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  • Why South Koreans Are Enthralled by a 3,000-Year-Old Greek Hero
    Why South Koreans Are Enthralled by a 3,000-Year-Old Greek Hero At the CGV I-Park Mall IMAX theater in Yongsan, Seoul, an unusual phenomenon is occurring. As competition for the best seats to see Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' intensifies, issues of ticket scalping have emerged, prompting the theater to limit ticket purchases and enhance identity verification to combat abnormal sales.Such fervor for a single film has returned.And it’s a story from 3,000 years ago. The Trojan War is not our war. Ithaca is not our hometown. Odysseus is not a hero of Korea. Yet, audiences in 21st-century South Korea are captivated by the tale of an ancient Greek man wandering the seas to return home.The success of 'Odyssey' in South Korea has reached the level of a cultural phenomenon. Amid a global box office surge, the response from Korean audiences has been particularly enthusiastic. The demand to experience the film in the IMAX format, which Nolan insists upon, has made the question of 'what movie to watch' just as important as 'where and how to watch it.'But why?Why are people in the AI era so enthralled by a story from 3,000 years ago? And why are South Koreans, who are at the forefront of digital civilization and the AI revolution, so captivated by Odysseus's homecoming?To find the answer, we must step away from the theater and delve into the human heart. 'Odyssey' is, before anything else, a story of return.Humans are ultimately beings of return. Odysseus is a hero of the Trojan War. After a decade of war, he seeks to return to his hometown of Ithaca, but the journey home takes another ten years. The sea obstructs him, gods intervene, and monsters appear. Temptations from beautiful women await, and his companions die one by one.Yet, he continues. He is going home. He is returning to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.This is the oldest and most powerful force that has allowed 'Odyssey' to endure for 3,000 years. Humans are both beings that leave and beings that return. In youth, we leave home for school and work, departing our hometowns for success, and sometimes even leaving the country in search of a broader world.However, it is strange. The farther we go, the more we think of where we can return. This becomes more pronounced as we age. Even successful individuals eventually think of their hometown, and those who have made a lot of money seek out their families.Life may be a grand Odyssey.There is a departure, an adventure, successes and failures. There is love and betrayal, temptation and despair, and at the end of it all lies the ancient human dream of homecoming. Thus, the story of Odysseus does not end with the ancient Greeks.It is our story.For Koreans, 'hometown' holds a special significance. So why does this story resonate so strongly in Korea?We need to look into the modern history of Koreans. For a long time, Koreans have been a people who had to leave their hometowns. During the Japanese occupation, they scattered to Manchuria, Primorsky Krai, and Japan. The Korean War divided many people between the North and South. During the industrialization era, young people left rural areas for cities like Seoul, Busan, Ulsan, and Incheon. Miners and nurses went to Germany, workers went to the Middle East, and immigrants left for the United States, Canada, South America, and Australia.Yet, in their hearts, there was always a hometown.That is why Korean songs often feature themes of hometown and mothers. There are many songs about leaving, waiting, and returning home. During holidays, tens of millions travel. Even when highways are congested or train tickets are hard to come by, they go. They go home.Koreans instinctively understand the heart of Odysseus, who, after ten years of war, did not give up on Ithaca despite wandering for another ten years.Home is not just a place. It is a memory.If Penelope did not exist, Ithaca would not exist. However, there is one condition for homecoming: there must be someone to return to. No matter how great a hero Odysseus is, if no one awaited him in Ithaca, his ten-year journey would have been a completely different story.There was Penelope.Her husband was away for ten years in war and then wandered the sea for another ten. In Ithaca, where the king has vanished, suitors seeking power and wealth swarm, forcing new choices upon her, believing her husband to be dead.Yet, Penelope waits.At this point, 'Odyssey' transforms from an adventure film into a love story. When young, reading 'Odyssey' reveals Cyclopes and Sirens. Circe and Calypso appear, along with war and adventure. As one ages and rereads it, something else emerges. Penelope becomes visible. Waiting becomes apparent. Home comes into focus.And one begins to see how great a blessing it is to have someone to return to.What makes a hero is not the act of leaving but the act of returning. Most heroic narratives in humanity speak of conquest. The conditions of a hero were to seize more land and defeat stronger enemies.Odysseus is a bit different.His ultimate destination is not a new empire. It is the small island of Ithaca. He is not going to gain more but to return to where he originally belongs. Thus, Odysseus's greatness lies not only in the destruction of Troy but in his return.The world does not only require the courage to leave. It also needs the courage to return. There are those who succeed but cannot return to themselves, those who gain power but lose