Hong Ji-sun reviews documents at Land Ministry confirmation hearing

Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, reviews documents during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly's Land and Infrastructure Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday morning.

Sept. 16, 2026

Hong Ji-sun responds to lawmakers at confirmation hearing

Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, answered lawmakers' questions Wednesday morning at a confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee in Yeouido, Seoul.

Sept. 16, 2026

Hong Ji-sun takes oath at land minister confirmation hearing

Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, took the oath at her confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday morning.

Sept. 16, 2026

Hong Ji-sun, nominee for land minister, drinks water at confirmation hearing

Hong Ji-sun, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, drinks water during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly's Land and Infrastructure Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday morning.

Sept. 16, 2026

Kang Shin-cheol takes oath at defense minister confirmation hearing

Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-cheol took an oath Wednesday morning at his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's National Defense Committee in Yeouido, Seoul.

Sept. 16, 2026

Kang Shin-cheol delivers opening remarks at defense minister confirmation hearing

Kang Shin-cheol, nominee for minister of national defense, delivered his opening remarks at a confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday morning.

Sept. 16, 2026

[Herald pic] Defense minister nominee Kang Sin-cheol hands over oath document

Kang Sin-cheol, nominee for minister of national defense, hands his oath document to National Defense Committee Chairman Jin Seong-jun after taking the oath at a confirmation hearing held Wednesday morning at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.

Sept. 16, 2026

[Herald pic] Defense minister nominee Kang Sin-cheol attends confirmation hearing

(Lee Sang-seop)

Sept. 16, 2026

Foreign Minister Cho heads to US ahead of investment announcement

Cho to meet Secretary of State Rubio on Friday; talks to cover investment, troop deployment and nuclear submarine issues Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit Washington on Friday for bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with attention focused on how far the two sides can advance discussions on South Korea's investment commitments to the United States — a process closely tied to the country's contribution to stability in the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that Cho will be in Washington from Thursday through Saturday, with the ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday. It will be the first bilateral talks between Cho and Rubio in roughly seven months, since their last meeting in February. The ministry said the two ministers plan to "hold consultations on a wide range of topics, including the South Korea-US relationship, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional and global matters." The talks are expected to involve substantive discussions on South Korea's investment plans in the United States, the possible deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, and other ways Seoul might contribute to stability in the waterway. Investment is expected to take center stage. In the joint fact sheet from the South Korea-US summit, South Korea's investment commitments to the US are listed ahead of Seoul's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and uranium enrichment and reprocessing rights — a sequencing that signals investment must move first. The announcement of South Korea's first major US investment project is widely expected around the time of Friday's meeting. Some observers suggest Cho's visit may be aimed in part at clinching a final agreement on the investment package. The logic is that smooth progress on investment could accelerate parallel security discussions, including those on nuclear submarines and uranium enrichment and reprocessing. Separately, the government is understood to have decided to exclude the question of a Hormuz troop deployment from the agenda of the National Security Council standing committee meeting set for Thursday — the day before the ministerial talks. The move reflects both the difficulty of deciding such a significant diplomatic and security matter without the foreign minister present, and a desire to first see the outcome of the highest-level bilateral talks. Cheong Wa Dae said it "cannot confirm specifics regarding NSC-related matters." The deployment question is directly linked to other alliance issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control and a potential reduction in joint military exercises. Opposition to deployment has emerged even within the ruling camp, meaning the government needs more time to build domestic political support and sway public opinion. Officials have also floated the possibility of what they call "technical support" — a term covering equipment assistance and other non-troop contributions — as an alternative or complement to a troop deployment. Cho recently spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at Tehran's request, conveying the government's position that no decision has yet been made on a Hormuz deployment. Public opinion is not squarely behind the idea, either. Some polling has found that more than half of South Koreans oppose sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz. What complicates matters is the intensity of US pressure. Donald Trump recently took to his Truth Social account to warn that countries that have given the United States "no help" in keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz "will be, and must be, forced to pay" once "this ridiculous war" is over — a pointed message directed at US allies. The government is expected to weigh several factors: whether any form of deployment or support would satisfy Washington's demands, whether it can be framed as advancing the national interest through contributing to peace and stability in the Strait of Hormuz, and whether it would be enough to overcome domestic opposition. Ultimately, a decision will require a call from the commander in chief, and some observers say President Lee Jae Myung could use his press conference scheduled for Friday to spell out a concrete plan for South Korea's contribution to Hormuz stability. The talks will also touch on North Korea. With Donald Trump having signaled of late a strong desire to restart North Korea-US dialogue, Cho is expected to express Seoul's support for that effort and push for South Korea to play a meaningful role in the US approach to Pyongyang. Given how closely the issues are intertwined, some analysts see a possible linkage between Seoul's offer to serve as a peacemaker in North Korea-US talks and its contribution to the Hormuz effort.

