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Heat Wave Response Elevated to Level 2 as Government Maintains High Alert As heat wave warnings are in effect across most of the country and tropical nights continue, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCHQ) has activated Level 2 of its response system and is assessing the situation.On the afternoon of August 3, Kim Kwang-yong, the deputy head of the CDSCHQ, chaired a meeting at the Central Disaster Safety Situation Room in Sejong City to review the government's response to the heat wave.The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that the heat wave and tropical nights will persist due to the influence of the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High. In response, the government elevated the emergency response level to 2 the previous day and is currently mobilizing a comprehensive government response system. Field situation managers have been dispatched to areas under heat wave warnings to assess the response efforts.The government has instructed all available media, including public broadcasting, disaster text alerts, electronic billboards, and village broadcasts, to repeatedly inform the public about safety measures. Special attention is being given to ensure that vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and farmers, receive this information.Additionally, surveillance activities targeting vulnerable seniors, residents of small rooms, and the homeless will be intensified. The operation of cooling centers will be thoroughly checked, and any deficiencies will be promptly addressed. In areas experiencing heat wave warnings and tropical nights, the government has urged the extension of cooling center hours to ensure accessibility.Moreover, safety management at outdoor workplaces, such as construction sites and logistics centers, will be further strengthened. The CDSCHQ will enhance public oversight to ensure that adjustments to working hours and rest periods are effectively implemented, and will actively advise farmers to refrain from strenuous outdoor activities. Surveillance activities utilizing local safety networks, including community leaders and volunteer disaster response teams, will also be expanded.Support for livestock and aquaculture facilities to mitigate heat damage and high temperatures will continue, alongside enhanced safety inspections to prevent facility damage from heat-related issues such as road buckling and rail distortion.Kim Kwang-yong emphasized, “Given the serious situation with the CDSCHQ operating at Level 2, all relevant agencies must maintain the highest level of readiness and mobilize all available administrative resources to minimize loss of life. This heat wave is not just a simple rise in temperature; it is a disaster directly related to the lives of our citizens. Both central and local governments will remain vigilant and focus all efforts on responding to this crisis.” 2026-08-03 17:44:00 -
Won pares early losses after U.S. yen buying; Korean bond yields little changed SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - The South Korean won recovered most of its early losses on Monday as the impact of U.S. yen buying carried into Asian currency markets, while Korean government bond yields were little changed ahead of inflation data. The won stood at 1,431.1 per dollar at 3:30 p.m., remaining 7.1 won weaker than Friday’s corresponding level. The exchange rate climbed into the 1,440 range after trading resumed on Monday morning as weekend developments and renewed weakness in Korean equities were priced into the market, but it later retreated to the low 1,430s. The yen remained firm after the United States joined Japan’s currency-market intervention last week and purchased the Japanese currency, easing broader dollar-buying pressure against Asian currencies. A sharp decline in Korean equities and dollar demand linked to foreign stock sales, however, limited the won’s recovery and kept it weaker than Friday’s 3:30 p.m. level. In the bond market, the three-year Korean government bond yield fell 1.6 basis points to 3.742 percent, while the 10-year yield edged up 0.3 basis point to 4.264 percent. Investors largely refrained from making strong directional bets ahead of July inflation data due Tuesday, awaiting further clues on price pressures and the Bank of Korea’s future policy path. 2026-08-03 17:38:31 -
aespa to launch world tour with global cinema livestream from Seoul SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will kick off its new world tour this week, with the opening concert simultaneously screened in movie theaters across 11 regions worldwide. SM Entertainment said Monday that the first show of "2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : COMPLaeXITY" on Aug. 7 will be broadcast live in 146 cinemas across 11 markets, including South Korea, allowing fans around the world to watch the group's world tour opener in real time. The second night's performance on Aug. 8 will instead be livestreamed globally through Beyond LIVE and Weverse. The two concerts will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome, marking aespa's first standalone performances at the venue and the opening of a tour that will visit 25 cities across Asia, North America, South America and Europe. In Korea, four theaters operated by Megabox, one of the country's three major multiplex chains, alongside CGV and Lotte Cinema, will participate in the live-viewing event. Three of them will become the first cinemas in the country to present a concert using AI-powered immersive audio technology, pairing spatial audio with 4K projection to deliver a more immersive viewing experience. The rollout reflects a broader trend in K-pop, with agencies increasingly turning to theatrical live viewings to reach fans unable to attend concerts in person. Groups including BTS, SEVENTEEN and IVE have all adopted the format as demand for large-scale concert broadcasts has continued to grow. The SYNK : COMPLaeXITY tour follows aespa's 2024-25 SYNK : PARALLEL LINE world tour and comes after the release of the group's second studio album, "LEMONADE," in May. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, becoming aespa's third top-10 entry on the U.S. albums chart. 2026-08-03 17:38:07 -
