Korean News Today (Aug 13, 2026): 10 Surprising Trends from Seoul Newspapers in English

This is your daily Korean newspaper summary in English for August 13, 2026. If you are looking for Korean news today for foreigners, here are 10 key insights from major Seoul dailies like Maeil Business, Hankyung and Kookmin Ilbo.

🇰🇷 Why this matters: Today’s papers show Korea fighting fake news, enjoying convenience store boom, and re-evaluating a famous monster movie 19 years later. All summarized in easy English.

📑 Table of Contents

• 1. Naver: 100M Comments Analyzed, Foreign-Linked Troll Accounts Found
• 2. Homeplus Reopens Aug 13 with 50% Hanwoo Sale
• 3. Happiest Workplace is NOT Samsung - It's Korea Gas Corp
• 4. Why Convenience Stores GS25 & CU Profits Up 21%
• 5. Director Shim Hyung-rae's 'D-War' is No.6 on Netflix Global 19 Years Later
• 6. Is 160 Yen per Dollar Too Cheap? Fair Value is 60 Yen?
• 7. Malaria Kills 610k vs Sharks Kill 12
• 8. Is Swimming in Han River Legal?
• 9. Smartphone Now Costs More Than a Fridge Due to Memory
• 10. Correct Korean: 얽히고설키다

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1. 'Korea's Draft is Slavery lol' - Naver Finds Foreign-Linked Comment Manipulation

Source: Maeil Business Newspaper (매일경제) and others

Analysis of 100 million Naver news comments found 23,998 accounts suspected of foreign linkage among 4 million users. Many amplified internal conflict in Korea - like mocking conscription as slavery. Korea's portal comment system is under foreign influence operation scrutiny.

2. Homeplus Reopens Aug 13 with Massive Sale: Hanwoo 50% Off

Source: Hankook Ilbo (한국일보)

Homeplus reopens August 13-16 with huge discounts: All Hanwoo beef up to 50% off, Dang Dang fried chicken 50% off (Aug 14-16), pork belly 40% off. Expected to draw huge crowds amid high inflation.

3. Happiest Workplace in Korea is NOT Samsung - It's Korea Gas Corporation

Source: Kookmin Ilbo (국민일보)

Survey of 34,372 workers by Blind and Korea Labor Institute: Happiest workplace #1 is Korea Gas Corporation (85 points), not Samsung. Followed by SAP Korea and Korea South-East Power (82), Google Korea (80). By job, lawyers happiest at 54 points, medical workers 51, doctors 50.

4. Why Convenience Stores Suddenly Booming? GS25 Profit +21%, CU +22.3%

Source: Korea Economic Daily (한국경제)

Q2 operating profit: GS25 +21.0%, CU +22.3%. Reason: High inflation makes people skip restaurants and use nearby convenience stores. Plus surge in foreign tourists in tourist areas.

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5. Panned Movie 'D-War' by Shim Hyung-rae is Netflix Global No.6 After 19 Years

Source: Korea Economic Daily (한경) and others

Director Shim's monster movie D-War (2007), once heavily criticized, is now No.6 on Netflix Global and No.2 in France, Germany, Italy. The plot of Korean Imugi fighting over a yeouiju in downtown LA is now re-evaluated as fun B-grade monster flick, though rating still 1.5/5.

6. Dollar at 160 Yen, But Fair Value is 60 Yen? Katsu Curry Index

Source: Seoul Economic Daily (서울경제)

Yen is too undervalued, says Bank of New York Mellon. Using a 'Katsu Curry Index' similar to Big Mac Index, fair value should be 60 yen per dollar, not 160. Big implication for travelers and investors.

7. Malaria Killed 610,000 in 2024, Sharks Killed 12

Source: Kookmin Ilbo (국민일보) - Former Director, National Gwacheon Science Museum

In 2024, malaria deaths were 610,000 worldwide, but only 12 died from shark bites last year. Snake bites kill 80,000-140,000 yearly. Movies distort risk perception - interesting science column.

8. Is Swimming in Han River Legal? Surprisingly, No Law Bans It

Source: Hankook Ilbo (한국일보)

Under current law, except for drinking water protection zones, there is no legal basis to ban bare-body swimming in Han River. Water Leisure Safety Act only restricts equipment-based water leisure, not swimming itself. A hot topic as heatwave continues.

9. Smartphone Now Costs More Than a Fridge - Memory Takes 40% of Cost

Source: Korea Economic Daily (한경)

Memory's share in iPhone Pro bill of materials: ~10% in Q3 2025 → 34% this Q3 → over 40% next Q1. A smartphone now costs more than a refrigerator due to memory price surge.

10. Correct Korean: It's '얽히고설키다' - Most Get It Wrong

Source: Hankook Ilbo - Dalkomhan Urimal (달곰한 우리말)

Correct is ① 얽히고설키다. There is word '얽다' but no '섥다' or '설키다'. Means tangled and intertwined. Another daily Korean tip for learners.

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Conclusion & My Take

Today shows Korea's two faces: fighting foreign comment manipulation while enjoying retro movie revival and convenience store life. For foreigners: Naver comments are not public opinion, and Homeplus sale this week is a must-go.

My Take: I checked my nearest GS25 today - indeed full of tourists buying banana milk at 11pm. And the Han River swimming debate is real - I see people wading near Yeouido every evening despite no lifeguard.