Evening News on TV32 - Oct 18

RTHK - Oct 18, 2026

Top stories for Sunday, Oct 18, 2026 - Hundreds are arrested as protests in France descend into violence, arson and looting. - Financial Secretary Paul Chan says Hong Kong can help boost other economies. - The police are a step closer to getting access to shopping mall CCTV footage.

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President Lee's approval rating rebounds after 2-week decline: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rebounded to 37.3 percent after two consecutive weeks of decline, a survey showed Monday. In the poll conducted on 2,520 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose 2.1 percentage points from the previous week. Negative assessments fell 1 percentage point to 60.4 percent. As reasons for the rebound, Realmeter cited policies aimed at improving people's livelihoods in areas such as housing and jobs, as well as the government's measures to tackle violent crimes following a stabbing spree in Incheon, west of Seoul. The pollster added that a sharp stock market decline later in the week appeared to have weighed on Lee's approval rating. In a separate survey of 1,005 adults conducted between Thursday and Friday, support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea rose 0.7 percentage point to 36.2 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party fell 0.4 percentage point to 40.9 percent. The survey on the president had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confid

President Lee's approval rating rebounds after 2-week decline: poll

Chungnam National University offers hands-on agricultural programs

Chungnam National University is nurturing future agricultural workers through programs that give university and high school students practical experience in crop cultivation and harvesting. The university said its Department of Crop Science and GreenBio Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS) project group held the “2026 Morakmorak Nongshim” green bio career exploration program at the university's affiliated farm on Friday. The program brought together about 60 participants, including students from the university and Yuseong Bio Science Technology High School in Daejeon. Under the guidance of professor Shim Kyu-chan, participants harvested wild rice, while professor Lee Sung-woo led a session on soybean harvesting. They learned about the ecological value of wild rice as a genetic resource and the importance of conserving native seeds. Explanations of crop growth characteristics and cultivation and harvesting methods also helped participants better understand the diversity of food crops and the need to preserve genetic resources. The program builds on the “Green Bio Mo-ment Program

Chungnam National University offers hands-on agricultural programs

1 KATUSA killed, 3 USFK soldiers injured in rollover crash in Daegu

DAEGU — One Korean soldier attached to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) was killed and three others, including two U.S. servicemembers, were injured Monday after their vehicle crashed in the southeastern city of Daegu, local police said. Their military sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a median strip and flipped onto its right side on a highway in the city about 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 5:07 a.m., the police said. One Korean soldier in his 20s, who was serving as a Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA), died in the crash, while another KATUSA soldier, also in his 20s, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police. Two USFK servicemembers suffered minor injuries. The four soldiers were returning to their base after completing their shift in Daegu's Chilgok County. The police said they notified the USFK of the accident and are investigating the details.

1 KATUSA killed, 3 USFK soldiers injured in rollover crash in Daegu

Yongsan to deploy 2,550 personnel in Itaewon to prevent repeat of Halloween tragedy

With the approach of Oct. 31, a Saturday that promises packed streets and spirited celebrations, local authorities in the heart of the capital are taking no chances. The Yongsan District Office announced a comprehensive safety mobilization Monday for the upcoming Halloween season, deploying thousands of personnel and leveraging real-time data technology to safeguard visitors in the bustling Itaewon neighborhood. The heightened security measures reflect a deep, ongoing commitment to preventing any repetition of the tragic 2022 Halloween crowd crush, which claimed 159 lives in a narrow alleyway in Itaewon. In the years since, local authorities and disaster response agencies have completely overhauled urban safety protocols, turning the nightlife district into a testing ground for real-time crowd management. Running Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, a special 10-day safety enforcement period aims to manage an anticipated crowd of 165,000 visitors across popular nightlife corridors such as the World Food Street. The comprehensive plan blends boots-on-the-ground vigilance with advanced digital monitoring. A

Yongsan to deploy 2,550 personnel in Itaewon to prevent repeat of Halloween tragedy

Inaugural SCIA chief reaffirms pledge to end 'politicization' of investigations

The inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) on Monday reiterated his pledge to end the "politicization" of investigations. Kim Ji-yong was appointed to lead the newly launched agency Thursday following a major overhaul to the criminal justice system earlier this month that stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers. "The previous prosecution caused various harms, such as abusing investigative powers, and I think the root cause of that lies with the politicization of investigations," he told reporters. "The SCIA will establish itself as an investigative agency that the public will not have to worry about by strictly upholding fairness, neutrality and procedural justice." Kim, as nominee, had vowed to prioritize ending the "politicization" of investigations. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of reforms to the prosecution amid criticism that prosecutors pursued politically motivated investigations.

Inaugural SCIA chief reaffirms pledge to end 'politicization' of investigations

CXMT forecasts up to US$19.8 billion in 3 quarters’ net income; pledges share buy-back

Chinese memory chip giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) forecast a net income of up to US$19.8 billion for the first nine months of 2026, marking a dramatic swing from a loss a year ago, as the domestic champion cashed in on artificial intelligence-driven demand while aggressively challenging global rivals including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Meanwhile, Zhu Yiming, chairman of the Hefei-based memory giant, proposed to buy back 1 billion (US$149.56 million) to 2 billion yuan of...