South Korean soprano Sumi Jo receives Maria Callas SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - South Korean soprano Sumi Jo has received the 12th Premio Internazionale Maria Callas, becoming the first Asian artist to receive the Italian honor in the year she marks the 40th anniversary of her international debut. PRM, Jo's publicity agency, said Monday that she accepted the award in Verona on Sunday, where organizers hold the annual ceremony each Aug. 2, the anniversary of Maria Callas' debut at the Arena di Verona in 1947. The prize recognizes artists who have made lasting contributions to opera and classical music, and previous recipients include director Franco Zeffirelli and baritone Leo Nucci. In a statement, Jo said the timing made the honor especially meaningful because she received the award exactly 79 years after Callas made her own Verona debut in the same city. She described it as one of the most meaningful moments of her career. The award comes during a milestone year for Jo, one of South Korea's most internationally acclaimed classical musicians. She launched her international career after winning Italy's Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Singing Competition in 1986 and has since appeared at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera House and the Vienna State Opera. This year, she has marked the anniversary with the release of the commemorative album "Continuum" and the second Sumi Jo International Singing Competition, held in France in July. She is also preparing for an international tour later this year. Jo will return to Korean audiences with a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of her international career at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 4. 2026-08-03 17:37:32 -
Groundbreaking Ceremony for National AI Computing Center in Haenam Marks Start of South Korea's AI Infrastructure Development The National AI Computing Center, a key government strategic project, officially broke ground in Haenam Solar City, South Jeolla Province, marking a significant step in establishing South Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) industry infrastructure.On August 3, Haenam County held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Solar City Data Center Park, launching a large-scale AI infrastructure project aimed for completion by 2028.This groundbreaking is particularly significant as it represents the first project to enter the execution phase among the government's three mega-projects in AI, semiconductors, and robotics. It is seen as a crucial national infrastructure supporting the government's strategy to become one of the top three AI nations.Attendees at the ceremony included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyung-hun, Gwangju Mayor Min Hyung-bae, Haenam County Mayor Myung Hyun-gwan, Yeongam County Mayor Woo Seung-hee, and several members of the National Assembly, along with local officials and representatives from private enterprises, totaling over 200 participants.The event featured the declaration of the National AI Computing Center's vision and a ceremonial groundbreaking blast, signaling the official start of the project.Minister Baek stated, "We will build a global AI infrastructure hub centered around the National AI Computing Center by securing advanced GPUs and fostering a domestic AI semiconductor ecosystem. I expect the Solar City Data Center Park to grow into a key hub for national balanced development and future industries."The National AI Computing Center is a national project with a total budget of 2.4065 trillion won. It plans to establish 15,000 high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) by 2028, with a phased expansion to 50,000 GPUs by 2030.The center will be built on a 48,996 square meter site within the Haenam Solar City Data Center Park, featuring a total floor area of 16,978 square meters across two stories. Initially, it will be constructed to support 40 megawatts, with plans to expand to an 80-megawatt AI-specialized data center.Once completed, the center will serve as a national AI computing hub supporting the development and research of ultra-large AI models. It is expected to operate as an open platform for joint use by academia, industry, and research institutions, facilitating both research and industrialization.Before the center's completion in 2027, some AI computing resources from the Samsung SDS data center will be made available to respond proactively to the AI development needs of research institutions and companies.The project gained momentum last October when a consortium led by Samsung SDS was selected as the preferred bidder. The consortium includes Samsung SDS, Naver Cloud, Samsung C&T, Kakao, Samsung Electronics, KT, Clush, Gwangju Metropolitan City, and the Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development. In June, a public-private joint special purpose company, the Korea AI Computing Center (KOACC), was established to oversee the project's implementation and operation.The government and participating organizations anticipate that the center's construction will create approximately 20,000 jobs and generate over 6 trillion won in economic ripple effects.Additionally, Samsung plans to gradually develop an AI data center cluster worth about 17 trillion won in the Solar City area, which will include the National AI Computing Center. Once completed, it is expected to become the largest AI industry cluster in the country, contributing to the growth of