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  • Rideflux Surpasses 100 Patents as It Accelerates Autonomous Driving IPO
    Rideflux Surpasses 100 Patents as It Accelerates Autonomous Driving IPO Rideflux has surpassed 100 registered patents focused on core autonomous driving technologies, accelerating its efforts toward commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving ahead of its initial public offering (IPO).On August 12, Rideflux announced that it has developed key technologies for autonomous driving software, including perception and positioning, decision-making and control, high-definition mapping, and remote operation.The company is expanding its patent portfolio primarily in the field of 'physical AI,' where artificial intelligence learns and makes decisions in complex road environments.The 100th registered patent is an AI technology that automatically maps geometric elements of roads, such as lanes and curbs, based on real-time LiDAR data. This technology automates the labeling process, which was previously done manually, reducing the time and cost required for building high-definition maps.As of last month, Rideflux had filed a total of 148 patents, with 100 registered. According to the company, its patent registration rate stands at 95.06%, surpassing the overall registration decision rate of 74.6% from the Intellectual Property Office. The proportion of patents rated A or higher based on the SMART5 quality assessment criteria is 49.25%.Key technologies include perception technologies that enhance the speed and accuracy of LiDAR-based object detection AI models, driving decision-making technologies focused on safety, and road network map generation technologies that accelerate real-time route planning.Rideflux is also moving quickly toward its IPO. In May, it secured eligibility for listing by receiving an A rating from all expert institutions in a technology evaluation. The company plans to submit its preliminary examination application to the Korea Exchange this month and will begin the listing process on the KOSDAQ.Park Jung-hee, CEO of Rideflux, stated, "Based on the core competitiveness of Level 4 autonomous driving software, we will rapidly secure rights for physical AI technologies validated in real road environments, further solidifying the technological barriers that make it difficult for latecomers to imitate our innovations."Meanwhile, Rideflux is conducting autonomous freight transport over a 112-kilometer route connecting the southeastern logistics complex in Songpa, Seoul, and the logistics center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. In April, it obtained permission from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for paid freight transport using autonomous vehicles over long distances, including urban roads.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:44:00
  • BC Card Completes Stablecoin Payment and Won Settlement Pilot with Coinbase and WaveBridge
    BC Card Completes Stablecoin Payment and Won Settlement Pilot with Coinbase and WaveBridge BC Card has completed a technology verification that allows stablecoins stored in overseas digital asset wallets to be used for payments at domestic merchants.On August 12, BC Card announced that it has finished a proof of concept (PoC) project in collaboration with global digital asset company Coinbase and digital asset infrastructure technology firm WaveBridge. The project focused on connecting overseas digital asset wallets to domestic card payment infrastructure.The pilot program was conducted over approximately three months, starting in April. BC Card provided the card payment infrastructure and QR payment module, while Coinbase and WaveBridge were responsible for the overseas wallet 'Base' and the blockchain infrastructure and fiat currency conversion technology, respectively.The PoC demonstrated a scenario where foreign tourists used the dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC held in their Base wallets to make payments at BC Card QR merchants in South Korea. The entire payment flow, including the conversion of USDC to Korean won for merchant settlement, was verified.Notably, the pilot also tested payment cancellation and refund features, which have been challenging in existing blockchain environments. By linking the card payment system and blockchain infrastructure in real-time, merchants were able to cancel payments, ensuring that the USDC used in the transaction was immediately returned to the customer's wallet in case of any issues.Based on the results of this pilot, BC Card plans to prepare for commercialization. The company also intends to develop a global standard interface (API) that can connect overseas digital asset wallets with domestic merchant networks.Kim Young-woo, CEO of BC Card, stated, "This pilot has verified that the domestic card payment infrastructure can operate reliably in global stablecoin payment services. We will continue to expand digital asset payment services."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:44:00
  • Song Young-gil Criticizes Jeong Cheong-raes Diagnosis of Lee Jae-myungs Declining Support
