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Mokpo Mayor Kang Seong-hwi Seeks National Funding for 2027 Projects Mokpo City is actively seeking national funding for key local projects as it prepares for the 2027 government budget. Mayor Kang Seong-hwi visited the National Assembly on August 12 to meet with Seo Sam-seok, chair of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Ocean Affairs Committee, to discuss major local issues and request funding for the 2027 budget, the city announced on August 13. The projects proposed by Mokpo include the establishment of a Sewol Ferry cultural space, designation of a seafood industry promotion zone, development of a dried seaweed quality information management platform, and the basic and detailed design for the national fishing port at Sapjin Harbor. The city believes these initiatives are essential for enhancing Mokpo's competitiveness in the marine and fisheries sectors and revitalizing the local economy. In particular, the seafood industry-related projects aim to strengthen the industrial foundation that connects production, processing, and distribution. The Sapjin Harbor project is also highlighted as a critical issue for expanding port functions and supporting the local fishing industry, underscoring the need for national funding. Mokpo's efforts to secure national funding have been ongoing since the government budget formulation stage. Last month, the city visited government budget authorities to explain the necessity of local projects and request support for their inclusion in the 2027 government budget. This visit to the National Assembly is part of a strategy to prepare for the upcoming budget review process. Kang Seong-hwi, the mayor of Mokpo, stated, "Securing national funding for 2027 is crucial for addressing local issues and ensuring Mokpo's future growth potential. We will do our utmost to persuade the government and the National Assembly to include essential projects in the national budget." Mokpo City plans to collaborate with local lawmaker Kim Won-yi to monitor the status of budget inclusion and continue to respond to each project during the National Assembly's budget review and approval process.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 14:00:20 -
Homeplus CEO Vows Full Recovery Amid Support from Lawmakers "Homeplus has risen again with the support of the public. We will repay this with complete normalization and a new leap forward." Jo Joo-yeon, CEO of Homeplus, made this statement during a press conference and shopping campaign held on August 13 at the Homeplus Gangseo store in Seoul. He emphasized that both management and labor will concentrate all efforts for a sustainable future for Homeplus. However, he acknowledged that many challenges remain before achieving full operational normalization. Jo stated, "A significant task remains next month with the passage of the recovery plan, and a normal merger and acquisition must occur to finalize the normalization process. I believe that the creditors and the court will make a reasonable decision to revitalize the local economy." On the reopening day, residents flocked to the Gangseo store, forming a line approximately 10 meters long before the store opened. Customers with shopping carts gathered around the beef section, bringing a lively atmosphere to the store. Attendees of the press conference and joint labor-management declaration also participated by pushing carts and purchasing products. Lawmakers also joined the shopping campaign. Han Byeong-do, acting leader of the Democratic Party and floor leader, along with Han Jeong-ae, chair of the policy committee, and Min Byeong-deok, head of the Euljiro committee, visited the site to support the Homeplus shopping campaign. Acting leader Han stated, "The reopening marks the first step in Homeplus's revival. I urge many citizens to join in sharing hope by shopping at Homeplus." He added, "The National Assembly, government, and local governments will work together to ensure Homeplus's normalization." Min Byeong-deok noted, "It has been 15 months since Homeplus became 'Homeminus.' Now, this is a matter affecting 300,000 livelihoods, and I urge the public to actively participate in saving Homeplus." He acknowledged that while large supermarkets can pose challenges for small businesses, this situation is entirely different, urging, "Please consider Homeplus for your dinner tonight." The ruling party's support for Homeplus will continue with a relay of shopping campaigns at stores nationwide. On August 14, Democratic Party lawmakers Song Ok-joo and Kim Nam-geun are scheduled to visit the Hwaseong Hyangnam and Wolgok stores, respectively, to participate in the shopping campaign. 2026-08-13 14:00:10