themselves, and those who earn money but lose their families.Some succeed in going far but forget where they should return. This is the tragedy of modern humans.Circe and Calypso, the temptations that ensnare humanity. What obstructs Odysseus's journey is not only monsters and storms. There is something more dangerous: temptation.Circe is there, and Calypso is there. Calypso, in particular, tries to keep Odysseus on her island. In Homer's narrative, she offers Odysseus immortality and eternal youth. He could remain forever young. He could avoid death.Yet, Odysseus chooses human life. He opts for the path back to Penelope, a mortal being, and to Ithaca, where he was born. This is one of the greatest philosophical questions that permeates 'Odyssey.'What will you choose between living forever and living as a human? Odysseus chooses humanity.He accepts aging and the fate of death. He values the human fate of living with loved ones and eventually dying more than the divine eternity. The question posed by Homer 3,000 years ago is revived in the AI era.Humanity is now encountering a new Calypso: AI and advanced technology. Artificial intelligence grants humans tremendous abilities. It expands memory, retrieves knowledge, and breaks down language barriers. Life sciences aim to extend human lifespan, while neuroscience and robotics seek to enhance physical and intellectual capabilities.So, we must ask again.Is living long the goal of humanity? Is knowing much the completion of humanity? Is becoming stronger happiness? In an era where AI does most of the work, what should humans do?Calypso's island is beautiful. But if one stays there forever, they cannot return to Ithaca. Technology is the same. Technology must exist for humanity. Humans must not exist for technology.Examining Christopher Nolan's growth reveals an intriguing scene.Nolan was born in 1970 in Westminster, London, to a British father and an American mother. He spent his childhood moving between London and Chicago. He grew up between two countries and two cultures.Film came to young Nolan early. At the age of seven, he began making films with his father's Super 8 camera. After watching 'Star Wars,' the boy who filmed with toys would later become a director who insists on the largest screens in the global film industry.His cinematic experiences in Chicago are particularly interesting. He was exposed to large-screen films with his father during childhood, experiencing the overwhelming impact of a massive screen early on. This childhood memory can be traced in his later embrace of IMAX and large film formats as his cinematic language.The massive screen he admired as a boy became his cinematic world. His obsession with IMAX, which began with 'The Dark Knight,' intensified through 'Interstellar,' 'Dunkirk,' 'Tenet,' and culminated in 'Odyssey' at a new level.Thus, the scene of audiences in Yongsan today battling for an IMAX seat reflects a peculiar cycle of time. A boy captivated by a massive film screen in Chicago is now drawing audiences to a grand screen in Seoul half a century later.The boy raised in a Catholic boarding school has another intriguing aspect to his background. He studied at the prestigious British boarding school Haileybury during his teenage years. While historically connected to the Anglican tradition, it is noted that Nolan was influenced by the Catholic educational environment and religious culture during his upbringing.However, caution is warranted here. There is insufficient basis to explain Nolan's cinematic world through the doctrines of a specific religion or to label him a faith-based director.Nonetheless, the questions that repeatedly appear in his films are clear: sin and responsibility, sacrifice and salvation, time and eternity, death and existence, and human free will.In 'Interstellar,' he questioned whether love can transcend time and space, while in 'Oppenheimer,' he asked how far humanity must take responsibility for the science and technology it creates. 'Inception' explored the boundaries between reality and dreams, and 'Dunkirk' examined humanity and community in the face of death.And in 'Odyssey,' he asks again: Where do humans come from, and where do they return?These questions are not solely religious. They are fundamental questions that philosophy, literature, and art have grappled with for thousands of years. However, it is possible to read that the environment in which he was close to the issues of God and humanity, sin and salvation, life and death, has become a cultural soil for his imagination.What matters is not that Nolan preaches religion, but that he questions the origins of humanity.Why does Nolan insist on the 'real'? In an era where digital technology can create everything, he has instead clung to real spaces, real objects, real light, and film. In 'Odyssey,' he pushed actors and cameras into real seas, ships, and vast natural environments.This is not merely a filming preference. What he ultimately wants to show is humanity. There are waves. There is wind. There are rocks and sand. And before that vast nature stands a small human.Human, culture, nature.The massive IMAX screen paradoxically reveals the smallness of humanity. At the same time, it magnifies the image of that small human enduring storms and overcoming temptations to return home. Thus, it compels us to look at the human face at the cutting edge of technology. That is the power of Nolan's films.In the smartphone era, why are theaters bustling again? The 'Odyssey' craze poses important questions for the film industry. In an age of Netflix, YouTube, short