    Song Young-gil Criticizes Jeong Cheong-rae's Diagnosis of Lee Jae-myung's Declining Support Song Young-gil, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized fellow candidate Jeong Cheong-rae for claiming he could recover core support and raise President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating by more than 10 percentage points. He referred to Jeong as a "quack doctor."During an appearance on KBS Radio's "Current Affairs Shock," Song stated, "The current decline in support is due to real estate issues." He added, "The drop in stock prices and leveraged ETFs have also contributed to the decline in President Lee's approval rating."He emphasized, "If you misdiagnose and operate on a healthy area, it leads to a medical accident. I believe Jeong's claim to restore core public sentiment is a quack doctor's prescription."Additionally, Song remarked, "It seems Jeong has lied too much in the past. I will verify this during today's TV debate." He also mentioned plans to review the party's success in the June 3 local elections and by-elections, as well as the unanimous decision of the Supreme Council regarding the expulsion of former Jeonbuk Governor Kim Kwan-young.Furthermore, he questioned, "How can a party leader who does not even know what the top national agenda is coordinate effectively with the president?" This comment was a critique of Jeong's previous assertion that the top national agenda was 'resolving the insurrection.' The Lee Jae-myung administration's primary national agenda is 'constitutional reform for a true Republic of Korea.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:40:10
  • S2W Collaborates with Interpol on Africa Cyber Threat Report, Sharing AI-Based Cybercrime Insights
    S2W Collaborates with Interpol on Africa Cyber Threat Report, Sharing AI-Based Cybercrime Insights Big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) company S2W recently announced its participation as a private sector partner in the creation of the '2026 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report' released by Interpol. The report provides data and intelligence for analyzing cybercrime trends in Africa.This report was published as part of the 'Africa Joint Cybercrime Operation' (AFJOC), supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It was developed using a multi-source analysis approach that combines survey data provided by law enforcement agencies from 36 Interpol member countries in Africa with telemetry data and threat intelligence from global companies and non-profit organizations, including S2W, Mastercard, Fortinet, Shadowserver Foundation, and Trend AI.As online fraud methods increasingly intertwine with other crimes such as drug trafficking, the importance of public-private cooperation in sharing information across borders is growing. This collaboration aims to identify and block criminal infrastructure early by linking private sector data and technology.S2W, as a Korean partner in Interpol's 'Gateway Initiative,' utilized AI-based big data collection and analysis technology during the report's preparation to identify and classify content from African sources on dark web forums. The company confirmed a 62% increase in such content compared to the previous year, which included personal identification documents, SIM card PINs, bank account authentication information, and mobile financial account details. Many of these were identified as information leaked from past breaches, phishing campaigns, and compromised mobile applications.According to the report, reported cybercrime-related losses in Africa surged from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, more than doubling. The number of confirmed victims rose from 35,000 to 87,000 during the same period. Additionally, it was found that 55% of reported cybercrimes in Africa in 2025 involved some level of AI, which was exploited for automating phishing campaigns, creating deepfake impersonations, and generating synthetic identities for financial fraud, thereby increasing the speed, scale, and sophistication of attacks.Neil Jettin, head of Interpol's Cybercrime Division, stated, “Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant threats in the African region. AI automates every stage of cyberattacks, from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion.” He added, “However, we are also confirming that through international cooperation, we can identify, neutralize, and dismantle cybercrime infrastructure.”Seo Sang-deok, CEO of S2W, remarked, “S2W has focused on closely analyzing the crime situation in developing countries that are relatively vulnerable to cyberattacks due to insufficient infrastructure and institutional foundations, providing high-quality intelligence that law enforcement agencies can practically use to fill security gaps.” He emphasized, “We will continue to enhance our AI-based global data collection and analysis technology to quickly capture signals of security threats occurring worldwide and support responses to transnational crime.”S2W has been expanding its international cooperation activities since being selected as the first Korean partner in Interpol's global public-private cooperation program, the 'Gateway Initiative,' in October 2025. In 2026, it participated in 'Synergia III,' which addresses phishing, malware, and ransomware, supporting cybercrime tracking and malicious server identification. The company also collaborated in 'Cyber Protect III,' led by Interpol and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:40:00
