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  • AI Technology Reveals Personal Health Insights in Just 10 Minutes
    AI Technology Reveals Personal Health Insights in Just 10 Minutes On August 13, at the Removing Company studio in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam, a 64-year-old participant stood in front of the AI-based body function and movement analyzer. As the demonstration on the computer screen began, the participant followed instructions, lifting arms and shifting body weight on a mat. A camera recorded the movements. Typically, the participant assessed their physical condition based on the sensation of walking without discomfort. However, after the measurement, the screen displayed a different narrative: strength and endurance scored 45, joints 59, balance and stability 68, gait 90, and symmetry 74. The assessment indicated that strength and endurance, as well as joint function, required maintenance, while balance, stability, and symmetry were rated as good, and gait was optimal. The most notable aspect was the gap between the gait score and the strength score, suggesting that while walking appeared stable, foundational strength needed separate attention. Coaches Immediately Begin Exercise Guidance The participant's highest score was 90 for gait, while strength and endurance were the lowest at 45. This score was not a medical diagnosis but rather an evaluation of the participant's exercise capabilities by the AI system. The core of this experience was not the measuring device itself but what followed. The coach focused on the relatively low scores in strength and endurance, as well as joint mobility. They guided the participant through upper body stretches, movements to elongate the torso while reaching upward, and exercises involving hanging and weight support. Each movement was monitored for posture, breathing, and range of motion, without pushing beyond safe limits. After the session, the participant remarked, "It felt like my body was stretching out." While one session cannot determine disease treatment or long-term functional improvement, it was clear that identifying weak areas and concentrating on them differed from merely repeating full-body exercises. The data served not as a replacement for the coach's observations but as a starting point for prioritizing exercises. Removing Company's 'Measure-Analyze-Exercise-Track' According to product descriptions from Removing Company, this solution quantifies joint, movement, and muscle-related physical indicators after about 10 minutes of performing movements while watching a screen. Based on the analysis, it presents personalized exercise videos, allowing users to set difficulty levels and exercise durations while accumulating performance records. Users can also track their measurement results and changes through a personal management page. CEO Lee Hyun-soo explained, "We developed the movement analysis solution based on our experience in one-on-one senior home exercise and personal training studio operations." This personal training studio is located in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam. The system captures user movements with a camera, and AI analyzes various actions to provide functional levels and tailored exercise content for different body parts. In other words, the solution follows a process of measurement (performing screen movements) → analysis (scoring by function) → guidance (coach-led personalized exercise) → tracking (changes and performance records). Personalized Exercise to Assist Rehabilitation, Not Replace It This service has the potential to assist in rehabilitation by designing exercises tailored to individual weak indicators. Regular measurements of critical areas such as strength, balance, gait, and joint movement can help clarify exercise goals and track progress, especially for older adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) also emphasizes the benefits of regular physical activity for physical and mental health, highlighting the importance of various activities, including strength and balance, for seniors. However, the functional assessments and personalized exercises provided at fitness facilities are not equivalent to medical diagnoses, prescriptions, or physical therapy. Users experiencing severe pain, recent surgeries, fractures, neurological conditions, or high fall risks should consult medical professionals first. This is why it is more accurate to describe the program as a data-driven tool that supports rehabilitation-focused exercise rather than claiming it delivers rehabilitation treatment effects. The scores from this solution should be viewed as reference indicators for determining exercise direction rather than diagnostic test results for diseases. Why Personalized Exercise is Gaining Popularity in Gangnam The motivation behind this coverage is the growing attention to data-driven personalized exercise in the Gangnam area. The competitive edge observed on-site lies in the personalized approach rather than flashy equipment. Users can see their weaknesses represented in numbers and graphs, while coaches observe the results alongside actual movements to prioritize exercises. After workouts, users have benchmarks for comparison during subsequent measurements. For older adults or exercise beginners, a blanket prescription to do more can create barriers to entry. In contrast, the guidance to maintain strengths while focusing on weaknesses is easier to understand. In this case, the participant had an optimal gait but needed to manage strength and endurance as well as joint function. A single pentagon graph shifted the order of their exercises. Body Function and Movement Analyzer: Providing Clues Instead of Answers The value of the Removing