Lee orders Korea not apply for CPTPP membership this year

The Korea Times - Oct 8, 2026

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the government Thursday not to apply for membership to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year to allow time for sufficient discussions with farmers and fishermen, his spokesperson said. The government has been reviewing whether to join the major Indo-Pacific trade agreement comprising 12 countries, including Japan, Mexico, Australia, Canada and Vietnam. Together, the member countries accounted for about 15.2 percent of global trade in 2019. The move has faced opposition from farming and fishing industries, however, over concerns larger imports of cheaper agricultural and fishery products could erode their income and production bases. "President Lee Jae Myung ordered that we not apply for CPTPP membership within the year," Kang Yu-jung said in a written press briefing. "He also urged relevant ministries to listen sincerely to the voices of farmers and fishermen and continue to have discussions, rather than setting a deadline." Lee's instruction came after the topic of CPTPP membership was discussed during

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[COVER STORY] K-defense expands global footprint amid shifting security order

Oct 8, 2026

[COVER STORY] K-defense expands global footprint amid shifting security order

The global security order is undergoing one of its most profound transformations since the end of the Cold War, as the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflict push countries around the world to strengthen their own military capabilities and secure their defense supply chains. These ongoing conflicts, which experts describe as an era of global rearmament, are offering chances for Korea's defense industry to expand as a global player, while the industry grapples with challenges such as supply chain disruptions. Experts and industry figures see three major factors accelerating the global rearmament trend, according to Kang Eun-ho, former head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The first factor is a shift in the United States' approach to international security. The U.S., which has led the postwar international security architecture, is increasingly putting its "America First" policy while calling on its allies to assume a greater share of the burden for their own defense structure. The second factor is growing geopolitical competition stemming from Russ

Korea's rice production projected to fall 0.6% in 2026: data ministry

Oct 8, 2026

Korea's rice production projected to fall 0.6% in 2026: data ministry

SEJONG — Korea's production of rice, a key staple in the country's diet, is estimated to decline 0.6 percent in 2026 due to a reduction in cultivation area, data showed Thursday. Rice output is expected to total 3.51 million tons, down from the previous year's 3.53 million tons, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The projected decline comes as the area under rice cultivation fell 1.1 percent to 670,000 hectares this year from 678,000 hectares a year earlier. The reduction reflects government efforts to adjust rice production, including support for farmers switching to other crops. By region, combined production in South Jeolla Province and Gwangju is estimated to reach 738,000 tons this year, followed by South Chungcheong Province with 689,000 tons and North Jeolla Province with 533,000 tons. Although rice has traditionally been a staple food for Koreans, its consumption has steadily declined, largely due to dietary changes and a growing preference for alternatives, such as wheat-based foods. The data ministry plans to release the final figures in November.

Kookmin University steps up internationalization efforts to boost students' global readiness

Oct 8, 2026

Kookmin University steps up internationalization efforts to boost students' global readiness

Kookmin University is intensifying its internationalization efforts by offering students opportunities for overseas work experience, expanding international collaborative research and fostering partnerships with global institutions. The university said Tuesday that it is focusing on improving students’ global readiness by moving beyond traditional international exchanges and language training and giving them opportunities to participate in projects with overseas companies that can lead to internships and employment. “As Kookmin University celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we have identified strengthening global capabilities and networks as one of the four key strategies under our mid- to long-term development plan, ‘KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,’” said Jeong Seung-ryul, president of the university. He added, “We will expand partnerships with overseas universities, companies and organizations, and support our students in gaining firsthand experience in global settings, enabling them to build the competitiveness they need to succeed on the international stage.” The universi

SCIA chief nominee vows to end 'politicization' of investigations

Oct 8, 2026

SCIA chief nominee vows to end 'politicization' of investigations

The nominee to lead the newly launched Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) pledged Thursday to end the "politicization" of investigations and to maintain their independence. The SCIA launched last Friday as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that strips prosecutors of their power to conduct direct investigations amid criticism that they had pursued political probes. "(I) will first put an end to the politicization of investigations," Kim Ji-yong told reporters. "The prosecution in the past conducted targeted, dirt-digging probes with political purposes, leading to numerous harms. "(I) painfully recognize the current situation that has ultimately led to the dismantling of the prosecution." The former prosecutor said he would make efforts to ensure the new agency "firmly" protects political neutrality and the independence of investigations. Kim is scheduled to undergo his parliamentary confirmation hearing next Wednesday. His nomination has faced opposition from some ruling Democratic Party of Korea hardliners, who have claimed the nominee had once opposed prosecut

