, Busan Metropolitan City, and the project implementer establishing a continuous cooperation framework.On September 18, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the first meeting of the 'Gadeokdo New Airport Project Promotion Council' with Busan City and the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation.The council includes the head of the Ministry's Aviation Policy Division, the Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan, and the Deputy Director of the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation. Regular quarterly meetings will be held, with practical discussions occurring as needed.The establishment of the council comes as preparations for the land development work for the Gadeokdo New Airport enter a significant phase. The construction consortium, led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction, submitted the basic design documents on September 7. The Ministry plans to push for the start of construction for the priority work by the end of the year after undergoing design reviews by the Central Construction Technology Review Committee this month.During the first meeting, a key agenda item was how to reflect the increased construction costs due to the recent Middle Eastern conflict in the contract amount. The progress of inter-agency consultations at the government level was shared, and the opinions and on-site challenges of local construction companies participating in the Daewoo consortium were examined.Discussions also covered preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony, which will encompass not only the construction of the new airport but also plans for regional development. The aim is to coordinate with relevant agencies to incorporate these aspects into the ceremony.Additionally, plans for regional development linked to the airport and surrounding areas were discussed. The goal is to ensure that the construction of the airport contributes to revitalizing the local economy and advancing nearby regions through ongoing discussions on specific linkage strategies.In the future, the council will address cooperation tasks across the entire project, from permitting and construction preparation to safety and quality management during the construction process, as well as development linked to surrounding areas.Jung Chae-kyu, head of the Ministry's Aviation Policy Division, stated, "The Gadeokdo New Airport is a national project aimed at creating a 24-hour gateway airport that has long been desired in the southern region. With the launch of this council, the government, local government, and project implementers will work as one team to ensure the start of construction and timely opening without any setbacks."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 15:00:20
  • Gwangjus 27 Local Governments Demand $1 Billion in Consolidation Support
    Gwangju's 27 Local Governments Demand $1 Billion in Consolidation Support Gwangju's 27 cities, counties, and districts are requesting $1 billion from a total of $20 billion in administrative consolidation support.On September 17, the Gwangju Mayors, County Heads, and District Heads Council held its first regular meeting in Nam-gu, where they decided on 12 proposals.Among these, they agreed to jointly request the distribution of approximately $1 billion from the consolidation support to the 27 local governments.The council expressed concern that if the principal amount is focused on advanced industries and large-scale social infrastructure investments, rural areas may be left out of the benefits of consolidation.The Gwangju Special City, formed from the merger of the former Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province, is set to receive up to $50 billion annually from the government over four years as an incentive for the merger.Of this, $650 million in local surplus funds and $1.5 billion allocated for semiconductor support projects will be excluded, leaving $28.5 billion for the consolidated city to manage.The council also demanded that mayors, county heads, and district heads should have the authority to appoint deputy heads in their respective local governments.Under the current Local Autonomy Act, deputy heads of cities, counties, and districts are appointed by mayors and county heads, but in practice, appointments are made through personnel exchanges with provincial governments, limiting the authority of local leaders.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:56:00
  • NH Nonghyup Bank Incinerates 16.4 Billion Won in Long-Term Delinquent Loans to Support Farmers
    NH Nonghyup Bank Incinerates 16.4 Billion Won in Long-Term Delinquent Loans to Support Farmers NH Nonghyup Bank has incinerated 16.4 billion won in long-term delinquent loans, assisting 5,430 farmers in restoring their credit and economic stability.On September 18, the bank's bad debt reserve fund held a meeting where it announced the incineration of 6,857 loans, totaling 16.4 billion won, which included expired claims and loans discharged through personal rehabilitation and bankruptcy.This debt incineration allows the 5,430 farmers burdened by long-term debt to escape their financial obligations and regain opportunities for credit recovery and economic activity.Including this latest incineration, the bad debt reserve fund has now eliminated a total of 674.7 billion won in loans, benefiting a total of 80,404 farmers.During the meeting, discussions were also held on improving financial support systems for farmers, with plans to revise forms and expand the range of eligible loans.Lee Young-woo, Deputy Head of the Agricultural and Public Finance Division at NH Nonghyup Bank, stated, "This debt incineration is a practice of inclusive finance that provides an opportunity for farmers who have faced economic difficulties for a long time to rise again. We will faithfully fulfill our social role in finance as a strong partner for farmers."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:52:00
  • Public-sector deficit widens to record 83.1 tln won