Company solution, confirmed through on-site experience, lies in the connection of measurement, human guidance, and ongoing management as a cohesive process. This solution does not fix the body but reveals previously unseen differences in numerical form, allowing coaches to connect those insights to actual movements. Users engage in exercise with an understanding of their deficiencies. The effectiveness of this solution hinges on consistency rather than a single score. It is essential to observe how functional indicators change during re-measurements under the same conditions, whether users can continue exercising without pain or discomfort, and if daily activities become genuinely easier. For data-driven personalized exercise to establish itself as a trusted health management method beyond a trend, the accuracy and reproducibility of measurements, the expertise of coaches, and the continuous accumulation of long-term user change data must be maintained. After the session, the participant expressed feeling lighter as they left the studio. However, they emphasized that the more important realization was, "It’s not just that I walk well; I need to manage my strength and joints more effectively." 2026-08-18 12:04:00
  • Joint Response Training for Oil Spill Preparedness Held at Nakdong River
    Joint Response Training for Oil Spill Preparedness Held at Nakdong River A joint response training exercise for a large-scale oil spill incident will take place in the Nakdong River area of Daegu's Dalseong County.The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that the training will be conducted on the 19th near the Samunjin Bridge in Dalseong County to prepare for a major water pollution incident.Nine organizations will participate in the exercise, including the Ministry of Climate, the Daegu Regional Environmental Agency, the Korea Environment Corporation, the Nakdong River Water Environment Center, Daegu City, Dalseong County, the Dalseo Fire Station, the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and the Second Operations Command.This training is linked to the 2026 Ulchi Exercise and simulates a scenario where an enemy drone attack damages the Seongju Bridge, causing a fuel truck to overturn and spill approximately 2,000 liters of diesel into the main stream of the Nakdong River.The exercise will follow actual accident response procedures, starting from the dissemination of information after the incident, to rescue operations, initial response, containment of pollutant spread, and water quality analysis.Initially, oil booms and absorbent pads will be used to prevent the spread of the spilled oil, followed by the establishment of containment lines to prepare for further spread. Sampling and analysis will also be conducted to assess the contamination situation.Notably, agencies involved in accident response, including environmental authorities, local governments, fire departments, and military units, will participate simultaneously to review their roles and coordination systems on-site.As the Nakdong River serves as a major water source for the Yeongnam region, prompt initial response and prevention of contamination are crucial in the event of an oil spill or other pollutants. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment aims to enhance collaboration among agencies through this training and assess their response systems for potential water pollution incidents.Kim Eun-kyung, Director of Water Environment Policy at the Ministry, stated, "Given that the Nakdong River is a primary water source for residents in the Yeongnam region, establishing a perfect response system for water pollution incidents during emergencies is very important. We will strengthen the cooperation system among relevant agencies through this training."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 12:04:00
  • Financial Supervisory Service Union Opposes Potential Relocation
    Financial Supervisory Service Union Opposes Potential Relocation The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) union has strongly opposed the possibility of the agency being included in the government's second round of public institution relocations. The union argues that moving the financial oversight body could undermine consumer protection and supervisory expertise, potentially increasing oversight costs.On August 17, the FSS union issued a statement titled, 'Immediately Halt the Uniform Relocation Plan That Completely Ignores Consumers and Financial Sites.'The union expressed concern over recent media reports suggesting that the FSS could be included in the government's announcement of relocation targets at the end of August. They stated, 'We are seriously worried that the rigid goal of relocating most public institutions may lead to a disastrous decision to move the supervisory body, which should be at the forefront of financial oversight, to the rear.' The union highlighted that physical disconnection from the financial oversight field could lead to consumer harm. According to the union, 81.4% of financial complaints are concentrated in the metropolitan area. If the FSS relocates outside this region, consumer accessibility could decrease, and the speed and efficiency of complaint handling could decline.They also pointed out that financial companies and listed firms are predominantly located in the metropolitan area, with 91.6% of financial company headquarters, 88.3% of on-site inspection targets, and 72.7% of listed company headquarters situated there.The union argued that if the FSS moves to a regional location, employees may need to travel back to the metropolitan area for licensing, various filings, and on-site inspections, creating inefficiencies. They also noted that additional costs could arise from