POSCO Holdings Reports 34.9% Increase in Q2 Operating Profit POSCO Holdings announced on July 30 that it recorded consolidated revenue of 19.26 trillion won, operating profit of 8.19 trillion won, and net profit of 7.61 trillion won for the second quarter of 2026. Both revenue and operating profit increased by 9.7% and 34.9%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.In the steel sector, POSCO managed to slightly boost revenue and operating profit from the previous quarter, despite rising raw material and oil prices, thanks to increased sales pr July 30, 2026

Chinese Father Spends $1,000 Monthly on Growth Hormone Injections for 12-Year-Old Daughter A father in China is sparking debate after revealing he spends approximately 6,000 yuan (about $1,000) each month on growth hormone injections for his 12-year-old daughter.According to reports from the South China Morning Post and other local media, Li Mo, who lives in Changsha, Hunan province, has been administering the injections to his daughter. He noted that prior to the treatment, she grew about 2 to 3 centimeters per year, but after starting the injections, she has grown approximately 4 ce July 30, 2026

Lotte Department Store to Install Giant Media Facade at Young Plaza in Seoul Lotte Department Store is set to install a massive media facade on the exterior of Young Plaza in Myeongdong, Seoul. This initiative aims to transform the flagship store into an urban landmark that combines shopping, tourism, and content, as foreign sales have surged to 30% of total revenue.Following Shinsegae Department Store's announcement of its own large media facade, 'Shinsegae Square,' scheduled for 2024, competition among department stores in the Myeongdong area is expected to intensify. July 30, 2026

Justice Ministry Launches Virtual Reality Therapy in 11 Correctional Facilities A next-generation psychological therapy program that helps inmates reflect on their criminal actions and the situations of their victims through virtual reality (VR) will be officially implemented in correctional facilities nationwide.On July 30, the Justice Ministry announced the successful completion of a pilot operation for its VR-based psychological therapy program, developed to improve cognitive distortions and reduce aggression among inmates. The program will begin full operation in 11 cor July 30, 2026

August Fuel Surcharge Reduction Leads to Extended Hotel Discounts in Guam In anticipation of a reduction in international fuel surcharges for August, major hotels in Guam are extending their discount promotions. Since the fuel surcharge is applied based on the ticket issuance date, travelers planning summer vacations, as well as those looking ahead to the Chuseok holiday and fall and winter trips, can save costs by purchasing tickets within August.The hotels participating in the joint promotion, 'Guam Summer Payback,' include the Tsubaki Tower, PIC Guam, Hilton Guam R July 30, 2026

Labor Ministry Establishes Cooperation System to Prevent Salt Farm Labor Exploitation The government, local authorities, and police are establishing a permanent cooperation system to protect the labor rights of salt farm workers. This initiative follows incidents of worker confinement, assault, and wage theft that occurred in June at a salt farm in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province.On July 30, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Police Agency, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding July 30, 2026

South Korea's Semiconductor Industry Bets Big on AI, Expanding Beyond Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix achieved impressive operating profit margins of 70% and 76%, respectively, in the second quarter. However, as of July 30, their stock prices have fallen nearly 40% and 50%, respectively, from their June peaks. Both companies and experts agree that a memory supply shortage will persist until 2028, but concerns about overproduction following their announcements of multi-trillion won expansions remain.Nevertheless, the die has been cast.In Pyeongtaek, dozens of towe July 30, 2026

Yuhan Corporation Launches Blood Sugar Management Probiotic 'DangQLac' in Mexico Yuhan Corporation has entered the Mexican market with its blood sugar management probiotic, DangQLac, marking a significant expansion into Latin America.On July 30, Yuhan Corporation announced the official launch of DangQLac in Mexico, where it will be marketed under the name Glucobiotic.Mexico is considered one of the largest health supplement markets in Latin America. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the diabetes prevalence rate among Mexican adults aged 20 to 79 is ap July 30, 2026

KAIST Develops Technology to Identify AI Vulnerabilities Seven Times More Effectively The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a safety verification technology that identifies hidden vulnerabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) systems with approximately seven times more diversity than existing methods.On July 30, KAIST announced that a research team led by Professor Kim Jun-mo of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has created a new framework called Stable-GFlowNet, which improves upon the limitations of red team technol July 30, 2026

Two Major Debates: Seeking Conclusions, Not Just Ideas The real estate market is difficult to navigate, and so are government policies.‘Only once in a lifetime.’ A proposal to limit the capital gains tax exemption for one household to a single instance emerged during a real estate debate. The concern is whether it is fair to continue enjoying tax benefits while profiting from each home sale. President Lee Jae-myung also expressed interest, suggesting that unlimited tax exemptions may pose issues.At first glance, this seems equitable. However, the id July 30, 2026