South Korea to Align Animal Drug Standards with International Guidelines to Boost Exports The South Korean government is set to adjust the production and quality management standards for animal drugs to align with international levels. This move aims to enhance the export competitiveness of domestically produced animal pharmaceuticals. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on July 30 that it has revised and published the 'Regulations on the Handling of Animal Drugs.' First, the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards will be strengthened to meet interna July 30, 2026

Ruling Party Affirms Commitment to Criminal Procedure Law Reform The Democratic Party reaffirmed its commitment to the upcoming reform of the Criminal Procedure Law, stating on July 30 that it aligns with the demand for the separation of investigation and prosecution, emphasizing that the prosecutor and judicial system exist for the people.Acting Party Leader Han Byeong-do remarked during a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, "The Criminal Procedure Law is shedding its outdated framework of 70 years and adopting a new one that guarantees cit July 30, 2026

Samsung Electronics Rules Out U.S. ADR Listing, Citing Stable Cash Generation Samsung Electronics stated during its second-quarter earnings conference call on July 30 that the consideration of a U.S. ADR listing involves more than just entering overseas capital markets. The company emphasized the need to evaluate funding purposes and the expansion of global investors comprehensively. They noted that the structure of limited shares traded in a separate overseas market raises questions about whether it can provide tangible benefits to long-term investors who have trusted an July 30, 2026

U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Hit 43-Year Low Amid Rising Tensions U.S. crude oil inventories are rapidly declining as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate.According to the Financial Times, as of July 24, commercial crude oil stocks in the U.S. fell by 7.2 million barrels, while strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) decreased by 3.8 million barrels. This brings the SPR down to 307 million barrels, the lowest level since March 1983.The increase in refinery production, driven by soaring fuel prices, has contributed to this decline. The U.S. governmen July 30, 2026

NH Nonghyup Bank Launches Digital Power of Attorney Service for Overseas Koreans NH Nonghyup Bank has introduced a 'Digital Consular Certification Power of Attorney' service to enhance the convenience of domestic financial transactions for overseas Koreans.The bank announced on July 30 that it will implement the digital consular certification power of attorney service for overseas nationals and foreign nationals of Korean descent.The digital consular certification power of attorney allows for the issuance of a power of attorney certified by a consulate as an electronic docum July 30, 2026

Shen Minjuan Appointed as New Head of Asia Division at China's Foreign Ministry Shen Minjuan has been appointed as the new head of the Asia Division at China's Foreign Ministry.According to the Foreign Ministry on July 30, Shen succeeds Liu Jinsong, who previously held the position.Born in 1972, Shen has served as a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia and as deputy director of the Asia Division at the Foreign Ministry. Since October 2023, she has been the Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia. The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia announced that a farewell ceremony for the amb July 30, 2026

20th Cheorwon Hwagang Snail Festival Completes Safety Inspections Ahead of Opening Cheorwon County conducted safety inspections in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety ahead of the 20th Cheorwon Hwagang Snail Festival, which opens on July 30. As a popular summer water festival, the focus was on water safety, crowd management, and emergency response systems to ensure a safe event.On July 29, officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Cheorwon County, Cheorwon Police Station, Cheorwon Fire Station, the 3 July 30, 2026

LG Energy Solution Reports 77% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Without Subsidies LG Energy Solution successfully transitioned to profitability in the second quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter; however, it remains in the red when excluding North American production subsidies. Despite growth in revenue and a return to profit, the company still faces challenges in restoring profitability in its core operations.On July 30, LG Energy Solution announced that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter was 113.3 billion won, a 77% decrease from the s July 30, 2026

HD Hyundai to Share Expertise in Building and Operating Shipyards in the U.S. HD Hyundai is set to embark on a significant shipyard modernization project in the United States.HD Korean Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a mid-holding company of HD Hyundai's shipbuilding division, announced on July 30 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Fraser Industries to collaborate on modernizing shipyards as part of the revival of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.The signing ceremony, held in Washington, D.C., was attended by key executives from both companies, i July 30, 2026

BTS Declares Boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards Amid Controversy South Korean group BTS has announced that it will not submit entries for the 2027 Grammy Awards, sparking controversy over the Recording Academy's response. Some fans have expressed outrage after noticing that certain BTS performance videos were removed from the Grammy's official YouTube channel following the boycott announcement.However, high-view count performance videos uploaded on BTS's official channels remain available.On July 29, all members of BTS shared a statement on their Instagram ac July 30, 2026