Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday rejected allegations that the timing of the military's inspection of a mine blast site was tied to President Lee Jae Myung's remarks on sanctions relief for North Korea ahead of last week's U.N. General Assembly. The main opposition People Power Party has accused the government of delaying an inspection of the site due to concerns Lee's call for sanctions relief would be undermined in the event North Korea is found responsible for the mine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers inside the Demilitarized Zone last week. The military on Monday announced preliminary findings that the explosion was highly likely to have been caused by illegally planted North Korean mines. "The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.N. Command planned and decided (on the timing of the inspection) purely based on a military judgment in consideration of the suggestions of field commanders," a presidential official said. "The military's on-site inspection regarding the mine accident has nothing to do with the president's U.N. speech." Lee had said in an interview with The New York Times

Samsung Electronics and five of its affiliates will invest $1 billion in Helix Digital Infrastructure, an artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure firm established by global investment firm KKR, as part of their efforts to strengthen their foothold in the broader data center ecosystem. Samsung Group said Tuesday that Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will invest in Helix. Samsung Electronics will contribute $500 million, with the other affiliates investing the remaining $500 million. Helix was established in June as an AI infrastructure company providing integrated services across hyperscale data center development and operation, power generation, power transmission and distribution infrastructure, fiber-optic networks and other network infrastructure. It is led by CEO Adam Selipsky, former CEO of Amazon Web Services. The Samsung affiliates will join KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia and U.S. power company Vistra as founding investors in Helix. The companies did not disclose details of thei

Korea's overseas direct investment rose 32.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, led by the financial and communication sectors. Overseas direct investment by Korea totaled $20.52 billion in the April-June period, up from $15.5 billion from the same three month period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The figure has posted on-year growth since the third quarter of 2025. By sector, overseas investment in the financial and insurance industry jumped 33.4 percent to $10.48 billion. The finance ministry attributed the increase to Korean businesses' efforts to diversify their global portfolios. Overseas direct investment in manufacturing rose 3.2 percent on-year to $3.57 billion. Investment in the information and communication sector more than tripled to $2.73 billion, the data showed. By destination, investment in the United States rose 53.6 percent to $8.86 billion, followed by Japan at $2.46 billion, sharply up from $300 million a year earlier. Investment in Luxembourg rose 14.2 percent to $1.59 billion, the latest findings sh

The chief of Korea's antitrust watchdog said Tuesday he will work to "restore justice" after a local court recently cleared the way for the agency to resume its stalled probe into U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. Ju Biung-ghi, head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), made the remarks during an interview with local radio broadcaster CBS, signaling the agency's intention to resume its investigation. Last month, Coupang refused to cooperate with the watchdog's on-site probe into allegations the company had shifted the costs of discounts onto its suppliers and asked a court to suspend the inspection. The court initially granted a temporary suspension of the FTC's on-site inspection but eventually rejected Coupang's request to halt the probe last week. "(Coupang) deals with various vendors, and the company could be subject to regulatory action if it has imposed unfavorable terms on them," Ju said. "It is a relief the judge handling the case ruled in favor of the public interest, including the rights of the economically vulnerable and hundreds of thousands of small merchants," he added

Jeonbuk National University is providing customized artificial intelligence (AI) training for Lotte Energy Materials to support its digital transformation and strengthen employees’ AI capabilities. The university said Monday that its Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) Project Group has been conducting a four-session AI training program for employees at the company’s plant in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 13. The program is designed to improve employees’ ability to use AI in the workplace. Lotte Energy Materials is one of the largest companies with operations in the province. The company, a subsidiary of Lotte Group, produces copper foil for rechargeable batteries. “This training is an example of cooperation among regional government, industry and academia in which the university’s expertise is closely aligned with the needs of the region and industry,” said Jang Tae-il, director of the university’s RISE Project Group. “Building on our cooperation with Lotte Energy Materials, we will further develop specific plans for industry-academia-res

In a nation where academic pressure intensifies sharply as children grow older, a groundbreaking multiyear study is revealing how the physical and mental health of teenagers deteriorates over time. As students trade play for cram schools, public health officials are uncovering the long-term toll of childhood in one of the world's most competitive societies. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency released raw data Tuesday from its sixth annual Youth Health Panel Survey. The initiative tracks a single cohort of 5,051 students who entered the study in 2019 as sixth-graders through their high school graduation in 2028. The latest dataset follows 4,141 of these students — an 82 percent retention rate — through their second year of high school in 2024. The 2024 dataset introduces 29 core health indicators spanning five major domains: diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and general illness. Crucially, the survey added specific metrics measuring screen addiction and high-caffeine energy drink consumption, capturing how teenagers cope with grueling academic sch

