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Gwangju Mayor Shin Gye-yong Emphasizes Community Role in Patient Care Shin Gye-yong, the mayor of Gwacheon, emphasized on September 1 that while hospitals are responsible for treating illnesses, it is the role of the community and administration to help citizens return to a healthy daily life. Mayor Shin has initiated the 'Gwacheon Model of Integrated Care,' which closely connects healthcare and welfare. On the same day, he signed a memorandum of understanding with Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang Saem Hospital, and Seoul Wise Nursing Hospital to support the reintegration of discharged patients into the community. The core of this agreement is to establish a system where care does not end when treatment is completed at the hospital, but rather continues until citizens can return to their daily lives with community support. The participating hospitals will provide information about discharged patients who need care to the city, and the city's integrated care staff will visit these homes to assess living conditions and care needs. Subsequently, they will coordinate with local welfare and nursing personnel to offer tailored integrated care services, including home nursing, rehabilitation, dementia management, and daily living support. Notably, this initiative extends the citizen-centered, community-focused welfare administration that Mayor Shin has emphasized into the healthcare sector. Citizens have expressed optimism about the launch of the Gwacheon Model of Integrated Care, viewing it as a realistic policy that ensures administrative support even after returning home from the hospital. One resident stated, “While in the hospital, medical staff take care of everything, but once we return home, families often have to handle everything alone. If the city continues to provide support after discharge, it will significantly reduce the burden on families.” Another resident remarked, “Welfare is not just about providing financial support; it’s crucial to connect those in need with the services they require in a timely manner. I hope Gwacheon can effectively operate a system that links hospitals, local community centers, and professionals.” Meanwhile, Mayor Shin Gye-yong stated, “City officials and specialized personnel will work together to be a reliable partner in caring for citizens’ lives, ensuring that no one is left alone in the gap of care after discharge. We will strive to create a happy welfare city in Gwacheon.” 2026-09-02 16:04:00 -
BPA Seeks Citizens for Participation Innovation Group The Busan Port Authority (BPA) is recruiting members for the '2026 Busan Port Citizen Participation Innovation Group,' which evaluates major projects and innovation activities from the perspective of citizens.Since the introduction of the program in 2024, instances of citizen feedback leading to actual projects have emerged, prompting an expansion of participation and feedback collection this year.BPA announced that it will accept applications for the Citizen Participation Innovation Group from September 2 to September 23. Any South Korean citizen interested in Busan Port and BPA can apply, regardless of region or occupation, with the activity period running from the selection date until December 31 of this year.The Citizen Participation Innovation Group allows citizens to directly assess and provide improvement suggestions for projects and innovation activities undertaken by BPA throughout the year. BPA selects the projects to be evaluated and presents them to the group, where participants score each project and submit open-ended feedback. Notably, some suggestions from last year's group were incorporated into this year's projects.According to BPA, during the innovation group's activities, a proposal was made to increase opportunities for local university students to engage with Busan Port, leading to the expansion of programs linking university majors with port experience.This year, the program has been extended to include university students from the metropolitan area, and additional feedback from participating students regarding Busan Port will also be collected.A BPA official stated, "We collect and store the suggestions made by citizens each year. While not all suggestions can be immediately applied to projects, we review their feasibility for incorporation into next year's initiatives."The size of the innovation group has also expanded since its inception. Based on initial operational experience, BPA increased the number of participants from approximately 80 to 100 last year. This year, the focus will be on selecting participants to ensure a diverse range of opinions.In the selection process, groups will be divided based on region, occupation, and previous participation experience to avoid bias, with participants randomly selected from within each group.For example, the distribution of residents from Busan and other regions, as well as those from the public and private sectors, will be considered, and random numbers will be assigned to select participants. Previous members of the innovation group can also reapply, with the selection process considering the ratio of returning