Extreme Heat Continues Across South Korea on Last Day of July On the last day of July, South Korea is expected to experience extreme heat and tropical nights nationwide.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, on July 31, the perceived temperature in most regions will soar to between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius due to the continuous influx of hot and humid air influenced by the North Pacific high-pressure system.Morning low temperatures are forecasted to range from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will reach between 31 and 38 degree July 30, 2026

Young Applicants Dominate Housing Lottery Despite Decline in Registrations This year, more than 350,000 people have left the housing lottery system, accelerating the trend of 'opting out' of lotteries. However, the proportion of applicants under 40 in the Seoul and Gyeonggi housing market has increased. Young homebuyers, facing rising home and rental prices along with loan regulations, are remaining in the lottery system despite financial burdens.According to an analysis of regional housing lottery applicant data by the Korea Real Estate Agency, a total of 264,067 appl July 30, 2026

SK Innovation Reports 2Q Operating Profit of 3.49 Trillion Won SK Innovation announced on July 30 that it achieved a revenue of 29.15 trillion won and an operating profit of 3.49 trillion won for the second quarter of 2026. This marks an increase of 4.87 trillion won in revenue and 1.32 trillion won in operating profit compared to the previous quarter. Revenue rose by 49.9% year-on-year, and the company returned to profitability.The strong operating profit in the second quarter was largely attributed to improved performance in its lubricants and battery bus July 30, 2026

Paradox of Loan Regulation: Homebuyers Face Funding Challenges After Purchase The government's total management measures aimed at curbing the increase in household loans are disrupting the funding plans of homebuyers who have already entered the market in line with real estate policies and regulations. As mortgage limits decrease and credit loans become more restricted, instances are emerging where loans that were available at the time of contract are now being denied at the time of payment. A 40-year-old office worker, identified as A, purchased a distressed property in July 30, 2026

Death Toll Rises to 34 in Kumamoto Earthquake; 9,800 Seek Shelter The death toll from the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, has risen to 34. Many fatalities have been confirmed at the Japan Pulp and Paper Yatsushiro factory and Aeon Mall Kumamoto, as rescue and search operations continue.Asahi Shimbun reported that Kumamoto Prefecture held a disaster response headquarters meeting on the afternoon of July 30, announcing that the number of casualties from the earthquake has reached 120. Among the deceased, 25 have been confirmed by local municipalities a July 30, 2026

Government to Issue 17 Trillion Won in Treasury Bonds in August The Ministry of Finance announced on July 30 that it will issue 17 trillion won in treasury bonds next month, an increase of 1 trillion won from the previous month, through a competitive bidding process.The issuance will be broken down as follows: 3.3 trillion won in 2-year bonds, 3.6 trillion won in 3-year bonds, 3 trillion won in 5-year bonds, 3 trillion won in 10-year bonds, 400 billion won in 20-year bonds, 2.8 trillion won in 30-year bonds, 800 billion won in 50-year bonds, and 1 trillion w July 30, 2026

11st Faces Backlash After Employee Death Amid Restructuring Efforts 11st, under the leadership of CEO Park Hyun-soo, has faced significant backlash following the death of an employee during its restructuring process. While the company has reduced its losses through repeated voluntary retirements and workforce reallocations, internal dissent regarding the restructuring procedures and management practices has intensified, putting Park's leadership to the test.According to the retail industry on July 30, 11st has implemented voluntary retirement programs for four c July 30, 2026

HL Mando Reports Record Quarterly Revenue in Q2 HL Mando announced on July 30 that its revenue for the second quarter reached 2.4953 trillion won, a 3.9% increase from 2.4009 trillion won in the same period last year. This marks the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history. Operating profit also rose to 1.070 billion won, up 2.8% from 1.041 billion won during the same timeframe. Net profit saw a significant increase, soaring 493.9% from 99 billion won to 588 billion won. Despite rising semiconductor and raw material prices, analysts July 30, 2026

Korea's Fair Trade Commission Considers Revising Exception for Coupang's Corporate Designation Joo Byung-ki, chair of the Fair Trade Commission, suggested revising the exception that allows large corporate groups to designate a corporate entity as their 'same person' instead of an individual.Following a court's intervention against the Fair Trade Commission's decision to change Coupang's designation from a corporation to Kim Beom-seok, the chair of Coupang Inc., there are growing concerns that this move may lead to stricter regulations targeting Coupang.According to industry sources, duri July 30, 2026

NCSoft Expands IP Competitiveness with New Ventures, Anticipates Strong H2 Releases and M&A Impact NCSoft is expected to maintain a positive performance in the second half of the year, following a strong first quarter that exceeded market expectations. The company aims to continue its growth through a solid lineup of new releases and expansion into mobile casual gaming, building on the stable success of its legacy intellectual properties (IPs) like Lineage.According to the gaming industry on July 30, NCSoft is diversifying its revenue structure, which has traditionally focused on massively mu July 30, 2026