First World Island Fair to promote food, cultures of 31 countries: The inaugural World Island Fair is scheduled to run from Sept. 5 to Nov. 4 in and around Yeosu, Jeollanam-do Province. Shown is Jinmo District of Dolsando Island, the main venue of the festival. (Event's organizing committee) By Charles Audouin and Jeong Euiseok The inaugural World Island Fair will open on Sept. 5 in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do Province, a city with 365 islands. Under the theme "Island, Connecting the Ocean and the Future," the event will take place in Jinmo District of Dolsando Isla; 2026.09.04

1,600-year-old water reservoir found at provincial fortress site: Scene of excavation of earthen rampart at Jangmisanseong Fortress in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province By Lee Ji Yae Photos = Korea Heritage Service A wooden water reservoir dating back 1,600 years to the Hanseong (Seoul) capital era of the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-A.D. 660) has been unearthed at Jangmisanseong Fortress in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. The largest of its kind from the period, the reservoir offers concrete evidence of how the ancient kingdom set up and ran Chungju as a; 2026.09.04

Relief team goes to flood-stricken Nepal to find, help survivors: Members of the Korea Disaster Relief Team on Sept. 2 board the Republic of Korea Air Force's multipurpose aerial tanker Cygnus (KC-330) at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province, to perform search and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Nepal. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) By Margareth Theresia The Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) on Sept. 2 departed for Nepal to help search and rescue operations for those going missing amid the severe flooding there, including Korean nationals. The; 2026.09.04

All about art: September offers biennales, exhibitions aplenty: The art fairs Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul are part of this month's Korea Art Festival. Shown are visitors on Sept. 3, 2025, browsing works at the venue of the Kiaf and Frieze events at the convention center Coex in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. (Korea.net DB) By Uyen Nguyen September is a month of art featuring biennales, fairs and museum exhibitions nationwide. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service on Sept. 1 announced their hosting of this year's K; 2026.09.03

August exports of USD 98.25B exceed 90B for 3rd consecutive month: Exports in August reached USD 98.25 billion, the third straight month that they surpassed USD 90 billion, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said on Sept. 1 in a monthly report. Shown are containers piled high and read for shipping at Pier 3 of Busan New Port. (Busan Port Authority) By Yoon Sojung Exports last month reached USD 98.25 billion thanks to record semiconductor sales, the third consecutive month for such shipments to exceed USD 90 billion. In its monthly report on export; 2026.09.03

Buddhist Templestay now open to foreign participants at 19 venues: The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism (CCKB) next month will launch a Templestay for foreign visitors. Shown is a meditation program at Naksansa Temple in Yangyang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province. (CCKB) By Oh Jung Eun The popular program Templestay from next month will allow foreign visitors to experience traditional Korean Buddhist culture and mountain temples at affordable prices. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism (CCKB) will run the program. From Sept. 1-30, 19 temples nationwide wil; 2026.09.01

No. of foreign visitors from Jan.-July rises 21.3% to break 12.8M: The country attracted 12,803,042 foreign visitors from January to July. Shown is the crowded tourist hot spot Myeong-dong Street in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Korea.net DB) By Koh Hyunjeong The number of foreign tourists between January and July this year exceeded 12.8 million, while one in four Japanese choosing to travel overseas went to Korea, an all-time high. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Aug. 31 announced this in a report on inbound tourism trends for the cited period.; 2026.09.01

No. of births in 2025 hits 254,341, sees 15-year high in growth: The Ministry of Data and Statistics on Aug. 26 said the number of births last year reached 254,341, posting growth for the second consecutive year. Shown is a children's goods section at a department store in Seoul. (Yonhap News) By Xu Aiying The number of births last year rose over 16,000 to post the second consecutive year of growth and the largest growth rate in 15 years. The Ministry of Data and Statistics on Aug. 26 said this in releasing last year's final birth data. The number of birth; 2026.09.01

Facility investment rises 7.5% in July, other biz indexes improve: Aerial view of Busan New Port (Busan Port Authority) By Kim Seon Ah Industrial production maintained its solid growth last month, with both facility investment and economic sentiment indicators rising and accelerating economic recovery. The Ministry of Data and Statistics on Aug. 31 said in a report on July industrial trends that the all-industry production index, a seasonally adjusted indicator with a benchmark of 100 in 2020, maintained the stable level seen in June with 120.2. Mining and; 2026.09.01

[World Heritage session in Busan] ⑥ Hoeamsa Temple Site: This six-part Korea.net series is on the country's tentative list of World Heritage Sites to mark Busan's hosting in July this year of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. This concluding sixth installment spotlights Archaeological Remains at the Hoeamsa Temple Site in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do Province. By Hong Angie Photos = Park Dae Jin Video = Official YouTube channel of Hoeamsaji Museum of Yangju City An expansive landscape warmly embraced by Cheonbosan Mountain, crys; 2026.09.01

KOREAN NET

Information Center