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Kwon Chil-seung Urges Opposition to Avoid Using Housing Policy as Political Weapon Kwon Chil-seung, the policy chief of the Democratic Party, urged the People Power Party and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on September 8 to abandon the idea of using housing policy as a political weapon against the government and the ruling party. He also indicated a consensus on the need to expedite the processing of non-controversial legislation.During an appearance on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Kwon noted that the amendment to the Yongsan Park Special Act, currently pending in the National Assembly, was proposed in line with the government's housing supply measures. He expressed optimism that the People Power Party would not oppose the bill if it undergoes minor adjustments, as it aims to create favorable conditions for housing supply.Kwon added that the Democratic Party plans to listen to the opinions of the People Power Party and the Seoul City government. He urged them to set aside any intentions to use housing policy as a means to attack the government and the ruling party and to engage in open discussions.Specifically, Kwon emphasized the need for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Seoul City government to find common ground regarding housing supply sites, particularly concerning Yongsan Park and the Tancheon River. He suggested that if Seoul City presents a concrete supply plan, the Democratic Party would consider it, advocating for a collaborative approach.Additionally, Kwon mentioned that during a joint meeting with Lim I-ja, the policy chief of the People Power Party, on September 1, they shared a mutual understanding of the need to expedite non-controversial legislation and are currently in the process of practical coordination.Kwon noted that many of the bills currently before the National Assembly are non-controversial ones agreed upon by both parties. He stated that they have reached a consensus to process these agreed-upon items separately from other contentious bills, suggesting that doing so could set a positive precedent for the upcoming regular session of the National Assembly.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:36:00 -
Samsung Card Launches 'BIZ iD SELECT Card' for Small Business Owners 삼성카드는 개인사업자 특화 상품인 ‘삼성 BIZ iD SELECT 카드’를 출시했다고 8일 밝혔다. 이 카드는 4가지 ‘SELECT 비즈팩’ 가운데 하나를 선택해 사용할 수 있으며 선택한 비즈팩은 매월 변경할 수 있다. ‘AI 워크툴·인앱 결제 할인’ 비즈팩을 선택하면 챗GPT, 클로드, 어도비 등 주요 AI·업무용 프로그램과 구글플레이·앱스토어 인앱 결제에 대해 20% 할인을 받을 수 있다. 할인 한도는 최대 6만원이다. ‘네이버 비즈머니 충전·해외 할인’ 비즈팩은 네이버 비즈머니 충전액의 2%를 할인하고 해외 가맹점 이용 시 최대 3% 할인 혜택을 제공한다. 사업장 운영비 부담을 줄이는 데 초점을 맞춘 ‘사업장 필수 운영비 할인’ 비즈팩은 전기요금과 렌탈·방역·보안 관련 결제액에 3% 할인을 적용한다. 4대 사회보험과 도시가스요금에는 5% 할인을 제공한다. 업종에 관계없이 폭넓은 사업 경비 할인을 원하는 경우에는 ‘국내외 가맹점 최대 1.3% 할인’ 비즈팩을 선택할 수 있다. 이와 함께 전자세금계산서 무료 발행과 부가세 환급 편의지원 서비스도 제공한다. 카드 발급 과정에서 카드 플레이트에 사업체명을 새길 수도 있다. 일부 비즈팩에서는 온라인쇼핑몰과 음식점, 편의점, 주유소, 생활잡화점 등 사업 운영과 관련된 업종에서 결제할 경우 3% 할인 혜택도 받을 수 있다. 연회비는 국내전용과 해외겸용 모두 3만원이다. 삼성카드 관계자는 “개인사업자가 사업 유형과 운영 형태에 맞는 혜택을 선택해 이용할 수 있는 특화 카드를 출시했다”며 “앞으로도 개인사업자가 체감할 수 있는 실질적인 혜택을 지속적으로 선보일 계획”이라고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:36:00
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Korean Craft Promotion Agency Faces Split Amid Government Reorganization The Korean Craft and Design Culture Promotion Agency, which has supported the craft sector for over 25 years, is set to be split into two as part of the government's public institution consolidation plan. The agency's labor union has demanded a comprehensive review of the division plan, stating that it was announced without substantial prior consultation.On September 8, the Korean Public Transport and Social Services Workers' Union, representing the agency, issued a statement opposing the unilateral division and calling for a full reassessment of the proposal.According to the government's 'Public Institution Function Reform Promotion Plan,' the Craft Headquarters, Design Headquarters, and Cultural Heritage Team within the agency will be reorganized into a new entity tentatively named the 'Korean Cultural and Arts Industry Promotion Agency,' merging with organizations such as the Arts Management Support Center and the National Museum Cultural Heritage Foundation. Meanwhile, the