Survival Strategies in an Era of High Prices: The Rise of Ultra-Low-Cost Shopping 40-year-old office worker A has found himself hesitating at the checkout line more often lately, scrutinizing price tags as the cost of processed foods has risen, putting a strain on his family's grocery budget. As a result, A's shopping cart is frequently filled with discounted items and affordable private brand (PB) products. With consumer price inflation remaining above 3% for two consecutive months, the landscape of grocery shopping is changing. Consumers are not just cutting back on spend July 31, 2026

Survival Strategies for Young Adults Amid Rising Prices: Group Buys and Budget Dining Young professional A operates a "fruit gathering" with three peers living in the same apartment complex. This group was formed to share the cost of seasonal fruits, which can be expensive and excessive for one person. Participants bring their own containers to buy and then divide the fruits equally. Recently, they collectively purchased a watermelon and a box of peaches, costing each member 7,900 won. A said, "If I had bought them alone, it would have cost over 30,000 won, and dealing with lefto July 31, 2026

Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and SK Square Surge Over 20% Amid Semiconductor Rally Major stocks in the top five by market capitalization are surging in early trading.As of 9:15 a.m. on July 31, Samsung Electronics is trading at 249,500 won, up 42,500 won (20.53%) from the previous trading day. SK Hynix has risen 300,000 won (22.70%) to 1,622,000 won. Samsung Electronics preferred shares and SK Square have also jumped 20.66% and 26.41%, respectively, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics has hit its upper limit with a 29.69% increase.This surge is attributed to a rebound in semicondu July 31, 2026

NH Nonghyup Bank Issues 100 Billion Won in Korean Green Bonds NH Nonghyup Bank announced on July 31 that it has issued Korean green bonds worth 100 billion won at an interest rate of 3.69%. This issuance marks the first Korean green bond in nearly three years since 2023, aimed at expanding eco-friendly finance and supporting the transition to a sustainable green economy. The bonds, which have a one-year maturity, comply with the Korean green taxonomy (K-Taxonomy), and the funds raised will be fully utilized for eco-friendly projects, including the purcha July 31, 2026

Industrial Production Sees Largest Increase in Six Years Driven by Semiconductor Recovery Last month, South Korea's industrial production, consumption, and investment all rose, marking a "triple increase" for the first time in three months. Notably, both automotive production and consumption increased, while semiconductor production rebounded, leading to the largest rise in overall industrial production in six years.According to the National Data Agency's "June 2026 Industrial Activity Trends" report released on July 31, the overall industrial production index reached 120.1 (2020=100 July 31, 2026

Government Expands Discount on Spectrum Fees for Small MVNOs to 90% The government will increase the discount rate on spectrum fees for small and medium-sized budget phone operators from the current 50% to 90%. It will also introduce a new budget phone business model that moves beyond simply reselling mobile carriers' networks to include operators with their own facilities.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol discussed the "Budget Phone 2.0 Leap Plan" during a meeting of the Emergency Economic Headquarters, the Economic Relatio July 31, 2026

Government Allocates 2.1 Billion Won for Urgent Repairs of Four High-Risk Bridges The government has identified 57 aging bridges across the country that require urgent safety measures but lack secured funding. In response, it will provide 2.1 billion won in emergency disaster safety grants to four bridges rated as E grade.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on July 31 that a joint safety inspection of aging bridges was conducted nationwide from June 23 to July 10, involving the ministry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, local governments, the July 31, 2026

New Leap Fund Acquires Additional 2.6 Trillion Won in Long-Term Delinquent Loans The New Leap Fund has acquired an additional 2.6 trillion won in long-term delinquent loans held by securitization companies, public institutions, mutual finance, and lending companies. This purchase will immediately halt collection efforts against 236,000 debtors.The Financial Services Commission announced that on July 31, the New Leap Fund purchased 2.6146 trillion won in long-term delinquent loans from securitization companies such as Sangnoksoo and K-Bista, as well as from public institution July 31, 2026

President Yoon Visits Argentina to Strengthen Mineral Supply Chains President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to engage in "economic sales diplomacy" in Argentina, the final stop of his South American tour, focusing on establishing supply chains for key minerals, including lithium, and resuming negotiations for the Korea-Mercosur trade agreement.On July 30, local time, President Yoon departed Santiago, Chile, for Buenos Aires, Argentina. This marks the first bilateral visit by a South Korean president to Argentina in 22 years, since Roh Moo-hyun's visit in 2004.On July 31, July 31, 2026

Kim Yong-min: Opposition Links Dismissal Reasons to Lee's Trial as Political Framing Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party on July 31 for linking the sudden addition of dismissal reasons to a criminal procedure law amendment focused on abolishing supplementary investigation rights to President Lee Jae-myung's trial, calling it a political framing.In a phone interview on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Kim stated, "We have specifically codified the dismissal reasons that were recognized by existing case law," adding that th July 31, 2026