operating regional offices and employee travel expenses.There are concerns that increased oversight costs could lead to higher supervisory fees for financial institutions, which may ultimately be passed on to consumers through increased loan rates and fees.The union also raised alarms about the potential loss of specialized personnel. They warned that if key experts leave due to the relocation, the agency's ability to respond to the evolving financial environment could weaken, leading to increased consumer harm.They emphasized that it is difficult to find examples of financial supervisory bodies being separated from capital market centers, citing major institutions such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Reserve, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and Japan's Financial Services Agency.The union stated, 'We strongly oppose the relocation of the Financial Supervisory Service, which could push the national financial system into crisis, in order to ensure the stability of the financial market and protect consumers,' and called for an immediate halt to the relocation plan.The potential relocation of the FSS has not yet been officially confirmed by the government. The government is pursuing the second round of public institution relocations as a national policy task and plans to establish a roadmap for the relocations within 2026. In March, the government stated that it would minimize exceptions for relocation targets and avoid dispersing institutions across multiple regions.The union has indicated that it is considering all possible responses, suggesting that conflicts are likely to arise if discussions about the FSS's relocation intensify.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:44:00
  • Alibaba Cloud Launches Third Data Center in South Korea, Expanding AI Infrastructure
    Alibaba Cloud Launches Third Data Center in South Korea, Expanding AI Infrastructure Alibaba Cloud announced the official launch of its third data center in South Korea on August 18. This follows the opening of its first data center in 2022 and a second in 2025. The company views South Korea as a key market for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital services, planning to continue its long-term investments in the region.The new data center is seen as a significant milestone in Alibaba Cloud's expansion in South Korea. The company aims to provide a stable and scalable cloud infrastructure to domestic businesses adopting AI technologies. Since entering the South Korean market in 2016, Alibaba Cloud has offered cloud and digital transformation services to local corporate clients and partners.Notably, the decision to open a new data center just a year after the second one reflects expectations of increasing demand for AI infrastructure in South Korea. According to the company, the second data center is currently operational.With the new data center, Alibaba Cloud plans to enhance its infrastructure in South Korea, enabling local businesses to operate AI and cloud-based services more reliably.The new facility will offer a range of enterprise cloud computing services, including computing, storage, networking, security, databases, containers, and cloud-native services. This is expected to improve service availability and operational stability for domestic customers, reduce latency, and enhance disaster recovery capabilities for critical operations.In response to the growing demand for enterprise AI agents, Alibaba Cloud also plans to expand its agent-based AI services in South Korea, including AgentRun, STAROps, ACS Agent Sandbox, Agent Security Center, AI Security Guardrails 2.0, and Agentic SOC. These services will support businesses in efficiently managing the entire process from developing and testing AI agents to deployment, operation, and security management.This launch is part of Alibaba's $53 billion investment plan for AI infrastructure. With the new data center, Alibaba Cloud's global infrastructure now spans 30 regions and 104 availability zones. The infrastructure has been designed to comply with local regulations and standards regarding cybersecurity, resilience, and data governance, prioritizing data privacy and sovereignty.Yoon Yong-jun, head of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence in South Korea, stated, "South Korea is a core market where Alibaba Cloud has been making long-term investments. The third data center represents an investment aimed at supporting domestic companies in operating AI and cloud-based services more reliably." He added, "Alibaba Cloud will continue to support the digital transformation of local businesses with a stable and scalable cloud infrastructure and AI services."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:44:00
  • Jongkundang Bio Applies for Chinese Approval of Botulinum Toxin CU-20101
    Jongkundang Bio Applies for Chinese Approval of Botulinum Toxin 'CU-20101' Jongkundang Bio has applied for regulatory approval in China for its self-developed botulinum toxin product, 'CU-20101.'The company announced on August 18 that it submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China.Jongkundang Bio plans to accelerate the commercialization process in the Chinese market, aiming for a launch in the second half of 2027. As the second-largest botulinum toxin market in the world after the United States, China is expected to see continued market expansion due to growth in the medical aesthetics industry.The company stated that in a Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in China with 554 participants, CU-20101 demonstrated non-inferiority in improving glabellar lines compared to the global leading botulinum toxin product, Botox®.Safety was also confirmed, with adverse reactions occurring