Sept. 16, 2026

Philosopher Doh-ol encourages Lee Jae-myung to look beyond approval ratings

Advice offered on Democratic Party's YouTube channel 'Too early to judge' first year; calls for unity and harmony Philosopher Doh-ol Kim Yong-ok encouraged President Lee Jae-myung to govern on principle rather than chase poll numbers, saying the public would trust a leader who moves forward with the right convictions regardless of approval ratings. Doh-ol appeared Tuesday on "Minti07," a live broadcast on the Democratic Party of Korea's YouTube channel "Democratic Party TV," where he advised politicians to look at the broader currents of public sentiment. "When an unjust situation arises, the people rise up righteously," he said. When the host brought up the Dec. 3 martial law crisis, Doh-ol said the most moving moment for him was watching President Lee make a tearful appeal to the public as he headed to the National Assembly, with his wife Kim Hye-kyung weeping by his side. "Looking at the process of getting to today from such an uncertain situation, you can really feel how mature our politics and the public's consciousness have become," he said. "There is an undercurrent in the people that does not easily sway with the winds," he went on to say. "Politicians need to see that." He said it was still too early to evaluate President Lee's first year in office. "President Lee is someone who works without rest," Doh-ol said. "Even if there are minor shortcomings, now is not the time to pass judgment on them." "We need to give it a little more time. This is a period for gathering strength and finding harmony," he said, adding that he believed the right leader was guiding the country at a time when "K-democracy" needed to be completed and a new style of leadership was called for. Doh-ol also said that "fundamentally breaking free from factional logic and pushing forward on one's own convictions is pragmatism," and that Lee needed to hold firm in the belief that the public would come to recognize the results of that path. He did offer some pointed criticism of government policy and personnel decisions. On the proposal to build apartments on the Yongsan Park site vacated by US forces, Doh-ol said it did not strike him as a particularly good idea and suggested the land be preserved as green space. He also said that pursuing major reform tasks — such as consolidating government agencies and relocating them to the regions — would require identifying talent based on ability rather than name recognition. He also took aim at the Democratic Party's engagement with younger voters, saying the party lacked sufficient depth of understanding and should not view young people through the lens of conventional politics. Doh-ol first drew wide attention in January 2022, during the presidential election campaign, when he sat down with Lee and said, "This is a person sent by heaven. How else could someone have come this far if it were not the will of heaven?"

Sept. 16, 2026

Lee Jae Myung's press conference to tackle cabinet picks, troop deployment, dropped charges

