AGP Executive Report

Health & Body Image: South Korea’s underweight problem is hitting women harder, with 6.2% of women under BMI 18.5 in 2025—nearly four times the 1.6% for men—peaking at 8.2% in Seoul, as lawmakers and health officials warn that “skinny” pressure can backfire. Tourism & Pop Culture: Seoul is rolling out its global campaign “Absolutely in Seoul,” appointing aespa’s KARINA and WINTER and RIIZE as honorary ambassadors; the “Seoul Syndrome” concept will be teased from Sept. 23 with nine films. K-pop on the Big Screen: HYBE is expanding HYBE CINE FEST 2026 to about 1,100 theaters in roughly 50 countries, with BTS “ARIRANG” world-tour performances broadcast live in participating cinemas. Demographics: Births rose 11.1% in July to 24,275, marking 25 straight months of growth, while the fertility rate edged up to 0.89. Justice & Human Rights: South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered state compensation for torture victims tied to the 1983 Daegu U.S. cultural center bombing, recognizing wrongful imprisonment. Design & Community: The Seoul Design Award 2026 opens live on-stage evaluations and global public voting, spotlighting sustainable projects for everyday life.

Births & Families: South Korea logged 24,275 births in July, up 11.1% year-on-year for a 25th straight month of gains, with marriages rising and divorces easing. AI & Everyday Life: The government’s AI push is spending nearly 10 trillion won, but only a tiny fraction targets potential harms—raising concerns about how AI could affect schools and workplaces. Women’s Health & Rights: South Korea plans to approve mifepristone as an abortion pill for use up to nine weeks, with rollout expected in early 2027. Body Image & Health: A new report highlights women being far more likely to be underweight than men, fueling debate over social pressure to stay “skinny.” Jobs for Mid-Career Workers: Seoul will host a job fair for 3,000 people aged 40–64 with on-site interviews, counseling, and hands-on tryouts for new roles. Culture & Travel: Incheon is keeping Chinese group tourists in the city longer, aiming to shift spending from “transit” to local neighborhoods. K-Culture Abroad: Korea’s biggest K-culture expo push heads to Mexico City, pairing consumer showcases with export consultations. K-pop & Art: BTS leader RM is bringing a curated art exhibition to the Bay Area, blending his collection with SFMOMA works. Immigration & Worker Rights: A Jeongeup case surfaced where seasonal workers’ passports were reportedly held to discourage them from leaving jobs. Chuseok Guide: Seoul’s Chuseok 2026 plans include palace access, performances, and a citywide slowdown as families travel.

Digital Safety Crackdown: South Korea shut down 66 overseas-hosted websites distributing sexually exploitative material, arrested 32 operators, and remotely deleted illegal videos on 16 sites as part of a faster interagency takedown push. Wellness Tourism Law: A new “healing tourism” act took effect, formally recognizing the sector, setting service standards, and funding 20 priority destinations to attract international visitors. AI Music Rules Under Strain: An AI-assisted track briefly hit Melon’s Top 100, spotlighting gaps in Korea’s rules for authorship and royalties; KOMCA’s earlier AI registration plan was pulled after backlash. Youth Employment Fix: Experts urged building professional job agencies for young people in the AI era, offering full-cycle support from training to follow-up care. Housing Delivery Focus: Land Minister Hong Ji-sun visited Bucheon Daejang, stressing “execution matters” and tighter timeline management for new-town home supply. Culture & Diplomacy: The ASEAN-Korea Centre opened the Jeonju ASEAN Hall at the Korea Traditional Culture Center, expanding ASEAN-Korea cultural exchange beyond Seoul. Tech & Industry: Google plans to supply Tensor Processing Units to Korea’s external AI data centers, intensifying competition in the local AI ecosystem. Sports & Culture: Asian Games medal updates put South Korea third overall (5 gold, 4 silver, 16 bronze) as events continue. Politics Watch: An appeals court cut former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison term to five years in a gifts-for-favors case.