Traditional Culture Headquarters and Hanbok Center will be integrated with the Korean Cultural Education Promotion Agency to form the 'Korean Cultural Promotion Agency.'The Craft and Design Culture Promotion Agency is the only entity among those targeted for restructuring by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that will be split into two and merged into different organizations. The union argues that the workers and the union were not provided with sufficient information prior to the announcement of such a significant restructuring plan, nor was there any meaningful prior consultation.There is considerable backlash regarding the government's failure to provide adequate justification for the organizational split. The union stated, "Craft, design, traditional culture, and hanbok have developed interrelatedly within a single institution across various areas such as business, policy, distribution, industry, exhibition, and promotion. The government's principle of 'unifying similar and overlapping functions' does not adequately explain the need to divide the agency into two separate institutions."While the broad framework for the division has been outlined, no specific plans have been presented. The government announcement did not address where common support functions such as strategic planning and management will be placed or how employees will be assigned. The union contends that this does not align with normal public institution restructuring procedures.The union has called for the disclosure of the policy rationale and criteria for the agency's division, as well as the decision-making process of the relevant government department. They also urged that specific plans regarding employee assignments and work locations be discussed with the union in advance.A union representative stated, "For 25 years, we have operated a professional public support system under the name of the Korean Craft and Design Culture Promotion Agency. We are absolutely opposed to the decision to separate the agency, especially since it was made without any communication with us."There are signs that the backlash may extend beyond the agency. The representative noted, "We are currently raising public awareness among those in the craft, design, traditional culture, and hanbok sectors. Discussions are also emerging among professors in the craft field." They added that there is a possibility of further statements from the craft community and plans to seek solidarity with external stakeholders.Other institutions under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that are also facing consolidation are beginning to respond. Some agencies are in the process of forming new consultative bodies to address the decision. 2026-09-08 09:32:10
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Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-sung Joins 'Life-Saving Finance' Campaign Lee Ho-sung, CEO of Hana Bank, has joined the 'Life-Saving Finance Relay Campaign' aimed at preventing illegal private lending and promoting the social value of inclusive finance.Hana Bank announced on the 8th that Lee participated in the campaign after being nominated by Jang Min-young, CEO of IBK Industrial Bank, on August 31. The 'Life-Saving Finance Relay Campaign' was launched in July by the Korea Financial Services Agency to protect citizens suffering from illegal private lending.Various institutions, including financial organizations, public agencies, and local governments, are participating in a relay format. Participants post certification photos on their official social media accounts and then nominate the next participant.In his certification photo, Lee held a sign that read, 'We will protect people so they are no longer driven to illegal private lending,' and shared it on Hana Bank's official social media channels. He nominated Lee Hwan-joo, CEO of KB Kookmin Bank, as the next participant.Lee stated, "I resonate with the campaign's purpose of conveying hope to those struggling with illegal private lending. We will continue to fulfill our role and social responsibility in protecting financially vulnerable groups and consistently promote the value of life-saving finance."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:32:00