participants to new applicants.A BPA official emphasized, "This is not a method to favor specific groups but a procedure to ensure a balanced representation of opinions from citizens with diverse backgrounds."However, citizens will not directly choose the projects to be evaluated by the innovation group. BPA departments internally determine the projects to be assessed from those pursued throughout the year, which the innovation group evaluates at the end of the year.Evaluations will be conducted by scoring and collecting open-ended feedback. The overall evaluation results and comments submitted by citizens are not currently disclosed externally but are used internally to inform the design of next year's projects and innovation activities.Participants will receive small mobile gift cards for each evaluation they participate in. BPA aims not only to increase participation but also to gather concrete suggestions that can lead to project improvements.BPA's President Song Sang-geun stated, "Through the operation of the Citizen Participation Innovation Group, we will actively reflect the diverse opinions of the public in BPA's policies and innovation activities, and we hope for significant interest and participation to achieve results that meet the expectations of the citizens."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-02 16:00:00
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Kookmin University grabs 10th Formula Student Korea win SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - Two electric race cars built by undergraduates finished first and second at South Korea's biggest student car-building competition last weekend, giving Kookmin University a 10th straight overall title in the event's Formula division. About 1,800 students from 43 universities competed at Formula Student Korea 2026, which ran from Aug. 27 to 30 at the Korea Automotive Technology Institute's vehicle and driver safety research center in Yeonggwang County, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City. The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers organized the event with the institute. The overall title went to KEF-26, one of two cars entered by the university's student car-building club, Kookmin Racing. The team also received an award from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The club's second car, F-26, took gold in the electric formula class. The competition has run every year since 2007. Teams spend roughly a year designing and fabricating a single-seat open-wheel car, and judges score both the quality of the design and how well the students can account for the choices they made. The cars then run timed events measuring acceleration, cornering and durability. The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (KSAE) frames the event as workforce training. Students who finish a car have worked through suspension geometry, battery packaging, and manufacturing cost, the kind of full-vehicle problem that engineers at automakers rarely touch in their first years on the job. KSAE gives its top award, the KSAE Grand Prix Formula, to the team with the highest combined score across every event. Rain fell through the driving events. KEF-26 placed at or near the top of all of them and completed the endurance race with the fastest lap time in the field. Kookmin teams also swept the individual awards for acceleration, for the skidpad, a figure-eight course that measures how much cornering grip a car can hold, and for the written design report. Formula Student Korea accepts both combustion and electric entries. Kookmin ran two electric cars this year, as it did in 2025, the first season the club fielded a pair of them. F-26 had already been on track this summer. At Formula SAE Electric, run by SAE International from June 16 to 20 at Michigan International Speedway, the car finished eighth overall in a field of about 100 university teams. It placed third in the endurance event, ninth in the skidpad and 11th in autocross, and reached the design final, where it finished 12th. It was only Kookmin's second entry in the electric class. That left the club about nine weeks between Michigan and Yeonggwang. "There was a lot of pressure in preparing for the domestic competition right after the world event," said Cho Hyun-sung, an automotive engineering student who managed the F-26 project. "Winning the overall title for a 10th straight year and raising Kookmin University's standing makes me proud." Shin Sung-hwan, dean of the university's College of Automotive and Mobility and the club's faculty adviser, said the streak reflects both the students' work and sustained backing from the university, and pledged continued support for training engineers who will lead the future auto industry. Kookmin Racing was founded in 2001. Its best result at Formula SAE remains a fourth-place finish in 2015, the highest placing by an Asian team that year. 2026-09-02 15:55:51 -