  • Lee Jong-hyun Announces End of Social Media Activity, Embraces Ordinary Life
    Lee Jong-hyun Announces End of Social Media Activity, Embraces Ordinary Life Lee Jong-hyun, a former member of CNBLUE, has announced that he will cease his social media activities.On August 11, Lee shared on his social media, "I want to convey a story that I have kept in my heart for a long time," stating, "It has been eight years since I left the team due to my inappropriate behavior and immaturity, distancing myself from the world." He continued, "Even while living as an ordinary person, I have always carried the burden of misunderstandings and criticisms directed at the team and its members due to my past actions. Some fans who cared for me may have thought I was shunned by the members, but that is not true, and it has always pained me that the members were hurt because of this." Lee expressed, "I feared that my remaining with the team would cause greater harm and leave a stain on it due to my personal shame and mistakes that I could not fully disclose at the time. Leaving the team was entirely my fault and choice, and I must bear that responsibility." He added, "Out of shame for my past misconduct and a sense of responsibility, I chose to leave the entertainment industry and live disconnected from the world. Since leaving, I have faced various trials in my personal life. However, I now want to confront my past mistakes and live honorably in the world as a human being." Lee clarified, "This message is not written as a means to return to the entertainment industry. I want to prevent any unverified rumors or misunderstandings related to my current work as an ordinary person regarding specific brands and business matters." In closing, he stated, "I will always sincerely support the members and CNBLUE, who created precious memories with me. This will be my last communication on social media, and I will not engage in further interactions. I am now returning to a completely ordinary life, reflecting on my past, and striving to live a life that is not shameful to society and to be a responsible person." Lee Jong-hyun debuted in the music industry with CNBLUE in 2010. He became embroiled in controversy in March 2019 when it was revealed that he participated in a group chat with singer Jung Joon-young, who was involved in a scandal regarding the distribution of illegal recordings.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:40:00
  • North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of South Korea-US joint drills
    North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of South Korea-US joint drills SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, military authorities here said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected a missile launched from Wonsan, Kangwon Province at around 6 a.m. that flew more than 700 kilometers. It is analyzing the launch, including details about the missile, in coordination with U.S. authorities. "South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are closely sharing information on the launch and maintaining full readiness," the JCS said. The launch was the North's 11th provocation of this year, just less than a week after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile from the same area last Thursday. It also came just ahead of South Korea's joint military exercise with the U.S., dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), which is set to begin its 10-day drills next Monday. North Korea has often protested against the annual exercise with missile launches and other provocations, calling it a "rehearsal for an invasion" by what it describes as "warmongers." South Korea's National Security Office (NSO) called an emergency meeting shortly after the missile launch and expressed concern over the North's continued provocations, urging Pyongyang to stop such actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The JCS said it has stepped up surveillance and maintained vigilance against possible additional launches. AJP Takeaways: - North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea at around 6 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2026, with the missile traveling more than 700 kilometers after being launched from Wonsan, Kangwon Province. - The Joint Chiefs of Staff is analyzing the missile launch in coordination with U.S. authorities, while South Korea, the United States and Japan are closely sharing information and maintaining military readiness. - The Aug. 12 missile launch was North Korea's 11th provocation of 2026 and came less than a week after Pyongyang fired a short-range ballistic missile from the same area on Aug. 6. - The launch came ahead of the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States scheduled to begin Aug. 17, 2026. - South Korea's National Security Office called an emergency meeting after the launch, expressing concern over North Korea's continued provocations and urging Pyongyang to halt actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. 2026-08-12 08:37:23
