President Yoon Announces $1.4 Trillion AI Alliance with U.S. Tech Giants President Yoon Suk Yeol secured a $950 billion (approximately 1.4 trillion won) partnership in San Francisco on July 24, focusing on semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, as well as physical AI. This initiative brought together leading domestic and international companies with a combined valuation exceeding 2 quadrillion won, while also establishing an investment network connecting Silicon Valley venture capitalists with Korean startups. The most significant achievement July 26, 2026

South Korea Diversifies Oil Supply Amid Middle East Tensions The oil supply chain in South Korea is facing significant disruptions as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are threatened with blockades. Refineries are grappling with supply shortages and increased transportation costs, prompting them to diversify their sources of crude oil.According to industry sources, GS Caltex recently imported Venezuelan crude oil, a product that South Korean refiners had avoided for over 20 years due to transportation distance and economic concerns. The urgency of the July 26, 2026

Speaker Cho Congratulates New Leadership of the Justice Innovation Party Cho Jung-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, congratulated the new leadership of the Justice Innovation Party. He expressed hope that the party would play a significant role in translating its path of reform into tangible benefits for the public.On Facebook, Cho stated, "At a time when we must address pressing livelihood issues, it is crucial to produce results that the public can feel. I wish for the party to further develop as a political entity dedicated to the public's welfare and nat July 26, 2026

Electric Vehicle Charging Company Chabi Reports Data Breach Affecting 300,000 Members Electric vehicle charging company Chabi announced on July 26 that a data breach occurred on July 23 due to an illegal hacking attack, affecting a total of 298,333 personal information records.Chabi reported that it immediately blocked the attack path upon discovering the breach and has notified the Personal Information Protection Commission and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).Starting today, customers can check if their personal information has been compromised on the company's websi July 26, 2026

Demand Shifts Amid Bank Loan Regulations; Shinhyup Limits Online Loans As major banks tighten household loan management, borrowers struggling to secure funds are turning to other banks with more lending capacity. In response, some financial institutions are beginning to limit the sale of online loan products to manage demand.On July 26, Shinhyup Bank temporarily suspended new sign-ups for its 'Sh Dream Unsecured Loan' product through loan comparison platforms like Toss and Bank Salad. This online product, which offered up to 230 million won in unsecured loans and a July 26, 2026

AI Projects Overwhelm Companies Amid Administrative Burdens Companies involved in or considering participation in government artificial intelligence (AI) projects are expressing concerns that they are spending more time on administrative tasks than on research and development (R&D) due to a series of calls for proposals and evaluation schedules. Each new solicitation requires the formation of new consortia and the preparation of business plans, and even after selection, companies must undergo repeated evaluations, increasing their burden.According to ind July 26, 2026

AI Initiatives Flooding In, Companies Strain Under Repeated Support The Ministry of Science and ICT is launching a series of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives with different goals and roles, yet participation remains concentrated among existing major AI companies, leading to a repetitive structure where the same firms compete across various projects.The 'Everyone's AI' initiative, promoted by the ministry, has officially attracted participation from Kakao and LG Uplus. Other AI specialists, including Upstage, Liner, and Eastsoft, are also exploring partic July 26, 2026

Review of Ray-Ban Meta: Comfortable Wear, AI Challenges in Korean "Hey Meta, look and describe this." When I issued the voice command while wearing the glasses, Meta's AI, formerly known as Facebook, described the scenery in front of me within seconds. It recognized not only the food on the table but also the clutter on the drawer, relaying the information audibly. This is the world of smart glasses, where I see alongside artificial intelligence.Starting July 22, South Korea's three major telecom companies, including SK Telecom, began selling Meta's AI glasses July 26, 2026

South Korean Companies Accelerate Investments in U.S. Amid AI Boom South Korean companies are reportedly accelerating investments and acquisitions in U.S. firms, fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence (AI).The Financial Times (FT) reported on July 24 that South Korean companies, bolstered by increased cash reserves from the AI surge, are actively pursuing investments and acquisitions in the U.S. to secure advanced technologies and avoid tariff burdens imposed by the Trump administration.According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance c July 26, 2026

Housing Prices Diverge in Seoul and Dongtan, Gyeonggi Province Housing prices in Seoul have seen a slight slowdown this month, while the northern districts continue to rise. In contrast, Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, recorded a price increase of over 6%, marking the highest rise in the country, indicating a mixed trend in housing prices across the metropolitan area.According to KB Real Estate's report on national housing price trends released on July 26, as of July 13, the average sale price of apartments in Seoul increased by 1.05% compared to th July 26, 2026