WATCH: VP retains majority approval, trust tops INQToday’s newscast

Inquirer.net - Oct 15, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon: Vice President Sara Duterte retains the approval and trust of a slim majority of Filipinos, while nearly half of respondents disapprove of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s performance and distrust him, a new survey shows. Meanwhile, the Philippine peso hits a record low against the US

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Invitation to Estonia: Conductor Paavo Järvi connects his homeland to world

Oct 15, 2026

Invitation to Estonia: Conductor Paavo Järvi connects his homeland to world

“Knowing that many people don’t even know where Estonia is — that is an important task for us.” Paavo Järvi, 63, one of the world’s busiest conductors, is passionate about introducing his homeland, Estonia, to the world. He is music director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and artistic director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Beginning with the 2028-29 season, he will also serve as principal conductor and artistic adviser of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite conducting some of the world’s leading orchestras, Järvi has a special attachment to the Estonian Festival Orchestra (EFO), which he founded. Ahead of the ensemble’s concerts at Art Center Incheon on Oct. 18 and Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 20, he spoke to the Hankook Ilbo in a recent video interview. Reaching him in Paris, where he was staying for performances with the Orchestre National de France, Järvi said, “Anyone who comes from a somewhat smaller culture and becomes international is, in a way, an ambassador for that culture. I’m not just introducing Estonian music; through music, I’m in

University of Tokyo engineer becomes classical piano sensation

Oct 15, 2026

University of Tokyo engineer becomes classical piano sensation

Pianist Hayato Sumino, who will give a recital at Lotte Concert Hall on Oct. 29, holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Tokyo. He advanced to the semifinal round of the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition while still an engineering student at the university. During the competition, he livestreamed his practice sessions and interacted with viewers using YouTube’s live chat. His second-round performance drew as many as 45,000 viewers. At the time, the classical music world largely regarded him as an eccentric who happened to enjoy playing the piano. Sumino was a top student who attended Kaisei Junior and Senior High School, one of Japan’s most prestigious schools. From an early age, he was immersed in music video games. Even while preparing for university entrance exams, he competed in gaming tournaments. While a student at the University of Tokyo, he researched music information processing at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music in Paris. In a crowded field, his unconventional activities initially seemed like a gimmick desi

Seoul promotes accessible tourism in campaign featuring 2 global artists

Oct 15, 2026

Seoul promotes accessible tourism in campaign featuring 2 global artists

Seoul is inviting visitors to experience the capital on their own terms through a new campaign that showcases how the city's architecture, history and cultural landmarks can be enjoyed by everyone, including travelers with accessibility needs. The initiative brings together two internationally acclaimed artists who offer distinct perspectives on navigating the city. The Seoul Tourism Organization is releasing two videos under the campaign “Own Your Way, Find Your Seoul,” featuring Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Kambara and British contemporary artist Ryan Gander. The campaign promotes universal tourism, an approach aimed at making travel convenient and enjoyable for people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women, families with infants and their companions. The first video, “Inspiration,” released Thursday, follows Kambara, who visited Korea to participate in the 2026 Korea International Accessible Dance Festival, known as KIADA 2026. His itinerary includes Dongdaemun Design Plaza, an architectural landmark known as DDP; Oil Tank Culture Park, a former petroleum storage

Gangneung gears up for ITS World Congress

Oct 15, 2026

Gangneung gears up for ITS World Congress

Gangneung aims to show that the future of mobility extends beyond big cities, bringing self-driving vehicles, smart traffic systems and global transport leaders to a tourism hub where visitor traffic overlaps with residents’ daily travel needs. The 32nd ITS World Congress will open on Monday for a five-day run at Gangneung Olympic Park and adjacent venues in Gangwon Province. Jointly hosted by Gangneung City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the gathering is expected to draw about 60,000 visitors from around 90 countries, according to organizers. Under this year’s theme, “Beyond Mobility, Connected World,” the event will bring together policymakers, researchers and business representatives for high-level meetings, academic sessions, exhibitions and demonstrations of advanced transport technologies. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) integrate information and communications technologies into roads, vehicles, traffic signals and control centers to improve transport efficiency and safety. Examples include real-time traffic information and priority signal