forms, and smartphones, people have long discussed the death of theaters. Yet, it is difficult to obtain tickets for the Yongsan IMAX. Scalpers have emerged.Why?Because it shows something that cannot be experienced at home.In an era overflowing with content, the experience itself has become more important than the content. Watching on a smartphone and watching in front of a massive screen with hundreds of people holding their breath as they gaze at the Mediterranean waves is the same movie but a completely different experience.The theater becomes a modern small ritual space. People gather in a dark space. The lights go out. And they listen together to a story from 3,000 years ago. It may not be fundamentally different from how ancient Greeks gathered to hear the bard tell the story of Odysseus.Technology has changed. Humanity has not changed much.For those in media, it is necessary to view 'Odyssey' from another perspective.What is content that survives for 3,000 years?It is not breaking news. It is not a trend. It is not an algorithm.It is a story that touches on humanity's fundamental questions.Who am I? Where did I come from? What do I love? What do I fight for? And in the end, where will I return? These questions do not disappear even as search engines change. They do not disappear even as AI advances.That is why Homer has passed away, but 'Odyssey' lives on.What are Korean audiences seeing? So far, 8.5 million viewers are not all watching the same movie.Some go to see Nolan. Some go to see Matt Damon, and some go to experience the overwhelming IMAX screen. Some go to meet the Trojan Horse, Cyclopes, Sirens, Circe, Calypso.Young audiences will see adventure. Middle-aged viewers will see love and loss. Parents will look at Telemachus, and those who have been married for a long time will see Penelope differently.And as one ages, other things become visible. Homecoming. Humans watch the same movie while seeing their own lives.Good art does not provide a single answer. It offers a mirror. That is why 'Odyssey' has survived for 3,000 years. Now, interest is focused on whether 'Odyssey' will surpass ten million viewers in Korea.However, more intriguing than the number ten million is why Koreans in 2026 chose this film. We are in the midst of an AI revolution. The world is changing too quickly. Professions are shaken, industries are restructured, and AI is entering areas of knowledge and creativity that humans have long considered their own.At that moment, Koreans are encountering a human from 3,000 years ago. It is a strange paradox. Through cutting-edge IMAX technology, they are watching the oldest human story.And they ask again.What is humanity? Life is ultimately an Odyssey.Nearly 3,000 years have passed since Homer sang 'Odyssey.' Empires have fallen. Religions and ideologies have changed. The industrial revolution occurred, and humans went to the moon. The internet was born, and now AI converses with humans.Yet, some things have not changed. People love. They wait. They leave. They get lost. They are tempted. They fail. They rise again. And they return.Thus, 'Odyssey' is not a classic. It is the present.Odysseus does not remain merely a hero who died 3,000 years ago. He exists within us. Today, someone leaves home for work. Someone departs for a foreign country for business, and someone lives apart from their family in search of success. Someone fights for life in a hospital, and someone starts again from a place of failure.Everyone is on a journey.We all have Cyclopes. We all have Sirens and Calypso's island. And we all have Ithaca to return to. It may be a hometown. It may be family or a loved one. It may even be the lost self.Delving deeper, we encounter the ancient spiritual question of where humans come from and ultimately where they return.Therefore, what matters in life is not just how far one has gone, but where one is returning to.This is a more important question than success. It is a longer-lasting question than money. It is a weightier question than power.Homer asked it 3,000 years ago. Christopher Nolan asks it again in 2026. And now, as people compete to secure a ticket at the IMAX theater in Yongsan, they are encountering that question. Even on the day the ten millionth Korean audience enters the theater, the question will remain the same.Where is your Ithaca?Humans leave. And someday, they will return. Along the way, they love, fail, fight, forgive, and age. That long and arduous journey is life.That is humanity. And that is the Odyssey of us all.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:00
  • Climate Ministry Hosts Greenhouse Gas Training for Experts from 23 Countries
    Climate Ministry Hosts Greenhouse Gas Training for Experts from 23 Countries The government is conducting training for experts to enhance greenhouse gas statistics and reporting capabilities in developing countries.The Greenhouse Gas Comprehensive Information Center, part of the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, announced that it will hold the 16th International Greenhouse Gas Expert Training Course in collaboration with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat from August 31 for three weeks at Sejong University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.This training will involve 24 officials and researchers from 23 countries, including South Korea, Nepal, and Liberia, along with three graduate students from domestic universities. The curriculum is designed to be practical, covering the basic concepts of National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports (NIR) and methods for estimating and verifying emissions across various sectors.Under the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement, parties are required to submit biennial transparency reports (BTR) that include information on greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, as well as progress on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The first report is due by the end of 2024, with the second report required by the end of 2026. This year's training coincides with the period when countries are preparing their second BTR.Participants will directly estimate greenhouse gas emissions from energy, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU), and waste sectors. They will also practice verifying emissions and preparing reports based on country-specific statistical data.The faculty includes experts from the UNFCCC Secretariat, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI). This year, an expert from the University of Maryland in the United States will also join the team.During the training, participants will visit the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the National Museum of Korea to learn about international climate change response activities and Korean culture.Since 2011, the center has conducted annual training courses, producing 498 experts from 109 countries. Since 2017, it has been collaborating with the UNFCCC Secretariat for these training sessions.In April, during Climate Week in Yeosu, the center renewed its memorandum of understanding with the UNFCCC Secretariat to support the greenhouse gas reporting capabilities of developing countries until 2031.Choi Min-ji, head of the Greenhouse Gas Comprehensive Information Center, stated, "Graduates of the training program play a key role in their countries' greenhouse gas statistics. In the future, we will expand training to provide practical support not only for greenhouse gas estimation but also for BTR preparation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:00
  • Suh Do-hos Exhibition Explores Love and Memory Through Art
    Suh Do-ho's Exhibition Explores Love and Memory Through Art Closing one's eyes surrounded by loved ones at home is perhaps the most peaceful way to pass away. At home, there is no need to prove 'myself.' One can simply be a person, a son, a husband, or a father. There is a place to lie down, someone to lean against, and familiar scents. Thus, the phrase 'I want to go home' sometimes translates to 'I want to return to my true self and rest.'Home is also present at the beginning of life. A newborn enters the world wrapped in a soft garment, cradled in a parent's arms, heading home. This is the first relationship, the first love. Eventually, that child will leave home to create their own, and one day return with a new life in their arms. Life flows between homes and people, with love weaving through.Love Woven with Fabric and ThreadThe exhibition 'Suh Do-ho' at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul allows visitors to feel this love. The life of artist Suh Do-ho, 64, reflects our own lives. While the forms of homes and lives differ, the underlying gentle love that caresses the body and mind is expressed through thread and fabric.The exhibition encompasses Suh's artistic journey, from unpublished early works from his childhood and college years to his representative pieces and ongoing projects.During a press conference on August 26, Suh spoke about 'life.' He noted, "I often hear people say that looking at my work makes them think of their own homes and lives."The exhibition traces Suh's journey from his childhood to fatherhood. It begins with 'Seed Bank,' a collection of unpublished early works from his kindergarten to college years, and progresses through fabric representations of the homes he lived in, culminating in 'Memory of Love,' filled with memories of family. Although it showcases one artist's work, it prompts reflections on the circular connections from parent to self, to child, and from home to school and society.In the early part of the exhibition, visitors can see childhood works, including soap sculptures and drawings of camping preparations and astronauts. In the later section, they encounter a piece made from his children's T-shirts, tights, and shoes, accumulated over ten years, representing paternal love. This transforms childhood works into something more profound than mere memories, intertwining the time of young Suh, cherished by his parents, with the time of Suh as a father, holding onto his children's moments.What Does Your Home Look Like?The exhibition features Suh's signature 'fabric homes.' His work 'Loving/Loving: Seoul Home,' which he describes as a self-portrait of both himself and his father, serves as a cornerstone supporting the weight of life. The subsequent homes appear as if they could float away like dandelion seeds, yet they follow closely like the moon, evoking a sense of sweetness akin to cotton candy that melts in your hand.A home is both a closed and an open space. 'Perfect Home: London, Hoshim, New York, Berlin, Providence, Seoul' recreates the interior of Suh's current home in London at actual size, with fabric representations of doorknobs and light switches from past homes attached to its surface. The artist's energy, breath, and memories are transparently intertwined, suggesting that someone else may add their own energy to the home Suh has left behind.Homes evolve with life. "Most of the fabric homes I created were made when I was single. They emerged from conversations with the empty room where I sat alone. There was nothing between the room and me."Change has drawn people in."With marriage and children, home became more than just a physical space; it became a 'family.' As people entered the space between me and the room, all the stories that emerged became part of the home. Expanding that concept leads to school, society, country, and even the universe."The exhibition runs until March 28, 2027, with support from Hermes and Genesis. 'Apartment A, Hallway and Stairs, 348 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011' will be unveiled on December 18.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:00