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Korean Construction Association Donates 10 Million Won to Education Foundation The Gwangju and Jeonnam chapter of the Korean Association of Mechanical Equipment Construction has been supporting local students' dreams and futures through educational donations for over a decade.On August 13, the Jeonnam Education Dream Realization Foundation announced that the association donated 10 million won to support the development of future talent.The Gwangju and Jeonnam chapter's educational contributions began in 2012. Since then, they have consistently provided support to enhance local students' skills and capabilities, bringing the total donations to 110 million won, including the latest contribution.The foundation plans to use this donation to help local students discover their talents and realize their dreams through various support programs aimed at nurturing future talent.Notably, the Gwangju and Jeonnam chapter has maintained its long-term commitment to educational donations since 2012, emphasizing the importance of community and educational collaboration in talent development.Jeon Sang-cheol, president of the Gwangju and Jeonnam chapter of the Korean Association of Mechanical Equipment Construction, stated, "I hope students believe in their potential and challenge themselves to explore a broader world. We will continue our efforts to nurture future talent and support students' dreams in collaboration with the community."Kim Dae-jung, chairman of the Jeonnam Education Dream Realization Foundation, expressed gratitude, saying, "I appreciate the Gwangju and Jeonnam chapter of the Korean Association of Mechanical Equipment Construction for their unwavering support of students' dreams over the years. We will continue to support local students in pursuing their dreams."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 13:56:00
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Emart Reports 64% Increase in Second Quarter Operating Profit Emart achieved both revenue growth and improved profitability in the second quarter of this year, thanks to strengthened core business competitiveness.On August 13, Emart announced that its separate operating profit for the second quarter reached 25.6 billion won, a 64% increase compared to the same period last year. Total sales rose by 3.5% to 4.4428 trillion won.For the first half of the year, cumulative separate total sales amounted to 9.1581 trillion won, up 2.7% year-on-year, while operating profit increased by 15.4% to 171.9 billion won. Emart attributed the simultaneous growth in sales and profits in the second quarter to ongoing innovations in pricing, products, and store space.Notably, the growth of the warehouse-style discount store Traders was significant, with second-quarter operating profit rising by 12.7% to 34.6 billion won. The introduction of exclusive products, private brands, and differentiated food content contributed to a 3.7% increase in customer visits compared to the previous year.The operating profit for the corporate supermarket Everyday also saw a substantial increase of 51.7%, reaching 8.1 billion won in the second quarter. Cumulative operating profit for the first half of the year rose by 51.5% to 16.4 billion won. The company credited improved profitability to expanded consolidated purchasing, a new franchise model, and enhanced online and local delivery services.The large discount event, Whale It Festival, also supported performance improvements. During the event period in the second quarter, sales and customer numbers increased by 8.8% and 4.1%, respectively, compared to the previous year.The effects of store renovations were also evident. By enhancing experiential content and tailoring brand offerings to local markets, the renovated stores in Ilsan, Dongtan, and Gyeongsan saw average sales increase by 79.5% and customer visits rise by 42.4% compared to the previous year.Among its subsidiaries, Josun Hotel & Resort reported an operating profit of 10.1 billion won in the second quarter, an increase of 2.9 billion won year-on-year, driven by a rise in foreign tourist numbers and average spending per guest. Emart24 also improved its profitability by 2.1 billion won, reducing its operating loss to 2.3 billion won due to store efficiency gains.In contrast, SCK Company, which operates Starbucks Korea, reported an operating loss of 18.4 billion won due to sales disruptions related to marketing issues.Looking ahead, Emart plans to strengthen its core product and private brand strategies across channels, as well as continue renovations and new openings for Starfield Market, and expand last-mile delivery services. Additionally, the company will begin establishing signage within Traders stores, marking the launch of its integrated retail media network (RMN) business.An Emart official stated, "We will continue to innovate in pricing, products, and space in the second half of the year to enhance our core business competitiveness and market dominance, while also identifying new business opportunities to solidify our long-term growth foundation." 2026-08-13 13:52:10
