Heat Wave Increases Air Conditioner Fires; Watch for Warning Signs As the heat wave continues, incidents of fires related to air conditioner outdoor units are on the rise.According to fire authorities, a fire broke out at 9:30 a.m. on July 27 in the outdoor unit room of an 11th-floor apartment in Magok-dong, Gangseo District, Seoul.The flames spread up the exterior of the building but were extinguished within about 30 minutes. Approximately 40 residents evacuated the building, but no injuries were reported.Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire, July 28, 2026

Low-Credit Borrowers Turn to Illegal Lending as Rejections Rise Low-credit borrowers are increasingly being pushed into illegal lending as they struggle to secure loans from banks and second-tier financial institutions. It is estimated that the amount of money shifted to illegal lending last year exceeded 1.5 trillion won.On July 28, the Korea Institute of Financial Services reported that a survey of 977 low-credit individuals who had experience with either licensed lenders or illegal financial services over the past three years found that 59.4% had been rej July 28, 2026

SM Group's Samhwan Corporation Wins 1.3 Trillion Won Contract for Miho River Bridge Upgrade Samhwan Corporation, a construction subsidiary of SM Group, has once again demonstrated its competitiveness in public sector projects by securing a contract for the upgrade of the aging Miho River Bridge.On July 28, Samhwan Corporation announced that it has been selected as the contractor for the renovation of the Miho River Bridge, located in Osong-eup, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, which connects Jochiwon and Naepan. The bridge, completed in 1938, spans a total length of 440 meters.The project July 28, 2026

Next Year's Budget Proposal Includes 100 Trillion Won Future Response Fund The budget proposal for next year is expected to include a 'Future Response Fund' aimed at investing additional tax revenue anticipated from the semiconductor boom into future growth drivers. However, addressing potential overlaps with existing policy funds and securing resources amid tax revenue volatility are challenges that need to be resolved.According to relevant government departments on the 27th, the government plans to establish the Future Response Fund using additional tax revenue expec July 28, 2026

Market Preview: U.S. Semiconductor Stocks Decline, CXMT Listing Adds Pressure on KOSPI The KOSPI is expected to open lower on July 28, following a downturn in U.S. technology stocks. Concerns over intensified competition due to China's semiconductor technology development and the stock market listing of Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) may dampen investor sentiment, particularly in the domestic semiconductor sector.On July 27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 rose by 0.51% and 0.02%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.18%.Reports that China h July 28, 2026

U.S. Tech Stocks Plunge, Investor Sentiment Dips as Bitcoin Falls to $63,000 The decline in U.S. tech stocks has dampened investor sentiment across risk assets, leading to a downturn in the cryptocurrency market. Although a drop in international oil prices has eased some geopolitical concerns, increased volatility in the U.S. stock market, particularly among semiconductor stocks like Nvidia, has intensified selling pressure on major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin was trading at $63,770 as of 8 a.m. on July 28, reflecting a 2.19% decr July 28, 2026

Shinhan Securities Raises Target Price for Celltrion as U.S. Biosimilar Sales Surge Shinhan Investment Corp. has maintained its "buy" rating on Celltrion and raised its target price to 290,000 won, citing the company's entry into a phase of increased profitability driven by the growth of high-margin biosimilar products in North America.Lee Ho-cheol, a researcher at Shinhan Investment, stated, "The U.S. launch of Omliclo (a Zolair biosimilar) in the second half of the year, the expansion of sales for Uplima (a Humira biosimilar) based on low wholesale acquisition cost (WAC), and July 28, 2026

Homeplus to Resume Operations at 67 Stores Next Month Amid Recovery Efforts Homeplus, currently undergoing corporate rehabilitation, is expected to resume operations at its large stores around August 10. The company plans to restore its supply chain and logistics as soon as emergency operational funds (DIP) are received, aiming to reopen stores within a week of the funds' arrival.According to industry sources on July 28, Homeplus held discussions with its labor unions the previous day regarding the timeline for reopening and the use of operational funds. The company ant July 28, 2026

Eugene Investment Adjusts LG Innotek's Target Price Amid Growth Prospects Eugene Investment & Securities forecasted on July 28 that LG Innotek will continue to see improved performance driven by growth in its optical solutions and semiconductor substrate businesses. However, reflecting the impact of lower valuations among peer companies, the firm adjusted its target price from 1,053,000 won to 900,000 won, a decrease of 14.5%. The investment rating remains 'buy.'Lee Joo-hyung, a researcher at Eugene Investment & Securities, stated, "Thanks to the high profitability de July 28, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Pre-Sales Reach 710,000, Setting Record for 2026 영화 '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'가 개봉을 하루 앞두고 사전 예매량 71만장을 돌파했다. According to the integrated ticketing system on July 28, the film 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' recorded 716,139 pre-sale tickets by 7 a.m. today, with a pre-sale rate exceeding 70%. This marks the highest pre-sale volume for any film released this year, generating excitement for the summer box office. Prior to its release, the film achieved the highest pre-sale volume for the 'TomSpider&# July 28, 2026