News Briefing: Key Stories... Highway Gas Prices to Be Cut by 100 Won per Liter for Chuseok (September 18, 2026)

1. As the war between the United States and Iran prolongs, international oil prices are soaring day after day. The government announced that it will lower gas prices by 100 won per liter at 226 highway gas stations nationwide during the Chuseok holiday. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol announced this during the Emergency Economy Headquarters meeting held today (18th), stating that the public sector will share the burden of high oil prices together. He also added that electric vehicle charging rates will be discounted during daytime hours of the Chuseok holiday, and the fuel tax cut measure, which was scheduled to end at the end of this month, will be extended until the end of November.

2. U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with the internet media outlet Axios that he is at a critical crossroads in deciding whether to resume large-scale attacks on Iran, and that anything could happen. However, he did not mention whether that timing would be before or after the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November. President Trump is reportedly scheduled to listen to opinions on the next phase of operations in a meeting with leaders of six Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in New York, U.S., on the 22nd, which will be next week. Meanwhile, the Iranian delegation, including the Iranian president, is also known to visit the U.S. next week to attend the UN General Assembly, drawing attention to whether the U.S. and Iranian presidents will meet. Amid escalating clashes between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels, a Lebanon pro-Hezbollah media outlet reported that Saudi Arabia has requested a two-week ceasefire from the Houthi side.

3. Regarding the case of a missing person report in Jeju Island being falsely closed, the police are expanding their investigation into the command leadership in charge at the time. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency announced that it is conducting pre-indictment investigations into a total of eight people, including the former head of the criminal division at the Jeju Seobu Police Station, the missing persons team leader, and team members, on charges of dereliction of duty. It was also reported that these individuals became targets of the investigation following a request for investigation by the police inspection department, and all of them have been subjected to personnel actions such as being placed on bench warrant (leave of absence pending reassignment).

4. The Summer Asian Games, the premier sports festival on the Asian continent, will open tomorrow evening in Nagoya, Japan. The main contingent of our national sports delegation, including badminton world powerhouse An Se-young, arrived at the battleground of Nagoya yesterday. They solidified their determination to achieve the goal of ranking third overall for the third consecutive time. Let's go, Team Korea!
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.