Krafton Reports Record Half-Year Earnings, Shares Rise 3% Krafton is experiencing a rise in its stock following the announcement of record earnings for the first half of the year. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:29 a.m., Krafton shares were trading at 252,000 won, up 8,000 won (3.28%) from the previous trading day. On the previous day, Krafton reported consolidated first-half revenues of 2.66 trillion won and an operating profit of 972.5 billion won. These figures represent increases of 73.3% and 38.3%, respectively, compared to the same perio July 30, 2026

President Yoon Announces Online Delivery of Financial Power of Attorney for Overseas Koreans President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on July 29 that overseas Koreans will now be able to deliver financial powers of attorney verified by consulates online to domestic banks. During a dinner meeting with the Korean community in Santiago, Chile, President Yoon stated, "There have been many complaints about the difficulties caused by powers of attorney when handling banking tasks." He explained that previously, individuals had to wait several days for documents to be sent by international mail aft July 30, 2026

Netanyahu Discusses Iran Strategy with Trump, Skeptical of Agreement U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed future strategies regarding Iran, including negotiations, maintaining a maritime blockade, and resuming military action. Netanyahu reportedly expressed skepticism about the likelihood of reaching an agreement with Iran.According to U.S. media outlet Axios, the two leaders met for about 90 minutes at the White House on July 28 to focus on the Iran issue.An Israeli official stated that President Trump is currently July 30, 2026

Gwangju City to Provide Tailored Support for 43 Startups This Year Gwangju City is continuing its tailored support for startups to validate their innovative technologies this year. This initiative, which began in 2023, offers locations and funding to companies that possess innovative technologies and prototypes but face challenges in validation. The city has allocated 2.8 billion won to support 43 companies by January of next year. Over the past three years, a total of 103 companies have received assistance. In 2023, the city held two rounds of applications in July 30, 2026

Potato Chips Lead Snack Market as Orion Defends Top Spot Against Nongshim As the domestic potato harvest season comes to a close, competition in the snack industry is heating up, particularly in the potato chip segment. This rivalry has shifted from simple summer marketing to a battle for market dominance. Orion is working to maintain its lead, while Nongshim is accelerating its efforts to catch up, and Haitai Confectionery is strengthening its market strategy with new products, making this summer a critical period for the potato chip market.According to industry sour July 30, 2026

Fed's Unexpected Rate Hold Weakens Dollar, Won Drops to 1440s The won-dollar exchange rate has dropped to the 1440s. In the Seoul foreign exchange market on July 30, the exchange rate for the won against the U.S. dollar was 1,440.2 won as of 9:12 a.m. The rate was trading at 1,446.5 won, down 0.2 won from the previous day's closing price as of 6 a.m. This decline is interpreted as a result of the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to hold its policy interest rate steady, alleviating market concerns about a surprise rate hike. The dollar index, which measu July 30, 2026

KOSPI Shows Mixed Trends Amid Foreign and Institutional Buying South Korea's stock market is showing mixed trends in early trading as external factors, including a decline in the U.S. stock market, a surge in long-term Treasury yields, and geopolitical risks in the Middle East, weigh on investor sentiment. The KOSPI index has fluctuated around the 5,600 mark, initially rising before turning downward and then rebounding.As of 9:17 a.m. on July 30, the KOSPI was up 16.38 points (0.29%) at 5,679.62. The index opened at 5,681.77, an increase of 18.53 points (0. July 30, 2026

Samsung Electronics Reports Record Semiconductor Earnings Amid DX Division Loss Samsung Electronics achieved record quarterly results in its semiconductor business, driven by a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI). However, the DX (Device Solutions) division, which includes smartphones and home appliances, reported a loss due to rising component costs.On July 30, Samsung announced that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter reached 89.5 trillion won, a staggering increase of 1813.8% compared to the same period last year.Revenue totaled 171.5 tr July 30, 2026

Production and Distribution Companies of 'Hope' Express Concern Over Privacy Controversy Involving Hwang Jung-min After actor Hwang Jung-min denied allegations regarding his private life circulating online, the production and distribution companies of the film 'Hope' expressed their strong regret over the issue.According to Yonhap News on the 29th, Plus M Entertainment and Forged Films announced that the author of malicious posts has caused disruptions by sending emails to partners of 'Hope,' indicating they would take a firm stance against this interference.The companies stated, "This not only harms the ov July 30, 2026

Remove Items from Your Car Now: Heatwave Risks As a heatwave continues across the country, the interior of parked cars is becoming increasingly dangerous. Items that are usually left in vehicles can pose risks of fire or explosion when exposed to high temperatures.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, temperatures nationwide are expected to remain above average for the time being. In particular, some areas of Busan and parts of Gyeongnam, including Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae, and Miryang, are forecasted to experience a maximum July 30, 2026