7th press conference set for Friday morning at Cheong Wa Dae President seeks to revive governing momentum amid record-low approval Expected to again rule out seeking a second term President Lee Jae Myung will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday at the Yeongbingwan banquet hall of Cheong Wa Dae. With his approval rating at its lowest point since taking office, the event is seen as a potential turning point in his effort to revive governing momentum heading into his second year in office. Cheong Wa Dae said the conference would give the president a chance to "listen again to the will of the people." Reflecting its open-ended nature, the event carries no special slogan and has been billed simply as the "Lee Jae Myung Press Conference." Unlike the customary New Year's or first-anniversary press conferences, this one was not tied to any particular occasion or milestone. It is focused on strengthening direct communication with the public ahead of the Chuseok holiday, as the administration grapples with a slide in approval ratings. The conference is expected to give Lee a platform to hear public concerns across a broad range of policy issues and to lay out his thinking on sensitive matters — including a cabinet reshuffle, real estate policy, constitutional reform and term limits, the withdrawal of criminal charges against him, and a potential troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz — all of which have been cited as factors behind his falling approval numbers. Chief among the topics drawing attention is whether Lee will address the controversy surrounding his recent personnel appointments and whether he plans to overhaul the vetting system for nominees. The second-term cabinet nominations have been dogged by a string of allegations and controversies. Following the withdrawal of Yong Hye-in as nominee for minister of gender equality and family, public sentiment toward Kim Seung-won, the nominee for minister of justice, has also been unfavorable. Lee is expected to address what went wrong in the vetting process and how the system will be strengthened going forward. Real estate is another major issue. Polls have consistently identified housing as a leading driver of negative assessments of Lee, making his message on expanding housing supply and on tax and demand-management policy closely watched. The government recently unveiled a large-scale supply package through its Aug. 13 measures, so questions are likely to follow on how the administration plans to ensure those policies take effect and how it intends to stabilize home prices and the jeonse and monthly rent market. Constitutional reform — including the question of presidential term limits — is another topic Lee will find hard to avoid. Suspicions have persisted, particularly in opposition circles, that the administration may be pursuing a constitutional amendment that would allow a president to serve a second consecutive term. Lee has stated on multiple occasions that his tenure is limited under the current constitution, and he is expected to reaffirm that position at Friday's conference. The question of dropping criminal charges related to cases involving Lee also carries significant political weight. Observers are watching to see how specifically he will address the issues of investigation, trial proceedings, and the withdrawal of charges. At his first-anniversary press conference, Lee was asked about a special prosecutor probe into alleged fabricated indictments and the possibility of dropping charges. He said at the time, "At a minimum, the truth must be established. If something was wrong, it should be corrected; if it was not, it can be left alone." However, analysts say it is unlikely he will go so far as to rule out the possibility of dropping charges himself. On the foreign policy and security front, the most sensitive issue is South Korea's potential contribution to stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, including the question of troop deployment. With US requests for a deployment intertwined with South Korea's investment commitments to the United States and the implementation of bilateral trade and security agreements, attention will focus on how Lee plans to balance the alliance relationship with domestic public concerns — a question that goes well beyond the narrow issue of military contribution.

Sept. 16, 2026

Overseas Koreans chief vows postal, electronic voting and dual-nationality reform on first anniversary

Kim Kyung-hyup outlines five priorities including digital platform and expanded hangul school support Overseas Koreans Agency Commissioner Kim Kyung-hyup marked his first year in office by declaring the 7 million Koreans living abroad a vital national human asset and pledging to pursue five priority initiatives, including postal and electronic voting for overseas citizens and a relaxation of the age limit for dual nationality. Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday at the Overseas Koreans Welcome Center in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu, Kim said the diaspora community was "no longer strangers but a precious human asset of the state and a partner of the Republic of Korea." He added that overseas Koreans were emerging as a key solution to the country's demographic cliff and shortage of working-age population. Kim cited stronger communication and institutional reform as the two main achievements of the past year. He said the agency had held 23 presidential meetings with overseas Koreans — the highest number on record — deployed dedicated consular officers to areas with large Korean communities and introduced operational guidelines. Of 1,431 proposals submitted through overseas diplomatic missions, 989, or about 69 percent, had been resolved, he added. On eliminating institutional discrimination, Kim said the agency had merged the work-and-visit visa and the overseas Korean visa for Koreans from China and the Commonwealth of Independent States, ending a 20-year disparity based on country of origin. He added that the number of services accessible with an overseas Korean identification certificate had expanded 33-fold, from nine to 296, and that the agency had also introduced international driver's license issuance at overseas missions, included overseas Koreans in elementary school ethics textbooks and established a dedicated unit for returning diaspora members. The agency's proposed 2027 budget was set at 136.9 billion won ($101 million), a 21.4 percent increase from this year. The plan includes an additional 6 billion won for hangul school support, 3.4 billion won in new funding to build an integrated digital platform for overseas Koreans, and an increase of more than 74 percent in the budget for supporting the permanent return and resettlement of Sakhalin Koreans. Kim outlined five priorities for the period ahead: building an integrated digital platform for overseas Koreans by 2027; relaxing the age limit for dual nationality to support economic participation; introducing postal and electronic voting for overseas elections and expanding the number of polling stations; gradually raising the operating-cost subsidy rate for hangul schools to 50 percent; and fulfilling the state's obligations to historically displaced communities — including Sakhalin Koreans, Goryeo people and adoptees — while supporting the resettlement of returning diaspora members. "Introducing postal and electronic voting is not simply an institutional improvement — it is the state's duty to guarantee the basic rights of its citizens," Kim said. "We will make the small voice of every overseas Korean the starting point of policy and build an inclusive diaspora policy free of discrimination."

