Singapore collecting data on haze, will ‘keep its options open’ on taking legal action: Grace Fu

The Business Times - Oct 14, 2026

Singapore has faced several haze episodes that crossed the threshold for its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to be breached

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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

Seoul's 'Oraegage Week' celebrates 150 historic local shops

Oct 14, 2026

Seoul's 'Oraegage Week' celebrates 150 historic local shops

Seoul is holding a 12-day event from Wednesday to Oct. 25 to promote long-running local restaurants and shops and the neighborhoods around them, the city government said. Oraegage Week 2026 has added 15 shops this year from four districts in northeastern Seoul: Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Seongdong and Jungnang. The additions bring the total number of recognized stores across the city to 150. Oraegage, a Korean pun roughly translating to “old shops that will last longer,” is a program the city has run since 2017. It selects shops specializing in food, traditional crafts and culture with connections to Seoul’s history, and promotes their stories to create tourist attractions. “Oraegage are precious tourism assets that have preserved local character while passing down Seoul’s flavors and stories over many years,” said Cho Sung-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau. “We hope this Oraegage Week serves as an opportunity for citizens and tourists to rediscover the charm of Seoul’s historic eateries and alleyways while breathing new life into loc

Korean Dream festival brings unification message with music, culture

Oct 14, 2026

Korean Dream festival brings unification message with music, culture

The 2026 Korean Dream Hangang Festival brought the message of Korean unification to the banks of the Han River on National Foundation Day, seeking to engage the public through music, performances and citizen participation. Held at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Oct. 3, the festival carried the theme “From one beginning to one future,” tracing Korea’s shared origins and history of division while looking toward peace and unification. The event was hosted by the Korean Dream Hangang Festival organizing committee with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Organizers said this year’s event was designed to mark National Foundation Day by reflecting on the origins and future of the Korean people. The festival drew on the traditional principle of "Hongik Ingan," broadly translated as “benefiting all humanity,” while seeking to present unification through culture and public participation rather than political discussion alone. The festival followed last year’s event, held at the same venue as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from

One Korea forum seeks to put unification back at center of debate

Oct 14, 2026

One Korea forum seeks to put unification back at center of debate

Calls for South Korea to take the lead in shaping the unification agenda, rather than focusing on managing the division of the Korean Peninsula, took center stage at the International Forum on One Korea 2026, Oct. 2. The forum drew some 400 scholars, policymakers and civil society leaders to the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul hotel in Yeouido, including 140 Korean Peninsula experts from 20 countries. Launched in 2016, the annual event was co-hosted by the Global Peace Foundation, which holds special consultative status with the United Nations, and Action for Korea United, a civic coalition advocating unification. Speakers called for a strategic shift toward pursuing a free and unified Korea, arguing that unification could address North Korea’s nuclear and human rights issues while opening new economic opportunities. Hyunjin Preston Moon, chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), said North Korea’s abandonment of its long-standing unification policy has given South Korea an opening to take the lead on the issue. In his keynote address, Moon urged the government to adopt the Korean Drea

Global Peace Foundation calls on South Korea to lead unification initiative

Oct 14, 2026

Global Peace Foundation calls on South Korea to lead unification initiative

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) leaders and experts emphasized that South Korea should take the lead in shaping the unification agenda, calling for younger generations to view unification as an opportunity rather than an economic burden. Hyunjin Preston Moon, chairman of GPF, said North Korea’s abandonment of its long-standing goal of unification has created a rare opportunity for South Korea to take the initiative. “North Korea today looks at South Korea as their enemy and has abandoned the unification agenda,” he said. “That creates a tremendous opportunity for South Korea to claim the entirety of the unification agenda.” He stressed that unification should be driven by Koreans themselves, with South Korea setting the direction rather than leaving the issue to surrounding powers. “The unification process has to be Korean-led,” he said, adding that a clear commitment from South Koreans could help build broader international support for unification. Moon said changing how younger Koreans view unification is crucial, as many see it as an added financial burden amid existing con

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