The core news of the day involves a series of events directly impacting daily life, ranging from the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to severe highway congestion and the housing crisis among young people. The headlines released by Yonhap News at 10:30 AM on September 24, 2026, provide a comprehensive overview of domestic and international affairs. First, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that he had sent two North Korean prisoners of war, who were captured alive by Ukrainian forces, to South Korea, drawing international attention. Simultaneously, on the first day of the Chuseok holiday, extreme traffic congestion occurred on the highways, with travel time from Seoul to Busan reaching up to 9 hours and 30 minutes from the Seoul tollgate. Additionally, stories about young people who left their parents’ homes and are struggling with financial hardship by moving between libraries and jjimjilbangs (Korean bathhouses) have gained attention. In addition to these, we will examine news about President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to Mexico following his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York, the increase in reports of real estate collusion, and the stagnation of profits for coffee franchise owners.
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Yonhap News Headlines at This Hour – 10:30 | Summary of 6 Major News Stories for Today
1. Two North Korean POWs Sent to South Korea
Ukrainian President Zelensky abruptly revealed on the 23rd (local time) that he had recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war, captured alive by Ukrainian forces, to South Korea. He stated in his UN General Assembly speech, “We recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” effectively confirming the transfer. The South Korean government also stated that it is monitoring the situation without denying their entry. This transfer of POWs is attracting attention as an indirect channel of communication with the North and is being evaluated as a humanitarian measure. The photo captures the prisoners eating tofu rice sent by a North Korean defector group at a detention center in Ukraine, drawing eyes. The portrait of Chairman Kim Jong-un attached to the bed is interpreted as a clue indirectly revealing their psychological state.
The transfer of two North Korean POWs to South Korea has been formalized through President Zelensky’s announcement and the South Korean government’s de facto confirmation, and is being evaluated as a signal of humanitarian exchange between North and South Korea.
2. Chuseok Holiday Highway Congestion: Up to 9 Hours 30 Minutes from Seoul to Busan
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, the estimated travel times from the Seoul tollgate to major cities nationwide as of 9:00 AM on the 24th were announced. It was recorded as 9 hours and 30 minutes to Busan, 9 hours and 20 minutes to Mokpo, and 9 hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan. Daegu and Gwangju were measured at 8 hours and 30 minutes each, Gangneung at 7 hours, and Daejeon at 5 hours and 20 minutes. Conversely, the return travel times from each city to Seoul were shown as 6 hours and 30 minutes from Busan, 3 hours and 40 minutes from Mokpo, and 6 hours and 10 minutes from Ulsan. This is due to severe congestion in both directions of the highways caused by the concentration of vehicles returning home. In particular, the number of vehicles leaving the Seoul tollgate increased by more than double compared to normal times, significantly hindering traffic flow.
On the first day of the Chuseok holiday, the Seoul-Busan highway section took up to 9 hours and 30 minutes, causing significant delays for those returning home, while the opposite direction also showed considerable travel times.
3. Homeless Youth Moving Between Libraries and Jjimjilbangs
Ms. Jang Hee-kyung (pseudonym, 33) has been living by moving between libraries and overnight jjimjilbangs for about two months since she fled her parents’ home in June. A victim of domestic violence, she stated that she chose to leave home and live independently even when she was cold and hungry. When using a jjimjilbang, additional fees are incurred if the stay exceeds 12 hours, so she could not stay all day. Accordingly, she spends her days at the library and sleeps at jjimjilbangs where cheaper rates apply at night. This lifestyle pattern causes difficulties in using hygiene facilities and managing personal hygiene. People around her have begun to discuss the effectiveness of housing support policies after seeing her situation.
Young Ms. Jang, who left her parents’ home, is sustaining her livelihood by repeatedly using libraries and jjimjilbangs, but housing instability is causing a continuous decline in her quality of life.
4. President Lee Jae-myung Heads to Mexico After UN General Assembly in New York
President Lee Jae-myung left Seoul on the 21st for a 7-day, 5-night tour of the United States and Mexico. He attended the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting in New York, his first destination, and emphasized the need for dialogue between parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and transition to a peace regime in his keynote speech at the UN Headquarters on the 22nd. He then moved to Mexico to begin his state visit schedule, where he is expected to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and cultural exchange between the two countries. During the tour, he also made climate change response and global supply chain stabilization key agenda items. Local media evaluated that his speech served as an opportunity to re-examine Korea’s role not only in the Korean Peninsula issue but also in global issues. After returning home, reports on domestic issues and setting policy directions are expected to take place.
President Lee Jae-myung followed his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York with a state visit to Mexico, demonstrating simultaneous efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and expand global cooperation.
5. Over 600 Reports of Real Estate Collusion, Concentrated in Capital Region
Reports related to real estate collusion over the past 5 years have exceeded 600 cases. 80% involved suspicious transactions in the apartment sale and jeonse (lump-sum deposit) markets. Following investigations, 94 cases led to referral for prosecution or other measures, while the rest resulted only in warnings. Authorities have stated that they are strengthening surveillance, pointing out that collusion is a structural factor fueling housing price increases, and are demanding improvements. Additionally, consumer protection groups are calling for expanded legal support for victims of collusive behavior.
Reports of real estate collusion have exceeded 600 cases, concentrated in the capital region, and investigations have led to substantive actions such as prosecution referrals for some cases.
6. Coffee Franchise Expansion, But Owner Profits Stagnant
In the domestic coffee franchise market, competition for new store openings has intensified, and the number of franchises for major brands has surged by more than 40% in the last 3 years. As the number of franchises increased, headquarters’ sales rose sharply, but the average sales of individual store owners remained largely unchanged, staying at a stagnant level. According to data received by National Assemblyman Park Seong-hoon of the Political Affairs Committee from the Fair Trade Commission, the total number of franchises for the top 10 brands increased by 4,583, from 11,109 in 2021 to 15,692 in 2024. This stagnation in owner profits is analyzed as being caused by excessive competition among franchises and the transfer of marketing costs by headquarters. Consequently, some owners are seeking separate store operation strategies or considering switching to other industries. The government stated that it is discussing measures to increase the transparency of franchise contracts and establish standards to protect store owners.
Although the number of coffee franchises has increased significantly, the average sales of individual store owners have not grown substantially, indicating a need for improvement in the profit structure.
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