  • Government to Support Six Non-Metropolitan Graduate Schools with Up to 90 Billion Won
    Government to Support Six Non-Metropolitan Graduate Schools with Up to 90 Billion Won The government has selected six non-metropolitan graduate schools to train master's and doctoral-level talent in the fields of semiconductors, biotechnology, robotics, and aerospace defense.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will officially announce the selection of these six '2026 Specialized Graduate Schools in Advanced Industries' on August 31. A total of 22 regional graduate schools applied for the program, and the ministry evaluated each institution's educational and research capabilities, regional growth potential, and alignment with three major government mega-projects to determine the final recipients of support.In the central region, Kongju National University was chosen as a specialized graduate school for semiconductors. In the southeastern region, Kyungsang National University was selected for aerospace defense, while Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology was chosen for semiconductors in the southwestern region. In the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area, Kyungpook National University was selected for robotics, and Kangwon National University was chosen for biotechnology in the Gangwon region. Jeonbuk National University was selected for robotics in the Jeonbuk region.The specialized graduate schools will develop curricula that reflect industry demand and establish educational infrastructure, including experimental and practical training equipment. They will also conduct industry-academia projects where companies and students collaboratively address technical challenges faced by businesses.Each selected university will receive up to 3 billion won annually for a maximum of five years, totaling up to 90 billion won for the six newly selected institutions over five years. The program will provide priority support for three years, followed by an evaluation for an additional two years of funding. Each university aims to enroll 45 new students annually, with a goal of training 225 master's and doctoral-level talents over five years.Since 2023, the ministry has selected three graduate schools in the semiconductor field, and by last year, it had designated a total of 14 institutions, including six in semiconductors, four in batteries, two in displays, and two in biotechnology. These graduate schools are currently supporting approximately 1,200 master's and doctoral students, and this year marks the first inclusion of robotics and aerospace defense as supported fields. With the addition of the new graduate schools, the total number of specialized graduate schools will increase to 20.If the talent development goals of each university are simply summed, the six new graduate schools are expected to train a total of 1,350 master's and doctoral talents over five years. The success of the program will depend on connecting highly skilled individuals educated in the region with employment opportunities or startups in local companies.Nam Myung-woo, director of industrial policy at the ministry, stated, "We expect that the excellent master's and doctoral talents nurtured in the regions will settle and start businesses in local companies, contributing to the development of regional growth engines and balanced national development. We will support innovative talents to lead regional industries."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:00
  • Koglo.com Chairman Lee Geum-ryong: Universities Must Shift Focus to Entrepreneurship for Youth Employment
    Koglo.com Chairman Lee Geum-ryong: Universities Must Shift Focus to Entrepreneurship for Youth Employment The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased individual work efficiency while reducing new and experienced hiring, raising concerns among the government and businesses about expanding youth employment.Lee Geum-ryong, chairman of Koglo.com, who previously conceptualized a large discount store business while at Samsung C&T and later served as CEO of Auction, emphasizes that universities must change to address youth employment in the AI era. He argues that universities need to transform from their outdated image as centers of academia into hubs for entrepreneurship to fulfill the mission of expanding youth jobs.In an interview with Aju Economy on August 30, ahead of the upcoming 18th Good Growth, Good Jobs Global Forum (2026 GGGF) on September 2, Lee shared his insights on expanding youth employment in the AI era.Lee stated, "To achieve the goal of expanding youth employment, we need to create a new digital valley centered around universities, and the government must dramatically ease regulations to allow for the emergence of more new companies."He cited KAIST as a successful example of addressing two significant contemporary challenges in South Korea. During