Celltrion will use one of the world's largest pharmaceutical trade shows next month to seek partners in new drug development, contract manufacturing and supply chains, the Korean biopharmaceutical company said Tuesday. The company will take part in CPHI Worldwide, which runs Oct. 6-8 in Milan. Now in its 37th year, the event covers pharmaceutical manufacturing, supply chains and contract development and manufacturing. More than 60,000 industry professionals from about 2,400 companies in some 170 countries are expected to attend. Celltrion, best known for biosimilars — lower-cost versions of biologic drugs whose patents have expired — said it will look for partners in oncology, obesity and metabolic diseases, and autoimmune diseases. The company said its new drug research in these areas has recently begun producing results. It described the effort as part of its push to become a global developer of new drugs. As demand for its main products grows, the company also plans to strengthen existing partnerships with overseas raw material suppliers and contract manufacturers. It will look f

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that the number of customers for its foundry business could grow roughly fourfold by 2029 compared to 2017. "The number of customers has increased about threefold from when the foundry business was first established as an independent unit in 2017," Noh Mi-jung, a senior vice president at Samsung's foundry business, said during Korea Premium Week 2026. "We expect the customer number to grow about fourfold by 2029," she said. Samsung's foundry business plans to diversify its portfolio, which is currently focused on mobile products, toward artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). HPC accounted for just 5 percent of the foundry business in 2017 but has since risen to 28 percent. The company expects the share to reach 66 percent by 2029. "By 2029, we expect HPC customers to account for more than half of our customer base, while HPC will also account for well over half of our sales," the executive said. Samsung aims to begin mass production of its third-generation 2-nanometer process in 2028, followed by mass production of its 1.4-nanome

The government on Tuesday passed a special bill outlining measures to introduce and operate nuclear-powered submarines as part of a national strategic project. The bill was passed during a Cabinet meeting led by President Lee Jae Myung and will be submitted to the National Assembly for deliberations. It is aimed at helping the systematic running of nuclear-powered submarine projects and promoting sustainable economic growth through the establishment of national security based on self-reliant defense, the maintenance of international peace and the development of the defense industry. In particular, it outlines special provisions for the introduction and operation of nuclear subs, as well as regulations concerning the safe management of nuclear power, as the project is the country's first case combining weapons systems with nuclear energy. The government has said it aims to enact the special law before the end of the year to launch the lead ship in the mid-2030s and field the homegrown nuclear-powered submarine in the late 2030s.

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the military on Tuesday to determine the cause of a land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border and take necessary measures, raising questions about how his administration, which has been pursuing dialogue with Pyongyang, might respond if North Korea is found responsible. Possible responses range from resuming propaganda broadcasts along the border to adjusting military operations inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and seeking action through the United Nations Command (UNC). The government has yet to announce any specific measures. “The military must work closely with the UNC to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and establish the facts transparently,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. “Necessary measures will then be taken based on the findings.” His remarks followed an interim military investigation that found a very high likelihood that North Korean mines caused the Sept. 21 explosions, which injured three South Korean soldiers. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) have pledged corresponding measures

Korea’s national Korean language proficiency exam is preparing for a major digital overhaul, introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to draft test questions and grade essays as global demand to learn the language surges. The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education unveiled a comprehensive strategy Tuesday to modernize the Test of Proficiency in Korean, widely known as TOPIK. The overhaul aims to transition the traditional paper-heavy exam into an AI-driven digital testing platform by 2029, catering to an expanding pool of foreign students, job seekers and workers aiming to establish careers in Korea. Since its launch in 1997 with fewer than 3,000 test-takers across four countries, TOPIK has grown into a crucial gateway for foreign nationals seeking university admission, corporate employment or residency visas in Korea. Annual applicants soared from roughly 329,000 in 2018 to more than 566,000 in 2025, spanning 94 countries. By September, registration had already reached 564,606 — up 10 percent from the same period last year — putting the exam

Cornell University has disputed claims that students named in a sexual assault lawsuit were allowed to mitigate their punishment simply by submitting essays, calling the characterization false and warning it could deter survivors from coming forward. When asked about the disciplinary action against the accused students, the Ivy League university said that any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault,” the university said in a statement on Monday (local time), which it sent to The Korea Times in response to the newspaper's inquiry. The response came after a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit in New York this month alleging that seven members of the school's Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. The university said the

CHEONGJU — A college student was jailed Tuesday for pledging allegiance to the extremist militant group ISIS while in high school, officials said. The Cheongju District Court sentenced the 18-year-old male student to an indeterminate prison term of one to 1 1/2 years after finding him guilty of violating the anti-terrorism law. The student, whose identity was withheld, was charged with attempting to join ISIS after watching various propaganda materials at an encrypted online platform operated by an ISIS-affiliated group between November 2024 and February this year, and swearing allegiance to ISIS. He was also suspected of obtaining bomb-making instructions from an ISIS contact, forming a bomb attack scheme against the government forces of Mozambique and requesting an ISIS evaluation for his attack plan, according to court officials.