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Health Ministry Accelerates Plans for National Medical Graduate School Discussions on establishing a national medical graduate school, which will serve as a key hub for training essential public health personnel, are gaining momentum. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to accelerate the establishment process by creating specialized committees under the preparatory committee, aiming for a 2029 opening. On the morning of August 13, the Ministry held the second meeting of the 'Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the National Medical Graduate School' at T Tower in Seoul. The meeting began with a report on the results of the first meeting held on July 3, followed by discussions on amendments to the committee's operational rules in light of recent organizational changes within the ministry. A key focus of the meeting was the 'specialized committee formation plan' aimed at efficiently reviewing practical matters necessary for the establishment of the graduate school, in accordance with the recently enacted National Medical Graduate School Act. The preparatory committee decided to establish four specialized committees to conduct professional reviews related to the school’s establishment: ▲ infrastructure ▲ curriculum ▲ operational systems ▲ mandatory service. These committees will consist of external experts and officials from relevant government departments. Considering the progress of the establishment, the Ministry plans to prioritize the formation of the 'Infrastructure Specialized Committee' to discuss the school's location and construction plans, as well as the 'Curriculum Specialized Committee' to review medical education accreditation and specialized public health courses. The location of the national medical school, a matter of significant interest, will also be finalized following in-depth discussions within these committees. Additionally, the Ministry is expediting the preparation of subordinate regulations detailing the operational plans for the national medical school. Currently, the draft enforcement decree and rules for the National Medical Graduate School Act are under legislative notice from July 21 to August 31. Lee Hyung-hoon, the Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and chair of the preparatory committee, stated, "With the formation of specialized committees, detailed discussions in each area will intensify, allowing us to accelerate the preparation for establishment. We will ensure that the 2029 opening and the 2030 curriculum launch proceed smoothly by carefully managing the preparations in each area."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 13:44:00
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Taegeukgi Campaign in Jangheung Ahead of Liberation Day As Liberation Day approaches, a wave of Taegeukgi flags filled the streets of Jangheung. On the morning of August 13, Jangheung County reported that over 200 local residents, social welfare organizations, and children participated in a 'Liberation Day Taegeukgi Campaign' in the Jangheung-eup area. The campaign aimed to reflect on the meaning of liberation and honor the noble intentions of those who dedicated their lives for the country, while also encouraging residents to voluntarily display the national flag ahead of Liberation Day. Among the participants were Yang Dong-cheol, head of the Jangheung branch of the Korean Liberation Association, staff from the Jangheung Comprehensive Social Welfare Center led by Director Yang Eun-hee, children from the Saetbyeol Child Center, county officials, and local residents. Participants gathered at the Jangheung Bridge rotary, waving Taegeukgi flags as they marched to the main entrance of the county office. The procession along the city streets served as an opportunity to share the historical significance of liberation and the value of love for the country with the community. Upon reaching the county office, participants shouted slogans in celebration of liberation and concluded the event with a group photo. This event was supported by a budget of 2 million won as part of the '2026 National Defense Spirit Promotion Project' selection. Sa Soon-moon, the mayor of Jangheung County, expressed hope that the campaign would serve as a reminder of the significance of liberation and the importance of the Taegeukgi. He encouraged residents to actively participate in raising the national flag on Liberation Day and to honor the noble intentions of those who dedicated themselves to the nation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 13:40:00
