President Yoon Calls for Tax Reform to Address Housing Market Issues President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the national discussion on real estate policy on July 23, labeling the phenomenon of 'one smart home' as a serious issue. He noted that policies aimed at protecting the one-household, one-home principle have failed to distinguish between housing prices and ownership purposes, leading to increased investment demand for the most expensive properties. President Yoon emphasized the need to discuss the tax burden on high-value homes. The upcoming tax reform proposal, July 23, 2026

Wang Huning Visits Tibet, Emphasizes Stability and Ethnic Unity Law Implementation Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, recently visited the Tibet Autonomous Region, stating that "the top priority in governing Tibet is its stability" and emphasized the thorough implementation of the Ethnic Unity Promotion Law.The Ethnic Unity Promotion Law, which institutionalizes the strengthening of unity and community consciousn July 23, 2026

Whistleblower Calls for Investigation into Military's Alleged Illegal Actions During Martial Law A whistleblower has submitted a request for an investigation into alleged illegal actions by the military during the December 3 martial law, citing failures in the command and control systems. On July 23, Kim Hyun-seok delivered the request to the National Investigation Headquarters and the second Special Prosecutor team led by Kwon Chang-young. In a phone interview with Aju Economy the day before, Kim explained, "I requested that the National Investigation Headquarters conduct an investigat July 23, 2026

U.S. Considers Military Action Against Terror Group in Mali The Trump administration is reportedly considering military operations targeting Al-Qaeda-linked armed groups in Mali, where Russian influence has been growing.According to the Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. officials, the administration is discussing military action against the armed group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which has established a base in Mali.JNIM has expanded its operations from Mali to coastal West African countries, rapidly growing in strength and b July 23, 2026

Chinese Stock Market Recovers with Lithium Stocks Leading Gains The Chinese stock market successfully rebounded on July 23 after experiencing a decline the previous day. However, the recovery was limited due to ongoing geopolitical risks.On this day, the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.25% at 3,876.78, the Shenzhen Component Index rose 0.44% to 14,123.31, and the ChiNext Index increased by 0.25% to 3,575.52.The rise in the Chinese market was influenced by major U.S. tech companies announcing higher-than-expected capital expenditures related to artificia July 23, 2026

Cultural Exchange Between China and Korea: Donation of Qing Dynasty Statues A pair of Qing Dynasty statues, which have been housed at the Gansong Museum for 87 years, are set to return to their homeland, China. This marks the first tangible outcome of a cultural heritage donation agreement signed during a Korea-China summit, and it is expected to serve as a new milestone in cultural exchange between the two countries.On July 23, the National Museum of Korea and Gansong Museum held a donation ceremony at the Gansong Museum in Seoul, where they finalized the transfer of o July 23, 2026

Monsoon Season Expected to End, Heat Wave to Follow Next Week This summer's monsoon season is expected to conclude early next week.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on July 22, "Following Jeju, the monsoon will end in the central and southern regions early next week, marking the start of a significant heat wave. However, localized heavy rainfall may continue due to the influence of the North Pacific High, so caution is advised."The KMA added that it has determined the monsoon in Jeju ended on July 19 as the North Pacific High expan July 23, 2026

Reactions Split as Political Parties Address Real Estate Policy Forum On July 23, a national forum on real estate policy chaired by President Lee Jae-myung elicited contrasting reactions from political parties. The Democratic Party expressed its commitment to support the forum's outcomes with policy initiatives, while the People Power Party criticized it as a mere exercise in predetermined public opinion manipulation.Han Byeong-do, acting leader of the Democratic Party and floor leader, praised the forum during a policy coordination meeting, stating, "Listening to July 23, 2026

Kang Hyun-sook, Former KBL Referee Chair, Passes Away at 71 Kang Hyun-sook, the former chair of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) referees, passed away on July 22 due to illness. She was 71 years old.A graduate of Muhak High School, Kang joined the Woori Bank team in 1973 and played for the national team until her retirement in 1980. Standing at 172 cm, she was recognized for her skills as a point guard, excelling in both game management and scoring.From 1978, she served as the captain of the national team, leading them to a gold medal at the Bangkok As July 23, 2026

Gmarket Launches 'Gmarket Must-Have Hyundai Card' with Up to 12% Rewards Gmarket announced on July 23 that it is launching the 'Gmarket Must-Have Hyundai Card' in collaboration with Hyundai Card.The 'Must-Have Hyundai Card' is the fourth private label credit card (PLCC) introduced by Gmarket and Hyundai Card. The two companies previously launched the industry's first PLCC, the Smile Card, in 2018, followed by the Smile Card Edition 2 and Edition 3.This new card enhances reward benefits in conjunction with Gmarket's paid membership program, 'Must-Have Membership.' Use July 23, 2026