    Public-sector deficit widens to record 83.1 tln won SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - South Korea's public-sector revenue rose in 2025, but spending grew even faster, widening the deficit to a record 83.1 trillion won ($60.1 billion), according to data released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Friday. The shortfall rose by 14.0 trillion won from a revised 69.1 trillion won in 2024, marking the largest deficit since public sector-related statistics began in 2007. The central bank revised the 2024 deficit from a previously reported 48.9 trillion won after incorporating additional settlement data from the government and public corporations, lowering total revenue by 10.9 trillion won and raising expenditure by 9.3 trillion won. Total public-sector revenue rose 4.7 percent to 1,192.1 trillion won last year, while expenditure increased 5.5 percent to 1,275.2 trillion won. Revenue increased by 53.0 trillion won, compared with a 67.0 trillion won rise in spending. Tax revenue increased by 45.2 trillion won to 502.0 trillion won and social contributions, including pension and health insurance payments, rose by 11.1 trillion won to 251.5 trillion won, while property-income receipts fell by 5.4 trillion won to 108.4 trillion won. On the spending side, other current transfers increased by 24.2 trillion won to 144.0 trillion won, partly reflecting livelihood-support consumption vouchers, while final consumption expenditure rose by 21.7 trillion won to 469.2 trillion won. Social benefit payments increased by 15.2 trillion won to 192.6 trillion won and investment rose by 7.7 trillion won to 171.8 trillion won. The central and local governments including social security funds posted a 60.1 trillion won deficit, widening from 57.5 trillion won a year earlier. Revenue rose by 54.6 trillion won to 903.2 trillion won, while expenditure increased by a larger 57.3 trillion won to 963.3 trillion won. The central government's deficit widened to 90.1 trillion won from 83.8 trillion won, while the local government's deficit narrowed sharply to 2.0 trillion won from 15.5 trillion won. The surplus at social security funds shrank to 32.0 trillion won from 41.8 trillion won as spending on social benefits increased faster than revenue from social contributions. Non-financial public corporations posted a 22.1 trillion won deficit, widening from 16.7 trillion won as increased investment in public housing construction, rental-home purchases and urban development outweighed lower raw-material costs. Their investment spending rose by 6.0 trillion won to 51.6 trillion won, while intermediate consumption, including raw-material and operating costs, fell by 3.3 trillion won to 145.8 trillion won. Financial public corporations swung to a 0.9 trillion won deficit from a 5.1 trillion won surplus in 2024 as lower interest rates reduced interest income. Their total revenue fell 4.8 percent to 66.3 trillion won, while expenditure rose 4.1 percent to 67.1 trillion won. The overall public-sector deficit was equivalent to 3.1 percent of nominal gross domestic product, up from 2.7 percent in 2024. Excluding social security funds, the deficit stood at 4.3 percent of GDP. The government's overall deficit was equivalent to 2.2 percent of GDP in 2025, compared with an OECD average of 4.4 percent and a euro-area average of 2.9 percent. AJP TAKEAWAYS - South Korea's public-sector deficit widened to a record 83.1 trillion won in 2025, the largest since the BOK began compiling the accounts in 2007. - Public-sector revenue rose 4.7 percent, but expenditure grew faster at 5.5 percent, with spending increasing by 67.0 trillion won against a 53.0 trillion won rise in revenue. - The general-government deficit widened to 60.1 trillion won, while non-financial public corporations posted a 22.1 trillion won shortfall and financial public corporations swung into deficit. 2026-09-18 14:47:06
  • Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong Visits Korea University Guro Hospital to Discuss Nursing Care Improvements
    Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong Visits Korea University Guro Hospital to Discuss Nursing Care Improvements As the burden of caregiving costs for patients increases due to aging and changes in family structures, the government is preparing a long-term roadmap for a qualitative leap in integrated nursing and care services.Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare visited Korea University Guro Hospital on the morning of September 18 to assess the operation of the integrated nursing and care services ward and hold a meeting with staff. The meeting included Minister Jeong, Lim Eul-ki, Director of Medical Resource Policy at the Ministry, Min Byeong-wook, President of Korea University Guro Hospital, and Choi Seon-joo, Head of Nursing, along with hospital management and nurses, who discussed the challenges in service operations and proposed improvements.Integrated Services Mark 11 Years with Over 90,000 BedsThe integrated nursing and care services provide 24-hour professional nursing and caregiving for hospitalized patients without the need for family members or private caregivers. Since its introduction in 2015, the number of participating medical institutions has grown from 88 (7,443 beds) to 829 (90,096 beds) as of June 2026, representing more than a tenfold increase.Korea University Guro Hospital has participated in this pilot program since 2016 and is noted for its ability to provide close care services, particularly for patients with high severity and nursing needs.Staff Call for Detailed Staffing StandardsDuring the meeting, hospital staff emphasized the explosive demand for integrated nursing and care services from patients and their families, calling for an expansion of participating beds. They also presented specific recommendations to maintain high-quality service.Staff members noted, "In tertiary hospitals, the proportion of severe patients is high, and there are significant differences in nursing needs between wards and patients. Instead of applying uniform staffing standards, we should provide models tailored to various patient groups based on their nursing needs and caregiving requirements." They also urged for an increase in support staff and a reasonable compensation system that considers the conditions of medical institutions.Minister Jeong: Effective Improvements for Safe and High-Quality ServicesAfter the meeting, Minister Jeong toured the integrated ward to observe the service delivery process for hospitalized patients and to encourage the staff's efforts.Minister Jeong stated, "While we have focused on expanding the number of beds in integrated nursing and care services, it is now time to establish a long-term roadmap that ensures patients receive the necessary services and that the environment for continuous operation is maintained. We will closely examine the opinions from the field and the actual operational outcomes to develop effective policy improvements that ensure patients receive safer and higher-quality inpatient services while alleviating the caregiving burden on families."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:44:20