the tenure of former President Lee Kwang-hyung, KAIST actively encouraged entrepreneurship among all members, including undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. As a result, over 560 companies were founded at KAIST, with 24 of them achieving public listing.Lee emphasized, "Not only the government but also universities and businesses must create a policy environment conducive to entrepreneurship and employment for young people."He criticized Seoul-based universities for lacking policies to promote entrepreneurship among students and faculty, stating, "Such institutions are merely universities for professors and exist in a completely stagnant environment." Despite graduating from one of Seoul's prestigious universities, Lee did not hold back in his criticism regarding the activation of youth employment.Lee proposed that South Korea should benchmark the examples of Silicon Valley in the United States and Shenzhen in China to create a cradle for startups centered around university campuses.He suggested, "We should build large buildings of 30 stories or more on or adjacent to major university campuses, where research, entrepreneurship, and accommodation can be integrated. Through this policy and spatial combination, universities can become forward bases for youth and startup entrepreneurship." He believes that easing building regulations by the government and local authorities is essential to facilitate the construction of such large buildings.Lee also expressed the need for the government to eliminate various regulations in finance, healthcare, and the environment, and to dismantle existing industrial cartels to allow young people to enter these sectors. He analyzed that groups holding established power, such as large corporations and public enterprises, aim to enhance productivity using AI while maintaining existing jobs, which fails to create new employment opportunities.Additionally, Lee stated, "We need to identify roles within major public enterprises that can be transferred to startups. This will allow new companies to establish themselves in the market and discover innovative businesses and services."Lee plans to present specific recommendations for expanding youth employment in the AI era to the government and businesses during a special lecture at the 2026 GGGF.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 05:00:20
  • Government Aims for 1.47 Million Housing Units in Greater Seoul, Experts Warn of Challenges
    Government Aims for 1.47 Million Housing Units in Greater Seoul, Experts Warn of Challenges The South Korean government has set an ambitious target of supplying 1.47 million housing units in the Greater Seoul area by 2030, as part of its August 13 measures. However, experts warn that achieving this goal will require additional financial and tax incentives, given recent construction performance and private sector conditions.The Korea Construction Industry Institute (KCI) stated in a report on August 30 that while the direction of the August 13 measures is positive for expanding supply, there is a need for better alignment among policy tools such as finance and taxation.Under the August 13 measures, the government aims to add 120,000 units to the existing plan of 1.35 million units from the previous September 7 measures, bringing the total to 1.47 million units. This translates to an average annual supply of approximately 294,000 units in the Greater Seoul area. The additional supply will consist of 57,000 units from public land, 5,000 units from urban supply expansion, and 59,000 units from private financial and tax support and regulatory easing.However, recent construction figures indicate that meeting this target will be challenging. In the first half of this year, housing starts in the Greater Seoul area totaled 65,000 units, which is only 24.2% of the annual target of 269,000 units set by the September 7 measures. In Seoul, the achievement rate is around 19.3%.According to KCI, achieving the annual target of 294,000 units is ambitious. Over the past 16 years from 2010 to 2025, there were only four years—2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019—when housing starts in the Greater Seoul area exceeded 294,000 units. Last year, the number of housing starts was 167,000 units, which was only 56.8% of the target.KCI analyzed that to meet the supply target, construction levels must exceed 1.5 times the recent five-year average of 181,000 units annually over the next five years. Notably, 83.4% of housing starts in the Greater Seoul area over the past five years were driven by the private sector, indicating that the government's ability to meet its supply goals is closely tied to the recovery of private housing projects.Another concern is the lack of effective demand-side support measures. Most domestic housing supply relies on a pre-sale structure that utilizes buyers' funds, meaning that without effective demand stimulation policies, developers may struggle to secure financing for their projects.KCI also referenced examples from Germany and the UK, which set annual supply targets of 400,000 and 300,000 units, respectively. Despite implementing demand stimulation measures, their supply achievement rates remained between 50% and 70%, highlighting the difficulty of meeting targets through supply expansion policies alone.Furthermore, simply reducing administrative procedures for public land supply is not sufficient. The government plans to introduce a 'shortest construction model' to halve the land development period, aiming to start construction in new