Korean food manufacturers, despite K-food’s growing presence in global markets, continue to face hurdles from overseas trade barriers that constrain further export growth, according to the head of the country’s major food industry lobby group, Tuesday. Park Jin-sun, chairman of the Korea Food Industry Association (KFIA), said difficulties faced by the group’s member companies ranged from tariff to custom, certificates and food regulations in foreign markets. Global supply chains that prevent Korea’s imports of necessary materials for the industry also posed a threat. Issues related to food safety, production technologies, eligibility for government subsidy programs and sustainable operation practices were also major concerns for the companies. “We have witnessed rising crude oil prices worldwide, tightening naphtha supplies, disrupting packaging operations and a weakening Korean won,” Park said during a press conference in Seoul marking his first year as chairman. “Not just our importers, our exporters seeking to expand their global markets also suffered from various trade

LG Innotek will dispatch a fleet of sensor-packed test vehicles to Korean roads to gather real-world data aimed at sharpening technologies that determine how self-driving cars see the world. The company said Tuesday it has begun operating data collection vehicles in Korea in partnership with Applied Intuition, a U.S. autonomous driving software company. The two companies plan to expand the fleet to 20 vehicles by 2028. Operations will initially focus on Seoul, Incheon and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, with the fleet including both data collection vehicles and vehicles used to develop autonomous driving software. LG Innotek said direct access to road data will help it refine sensors that serve as the “eyes” of autonomous vehicles and strengthen its sensor-fusion technology. The vehicles combine cameras, radar and lidar to capture information about road conditions, vehicle movements, object locations and changes in weather, with the data to be paired with digital twin environments for sensor improvement and system validation. Sensor fusion combines camera imagery with radar measure

The chief of Korea's financial watchdog on Tuesday called on securities firms to shore up shareholder value and heighten risk management for rising interest rates. In a meeting with heads of 28 securities firms, Lee Chan-jin, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), said local brokerage firms had racked up record profits amid a stock bull run. "Securities firms that benefited the most from the growth of the capital market should play a greater role in leading market reform, and work to boost shareholder value," Lee said. The FSS chief also called for better management of loans extended to investors as part of efforts to reduce market volatility. Lee, in addition, urged securities firms to better prepare for rising interest rates.

Samsung SDI is unveiling a range of battery solutions designed for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers at Data Centre World Asia (DCWA) 2026, which kicked off Tuesday in Singapore, as the battery maker seeks to expand its presence in the fast-growing data center market. The event, which is one of Asia's largest data center exhibitions, brings together companies across the data center ecosystem, from design and construction to operations and management. This year’s edition is drawing more than 600 companies from around the world. Samsung SDI is participating in the annual event for the first time, showcasing products and technologies in four exhibition zones dedicated to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, battery backup units (BBUs), Samsung battery box (SBB) and a range of battery cells. At the UPS zone, Samsung SDI is showcasing a UPS solution that it said was the first in the world to meet all criteria in an indoor large-scale fire test conducted by UL Solutions, a global safety testing and certification company. The installation-level test involves intentionally igni

With the flu spreading earlier than usual this year, market interest is growing in products that may help support immune health, including red ginseng. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of patients with influenza-like illnesses reached 25.3 per 1,000 outpatients during the first week of September. This is nearly double the epidemic threshold of 12.9 and up sharply from 13.3 in late August. COVID-19 is also spreading alongside the flu. During the same period, 193 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, more than triple the number four weeks earlier. Last year, the government issued a flu advisory on Oct. 17, but this year it issued the advisory on Sept. 11 and began its vaccination program on Sept. 21. Against this backdrop, consumers are showing growing interest not only in vaccination but also in products that support immune health as part of broader preventive care, with red ginseng among those drawing increased attention. Red ginseng has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for seven potential health benefits, inclu

