Pope Leo XIV: 'I Love America, But My Message is for the Whole World' Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has stated his commitment to serving as a shepherd for the entire world, transcending national boundaries.In an interview with NBC, released on July 30, the pope said, "I do not define myself as an American," adding that he views his ascension to the papacy as a coincidence for an American. The interview took place the previous day at an event in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome.The pope emphasized, "I have no intention of belittling my homeland, t July 30, 2026

South Korea Extends Deployment of Dongmyeong and Hanbit Troops The South Korean government has decided to extend the deployment of the Dongmyeong and Hanbit units currently stationed in Lebanon and South Sudan, and will initiate the parliamentary approval process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on July 30 that it finalized the extension plan during the 2026 United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) Policy Council meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah at the ministry's office in Seoul. Officials from related agencies, including t July 30, 2026

Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho: The Future of Pyeongchon Lies in the Hands of Its Residents Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho emphasized on July 30 that "the future of Pyeongchon ultimately lies in the hands of the residents who will live there."On this day, Mayor Choi announced that an online survey targeting residents will be conducted until August 7 to gather foundational data for the "Guidelines for Parks, Green Spaces, and Pedestrian Systems in Pyeongchon New Town" and the "Review of Social Infrastructure Development and Utilization in Pyeongchon New Town."Mayor Choi aims to promote the re July 30, 2026

Chey Tae-won Makes First Direct Purchase of SK Hynix Shares, Strengthening Responsible Management Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, has made his first direct purchase of SK Hynix shares, signaling a commitment to responsible management. This move comes amid increased market volatility in the semiconductor sector, reflecting a strong intent to restore corporate value.On July 30, SK Hynix announced that Chey acquired 3,620 common shares through on-market transactions. The total purchase amount, based on the closing stock price, is approximately 4.785 billion won. This marks the first time Ch July 30, 2026

Mayor Lee Min-keun: Expanding Daebu Golden Road is Key to Future Competitiveness Lee Min-keun, the mayor of Ansan, emphasized on July 30 that "the expansion and paving of Daebu Golden Road is a key infrastructure project that will enhance the future competitiveness of Daebu Island." The mayor is focusing administrative efforts on the timely advancement of the second phase of the Daebu Golden Road expansion project, one of the island's most pressing issues, to accelerate local transportation innovation and boost tourism competitiveness. On this day, the mayor stated, "We July 30, 2026

Ansan City Corporation Expands Free Safety Inspections to Private Facilities Gyeonggi's Ansan City Corporation will continue its free safety inspections and maintenance consulting for small, aging facilities in the second half of the year. According to the corporation on July 30, the 'Safety Knock' program will operate year-round, targeting aging buildings and civil engineering structures that are difficult to inspect independently. The program checks safety conditions and provides maintenance guidance. Starting this year, the support has expanded from public facilities July 30, 2026

Gwangmyeong Mayor Shin Gye-yong Highlights Youth Festival as Key Cultural Event Gwangmyeong Mayor Shin Gye-yong emphasized on July 29 that the Gwangmyeong Youth Festival is becoming a representative cultural event for the region, driven by the participation and ideas of local youth. On this day, Mayor Shin announced the launch of the 'Third Gwangmyeong Youth Festival Planning Group' during a ceremony at the youth space, 'Flying Zone,' marking the beginning of their activities. The mayor is accelerating efforts to create a city where young people can thrive by expanding July 30, 2026

Lucky Plant Blooms, Good Fortune Realized: 326th Pension Lottery 720+ Winning Numbers Drawn On July 30, interest is growing in the winning numbers for the 326th Pension Lottery 720+, while stories of the winners from the 269th round are being highlighted.In a post on the Donghaeng Lottery winners' board from July 2024, a winner of the first prize (one ticket) and second prize (four tickets) from the 269th round shared, "I usually buy a lotto ticket once a week, but that day, the pension lottery caught my eye, and I decided to buy it as well." They continued, "Strangely, I had a good fe July 30, 2026

Lee Seung-won Appointed as New Overseas Media Secretary Lee Seung-won has been appointed as the new Overseas Media Secretary at the Blue House, according to reports on July 30.The Blue House stated that Lee will begin his duties around July 31, succeeding Choi Sung-ah, who recently submitted her resignation.Lee, a former journalist with the Daily News and E-Daily, has been active as a political commentator and is also an adjunct professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of Education.Additionally, the Blue House has reportedly promoted Kim Rak July 30, 2026

Korean Football Association Begins Search for Interim Men's National Team Coach The Korean Football Association has initiated a public recruitment process to appoint an interim head coach for the men's national football team.On July 30, the association announced the schedule and detailed procedures for selecting the interim coach and coaching staff for the national team.Previously, on July 24, the association's board approved the appointment of an interim coach to lead the team during the FIFA A-match periods scheduled from September to November.This recruitment aims to fin July 30, 2026