at levels similar to those of Botox, and no serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. The product maintained a similar efficacy and safety profile with repeated dosing, confirming its potential for long-term treatment.A Jongkundang Bio representative said, "Based on the efficacy and safety confirmed in the Phase 3 trial, we will successfully pursue approval and launch in China. We aim to strengthen our global competitiveness by entering the second-largest botulinum toxin market in the world."Global market research firm Grand View Research projects that the market size for botulinum toxin (Type A) in China will grow from approximately $1.3 billion (about 1.83 trillion won) in 2024 to $3.6 billion (about 5.08 trillion won) by 2030.Meanwhile, Jongkundang Bio signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Hong Kong-listed biotech company Quthea Therapeutics in 2022 to enter the Chinese and Greater China markets. The company plans to leverage Quthea's sales and marketing network in the aesthetics sector to expedite the market entry of CU-20101 following regulatory approval.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:40:00
  • President Yoon Emphasizes Timely Transfer of Wartime Operational Control
    President Yoon Emphasizes Timely Transfer of Wartime Operational Control President Yoon Suk Yeol stated on August 18 that the transfer of wartime operational control must be completed within his term, following the government's original plan without delay. He emphasized the importance of self-reliant defense capabilities and the ROK-U.S. alliance, urging for accelerated progress on the nuclear submarine project.During the first Ulchi National Security Council meeting and the 36th Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House, President Yoon remarked, "The global security environment is rapidly changing, and the nature of warfare is evolving into a hybrid form that combines conventional combat, terrorism, and cyberattacks."He added, "We must ensure that there are no gaps in security threats across all sectors, including military, economic, and social. This Ulchi exercise should thoroughly assess and enhance our defense posture and the nation's overall crisis response capabilities."President Yoon assessed that South Korea's military strength and defense industry capabilities have reached a world-class level. He noted, "Currently, South Korea is ranked fifth in global military power and is considered one of the top four in defense industry capabilities. Our defense spending is 1.4 times North Korea's annual GDP."He stated, "In terms of weapon systems and force size, we are among the top in the world in our ability to defend ourselves, and it is not an exaggeration to say that we have an abundance of capabilities."To further strengthen this defense capability, President Yoon outlined the need for operational capability enhancement and the cultivation of military talent.He directed that to solidify defense capabilities, it is essential to establish a comprehensive system for enhancing operational capabilities and training personnel. He also called for reforms in military education systems to prepare for future warfare environments. He emphasized, "To adapt to future warfare, where the distinctions of the battlefield become meaningless, we must cultivate officers with integrated operational capabilities and ensure the establishment of the National Military Academy proceeds without disruption."Regarding the ROK-U.S. alliance and self-defense, he clarified that they are mutually reinforcing. President Yoon stated, "A strong ROK-U.S. alliance and the enhancement of self-defense capabilities are both necessary and sufficient conditions for our security."He concluded, "A solid alliance strengthens the foundation of our security, and we must enhance our own capabilities to increase the value and necessity of our alliance. I urge you to accelerate the nuclear submarine project, which symbolizes a more constructive and robust future for the ROK-U.S. alliance."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:28:10
  • China Expands Arctic Shipping Routes, Launches Regular Services This Year
    China Expands Arctic Shipping Routes, Launches Regular Services This Year China is accelerating the development of its Arctic shipping routes.This summer, 38 Chinese container ships departed from Chinese ports to utilize the Arctic route, heading towards Russia or Northern Europe, according to the South China Morning Post on August 18. Half of these vessels are expected to return to China via the Arctic route.Last year, 23 Chinese ships passed through the Arctic route, with 17 being commercial vessels. In 2024, 15 ships traversed the Arctic route.Additionally, Chinese shipping company Sea Legend has launched a regular container service connecting China and Europe via the Arctic route starting this month. The company has scheduled eight container ship routes between Ningbo, China, and the ports of Felixstowe in the UK, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Hamburg in Germany by October. The company reported that the first two container ships have already been fully loaded, with more orders continuing to come in. Sea Legend primarily operates small to medium-sized container ships and plans to transport electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar products to Europe via the Arctic route.The Arctic route is navigable only from July to October each year. It also requires icebreakers to accompany the ships, and there are few supply bases available. However, using the Arctic route significantly reduces transportation time. Ships can reach European ports like St. Petersburg from China in about 30 days, compared to approximately 45 days via the