  • Typhoon Chan-hom Makes Landfall in Ibaraki, Japan, for the First Time
    Typhoon Chan-hom Makes Landfall in Ibaraki, Japan, for the First Time Typhoon Chan-hom made landfall in Ibaraki Prefecture on the night of August 11, crossing central Honshu from east to west, including the Tokyo metropolitan area. This marks the first time a typhoon has made landfall in Ibaraki since records began in 1951. The typhoon is expected to weaken into a tropical depression as it moves into the Sea of Japan on the morning of August 12.According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Chan-hom made landfall in southern Ibaraki around 8 p.m. on August 11. After making landfall, it passed through Tsuchiura City in Ibaraki, Kashiwa City in Chiba, Tokorozawa City in Saitama, and Otsuki City in Yamanashi, traversing the Kanto and Koshin regions, which include Tokyo and the surrounding areas. By 6 a.m. on August 12, it had moved near Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture. The central pressure was 996 hPa, with maximum sustained winds of 18 m/s and gusts up to 25 m/s, moving west at 40 km/h.Typically, typhoons approaching Japan move northward from the southern seas or northeastward, but Chan-hom took an unusual path from the east to the west. The Japan Meteorological Agency explained that a high-pressure system located to the north of Japan blocked the typhoon's northward movement, causing it to shift westward. Kazuhisa Tsuboki, a typhoon mechanism expert at Nagoya University and Yokohama National University, told NHK, "Winds and rain may behave differently than usual due to the east-to-west movement. During Typhoon No. 12 in 2018, significant damage occurred north of the typhoon, and there is a possibility of strong winds and heavy rain causing damage again in the vicinity of 100 km north of the typhoon's center this time as well."The typhoon is expected to pass through the Tokai and Hokuriku regions of central Japan on August 12 before exiting into the Sea of Japan, where it is forecasted to weaken into a tropical depression. If it follows the current predicted path, it is unlikely to approach the Korean Peninsula directly as it weakens in the Sea of Japan.However, heavy rain is expected to continue even after the typhoon passes. The warm, moist air surrounding the typhoon combined with cold air aloft is creating unstable atmospheric conditions. According to NHK, the maximum expected rainfall over 24 hours until the morning of August 13 is 150 mm in northeastern Tohoku and the Tokai and Kinki regions, including Osaka and Kyoto, and 120 mm in the Kanto and Koshin regions. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of the risk of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and river overflows. In fact, a level 4 flood risk warning was issued for the Zenpukuji River flowing through the Suginami and Nakano wards of Tokyo on the night of August 11. Japan's warning system is divided into five levels, with higher numbers indicating greater risk. Level 4 indicates that evacuation orders may be issued.The timing of the typhoon coincides with the spring tide, when the difference between high and low tides is greatest, which could lead to coastal lowlands being inundated. The meteorological agency has urged caution against storm surges in eastern Japan on August 12 and in western Japan on August 13. A level 4 storm surge warning has been issued for some areas in Hyogo Prefecture.Damage has already been reported. On the night of August 11, maximum wind gusts of 29.3 m/s were recorded in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and 28.6 m/s in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. As of 6 a.m. on August 12, four people had been injured due to strong winds—three in Ibaraki and one in Tochigi, all with minor injuries. Power outages affected up to 21,500 households on the night of August 11. As of 6 a.m. on August 12, approximately 7,660 households in six prefectures, including Ibaraki, were still without power. In Mito City, Ibaraki, strong winds blew off a building's roof, damaging parked cars, while a 7-meter-long tree was uprooted near Omotesando Station in Tokyo. In Tochigi, a fallen tree struck a train on the JR Utsunomiya Line, halting service on the Utsunomiya Line and Shonan-Shinjuku Line for about three hours, but no passengers or crew were injured.On August 11, numerous flights were also canceled. All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceled 59 flights to and from Haneda and Narita airports, affecting about 11,000 passengers, while Japan Airlines (JAL) canceled eight flights. This week coincides with Japan's Obon holiday, a time when many people travel home. The Japan Meteorological Agency has advised caution regarding potential disruptions to transportation services due to continued strong winds and heavy rain on August 12.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:36:00
  • Samsung Securities Raises NCs Target Price to 340,000 Won Amid Strong Sales Momentum
