Major news such as massive floods in Nepal, confidence in war with Iran, controversy over diplomats studying abroad on government funds, etc.

■ [Nepal Flood] “During the 2015 earthquake, it took 3 years to provide relief… This time, it was impossible to even predict.”

“The relief situation is different from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, which killed nearly 9,000 people. At that time, many houses collapsed from their original locations, but now, entire villages have disappeared.” Moon Gwang-jin (55), a Korean citizen who settled in Nepal in 2000, began local relief work two years later with Hope Friends for the Hunger, an international relief and development non-governmental organization (NGO). We have been educating Nepalese students for over 20 years and have also consistently carried out regional development projects and product sponsorship. When a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in Nepal in 2015, killing about 8,900 people, Mr. Moon stayed at the scene of the terrible disaster for a long time.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904168600104

■ U.S. intelligence agency “Iran becomes more confident due to war”… The possibility of a long-term war increases

U.S. intelligence officials have assessed that Iran has become more confident in its military capabilities after going through a war with the United States. While the United States is seeking an exit strategy from the Iran war, Iran is said to be willing to continue the war for several months and put pressure on the United States. According to the New York Times (NYT), an American daily, on the 4th (local time), U.S. intelligence officials assessed in a recent report that Iran has increased confidence in its military power through the war with the United States.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905019300009

■ Diplomats were sent abroad to study using taxpayers’ money, but they went astray… ‘Moral hazard’ controversy

It was revealed on the 5th that there are constant cases of diplomats who went on government-funded study abroad programs retiring without completing the minimum mandatory service upon their return. According to data received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Rep. Lee Ki-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, there were four cases in which training costs were recovered due to failure to fulfill mandatory military service over the past three years. Director-level Mr. A studied abroad in the United States from December 7, 2024 to December 5, 2025, and was then dismissed as a member of the National Assembly on December 31 of that year.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904168700001

■ Up to 20 months for health insurance deductible refund… “Quarterly settlement required”

Last year, more than 3 trillion won in health insurance refunds will be paid to about 2.26 million people whose medical expenses exceeded the out-of-pocket limit. However, if hospital expenses are paid at the beginning of the year, it may take up to 20 months for actual reimbursement, so some point out that the reimbursement cycle should be shortened to ease the burden of medical expenses on low-income and elderly people. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Corporation on the 5th, the upper limit of individual out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment for 2025 was confirmed, and the process for refunding the excess amount began on August 31.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904086500530

■ ‘Starry night’ unfolds… Hanwha Fireworks Festival at Yeouido Island today

Hanwha Group's Seoul International Fireworks Festival, one of the representative festivals visited by more than 1 million people every year, will be held in the area of Hangang Park in Yeouido on the 5th. This year, considering the Chuseok holiday period and foreign tourism demand, it was moved forward by about 3 weeks compared to previous years. This year's event, held under the theme of 'Finding Your Light,' will feature fireworks teams representing three countries, including Hanwha Corporation, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905017900003

■ Search for missing person from Busan tugboat capsize accident for fourth day… Difficult due to high waves

The search for the six missing people in the capsize of the tugboat TNS Catcher off the coast of Busan on the 2nd has continued for four days. The Busan Marine Police Station announced that it began a weekly search operation in the area of ​​the accident from 9 a.m. on the 5th. Five ships from the Coast Guard and Navy were deployed. A storm warning was issued off the coast of Busan, and only ships larger than 1,000 tons were mobilized.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905019900051

■ Emergency recovery from Geoje and Tongyeong floods has been completed... Recovering personal damage is ‘an impasse’

Emergency recovery has been completed in the Geoje and Tongyeong areas of South Gyeongsang Province, which suffered extensive damage due to extreme rain during the Liberation Day holiday, but recovery from personal damage is still slow, leaving residents in mourning. According to Gyeongnam Province on the 5th, the flood emergency recovery rate in Geoje and Tongyeong areas was 100% as of the previous day. Emergency restoration was conducted targeting public facilities such as roads, rivers, and waterworks, as well as residential facilities such as single-family homes, and 'facilities closely related to daily life.'

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904152100052

■ A strange rumor has plagued Jeju for over 10 years… In the end, 'there was no basis'

Whenever a shocking incident occurs in Jeju, it is followed by false or unconfirmed rumors, increasing anxiety about Jeju being a 'safe tourist destination'. The content was different, from the abduction of a woman during the past Olle Trail murder case and the serial disappearance theory during the Yemeni refugee crisis to the organ trafficking theory that emerged in the wake of the recent false closure of a missing persons report, but upon verification, it was either unfounded or there was no evidence to support it. It is pointed out that if unconfirmed stories are mixed with actual events and spread, it will increase the fear that the entire Jeju is in danger, and damage to Jeju residents, including the tourism industry and self-employed people, may occur, so it is necessary to respond firmly to unfounded rumors.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904095700056

■ Samsung Electronics DX union holds a rally in front of Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s home starting on the 18th.

Samsung Electronics' labor union Donghaeng (hereinafter referred to as Donghaeng Labor Union), which consists mainly of employees in the Device Experience (DX) division, which is in charge of finished products such as home appliances of Samsung Electronics, decided to hold a rally in front of the home of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong to call for the compensation gap to be resolved. According to the industry on the 5th, the Korean Workers' Union plans to hold rallies and one-person protests near Chairman Lee's home in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, starting with an inauguration ceremony on the 18th. An official from the Donghaeng Workers' Union said in a phone call with Yonhap News, "We plan to proceed over a long period of time without setting an end date," and added, "On days when the rally cannot be reported, it will continue as a one-person protest."

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260903152600003

■ A sunny weekend perfect for an outing… East coast and Jeju sometimes rain

It will be mostly sunny and not too hot across the country this weekend. However, there may be occasional rain on the east coast and Jeju Island. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 5th, the highest temperature during the day was 25 to 31 degrees, which is similar to or slightly above the average. On this day, the maximum perceived temperature in Jeolla-do and Jeju Island will reach around 31 degrees, but in other areas, the temperature will remain below 30 degrees, slightly lower than the previous day.

View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905016700530