Education Reform: South Korea will ban private academies from running placement tests for preschoolers starting Oct. 1, including written, oral, practical and interview evaluations, with only limited diagnostic checks allowed after enrollment and with parental consent. Housing & Urban Living: Seoul’s Yangcheon District cleared integrated rebuilding reviews for Mokdong Complexes 9 and 13, paving the way for 7,810 new apartment units. Fairer Venture Investing: The government will restrict venture capital “early recovery” demands and curb unfair refixing clauses tied to failed IPOs, aiming to protect startups and improve contract fairness. Sports & Culture: Six top women’s tennis players will come to Incheon for a Hyundai Card/NAVER event Dec. 25–27, with tickets sold via NAVER Plus and Hyundai Card holders. Esports Ecosystem: Yulchon and the Seoul Esports Association signed an MOU to strengthen legal support and help esports grow as a cultural industry. Tech & Retirement Access: Korea Investment & Securities launches a “Pension Station” pop-up tour to help office workers check retirement readiness on the go. K-Drama Mood Shift: A roundup highlights how darker, revenge-leaning Korean dramas are dominating global streaming queues.

K-Beauty Retail Shake-Up: Olive Young is now sold through Sephora in the U.S., adding 19 Korean skincare brands to Sephora shelves and online—good news for K-beauty fans who want to shop and test locally. Smart Entry Gates: South Korea published a list of 42 countries whose citizens can use Smart Entry Gates for faster immigration clearance, but no African country is included. Autism Screening Update: A South Korean study tracking first graders in one city for 12 years found autism rates stayed flat, suggesting rising diagnoses may reflect better detection, not a surge in new cases. K-Drama on the Move: Barunson E&A will launch international sales for the big-screen version of “Descendants of the Sun” at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Blue House Turmoil: Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik offered to resign over bungled Cabinet nominations, intensifying internal power struggles. Fashion Meets AI: PointAI appointed Afshan Banu as Global Head of Fashion & Beauty to expand Simulation AI for virtual try-on and shopping experiences. Chuseok Culture & Travel: Airports brace for heavy Chuseok travel demand, while Seoul and districts roll out more heritage and festival programming.

Seoul Waterfront Upgrade: Nodeul Island opened fresh Han River spaces on Sept. 18, including an ecological garden, kids’ play areas, and a renovated 1.5-kilometer loop trail, plus fall weekend events and a Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival set for Oct. 2–11. Chuseok Community Spirit: Korean Air joined Asiana and Korean Air C&D Service for Chuseok meal service and volunteer cleanups, serving holiday food to about 600 seniors and delivering gifts across Seoul. Cultural Diplomacy: After the Korea–Central Asia summit, Turkmen culture came to Seoul through a “Days of Turkmen Culture” program featuring traditional instruments, dance, and folk songs. ASEAN-Korea Exchange: The ASEAN-Korea Centre opened the Jeonju ASEAN Hall, debuting “ASEAN: Where Hands Bridge Time” with heritage from 11 ASEAN countries. Mental Health & Students: Suicide made up 17.8% of deaths among foreign students at South Korean universities (2021–2026 data), raising calls for stronger prevention systems. AI at Work: CJ CheilJedang and Cosmax kicked off hiring with AI-focused assessments and role programs, signaling how recruitment is shifting for the AI era. Tech & Lifestyle: LG Display launched a 24.5-inch 720Hz esports OLED panel, aiming to bring ultra-fast OLED refresh rates into mainstream gaming monitors. Culture for the Holidays: Traditional culture events are rolling out nationwide for Chuseok, from museum performances to hands-on crafts.