Two South Koreans kidnapped in Haiti freed after about a month SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - Two South Koreans who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti have been released after about a month in captivity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday. According to the ministry, the two were kidnapped by a gang in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in July while on their way to work. One was released on Aug. 18, while the other was freed on Tuesday. Both are reportedly in good health. As soon as the kidnapping was reported to the South Korean Embassy in the Dominican Republic, which is also accredited to Haiti, the government set up a task force and worked closely with Haitian police and other local authorities to secure their release. As kidnappings and other crimes occur frequently in Haiti amid worsening security conditions, South Korea has banned travel to the country since May 2024, requiring South Koreans to obtain special permission to travel to or stay there. But the two had obtained such permission to conduct business activities. Meanwhile, the ministry urged South Koreans remaining in Haiti to move to safer areas and avoid unnecessary travel to prevent similar incidents. AJP Takeaways • Two South Koreans kidnapped by a gang in Haiti were released after about a month in captivity and are reportedly in good health. • The South Korean government worked with Haitian police and local authorities to secure their release after the kidnapping was reported in July. • South Korea has banned travel to Haiti since May 2024, and the government has urged nationals there to move to safer areas and avoid unnecessary travel. 2026-09-02 15:48:56 -
LG Household & Health Care Launches High-Performance Whitening Toothpaste LG Household & Health Care's oral beauty brand Euthymol has expanded its product lineup with the launch of a high-concentration whitening toothpaste.On September 2, LG Household & Health Care announced the release of the Euthymol Whitening Purple Intensive 1450 Toothpaste, a follow-up to the Euthymol Whitening Purple Corrector Toothpaste, which won first place in the oral care category at the 2025 Olive Young Awards.The new product features a serum formula designed with a "10x high-concentration deep whitening formula" that penetrates accumulated tooth stains. The company claims it delivers whitening results three times faster than the previous product.The toothpaste also enhances stain prevention capabilities, showing up to 5.5 times effectiveness against nine common staining sources, such as coffee, black tea, and wine, with effects lasting for 24 hours. Notably, the purple correcting technology in the formula provides a 3.2 times stronger tone-up effect and demonstrates a 1.8 times improvement in tooth brightness. Additionally, the 1450 ppm high-fluoride formulation strengthens damaged teeth and has been confirmed to suppress bad breath for up to 15 hours.The product comes in a pump-type container for added convenience. During a recent brand week event at Olive Young, it quickly rose to the top of the oral care category.An LG Household & Health Care representative stated, "Euthymol Whitening Purple Corrector Serum Toothpaste combines high-concentration whitening ingredients with a serum formula to address accumulated stain concerns. It aims to provide a new oral care experience through whitening, stain management, and strengthening damaged teeth, all in a convenient pump container."Founded in 1898 in the UK, Euthymol is a premium oral care brand that LG Household & Health Care acquired in 2020.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-02 15:48:10
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Insurance Companies Compete in Senior Care and Housing Market Insurance companies are enhancing their caregiving insurance offerings while expanding into senior housing, care, and asset management. The senior market is emerging as a new growth driver due to increasing demand for care and the need for managing retirement assets as the population ages. According to the insurance industry on September 2, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance has recently established a subsidiary, Hyundai HXP, to prepare for its senior housing business. Hyundai HXP, fully owned by Hyundai C&R, will focus on operating senior housing and training, leasing, and consulting specialized personnel. Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance plans to leverage its existing customer base among seniors through health, living support, and housing services. The company is emphasizing senior housing that combines health management with cultural and leisure services, rather than traditional care facilities. KB Life has created a 'Senior Wellness Promotion Team' under its New Business Promotion Division, expanding its dedicated workforce to over 20 employees. Through its specialized subsidiary, KB Golden Life Care, the company operates facilities in Wirye, Seocho, Eunpyeong, Gangdong, and Gwanggyo Village, as well as a day care center in Pyeongchang County. This strategy aims to broaden customer engagement beyond insurance payouts to include care and support services. Financial products for managing senior assets are also expanding. Hanwha Life recently launched a 'Dementia Care MMT,' which combines a regular deposit trust with a dementia-related rider. This product allows customers to set payment methods while healthy, enabling the trustee to cover care costs from the trust assets after a moderate or severe dementia diagnosis. NH Nonghyup Life and NH Nonghyup Bank plan to apply for innovative financial services related to private housing pensions with the Financial Services Commission this month. This structure aims to provide retirement income by utilizing homes owned by seniors. Specific eligibility criteria and operational methods will be finalized during the application process. Nonghyup Life is also preparing to expand non-financial healthcare services, including care and caregiving. Competition in caregiving insurance is intensifying among non-life insurance companies. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance recently introduced a rider that combines caregiver support services with caregiving cost coverage. This feature supports 24-hour caregiving and eliminates additional fees based on patient weight, reflecting the growing number of single-person households that find it difficult to rely on family for care. The insurance industry's focus on the senior market is driven by rapid aging and the increase in senior assets. According to an analysis based on the National Statistical Office's household financial welfare survey and household estimates, the net assets of individuals aged 60 and older amount to 430.7 trillion won. The Low Birthrate and Aging Society Commission estimates that 'dementia money,' which may become difficult to manage due to cognitive decline, will rise from 154 trillion won in 2023 to 488 trillion won by 2050. The number of dementia patients is also increasing rapidly. According to the Insurance Research Institute, the number of dementia patients aged 60 and older in South Korea is expected to rise from about 1.01 million in 2025 to 1.83 million in 2040 and 2.29 million by 2050. An industry insider stated, "Demand for existing whole life insurance has been greater among seniors than younger individuals. As the retirement population and cases of caregiving and dementia increase, the insurance industry is competing over coverage limits and premiums." 2026-09-02 15:48:10
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National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik: AI Growth Must Lead to Opportunities for All On September 2, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik emphasized the importance of placing 'people' at the center of artificial intelligence (AI) development, stating, "AI growth can only lead to good growth when it becomes an opportunity for everyone." He added, "The National Assembly will take the lead in this effort," and pledged to create a virtuous cycle where corporate innovation is supported by legislative action, which in turn fosters further innovation.During his speech at the 2026 Good Growth Global Forum (GGGF) held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Cho remarked, "The world is currently engaged in fierce competition to secure digital territory in the face of a massive AI transformation."He noted, "South Korea is one of the few countries capable of leveraging its advantage in memory semiconductors to develop cloud services and unique foundation models. With a solid manufacturing base in automobiles and ships, along with the highest density of industrial robots globally, we are well-positioned to become a leader in 'physical AI.'"Cho acknowledged that this significant transformation brings both opportunities and challenges, stating, "We will soon face the reality of new growth avenues opening up alongside fears of job losses. It is crucial that the outcomes of transformation and innovation lead to improved quality of life for our citizens, while proactively addressing any conflicts and side effects that may arise."He specifically committed to leading efforts in the National Assembly to eliminate unnecessary regulations and support industries. "I will listen closely to voices from the field," he said, adding, "We will swiftly address unnecessary regulations and boldly support initiatives that revitalize industries."To achieve this, he pledged to establish a regulatory framework that allows businesses and researchers to innovate freely while ensuring the protection of public safety and rights through robust legislation and policies. He expressed hope that the wisdom and suggestions shared at the forum would serve as a foundation for South Korea's future growth drivers and pave the way for the era of AI civilization. 2026-09-02 15:48:00