    Samsung Securities Raises NC's Target Price to 340,000 Won Amid Strong Sales Momentum Samsung Securities announced on August 12 that it has raised its target price for NC from 290,000 won to 340,000 won, citing sustained sales from Lineage Classic and the upcoming global launch of Aion 2 in the second half of the year as key drivers for expected profit growth. The firm maintained its 'buy' rating.Oh Dong-hwan, a researcher at Samsung Securities, stated, "Sales in the second quarter increased by 38% compared to the previous quarter, exceeding consensus estimates by 13%, driven by the warm sales of Lineage Classic and growth in mobile casual game revenues. Operating profit also rose by 54% to 173.9 billion won, surpassing consensus by 32%. However, excluding a one-time contract payment of 39 billion won for Blade & Soul 2 in China, the results were in line with expectations."He added, "Lineage Classic's daily sales in the second quarter reached 2.1 billion won, a 33% increase from the first quarter, demonstrating the sustainability of the Lineage intellectual property. Sales for Lineage Classic remained stable in July, suggesting that the decline in third-quarter sales will be limited to around 10%."Oh noted that while some new game releases may be postponed to 2027, the company plans to launch ten new titles by next year through securing additional publishing lineups. The global launch of Aion 2 is scheduled for September 30, and the release in China is expected to proceed ahead of schedule, indicating sufficient momentum for new releases in the second half of the year.He concluded, "Reflecting the long-term sales of Lineage Classic and the anticipated momentum from new releases starting with Aion 2 in the second half, we have raised the target price to 340,000 won. As the growth strategy through the expansion of legacy IP sales and the acquisition of multiple non-MMO new titles is being executed as planned, the valuation discount due to profit declines is expected to gradually diminish."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:36:00
  • Market Preview: Investors Await U.S. CPI; Will Semiconductor Stocks Provide Support?
    Market Preview: Investors Await U.S. CPI; Will Semiconductor Stocks Provide Support? As investors await the release of the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July, global markets are exhibiting a cautious stance. Domestic markets are expected to be influenced by rising international oil prices and weakness in major U.S. tech stocks. However, the increase in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and ongoing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure may limit downward pressure on the domestic market, which is also experiencing reduced volatility.On August 11, U.S. stocks fell as caution grew ahead of the CPI announcement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.34% to close at 53,791.85. The S&P 500 fell 0.32% to 7,728.20, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.60% to finish at 26,445.45. In contrast, the Russell 2000 index, which focuses on small-cap stocks, rose by 0.32%.Market sentiment was cautious ahead of the inflation data. Following disappointing employment figures last week, interest in the Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory has increased, making this CPI report a key variable for the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in September.The consensus for the July CPI is a year-over-year increase of 3.4% for the headline figure and 2.5% for core inflation. Month-over-month, a rise of 0.1% for the headline and 0.2% for core inflation is anticipated. After a 0.4% decline in the headline CPI in June and a flat core CPI, a normalization of prices is expected for July.Rising international oil prices pose a burden in terms of inflation and interest rates. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have shown little progress, leading West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude to rise by $1.07 (1.30%) to $83.20 per barrel. Brent crude increased by $1.23 (1.40%) to $88.91.The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note fell by 1.8 basis points to 4.6883%, but remains at a high level. If oil prices continue to rise, concerns about future inflation may increase, limiting the potential for interest rate declines and putting pressure on risk assets.According to Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, “This consumer price index could lead to changes in monetary policy, making it highly relevant for the short-term bond, foreign exchange, and stock markets. If a higher-than-expected core CPI is reported, it could reignite concerns about interest rate hikes, especially in light of recent inflation warnings from Fed officials.”He added, “Conversely, if lower-than-expected inflation is confirmed, it could ease interest rate pressures. However, the persistence of high international oil prices suggests that concerns about future inflation will remain, potentially limiting stock market gains.”Despite the declines in the U.S. stock market, the relatively small drop is seen as a positive sign. While major tech stocks struggled, the Russell 2000 index rose, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index increased by 0.87%. Notably, Micron Technology gained 0.87%, and AMD rose by 1.01%. The American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of SK Hynix, closely tied to the domestic market, surged by 4.70%.The rise in SK Hynix ADRs was bolstered