National Assembly Hearing on Korean Football Association Set for July 30 A National Assembly hearing aimed at uncovering administrative issues within Korean football, sparked by the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup debacle, is scheduled for July 30. However, concerns are rising that the hearing may lack effectiveness due to the absence of key figures who have cited overseas employment as a reason for not attending.The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will hold the hearing to investigate procedural problems in the appointment proc July 29, 2026

SK Innovation Proposes LNG and SMR Collaboration to Meet Vietnam's AI Power Demand SK Innovation has outlined a phased energy cooperation plan that links liquefied natural gas (LNG) and small modular reactors (SMR) to address the rapidly increasing power demand in Vietnam driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced industrial growth.In the short term, the plan aims to enhance power supply stability by utilizing LNG supply chains based in the United States and Australia, while expanding cooperation into next-generation SMR technology in the long term.Choo Hyung-wook, CE July 29, 2026

Kim Soo-hyun Cleared of Charges Related to Alleged Underage Relationship with Kim Sae-ron Actor Kim Soo-hyun has been cleared of allegations that he dated the late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor.According to police reports, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul decided not to pursue charges against Kim Soo-hyun for violations of the Child Welfare Act and false accusations due to insufficient evidence.Last May, Kim Sae-ron's family filed a complaint against Kim Soo-hyun, claiming he had been in a relationship with her since she was a minor.During a press conference, the family reve July 29, 2026

Pulmuone Expands Cooperative Efforts with 14 Partners in Chungbuk, Launches 31 Support Projects Pulmuone has established a cooperative framework to enhance worker welfare and create a sustainable ecosystem in the Chungbuk food industry.On July 28, Pulmuone signed a 'Cooperation Agreement for Reducing Gaps in the Chungbuk Food Industry' at Seosin Food Co. in Eumseong County, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment, Chungbuk Province, eight cities in Chungbuk, and key partner companies. The announcement was made on July 29.The agreement aims to reduce disparities between companies a July 29, 2026

Hanyuwon Opens Two Duty-Free Shops for Small Businesses at Incheon Airport The Korea Small Business and Startups Agency has officially opened two duty-free shops dedicated to small business products at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2.According to Hanyuwon, the newly opened fifth and sixth stores are located on the east side (Gate 281) and west side (Gate 218) of Terminal 2. These new outlets feature products centered around the growing K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Food, and K-Life categories, serving as export test beds for small businesses looking to gauge global July 29, 2026

Japan's Minimum Wage Set at 1,176 Yen for Fiscal Year 2026, Lower than South Korea's Japan has decided to raise its minimum wage by 4.9% for the fiscal year 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027). However, both the increase amount and rate are lower than the previous year for the first time in six years, resulting in a minimum wage that is now lower than South Korea's.According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) and Kyodo News on July 29, the Central Minimum Wage Council of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set the national weighted average minimum wage for fiscal 20 July 29, 2026

Yangsan Hits Record High of 40.3 Degrees; Busan Sees Hottest Day in 122 Years Temperatures in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, while Busan recorded its highest temperature in 122 years of weather observations, as the country faced a record-breaking heat wave.With extreme heat persisting, over 70 cases of heat-related illnesses have been reported daily, raising concerns about electrical fires due to increased use of cooling devices. Fire authorities are ramping up preventive measures.According to Yonhap News and the Korea Meteorological Admi July 29, 2026

NASA Identifies South Korea as Key Partner in Moon Base Development The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recognized South Korea as a key partner in the construction of a Moon base, stating that various opportunities for participation are available not only for the government but also for domestic companies and research institutions. NASA expressed that the process of building the Moon base could create a new space economy, allowing South Korea to enhance its human exploration technology and advanced industrial competitiveness.Carlos July 29, 2026

LG Household & Health Care Surpasses China in North American Sales for the First Time LG Household & Health Care reported improved profitability in the second quarter of this year, driven by growth in its North American business and a return to profitability in its beauty division. For the first time since the company split, North American sales have surpassed those from China.The company announced on July 29 that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter reached 102.8 billion won, an increase of 87.6% compared to the same period last year. Revenue rose by 3.3% to July 29, 2026

Government Reviews Tourism Policy Implementation, Accelerates Collaboration for Regional Airports and Tourism The government is enhancing the effectiveness of its tourism policy by reviewing progress with relevant ministries and strengthening collaboration to boost local tourism. Plans are underway to develop tourism products linked to regional airports and create tourism zones centered around gateway cities.On July 29, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held the second practical meeting of the 2026 National Tourism Strategy Conference, assessing the implementation status and future plans of th July 29, 2026