Kona I, Q2 Net Profit Rises 42.5% to 22.2 Billion Won Global fintech company Kona I reported a net profit of 22.2 billion won for the second quarter of this year, marking a 42.5% increase compared to the same period last year, the company announced on July 28.During the same period, revenue reached 84.1 billion won, and operating profit was 21.4 billion won, reflecting increases of 25.1% and 24.3%, respectively.For the first half of the year, cumulative revenue totaled 161 billion won, with operating profit at 46.2 billion won and net profit at 45. July 28, 2026

Proposed Law Targets AI-Generated Pornography Amid Controversy Over Penalties A proposed law that includes virtual sexual videos created by AI as punishable offenses has sparked a heated debate in the National Assembly. Critics are particularly concerned about the inclusion of penalties for not only producers but also for mere possession and viewing, with many arguing that the proposed sentences are excessive.According to the National Assembly's legislative information system, on July 27, Representative Heo Young of the Democratic Party and others introduced an amendment July 28, 2026

Nvidia Partners with SK Group and OpenAI on $750 Billion AI Deal Amid Circular Trade Concerns Nvidia is pursuing over $750 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) related deals with SK Group and OpenAI, reigniting concerns over 'circular trading.'According to Bloomberg on July 27, Nvidia announced that its collaboration with SK Group is expected to exceed $500 billion in mutual transactions.This includes memory semiconductors purchased from SK Hynix and supercomputers that SK Group will implement. Nvidia plans to support SK Hynix's next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) design to en July 28, 2026

U.S. Trade Representative: New Section 301 Tariffs Will Not Affect Fed's Rate Decisions U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the newly implemented Section 301 tariffs will not influence the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. In an appearance on Fox News on July 27, Greer responded to a question about whether the new tariffs could complicate the Fed's ability to maintain interest rates, saying, "I do not believe it will have any impact at all." He explained that unlike the previous 10% global tariffs that applied broadly, the new tariffs are limited to specif July 28, 2026

Celltrion Shares Rise on Upgraded Price Targets Amid North American Growth Expectations Celltrion is showing strong performance in early trading, buoyed by a series of upgraded price targets from securities firms. The optimism surrounding the expansion of its North American biosimilar business and improved profitability is believed to have enhanced investor sentiment.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:07 a.m., Celltrion's shares were trading at 182,100 won, up 3,400 won (1.90%) from the previous trading day. The stock opened at 178,000 won and briefly rose to 186,400 won dur July 28, 2026

Ruling Party Questions Opposition's Commitment to Election Commission Special Investigation Bill The Democratic Party expressed doubts on July 28 about the People Power Party's commitment to swiftly passing the Election Commission Special Investigation Bill, stating, "We will strive for it to be addressed in the National Assembly on the 30th."Lee Joo-hee, the party's floor spokesperson, made the remarks after a policy meeting with reporters, saying, "If they recognize the need for a prompt investigation, there should be no reason to delay through excessive demands related to the special inv July 28, 2026

BBQ Party Center Expands 'Lunch Routine' for Quality Lunches Without Cafeterias Genesis BBQ Group's subsidiary, Party Center, has launched a lunch catering service aimed at companies without cafeterias. This move expands its business into the corporate welfare market, following its food service for residential complexes.On July 28, BBQ announced that Party Center's food brand, 'I Can Reboot,' has begun operating the 'Lunch Routine' service for companies, starting with DS Auto, which runs the used car brand 'Car President.'Lunch Routine is a regular catering service designed July 28, 2026

Sunchonhyang University Accidentally Admits 11 Extra Medical Students In an unprecedented incident amid fierce competition for medical school admissions, Sunchonhyang University has mistakenly admitted 11 more students than its designated quota for the College of Medicine.The university acknowledged the administrative error and decided to allow all students who received acceptance notifications to enroll. However, the Education Ministry issued a stern warning regarding the integrity of the admissions process and announced that the number of admissions for the next July 28, 2026

Korean Ministry of Veterans Affairs Selects First Semi-Veterans Hospitals The Ministry of Veterans Affairs announced on July 28 that it has designated Kangwon National University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital as semi-veterans hospitals to enhance medical access in the Gangwon and Jeju regions, where there are no veterans hospitals.The two hospitals will begin providing semi-veterans hospital services starting December 1, following a necessary preparation period that includes system establishment.A semi-veterans hospital is a public hospital that offer July 28, 2026

If You Wash Raw Chicken for Samgyetang, Clean Your Sink First When preparing samgyetang or baeksuk, it is essential to check your sink and countertops after washing raw chicken. Pathogens from the chicken can splash onto other ingredients and utensils.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety identified Campylobacter jejuni as a foodborne pathogen to watch for this month in its "July 2026 Monthly Food Poisoning Alert" released on June 29. The ministry analyzed food poisoning incidents from July over the past five years and emphasized the need for caution regard July 28, 2026