the domestic AI semiconductor industry and enhancing research and development competitiveness.Haenam County has supported the project by leveraging its competitive location, which offers large industrial sites, abundant renewable energy, and stable power and water supply, while also expediting administrative processes for permits.Looking ahead, the plan is to create an advanced industrial ecosystem that integrates cloud and digital service industries centered around the AI data center, while also fostering a RE100 national industrial complex and renewable energy-based industries, aiming to develop a future industrial city where AI and energy converge.Mayor Myung Hyun-gwan remarked, "The groundbreaking of the National AI Computing Center marks a historic starting point for South Korea's AI national strategy, which has officially begun in Haenam. We will work closely with the government and relevant agencies to successfully advance the project and develop Haenam into a key hub for South Korea's AI industry."Meanwhile, the National AI Computing Center is expected to serve as a core infrastructure for the government's policy to enhance national AI competitiveness, providing an open AI computing infrastructure for joint use by research institutions, universities, and companies, thereby driving improvements in domestic AI technology competitiveness and expanding the industrial ecosystem.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:36:00
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Uljin Tourism Popup Store Opens in Gyeongju from August 5 Uljin County in Ulsan is launching a tourism promotion initiative at Hwanglidangil in Gyeongju to attract summer vacationers.The county announced on August 3 that it will operate the '2026 Uljin Tourism Popup Store in Gyeongju' from August 5 to 11 at the Hwanglidangil Market Story.This popup store aims to introduce Uljin's tourism resources to visitors in Gyeongju during the summer vacation season and encourage actual visits to Uljin.A hands-on space will be set up in the heart of Hwanglidangil, allowing visitors to experience Uljin's tourist attractions, festivals, and local specialties all in one place, directly reaching potential tourists.This year's popup store will be themed 'Uljin Travel Encountering Hwanglidangil.' The event will feature a Uljin tourism promotion zone, a photo zone inspired by Jinha Beach, a life-sized photo booth, a display zone for tourism souvenirs, and a space for showcasing and selling local specialties and experiences.Interactive programs will also be available for visitors. Popular activities among younger audiences, such as 'pen decorating' and 'keycap making,' will allow participants to create Uljin-themed souvenirs.A photo zone set against the backdrop of Jinha Beach and a life-sized photo booth will enable visitors to indirectly experience Uljin's tourist attractions and share their photos on social media.Uljin County's choice of Hwanglidangil as the location for the popup store is seen as a tourism marketing strategy to draw summer visitors from Gyeongju to the nearby Uljin area. Given the geographical proximity of Gyeongju and Uljin, the focus is on promoting Uljin's marine and mountain tourism resources to Hwanglidangil visitors and encouraging follow-up visits.An official from Uljin County stated, "This popup promotion center is designed to widely showcase Uljin's diverse tourism resources and local specialties in Hwanglidangil, which attracts many tourists during the summer vacation season, and to facilitate actual visits to Uljin. We will continue to expand our outreach tourism promotion efforts to attract more visitors to Uljin."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:36:00
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Woman Caught Stealing During Fire Evacuation at Sillim Station A fire broke out in a commercial building in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, prompting the evacuation of over 130 people. Amid the chaos, a woman in her twenties was caught on CCTV stealing items from a convenience store inside the building, sparking controversy.According to police and fire authorities, the fire started around 3:20 PM on August 2, and there were no reported injuries. The owner of the convenience store, identified as A, shared footage from the store's CCTV on social media, stating, "While people were evacuating outside, one woman entered the building alone. I repeatedly warned her not to go toward the fire, but she ignored me and went inside the store."After the fire was extinguished, A reviewed the CCTV footage and found that the woman was placing items from the shelves into her bag. A noted, "She seemed to know exactly where the items were located," suggesting that she was likely a regular customer.A reported the theft to the police and submitted the CCTV footage as evidence. The Gwanak Police are currently searching for the woman.As the video circulated online, netizens reacted with comments such as, "To think of stealing during a fire," and "Thanks to her bold theft, her face is now well-known." Some recalled a recent incident involving a high school student in Kumamoto, Japan, who referred to a collapsed shopping mall as an opportunity to steal.Netizens also drew parallels to the tragic collapse of the Sampoong Department Store on June 29, 1995, where a woman was photographed smiling while stealing clothes from the rubble, a moment that became known as the 'devil's smile.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:32:00
