Gunpo Mayor Han Dae-hee Prioritizes Citizen Safety Amid Bridge Repairs Han Dae-hee, the mayor of Gunpo, emphasized on July 31 that "protecting the lives and safety of citizens is the top priority" as he inspected the damage at the Geumjeong Overpass. On this day, Mayor Han commenced emergency repair work to ensure the safety of the Geumjeong Overpass. He visited the construction site to monitor the progress of the repairs and instructed officials to minimize inconvenience for residents while ensuring safe construction practices. Previously, on July 18, Mayor July 31, 2026

AI-Focused Hedge Fund 'Situational Awareness' Reports 67% Loss in July The U.S. hedge fund 'Situational Awareness,' which has heavily invested in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, reported a loss of approximately 67% in July alone. Following a sharp decline in stock prices that triggered a margin call, the fund sold off most of its holdings and halted leveraged investments.According to the Wall Street Journal on July 30, founder Leopold Aschenbrenner expressed in a letter to investors, "I disappointed you this month," while explaining the losses incurred in July July 31, 2026

Hyundai Engineering & Construction Releases 2026 Sustainability Report, Enhancing ESG Disclosure Credibility Hyundai Engineering & Construction announced the release of its '2026 Sustainability Report' on July 31, detailing its sustainability achievements and global ESG disclosure strategies.The report faithfully reflects major domestic and international sustainability disclosure standards, including the Korea Sustainability Standards Board (KSSB), the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards 2021).To enhance the reliability and accuracy of July 31, 2026

Gyeongsang National University Expands Inter-University Cooperation for Future Industries Gyeongsang National University is accelerating the establishment of a super-regional cooperation system for the development of future strategic industries through successive agreements with Pukyong National University and Sunchon National University. The initiative aligns with the government's policy to cultivate local talent linked to key regional industries through enhanced education and research collaboration.The Ministry of Education's 'Growth Engine Linked Local Talent Development Plan' aim July 31, 2026

Intensifying Drought in Daegu and Gyeongbuk: Climate Minister Calls for Proactive Measures The government is taking steps to address the worsening drought as water levels in major dams in the southern regions decline. Recent rainfall in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas has reached only 70% of the average for the past month, prompting the Wunmun Dam to enter a 'serious' drought stage. As a result, relevant agencies and local governments are activating a joint response system.On July 31, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment will hold an emergency meeting via video conference at July 31, 2026

Russia Destroys U.S. Drone Factory in Kyiv, Marking First Attack of Its Kind Russia has destroyed a drone factory owned by a U.S. company in Kyiv, Ukraine, using a ballistic missile. This appears to be the first instance of Russia targeting a U.S. corporate facility in the ongoing conflict.According to the British daily The Guardian on July 30, the attacked facility is owned by the U.S. defense contractor Terminal Autonomy. While the factory was destroyed, there were no reported casualties.Terminal Autonomy produces long-range attack drones that can operate despite Russi July 31, 2026

Jeju Launches First Home Heating Electrification Project with Heat Pump Installation The first household to benefit from the heating electrification support project has been established in Jeju. The government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by converting kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) boilers to high-efficiency air-source heat pumps, expanding the foundation for distribution primarily in single-family homes in warm regions.The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that Deputy Minister Lee Ho-hyun will attend a plaque ceremony f July 31, 2026

Korea Expressway Corporation Launches Bidding for Eight Pilot Highway Rest Areas The Korea Expressway Corporation announced on July 31 that it has begun the bidding process for eight pilot highway rest areas, following the restructuring plan for rest area operations announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on July 9.The pilot rest areas include Yeoju (Incheon direction), Daecheon (Seoul-Mokpo direction), Gunwi (Busan direction), Jangyu (West Busan direction), Wolchulsan, and Hapcheonho (Hamyang-Ulsan direction). The pre-bid specifications for leasing s July 31, 2026

Bank of Japan Holds Interest Rate at 1%, Leaves Door Open for Future Hikes The Bank of Japan has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 1% this month, following a hike last month. However, it has indicated that further increases may be possible if inflation continues to rise.According to reports from Reuters and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting, which took place over two days, resulted in a vote of 8-1 to keep the short-term policy rate at the current level.Policy board member Hajime Takata argued for a 0.25 percentage p July 31, 2026

Kwon Yu-ri Ends Exclusive Contract with SM Entertainment, Will Continue with Girls' Generation 가수 겸 배우 권유리가 SM엔터테인먼트와 19년 동행을 마무리한다. SM엔터테인먼트는 31일 “권유리와 심도 있는 논의 끝에 오는 8월 31일 자로 19년간의 동행을 마무리하기로 상호 협의했다”고 밝혔다. 권유리는 2007년 그룹 소녀시대로 데뷔했다. 이후 소녀시대 멤버로 활동하며 K팝을 대표하는 걸그룹으로 성장했고, 배우와 예능, MC 등 다양한 분야로 활동 영역을 넓혔다. SM엔터테인먼트는 “권유리가 2007년 소녀시대로 데뷔해 전 세계에 K팝 열풍을 선도하고, 시대를 대표하는 그룹으로 성장함은 물론 배우로 July 31, 2026