Seoul Culture Night: Seoul is extending evening openings at major city-run museums and traditional sites to five days a week, adding night-only programs like museum yoga, hanok escape rooms, and night history walks. Webtoon Boom: The 2026 World Webtoon Awards named 20 finalists, with global reader voting running Sept. 17–Oct. 19 and the ceremony set for Dec. 3 at COEX. K-culture on the move: The National Museum of Korea hit 5.25 million visitors through August, and Seoul’s Museum Night hours are now set for a longer run. Education & youth: Korea’s parental leave benefits for foreign nationals doubled in 2025, while a Supreme Court ruling said not every harmful student act automatically counts as school violence. Campus change: New rules strengthen research-security at universities to curb tech leaks. Justice shake-up: A justice minister nominee withdrew amid controversy, dealing another blow to President Lee’s reshuffle. Lifestyle & fashion: Color analysis keeps spreading as shoppers look for simpler, more personalized wardrobe choices. Global spotlight: Germany’s military buildup is stirring debate across Europe.

K-Style & Pop Culture: McDonald’s Korea teams up with G-Dragon’s Peaceminusone for retro merch—vintage cap, shoulder bag and pins—rolling out nationwide from Sept. 28. Streaming Buzz: Netflix’s Korean slate stays stacked, with binge-ready picks like the Joseon-era “The Scandal” and the school-vigilante “Teach You a Lesson,” keeping viewers in a weekly debate. Health & Body Image: A doctor warns that GLP-1 obesity drugs are being misused by normal-weight people chasing “problem areas,” stressing weight and body shape aren’t the same. Student Debt Pressure: Student loan arrears are increasingly hitting Koreans in their 30s and 40s, with overdue balances piling up and legal collection actions expanding. Foreign Workers’ Family Support: Parental leave benefits for foreign workers in Korea doubled year-on-year, with payments rising to 36.45 billion won. Public Safety Crackdown: Police speed up enforcement against illegal adult gaming cafes, cutting notice time to six days and freezing criminal proceeds. Society & Rights: South Korea moves to approve abortion pills for use up to nine weeks, aiming for rollout by 2027. Lifestyle & Leisure: Running culture keeps booming—10 million runners nationwide are driving demand for autumn gear. Culture Tourism: Seoul starts distributing free Discover Seoul Passes at airports for heritage sites during Welcome Week. Global Attention: Converse removes a sneaker ad after backlash over KKK-like imagery.

Asian Games in Japan: The 2026 Asian Games officially open in Nagoya after a rocky build-up, with more than 11,000 athletes and 43 sports—plus a big accommodation crunch and weather worries as competition gets underway. K-pop & celebrity: Kim Soo Hyun returns to the Korean spotlight as an award presenter at the 2026 The Fact Music Awards, ending a long domestic hiatus. Seoul culture spotlight: Time Out crowns Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga the “coolest neighbourhood” in the world—though one resident says the hype feels bittersweet as the area changes. Museum for everyday life: The National Museum of Korea hosts a “Dress Like a Museum Exhibit” contest that turns history into a runway moment for families and visitors. Health & lifestyle: A new study links gout in young adults to a roughly 44% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, underscoring the need for early management. Zero-waste living: In Incheon, a social enterprise turns “ugly produce” and even discarded beer bottles into daily, low-waste routines and workshops. K-food export boost: South Korea and Indonesia sign an agreement to streamline halal certification ahead of Indonesia’s mandatory rules for imported food and cosmetics. Local travel deals: Korea launches an autumn campaign with train, lodging and regional spending rebates to encourage trips to population-declining areas.

Cabinet Shake-Up: South Korea’s justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew, the second cabinet pick to step aside amid Lee Jae-myung’s slipping approval ratings, with the president promising to reexamine nominee screening. K-Drama Buzz: Netflix’s Joseon-set romance thriller The Scandal stars Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana, winning attention for its dangerous-liaisons setup even as pacing drags at times. Diplomacy & People-to-People: Nepal recommended 13 ambassador nominees, including posts to India, China and the U.S., after a public application process that drew thousands. Tech & Jobs: A new report warns the U.S. could face a semiconductor talent shortfall of up to 157,000 by 2030, as immigration curbs and rising H-1B costs tighten hiring pipelines. Travel & Lifestyle: EVA Air will resume nonstop Delhi–Taipei flights from December, cutting travel time and enabling easier short stopovers for eligible travelers. Asian Games Reality Check: As the 2026 Asian Games open in Japan, athletes report exhaustion and lodging problems, while South Korea files a complaint over a Japanese warlord’s appearance. Retail Convenience: Korean retailers are expanding quick commerce via delivery app tie-ups, turning convenience stores into mini logistics hubs. Culture Exports: Korea and Indonesia signed a halal certification deal ahead of Indonesia’s mandatory rules from Oct. 18, aiming to protect K-food and beauty exports. Online Sex Trade Shift: Arrests under South Korea’s prostitution punishment law fell nearly 90% over 15 years, but researchers say the market has moved online and enforcement has weakened.

