■ Deficit debt of 1,300 trillion won by 2030… National debt interest cost exceeds 50 trillion won
In 2030, deficit debt that must be repaid at the public's expense is expected to reach 1,300 trillion won, more than 280 trillion won more than this year. This is an increase of 91.9 trillion won compared to this year’s supplementary budget (125.2 trillion won). As the national debt increases, interest costs are expected to increase and exceed 50 trillion won per year.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905042200002
■ [Nepal Flood] Chinese rescued after 10 days: “There was one more person nearby.”
A Chinese survivor who was trapped in the area where 9 Koreans went missing due to massive flooding that hit Nepal and was rescued 10 days later stated that there was one more person nearby. The Korea Overseas Emergency Relief Service (KDRT) announced on the 5th (local time) that it had secured a statement from a survivor rescued from a tunnel at the construction site of the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydroelectric power plant in the Rasuwa region, Bagmati Province, north-central Nepal, that there was one more person nearby. The survivor was Chinese man Lu Haitao, who was rescued by a joint rescue team consisting of the Nepal Army and KDRT at 225m inside the UT-1 hydroelectric power plant tunnel at around 1:15 p.m. Mr. Lu told KDRT that there was one more person near where he was, but that his fate was unknown.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260906000351104
■ Kim Seung-won requested a new drug clinical trial as a ‘public interest complaint’… The other side is an illegal copy board
The suspicion surrounding Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won's request for approval of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment appears to be growing. Contrary to Candidate Kim's claim that this was a complaint for public interest, asking 'not to unreasonably delay the approval of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments developed by domestic pharmaceutical companies,' circumstances emerged that he recognized that astronomical profits from new drug development were potential behind the scenes. In addition, it has been confirmed that Mr. Yang, the broker who asked Candidate Kim to approve the clinical trial, participated in illegal stock trading linked to the company and received a large amount of investment from the company's representative, raising questions about the extent to which Candidate Kim was aware of Yang's illegal pursuit of profit.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905051400004
■ Despite leakage of secrets and destruction of evidence... 3 out of 10 indicted police officers received light disciplinary action or less
It was found that 209 police officers have been indicted over the past five years for crimes related to police duties and authority, such as leaking investigative information, manipulating public records, and using violence during the investigation. Of these, 178 people were handed over to a formal trial, but 62 people, or about 30% of the total indicted, received light punishment such as reprimands or pay reductions, or were only given unwritten notices, warnings, or cautions.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904141400004
■ If housing prices do not fall, comprehensive real estate tax will be applied to all of Seoul, excluding Gangbuk, Geumcheon, and Dobong, by 2030.
Analysis has shown that if the rise in housing prices in Seoul coincides with the government's comprehensive real estate tax (hereinafter comprehensive real estate tax) reform, the number of apartments subject to comprehensive real estate tax may increase significantly even in non-Gangnam areas. Based on the top 5 complexes in market price in each of Seoul's 25 autonomous districts, there are currently 19 districts with complexes subject to comprehensive real estate tax, but it is estimated that this will expand to 22 districts for non-residents by 2030. Comprehensive real estate tax is payable in all areas of Seoul except Gangbuk, Geumcheon, and Dobong-gu.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905020900002
■ Korea’s current account surplus is likely to approach 20% due to special semiconductor... Taiwan is following closely behind
This year, Korea's current account surplus ratio compared to nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to approach 20%. As the current account surplus expands faster than nominal GDP due to strong semiconductor exports, the ratio of surplus to GDP is expected to soar to an all-time high. According to the Center for International Finance on the 6th, the ratio of Korea's current account surplus to GDP this year presented by eight major overseas investment banks (IB) was calculated to be 16.0% on average at the end of August.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905026200002
■ ‘Lee Heung-gu also retires’, leaving two Supreme Court justices vacant… Re-application expected soon
In a situation where the selection of former Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak's successor has been delayed due to a conflict between the Blue House and the judiciary over the nomination of Supreme Court Justices, Justice Heung-gu Lee will also retire on the 7th, increasing the number of Supreme Court Justice vacancies to two. Once the confirmation hearing process for candidate Kim Seong-soo is completed, the position of Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu will be filled, but if the conflict over the nomination of former Supreme Court Justice Roh's successor is not resolved quickly, the '13-member system' is expected to continue for the time being, prolonging trial disruptions.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905041600004
■ 168 public institution headquarters in the metropolitan area… Will housing supply be utilized after local relocation?
As the government is speeding up the secondary relocation of public institutions to regional areas with the goal of 'minimizing remaining in the metropolitan area', it was found that about half of all public institutions are based in the metropolitan area. As idle land and old buildings remain after major public institutions are relocated, ways to utilize them to supply housing in the metropolitan area are also expected to be a topic of discussion.
Full report: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260906005400003
■ 'Lee Jong-seop fled to Australia' sentenced in first trial... '8 trillion in assets' Kwon Hyuk-bin divorce suit
Former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was indicted on charges of causing former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop to flee abroad, will be sentenced in the first trial next week. According to the legal community on the 6th, the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Cho Hyeong-woo) will hold a sentencing hearing for former President Yoon on charges including fleeing a criminal at 2 p.m. on the 11th. Kwon Hyuk-bin, Smilegate Chief Vision Officer (CVO) and Hope Studio Chairman, who is known to have assets worth 8 trillion won, will also be sentenced on the 9th.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905053800004
■ “I can’t even lock the door for fear of passengers coming”… KTX subcontracted crew members forced into train nursing room
“As the crew room also serves as a nursing room, I leave the door open without even locking it for fear of passengers coming.” Mi-Jeong Yoo, a flight attendant from KORAIL Tourism Development, a subsidiary of KORAIL's consignment operation, told Yonhap News about the reality that the breastfeeding room on the train is actually used as a crew room. According to Yonhap News coverage on the 6th, the crew members of KORAIL Tourism Development, a subcontractor, have been using the nursing room and storage space for goods for a long time because there was no crew room.
View full text: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260905047800004
