Seoul and Kyiv clash over two North Korean prisoners sent to South Korea

Seoul and Kyiv clash over two North Korean prisoners sent to South Korea

Seoul demanded an apology after Ukraine disclosed that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to South Korea, per SBS.

Why this matters. Both governments accept that the transfer happened. The argument now is whether Ukraine promised to keep it quiet, and what that dispute does to trust between Seoul and Kyiv.

What changed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer at the United Nations on September 23. President Lee Jae-myung said that broke a nondisclosure understanding. Dmytro Lytvyn, a communications adviser to Ukraine's president, said no such agreement existed, per JTBC.

One complication. The two governments agree that the men were sent to South Korea, but not on the terms surrounding the handover. Seoul says Ukraine requested secrecy first. Ukraine says it never promised secrecy.

Worth knowing. The Blue House (청와대) called Ukraine's denial false and asked for an official explanation and apology. On September 28, the Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador. A day later, the ministry said it had not received a formal response, per Hankyoreh.

The last time. Ukraine announced on January 11, 2025, that it had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers alive in Russia's Kursk region. Zelenskyy said they were receiving medical care and being questioned in Kyiv, per Yonhap.

What's next. On September 29, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it was waiting for Ukraine's formal explanation and remained in contact with Kyiv, per Hankyoreh.

Korea This Week

South Korea says a North Korean mine likely caused the DMZ blasts

South Korea's military said a North Korean mine was the likely cause of two September 21 blasts that injured three South Korean service members in the western demilitarized zone (비무장지대), per Hankyoreh.

What changed. A joint task force with the United Nations Command inspected the site and called a North Korean resin antipersonnel mine the most likely cause. The finding remains preliminary. The military said it had no record of South Korea laying mines there, per Korea JoongAng Daily.

One complication. Investigators found another resin antipersonnel mine at the scene. South Korean and United Nations Command officers agreed it was placed south of the military demarcation line, but differed on whether it was partly buried or positioned under vegetation, per MBC. North Korean ruling-party official Kim Yo Jong denied responsibility in a statement reported on September 30, per Hankook Ilbo.

What's next. The military said it would respond if the final investigation finds that North Korean troops laid the mine. It did not say how.

Output, retail sales and facility investment all fell in August

Korea's industrial output, retail sales, and facility investment all fell in August from July. The last time all three fell together was May.

The numbers.

• All-industry output fell 1.3% month on month.
• Retail sales fell 1.8%.
• Facility investment fell 9.5%.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics released the figures, per The Korea Times.

One complication. This was an activity report, not a GDP reading. Auto production fell 24.8%, with a statistics official pointing to concentrated summer holidays and earlier strikes. Service output moved the other way, rising 0.5%.

What's next. The next release will show whether auto production rebounded after the holidays and strikes.

Korea picks a $22.3 billion Texas power project for US review

Seoul selected a Texas gas-power proposal as the first project under the $200 billion strategic-investment part of its wider $350 billion US package.

What changed. The proposal is a $22.3 billion combined-cycle plant in Encinal, Texas, with planned capacity of about 6.3 gigawatts. Korea would fund it, while Seoul and Washington would split ownership equally, per The Korea Times.

One complication. The government's model projects $43.3 billion to $45.4 billion in recovery over 20 years, per The Korea Times. During the reporting window, the project had not secured long-term power buyers, per Maeil Business.

What's next. The proposal still needs US review and selection by the US president. Its first phase would be a 1.4-gigawatt gas-turbine plant, with later expansion tied to demand and commercial review.

South Korea's women win Asian Games basketball gold

South Korea beat Japan 75-70 in the women's basketball final on September 26, winning its first Asian Games gold in the event since 2014.

Worth knowing. South Korea led by 20 points in the third quarter before Japan cut the gap to two late. Forward Lee Hae-ran finished with 24 points, and captain Kang Lee-seul added 21, per Yonhap.

The win came six days after the men's team also beat Japan for gold, giving South Korea its first men's and women's basketball sweep at an Asian Games in 12 years.

Festivals worth checking out

• October 1 to 4. Jeongseon Arirang Festival: free performances, an Arirang parade and public programs at Jeongseon Public Stadium in Gangwon. The official program runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• October 2 to 4. Busan International Rock Festival: three days of Korean and international acts at Samnak Eco Park. It is a ticketed festival, and Busan Metropolitan City directs booking through YES24.

See the full festivals calendar for what's running across the country.

Good Reads

• Kyunghyang Shinmun. “The volunteers making the Asian Games run, including older local residents.” The Asian Games and Asian Para Games together rely on about 40,000 volunteers aged 18 to 91. Kyunghyang follows older residents working at medal ceremonies, on transport, and in venue operations. (link)

• Seoulstart. “How to Write a Korean Resume: Format, Examples, and What Employers Expect.” Korean white-collar applications usually need a structured resume and a separate self-introduction essay. The guide shows where visa status, education, dates, photos, language scores, and military service belong in those two documents.

• Hankyoreh. “A 78-year-old liver donor remembered for wanting a simpler Chuseok.” Kang Sook-hee had suggested replacing the family's ancestral rite with a shared meal. After she suffered brain death, her family approved the donation of her liver. (link)

• SisaIN. “MBC ranks first in both trust and distrust as media polarization deepens.” In SisaIN's 2026 survey, 14.9% named MBC their most trusted outlet and 23.9% named it their least trusted. The same major outlets recur on both lists, showing sharply divided audiences. (link)

• Korea JoongAng Daily. “Korea plans to turn livestock manure into fuel.” The government wants to convert 1.18 million tons a year by 2030, reducing excess compost and imported-coal use. Collection, drying costs, consistent quality and finding buyers remain the hard parts. (link)

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New on Seoulstart this week

• Guides now put the direct answer and key facts before the image. Guide search also handles common task phrases, keeps your filters, and suggests corrections when it recognizes a typo.
• Benefits now recommends government programs based on your city, visa, housing, and children, and lets you track application progress.
• The festivals and events calendar now lists festivals, exhibitions, and performances in one place. You can search, filter, switch between calendar and map views, and save events.

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That's Seoulstart Korea Weekly for this week. See you next week.