Central Asia’s Leaders Gather in Turkmenistan for 8th Consultative Meeting

The Diplomat - Oct 9, 2026

Grand outcomes aren't necessary at every meeting to prove the value of a format. But at a certain point, the lowest hanging fruit has been picked.

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Everland welcomes capybara triplets

Oct 14, 2026

Everland welcomes capybara triplets

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Wednesday that three baby capybaras were born at its zoo last month, and they will meet visitors starting Thursday. The triplets were born Sept. 28 to Dotom, a male, and Dutum, a female. Both parents were born in 2024. Everland is run by the resort division of Samsung C&T and is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Each baby weighed about 1 kilogram at birth. Two weeks later, all three are healthy and nursing under the care of the park’s veterinarians and zookeepers. Native to rivers and wetlands in South America, capybaras are the world’s largest living rodents and live about 10 years on average. After a pregnancy of about four to five months, females give birth to several young at a time. Newborns are well developed. They are born with fur and open eyes, and they can walk right away. Known for their round ears, blunt noses and relaxed manner, capybaras are among the most popular animals at Korean zoos. Photos and videos of them calmly sitting alongside ducks, turtles and monkeys have spread widely online. At Everland’s zoo, capybaras

7 in 10 teachers oppose CSAT essay questions over grading disputes, AI concerns

Oct 14, 2026

7 in 10 teachers oppose CSAT essay questions over grading disputes, AI concerns

A parent demands full marks for a written English answer, citing an email from a professor at an American university. In another case, a private academy challenged an English test score, and the dispute later led to a lawsuit over partial credit. These incidents, described in a casebook recently released by the National Secondary School Teachers’ Union, show the challenges facing discussions about introducing written-response and essay questions into Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), potentially aided by artificial intelligence (AI) grading. The casebook accompanied a survey of 2,427 middle and high school teachers conducted from Sept. 7-30. Middle and high school teachers nationwide say persistent grading complaints have pushed them to set questions with fixed answers. They warn that expanding essay-based assessments could worsen disputes and increase their workload. Several teachers described a tension between encouraging diverse, well-reasoned answers and creating grading criteria precise enough to withstand complaints. One English teacher reported that a dispute inv

Lawmaker sentenced to 2 1/2 yrs in prison over cash-for-nomination scandal

Oct 14, 2026

Lawmaker sentenced to 2 1/2 yrs in prison over cash-for-nomination scandal

A Seoul district court on Wednesday sentenced independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo to 2 1/2 years in prison on charges of receiving money in exchange for an election nomination. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence for Kang, formerly a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), also ordering her to forfeit 100 million won ($75,000). Kang was indicted on charges of accepting 100 million won from former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung in January 2022 in exchange for a DPK nomination ahead of the local elections that year. Kang served as a member of the DPK's nomination committee for Seoul city councilors at the time. Kim was selected as a DPK nominee and was elected in the 2022 local elections. The court sentenced Kim to one year in prison and a former aide to Rep. Kang to an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years, for arranging the meeting between Kang and Kim. The court ruled the defendants exchanged illegal political funds, adding their actions undermined election fairness and "severely" damaged the public's trust. Kang left the DPK at the start of th

Korea helps 16 Asia-Pacific nations preserve written heritage

Oct 14, 2026

Korea helps 16 Asia-Pacific nations preserve written heritage

Korea is bringing together archivists and cultural experts from 16 Asia-Pacific nations in Jakarta, Indonesia for an international workshop focused on preserving historical records and preparing them for global recognition under UNESCO’s documentary heritage program. The 2026 UNESCO Memory of the World International Capacity-Building Workshop, running from Tuesday to Friday, is hosted by Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration and Korean National Commission for UNESCO at the National Archives of Indonesia. Launched in 2009, the annual program provides practical training for countries seeking to identify significant documentary heritage and prepare nominations for UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, with particular attention to nations underrepresented on the international list. Over 17 years, 18 documentary heritage items from participating countries have been added to the register, while 11 others have entered regional registers, organizers said. This year’s workshop is the largest yet, drawing participants from Timor-Leste, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Sri

Special counsel raids election watchdog over alleged bidding corruption

Oct 14, 2026

Special counsel raids election watchdog over alleged bidding corruption

A special counsel team on Wednesday raided the National Election Commission (NEC) over suspicions of bid rigging involving around 5 billion won ($3.7 million) worth of election supplies. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team said it sent investigators to the NEC's office and four other locations, including election supplies companies, to search for and seize evidence in connection with the allegations. Lee's team said it has found signs of alleged collusion between the NEC and the companies regarding polling station supplies for the presidential election last year and the local elections in June. The special counsel team launched last month to investigate ballot shortages reported across the country during the June 3 local elections in addition to other allegations of misconduct by the election watchdog.

Cybersecurity researchers disciplined for playing StarCraft during work hours

Oct 14, 2026

Cybersecurity researchers disciplined for playing StarCraft during work hours

Employees at a government-funded research institute responsible for national cybersecurity have been disciplined after they were caught playing video games together during work hours. According to data obtained by Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, from the National Security Research Institute (NSR), an affiliate of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), five employees at the institute's Cyber Security Training Center were disciplined after an investigation found that they had spent as many as 90 hours connected to Battle.net, the online gaming service used for StarCraft, during work hours. StarCraft is a strategy game developed by U.S. video game company Blizzard Entertainment. The five employees repeatedly accessed the game server on their work computers between September and December 2024 when their supervisor was away on vacation or business trips. One employee was connected for as long as eight hours and 53 minutes in a single day. Another was co

