KOSPI Plummets Over 9%, Triggers Circuit Breaker Due to a downturn in U.S. tech stocks, the KOSPI index fell more than 9%, dropping below the 6200 mark. Early in the trading session, both the main stock market and the KOSDAQ experienced a series of program sell orders, leading to a significant decline in investor sentiment.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 11:02 a.m., the KOSPI was down 621.83 points (9.20%) at 6133.92. The index opened at 6400.27, down 355.48 points (5.26%) from the previous trading day, and continued to decline.The shar July 28, 2026

South Korean Prime Minister Addresses Economic Challenges Amid Global Uncertainty Han Seung-soo, the Prime Minister of South Korea, stated on July 28 that the economic situation remains challenging due to ongoing uncertainties in the Middle East, new U.S. tariff measures, and worsening youth employment conditions. During a Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Complex, he emphasized, "Despite the President being on an overseas trip, he has prioritized measures for people's livelihoods, such as the maximum oil price system and fuel tax reductions. Therefore, the Cabinet mu July 28, 2026

Foreign Tourist Credit Card Spending in South Korea Exceeds 10 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026 In the first half of this year, foreign tourists' credit card spending in South Korea surpassed 10 trillion won, contributing to the revitalization of the domestic economy. The inbound tourism market is showing significant growth not only in terms of quantity but also in qualitative aspects such as tourism consumption and regional visitation rates.According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on July 28, the cumulative credit card spending by foreign tourists from January to June reac July 28, 2026

Joonggonara Revamps App with Enhanced Features and Safety Index Joonggonara is implementing a major overhaul of its app, enhancing features from product search to transaction reliability and sales convenience. According to Joonggonara on July 28, the update will focus on improved personalized recommendation features and a feed-style browsing function, significantly enhancing the user interface (UI). The company is also introducing a safety transaction index and coupon features. Additionally, user benefits will be strengthened with an increase in the limit fo July 28, 2026

Ottogi Launches 'Curry Con Ball' in Collaboration with Weepun Ottogi is targeting the corporate snack market with the launch of its new product, 'Curry Con Ball,' in collaboration with Weepun, a BaaS (Business as a Service) platform that operates Snack24. The announcement was made on July 28.This partnership aims to expand B2B (business-to-business) sales channels by utilizing Weepun's corporate distribution network. The Curry Con Ball will primarily be supplied to office pantries and cafeterias.The Curry Con Ball is designed to capture the flavor of 'Otto July 28, 2026

Seoul Bar Association and Seoul Korean Medicine Association Sign MOU for Collaboration The Seoul Bar Association, led by President Jo Soon-yeol, announced on July 28 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Seoul Korean Medicine Association, headed by President Park Sung-woo, on July 27 at 3 p.m. in the conference room of the Bar Association building. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation and address medical and legal risks.As public awareness of rights increases and the medical environment evolves, legal issues related to healthcare are becoming more divers July 28, 2026

Election Officials Summoned Over Ballot Shortage Incident in Songpa Two officials from the Songpa District Election Commission are being summoned on charges of neglect related to the ballot shortage incident during the June 3 local elections.The joint investigation team, led by Kim Tae-hoon, deputy chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, announced on July 28 that they will question Election Officer A and Election Section Chief B as suspects in the case.The officials are accused of failing to take preventive measures despite being awar July 28, 2026

South Korea Leads Development of International Standards for Manufacturing Digital Twins South Korea has officially published two international standards for manufacturing digital twins through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These standards establish guidelines for connecting product, equipment, and process data from manufacturing sites into virtual models, allowing for the integration of multiple digital twins to expand at the production line and factory level. This is expected to facilitate the spread of autonomous manufacturing and the transition to man July 28, 2026

Special Prosecutors Investigate Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun The second special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, has begun an inquiry into former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun regarding the so-called 'Noh Sang-won notebook.'On the morning of July 28, the special prosecutors visited the Seoul Eastern Detention Center to question Kim, who is under investigation for conspiracy to commit murder for insurrection.Kim is accused of conspiring with former Army Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won to eliminate opposition figures, inc July 28, 2026

Samsung Redefines Foldable Design with Galaxy Z Fold8 Inspired by Passport "Design is not just about creating the product's exterior. It involves planning every moment of using the product, from opening it to holding it in your hand," said Lee Il-hwan, Vice President and Head of the Design Team at Samsung Electronics MX Division, during a Galaxy design briefing held in London on July 23. He defined the core value of the 8th generation Galaxy foldable phone design as 'comfort,' emphasizing the importance of reducing thickness and weight, as well as redesigning the enti July 28, 2026