by news of increased stakes in Kioxia and the reopening of its factory in Dalian, China. The expectation that SK Hynix could become the largest shareholder in Kioxia, thereby expanding its influence in the global NAND market, along with the resumption of construction and investment at its subsidiary Solidigm's Dalian plant, was positively received.Investment demand for AI infrastructure remains strong. Nvidia has formalized a financial consortium for AI infrastructure worth up to $500 billion, involving firms such as Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, BlackRock, Brookfield Asset Management, Goldman Sachs, and KKR. This indicates that AI investments are expanding beyond semiconductors and AI model development to include data center and power grid construction, highlighting the importance of large-scale funding.While Nvidia's stock dipped by 0.02%, related power infrastructure stocks performed well. Constellation Energy rose by 2.93%, Eaton by 3.22%, and Vertiv Holdings by 4.34%. Oclaro and NuScale Power also saw increases of 5.66% and 7.73%, respectively. The growing demand for power due to the expansion of AI data centers is driving investment momentum in related sectors.AI-related companies such as CoreWeave and Supermicro have shown strong performance in after-hours trading, with gains exceeding 13% and 6%, respectively, following their earnings reports, which is a favorable factor for the domestic AI and semiconductor value chain.Additionally, the reduction in volatility in the KOSPI is seen as a positive development. According to Kiwoom Securities, the VKOSPI, which indicates future expected volatility for the KOSPI, averaged around 85 points in June and July, peaking at 95 points during a sharp decline at the end of June. However, it has dropped to the 70-point range in August, reaching a low of 61 points on August 11, the lowest since May 8.Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, noted, “While a VKOSPI in the 60-point range is still relatively high, the recent decline in VKOSPI during the market recovery suggests that the supply stress that led to the volatility spike in July is easing. It is important to recognize that abnormal volatility is normalizing ahead of stock prices.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 08:32:10
  • Youth job drought deepens, fall largest in 5 years
    Youth job drought deepens, fall largest in 5 years SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) -South Korea's youth employment fell for a 45th straight month in July and the youth jobless rate posted its sharpest rise in more than five years, as hiring droughts in manufacturing and professional services deepened despite booming exports, government data showed Wednesday. The number of employed people aged 15 to 29 fell by 191,000 from a year earlier to 3.44 million, while their employment rate dropped 1.6 percentage points to 44.2 percent, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The youth unemployment rate rose 1.3 percentage points to 6.8 percent, the steepest increase since January 2021. Employment among people in their 20s alone fell by 204,000. The headline labor-market numbers were better. The total number of employed people aged 15 and older increased by 108,000 from a year earlier to 29.136 million, accelerating from a gain of 63,000 in June. The improvement, however, continued to bypass sectors that traditionally provide a large share of regular jobs. Manufacturing shed 68,000 jobs, extending its decline to a 25th consecutive month, while construction lost 57,000 jobs for a 27th straight month. Professional, scientific and technical services cut another 44,000 jobs, marking an eighth consecutive monthly decline. The weakness in manufacturing employment has persisted even as South Korea's export engine has accelerated. Semiconductor exports surged 179 percent in July from a year earlier and total outbound shipments jumped 62.8 percent to $98.89 billion. The age breakdown exposed an equally stark divide. Employment among people aged 60 and older increased by 231,000, more than twice the economy's overall net job gain, while employment among those in their 40s fell by 31,000 in addition to the 204,000 decline among people in their 20s. Health and social welfare services led job creation with an increase of 173,000, while agriculture, forestry and fisheries lost 80,000 jobs. Non-wage employment, including the self-employed and unpaid family workers, increased by 119,000. The overall employment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier to 63.3 percent. The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage point to 2.6 percent, with the number of unemployed increasing by 50,000 to 776,000. The economically inactive population increased by 99,000 to 16.103 million. Among them, the number of people classified as simply "resting" fell by 62,000 to 2.518 million, while discouraged job seekers declined by 18,000 to 378,000. The ministry said it will begin publishing additional employment indicators for people aged 15 to 34 from its September employment report due in October, reflecting a revision to the Special Act on the Promotion of Youth Employment that expands the statutory definition of youth. 2026-08-12 08:32:09