Asian Games Fallout: Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya Games open Saturday amid mounting complaints over accommodation and logistics, including long waits after landing, cramped shared rooms, and mixed-gender assignments; South Korea also lodged a complaint tied to a Japanese warlord’s appearance at a welcoming ceremony. Culture & Travel: The ASEAN-Korea Centre opened its 3rd ASEAN Hall in Jeonju to push Southeast Asian cultural exchange beyond Seoul and Jeju. Lifestyle & Media: IU marked her 18th debut anniversary with a 200 million won donation split across four organizations under her fan-linked “IUaena” name. Tech & Education Links: Kyrgyzstan and South Korea agreed to expand cooperation in higher education and intellectual property, including joint programs and digitizing IP systems. Korea-U.S. Alliance: U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel called the alliance the “linchpin” of peace and security, framing it as a shared human story.

University Globalization Watch: The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 keep “SKY” on top (Korea Univ., SNU, Yonsei) but the methodology shift exposes weak spots in internationalization—especially international faculty, student support, and post-graduation outcomes. Workplace & Family Policy: A push for maternity leave (6 months) and paternity leave (42 days) aims to ease pressure on families and boost participation in caregiving. K-Beauty Innovation: Genecell (Alfresa) and Cosmax sign an ODM deal to develop premium cosmetics using bone-marrow stem cell culture supernatant. Tech in Classrooms: KOREATECH’s AI learning analytics lab tracks engagement in real time using cameras, dashboards, and speech-to-text tools. K-Pop Culture Buzz: aespa’s Giselle faces backlash over disturbing Instagram posts tied to violent crimes. Tourism & Lifestyle: Korea Tourism Organization hosts a travel mart for 20 Western/Oceania buyers, while Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga is named the world’s coolest neighborhood for 2026. Health & Society: Research links air pollution exposure to higher suicide risk, adding another modifiable factor to prevention efforts. Politics & Daily Life: President Lee Jae Myung’s approval slips to a new low of 37% as real estate and nominee controversies dominate criticism. Regional Jobs: Ulsan, Busan and Gyeongnam launch a mega-region labor plan to support relocation, training, and commuting. Entertainment & Travel: BIGBANG’s immersive “COSMOS” VR exhibition keeps K-pop fans in the spotlight. Women’s Entrepreneurship: Women entrepreneurs sign a pact to expand family-friendly workplace certification and training.

Local Governance: Mapo District chief Yoo Dong-gyun is pitching a “youth-to-newlywed” housing path, linking youth employment support with housing stability after marriage and childrearing. Community & Youth Culture: Gangdong District’s Youth Festival returns on Sept. 19 across four venues, mixing policy consultations, finance and housing talks, and performances around Cheonho Rodeo Street. Tech & Safety: Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won urged global alliances against AI-driven cyberattacks, saying no single organization can stop borderless threats. Education & Fairness: After the Uway Apply system crash, South Korea restored 354 college applications for students affected, while recommending universities cancel three applications tied to competition-ratio checks during the extended window. Health & Rights: South Korea plans to approve abortion pills for the first time by early 2027, aiming to bring medication abortions under the healthcare system—while doctors and religious groups push back. Lifestyle & Travel: Oceania Cruises opened booking for the 2028 Oceania Aurelia “Around the World” voyage in 10–19 day segments. Culture & Controversy: Yeosu’s 2026 World Island Fair is drawing flak over exhibit quality and food expectations after a widely shared “fishermen song” performance drew criticism. Global Pop Culture: Time Out named Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga the world’s coolest neighborhood for 2026, spotlighting hanok alleys, craft studios, and late-night street food.