Suez Canal and about 60 days around the Cape of Good Hope.Moreover, the Arctic route offers China a way to avoid geopolitical risks. Geopolitical strategist Vina Chakarova explained, "From China's perspective, concerns about potential blockages in the supply of essential raw materials through the Indo-Pacific supply chain are among the reasons for its investment in the Arctic route."While the number of ships operating on the Arctic route is increasing, it still represents only a small fraction of the cargo volume passing through the Suez Canal. However, the Arctic route is considered to have significant potential for the future, with various countries, including South Korea, preparing for the Arctic route era.Meanwhile, the Chinese state-run Global Times commented on August 18 that "China is increasingly becoming a reliable partner in Arctic issues in terms of capability and credibility," noting that China has consistently invested in polar scientific exploration and provided important data for Arctic climate change research. It emphasized that the China-Europe Arctic route is an important international public good and that the future of the Arctic should be a new horizon for international cooperation rather than a battleground for geopolitical competition.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:28:00
  • Lotte Biologics Accelerates Preparations for Commercial Production in Songdo
    Lotte Biologics Accelerates Preparations for Commercial Production in Songdo Lotte Biologics has completed the relocation of all employees to the Songdo Bio Campus and is accelerating preparations for commercial production set to begin in 2027.On August 18, the company announced the official start of the 'Songdo Era' following the completion of the move. This relocation consolidates the previously dispersed headquarters functions and production infrastructure into the Songdo Bio Campus. As a result, collaboration among key departments, including management, production, quality, engineering, and business development, is expected to strengthen, leading to faster decision-making in preparation for commercial production.Additionally, the company has established a system to quickly reflect customer requirements on the production floor and respond in real-time to manufacturing and quality-related issues.Previously, Lotte Biologics had announced plans to provide integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services, covering everything from early clinical production to large-scale commercial production, based on its 'Dual Site' strategy. The ability to share real-time updates between the Syracuse Bio Campus in the U.S. and the Songdo production facility is expected to enhance collaboration further.Lotte Biologics is also accelerating follow-up work to ensure the Songdo production facility is 'GMP Ready.' Currently, the first plant is undergoing a qualification and validation process for equipment and utilities, with plans to establish a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production system that meets global regulatory standards through commissioning and validation of manufacturing and quality systems in the second half of this year. The goal is to commence commercial production in 2027.The Songdo Bio Campus is expected to become a key hub for large-scale orders, providing stable pharmaceutical production services to global clients through phased expansion of production facilities.A representative from Lotte Biologics stated, 'The move to Songdo is a significant milestone in consolidating all of the company's capabilities at the Songdo Bio Campus ahead of commercial production. We aim to provide trusted CDMO services to our customers by organically connecting the global production experience accumulated in Syracuse with the state-of-the-art production infrastructure in Songdo.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 11:28:00
  • Kim Min-seok Pays Respects at Kim Dae-jungs Grave, Draws Parallels with Lee Jae-myung
    Kim Min-seok Pays Respects at Kim Dae-jung's Grave, Draws Parallels with Lee Jae-myung Kim Min-seok, the new leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, paid his respects on August 18 at the grave of his political mentor, the late President Kim Dae-jung. He noted that there are many similarities between Kim Dae-jung and President Lee Jae-myung.On this day, Kim was accompanied by the new leadership team, including Chief Policy Officer Choi Min-hee and Floor Leader Han Byeong-do, as they visited the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, to honor Kim Dae-jung on the 17th anniversary of his passing.During the memorial service, Kim stated, "It was surprising how often I reached similar conclusions to President Kim, transcending generational differences. The practical and people-centered approach of President Lee feels very similar." He added, "That’s why it seems that the President’s Chief of Staff became the Prime Minister. I, the youngest Chief of Staff to the President, now stand here as the leader of the Democratic Party to pay my respects."Kim Dae-jung is regarded as Kim Min-seok's political mentor. Kim Min-seok entered politics in 1990 after being selected by Kim Dae-jung and ran as the Seoul mayoral candidate for the Millennium Democratic Party in 2002. He also served as the Chief of Staff to the party leader when Kim Dae-jung was concurrently the party chairman, earning him the title of 'DJ's successor.' 2026-08-18 11:20:00
  • Kazakhstan lines up social infrastructure push for 2027-2029