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday the success of the government's "three megaprojects" initiative centered on building up the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries will depend on creating the right living conditions for workers and their families. Lee made the remark at the third public-private meeting discussing progress on the initiative, which focuses on developing hubs for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers across the nation. "Today we will focus our discussions on ways to create living conditions, which could be called the key to the project's success," he said at the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, which brought together relevant ministers and presidential officials, as well as senior executives from Samsung and SK. "The megaprojects' ultimate goal is for young people and talents to flock to regions (outside the capital area) in search of jobs, and for all regions and people to evenly enjoy the benefits of growth," he said. Lee went on to explain that the projects should be pursued under a combined plan for the construction of industrial complexes and

PYEONGTAEK — Two former Chinese soldiers have been indicted on charges of leaking secrets from the Korean military and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), legal sources said Tuesday. One of the suspects was charged with wiretapping communications at major Korean and U.S. air and naval bases 13 times between March 2024 and August this year, according to the Pyeongtaek branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office. The 60-something operative, who had served for about 40 years at an eavesdropping unit in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), is accused of collecting 13.9 terabytes of intercepted data and smuggling it to China. The other suspect, a 45-year-old former member of the PLA's special forces unit, faces charges of stealing Korea-U.S. joint military exercise data and leadership information on 12 occasions. The former special forces member was found to have recruited a civilian worker and soldiers working at Camp Humphreys while running a military supply shop near the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, some 50 kilometers south of Seoul, from November 2021 to May this year. The suspect

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday last week's explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), highly likely caused by North Korean land mines, is in "clear" violation of the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Kang made the remarks during a plenary session of the parliamentary defense committee, after the South Korean military announced Monday that North Korean landmines were "highly likely" the cause of the Sept. 21 blast. "This is a clear violation of the armistice agreement," Shin said, in response to an opposition lawmaker pointing out the explosion was North Korea's blatant provocation and a breach of the armistice. "As responsibility lies on North Korea, we will take corresponding measures, (if the blast is confirmed to have been caused by land mines planted by North Korean forces)," the minister said. The explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas left three South Korean soldiers injured. A joint survey team, comprising South Korean military officials and the U.N. Command's Military Armistice Commission, h

A special counsel team on Tuesday sought a 25-year prison term for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in his appellate trial over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team made the request at the Seoul High Court, after a lower court sentenced Park to 25 years in prison in June on multiple charges, including playing a key role in an insurrection, which exceeded the team's initial recommendation of 20 years. Park is accused of convening a meeting of senior ministry officials following Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, to review follow-up measures, such as dispatching prosecutors to a martial law body. "Instead of siding with the people and the rule of law, he sided with insurrection forces and aided a self-coup by becoming the hands and feet of Yoon Suk Yeol," Cho's team said.

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday proposed increasing the reimbursement of fares for people who use public transportation outside peak commuting hours. Lee made the proposal at a Cabinet meeting after the transport ministry reported that the reimbursement rate for public transportation users traveling outside peak commuting hours has been raised from 20 percent to 30 percent. "Doesn't the fact that people are avoiding rush-hour commuting to save on transportation costs show how difficult their situation is? For people who are struggling financially, isn't a 20 to 30 percent refund insufficient?" Lee said. The president noted that easing rush-hour congestion also aligns with government policy and serves the national interest. Lee said he believes higher refunds would help people who already face the hardship of starting work as early as 4:30 or 5 a.m., for instance. "I don't want to put a specific figure on it, but wouldn't covering about half the cost be reasonable?" he said, adding the increase would not require much additional budget. Budget Minister Park Hong-geun responded to Lee's pr

A shark unexpectedly stranded in an artificial waterway at Busan’s North Port has become a sensation, drawing more than half a million visitors — but experts and environmental groups warn that the frenzy risks turning the animal into a spectacle while overlooking what its unusual appearance may signal about a changing marine environment. The shark has remained in the artificial waterway at North Port for 12 days as of Tuesday. More than 483,000 people visited the park during the Chuseok holiday alone, while cumulative visitors have surpassed 560,000 since the city began counting them on Sept. 19. Social media users dubbed the shark "Bukangi," from "buk hang" — the Korean name for Busan’s North Port. As public interest surged, Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo described the shark’s unexpected appearance as an opportunity to raise the profile of the North Port area. Riding on Bukangi’s growing popularity, the city on Tuesday officially appointed the shark as an honorary promotional ambassador. The shark's popularity has also delivered a boost to nearby businesses. Some convenience store

Korea plans to more than double its renewable energy capacity to over 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, expanding power infrastructure and energy storage systems (ESSs) to support growing electricity demand, the environment ministry said Tuesday. Currently, about 40 GW of renewable energy capacity is available, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. There is an urgent need to expand renewable energy supplies as high-tech industries grow rapidly and electrification accelerates. But a lack of transmission and distribution networks has hindered the wider use of renewable power, the ministry said. Alongside building new transmission and distribution networks, the government plans to deploy a large number of ESSs to store excess renewable power for later use in areas where the existing grid is congested. "The latest measures are aimed at making full use of existing power networks (through ESSs) without waiting for new networks to be built," Climate Minister Kim Sung-whan said.

