We take an in-depth look at trending issues in entertainment, broadcasting, film, OTT, performances, and sports, focusing on the latest verified facts and official schedules and viewing information.
Foreign nationals must meet requirements such as at least 10 years of coverage and reaching the pension commencement age to receive a National Pension old-age pension. The recently reported case of paying contributions for 119 months after only one month of enrollment is an individual case, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is reviewing possible system improvements.
The 2026 Basic Pension eligibility threshold and maximum benefit have been confirmed, but detailed plans for a more progressive structure focused on low-income recipients cannot yet be considered a finalized implementation policy. Reports indicate that a briefing scheduled for August 27 was also canceled because some details had not been finalized.
The Trump administration has declared a national emergency targeting foreign-made bulk-power-system equipment and related digital functions. However, the order does not immediately ban all foreign-made equipment. Instead, it authorizes the Department of Energy to restrict or condition transactions involving specific equipment and software it determines to pose risks. Detailed rules are expected within 120 days of the executive order’s signing.
In the fourth week of August 2026, Seoul apartment sale prices rose 0.29%, up 0.07 percentage points from the previous week. However, Gangnam and Seocho fell for the third consecutive week, while Nowon·Dobong·Gangbuk and major areas in southern Gyeonggi posted comparatively strong gains.
In 2026, the Basic Pension selection threshold is ₩2.47 million per month for single-person households and ₩3.952 million for couples. The standard pension amount is ₩349,700 per month. From July 30, the deemed-application system may apply to people who requested eligibility-history management within the past five years and were confirmed as likely eligible.
The National Tax Service plans to pay the regular applications for the 2025 tax-year Earned Income and Child Tax Credits on August 27, 2026, after reviewing them. However, official materials do not state that all recipients will receive their payments at the same time. Individual eligibility results and payment amounts should be checked through “View Application Review Progress” in Hometax.
According to official guidance from the National Tax Service, regular applications for the 2025 tax year’s Earned Income and Child Tax Credits are scheduled for payment on August 27, 2026. However, the maximum payment is not an individual’s confirmed amount; eligibility and the actual determined amount must be checked through official channels such as Hometax, Sontax, or ARS.
On August 27, 2026, the government finalized investment plans for the humanoid ecosystem and eight physical AI demonstration areas. The core plan calls for ₩2.3 trillion for humanoids and ₩2.8 trillion for physical AI demonstrations by 2030, while reports that also include funding for fostering innovative growth companies describe the total as ₩6.7 trillion.
KTX·SRT integrated-service trains are scheduled to begin operating on September 1, 2026. Tickets for September services will be available from 10 a.m. on August 5 through Korail+ and the Korail website. Under the integrated-operation plan, existing KTX fares will be adjusted to SRT levels, reducing them by an average of 10%, while seat capacity will also increase. Pohang City said high-speed train services between Pohang and Seoul·Suseo will increase by a total of seven trips per day from the same date.
The controversy over the disappearance of Jang Mi-ran has grown as the investigation expanded into allegations that the officer in charge closed the case without actually confirming her whereabouts. The key confirmed issues are the absence of call records, entries in the missing-person profiling system, a separate case involving a man in his 60s that was allegedly closed in a similar way, and actions taken against the police chain of command. However, the cause of Jang Mi-ran’s death and the motive for the alleged false closure cannot yet be determined.
The rise in searches for “Korea High-Speed Rail” stems from the KTX-SRT integration moving into the implementation stage after Fair Trade Commission approval and Korail’s announcement of integrated operations from September 1. The issue spread further after the August 25 Cabinet meeting brought together discussions of a 10% fare cut, railway deficits, the decline of express and intercity buses, and transport inequality.