Drugmaker Yuhan's historic headquarters wins Korea's top architectural honor

Oct 15, 2026

Drugmaker Yuhan's historic headquarters wins Korea's top architectural honor

Willow House, the historical former headquarters of Korean pharmaceutical pioneer Yuhan Corp., has won the Presidential Award — the grand prize at this year’s Korea Space Culture Awards, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. Originally constructed in 1962 in Daebang-dong, southern Seoul, the red-brick facility served as Yuhan’s headquarters for 35 years. Ahead of the company’s upcoming centennial, the historic structure was meticulously renovated and reopened to the public as a multipurpose cultural venue where corporate history seamlessly intersects with the daily lives of neighborhood residents. Its name honors the company’s signature emblem, the willow tree — a symbol of deep roots and resilience gifted to founder Dr. Yoo Il-han decades ago. “The overwhelming presence of the site, the history embodied in its red bricks and the sincerity of a public space aimed at citizens moved us deeply,” a member of the judging panel noted, praising the project for establishing “a new standard for public spaces created by private companies.” Established

Seoul concert turns local shopping receipts into front-row seats

Oct 15, 2026

Seoul concert turns local shopping receipts into front-row seats

A quick bite at a neighborhood eatery or a purchase from a local shop could score music fans a front-row spot at Seoul Plaza, where a two-day festival is turning everyday consumer spending into concert tickets as part of efforts to give small businesses a boost. Seoul Global Art Night with Receipt Concert, sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Seoul Shinmun Daily, will run Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. on a specially built stage at Seoul Plaza. Visitors who present receipts totaling at least 30,000 won (about $22) from small businesses in Seoul during October can access a designated seating area near the stage, with multiple receipts accepted and verification limited to once per person each day. Admission remains free for visitors without qualifying receipts, although seating areas will differ depending on verification. The festival aims to encourage spending at restaurants, cafes and shops around City Hall before and after performances, while giving visitors a chance to discover Korean music and dance. Friday’s program will feature traditional Korean music per

Foreign travelers get discounted tickets, interactive perks in new Korean theater campaign

Oct 15, 2026

Foreign travelers get discounted tickets, interactive perks in new Korean theater campaign

Travelers visiting Korea this fall will have a front-row seat to the country’s theatrical stage, complete with discounted tickets and immersive hands-on experiences alongside local performers through Nov. 30. Dubbed “Korea in Motion,” the initiative brings together the Korea Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Culture and the Korea Performing Arts Tourism Association in a coordinated push to elevate live performances from a casual evening out to a cornerstone of the Korean travel experience. During the campaign period, the agency will run special promotions with online travel agencies targeting major inbound markets, including China, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore. The lineup includes nonverbal performances, which tell stories through movement, sound and music without dialogue, as well as shows with dialogue that foreign audiences can follow using artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses that display subtitles. For the first time, the agency has also partnered with production companies to offer experience programs. After “Painters,” a show in w

Seoul rooftop festival brings 7 regions' fall flavors, travel gems to city center

Oct 15, 2026

Seoul rooftop festival brings 7 regions' fall flavors, travel gems to city center

Seoul is bringing the flavors, festivals and hidden destinations of seven regions across Korea to a rooftop overlooking Deoksu Palace’s stone-wall road, offering city dwellers a chance to plan their next autumn getaway without leaving the capital. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization will host Local Trip Fall Picnic from Oct. 21-25 at the Regional Tourism Antenna Shop in central Seoul, with activities running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “This event is an opportunity to experience the unique charm of local regions right in the heart of Seoul and discover new travel destinations,” said Cho Seong-ho, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau. “We will strengthen tourism cooperation to ensure that journeys beginning in Seoul lead to actual visits to regional areas and help vitalize local economies.” The five-day event will feature tourism information, regional food and locally made products from Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, South Chungcheong Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Andong, North Jeolla Prov