Sept. 16, 2026

Han Dong-hoon warns people will take to streets if Lee appoints Kim Seung-won justice minister

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said Wednesday that if President Lee Jae Myung pushes ahead with the appointment of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, "many people will come out into the streets." Han made the remarks on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyeon's Politics Show" in response to a question about whether the situation would worsen if Lee proceeded with Kim's appointment. "Can a government that shamelessly appoints an 'oppa poison lobbyist' as the head of the Justice Ministry last another three years?" Han said, using the term "oppa" — a Korean word for an older brother or male acquaintance — in reference to allegations surrounding the nominee. "I say definitively that he will not complete his term." When the host asked whether Han himself would join the street protests, he said, "You will find out in due course." Asked whether he planned to release photos allegedly taken at home between Kim and a broker surnamed Yang, Han stopped short of a direct answer. He said the ruling camp appeared determined to push through the appointment "even if photos taken alone together at night at a private residence are released — or even if a video is released." Han also pushed back against the Democratic Party's pressure to reveal the sources behind materials he had disclosed about Kim, calling the demand to expose whistleblowers "voyeurism that runs counter to the public interest." Responding to Democratic Party attacks that he had used hate speech, Han said, "When you are fighting the true enemies of democracy single-handedly, you cannot fight — let alone win — with words alone," adding that "the true dignity of a politician lies in jumping into the mud to save the people who are at risk of being swallowed by it."

Sept. 16, 2026

Im Yi-ja says Han Dong-hoon's role in confirmation hearing 'has some meaning' but draws little praise within PPP

'Party leadership also working to get nomination withdrawn' People Power Party Policy Committee Chair Im Yi-ja said Wednesday that independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon has been "diligently carrying out his legislative duties as an independent member" in raising allegations against Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won. She added that his efforts to draw attention during the confirmation hearing "can be seen as meaningful." However, Im noted that Han is not a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and was therefore not in a position to attend the hearing directly. "I am not sure through what channels he obtained the materials," she said, "but PPP Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok raised concerns that the use of provocative expressions like 'oppa' — as Han releases the materials one by one — could obscure the substance of the allegations." She added that Jang had consistently called for the nomination to be withdrawn, both in media interviews and in public statements. "Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik has done the same, and the party as a whole has been making every effort on this," she said. Asked about assessments of Han within the party, Im drew a line. "Those close to him may think he is doing well," she said, "but within the People Power Party as a whole, there is not much in the way of evaluation — one way or the other." "Everyone is busy with their own work, and our party lawmakers are all handling the Kim Seung-won confirmation hearing themselves," she said. "So while Han Dong-hoon's release of those materials does serve to raise awareness, we do not attach great significance to it."