districts such as Gangseo in Seoul, Namyangju, and Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province within three to four years.However, looking at the case of the third new towns, the time from the announcement of candidate sites to the start of initial land development took about 40 months for Incheon Gyeyang, while it took 54 to 57 months for Namyangju Wangsil and Hanam Gyosan. KCI emphasized the need for on-site management to identify and resolve delays based on the specific conditions of each district and block.Urban redevelopment projects also remain a challenge. The government plans to lower the consent rate for redevelopment associations from 75% to 70% and expand urban public housing complex projects. While KCI views these measures positively, it pointed out that key issues affecting project viability, such as the excess profit recovery system and restrictions on the transfer of association member status, were not addressed in this plan.Moreover, the legal cap on floor area ratio, which is currently applicable only to public redevelopment projects, raises concerns about equity with private projects. KCI suggested that incentives should be based on the public nature and outcomes of the projects, rather than whether the implementing entity is public or private.Researcher Heo Yoon-kyung from KCI stated, “The August 13 measures present a clear direction for expanding supply to 1.47 million units in the Greater Seoul area during the term, which is positive. However, without effective demand stimulation measures supporting the pre-sale structure, the feasibility of the supply roadmap may be constrained.”He added, “For public land, it is essential to address on-site bottlenecks such as compensation and relocation, while urban redevelopment projects must resolve key issues affecting project viability. The success of the August 13 measures will depend on reconciling conflicting policies and interests under consistent principles and ensuring that individual projects can proceed to actual construction swiftly.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 02:48:00
  • Free Bicycle Maintenance Service Offered in Suwon
    Free Bicycle Maintenance Service Offered in Suwon The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation's Bicycle Racing and Sailing Headquarters is launching a free maintenance service for local residents to enhance bicycle usage convenience. On August 30, the headquarters announced that it will operate a 'Mobile Bicycle Repair Center' at the Suwon branch on September 7. This event expands the existing free bicycle repair service from the Gwangmyeong Spidome to local areas, allowing residents to have their bicycles checked and receive simple maintenance nearby. The service will include free inspections of key components such as tire pressure, brakes, and chains, along with basic maintenance and replacement of consumables. This initiative is expected to be particularly beneficial for residents who frequently use bicycles but find it inconvenient to visit repair shops or are unsure about basic inspection methods. One resident commented, "It's important to check basic parts like brakes and tires while riding, and having a free service nearby will be convenient." Another resident added, "I often ride with my child, and if we can get a safety check during this opportunity, I would feel more secure using it." A representative from the Bicycle Racing and Sailing Headquarters stated, "Bicycles are a means of transportation that promote health and environmental sustainability for short distances. We hope this event helps local residents use bicycles more safely and conveniently." The headquarters plans to continue providing mobile maintenance services to ensure residents can safely use bicycles in their daily lives.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-30 21:56:00
  • U.S. Proposes Three-Way Talks with Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to End Ukraine War
    U.S. Proposes Three-Way Talks with Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to End Ukraine War U.S. Proposes Three-Way Talks with Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to End Ukraine War The United States is reportedly pushing for a three-way summit involving the leaders of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine to revive stalled negotiations aimed at ending the Ukraine war. Axios reported on August 29 that John Ratcliffe, the Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), recently visited Russia and proposed that President Donald Trump, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine meet directly to discuss a ceasefire. Ratcliffe met with Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and other top Russian intelligence officials in Moscow on August 25. Following this meeting, the U.S. government conveyed the results to President Zelensky and suggested a three-way summit to the Russian side. Ratcliffe is also said to have communicated U.S. intelligence assessments to the Russian side, indicating that prolonged conflict could lead to greater military and economic losses. The New York Times reported that Ratcliffe urged Russia to initiate ceasefire negotiations before the situation worsens. The U.S. hopes that Bortnikov, who, like Putin, has ties to the former Soviet KGB, can play a role in resuming the stalled peace talks. This is not the first time the Trump administration has proposed a three-way summit. President Zelensky has shown a willingness for direct negotiations, while President Putin has maintained a negative stance