Migrant Indie Art Festival seeks artistic independence with Declaration of Freedom

Oct 15, 2026

Migrant Indie Art Festival seeks artistic independence with Declaration of Freedom

The Migrant Indie Art Festival is back for its 15th year, but this time it's being held under a new name. Organized by the Asian Media Culture Factory, it started in 2012 as the Seoul Migrant Art Festival. This year's festival will be held in two venues from this Saturday to Oct. 25 in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo and Seodaemun districts, featuring events including music and screenings of films made by migrants living in Korea. Founded in late 2011, the Asian Media Culture Factory is a nonprofit cultural and arts organization led by migrants. The organizers told The Korea Times that their mission is to support migrant-led artistic practices and build a cultural and artistic platform for people who arrived from overseas. “We believe that everyone should have the right to engage in the arts, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or visa status," they said. “We hope to create a space where migrant artists and cultural practitioners, who often have limited cultural and artistic networks and few opportunities to present their work in Korean society, can showcase their work and gain rec

Seoul mayor says to press ahead with housing supply plan

Oct 15, 2026

Seoul mayor says to press ahead with housing supply plan

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Thursday the city government plans to press ahead with its supply plan for the housing market, noting that construction has already begun for 15,000 units this year. The municipality plans to break ground on 310,000 housing units by 2031 through redevelopment and reconstruction projects amid recent supply shortages that have contributed to sharp price hikes. "Under the principle that sufficient and continued supply is the starting point of reducing housing concerns, we have sped up improvement projects through rapid integrated planning," Oh said during a parliamentary audit of the city government. "Going forward, we will continue to ease on-site difficulties and unfair regulations so that housing can be supplied continuously without stopping." He also pledged to actively respond to shortages in the rental housing market by broadening the foundation for private supply. Later in the session, Oh reiterated his opposition to the central government's proposal to use parts of Yongsan Park in central Seoul for housing development. Oh argued that the government's plan t

President Lee to meet US-Korea Business Council chair to discuss cooperation

Oct 15, 2026

President Lee to meet US-Korea Business Council chair to discuss cooperation

President Lee Jae Myung was set to meet Thursday with the chair of the U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries and trade relations, officials said. During the meeting with Evan G. Greenberg, chair of USKBC and CEO of Chubb Group, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Lee plans to hear the outcome of a joint plenary meeting of the U.S.-Korea and Korea-U.S. Business Councils held in Seoul the same day. The plenary meeting brought together the USKBC and its Korean counterpart, which is operated by the Federation of Korean Industries. The USKBC is a major business advocacy organization representing top U.S. companies engaged with Korea. During the meeting, Lee also plans to call for the USKBC to play a role in expanding economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington, Cheong Wa Dae said.

S. Korea to kick off annual Hoguk exercise next week

Oct 15, 2026

S. Korea to kick off annual Hoguk exercise next week

The South Korean military will launch an annual outdoor defense field exercise next week, along with some joint field drills with the United States that were pushed back as the allies scaled back their combined summertime exercise, officials said Thursday. The Hoguk exercise will begin Monday for a five-day run, aimed at bolstering joint operational capabilities and the readiness posture of the armed forces across the land, maritime and air domains, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This year's drills will involve a similar number of troops to the 2025 exercise and incorporate the operation of opposing forces and simulated combat training to better reflect realistic threats, the JCS said. The drills will be conducted alongside computer-simulated command post exercises and various strategy discussions as part of efforts to maintain a "robust" readiness posture, it added. The U.S. Forces Korea will also participate in the drills to enhance interoperability with South Korean troops, a JCS official said. Launched in 1996, the Hoguk exercise is aimed at enhancing the interoperabili

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