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Shinhan Life Partners with Nikken Sekkei to Develop Senior Housing Models 신한라이프케어가 일본의 종합 건축설계기업 니켄세케이와 손잡고 국내 시니어 주거시장 공략에 나선다. 신한라이프케어는 일본 도쿄 니켄세케이 본사에서 시니어 주거 및 케어 시설 개발을 위한 업무협약(MOU)을 체결했다고 8일 밝혔다. 협약식에는 오마츠 아츠시 니켄세케이 대표와 다나카 와타루 해외사업부문 총괄, 우석문 신한라이프케어 대표, 이후경 신한라이프 전략기획그룹장 등 양사 관계자 17명이 참석했다. 이번 협약은 국내 시니어 인구 증가와 함께 다양해지는 주거 수요에 대응하기 위해 추진됐다. 단순 돌봄 서비스를 넘어 시니어가 일상생활과 건강관리를 이어갈 수 있는 주거 공간을 만드는 데 초점을 맞췄다. 신한라이프케어가 보유한 시니어 시설 기획·운영 경험에 니켄세케이의 건축 및 공간기획 전문성을 더한 것이 특징이다. 구체적으로 신한라이프케어가 운영하는 사업장을 대상으로 건축·인테리어 설계와 공간 마스터플랜 수립을 공동 추진한다. 일본의 시니어 시설 운영 사례를 공유하고 입주자의 편의성을 높이기 위한 동선과 공간 구성도 함께 검토한다. 스마트 헬스케어 기술과 유니버설 디자인을 시설에 적용하는 방안도 협력 분야에 포함됐다. 양사는 국내외 시니어 시설 개발 기회를 함께 발굴하며 사업 영역을 확대할 예정이다. 우석문 신한라이프케어 대표는 “시니어 주거의 경쟁력은 건물의 외형보다 입주자가 기존의 일상 및 사회적 관계를 얼마나 오랫동안 자연스럽게 이어갈 수 있도록 하는지에 달려 있다”며 “쏠라체를 통해 축적한 운영 경험에 니켄세케이의 건축·공간기획 전문성을 더해 국내 시니어의 삶과 정서에 맞는 주거 공간을 구현하겠다”고 말했다. 2026-09-08 09:32:00
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Sony Korea Launches New Wireless Headphones for Beginners 소니코리아가 일상용 무선 헤드폰 신제품을 출시하며 입문자용 제품군인 CH 시리즈 라인업을 확대한다. 소니코리아는 무선 노이즈 캔슬링 헤드폰 WH-CH730N과 데일리 무선 헤드폰 WH-CH530을 국내 출시한다고 8일 밝혔다. CH 시리즈는 편안한 착용감과 사용 편의성을 앞세운 입문자용 무선 헤드폰 제품군이다. WH-CH730N은 노이즈 캔슬링 기능을 탑재한 일상용 무선 헤드폰이다. 출퇴근이나 온라인 수업, 재택근무 등 다양한 환경에서 음악과 콘텐츠를 감상할 수 있도록 설계됐다. 접이식 디자인을 적용하고 전작보다 무게를 줄여 휴대성을 높였으며 통화 품질과 배터리 성능도 개선했다. 색상은 블랙·블루·베이지·화이트·핑크 등 5종이다. 소니스토어 판매가는 19만9000원이며 오는 11일부터 공식 판매한다. WH-CH530은 가벼운 착용감과 다양한 색상을 앞세운 데일리 무선 헤드폰이다. AI 기반 노이즈 감소 알고리즘을 적용해 통화 품질을 높였으며 배터리 사용 시간은 전작보다 늘어난 최대 55시간을 지원한다. 색상은 블랙·코발트·민트·화이트·핑크·코랄 등 6종이다. 가격은 9만9000원으로 오는 9일부터 정식 판매한다. 소니코리아는 이날 오후 7시부터 네이버 쇼핑 라이브를 통해 두 제품을 먼저 판매한다. 라이브 방송에서는 추석 선물 프로모션과 네이버페이 포인트 증정 등의 혜택을 제공할 예정이다. 소니코리아 관계자는 "일상에서 무선 헤드폰을 사용하는 소비자가 늘어남에 따라 합리적인 가격으로 노이즈 캔슬링 성능을 경험할 수 있는 WH-CH730N과 다양한 컬러 옵션을 갖춘 WH-CH530을 선보이게 됐다"고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:28:20
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Over 2,000 Gather for 'THE GRATEFUL CAMP 2026' in Sinan, Blending Music and Camping A festival combining music and camping was held in Jeungdo, Sinan County, showcasing the potential for stay-type tourism in the island region. Sinan County reported that over 2,000 people participated in the boutique festival 'THE GRATEFUL CAMP 2026 (TGC),' which took place from September 3 to 6 at Jjangttungeo Beach. Hosted by Berry High, this year's TGC marked its fifth edition. The festival is characterized by its unique approach, allowing visitors to enjoy music performances, camping, and wellness programs in nature, encouraging them to stay in the area for an extended period rather than just attending a concert. This year's event attracted around 2,000 attendees, including special ticket holders and invited guests. Among them, 748 participants camped at the designated area near Jjangttungeo Beach. Notably, campers enjoyed performances and experiential programs during the day and stayed overnight at the beach campsite, marking a shift from day-trip tourism to a model that includes both accommodation and experiences. The program also featured activities beyond music performances, including aerobics classes, yoga sessions, potluck parties, and sports events, allowing participants to engage and interact. The festival effectively connected Jeungdo's natural environment with its content, incorporating local scenic spots such as the beach, tidal flats, and sunsets into the performances and camping experience, enabling participants to immerse themselves in Jeungdo's nature for a longer duration. Sinan County believes that enhancing the competitiveness of island tourism requires not only increasing visitor numbers but also extending the duration of their stay. The county plans to expand stay-type tourism by linking natural landscapes with cultural and experiential content. Kim Tae-sung, the mayor of Sinan County, stated, “This TGC exemplifies a shift from tourists briefly visiting to a model where they stay and experience nature, culture, and community. We aim to increase the duration of tourist stays by connecting Jeungdo's unique natural environment with diverse content, making it a destination people want to return to.” Meanwhile, TGC operates on a model where participants stay in one location for three nights and four days, experiencing various programs centered around music and camping. Sinan County plans to continue exploring ways to promote stay-type tourism by connecting the island's beaches and tidal flats with accommodation and cultural content.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:28:10
