Japanese Government Reports 28 Deaths from Kumamoto Earthquake, Economic Impact Uncertain The Japanese government has confirmed that 28 people have died as a result of the earthquake that struck Kumamoto on July 28, including those whose deaths are under investigation for a possible connection to the quake.According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on July 30, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference that as of 6:30 a.m., the death toll from the Kumamoto earthquake stands at 28, including individuals whose deaths are being examined for their relation to July 30, 2026

Gyeongnam Plans International Tourism Investment Conference Amid Concerns Over Differentiation Gyeongsangnam-do is set to hold a large-scale international tourism investment conference to develop the South Coast into a 'global tourism investment hub.' However, concerns have been raised about the lack of clear incentives that would differentiate it from other regions.As competition intensifies with established tourism cities like Jeju, Busan, and Jeonnam, experts emphasize the urgent need for Gyeongnam to present unique incentives and key content.According to Gyeongsangnam-do, the '2026 Gy July 30, 2026

Jeonbuk Province to Live Stream Executive Meetings Starting in August Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province will enhance citizens' right to know and promote an 'open administration' by live streaming executive meetings that address key provincial issues.The province announced on July 29 that it will conduct a pilot live stream of executive meetings starting with the session on August 3 at 9 a.m. in the Comprehensive Situation Room, with a total of three live streams scheduled from August to October.After assessing the system's stability, the province plans to fu July 30, 2026

Samsung SDI Reports 2nd Quarter Operating Profit of 203.8 Billion Won, Marks Return to Profitability Samsung SDI announced on July 30 that it recorded sales of 3.7688 trillion won and an operating profit of 203.8 billion won for the second quarter of this year.Sales increased by 18.5% compared to the same period last year and rose by 5.4% from the previous quarter. Notably, the company returned to profitability for the first time in seven quarters since the third quarter of 2024. This resulted in a cumulative operating profit of 48.2 billion won for the first half of the year, successfully achi July 30, 2026

Jeonju Mayor Jo Ji-hoon Pledges to Overcome Crisis and Fulfill Responsibilities Jo Ji-hoon, the mayor of Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, pledged to establish a communication-based administration grounded in citizen sovereignty to overcome crises and fulfill his responsibilities during his term in office.On July 30, Mayor Jo held a press conference marking his 30th day in office, where he announced the achievements of his administration and the future direction of governance under the slogan, 'A City Where We Become Special, Jeonju!'Mayor Jo highlighted various areas of pro July 30, 2026

CJ CGV Shares Surge Over 10% Amid Investment Hopes CJ CGV shares surged more than 10% on July 30, driven by expectations that its subsidiary, CJ 4DPLEX, could secure significant investment from the National Growth Fund. The anticipation of a successful summer box office season also contributed to the stock's rise.As of 1:43 PM KST, CJ CGV shares were trading at 5,270 won, up 500 won (10.48%) from the previous trading day. The stock opened at 4,900 won and peaked at 5,550 won early in the session before pulling back slightly but maintaining stren July 30, 2026

President Lee's Approval Rating at 53%, 56% Disapprove of Real Estate Policy A recent public opinion survey revealed that 53% of respondents positively evaluate President Lee Jae-myung's governance. Conducted by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research from July 27 to 29 among 1,000 individuals aged 18 and older, the National Indicator Survey (NBS) showed a 2 percentage point decrease from the previous survey conducted two weeks ago. Negative evaluations rose to 37%, an increase of 3 percentage points. Regarding the government's real esta July 30, 2026

U.S. Resumes Airstrikes on Iran, Boosting Defense Stocks in South Korea As the United States resumed airstrikes on Iran after a six-day pause, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have escalated, leading to a surge in South Korean defense stocks.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 1:18 PM on July 30, Hanwha Aerospace was trading at 879,000 won, up 8.52% (69,000 won) from the previous trading day.At the same time, LIG Nex1 saw a 4.35% increase, reaching 647,000 won. SNT Dynamics and Korea Aerospace Industries rose by 7.76% and 1.96%, respectively, while Hyunda July 30, 2026

Woori Bank Partners with Maybach to Target Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals Woori Bank announced on July 30 that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HS Hyosung The Class, the official dealer of Mercedes-Benz, to jointly market to ultra-high-net-worth individuals.The agreement aims to enhance differentiated lifestyle services for ultra-high-net-worth clients by combining finance with premium mobility. This is significant as competition in asset management services has expanded beyond finance into the broader lifestyle sector.During the signin July 30, 2026

Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Market Turmoil The Federal Reserve has decided to keep its benchmark interest rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%. While this decision was anticipated, the market reacted sharply. The yield on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds surged to 5.2%, and stock prices plummeted. Long-term Treasury yields reached their highest levels since the financial crisis. In this decision, three of the twelve members of the Federal Open Market Committee advocated for a 0.25 percentage point increase. This indicates that there were significa July 30, 2026