President Lee names National Tax Service head as new chief of staff

Oct 14, 2026

President Lee names National Tax Service head as new chief of staff

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday appointed the head of the National Tax Service (NTS) as his new chief of staff, his office said. Outgoing chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the appointment of Lim Kwang-hyun as his successor, weeks after he offered to resign amid Lee's falling approval ratings and controversy over the qualifications of two Cabinet nominees, who ultimately withdrew. "(Lim) is a former economic official-turned-politician with both abundant administrative experience and political acumen," Kang told a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. "With experience across the National Assembly and government, he is the right person to more broadly incorporate the people's voices into the running of state affairs and speed up state achievements through cooperation between the ruling party, government and Cheong Wa Dae," he said. Lim served in various posts at the NTS before being elected a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea by proportional representation in 2024. He gave up his parliamentary seat upon taking office as NTS chief in 2025. Standing alongside Kang, Lim told

Korea eyes new dome stadiums for sports, K-pop concerts

Oct 14, 2026

Korea eyes new dome stadiums for sports, K-pop concerts

Korea has launched an ambitious national search for candidate sites to construct next-generation multipurpose indoor stadiums, aiming to address a chronic shortage of premier venues capable of hosting international sporting events and global K-pop concerts year-round. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that it will accept bids from regional local governments and public institutions through Dec. 8. The government plans to select two candidate sites by the end of December — one for a large-scale dome capable of seating at least 40,000 spectators and accommodating over 50,000 people for concerts, and another for a medium-scale venue designed for 20,000 to 40,000 seats. The multibillion-won initiative, targeted for completion in 2034, reflects the government’s broader policy agenda to expand public access to sports and culture while establishing iconic, world-class landmarks to draw international tourists and stimulate regional economies. The drive comes as Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries grapple with an acute lack of covered, mega-capacity arenas

Korea shares traditional paper conservation techniques with Vietnamese museum experts

Oct 14, 2026

Korea shares traditional paper conservation techniques with Vietnamese museum experts

Korea is bringing its traditional paper conservation expertise to Vietnam for the first time, training museum specialists in techniques designed to preserve fragile historical documents and books. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage’s Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center is conducting the training program from Oct. 14 to 22 at the National Museum of History in Hanoi, targeting 14 conservation professionals from the Vietnamese institution. The program, organized in connection with the Korea Heritage Service’s official development assistance initiatives, focuses on conserving paper-based cultural heritage through practical, hands-on instruction. Since 2013, the center has conducted 15 training sessions at 11 institutions across seven Asian countries, including Mongolia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Indonesia, training a total of 279 participants. Vietnam is the latest country to participate in the initiative, which aims to strengthen conservation expertise in countries with limited infrastructure for protecting and managing cultural her

Seoul launches online group bookings for Hangang Bus ferry service

Oct 14, 2026

Seoul launches online group bookings for Hangang Bus ferry service

Seoul will introduce online group reservations for its Hangang Bus ferry service starting Monday, allowing companies, schools and other organizations to book rides in advance instead of relying on tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at docks. The pilot service, operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will initially cover Magok and Jamsil docks on weekdays, with the first reserved trips available Tuesday. Bookings will open at 10 a.m. Monday through Naver Map and Naver Place, where users can select a dock, travel date, route, departure time and passenger count before entering their details and paying the fare. Each departure will accept reservations for groups of 10 to 30 people, with bookings and refunds available until 11:59 p.m. the day before travel. Fares are 3,000 won ($2.20) for adults, 1,800 won for teenagers and 1,100 won for children. Passengers with reservations must arrive at their selected dock at least 30 minutes before departure to verify their booking, complete boarding registration and follow instructions from safety personnel. The new system aims

900 drones, K-pop stars to light up Songpa's autumn festival

Oct 14, 2026

900 drones, K-pop stars to light up Songpa's autumn festival

Songpa District in southeastern Seoul — home to the city’s iconic Olympic Park — will host its 26th annual cultural festival starting Wednesday, blending ancient heritage with modern K-pop and contemporary Korean culture. The event takes place at the park’s 88 Lawn Plaza. The festival, which is happening at Olympic Park's 88 Lawn Plaza, will open Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. with a welcome drone show featuring 900 drones, alongside media art and contemporary dance performances. The opening program will include “O Fortuna” performed by the Songpa District Symphony Orchestra, along with performances by tenors Yoon Jung-soo, Jin Sung-won and Lee Dong-myung. K-pop and hip-hop performers Davichi and Loco will take the stage later that evening, followed by another large-scale drone display. The next day will focus on community participation, opening with the musical gala “Standing by the River,” which reinterprets the Baekjae period (18 B.C.-660 A.D.) legend of Domi Ferry. Residents from across the district will then perform in the Hanmaeum Eoull Madang program, showcasing talents cultiva

Seoul Music Festival brings Paul Kim, Kim Chang-wan Band to Nodeul Island for free concert

Oct 14, 2026

Seoul Music Festival brings Paul Kim, Kim Chang-wan Band to Nodeul Island for free concert

As autumn settles over the capital, Seoul’s riverside will come alive with music on Oct. 24, when the annual Seoul Music Festival takes over Nodeul Island. Featuring a diverse lineup of rock, folk and ballads, the one-day event offers free concerts and immersive musical experiences against the backdrop of the Han River. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 2026 festival will feature its main concert from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the theme “Good music stories told by Seoul,” bringing together artists from different generations and musical traditions. The lineup includes Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Oksang Dalbit, Kim Chang-wan Band, Chudahye Chagis and Nerd Connection, with GLL scheduled to perform before the main program. Launched in 2019, the festival has become a signature music event offering residents and visitors free access to live performances and cultural activities. Beyond the concert, visitors can explore record exhibitions and listening stations organized in collaboration with the Korean Music Awards, as well as busking performances, music talk shows, photo booths

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