A growing number of university students are postponing graduation until they secure a job. Remaining enrolled allows them to use campus facilities for job hunting. They also want to avoid a rushed job search, because a person's first job dictates long-term pay and career prospects. An analysis by the Hankook Ilbo confirmed this trend. The newspaper reviewed disclosures from AcademyInfo, a state-run higher education portal, and Ministry of Education data submitted to Rep. Jung Sung-kook of the People Power Party. Applications for programs allowing students to defer graduation jumped 45.5 percent at eight four-year universities in Seoul. These include Konkuk, Dongguk, Sogang, Yonsei, Chung-Ang, Hanyang, Hongik and Ewha Womans University. The number rose from 4,825 in 2022 to 7,020 in April this year, but the actual number is likely higher. Resume gap stigma, loss of campus perks fuel graduation delays The figures exclude students who postpone graduation by completing their coursework but not the procedures to receive their diplomas, or whose studies take longer than the traditional four ye

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed Tuesday to introduce the so-called bear hug system by the end of this year to revitalize the nation's capital market, requiring prospective corporate acquirers to publicly disclose details of unsolicited takeover offers. Rep. Oh Gi-hyoung, chair of the ruling party's Special Committee on K-Capital Market, told reporters that his committee will speed up efforts to amend the Capital Market Act to introduce the bear hug system within the year. He made the remarks after a working-level DPK-government policy consultation meeting held at the National Assembly. A bear hug is a takeover offer made publicly by a prospective acquirer to pressure the target company's board to consider the offer and state its position. "The aim is to require the disclosure of information regarding the purchase and enable market participants to make informed decisions based on that information to facilitate transactions," Oh said, adding he will persuade people both within and outside the party to pass the relevant bill by year's end. Oh also stress

Those caught cheating on the Korean language proficiency test for non-native speakers will be banned from taking the test for up to five years under new rules expected to take effect next year, the education ministry said Tuesday. Under the strengthened rules for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), those who take tests on behalf of others, leak test questions or use forged identification will be prohibited from taking the test for five years. Existing rules banned those taking tests on behalf of others for four years. The new rules will also ban test-takers found carrying artificial intelligence (AI) devices from taking the test for two years. Those caught using such devices during the test to influence results for themselves or others will face a five-year ban. "By swiftly pushing for a revision to the enforcement decree of the Higher Education Act in the second half of this year, they (the new rules) are expected to take effect starting next year," an education ministry official said. The number of TOPIK test cheaters has jumped in recent years, reaching 606 last year, compared w

Samsung Electronics and SK Group each made a high-profile show of support for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after he received the Van Fleet Award, a prominent honor recognizing individuals who contribute to Korea-U.S. relations. The two companies' efforts underscore the importance they place on ties with the artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator giant as competition for next-generation memory and computing technologies intensifies. Samsung Electronics ran congratulatory videos for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on a Times Square billboard in New York City on Sunday and Monday (local time), while Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong attended the Korea Society’s annual gala, where Huang received the award, in the city on Monday. The Korea Society honored Huang for his “visionary leadership and transformative contributions” to the AI and semiconductor industries, which it said are central to the evolving Korea-U.S. economic partnership. In his remarks at the gala, Lee highlighted Huang’s role in reshaping the technology industry and the significance of the bilateral partnership. “He has made the

Naver, the Korean tech powerhouse best known for operating the country’s dominant search engine and digital ecosystem, is expanding its global artificial intelligence (AI) push into Latin America. Company executives met with Mexican government officials and business leaders this week to explore joint initiatives aimed at building a regional AI ecosystem and accelerating industrial modernization. Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and other company executives visited Mexico from Thursday through Friday as members of President Lee Jae Myung’s economic delegation, the company said Tuesday. Choi met with Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Mexico’s economy minister, and Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, minister of science, humanities, technology and innovation, as well as officials from the Agency of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications and Mexican IT company Softtek. Choi introduced Naver’s public-sector AI transformation capabilities, sovereign AI strategy and AI factory project being developed with Nvidia and Brookfield, while proposing cooperation on Mexico’s public sector digital transformation a