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An Jung-geun's Calligraphy Returns from Japan 'International law is not as powerful as cannons.' An Jung-geun expressed his skepticism about the reality where the logic of power prevails over international law in these eight characters after being sentenced to death in Lushun Prison, China, in February 1910.On August 13, two days before Liberation Day, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Foundation for Cultural Heritage Abroad unveiled An Jung-geun's calligraphy, 'International law is not as powerful as cannons,' for the first time at the Jungmyeongjeon Hall in Deoksugung, Seoul. This calligraphy, created in 1910, measures 196.8 cm in height and 44.8 cm in width.'International law is not as powerful as cannons' is a phrase derived from the 19th-century Japanese thinker Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835–1901). It criticizes the reality of the time when imperial powers advocated international law while the actual international order operated according to the logic of military power.An Jung-geun valued peace and international order in the East based on international law. After he shot Ito Hirobumi at Harbin Station in China on October 26, 1909, he insisted that he had acted in a just war as a general of the Korean army and demanded a trial based on international law.However, Japan did not accept this. An Jung-geun was charged with simple murder and sentenced to death. The phrase 'International law is not as powerful as cannons' reflects this awareness of reality.The calligraphy is confirmed to have been written just before An's death. His handprint, a symbol of his calligraphy, is clearly stamped on the lower left. Above it, he wrote, 'In the third month of the year of Gyeongsul, in Lushun Prison, Korean An Jung-geun writes.' This indicates that it was written just days before his execution on March 26, 1910.The writing style combines regular script with semi-cursive and cursive styles, showcasing a powerful brushstroke as if written in one go. Notably, the character '萬' (man) is written in cursive, a characteristic also seen in the 'Golden Hundred Thousand Yangs is not as good as one teacher' held by the National Museum of Korean History, indicating An Jung-geun's unique writing style.Experts have determined the authenticity of the calligraphy based on similarities in brushwork, character composition, and speed of writing compared to An's other works, as well as matching handprints.The inscription on the back of the calligraphy shows the original owner's identity and the transmission path. It records the events leading to An Jung-geun's actions in Harbin in 1910 and his execution, as well as the reasons for preserving the calligraphy.The original owner was Kurihara Sadakichi (栗原貞吉; ?–1941), the warden of Lushun Prison at the time. Kurihara is known to have shown humane consideration while An was imprisoned. Later, an individual who identified himself as 'Pyeongmun Gwangsa' took over the calligraphy for preservation.The existence of the calligraphy was first confirmed in May of last year when the overseas foundation obtained information through local networks. Following administrative support from the Cultural Heritage Administration and thorough investigation and negotiation by the overseas foundation, it was successfully brought back to Korea in November of the same year. The return was supported by the lottery fund.Heo Min, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, 'It is significant to unveil this precious cultural heritage that vividly shows An Jung-geun's passion for independence and peace just before Liberation Day. I hope this unveiling serves as an opportunity to reflect on the aspirations and dedication of our ancestors for liberation and to inspire national pride among the people.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 13:28:00
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DeepSeek V4 Pro Matches Performance of Claude Phable 5 at a Fraction of the Cost Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek has officially launched the V4 Pro, significantly enhancing its agent capabilities.On August 13, DeepSeek updated the V4 Pro to its API (Application Programming Interface), as reported by the China Business Journal. In benchmarks for agent functionality, the V4 Pro demonstrated performance comparable to or even surpassing that of Anthropic's latest AI model, Claude Phable 5, in some evaluations.The most notable aspect of its performance is in agent tasks. The V4 Pro scored 87.9 points in the 'terminal bench,' which involves executing actual commands and modifying files in a terminal environment. This score is just 0.1 points shy of Claude Phable 5's 88.0, indicating virtually equivalent performance.DeepSeek's V4 Pro also excelled in cybersecurity agent assessments, such as CyberGym, and in high-difficulty task automation evaluations like AutomationBench, with some tests indicating it outperformed Phable 5.The V4 Pro is designed as a mixed-expert (MoE) model with a total of 1.6 trillion parameters, of which 49 billion are active parameters used in calculations. It also supports a massive context of 1 million tokens, allowing for the input of lengthy documents or large codebases for extended tasks.Its coding capabilities are impressive as well. According to DeepSeek's technical documentation, the V4 Pro achieved a score of 93.5 in LiveCodeBench and 3,206 in Codeforces. Notably, in Codeforces, it surpassed some of the latest models from OpenAI and Google.Moreover, the V4 Pro offers overwhelming price competitiveness. The API pricing for the official version is 3 yuan (approximately $0.63) per 1 million tokens for input and 6 yuan ($1.26) per 1 million tokens for output. In contrast, Phable 5 charges $10 (about 14,000 won) for input and $50 (70,000 won) for output per 1 million tokens. This means DeepSeek's V4 Pro is priced at one-fiftieth of Phable 5's cost.The China Business Journal notes that the V4 Pro demonstrates that Chinese AI is moving beyond merely creating low-cost models. As the competition shifts from chatbots that answer questions to agents capable of performing actual tasks such as coding, security, and automation, DeepSeek has proven the potential of Chinese AI agents.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 13:20:00