  • Democratic Party Leaders Express Support for President Lees Press Conference
    Democratic Party Leaders Express Support for President Lee's Press Conference The ruling Democratic Party issued a message of "listening more humbly" following President Lee Jae-myung's press conference on the 18th, aligning itself with the Blue House.After the press conference, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok met with reporters at the National Assembly and stated, "Throughout the press conference, I shared the same thoughts and feelings as President Lee. The party will also listen more humbly and pay attention to the people's livelihoods," he emphasized.Han Byeong-do, the floor leader, also expressed on his Facebook that he was able to reaffirm the President's firm commitment to restoring livelihoods, reform, and unity, stating, "I believe this press conference will be a turning point in restoring public trust in governance."He added, "The President directly addressed various issues that the People Power Party has used as political ammunition. The People Power Party must stop its unproductive political strife and irresponsible obstruction of governance," and pledged, "As the ruling party, we will serve the people with a lower and more humble attitude."Park Seong-jun, the party's chief spokesperson, stated in a briefing, "I agree with the President's remarks about the need to improve the reality where indicators are improving but the public does not feel it. We will support legislation, policies, and budgets in the National Assembly to enhance the actual lives of the people."He continued, "We take the President's commitment to approach the public with a lower posture and to better understand the people's will and lives very seriously," and assured that the Democratic Party will do its utmost to resolve pressing livelihood issues and achieve stable reforms amid national unity.Choi Min-hee, the party's chief supreme council member, wrote on her Facebook, "I firmly believe that the President will ultimately break through policy-wise and achieve a great transformation for South Korea, creating a world of strength and compassion." Supreme council member Han Min-soo also expressed his determination, stating, "I will take on the role of fully reflecting the people's will. I will retie my shoelaces alongside the President."However, the Democratic Party refrained from commenting on the President's proposals to the National Assembly and the ruling party, including the removal of the authority to dismiss charges in the 'Special Prosecutor Law.' It is expected that Kim will address related messages at a press conference scheduled for the 20th.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:44:00
  • NH Nonghyup Bank Discusses Expansion of Global Financial Cooperation with Citigroup
    NH Nonghyup Bank Discusses Expansion of Global Financial Cooperation with Citigroup NH Nonghyup Bank met with Citigroup to review key issues in the global financial market and discuss ways to expand financial cooperation.On September 17, NH Nonghyup Bank held a meeting at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, with senior executives from Citigroup and Korea Citibank to exchange views on current financial market issues and ways to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions.The meeting was organized to share market trends amid ongoing uncertainties in the global financial market due to changes in monetary policy, such as interest rate hikes in major countries, and the escalation of geopolitical risks.NH Nonghyup Bank and Citigroup have collaborated in various areas, including capital markets and foreign currency funding and management. During the meeting, both parties agreed to expand their cooperation by leveraging Citigroup's global financial network based on their existing trading relationship.NH Nonghyup Bank President Kang Tae-young stated, "Citigroup is an important global financial partner with whom we have worked for a long time. We will continue to expand our cooperation in various fields based on the strengths of both institutions and maintain a long-term partnership."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:40:00
  • Democratic Partys Jeong Jun-ho Receives Invalid Election Ruling
    Democratic Party's Jeong Jun-ho Receives Invalid Election Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Jun-ho has been sentenced to an invalid election ruling. On September 18, the Gwangju District Court's Criminal Division 12, led by Chief Judge Jang Woo-seok, imposed a fine of 10 million won and a forfeiture of 50 million won on Jeong for violations of the Political Fund Act and the Public Official Election Act. Two election office officials, also charged with violations of the Public Official Election Act, received fines ranging from 4 million to 7 million won. Jeong, who represents the Gwangju Buk-gu Gap district, was indicted for allegedly receiving 50 million won from a construction company representative in July 2023, nine months before the April 10 general election, in exchange for hiring his children as aides if he were elected. Additionally, he faced charges for illegally providing cash to campaign workers and operating a phone promotion service between November 2023 and February 2024, ahead of the Democratic Party's candidate selection for the general election. The case was initially dismissed in February of last year due to prosecutorial errors, but was reopened following a re-indictment by the prosecution. Jeong's legal team argued that the statute of limitations had expired due to a lawsuit filed by an unauthorized party, but the court rejected this claim, stating that it did not undermine the principles of criminal procedure, such as the pursuit of substantive truth and the enforcement of state punitive authority. Jeong stated that he plans to contest the issues surrounding the statute of limitations in the appellate court. Under the law, if a lawmaker is convicted of violating the Public Official Election Act or the Political Fund Act and receives a fine of more than 1 million won, their election is deemed invalid.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 14:36:00