K-Culture on the Move: CJ ENM is pushing Korean content deeper into Europe, signing deals in Poland to expand screenings and promos and adding Czech TV Nova and Slovakia’s TV Markiza to its catalog distribution. Global Webtoon Buzz: Voting has opened for the 2026 World Webtoon Awards, with fans worldwide picking from 20 finalists after thousands of nominations. Seoul Arts Outdoors: The Seoul Street Arts Festival turns the Han River and Seoul Forest into open-air stages this weekend, with parades, circus acts, dance, and “Artrekking” routes for families. Wellness Meets Tradition: Calligrapher Kim Do-im brings a K-Calligraphy & Meditation class to a Seoul hotel rooftop, blending ink practice with guided calm. City Living Updates: Seoul approved a 1,953-home Bukgajwa-dong rebuilding plan after a long wait, adding parks and walkways. Tech + Health Housing: Hyundai E&C, Seoul National University Hospital, and Yonsei-linked partners are developing an AI health housing model that tracks daily living data for tailored care. Reproductive Rights Debate: The Korean Catholic Church voiced “deep concerns” over plans to introduce abortion pills up to nine weeks, urging stronger support systems for women. K-pop Spotlight: Lisa of BLACKPINK apologized for using a racial slur in an old video, saying she didn’t know at the time and won’t repeat it. Education & AI: Yonsei will build an AI college plus a specialized cardiovascular/cerebrovascular medical center as part of a major campus expansion. Tourism Perks: Seoul Welcome Week runs Sept. 19–Oct. 11 with airport welcome events, heritage passes, and multilingual K-culture activities.

Korea-Central Asia Summit: Seoul hosted the first multilateral Korea–Central Asia summit, with leaders adopting the Seoul Declaration to deepen cooperation for the next 30 years—covering critical minerals, energy, trade, digital tech, AI, and people-to-people exchanges—and agreeing to hold the next summit in Astana in 2028. North Korea Court Ruling: A Seoul court ordered Pyongyang to pay about US$32.5 million in damages over the 2020 destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office, marking a rare push for direct state damages. Seoul City Life & Culture: Seoul plans to replace the historic Bank of Korea fountain with a 7,000-capacity open plaza to ease crowds and boost festivals, busking, and K-pop-style events. Everyday Pressure in Seoul: A new survey finds many middle-aged Seoul residents are stuck in a “sandwich” of caring for aging parents and supporting children, with housing and income strongly tied to satisfaction. Tourism Deals: The Korea Tourism Organization launched an autumn travel discount campaign (“Deeper Autumn, Lighter Travel”) to cut trip costs and encourage domestic trips. Sports & Community: The Seoul100K ultra trail race returns this weekend, turning mountains and city streets into one endurance course for runners from home and abroad.

Reproductive Health Policy: South Korea’s government says it will formally introduce abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks, rolling out hospital-based prescribing and dispensing first, then shifting to doctors and pharmacies once conditions are met. North-South Tensions in the Courts: A Seoul court ordered North Korea to pay about $32.5 million for blowing up the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in 2020, marking the first time the South has sought damages directly from the North state. Culture & Tourism: Seoul is running a 23-day “Hospitality Week” for foreign visitors during autumn holiday travel, expanding help desks and Chuseok-themed experiences from airports into downtown routes. Regional Lifestyle & Travel: Incheon launched a contest to find “killer content” tourism souvenirs—products that are actually sellable—aiming to boost visitor spending. Tech & Daily Life: NHN Cloud signed an industry-academia deal with Korea University to push defense battlefield cloud and AI research. Entertainment: Netflix is bringing the Joseon-era erotic classic “Untold Scandal” back as a new series, while Demon Slayer’s game crossover event is set to run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 29.