Death Toll from Kumamoto Earthquake Rises to 35 Amid Heat and Water Shortages As of July 31, four days after the earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, the death toll has risen to 35, with survivors facing the dual challenges of heat and water shortages.According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, citing Kyodo News and NHK, Kumamoto Prefecture has confirmed that 35 people have died as a result of the earthquake, including one individual whose death is under investigation for a direct link to the quake. This marks an increase of one from the previous day.Among the deceased, seven July 31, 2026

Ulsan Tram Project Resumes Amid Ongoing Controversy The Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1 tram project, which was under comprehensive review following the launch of the 9th elected government, is set to resume.Ulsan City has decided to restart the halted vehicle manufacturing and design and construction processes after failing to find a legal way to suspend or terminate existing contracts without incurring financial liabilities.However, this decision does not confirm the final push for the tram project. Ulsan City plans to preserve the remaining pause p July 31, 2026

Muan County's Evolving Health Policies Focus on Prevention and Care Muan County in South Jeolla Province is transforming its health policies.Previously focused on disease detection and treatment, the county is now expanding its approach to include health risk assessments before illness, rehabilitation after disease, and preparations for end-of-life care.This shift is driven by rapid aging; in 2021, the proportion of residents aged 65 and older surpassed 20.3%, marking the county's entry into a super-aged society. The increasing number of elderly individuals and July 31, 2026

Goo Ja-hyun Resigns as Acting Prosecutor General, Citing Criminal Procedure Law Revisions Goo Ja-hyun, the acting Prosecutor General, submitted his resignation shortly after the National Assembly passed a revision to the Criminal Procedure Law.On July 31, Goo spoke with reporters at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, stating, "I feel a deep sense of responsibility regarding the revision of the Criminal Procedure Law and have just submitted my resignation letter." This comes 258 days after he took office on November 15 of last year.Goo acknowledged the need for reflection among all memb July 31, 2026

Heat Wave Continues Nationwide with Highs Reaching 38 Degrees On August 1, the first day of the month, a heat wave will persist across most of the country, reaching its peak. The sweltering heat is expected to continue through the weekend, lasting until August 2. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on July 31, daytime temperatures this weekend will rise between 32 and 38 degrees Celsius. With strong sunlight and urban heat island effects, the perceived temperature in some areas may exceed these figures. Regionally, Seoul's maximum tempe July 31, 2026

GC Green Cross Reports 93% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Due to Subsidiary Exclusion and Revenue Deferral GC Green Cross reported a significant decline in its second-quarter performance, attributing the drop to the exclusion of its subsidiary and the deferral of revenue from seasonal high-margin products. The company anticipates a recovery in profitability as sales of high-revenue items are expected to be fully reflected in the second half of the year.On July 31, GC Green Cross announced that its consolidated revenue for the second quarter reached 421.2 billion won, with an operating profit of 1.7 b July 31, 2026

Mokpo City Advances National Port Development Plans to Boost Marine Logistics and Offshore Wind Industry Mokpo City is accelerating its efforts to establish a future growth foundation for marine logistics and the offshore wind industry in the southwestern region by incorporating key proposed projects into the government's national port development plan.On July 31, Mokpo City announced that many of its core projects, which it has continuously proposed, have been included in the 'Fourth National Port Basic Plan Revision (2026-2030)' recently confirmed and announced by the Ministry of Oceans and Fishe July 31, 2026

Haenam County Enhances Safety Management for Senior Employment Amid Heatwave Haenam County is strengthening safety management for seniors participating in its employment program in response to the ongoing heatwave. The county announced on July 31 that it is focusing administrative efforts on health protection for the 3,056 seniors currently involved in the program by enhancing safety measures and flexibly adjusting activity hours according to heat conditions.Among the participants, 45%, or 1,384 seniors, are engaged in outdoor activities such as environmental maintenance July 31, 2026

Kwak Sang-eon Opposes Criminal Procedure Law Amendment, Citing Public Suffering Kwak Sang-eon, the only member of the Democratic Party to oppose the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law aimed at abolishing supplementary investigation rights, stated, "I had no other choice."On July 31, Kwak expressed his concerns on Facebook, saying, "I can see the suffering of the people, and I can hear their tears." Earlier that day, the amendment was passed with 175 votes in favor out of 178 present (2 opposed, 1 abstained). Kwak and Lee Joo-young from the Reform Party voted against it July 31, 2026

Jangheung County Mayor Visits National Assembly to Secure Funding for Key Projects Jangheung County Mayor Sa Soon-moon made his first official visit to the National Assembly since taking office, focusing on securing national funding for key local projects. On July 30, Mayor Sa met with Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Justice Party, and lawmakers Cha Kyu-geun, Ahn Do-geol, Shin Jeong-hoon, and Moon Geum-joo to discuss major initiatives aimed at building a foundation for future growth in the region. This visit marked the first official National Assembly schedule for the new adminis July 31, 2026