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KOSPI Approaches 6900 Amid Strong Foreign and Institutional Buying; KOSDAQ Rises Over 1% The KOSPI index rose nearly 4% to surpass the 6800 mark, driven by strong buying from foreign and institutional investors. Major semiconductor stocks, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, showed robust performance, with Samsung Electro-Mechanics surging over 13% to lead the index's gains.As of 12:40 p.m. on August 13, the KOSPI was trading at 6840.20, up 261.16 points (3.97%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 6773.92, up 194.88 points (2.96%), and briefly reached 6895.63, nearing the 6900 level.While individual investors sold a net 2.704 trillion won worth of stocks, foreign and institutional investors purchased a net 1.6525 trillion won and 444.1 billion won, respectively.Most of the top market capitalization stocks were in the green. Samsung Electronics rose 4.99%, SK Hynix increased by 7.45%, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics climbed 13.26%. Other gainers included Hyundai Motor (up 2.93%) and LG Energy Solution (up 2.23%), while Samsung Life Insurance fell by 1.65%.The strength in semiconductor stocks is attributed to expectations of increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, noted, "The strong performance of AI infrastructure companies like CoreWeave and Supermicro has reaffirmed the demand for AI infrastructure investment." This has led to buying interest in semiconductor-related stocks, including Hanmi Semiconductor and DB HiTek.Stocks related to multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) also performed well. Morgan Stanley projected that demand for MLCCs would surge due to expanded investments in AI data centers, predicting price strength to continue from the second half of this year into next year. Stocks such as Samsung Electro-Mechanics (up 13.26%), Samwha Capacitor (up 21.02%), and Amotech (up 5.72%) saw gains.At the same time, the KOSDAQ index was trading at 867.73, up 8.82 points (1.03%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 863.15, up 4.24 points (0.49%), but initially showed mixed performance before rebounding, briefly surpassing 870 at 870.96.Individual investors bought a net 168.9 billion won worth of stocks, while foreign and institutional investors sold a net 68.9 billion won and 89.8 billion won, respectively.Most of the top KOSDAQ stocks were also performing well. Notable gainers included Alteogen (up 0.31%), EcoPro (up 2.30%), and Juseong Engineering (up 5.00%), while Reno Technology remained flat.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 12:56:10
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National Tax Service Launches Special Tax Investigation at KB Kookmin Bank The National Tax Service (NTS) has initiated an irregular special tax investigation into KB Kookmin Bank. Approximately 30 investigators from the Seoul Regional Tax Office's Investigation Division 4 have been deployed for this inquiry.According to the finance sector on the 13th, the Investigation Division 4 began securing necessary materials for the tax investigation at KB Kookmin Bank's new building in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, earlier today. The investigation is expected to continue until the end of this year.This division primarily handles irregular investigations related to corporate tax evasion and the creation of slush funds, rather than regular tax audits. The specific reasons and scope of the current investigation have not been disclosed.This marks the third time this year that the Seoul Regional Tax Office has launched an irregular investigation into a financial institution. Following tax audits of Hana Financial Group, Hana Bank, and Meritz Securities in May, KB Kookmin Bank has now come under scrutiny just three months later.The timing of the investigation coincides with President Lee Jae-myung's remarks regarding the public nature of the financial sector, leading to speculation that tax audits may expand across the finance industry. President Lee has pointed out the vulnerabilities in the public nature of financial institutions.As the NTS targets large financial firms again, there is growing interest in the connection between this investigation and the push for enhanced public accountability in the finance sector. The NTS maintains that it cannot disclose the reasons or details regarding individual corporate tax investigations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 12:12:00