Climate-smart farming & food resilience: Sejong University’s indica long-grain rice variety “IPS” is being mass-produced and has landed at Chipotle’s first Asia location in Seoul, designed to better handle flooding and fertilizer shortages tied to climate change. Air quality & public health (energy-linked): With diesel prices climbing in the U.S., analysts warn a potential diesel export squeeze could ripple into Korea’s energy costs and emissions-heavy transport planning. Seoul governance & land use: Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hit back at the government’s nationwide farmland audit, arguing landowners shouldn’t be treated as “targets” and that real-life farming constraints are being ignored. Work safety: Commuting accidents are still killing over 100 Korean workers a year, with rising claims and broader recognition rules under the industrial accident system. Circular materials & green design: Seoul’s “Walls of Public Life” grew building blocks from mushroom mycelium using agricultural waste, offering a new model for low-impact construction materials. Biodiversity & wildlife crime: South Korean nationals were sentenced in South Africa for smuggling 150 live scorpions, raising concerns about environmental harm and aviation safety. DMZ investigation: South Korea and the U.N. Command conducted a joint survey inside the DMZ ahead of an on-site probe into a suspected landmine blast.