CXMT forecasts up to US$19.8 billion in 3 quarters’ net income; pledges share buy-back

Lifts at 74 more buildings serviced by Taizoom lack safety parts, taking total to 152

Hong Kong authorities have said lifts at 74 more private buildings installed by Taizoom Elevator are missing crucial door frame components, taking the total of affected properties to 152. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department provided the updated figures on Sunday night as citywide inspections of all lifts handled by Taizoom were carried out. The door frame components help protect lift occupants against flames and smoke in the event of a fire, an expert earlier explained. According...

Lifts at 74 more buildings serviced by Taizoom lack safety parts, taking total to 152

Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

"This new hire is really strange. Even when calls come in, they do not answer, and when given instructions, they do not respond. They ignore most KakaoTalk messages and only reply to things that benefit them." Senior employees in their 30s who work with new hires in their 20s with impressive credentials frequently voice this grievance. They complain that open communication with junior staff remains difficult despite considerable effort. However, the 20-somethings targeted by this criticism counter that their true intent — exchanging precise information and avoiding getting hurt while communicating — is not getting across. Why young workers avoid office phones Participant 4: Why do people in their 20s avoid phone calls these days? Participant 2: We prefer text messages because they let us reply after preparing our thoughts. That is especially true for work-related matters. Because text leaves a written record, we can check details directly from the message without having to ask again later. Even if a phone call is recorded, it is more inconvenient because we have to go back and listen

Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

Lee pays tribute to firefighter killed in Bucheon factory fire

President Lee Jae Myung paid his respects Saturday to a firefighter who died while responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul, the presidential office said. Lee posthumously awarded firefighter Kim Jin-seok the Okjo Order of Service Merit in recognition of his dedication and sacrifice, and offered condolences to his bereaved family, the office said. After paying his respects, Lee said, "The government must provide firefighters with recognition and support commensurate with their dedication and sacrifice." Lee also stressed the need to strengthen on-site safety measures to ensure that firefighters can perform their duties in safer working conditions. The president instructed Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung, who accompanied him, to provide all necessary support for the treatment and recovery of firefighters injured in the blaze. The government also plans to provide further honors for Kim, including arrangements for his burial at a national cemetery. The fire broke out at a four-story metalworking factory at 8:38 a.m. Friday and was fully extinguished at 11:06 a.m., according to fi

Lee pays tribute to firefighter killed in Bucheon factory fire

Wearable robots offer mobility to people with disabilities in Seoul

Advanced rehabilitation involving wearable robotics has traditionally remained out of reach for many due to high costs and limited availability outside major medical centers. Now, a pioneering municipal program in western Seoul is bringing this cutting-edge technology directly into neighborhood streets. The Mapo District office is running a specialized robotic rehabilitation initiative designed to help registered residents with mobility impairments regain independence. By partnering with the Seoul Seobuk Hospital and wearable robotics firm Angel Robotics, the district has established a collaborative support framework bridging public health infrastructure with advanced medical engineering. Driven by leading tech firms, research institutes and startups like Hyundai Motor, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Angel Robotics, Korea has rapidly expanded wearable robot technology beyond specialized medical rehabilitation into everyday industrial, agricultural and community mobility applications. The program utilizes robotic exoskeletons to analyze participants' gaits and

Wearable robots offer mobility to people with disabilities in Seoul

Dark Side of Seoul Podcast digs up city's secrets

Korea has always been conscious of its own image, even as K-content exports and inbound tourism numbers continue to break records. But that global spotlight comes with an unspoken condition: show the shiny face, and sweep the unpolished parts under the rug. From outside, the country is often viewed through rose-tinted glasses, a tidy utopia of cute cafes and picture-perfect K-drama lifestyles. The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast offers something that doesn't fit on a postcard: an unvarnished look at Korean history and culture, aimed at the genuinely curious rather than the credulous, equally comfortable with the country's dark folklore as with its murders, crimes and political purges, distant and not so distant. The show is hosted by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, who have both lived in Korea for more than two decades and together lead The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk. To be clear, this isn't a foreigner-complaint fest where the hosts look down on Korean culture. It respects the culture and its listeners enough to give the fuller picture, with a dark sense of humor that labels certain

Dark Side of Seoul Podcast digs up city's secrets

Hyundai Motor steps up physical AI push amid Chinese competition, stock slump

UIWANG, South Korea — Seeking to remain competitive against fast-growing Chinese automakers and find new sources of growth amid a sharp retreat in its share price, Hyundai Motor Group is stepping up its push into robotics and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The move comes as the world's third-largest automotive group faces growing pressure to improve profitability in its conventional carmaking business amid intensifying competition in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly from lower-priced Chinese models. Investors are also questioning when the group's heavy investments in robotics will start to pay off. Hyundai Motor Co.'s shares more than doubled after its U.S. subsidiary Boston Dynamics unveiled its Atlas humanoid robot at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, reaching a record closing high of 755,000 won ($565.2) in June. But the stock has since fallen sharply to near pre-CES levels, closing at 312,000 won Friday, as enthusiasm over robotics has faded amid weak earnings and growing concerns about how soon the technology can turn profitable. Speculati

Hyundai Motor steps up physical AI push amid Chinese competition, stock slump

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