Top court upholds HSBC's acquittal in short-selling case

Oct 8, 2026

Top court upholds HSBC's acquittal in short-selling case

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's acquittal of HSBC's Hong Kong unit on charges related to violating Korea's short-selling rules. Prosecutors earlier indicted the bank in March 2024 for violating the Capital Markets Act, which bans naked short selling, marking the first criminal case of its kind in the country. Naked short selling refers to short selling stocks without first securing them or ensuring they can be secured. Prosecutors alleged three bank employees knowingly engaged in illegal naked short selling of shares of nine publicly traded companies worth about 15.8 billion won ($11.8 million) from August to December 2021. In the first-instance trial, the Seoul Southern District Court acquitted the bank, ruling the employees' alleged offenses were not proven. The court said the employees were likely unaware of the details of the trade since the short-sale orders were placed automatically through the bank's system and they only borrowed shares after trades to cover shortfalls. An appellate court upheld the acquittal before it was finalized by the top court.

JCS chief describes DMZ mine blast as 'provocation'; vows to review response measures

Oct 8, 2026

JCS chief describes DMZ mine blast as 'provocation'; vows to review response measures

South Korea's top military commander said Thursday he had not thought of the recent mine blast near the inter-Korean border as anything other than a "provocation" by North Korea, while vowing to review response measures. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remarks as some opposition lawmakers have raised issues with the South Korean military for allegedly refraining from depicting the Sept. 21 blast as a "provocation" by the North. "There was not a single moment when I thought it was anything other than a provocation when one of my men was seriously injured," Jin said during a parliamentary audit. "But I had not paid close attention to the fact that the term 'provocation' was not included in the announcement," he said when asked why the military had left out the term during Monday's briefing. The JCS concluded its joint investigation with the U.N. Command into the mine blast on Monday, confirming its preliminary findings that resin antipersonnel mines deliberately planted by Pyongyang south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) were the cause of the blast. T

Seoul light festival draws 300,000 visitors to Nodeul Island

Oct 8, 2026

Seoul light festival draws 300,000 visitors to Nodeul Island

A glowing laser-and-art spectacle on Nodeul Island has drawn nearly 300,000 visitors in its first week alone, turning an island in the middle of Seoul’s Han River into one of Asia’s most captivating nighttime destinations this autumn. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that about 299,000 people attended from the opening through Monday, as families, couples and international visitors gathered for light installations along the Han River. Now in its fourth year, the festival runs through Oct. 11, combining media art with the island’s riverside landscape and offering performances, exhibitions and interactive programs. Among its featured works is “Firmamento” by Italian artist duo Quiet Ensemble, which is being presented in Asia for the first time and uses lasers projected onto a 30-meter-by-10-meter structure to evoke a field of stars. Taiwanese artist AKA Chang presents “Multimmersion” and “PAMUN” on barges along the river, incorporating water and wind into installations designed to create moments of quiet observation. Other attractions include illuminated will

Han River venues offer Hangeul Day events, concerts in October

Oct 8, 2026

Han River venues offer Hangeul Day events, concerts in October

To mark the arrival of the crisp autumn weather and Hangeul Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is rolling out a month of night-lit celebrations, live acoustic sets and outdoor activities along the Han River. Beginning Friday, the seasonal program will center around two signature riverfront venues: Hangang PlayPlace at Ttukseom Hangang Park and Gwangjin Bridge 8th Avenue, an observation deck suspended directly beneath a bridge over the water. The festivities launch on Hangang PlayPlace with a tribute to Hangeul Day, a holiday celebrating the creation of the Korean alphabet. Starting at 1 p.m., the complex will morph into an interactive Hangeul Playground. Visitors can join scavenger hunts for hidden letters, paint traditional magnet sets or craft mother-of-pearl bookmarked name tags. A riverfront reading lounge stocked with books on Korean culture will offer a quiet retreat, while the venue’s third floor will host back-to-back screenings of classic Korean films, including the iconic war drama "TaeGukGi." The celebration extends late into the night. Following the daytime festivities