    Kazakhstan lines up social infrastructure push for 2027-2029 SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - Hospitals, children's rehabilitation centers and sports facilities will top Kazakhstan's construction priorities for the 2027~2029 budget period, committing the state to another round of building at a time when its own auditors report that much of the last round went unfinished. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set the priority at a meeting on the economy and budget planning at Akorda on Monday, according to the presidential press service. He was briefed on the state of the economy, the socio-economic forecast for 2027~2029 and the republican budget indicators for those years, and told officials to hold both republican and local budgets in balance and to meet this year's growth targets. The room reflected how much of the government's fiscal machinery the question touches. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended, along with presidential administration head Roman Sklyar, National Bank of Kazakhstan Governor Timur Suleimenov, Supreme Audit Chamber Chairman Alikhan Smailov, Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin, presidential economic assistant Nurlan Baibazarov and Finance Minister Madi Takiyev. What Tokayev asked for is not a new departure. Kazakhstan has spent the past three years building social facilities at exactly this scale, through a set of national projects that now offer a clear record of what the state can and cannot deliver. The largest of them, Modernization of Rural Healthcare, has just finished. The Health Ministry says all 655 planned primary care facilities are built, including first-aid posts, feldsher-midwife stations and rural outpatient clinics. Of those, 226 went to villages that had no medical building of any kind, and 419 replaced premises the ministry judged unfit for use. The ministry puts the population served at about one million rural residents. A second stage is still running. Thirty-two district hospitals are being rebuilt as multidisciplinary central hospitals, with eight completed by late last year in Temirtau, Balkhash, Zhanaarka, Urzhar, Shuskoye, Merke, Talas and Beineu. Renovation is under way at 36 regional hospitals and 17 perinatal centers, and pediatric bed capacity has risen 38 percent. The school program, Comfortable School, was built to end three-shift teaching and the shortage of pupil places, with schools put up to common standards in cities and villages alike. It opened 105 schools in 2024 and 112 in 2025, of which 45 percent were rural. Another 245 existing schools are being renovated. Sitting above both is the National Infrastructure Plan, which runs to 2029 and lists 204 priority projects in energy, transport, water and sanitation, and digital infrastructure, at an estimated 40.1 trillion tenge. Roughly 90 percent of that money is expected from outside the state budget, which makes private capital and public-private partnerships the load-bearing assumption of the entire plan. The need is not in dispute. A separate national project is spending 13 trillion tenge between 2025 and 2029 on 86,000 kilometers of utility networks, aiming to bring average wear on the country's infrastructure down to 40 percent. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which reviewed the plan this year, found more than a third of Kazakhstan's power plants running at 70 to 90 percent degradation. The gap opens at delivery. Yulia Engel, a member of the Supreme Audit Chamber, told the Mazhilis on May 21 that the four national projects running in 2025 were rewritten repeatedly during the year, in deadlines, delivery mechanisms, funding volumes, lists of facilities and target indicators, until they no longer functioned as long-term commitments with fixed parameters. "They have turned into mechanisms for adaptively redistributing budget resources to match the current level of execution," Engel said. Total underfunding of the four came to 38 percent of the planned volume in 2025 alone. The chamber's wider audit of last year's budget execution found that more than 20 percent of over 600 investment projects due for completion were not finished, that 99 projects worth 75 billion tenge were dropped mid-year, and that 2.4 trillion tenge was shifted between budget lines during the year. The volume of money spent inefficiently rose by a factor of 1.7 from 2024. Healthcare showed the same pattern in miniature. From January to October last year, fixed capital investment in the sector reached 214.8 billion tenge, or 89 percent of the 241 billion tenge planned. Smailov's chamber will assess the draft 2027~2029 budget itself, and its audit program for this year covers both Comfortable School and Modernization of Rural Healthcare. The three years Tokayev was briefed on are also the years the budget is supposed to tighten. Kazakhstan has committed to cutting the republican deficit from 2.5 percent of GDP this year to 1.7 percent in 2027 and 0.9 percent in 2028, and to weaning the budget off transfers from the National Fund, the sovereign wealth fund built on oil revenue. The 2026 budget carries no targeted transfers from it. That squeeze is happening in difficult conditions. Value-added tax rose to 16 percent from 12 percent in January, annual inflation was still 10.2 percent in July, and the National Bank has held its base rate at 18 percent since October. The bank expects growth of 3.5 to 4.5 percent this year, below the 5.4 percent the government used in building the current budget. The construction categories Tokayev named on Monday are also the ones foreign contractors have been circling. Korean engineering, urban development and hospital groups spent this year pitching projects in Astana, and healthcare has featured in bilateral talks alongside energy, transport and critical minerals. Tokayev accepted President Lee Jae Myung's invitation to Seoul in April. The first Korea-Central Asia summit is set for Sept. 16 and 17. 2026-08-18 11:11:10