Sept. 16, 2026

National Assembly adopts confirmation report for Supreme Court justice nominee Kim Sung-su

Sept. 16, 2026

Park Ji-won says cabinet reshuffle vetting flawed, urges Lee to address personnel issues at press conference

'Looking again at Kim Ji-yong, I don't think he should be confirmed' 'Kim Seung-won hearing was all noise and nothing — he should be appointed' 'President Lee should clear up constitutional reform, dropped-charges allegations at presser' Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won said Wednesday that the Lee administration's latest cabinet reshuffle raises questions about the vetting process, and called on President Lee Jae Myung to address personnel issues directly at his press conference scheduled for Friday. Speaking on YTN Radio's "Jang Seong-cheol's News Myeongdang," Park was asked to assess the confirmation hearings for the new cabinet nominees. "Every single person who appeared at these hearings had some kind of flaw," he said, adding that the president should use the upcoming press conference to speak to the public about the personnel problems. The press conference is set for Friday. Park also expressed reservations about Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for director of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. "At first I was told he was a decent person and said he seemed like someone who could do the job — but after looking into the details, I came to think he should not be confirmed," he said. However, Park urged restraint toward Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who had publicly criticized the nomination. "Governor Choo is the Gyeonggi governor — she is both a politician and a civil servant," Park said. "It was not right for her to publicly level sharp criticism at the president's appointment authority." On Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister whose confirmation hearing concluded Tuesday, Park reaffirmed his view that Kim should be appointed. He described the hearing as "much ado about nothing," saying it was "loud but ended with just a mouse scurrying past." Suggesting the opposition had failed to land a decisive blow against the nominee, Park said, "I have brought down nine nominees at hearings myself. I knocked them out by landing a clear, unmovable hit. If you could not pin down a decisive wrongdoing, is that not a failure on your part?" He again stressed that Kim should be appointed, saying the hearing was "all noise and nothing." He did, however, take issue with the Democratic Party's decision not to call witnesses at the hearing. "I do not think that was necessarily the right call," he said. "It was not handled smoothly." Park also said President Lee should use the press conference to address controversies surrounding constitutional reform and the withdrawal of criminal charges. "Many people have a lot of questions, so it would be good for the president to clear the air," he said. "I think it would be best for him to speak honestly and humbly." On the dropped-charges issue in particular, Park said that while he initially found the allegations far-fetched, "if so many people now harbor doubts about it, then addressing those concerns honestly and humbly is exactly what the president should do." He added that beyond constitutional reform, the dropped charges and personnel matters, "the biggest issues are the livelihoods of ordinary people and housing for those in their 20s and 30s." He said he hoped the president would engage more deeply on those issues and present concrete proposals.

Sept. 16, 2026

Kim Min-seok signals push to ease floor-group threshold in bid to unite progressive bloc

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Wednesday he would pursue discussions on electoral reform — including lowering the threshold for recognized floor groups in the National Assembly — as part of a broader effort to strengthen solidarity within the progressive camp. The move is widely read as an attempt to soothe progressive allies after Kim effectively pushed for the voluntary withdrawal of Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker who had been nominated as minister of the gender equality and family ministry. Kim made the remarks Wednesday on "Minti07," a program on the party's official YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV. "As the elder brother of progressive political forces, we have reached the stage where we must now present a vision for how to make this a reality — and actually deliver on it," he said. "I have been focusing intensely on this issue lately." "Looking at the situation with nominee Yong, we faced criticism, but at the same time I came to see the reality of a fragile progressive movement," Kim said. "Easing the floor-group threshold is something the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Basic Income Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party and civil society groups have all been calling for. For example, reducing the current requirement from 20 seats to 15 — wouldn't that be politically realistic and acceptable?" He added that discussions were needed on how best to reform the current semi-proportional representation system under the single-member district framework. "On runoff voting, it should at minimum apply to presidential elections — some have even suggested extending it to certain regional government head races, but the presidential election must come first," he said. When the host asked whether electoral reform could translate into higher approval ratings for the broader pro-government bloc, Kim said overall approval depended on improving public sentiment across all areas of governance. "We are making a certain degree of effort on personnel issues, policy matters, real estate and other contentious areas," he said. In addition, Kim said the party was working to address the concerns of more right-leaning constituencies. "In the recent floor-leader address, I raised many topics that could appeal to centrists and even conservatives," he said. "I think the way forward is to maintain internal unity while reaching out evenly to both sides."