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Hanwha Life Enhances GA Sales Support Platform to Strengthen Mobile Sales Hanwha Life has revamped its sales support integrated platform to enhance the convenience for corporate insurance agency (GA) agents.On September 8, Hanwha Life announced the launch of its new sales support integrated platform.This upgrade allows agents selling Hanwha Life products to manage key sales tasks—from customer management to consultation, design, application, and contract management—regardless of location or device.Notably, the user environment has expanded from being iPad-centric to include Galaxy Tab devices. The insurance industry’s first sales support environment linking tablets and smartphones has also been established.A key feature is the 'Continue' function, which enables agents to seamlessly transition from electronic applications started on a tablet to a smartphone, or vice versa.The electronic application interface has been intuitively improved to distinguish between the steps for agents and customers. The screen has been restructured to provide a clear overview of the application progress, and features guiding customers on where to sign have been enhanced.The smartphone sales support app focuses on practical features such as customer management, sales performance tracking, contract maintenance, and monitoring application progress. The range of products available for application via smartphone has also been expanded, increasing the scope of tasks that can be handled on mobile devices.The improved platform is accessible not only to agents affiliated with Hanwha Life Financial Services, Hanwha People Life, Hanwha Life Lab, and IFC, but also to all agents selling Hanwha Life products, regardless of their affiliation.A Hanwha Life representative stated, “This enhancement is not just about increasing the number of devices available but also focuses on improving the overall usability of the platform to align with the actual sales flow of agents. In the future, we will gradually apply AI technology to the sales support system to enhance agents' work efficiency and customer consultation competitiveness, strengthening our position as a desirable insurance company for agents in the GA market.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:28:00
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Ansan Mayor Lee Min-keun Attributes K-Brand Index Success to Citizen Engagement Mayor Lee Min-keun stated on September 8 that the recognition in the K-Brand Index for local government leaders in Gyeonggi Province is a result of the community's interest in the policies and on-the-ground communication efforts aimed at transforming and developing Ansan.He announced, "We ranked first in the K-Brand Index for local government leaders in Gyeonggi Province, as released by the Asia Brand Research Institute." This ranking highlights his significant achievement among the 31 local government leaders in Gyeonggi Province.The Asia Brand Research Institute analyzed over 2.03 million online big data points from August 1 to 31, focusing on searches, media coverage, social media, and community engagement related to the 31 local government leaders.The K-Brand Index is a comprehensive measure of online interest and reactions, assessing factors such as search volume, media exposure, social content, positive and negative responses, and community activities.Mayor Lee climbed four spots from fifth to first place this month. The Asia Brand Research Institute attributed this rise to his proactive policy initiatives and external activities that garnered significant online attention and engagement.Notably, his efforts to address local issues and secure future growth drivers since the start of his term have likely influenced this evaluation.Mayor Lee has emphasized hands-on administration and communication with citizens, focusing on revitalizing the local economy, enhancing corporate competitiveness, and promoting future industries to boost Ansan's urban competitiveness.In response to the results, community voices suggest that the increased online