Seoul designs new bilingual guide for Hanoi heritage site

Oct 8, 2026

Seoul designs new bilingual guide for Hanoi heritage site

Visitors to Hanoi’s historic Imperial Citadel of Thang Long can now explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site with a new Korean-Vietnamese guide, created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government using its official city fonts and colors. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that it will distribute the Korean-Vietnamese guide to mark Hangeul Day on Friday and deepen cultural exchanges with Hanoi. The project comes as Seoul and Hanoi mark 30 years of their friendship-city relationship, adding a cultural dimension to ties between the two cities. The guide covers nine major historic sites and nine key artifacts, with a numbered map designed to help visitors follow a clear route through the citadel. Among the sites highlighted are Hanoi Flag Tower, Doan Mon Gate and an underground bunker, while artifacts in the permanent exhibition are arranged chronologically to illustrate the site’s history. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, built during Vietnam’s Ly dynasty in the 11th century, is one of Hanoi’s major historical and cultural sites and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. S

Crowdsourced data powers Korea's official autumn foliage road map

Oct 8, 2026

Crowdsourced data powers Korea's official autumn foliage road map

As the summer heat gives way to crisp autumn air, travelers across Korea are preparing for one of the country's most cherished seasonal rituals: chasing the transformation of fall foliage. To help nature enthusiasts time their journeys, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), in partnership with the Korea National Arboretum, released the official 2026 Autumn Leaves Map, offering precise peak foliage timelines and a curated list of 36 top destinations nationwide. According to this year's forecast, the northern regions — including the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province — will see peak colors beginning in late October. Further south, regions like Gyeongsang and Jeolla will hit their colorful high point between early and mid-November. What makes this year's map particularly noteworthy is the tech-forward, crowdsourced data behind the predictions. Rather than relying solely on traditional climate models, the forecasts leverage real-time observations from the National Arboretum’s Plant Phenology Project. A network of 829 citizen scientists contributed ground-level field data to

Seoul Museum of History extends evening hours with autumn exhibitions, performances

Oct 8, 2026

Seoul Museum of History extends evening hours with autumn exhibitions, performances

The Seoul Museum of History is turning autumn evenings into an invitation to linger, with exhibitions, hands-on workshops, performances and traditional market stalls running into the night. The museum has extended its evening hours through Nov. 30, keeping its permanent and special exhibition galleries, city model theater and Seoul History Archives open until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The expanded hours, which began Sept. 15, are accompanied by programs designed to give visitors new ways to experience Seoul’s history and culture after work and on weekends. A traditional market called Seoyeokbak Jajetgeori will run Friday through Sunday, with stalls inspired by Joseon-era markets offering traditional crafts, cultural goods, food and drinks. On Friday and Saturday, the market will remain open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., while Sunday’s hours will run until 5 p.m. The museum will also host Exhibition Night Talk, in which curators who organized exhibitions explain their themes and introduce key artifacts directly to visitors. Seoul Urban Planning Grand View

Seoul museum traces history of Hangeul typewriters

Oct 8, 2026

Seoul museum traces history of Hangeul typewriters

Long before digital touchscreens and predictive text algorithms reshaped daily communication, inventors struggled with a complex puzzle: how to fit the intricate structure of the Korean alphabet onto a mechanical keyboard. Opening Friday at the G-Valley Industrial Museum in Seoul, a new exhibition titled "The Type-Writing Machine for Hangeul" traces eight decades of mechanical innovation behind the Korean script. The timing is especially symbolic, coinciding with the centennial of both Hangeul Day and the release of the Korean Braille system. The exhibition explores the evolution from early 20th-century vertical script to modern horizontal layouts, featuring over 40 rare typewriters, archival photographs and vintage media. At the center of the collection is a newly restored replica of the 1914 Lee Won-ik typewriter, widely recognized as the earliest attempt to mechanize Korean writing. Created in the United States by modifying a Smith Premier No. 10 typewriter, the machine laid the groundwork for decades of technological experimentation. Visitors can trace the fierce design debates of th

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