Sept. 16, 2026

N. Korea slams Seoul, Tokyo nuclear submarine push as 'Washington's alliance expansion scheme'

Commentary by international security analyst Choe Ju-hyeon 'Must strengthen nuclear war deterrence' North Korea has condemned South Korea's and Japan's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines as a product of American scheming, and argued that Pyongyang must strengthen its own nuclear capabilities in response. KCNA on Wednesday carried a commentary by international security analyst Choe Ju-hyeon under the title "The Absolute Factor in Global Nuclear Security Disruption — Washington's Nuclear Submarine Alliance Expansion Scheme." According to the piece, Choe criticized recent remarks by a US Navy official who expressed a positive view of South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and calls from some quarters in Japan for the country to acquire them, saying the official had made statements "actively inciting Japan and South Korea to possess nuclear submarines." Choe said the remarks demonstrated that Washington's "AUKUS (the security partnership among the United States, Britain and Australia) 2.0" concept — which would allow the transfer of military nuclear technology to non-nuclear allies — "has entered a full-scale phase of expansion and implementation." He went on to say that the United States, which "talks about upholding the nuclear nonproliferation regime on one side while shamelessly seeking to provide nuclear strike capabilities to its junior allies in exchange for enormous financial gain," was engaging in nothing more than "a cheap trick to conceal its own criminal record of nuclear proliferation." Choe argued that North Korea's nuclear buildup was therefore necessary. He said Washington's "irresponsible and malicious practices in the nuclear field, which are becoming increasingly commonplace, are a prime risk factor accelerating the erosion of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime," adding that this "more clearly highlights the need for our state to qualitatively and quantitatively strengthen its nuclear war deterrence without a moment's stagnation or standstill." He also said the international community "must without delay render a fair and uncompromising judgment on the United States' schemes to stoke nuclear proliferation across the globe and bring about a catastrophic nuclear domino effect, and must make concerted and responsible efforts to oppose them."

Sept. 16, 2026

Foreign Minister Cho to visit US on Thursday for Korea-US talks

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will travel to the United States on Thursday for a Korea-US foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for Friday.

Sept. 16, 2026

Air Force says Gwangju air base relocation temporary, vows to protect pilot training

Flight simulators to supplement reduced flying time Real training impact depends on airspace, scheduling adjustments The Air Force said Wednesday it plans to "secure stable flight training conditions through airspace adjustments and efficient scheduling of flight hours as needed," pushing back against concerns that the temporary dispersal of forces from Gwangju Air Base could disrupt pilot training. The service said it would temporarily redistribute its assets until the new Muan Air Base is completed, while simultaneously working to maintain training capacity and retain existing pilots. "The temporary relocation is a time-limited measure of no more than five years, until the Muan military airport is completed," the Air Force said Wednesday, adding that it would "do its utmost to maintain combat readiness and train elite pilots within the given conditions." It also said it would "make parallel efforts to minimize the outflow of experienced pilots and stably maintain pilot manpower." Earlier Wednesday, according to the office of People Power Party lawmaker Im Jong-deuk, the Air Force had briefed the lawmaker's office on plans to move the T-50 advanced trainer squadron currently based at Gwangju to Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province, warning that "a shortage of flight sorties needed for normal flight training is expected to limit pilot development." The number of flight squadrons at Yecheon Air Base is set to grow from two to three by 2028, but the base has only one runway — raising the possibility that the current advanced flight training period of about eight months could be extended. However, it would be premature to conclude that the temporary dispersal will automatically reduce the number of training flights. The actual impact on training will depend not only on the receiving base's capacity but also on how much of the required training volume can be secured through airspace utilization and flight-hour scheduling. The Air Force's proposed measures are focused precisely on securing training conditions through such operational adjustments. To address these shortfalls, the Air Force plans to spend 21 billion won ($15.6 million) by 2029 to procure two cockpit procedure trainers, or CPTs — devices that replicate actual cockpit instruments and switches. Because pilots in training will fly less frequently than before, the service intends to have them use the equipment during gaps between flights to maintain their feel for the aircraft. The Air Force said the CPT "can achieve 65 percent of the training effectiveness of actual flight training."

Sept. 16, 2026