interest in Mayor Lee should translate into tangible benefits for the citizens of Ansan.One resident remarked, "It’s great news that the mayor received a good evaluation online. Above all, I hope it leads to changes that citizens can directly feel, such as improvements in transportation, job opportunities, and living conditions."Another resident expressed hope that Ansan would evolve from an industrial city to one that fosters future industries and youth employment, adding, "As interest in the mayor grows, I hope communication with citizens continues to expand."Mayor Lee Min-keun emphasized, "I will continue to strive to achieve results that citizens can feel in their daily lives."The recent first-place ranking in the K-Brand Index is particularly noteworthy as it reflects a rapid ascent from fifth place last month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-08 09:28:00
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Sookmyung professor wins 5-year grant for kidney disease study SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - A government program created this year to keep South Korea's most decorated scientists in the laboratory after they reach retirement age will pay for five years of kidney disease research at Sookmyung Women's University. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the program on April 2 and picked 20 researchers nationwide with the National Research Foundation of Korea. Universities and state-funded institutes could nominate up to three candidates each. Eligibility extended to researchers aged 61 and over who had already retired or who would reach mandatory retirement within three years of the July 1 start date, including those without tenure. The ministry built the program around a problem it named plainly, that a researcher's most productive networks and expertise are cut off on a fixed date regardless of what that researcher is still capable of producing. Among the 20 is Park Jong-hoon, a research professor at Sookmyung's Research Institute of Women's Health. The award is worth up to 1.125 billion won, about $836,000 at 1,345 won to the dollar, over five years. Park spent 23 years teaching in the university's Division of Biological Sciences and retired in August 2024. He received the Innovation Medal of the Order of Science and Technology Merit in 2026, the second of the honor's five grades. The citation credited his basic research and his work on national strategic technology projects, along with his service to scientific societies and government committees. He led the Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as its president in 2022, an organization of more than 17,000 members. Sookmyung said he has published more than 100 papers, including articles in journals indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded. The funded work centers on polycystic kidney disease, an inherited disorder in which fluid-filled sacs multiply through both kidneys until they crowd out functioning tissue. Patients often live decades without symptoms before the damage forces them onto dialysis or a transplant list. There is no cure. Park plans to run secretome profiling on polycystic kidney disease cell lines. The secretome is the full set of proteins and other molecules a cell releases into its surroundings, the chemical vocabulary cells use to talk to one another. By cataloging what diseased kidney cells send out, he intends to identify the key factors that govern those exchanges, then trace how changes in cell-to-cell signaling line up with the way the disease starts and worsens. The approach breaks with how the field has largely worked. Most research has examined the cyst cell on its own, treating the disease as a failure inside individual cells rather than a breakdown in how cells coordinate. What the project will produce is a proposed mechanism, not a treatment. The work runs in cultured cell lines, not in patients or animals, and identifying a signaling factor is several steps removed from showing that blocking it slows cyst growth in a living kidney. Nothing in the plan tests a drug. "We will move away from research centered on single cyst cells and establish a new paradigm that expands the study of polycystic kidney disease mechanisms around the network between cells," Park said. 2026-09-08 09:24:30