toward such talks. It remains uncertain whether this proposal will lead to an actual summit, as Ukrainian sources express skepticism about Putin's intentions, citing intelligence suggesting Russia is preparing for further offensives rather than negotiations. South Korean Prime Minister Urges Safety Measures Amid Heavy Rain Forecast Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has issued an urgent directive for thorough safety preparations in response to forecasts of heavy rain across the country. On August 30, Han ordered relevant agencies to ensure that additional damage does not occur in areas already affected by previous rainfall. He specifically requested inspections and management of risk areas, including apartment slopes, landslide-prone regions, walls near residential areas, steep slopes, and aging houses. With heavy rain expected early on August 31, Han instructed that evacuation plans for residents in vulnerable areas be established in advance. He emphasized the need to utilize available means, such as village broadcasts and sirens, to guide residents to evacuate quickly in case of emergencies. He also urged relevant agencies to maintain a state of emergency readiness, ensure effective information sharing between agencies, and pay special attention to the safety of on-site response personnel. Iceland's EU Membership Negotiation Resumes Fail as 52.8% Vote Against Iceland's plans to resume negotiations for European Union (EU) membership have been thwarted after a national referendum showed that a majority of voters opposed the move. Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported on August 30 that, following the completion of vote counting in six electoral districts, 52.8% voted against resuming negotiations, while 47.2% were in favor. Approximately 225,000 people participated in the vote, resulting in a high turnout rate of 82.5%. Early in the counting process, the pro-EU side had a slight lead, but as votes from rural areas were tallied, the opposition gained ground and ultimately secured a decisive victory. In the capital, Reykjavik, support for resuming negotiations was higher, but turnout was only in the 60% range, while rural districts saw participation rates exceeding 80%. This referendum was initiated after the government, which took office in 2024, pledged to resume EU membership negotiations. The government argued that in light of the unstable international situation, including the war in Ukraine and U.S. pressure regarding Greenland, the EU could serve as a security and economic safety net.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-30 21:40:00
  • Man Arrested for Fatal DUI Crash Involving Maserati
    Man Arrested for Fatal DUI Crash Involving Maserati A man in his 40s has been arrested for causing a fatal multi-vehicle crash while driving a Maserati under the influence of alcohol.On August 30, Judge Han Jeong-won of the Seoul Central District Court conducted a warrant review for the suspect, identified as Hwang, and issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that he might flee.Hwang was reportedly driving while intoxicated around 11:40 p.m. on August 27 in the Bangbang Intersection area of Seocho District, Seoul, when he collided with a motorcycle, a bus, and a taxi. His blood alcohol level was found to be at a level that would warrant license suspension.The motorcycle rider, a man in his 40s, was transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Three others, including a bus passenger, a taxi driver, and a pedestrian, sustained minor injuries.Police responded to the scene after receiving reports of the incident and arrested Hwang on the spot. They applied for an arrest warrant on August 29. Authorities plan to investigate the specifics of the crash further before forwarding the case to prosecutors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-30 21:04:00
  • Icelands EU Membership Negotiation Resumes Fail as 52.8% Vote Against
    Iceland's EU Membership Negotiation Resumes Fail as 52.8% Vote Against Iceland's attempt to resume negotiations for European Union (EU) membership has failed, as a majority of voters opposed the move in a recent referendum.According to Iceland's public broadcaster RUV, all six electoral districts have reported results, showing 52.8% of voters against resuming negotiations, while 47.2% were in favor. Approximately 225,000 people participated in the vote, resulting in a high turnout rate of 82.5%.Initially, the pro-EU side held a slight lead, but as votes from rural areas were counted, opposition surged ahead and widened the gap for a decisive victory. In the capital, Reykjavik, support for EU membership was stronger, but turnout was only in the 60% range, while rural districts saw participation rates exceeding 80%.This referendum was initiated by the government that took office in 2024, which had pledged to restart EU membership negotiations. The government argued that amid unstable international conditions, including the war in Ukraine and U.S. pressure regarding Greenland, the EU could serve as a safeguard for security and the economy.Conversely, opponents contended that EU membership would transfer some legislative and regulatory powers to the EU, potentially undermining national sovereignty and limiting Iceland's independent decision-making in its key fishing industry. There is also a prevailing sentiment that Iceland, which maintains one of the highest standards of living and income levels in the world, does not need to join the EU.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-30 20:32:00