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Muan County Expands Integrity Communication Officers to Promote Ethical Culture Muan County, located in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, is accelerating the establishment of an ethical organizational culture by expanding the role of integrity communication officers, aimed at promoting exemplary behavior among senior officials and enhancing communication among staff.On August 3, during a regular meeting held in the county office conference room, Muan County announced the appointment of two additional senior officials as integrity communication officers, following personnel changes made on July 6.This appointment was necessary to maintain continuity in organizational operations after one of the existing integrity communication officers entered a period of retirement. As a result, five senior officials, including the Planning Director, the New City Support Division Head, the Health Center Director, the Agricultural Technology Center Director, and the Muan-eup Head, will now serve as integrity communication officers.The integrity communication officers are tasked with leading the spread of an integrity culture and fostering a fair and trustworthy organizational environment through communication with employees. They will collect diverse opinions from staff and serve as a link between the field and administration in the process of improving organizational culture and implementing integrity policies.Immediately following the appointment ceremony, the Planning Division held its first meeting with all five integrity communication officers to share operational directions and roles.During the meeting, various suggestions were exchanged regarding ways to enhance communication with employees, promote integrity culture within the organization, improve unreasonable systems and practices, and implement effective integrity policies. The officers agreed to strengthen field-centered integrity activities.Muan County plans to continue ongoing communication and improvement activities centered around the integrity communication officers to ensure that integrity policies are not just one-time events but are firmly established throughout the organization.County Mayor Kim San stated, "Integrity begins with the exemplary behavior of senior officials and active communication. I urge the integrity communication officers to faithfully fulfill their role as a communication channel between employees and the organization, leading to the spread of integrity culture and the realization of trustworthy governance for the citizens."Meanwhile, Muan County is working to enhance public trust and establish a culture of integrity in the public service by implementing various integrity initiatives, including integrity happy talks, integrity suggestion boxes, one department one integrity policy, self-learning on integrity, and anti-corruption and integrity education, with the goal of achieving a top rating in overall integrity.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:28:00
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Referee Chair Moon Jin-hee Resigns Amid Controversy Over Testimony The Korea Football Association announced that Moon Jin-hee has resigned from her position as referee chair due to personal reasons. According to the association's regulations, the resignation takes effect immediately upon submission.The referee committee will operate under an acting vice-chair until a new executive board is established.Moon was at the center of controversy after appearing as a witness at a parliamentary hearing held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on July 30. Her demeanor was criticized as uncooperative, leading to tensions with lawmakers.During the hearing, when Moon responded with one hand in her pocket, lawmaker Kim Jae-won admonished her, saying, "Please sit up straight and answer politely." Moon retorted, "Are you saying I shouldn't speak while you are? Lower your voice a bit," showing strong resistance.Further issues arose when lawmaker Jo Gye-won raised concerns about Moon's response style. Moon replied, "Stay out of this," causing further disruption in the hearing.Additionally, allegations of perjury surfaced. Moon initially denied claims that she assisted in election activities for former association president Jeong Mong-kyu, despite not having official election agent status. However, after evidence and recordings were presented suggesting she led ticket sales in exchange for referee promotions and match assignments, she changed her stance, stating, "I don't remember well."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:28:00
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Renault Korea Reports 3,030 Vehicle Sales in July, Down 58.2% Year-on-Year Renault Korea announced on July 3 that it sold a total of 3,030 vehicles in July, a 58.2% decrease compared to the same period last year.Domestic sales accounted for 1,704 units, down 57.4% year-on-year.The mid-size SUV, the Grand Koleos, was the best-selling model with 728 units sold, followed by the mid-size crossover Filante with 537 units, and the coupe-style SUV Arkana with 439 units.Notably, the Filante, which was launched in mid-March, achieved cumulative sales of 10,161 units by July, surpassing the 10,000 mark within just over four months.Among domestic sales, hybrid models totaled 1,219 units, making up 71.5% of the overall performance.The Filante Hybrid E-Tech accounted for 100% of Filante sales with 537 units, while the Grand Koleos Hybrid E-Tech represented 89.1% with 649 units. The Arkana Hybrid E-Tech made up 7.5% (33 units) of the total.Exports in July totaled 1,326 units, a 59.2% decline from the previous year. The Arkana led exports with 486 units, followed by the Polestar 4, produced under contract at the Busan plant, with 366 units, and the Grand Koleos (export name New Koleos) with 254 units.A Renault Korea official stated, "Due to the unstable international situation, shipments to the Middle East have been impossible, and securing vessels remains challenging. In this environment, the Filante successfully exported 847 units to Latin America, including an initial shipment of 220 units."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-03 17:28:00