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Former Lawmaker Woo Je-chang Sentenced to Four Years for Bribery Woo Je-chang, a former lawmaker, has been sentenced to four years in prison for accepting over 900 million won in bribes in connection with a soundproof wall construction project along a highway. The Supreme Court's third division, led by Justice Oh Seok-jun, upheld the lower court's ruling on September 2, confirming the four-year prison sentence and a confiscation order of 956.61 million won for violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) and the Attorney-at-Law Act. Woo is accused of receiving approximately 990 million won from a construction company representative, identified as A, between August 2021 and March 2022, related to the installation of soundproof walls between a residential site near Bopyeong Station in Yongin and the Yeongdong Expressway. Prosecutors allege that during his time as a lawmaker, Woo leveraged his connections to solicit bribes from officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, members of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and employees of the Korea Expressway Corporation, promising to facilitate the soundproof wall project. Investigations revealed that Woo introduced A to practical staff and executives at the Korea Expressway Corporation to address issues, suggesting that if matters did not proceed smoothly, he would intervene through the National Assembly committee. He later disguised the payments as proceeds from the sale of coffee machines owned by his company or inflated subcontracting fees to receive kickbacks. The first trial sentenced Woo to three years and six months in prison and ordered the confiscation of 888.36 million won. However, it found insufficient evidence to prove that over 98 million won was received as a bribe for solicitation and acquitted him of the charge of promising to receive 2.3 billion won in bribes, citing doubts about A's testimony. The appellate court recognized 68.25 million won of the coffee machine payments as bribes related to the soundproof wall project, increasing the sentence to four years and the confiscation amount to 956.61 million won, while maintaining the acquittal on the 2.3 billion won promise. The appellate court noted, "The amount received exceeds 900 million won, indicating a serious offense. The methods employed, such as inflating construction costs through subcontractors to receive kickbacks, demonstrate a calculated approach." It also remarked that Woo provided implausible excuses and showed no remorse. Woo's appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court, which found no legal errors in the lower court's judgment. Woo Je-chang was elected to the National Assembly in 2004 as a member of the United New Democratic Party and was re-elected in 2008 as part of the United Democratic Party. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election for the Yongin Gap constituency but was unsuccessful.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-02 15:44:10
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Sulwhasoo Launches Global Campaign for 60th Anniversary of Ginseng Cream Sulwhasoo, the cosmetics brand of Amorepacific, is launching a global campaign to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its flagship anti-aging product, Ginseng Cream. The campaign aims to promote the brand's heritage in ginseng research and philosophy in the global market.On September 2, Sulwhasoo announced the global campaign titled 'Beauty Crafted in Time.' This initiative is designed to highlight the value of Ginseng Cream and the brand's 60 years of ginseng research.Sulwhasoo's ginseng research began in 1966 with the launch of the world's first ginseng cosmetic, ABC Ginseng Cream, and has evolved into the current flagship anti-aging product, Ginseng Cream.The brand will offer various customer experience programs in key markets, including China, Singapore, the United States, and South Korea. In China, a brand popup will introduce Ginseng Cream and the ginseng research heritage, while in Singapore, the brand's philosophy and research story will be showcased to global media and key opinion leaders. In the U.S. and South Korea, cultural art-based popup exhibitions will be held in collaboration with global artists.Ginseng Cream is developed based on Sulwhasoo's ginseng research and skin science. The company states that its key ingredient, Ginsenomics™, helps improve skin elasticity and strengthen the skin's natural power. This aligns with the brand's focus on 'Skin Longevity' to maintain healthy skin.A Sulwhasoo representative stated, 'The 60th anniversary of Ginseng Cream is a significant milestone that goes beyond the product launch, reflecting the value and achievements of our long-standing ginseng research. We hope this campaign allows more customers to discover the value of Ginseng Cream and the meaning of beauty crafted in their own time.'Notably, Ginseng Cream has been ranked first in the anti-aging cream category for ten consecutive years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-02 15:44:10
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President Lee Promises to Eliminate Discriminatory Practices During Gender Equality Week 이재명 대통령은 2일 양성평등주간을 맞아 성별을 이유로 누구도 차별받거나 배제되지 않는 사회를 만들겠다고 밝혔다. 정부 차원에서 관련 제도와 정책을 점검하고 일상에 남아 있는 불합리한 관행과 장벽도 개선하겠다고 강조했다. 이 대통령은 이날 자신의 엑스(X·옛 트위터)에 “우리 사회는 성평등을 향해 꾸준히 걸어왔지만 아직 가야 할 길이 남아 있다”고 적었다. 그러면서 “진정한 성평등은 성별을 이유로 그 누구도 차별받거나 배제되지 않는 세상이라고 밝혔다. 이어 성평등 사회를 위해 일상에 남아 있는 편견을 걷어내고 서로의 다름을 존중해야 한다고 강조했다. 모든 국민이 동등한 권리를 누릴 수 있는 사회를 만들어야 한다고도 했다. 정부의 역할과 관련해서는 ”국민 여러분께서 성평등을 삶 속에서 더 넓고 더 깊게 체감할 수 있도록 관련 제도와 정책을 더 세심히 살피고 불합리한 관행과 장벽을 하나씩 걷어내겠다“고 약속했다. 이 대통령은 ”성별에 관계없이 공정한 기회를 보장받고, 자신의 노력과 역량을 온전히 펼치며, 정당한 대우를 받는 성평등 대한민국을 만들어 가겠다“고 강조했다. 양성평등주간은 매년 9월 1일부터 7일까지 운영된다. 이 대통령은 이번 메시지에 ‘양성평등주간’과 ‘모두의 성평등 더 넓고 더 깊게’라는 해시태그를 함께 달았다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-02 15:44:00