Asian Games Fallout: South Korea’s Olympic committee filed a complaint with Asian Games 2026 organizers in Nagoya after a welcoming ceremony featured a character dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, tied to the 1592–1598 invasions of Korea, with Seoul saying it wants measures to prevent a repeat. Middle East / Hormuz: President Lee Jae-myung said Seoul will not dispatch troops in a way that could pull South Korea into the U.S.-Iran war, while reviewing ways to expand “minimum” protection for merchant ships and crude routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump-Kim Diplomacy: Lee said it’s “clear” Trump wants dialogue with Pyongyang and that South Korea is doing behind-the-scenes coordination to create an opening for U.S.-North Korea talks, though a summit remains uncertain. North Korea Signals: Kim Yo Jong warned the U.S. after Pacific Vanguard 2026 drills, saying Pyongyang will strengthen nuclear deterrence and respond more offensively if key interests are threatened. Economy & Markets: KOSPI jumped about 2% on Friday as chip stocks rallied and inflation worries eased; producer prices also edged up in August. Public Finance: South Korea’s public sector deficit hit a record 83.1 trillion won in 2025, driven by faster spending growth than revenue. Health & Safety: Food poisoning cases rose in 2025, with experts stressing proper leftover storage and refrigerating quickly. Local Life: A Seoul bus rules debate flared after a driver asked a passenger off over an “empty” cup, with the ordinance focusing on spill/leak risk.