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The Korea Times

October 2026

Korea's economic recovery yet to benefit households broadly: KDI

Exports and equipment investment continue to grow strongly, led by AI-related sectors, as global demand for AI infrastructure investment remains robust,
The recovery in household purchasing power remains constrained due to subdued underlying wage growth and elevated supply-side inflationary pressures, including those from persistently high oil prices,
Semiconductor and computer exports continue to grow rapidly, while exports of other products linked to AI infrastructure, including steel products and nonferrous metals, also remain solid,

Pitfalls of Lee's social media outreach

I will continue to visit back alleys and do my direct communications with the public,
They are radical. This is relatively an insignificant problem, compared to the fundamental one they had. They wanted highly coveted positions which go far beyond their capabilities. They turned into critics from within after their requests were ignored,

Korea likely to continue solid growth driven by robust chip exports

We plan to closely monitor inflation and economic trends, as well as financial stability, and determine the timing and pace of additional rate hikes,
The domestic economy is expected to see a significant increase in its growth rate this year, driven by strong semiconductor exports, and it will maintain steady growth next year as well,

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles, adding to streak of weapons tests

The launch came days after South Korea on Friday flight-tested its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon, designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound and evade missile defense systems, which President Lee Jae Myung described as an important step in strengthening the South’s conventional defense capabilities

Trump's 'energy ceasefire' sparks confusion as Russia strikes Ukraine

Donald Trumppresident
Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,
Johann Wadephulgerman Foreign Minister
Europe needs stability and that means that we are very clearly continuing to stay by the side of Ukraine and its government,
I believe our president is the best, and Americans should think about their own president,
We Ukrainians decide our own fate and our own freedom, and we are free people,

Finance minister calls for diversification of trade network amid uncertainties

Lee Hyoung-ilfinance Minister
The government will closely monitor trade issues with major countries to address trade-related risks and bolster diplomatic outreach to maintain stability,
Lee Hyoung-ilfinance Minister
Through summit-level diplomatic dialogue, we aim to lay the groundwork for economic and supply chain cooperation with major countries and deliver tangible results,
By diversifying our trade network, we aim to expand the Korean economy and make every effort to help our businesses enter global markets,

Lee's approval rating falls for 2nd straight week: poll

Controversies surrounding judicial independence involving Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, disputes between rival parties over mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as well as rising rental and housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area, all came under the spotlight during parliamentary audits, leading to the decline in approval ratings,

Policymakers take on energy shock, rising debt at IMF-World Bank meetings

The meetings run from Monday through Saturday in the Thai capital, and will see policymakers tackle some stark choices, with the IMF calling on governments to rein in spending even as vulnerable citizens' needs may be growing in the face of surging inflation and climate risks

Alexander De CroouNDP Administrator
Surging oil and food prices leave millions of families with no safety margin,
Kristalina GeorgievaiMF Managing Director
Love it, hate it, or fear it, AI is here, rapidly becoming a key driver of countries' relative fortunes in the world economy,
Kevin Gallagherprofessor of Global Development Policy, Boston University
The poorer member states of the IMF and World Bank are in distress from spillovers of the Iran war, rising interest rates in the West, and a climate crisis exacerbated by El Nino,
Kristalina GeorgievaiMF Managing Director
To put it simply, the global economy is being pulled in two opposite directions: a negative energy supply shock and a positive demand shock from AI,

Chungbuk Nat'l University's AI, business programs draw 1,800 int'l students

Our programs focus on fields popular among international students, including AI, software and global business, while offering pathways that connect undergraduate and master’s studies,

Poland suspects assassination attempts on PM, defense minister

Members of the police, state protection service (SOP) and internal security agency were present at the meeting Sunday

Jacek Dobrzynskithe meeting, special services spokesperson
We are treating this matter as deadly serious,
Karolina Galeckainterior spokeswoman
Following information received by the Polish Police regarding a possible attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński, and the Minister-Coordinator of Special Services, Tomasz Siemoniak, have ordered action to be taken in this matter,

Cheong Wa Dae makes rare disclosure of Lee's golf outing ahead of opposition attack

Joo Jin-wooopposition lawmaker
They admitted it only 10 minutes before my news conference, after we secured photographic evidence from inside the golf course,
Who can foresee an accident before it happens?”
We regret that the president’s private, undisclosed schedule is being used for political disputes,